The Relationship between the Intensity of Activity and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Young Girls

Background & Aims:  Today, regular physical activity and sports are widely supported by the medical and sports community. Since the intensity of activity is an important factor in the secretion of cardiovascular risk factors, the present study examined the relationship between the intensity of activity and cardiovascular risk factors in young girls. Materials & Methods: A total of 45 female students with average values of age (20.7 ± 1.3 years), weight (58.4 ± 1.3 kg), height (164.1 ± 0.9 cm), and body mass index (23.1 ± 0.5 kg/m2) participated voluntarily in the project. Participants were divided into three groups of high-intensity (70-90% of one-repetition maximum or 1RM) and low-intensity (40-60% of 1RM) resistance training, with a control group without exercise. The two experimental groups were subjected to resistance training for 6 weeks. To measure the desired indices, blood samples were taken before and 24 h after the end of the research protocol. Results: Results of one-way analysis of variance indicated a significant difference in hs-CRP and non-significant differences in lactate, glucose, fibrinogen, growth hormone to insulin-like growth factor ratio, and levels of LDL, HDL, and TC between the three groups. According to a post hoc test, the hs-CRP level in the high-intensity resistance training group showed a significant decrease compared to that of the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated no significant differences between high- and low-intensity resistance training in terms of affecting the levels of cardiovascular risk factors in young girls

Cloning and Expression of N-terminal Region of IpaD from Shigella dysenteriae in E. coli

Genus Shigella is one of the important members of the family enterobacteriacae. There are numerous antigens in Shigella carrying by a 220 kb plasmid. Among them, IpaD is the key virulence factor of S. flexneri. Apart from having effectors function that is essential for host cell invasion and intracellular survival, this protein also controls the secretion and translocation of other effector proteins into eukaryotic host cells. In the present study, we have cloned and expressed the ipaD in E. coli. The ipaD gene was amplified by PCR. Prokaryote expression vector pET-28a(+)- ipaD was constructed, and used to transform E. coli BL21DE3 plySs. The expression of recombinant protein induced by IPTG was examined by SDS-PAGE. Western blot were used to determine immunoreactivity of IpaD-His by a rabbit monoclonal antibodies against his-tag. SDS-PAGE demonstrated that the constructed prokaryotic expression efficiently produced IpaD at the 1 mmol/L of IPTG. IpaD protein was able to react with the rabbit monoclonal antibody against His-tag.  IpaD is essential for Shigella spp invasion. N-terminal region is most significant functional fragment of IpaD. Purification of IpaD from the wild type of Shigella is difficult furthermore profound study on a specific domain on the N-terminal of IpaD by using the wild type of purified IpaD is not feasible.

The Effect of Percutaneous Laser Disc Decompression on Reducing Pain and Disability in Patients With Lumbar Disc Herniation

Introduction: As low back pain incidence is increasing, noninvasive modalities are gaining attention for their ability to achieve the best possible outcome with the least complications. Percutaneous laser disc decompression (PLDD) is currently popular for this purpose. This study aims to evaluate the effect of PLDD on disability and pain reduction in patients with lumbar disc herniation.Methods: Thirty patients were enrolled in this study. Spinal nerve blocks were conducted by laser discectomy single stage injection of a needle into the disc space. The nucleus pulposus of herniated discs were irradiated with laser in order to vaporize a small part of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral discs and reduce the voluminosity of diseased discs. Patients were treated with 1000 J of 980 nm diode laser with 5 W energy. In order to measure the severity of pain, visual analog scale (VAS) and also ODI (Oswestry Disability Index) were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 12.Results: Thirty patients participated in this trial including 11 men and 19 women with a mean age (SD) of 40.8 (10.8) years. The mean patients VAS score and ODI level before and after discectomy showed statistically significant differences. The mean VAS and ODI scores showed no statistical difference between males and females (P < 0.05) and percutaneous laser discectomy decreased the VAS and ODI at both groups of patients similarly.Conclusion: We found the use of PLDD reduces pain and disability in patients as a noninvasive procedure

Distribution and localization of pro-brain-derived neurotrophic factor-like immunoreactivity in the peripheral and central nervous system

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The Effects of Balance Training on Postural Sensory Organization against External Disturbances in People with Chronic Ankle Instability

Background: Injury to the ankle sensorimotor control system and impairment in the integration of sensory information and awareness of the sense of motion is an important factor in reducing balance and consequently re-injury. This study aimed to investigate the effects of balance training on postural sensory organization against external disturbances in people with chronic ankle instability.  Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 30 male athletes with chronic ankle instability purposefully selected and randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Both groups were pre-tested and the experimental group had six weeks of balance training. Against the perturbation, post-test performed again on both groups, using a dynamic computerized post-chromography device to measure postural organization. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance. Statistical operations performed by SPSS software version 22 at a significant level of 0.05. Results: The score of postural sensory organization in the experimental group in the first condition is higher than other conditions and in the sixth condition is lower than other conditions. The mean score of postural sensory organization in the exercise group was significant compared to the control group (Pvalue≤0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that the subjects in the exercise group had better sensory organization against external disturbances than the control group. Motion control and faster sending of sensory information, which ultimately leads to improved postural sensory organization. Keywords: Balance training, Sensory organization, External disturbances, Chronic ankle instabilit

The Effects of Balance Training on Postural Sensory Organization against External Disturbances in People with Chronic Ankle Instability

Background: Injury to the ankle sensorimotor control system and impairment in the integration of sensory information and awareness of the sense of motion is an important factor in reducing balance and consequently re-injury. This study aimed to investigate the effects of balance training on postural sensory organization against external disturbances in people with chronic ankle instability.  Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 30 male athletes with chronic ankle instability purposefully selected and randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Both groups were pre-tested and the experimental group had six weeks of balance training. Against the perturbation, post-test performed again on both groups, using a dynamic computerized post-chromography device to measure postural organization. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance. Statistical operations performed by SPSS software version 22 at a significant level of 0.05. Results: The score of postural sensory organization in the experimental group in the first condition is higher than other conditions and in the sixth condition is lower than other conditions. The mean score of postural sensory organization in the exercise group was significant compared to the control group (Pvalue≤0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that the subjects in the exercise group had better sensory organization against external disturbances than the control group. Motion control and faster sending of sensory information, which ultimately leads to improved postural sensory organization. Keywords: Balance training, Sensory organization, External disturbances, Chronic ankle instabilit

GDNF gene delivery via the the P75NTR receptor rescues injured motor neurons

The retrograde axonal transport mechanism of motor neurons has been exploited to deliver the gene encoding Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) into the central nervous system to provide trophic support following injury. A nonviral gene delivery system, consisting of a monoclonal antibody (MC192) that binds the neurotrophic receptor, p75NTR, coupled to poly-L-lysine, was constructed and used to deliver the gene via a receptor-mediated mechanism. The MC192-poly-l-lysine/pGDNF complex was injected into the hind limb of newborn rats to allow gene expression within motor neurons prior to sciatic nerve transection. In adult rats, the gene delivery complex was administrated in gel foam placed on a transected hypoglossal nerve. We show that the delivered construct is internalized following binding to p75NTR and is transported into the brain and spinal cord, bypassing the blood-brain barrier. The presence of the GDNF transgene and its transcript could be detected for up to 8 weeks in spinal cord and brain stem. Expression of the GDNF protein rescued 38% of the targeted motor neurons 1 week postinjury in newborn rats while the survival rate in control group was below 12%. In adult rats, neuronal death induced by axotomy was almost completely reversed by the introduction of the transgene (95 ᠳ%). Thus, the significant functional outcomes of this novel gene delivery system are demonstrated both in postnatal and adult motor neurons.No Full Tex