Isoflavones Potentials for the Treatment of Osteoporosis: An Update on In-vivo Studies

Abstract In plant-derived compounds, phytoestrogens are biologically active substances that exhibit various estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects. With the increasing prevalence of osteoporosis among older women caused by estrogen deficiency, identifying natural substances that can potentially treat the disease is of utmost significance. This review study aimed to explore how phytoestrogen metabolites mimic mammalian estrogens and prevent bone loss following menopause. Phytoestrogens derived from plants have gained considerable attention due to their similarity to mammalian estrogens and lower impact on sensitive tissues, such as the uterus and breasts. One well-established approach to simulate postmenopausal conditions is by using ovariectomized rats or mice (OVX). The administration of phytoestrogens in the OVX murine model has inhibited osteoclast differentiation, activation, and Pyridinoline secretion. Furthermore, these compounds have been shown to enhance bone formation and increase bone mineral density and the expression levels of various osteoblast markers, such as alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, osteopontin, and alpha-1 collagen. Several natural phytoestrogen compounds in plants possess a chemical structure akin to 17 beta-estradiol, a steroid hormone. In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogen, can potentially treat the disease by binding to estrogen receptors on the surface of target cells. Mechanistic investigations have demonstrated that phytoestrogens can retard bone resorption and promote bone formation. Novel approaches in phytoestrogen research could involve investigating the synergistic effects of combining different phytoestrogen compounds, exploring their interactions with other signaling pathways, or assessing their effects on various bone types. Furthermore, identifying novel sources of phytoestrogens could lead to the discovery of new compounds with potent osteoprotective effects. https://jlar.rovedar.com/index.php/JLAR/article/view/1

Association of menopausal sexual dysfunction with demographic and obstetric factors in postmenopausal women in Hamadan, Iran

Background: Sexual dysfunction is a common menopausal problem that may be affected by demographic factors. The present study aimed to determine demographic and obstetric factors affecting sexual dysfunction in menopause.Methods: The present cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 315 postmenopausal women in Hamadan. The research instruments included demographic questionnaire, and female sexual function index (FSFI). Univariate and multivariate linear regressions were used to investigate the association of different factors and sexual function at a significance level of less than 0.05.Results: The participants' mean age was 54.15±4.24 years. Their mean sexual function score was 18.92±4.25 indicating poor sexual function. The multivariate analysis indicated that increasing the number of spouse marriage, sexual function score decreased by 2.45 (p=0.006). Furthermore, the sexual function score in those, who were not satisfied with their marriage, was 5.58 points lower than those who were satisfied with their marriage status (p <0.001).Conclusions: Given the relationship between number of spouse marriage and marital satisfaction with sexual function in postmenopausal women, it is necessary to design and implement training sessions for them.

The Effect of Fatigue on the Time to Stability in Jumping and Landing in Football Players Who Have Undergone Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Background: Jumping and landing are common activities in soccer that are often reported in connection with anterior cruciate ligament injury. As most injuries occur during fatigue, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of fatigue on the component of time to stability (TTS) during landing between healthy soccer players and soccer players who have undergone anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Methods: This quasi-experimental study included 24 professional soccer players who were divided into control and experimental groups. Twelve active professional soccer players (control group) and 12 soccer players with 6-24 months of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring graft (experimental group) participated in this study. Athletes jumped and landed on the obstacle to a height of 7.5 cm. After the fatigue protocol, these movements were repeated. TTS data was collected using force plate. MANOVA test at the significant level of p <0.05 was used to compare pre-test and post-test data between the groups.Results: According to the results of this study, fatigue did not affect the time to stability in any of the anterior-posterior (p=0.104), internal-external (p=0.668), or vertical components (p=0.894) between the two groups, and fatigue could not make a significant difference between the two groups. Moreover, before fatigue, no significant difference was observed between the two groups in any of the components.Conclusion: It seems that a plyometric fatigue training session will not be effective in differentiating between healthy soccer players and soccer players who have had anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Evaluating the Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Plan on Quality of Life of Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Introduction: Cardiovascular surgeries are among the conventional surgeries aimed at increasing the survival rate and improving the quality of life of patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cardiac rehabilitation on quality of life of patients undergoing Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.Methods: This was a semi-experimental study performed on 160 patients undergoing CABG surgery. The rehabilitation program was carried out for 13 weeks (three sessions per week) in 40 sessions, six weeks after the CABG surgery. The MacNew standard questionnaire and the general health questionnaire (S-f 36) were completed before the beginning of rehabilitation sessions as well as after completion of these sessions by patients.Results: According to the results, the quality of life of patients significantly increased in the physical and emotional areas after the rehabilitation program. The results also indicated that there was a significant difference between various levels of research in the physical functioning variables, dysfunction due to physical health, dysfunction due to emotional health, energy/fatigue of individuals, emotional well-being, social functioning, pain, and general health.Conclusions: The present results indicated the improved quality of life of patients in all the areas after cardiac rehabilitation intervention, compared to before that. Therefore, paying more attention to cardiac rehabilitation is necessary due to its positive effects on increasing the quality of life of patients

Evaluation of Pregnancy consequences in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Case-Control Study in Qazvin, Iran

ABSTRACT Background and Aim: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder in women of childbearing age that can be associated with adverse pregnancy complications. The aim of this study was to compare the adverse pregnancy consequences between pregnant women with PCOS and control group in Qazvin. Materials and Methods: In this study, 150 pregnant women with PCOS aged 18-35 years with gestational age of more than 20 weeks were selected as our case group based on Rotterdam criteria and our control group included 150 pregnant women without PCOS. The groups were compared in terms of pregnancy complications including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm delivery, low birth weight, and neonatal admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of demographic data including age, weight, height and BMI. In the case group (PCOS) we found gestational diabetes in 33 cases (64.7%) (P=0.021), preeclampsia in 44 cases (67.7%) (P=0.002), and preterm delivery 70 in cases (75.3%) which indicated a significant difference between the case and control groups (P<0.0001). The case group had higher neonatal complications than control group in regard to low birth weight (40 cases, 64.5%, P=0.008) and NICU admission (30 cases, 66.7%, P=0.015). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that PCOS, due to its metabolic effects, may increase the incidence of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm delivery, low birth weight or macrosomia and long term NICU admission. Keywords: Polycystic ovary syndrome, Premature birth, Gestational diabetes, Pre-eclampsi

Effect of equisetum arvense extract on bone mineral density in Wistar rats via digital radiography

Background: Osteoporosis is a common disease of old age. The present study used digital radiography to determine the effects of equisetum arvense extract on the bone mineral density (BMD) of experimental rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 25 male and 25 female Wistar rats, aged three weeks old and weighing 100 grams, were randomly divided into five groups: (1) control group, (2) calcium/vitamin D group, (3) 60 mg/kg equisetum arvense extract group, (4) 90 mg/kg equisetum arvense extract group and (5) 120 mg/kg equisetum arvense extract group. Rats received these diets for 30 days. The spongy bone density was measured in the maxilla and mandible using digital radiography and the serum levels of calcium, vitamin D and phosphorus were measured at baseline and after 30 days. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey test. Results: There was no significant difference between serum calcium and phosphorus levels in the five groups before and after 30 days. The serum vitamin D in the group receiving calcium and vitamin D was significantly higher than in the other groups (with average values of 24.7, 61.7, 23.47, 23.95 and 39.16 in the male groups 1 to 5 and 29.0, 85.07, 31.58, 42.34 and 18.83 in the female groups 1 to 5, respectively (p&#60;0.001). Moreover, the increased mandibular BMD in the 120 mg/kg equisetum arvense group was significantly higher than in the control group (p&#60;0.01). Conclusion: A diet containing 120 mg/kg equisetum arvense extract resulted in increased mandibular bone mineral density

The role of GlcNAc-PI-de-N-acetylase gene by gene knockout through homologous recombination and its consequences on survival, growth and infectivity of Leishmania major in in vitro and in vivo conditions

At present, there are no efficacious vaccines or effective drugs against leishmaniasis; therefore new and innovative control methods are urgently required. One way to achieve this important goal is through using reverse genetic engineering to evaluate important enzymes, proteins and macromolecules. One of the most important enzymes for Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosynthetic pathways is GlcNAc-PI-deN-acetylase (GPI12). The molecular constructs were cloned in Escherichia coli strain Top 10 and confirmed by molecular methods and were transfected by electroporation into Leishmania major. We demonstrated that two alleles of the GPI12 gene in L. major were successfully removed and enabling the generation of a null mutant, which supports the idea that GPI12 is not an essential gene for the growth and survival of Leishmania and the homozygous knockouts of Leishmania are able to survive. We were able to produce a mutant parasite that caused no damaged to the host. Further investigations are essential to check the safety profile in laboratory animal

Evaluation of Pregnancy consequences in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Case-Control Study in Qazvin, Iran

Background and Aim: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder in women of childbearing age that can be associated with adverse pregnancy complications. The aim of this study was to compare the adverse pregnancy consequences between pregnant women with PCOS and control group in Qazvin. Materials and Methods: In this study, 150 pregnant women with PCOS aged 18-35 years with gestational age of more than 20 weeks were selected as our case group based on Rotterdam criteria and our control group included 150 pregnant women without PCOS. The groups were compared in terms of pregnancy complications including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm delivery, low birth weight, and neonatal admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of demographic data including age, weight, height and BMI. In the case group (PCOS) we found gestational diabetes in 33 cases (64.7%) (P=0.021), preeclampsia in 44 cases (67.7%) (P=0.002), and preterm delivery 70 in cases (75.3%) which indicated a significant difference between the case and control groups (P<0.0001). The case group had higher neonatal complications than control group in regard to low birth weight (40 cases, 64.5%, P=0.008) and NICU admission (30 cases, 66.7%, P=0.015). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that PCOS, due to its metabolic effects, may increase the incidence of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm delivery, low birth weight or macrosomia and long term NICU admission. Keywords: Polycystic ovary syndrome, Premature birth, Gestational diabetes, Pre-eclampsi