Heart Reaction to Nandrolone Decanoate plus Two Different Intensities of Endurance Exercise: Electrocardiography and Stereological Approach

Background: Regarding the negative effects of androgenic anabolic steroids (AASs) abuse, the long-term effect of nandrolone decanoate with/without two intensities of endurance exercise training was investigated on heart tissue and electrocardiogram (ECG) in rats. Methods: The experiment was conducted on 63 male Wistar rats, which were 4 months old. The rats were divide into groups of control (CTL), arachis oilasnandrolone solvent (Ar), nandrolone (Nan) (received a dose of 5 mg/kg twice/week for 8 weeks), mild swimming exercise training (mEx), severe exercise (sEx), sEx + Nan, mEx + Nan, mEx + Ar, and sEx + Ar. During the 8 weeks of swimming exercise, the animals carried dumbbells equivalent to 2% of their body weight, which was gradually increased and reached 5% and 8% in the 6th week for mild and severe exercises, respectively. Finally, ECGs recording and samplings were done. Findings: Both types of exercise, without nandrolone, significantly reduced the heart rate and increased the RR interval of ECG. Nandrolone alone and with mild (P < 0.050) and intense exercise (P < 0.010 vs. CTL) increased the left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) index. Left ventricular volume was significantly higher in the Nan group (P < 0.050) compared to the CTL group and all exercise groups (P < 0.010) compared to the Nan, CTL, and Ar groups. Myocytes volume increased in the presence of both of mild and high-intensity exercise plus nandrolone (P < 0.050 vs. CTL and Ar groups). Hydroxyproline value of the heart was significantly higher in the nandrolone group compared to all other groups (P < 0.001). Exercise prevented the effect of nandrolone on hydroxyproline. Conclusion: Both levels of swimming exercise prevent the effect of nandrolone on the production of hydroxyproline and fibrotic cardiac remodeling

Prevalence of Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disorders in Dentists: Symptoms and Risk Factors

Aim. The purpose of the present research was to examine the factors that lead to musculoskeletal disorders in dentists by assessing their posture using RULA method. Materials and Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 130 dentists (84 male and 46 female) participated. The posture of the subjects during their normal workload was recorded by using the RULA method, and the range of musculoskeletal pains by using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), and individual and professional data was assessed by a demographics questionnaire. All tests were performed at the P<0.05 level. Results. Assessment of the physical status of the subjects showed that 82.8% of subjects were at high risk of musculoskeletal disorders. The majority of musculoskeletal pains were in the neck (55.9%) and the shoulder (43.8%). Moreover, 68.9% of the subjects had experienced pain at least once over the last year. Significant relationships were observed between musculoskeletal pain and daily work hours P=0.07 and number of patients P=0.02, but the pain was not significantly associated with BMI and experience. Conclusion. The present findings showed that unsuitable posture of dentists during work has a considerable effect on musculoskeletal disorders. Therefore, further investigation is required to avoid the detrimental effects of wrong posture

a-Pinene influence on pulpal pain-induced learning and memory impairment in rats via modulation of the GABAA receptor

Background: This study investigated the effect of central administration of a-pinene and the interaction of a-pinene with GABAA receptor on pulpal nociception-induced changes in learning and memory performances in rats. Materials and Methods: Sixty-six adult male Wistar rats were used. Pulpal nociception was induced by intradental application of capsaicin (100 µg/rat). a-pinene (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 µg/rat) was injected centrally 10 min before the administration of capsaicin. In addition, a-pinene (0.4 µg/rat) was co-injected with bicuculline (0.5 µg/rat). Spatial and passive avoidance learning and memory were assessed using Morris water maze (MWM) and shuttle box tasks, respectively. Results: Experimental results of the MWM test showed that capsaicin increases escape latency and distance traveled to the hidden platform (P < 0.01). The effect was prohibited by a-pinene at the dose of 0.4 µg/rat. Moreover, capsaicin-treated animals spent less time in the target zone than capsaicin + a-pinene (0.4 µg/rat)-treated rats (P < 0.05). In the shuttle box test, a-pinene (0.2 µg and 0.4 µg) prevented an increased number of acquisition trials and time spent in the dark chamber induced by capsaicin, whereas it increased step-through latency (P < 0.01). However, the effects of a-pinene (0.4 µg/rat) in both tests were prohibited by bicuculline (0.5 µg/rat). Conclusion: The data showed that central administration of a-pinene might reduce pulpalgia-induced learning and memory impairment, at least partially, via modulation of GABA A receptors