Prediction of sleep quality and insomnia severity by psychological disorders and acute stress among earthquake survivors in Sarpol-e Zahab, Iran, 2017

Background: Psychological and health outcomes of natural disasters such as earthquakes affect survivors and health services for a long time. In the present study, posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD), symptoms of psychopathology, sleep quality, and insomnia disorder were investigated among survivors of earthquake occurred at the Western Iran on November 12, 2017. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 1031 adult participants from rural and urban areas of Sarpol-e Zahab, a city in Kermanshah Province (Western Iran), who suffered from mental health problems due to the earthquake, a magnitude-7.3 quake, occurred in the Western Iran in 2017. Participants completed the Symptom Checklist 90, Insomnia Severity Index, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Self-Rating Scale for PTSD. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multivariate regression analysis by Statistical Package for Social Sciences Software (Version 21). Results: A positive correlation was observed between insomnia severity and all psychopathological symptoms. There was a positive correlation between sleep quality and somatization, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, and psychoticism. In addition, acute stress was positively correlated with insomnia severity and sleep quality. Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, it is recommended that psychological disorders in earthquake victims be considered to enhance their sleep quality

The Effect of Various Levels of Zinc during Gestation on Physical Growth and Development of the Offspring

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary zinc levels during gestation on physical development of offspring. The statistical population consisted of adult male and female rats (Albino-Wistar) which were obtained from Pasteur Institute, Iran. After mating, 9 pregnant female rats were divided into 3 groups: 1) Zinc deficient group (0.0

The Effect of Vitamin E Supplement on Motor Activity and Spatial Learning in Aged Rats

Aging has negative effects on motor and cognitive functions, so it is essential to identify appropriate strategies to prevent the decrease of motor and cognitive functions. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of vitamin E supplement on motor activity and spatial learning in aged rats. 36 male Albino – Wistar aged rats were assigned to three groups of control, vitamin E and sham. E group received daily 100 mg (50 IU) of vitamin E per kg of body weight with 0.5 ml sesame oil via gavage during 8 weeks. Sham group received daily 0.5 ml sesame oil, but control group did not receive any treatment. After the end of the protocol, open – field and Morris water maze tests were used to respectively assess motor functions and spatial learning. Distance moved and movement speed was used to assess motor function and latency and distance moved to the find platform was used to assess spatial learning. Results showed that in motor function, there was no statistically significant difference among groups in distance moved and movement speed factors (P>0.05). In addition, there was no statistically significant difference among groups in all factors of spatial learning and memory (P>0.05). The results showed that vitamin E did not significantly influence motor and cognitive functions of aged rats. Vitamin E supplement appears not to be efficient in the aging period when antioxidant damages caused irreversible memory destruction

The effect of Reference memory on the number of astrocytes in different subfield of Rat’s hippocampus

Background & Objective: In addition to pyramidal neurons and interneurons, the hippocampus contains Astrocytes that play important roles in regulating ion flux currents, energy production, neurotransmitter release and memory. Learning needs some instrument for information storage and information maintenances mechanisms resemble to memory. The aim of this study was determination of spatial memory effect on the number of astrocytes in rat’s hippocampus. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, with usage of Morris Water Maze and Reference memory technique, we used 10 male albino wistar rats. 5 rats were in control group and 5 rats in Reference memory group. After histological preparation, the slides were stained with PTAH staining for showing the Astrocytes. Results: The findings of this study showed significant difference in astrocytes number in CA1, CA2 and CA3 area of hippocampus between control and reference memory group. The mean and SD of astrocytes in CA1, CA2 and CA3 of reference memory group were 118.57±25.29, 58.91±23.59 and 116.6±31.14, that they are more than control group with 49±17.29 in CA1, 48.8±25.21 in CA2 and 41.95±11.22 in CA3. Conclusion: We concluded that the number of astrocytes increased due to spatial learning (e.g. reference memory method)

Effect of physical exercise on muscle strength, static and dynamic balance and resiliency in women with multiple sclerosis

Exercise is an essential component in the management of multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a combined aerobic and resistance training programme on muscular strength, static and dynamic balance and resiliency of women with MS. Twenty participants aged 20-40 years with an expanded disability status Scale Level of 2 to 5 were selected. Participants wererandomly divided into two groups: Experimental Group (age=36.1±2.2 years) and Control Group (age=34.3±5.4 years). The experimental group performed combination training that included aerobic and resistance exercises for eight weeks, three times a week, with an intensity of 40% to 55% heart rate reserve. The strength of knee flexor and extensor muscles, dynamic and static balance and resiliency level using Connor-Davidson were assessed. There were significant (p≤0.05) changes in all measured parameters for the Intervention Group, no significant (p>0.05) changes were found from pre- to post-test in the Control Group. Eight weeks of combined training improved significantly (p≤0.05) for muscle strength, balance and resiliency level in the Experimental Group when compared to the Control Group. Combined training may inevitably aid daily functioning and mental health in individuals with MS. Keywords: Concurrent training; Endurance training; Multiple sclerosis; Physical exercise

The Effect of Forced Physical Exercise with Moderate Intensity on Alzheimer-Induced Amnesia in Adult Male Rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of forced physical exercise with moderate intensity on Alzheimer-induced amnesia in adult male rats. 48 male Wistar- Albino rats were randomly selected and assigned to 6 groups (n=8 per group): control, placebo (saline), drug-exercise, saline-exercise, exercise and exercise-drug. In this study, Dicyclomine (16 mg/kg) was used to induce Alzheimer-like amnesia and moderate exercise (60 minutes per day × 30 days). The rats were trained and tested using Morris water maze­. The findings showed that the group receiving Dicyclomine increased­ delay in reaching the platform­ in acquisition (P=0.044) and recall (P=0.031) compared with exercise, control and saline groups. But there were no significant differences between exercise and exercise-saline groups compared with exercise-Dicyclomine group. Also, a significant difference (delay in reaching the platform) was observed between Dicyclomine-exercise, saline-exercise compared with Dicyclomine in acquisition (P=0.005) and recall (P=0.002). In conclusion, this study showed that memory and learning in the acquisition and recall phases were destroyed by Dicyclomine and 30 sessions of moderate-intensity running (forced) could prevent memory corruption