The effect of 12 weeks of aerobic exercise intervention on bone mineral density, expression of lymphocyte alkaline phosphatase gene and bone turnover markers in overweight postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial

The aim of our study was to examine the effect of 12 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on bone mineral density (BMD), lymphocyte alkaline phosphatase (ALP) mRNA expression, and biochemical markers of bone turnover in postmenopausal women (PMWs). Twenty-four healthy sedentary PMWs aged 50-60 years were randomly assigned to exercise (EX, n=12) and control (C, n=12) groups. The EX group performed walking/jogging (50-60min/day, 3days/week at 65%-70% HRmax reserve) for 12-week while the C group participated in no intervention and continued their normal lifestyle. The BMD and lymphocyte ALP mRNA were determined by DXA and qRT-PCR, respectively. After 12 weeks, the increase in the lymphocyte ALP mRNA expression and its serum (P=0.008 and P=0.001), PTH (P=0.001), Vit-D (P=0.002), and VO2max (P=0.001) were significantly higher in the EX group compared to the C group, whereas body fat was significantly decreased (P=0.028). Our study indicates that 12 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise intervention improves bone turnover by increasing the ALP mRNA expression, serum levels of PTH, ALP, and Vit-D which can lead to the prevention of aging-induced osteopenia among PMWs

Influencing factors in choosing delivery method: Iranian primiparous women’s perspective

Background: Studies on the primiparous mothers’ decision on delivery method are limited. Aim: The aim of his study was to determine the factors that influence the choice of delivery method by Iranian primiparous women. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in April through September 2014. Participants were 460 primiparous women in 8 hospitals of 4 cities in Iran. Finally, 230 cesarean section and 230 vaginal delivery women were selected. Inclusion criteria were being primiparous, and having no contraindication for vaginal delivery. Study tool was a researcher-developed questionnaire that its validity and reliability were proved. Data were gathered by direct interview and analyzed by SPSS version 16. Results: Average age of the participants was 23 years. Factors that correlated with the choice of Cesarean section were upper education, high socioeconomic level, tendency of husband, living with the husband’s family, insistence of the physician, receiving maternal care in personal offices, fear of delivery pain, low knowledge of the mother, high age of marriage and pregnancy, history of abortion, and lack of family support. More than 60% of the participants had little knowledge about the delivery methods. Satisfaction with cesarean section was 70% and with the vaginal delivery was 77%. Half of the cesareans were performed on the insistence of the physician. Conclusion: Considering the factors identified in this study, can enforce the intention of mothers to have vaginal delivery by improving their knowledge and perception about this delivery method

Correlation between blood pressure and vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorus in sedentary postmenopausal women

Background: Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The studies show that factors such as vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, calcium and phosphorus are involved in the regulation of blood pressure. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between blood pressure with vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorus in sedentary postmenopausal women. Methods: This investigation is in the form of a descriptive correlational study that was performed in September 2015. The statistical population was all healthy and sedentary postmenopausal women 50-70 years old in Urmia city, Iran. Fifty-four sedentary postmenopausal women were selected as subjects and voluntarily and bona fide participated in this study. General and anthropometric characteristics of height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) in subjects were measured by wall-meter with an accuracy of one millimeter, digital scale with precision of 100 g (Beurer, Germany), and dual emission X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (Hologic, USA) machines, respectively. Diastolic and systolic blood pressure was measured by indicator machine. Serum levels of vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorus were measured by ELISA and Auto-analyzer (BT 1500, Biotecnica, Italy machines, respectively. Results: The mean general, anthropometric, and physiological/laboratory variables of subjects were: age 54 yr, height 156 cm; weight 72 kg; BMI 29 kg/m2; systolic and diastolic blood pressure 76.20 and 110.70, respectively; vitamin D 25.22 ng/ml, parathyroid hormone 33.29 ng/ml, calcium 9.44 ng/ml, and phosphorus 3.26 ng/ml. Moreover, results showed that there was no significant relationship between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and vitamin D (P>0.581 and P>0.619, respectively). There was no significant relationship between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and parathyroid hormone (P>0.623 and P>0.341, respectively). There was no significant relationship between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and calcium (P>0.704 and P>0.141, respectively). There was no significant relationship between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and phosphorous (P>0.058 and P>0.357, respectively). Conclusion: The results suggest that there is no relationship between systolic and diastolic blood pressure with serum levels of vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorous in sedentary postmenopausal women 50-70 years old

Walnut leaf extract-based green synthesis of selenium nanoparticles via microwave irradiation and their characteristics assessment

Selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) have predominant characteristics compared to that in their bulk usage due to their high surface-to-volume ratio. The walnut (Juglans regia L.) leaf extract containing different bioactive compounds that act as reductant and stabilizing agents has been used for the green synthesis of the Se NPs. Influences of two synthetic variables, namely, the amount of selenium salt solution ranging from 15 to 25 mL and the amount of walnut leaf extract ranging from 1 to 5 mL, on broad emission peak (λmax) and absorbance of colloidal solutions having Se NPs were evaluated via the response surface methodology. Obtained results indicated that using microwave radiation (800 W for 4 min) and 5 mL of walnut leaf extract and 15 mL of selenium salt solution, Se NPs with λmax, absorbance, particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential values of 375 nm, 3.65% absorbance unit (a.u.), 208 nm, 0.206, and −24.7 mV were synthesized, which had high bactericidal activity toward Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The transmission electron microscopy analysis also indicated that spherical and monodispersed Se NPs with a mean particle size of 150 nm were formed using the walnut leaf extract

Effect of moderate-intensity aerobic training on alkaline phosphatase gene expression and serum markers of bone turnover in sedentary postmenopausal women

Background: Studies show that aerobic exercise prevents osteoporosis in menopause by stimulating osteoblastic cells. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 12 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on alkaline phosphatase gene expression, serum levels of alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, and calcium in sedentary women. Methods: This investigation is a semi-experimental study that was performed in September 2015 at Urmia University, Iran. The statistical population was all healthy and sedentary postmenopausal women 50 to 65 years old in Urmia city. Twenty sedentary postmenopausal women with an average age 60.12±2.12 yr, weight 72.35±10.50 kg, and body mass index 29.46±3.24 kg/m2 voluntarily and bona fide participated in this study, and then subjects were randomly divided to the Exercise/E (10 women) and Control/C (10 women) groups by random sampling method. E group performed of 12 weeks walking and jogging moderate-intensity aerobic exercise at 65-70% maximal heart rate of training, three sessions per week and per session 50-60 (min), but the C group participated in no intervention. Twenty-four hours before and after the 12-week training program were taken blood samples in order to measure of alkaline phosphatase gene expression and serum markers of bone in the E and C Groups. Evaluation of gene expression and serum markers of bone were measured by real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and Auto-analyzer (Biotechnica, Italy)/ ELISA reader (Awareness Inc., USA) machines, respectively. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential (ANCOVA test) statistics using SPSS version 23 (Chicago, IL, USA) and a significance level of P≥0.05 was considered. Results: The results showed that alkaline phosphatase gene expression and parathyroid hormone after 12 weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise in between-groups were significantly increased (P=0.027 and P=0.006, respectively), while serum levels of calcium and alkaline phosphatase were not significantly different (P=0.941 and P=0.990, respectively). Conclusion: The results suggest that 12 weeks of aerobic exercise of walking and jogging at 65-70% maximal heart rate of training increases alkaline phosphatase gene expression and parathyroid hormone in sedentary postmenopausal women

Effect of iron nanoparticles on spark plasma sinterability of ZrB2-based ceramics

This study assesses the influence of added iron (Fe) nanoparticles on the sinterability, microstructure, and mechanical characteristics of SiC-enforced ZrB2 ceramics. The specimens were sintered under 30 MPa at 1700 degrees C for 5 min using the spark plasma sintering method. The SiC-free sample presented near full density; however, the incorporation of SiC led to a similar to 3% drop of the relative density. Although SiC could remove the surface oxides, the generation of a noticeable volume of gaseous phases resulted in increasing the amount of residual porosity. According to the X-ray diffractometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and field emission electron probe microanalyses studies, the ZrFe2 and FeB compounds were generated as the in situ phases in the ZrB2-Fe specimen, whereas the chemical reactions among the available constituents led to the in situ generation of graphite, FeSi2, and Zr3Fe phases in the ZrB2-SiC-Fe composite. The SiC-reinforced sample achieved a Young's modulus of 480 GPa and hardness of 29.4 GPa. Finally, the nanoindentation test was simulated using a 3D axisymmetric finite element model wherein the results obtained for the finite element modeling and load-displacement curve were in good agreement with the practical results. The mean values of elastic modulus, hardness, and stiffness in practical results were found to be 480 GPa, 29.4 GPa, and 0.72 mN/nm, while the corresponding ones in simulations were 571 GPa, 21.9 GPa, and 1.51 mN/nm, respectively.N

Nanoindentation and TEM investigation of spark plasma sintered TiB2-SiC composite

The impact of adding 20 vol% SiC on the properties of TiB2 was studied in this research. The spark plasma sintering (SPS) process was used as the preparation technique at 1850 degrees C, the resulted composite was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission electron probe micro analyzer, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and nanoindentation. The prepared composite presented a relative density of ~98.5%. XRD and TEM results confirmed the in-situ formation of graphite; no in-situ TiC could be detected in the final microstructure of the composite. Forming a low melting point compound between SiO2 and B2O3 oxides lead to the creation of wet interfaces between the ingredients. In terms of mechanical properties, the composite possessed Vickers hardness of 21.6 +/- 2.2 GPa, flexural strength of 616 +/- 28 MPa, fracture toughness of 5.3 +/- 1.2 MPa m1/2, and elastic modulus of 498 +/- 12 GPa. According to the microstructural images, crack deflection, crack branching, crack arresting, crack bridging, and grain breaking events were found to be the main toughening mechanisms in this ceramic. In addition, the nanoindentation investigation indicated the role of SiC addition in improving the elastic modulus, hardness, and wear resistance of the prepared composite.N