Impacts of garlic extract on testicular oxidative stress and sperm characteristics in type 1 and 2 diabetic rats: An experimental study

Background: Hyperglycemia damages various tissues such as the testes through oxidative stress and inflammation, which can eventually lead to infertility. Objective: Garlic extract effects on the testicular tissue of diabetic rats were investigated. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 36 male Wistar rats (8-wk old, weighing 230-300 gr) were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 6/each) including; C: control rats, G: received 0.4 gr of garlic extract/100 gr body weight, D1: Streptozotocin-induced-diabetic rats or type 1, D1+G: D1 rats that were treated with garlic, D2: Streptozotocin + nicotinamide-induced-diabetic rats or type 2, D2+G: D2 rats treated with garlic. At the end of the study, serum testosterone was assayed by ELISA. Also, sperm quality and quantity were evaluated. For determination of oxidative stress status, total antioxidant capacity, total oxidative status, lipid peroxidation, and thiol groups were assayed in the testis tissues of the rats by colorimetric methods. Also, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression and the protein level of interleukin-1-1β (IL-1β) were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Results: In diabetic rats, glucose, total oxidative status and lipid peroxidation, iNOS gene expression, and IL-1β were higher than in non-diabetic rats, whereas testosterone, total antioxidant capacity and thiol groups, and sperm quality were significantly lower compared with control rats. These alterations were normalized by garlic intervention. Conclusion: In diabetic rats, garlic was associated with reduced glucose, oxidative stress, IL-1β, and iNOS gene expression and increased testosterone and sperm quality. So, the results suggest that garlic can reduce the severity of damage in testicular tissues of diabetic rats through its hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, Garlic, Oxidative stress, Inflammation, Testis

Investigating the Mediating Role of Distress Tolerance in the Relationship between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Psychiatric Symptoms among Addicts

Background: This study aimed to determine the mediating role of distress tolerance in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and psychiatric symptoms among addicts. Methods: The statistical population of this study consists of addicts referring to addiction treatment clinics in Zanjan city, Iran. Using the multi-stage cluster sampling method, 150 participants were selected as a sample and completed the questionnaires. Early maladaptive schema questionnaire-short form, symptom checklist-25 (SCL-25), and the distress tolerance scale were completed by participants. Results: The findings of this study indicate a negative and significant relationship between early maladaptive schemas and distress tolerance among addicts. Also, there is a positive and significant relationship between early maladaptive schemas and psychiatric symptoms among addicts. It can be said that there is a significant negative relationship between distress tolerance and psychiatric symptoms in addicts. Conclusions: The final results of this study show that in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and psychiatric symptoms among addicts in Zanjan city, distress tolerance plays a mediating role and the model has a goodness of fit. Keywords: Distress tolerance, Early maladaptive schemas, Psychiatric symptoms, Addicts

Investigating the Mediating Role of Distress Tolerance in the Relationship between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Psychiatric Symptoms among Addicts

Background: This study aimed to determine the mediating role of distress tolerance in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and psychiatric symptoms among addicts. Methods: The statistical population of this study consists of addicts referring to addiction treatment clinics in Zanjan city, Iran. Using the multi-stage cluster sampling method, 150 participants were selected as a sample and completed the questionnaires. Early maladaptive schema questionnaire-short form, symptom checklist-25 (SCL-25), and the distress tolerance scale were completed by participants. Results: The findings of this study indicate a negative and significant relationship between early maladaptive schemas and distress tolerance among addicts. Also, there is a positive and significant relationship between early maladaptive schemas and psychiatric symptoms among addicts. It can be said that there is a significant negative relationship between distress tolerance and psychiatric symptoms in addicts. Conclusions: The final results of this study show that in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and psychiatric symptoms among addicts in Zanjan city, distress tolerance plays a mediating role and the model has a goodness of fit. Keywords: Distress tolerance, Early maladaptive schemas, Psychiatric symptoms, Addicts

Effectiveness of Self-Control Training on Quality of Life Dimensions in Migraine Patients

Abstract Background: Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder that leads patients to avoid any kind of activities. Since different factors are involved in migraine incidence and its triggers, so drugs are used to prevent or treat it are so variable. Also, combined medications are used to relieve migraine. This study examined the effectiveness of self-control training on quality of life in patients with migraine. Materials and Methods: Statistic population of this study included all migraine patients in Ardabil in 2014(Estimation: N=1150) that 40 patients were selected by convenience sampling. Demographic and disease information questionnaire and quality of life questionnaire (SF-36) were used to collect data in clinical centers. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANCOVA) was used to analyze data, because present research was a experimental and clinical trial with pre-test and post-test with control group. Results: The results showed that there is a significant difference between mean in quality of life in migraine patients and control subjects. It means that physical health and mental health of quality of life was different between control and experimental groups after self- control training. Conclusion: Self-control training can be used to enhance quality of life in migraine patients. These results have important and effective applications in the treatment of migraine patients. Generally, specialists of clinical centers can use this method alongside other treatment interventions

Data on heavy metals and selected anions in the Persian popular herbal distillates

In this data article, we determined the concentration levels of heavy metals including Pb, Co, Cd, Mn, Mg, Fe and Cu as well as selected anions including NO3- , NO2-, PO4-3 and SO4-2 in the most used and popular herbal distillates in Iran. It is well known that heavy metals may pose a serious health hazard due to their bioaccumulation throughout the trophic chain ("Heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb) content in two fish species of Persian Gulf in Bushehr Port, Iran" (Dobaradaran et al., 2013) [1]; "Comparative investigation of heavy metal, trace, and macro element contents in commercially valuable fish species harvested off from the Persian Gulf" (Abadi et al., 2015) [2]) as well as some other environmental pollutions, "Assessment of sediment quality based on acid-volatile sulfide and simultaneously extracted metals in heavily industrialized area of Asaluyeh, Persian Gulf: concentrations, spatial distributions, and sediment bioavailability/toxicity" (Arfaeinia et al., 2016) [3]. The concentration levels of heavy metals and anions in herbal distillates samples were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS, Varian AA240, Australia) and a spectrophotometer (M501 Single Beam Scanning UV/VIS, UK) respectivel