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Background and Objective: Patellofemoral is a pain syndrome, common among athletes and the theraputic regiment based on the improvement of muscle involved in this disorder. This study was done to compare electromyography activity of the vastus medialis obliques and vastus lateralis longus during squat with isometric hip adduction in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome and healthy athletes.

Materials and Methods: This case – control study was carried out on 16 national team male athletes (volleyball, handball and taekwondo) aged 30-18 years with patellofemoral pain syndrome and 16 healthy male athletes. Subjects were matched based on weight, height, age, dominant of lower extremity and voluntarily participated. Electromyography activity of vastus medialis obliques and vastus lateralis longus muscles recorded by surface electrodes at 15, 30 and 45 knee flexion degrees. Paired t test was used to compare electromyography activities in each group and One-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test was used to compare each muscle in different angles.

Results: There was significant differences in the activity of vastus medialis obliques and vastus lateralis longus muscles in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome at 45 knee flexion degree (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the muscle activities in healthy athletes at none of the knee flexion degrees. There were significant differences in the activity of vastus medialis obliques (P<0.05) and vastus lateralis longus (P<0.05) muscles at 45 degrees in comparison with muscle activities in each group in knee flexion degrees.

Conclusion: Electromyography activity of the vastus medialis obliques in healthy athletes during squat with isometric hip adduction at 45 knee flextion is greater than other degrees and in athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome is greater than healthy athletes.

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Background and Objective: According to world health organization statistics, at least 5.2% of world population is carrier for a main hemoglobin disorder. Previous reports showed that more than 10% of people are carrier for beta-thalassemia Northern Iran. This study was done to determine the prevalance of hemoglobinopathies in premarriage individuals referred to Babolsar, Iran.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on 8500 individuals  (4200 women and 4300 men) whome were attended the thalassemia counseling program in Babolsar, North of Iran during 2006-09. After performing the CBC test, for those MCV and MCH were less than 80 and 27 respectively, Hemoglobin A2 was evaluated. Subjects whome were volunteers for more comprehensive tests, basic and acidic electrophoresis and genetic tests were applied, subsequently.

Results: 1200 (14.11%) subjects had low hematological indexes. 474 (5.57%) subjects had high HbA2 and were classified as beta-thalassemia carriers and 726 (8.54%) had normal HbA2 level and were classified as alpha-thalassemia carriers. 6 (1.2%) subjects were identified with HbF level more than 10 and were identified as carriers for beta-gene cluster deletion carrier. Also, 16 (3.2%) individuals had HbE, 16 (3.2%) had HbS, 4 had HbD and 4 had HbH (0.33% in 1200 and 0.047% in 8500 subjects). Genetic study of 317 individuals for beta carriers and 145 subjects for alpha-carriers showed IVSII-1G>A (74.5%) in beta-globin and single gene deletion of 3.7 (47.5%) in alpha-globin genes were the most frequent mutations.

Conclusion: This study showed that carriers for alpha - thalassemia (8.5%) are more frequent compared with beta- thalassemia (5.57%). Also other hemoglobin variants included HbS, HbE, HbD or different beta-gene cluster deletions in the region are considerable and should be screened.

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Background and Objective: Some problems such as low viability and apoptosis after injection to the body because of exposure to toxic factors such as hypoxia, thermal stress, oxidative stress and food deprivation are encountered with stem cell application. It is suggested that preconditioning of the cells with cytotoxic factors before injection could enhance their efficiency. This study was done to determine the mesenchymal stem cell proliferation exposed to hypoxia by cobalt chloride. Methods: In this experimental study, Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from rat bone marrow and cultured at least for four times. The cells were cultured in 96 well plates and treated with different concentration (0, 5, 10, 20, 50, 70, 90, 100, 120, 150 and 200 µM) of cobalt chloride for 6, 12, 24 and 46 hours. Cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay [3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-Yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide]. Results: The cells isolated from bone marrow were propagated easily in culture condition. The cells morphology was not altered after exposure to cobalt chloride. Preconditioning of mesenchymal stem cells with 120 µM for 6 hours, 20µM for 12 and 24 hours and 5µM for 48 hours significantly improved cell proliferation after hypoxia in cell culture (P<0.05). Conclusion: Hypoxia preconditioning increases proliferation of mesenchymal stem cell.

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Background and Objective: The spathe of phoenix dactylifera contains protein, fatty, fiber, sugar, moisture, furfural, coumarin, organic compounds of camphor family, phytosterols, 1, 2-Di methoxil 1, 4-Di methyl benzene. This study was done to evaluate the effect of alcoholic extract of phoenix dactylifera spathe on seminiferous tubules and spermatogenesis in adult male rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 50 adult male rats were randomly allocated into five groups including: control, sham and expermintal groups 1, 2 and 3. Animals in control group did not receive any treatment. Animals in sham group were received 0.2 ml normal saline intraperitoneally. Animals in experimental group 1, 2 and 3 were received 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 g/kg/bw of alcoholic extract of phoenix dactylifera spathe intraperitoneally, respectively. After 14 days of study, the testis was removed and the sections of tissue were prepared. Testosterone hormone measured by Gamma counter method. Results: Serum levels of testosterone and the spermatozoa count were significantly reduced in the experimental groups in compared to control and sham groups (P<0.05). The count spermatogonia, primary spermatocyte, spermatid, sertoli and leydig cells and seminiferous tubules structures did not reduce in the experimental groups in compared to control and sham groups. Conclusion: Phoenix dactylifera Spathe alcoholic extract at doses of minimum and medium in adult male rats reduces sera level of testosterone and spermatozoa number.

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Background and Objective: Life style with Low activity and overweight increased the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This study was done to evaluate the effect of ginger supplementation on Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) changes and delayed muscle soreness following exhaustive eccentric exercise on overweight girls.
Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 22 overweight girls were randomly divided into the two groups including intervention (n=12) and control (n=10) groups. For subjects in interventional group were used a daily supplement of 2 grams of ginger powder, each serving a capsule, containing one gram of ginger powder  and subjects in control group were received  daily two capsules containing starch, for two weeks. Physical activity was performed consisting of two sessions of exhausting activity (negative tilt on treadmill, one session before supplementation and one session after two weeks of supplementation). Blood samples were measured in order to measure changes in LDH in four stages and the use of the pain questionnaire for evaluation of delayed muscular brittleness in both pre and post gingival supplementation. Pain scale (visual analogue scale: VAS) was used to measure the delay fatigue.
Results: The results showed that extrinsic exercise increased LDH and delayed muscle soreness after exercise (P<0.05). Also, taking two weeks of ginger supplementation significantly reduced LDH and delayed muscle soreness in the supplement group in comparison with controls (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Ginger can reduces the muscle gain and delayed onset muscle soreness resulting from eccentric exercise in overweight girls.

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Background and Objective: One of the most common malalignments of the knee joint is valgus. This study was done to determine the effect of using graded knee brace at two angles of 60 and 30 degrees on the ground reaction force components in males with genu valgus during landing.
Methods: This clinical trial study was done on twenty males with genu valgus with age range of 21.70±2.12 years. The graded knee brace was used in two flexion angles of 60 and 30 degrees. Landing from a platform with 40 cm height on a force plate was done during three conditions including without brace, with a brace at flexion angles of 30 and 60 degrees.
Results: A significant reduction was observed in the vertical force during contact phase while landing with brace at a 60-degree angle compared with landing without brace by 15.21% (P<0.05). Also, the peak of medio-lateral force during the heel contact phase while landing with knee brace at 30 degree was significantly greater than that landing with knee brace at 60 degree by 27.18 % (P<0.05).
Conclusion: By reducing the knee flexion angle, the forces of the lower extremities increase and this issue could possibly increase the risk of injury in the knee joint. Therefore, the use of this type of brace is recommended for individuals with genu valgum at a 60 degrees limiting angle.

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Background and Objective: Genu varus deformity is associated with changes of lower limb muscle co-contraction and running economy. This study was done to evaluate the effect of using of brace in three different knee flexion angles on running economy and lower limb muscular co-contraction in individuals with genu varus.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was done on active soccer male students including 15 healthy subjects (average age of 22.86±1.55 years) and 15 subjects with genu varus (average age of 22.13±1.80 years). The amount of electrical activity of the muscles (tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, semi-tendinosus) were recorded by electromyography system during four conditions of with and without using knee brace. After that, directed and general co-contraction was computed during running. The angles of brace were 15, 30, and 60 degrees. The values of VO2 max were recorded using of gas analyzer system to compute running economy.
Results: The ratio of respiratory exchange was significantly more in the genu varus group than healthy group (P<0.05). However, the acute effect of brace was not significant on running economy and ratio of respiratory exchange. The main effect of brace was significant for general co-contraction of knee joint during the loading phase (P<0.05). Paired wise comparison revealed significant greater general knee co-contraction during brace conditions (P<0.05). However, the general knee co-contraction during loading phase reduced while using brace 15 degree. The main effect of “brace” for ankle joint general co-contraction during the push-off phase was significant (P<0.05). Paired wise comparison revealed significant greater general ankle co-contraction during brace conditions at push-off phase (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Knee brace did not change running economy. However, the using of brace 15 degree improved general knee joint co-contraction during loading phase.

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Background and Objective: Foot pronation could increase injury occurrence during running. This study was done to investigate the effect of shoes with spikes containing two different stiffness on frequency spectrum of muscles during running in patients with pronated feet.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was done on15 pronated feet runners with mean age of 27.2±6.4 years. Running was done in two conditions including double density and usual spikes Track and field shoes with between rests of 5 minutes. A wireless 8 channels electromyography system (UK) with bipolar electrodes was used to record the electrical activity of the lower limb muscles. Electrodes were located on tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, vastus medialis, retus femoris, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and gluteus medius muscles in accordance with SENIAM European protocol.
Results: Frequency content of tibialis anterior and gluteus medius at loading phase were significantly greater during running with spikes double density Track and field shoes compared with usual spike shoes (P<0.05). The frequency content of muscles did not demonstrate any significant differences during running with spikes double density Track and field shoes compared with usual spike shoes at both mid-stance and push-off phases.
Conclusion: The double density spikes track and field shoes increased frequency content of tibialis anterior and gluteus medius muscles during loading phase that could be associated with shock absorption.

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Background and Objective: Opium use is one of the most common problems that impose significant social, psychological, and economic burdens on societies. Understanding the factors involved in the treatment of opium use is essential. This study aimed to evaluate inhibitory response and impulsivity in opium users.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 170 opium users (139 men and 31 women) who visited the Methadone Maintenance Treatment Center in Gorgan, Iran during 2022, selected through convenience sampling. The Stop Signal Task (SST) was used to assess participants' inhibitory response, and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) was used to measure impulsivity levels.
Results: The average overall impulsivity score was 67.8±11.85. The average correct responses were 45.09±5.67, incorrect responses were 4.51±3.95, and delays were 0.96±2.32. The mean response time to each stimulus was 1290±512.83 milliseconds. There was a statistically significant correlation between impulsivity dimensions and age, correct responses and education level, and response time for inhibitory control with age and education level (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant correlation between the various dimensions of inhibitory response and impulsivity (cognitive impulsivity, non-planning impulsivity, and motor impulsivity) and overall impulsivity.
Conclusion: Opium users are generally impulsive. Additionally, younger individuals and those with lower education levels are more impulsive compared to others.

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Background and Objective: Individuals with a history of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury are at a higher risk of re-injury compared to healthy individuals. ACL-injured patients exhibit weaker longitudinal arches and increased foot pronation compared to healthy individuals. This study aimed to determine the effect of short-term use of anti-pronation insoles on plantar pressure variables following ACL reconstruction (ACLR) with a pronated foot during gait.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 15 male participants who had undergone ACLR with a pronated foot (mean age= 23.2±4.5 years) and 15 healthy males (mean age= 22.7±4.3 years) in Ardabil, Iran during 2022. Plantar pressure values during gait with and without the use of anti-pronation insoles were recorded and compared using a foot scanner (sampling rate: 300 Hz).
Results: The effect of the group factor on the big toe plantar pressure variable was statistically significant (P<0.05). Pairwise comparison results demonstrated a significant increase in pressure in the ACLR group (154.63±41.71 N/cm²) compared to the healthy group (126.54±26.57 N/cm²) (P<0.05). Intragroup comparison results revealed a significant decrease in pressure on the second to fifth toes (215.73±60.74 N/cm²) and the first plantar (420.58±107.56 N/cm²) when using anti-pronation insoles compared to the non-insole condition (the second to fifth toes (201.57±76.21 N/cm²) and the first plantar (400.78±118.20 N/cm²) in the ACL reconstruction group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The use of anti-pronation insoles can effectively reduce plantar pressure after ACLR in individuals with a pronated foot during gait.