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Background&Objective: Ascorbic acid, an antioxidant vitamin, is found throughout the mammalian central nervous system. Although, the centeral role of ascorbic acid is unclear, but there is good evidence that ascorbic acid modulates opiate withdrawal syndrome. This study was done to determine the effect of ascorbic acid (A.A.) on naloxone-induced withdrawal signs in morphine-dependent guinea-pigs. Materials&Methods: In this experimental study, male guinea-pigs (300-400 g 8-10 animals/group) were rendered dependent on morphine by subcutaneous (s.c.) injections of morphine sulfate 3 times a day for 3 days, and withdrawal signs were induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of naloxone (15 mg/kg) 2 h after the tenth injection of morphine sulfate on day 4 then animals were placed individually into a cylindrical glass (25 cm in diameter, 180 cm height) and the withdrawal signs were recorded over a 60-min period. Results: Chronic pretreatment of guinea-pigs with A.A., 200 mg/kg, s.c. 3 times daily for 3 days, reduced withdrawal jumping, digging, writhing, rearing, face- washing, head and body shakes, penile licking and diarrhea. The mixed dopamine D1/D2 receptor agonist apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg, s.c.) markedly antagonized the inhibitory effect of A.A. on the withdrawal signs. The effect of apomorphine was blocked by the dopamine D1 receptor antagonist SCH23390 (0.5 and 1 mg/kg, i.p.) but not by the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist sulpiride (50 mg/kg, s.c.) nor the peripheral dopamine receptor antagonist domperidone (1 mg/kg, s.c.). Conclusion: It is concluded that chronic administration of ascorbic acid inhibits opiate withdrawal, via a central dopamine D1 receptor mechanism.

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Background and Objective: Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of musculoskeletal disability. This study was performed to determine the effect of endurance training and glucosamine consumption on Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 (IGFBP-3) gene expression in knee tissue of mice with osteoarthritis.
Methods: This experimental study was performed on 30 adult male Wistar rats. Induction of osteoarthritis of the knee was performed by surgery. The animals were randomly allocated into 5 groups and each group consisted of 6 mice. Groups include: Control, Saline, glucosamine, train and train-glucosamine. The training program for eight weeks, three sessions per week and included 29-25 minutes running on a treadmill at a speed of 15 m/ min for the first week, and each week one meter per minute was added to reach 22 m/min for the eighth week. All animals followed 12-hour fasting and 48 hours after the last session of the session, anesthetized with intraperitoneal injection of Ketamine and Xylosin. The expression of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 of cartilage was measured by Real Time PCR.
Results: Expression of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 increased to be 22% and 6% in control group compared to Saline group. Also, level of IGF-1 in exercise groups, glucosamine and exercise-glucosamine group was significantly increased compared to control group (P<0.05). The gene expression of IGFBP-3 in the exercise-glucosamine group was significantly increased compared to the control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Probably Chondrocytes secrete higher levels of IGF-1 during tissue damage that causes the structural synthesis of collagen 2 and proteoglycans and Finally, endurance training with consumption of glucose amine increases the expression of IGFBP-3 gene.

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Background and Objective: Hypertension is associated with changes in the structure and function of the vessels. This study was done to evaluate the effect of aerobic training with Garlic consumption on matrix metalloproteinase-3, 9 (MMP-3, MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in obese postmenopausal women with hypertension.
Methods: This double-blind clinical trial study was done on 36 obese postmenopausal women with hypertension. Participants were randomly divided into 4 groups including control group, Garlic consumption, aerobic training and training with Garlic consumption. Subjects in training groups participated in a progressive aerobic training for eight weeks, three sessions a week (55% to 65% of the reserved heart rate and for 30 to 55 min). Garlic and training with Garlic groups consumed 1000 mg of garlic supplement for eight weeks (after breakfast and dinner). Two days before and after the protocol, blood samples were taken in fasting state.
Results: The level of MMP-3 and MMP-9 were significantly decreased in Garlic, aerobic training and training with Garlic groups in compared to the control group (P<0.05). Also, the level of MMP-3 in the training with Garlic was significantly reduced in compared to the training and the Garlic groups (P<0.05). MMP-9 in the training with Garlic was significantly reduced in compared to the Garlic group (P<0.05). However, TIMP-1 level were significantly increased in the Garlic, training and training with Garlic in comparison with control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Aerobic training alone and in combination with Garlic affect on extracellular matrix thorough reduction of MMP-3, MMP-9 and increasing TIMP-1, improves systolic blood pressure in obese postmenopausal women with hypertension.

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Background and Objective: Aging and old age are associated with an increase in inflammatory cytokines. Due to their anti-inflammatory properties, constituents of spirulina may be able to reduce or even improve this process. This study was performed to determine the effects of endurance training and spirulina supplementation on the level of inflammatory cytokines in overweight men.
Methods: In this clinical trial, 40 overweight, middle-aged and elderly men were randomly selected and divided into 5 groups: control-normal, control-overweight, overweight + training, overweight + supplement, and overweight + training + supplement. The training program consisting of an hour of walking on a treadmill, stationary bike workout, and climbing stairs was performed at an intensity of 65% of the maximum heart rate, 3 sessions a week, for 8 weeks. Individuals in the supplement groups received a spirulina tablet (500 mg) twice daily in the morning and evening. Blood sampling was performed after 12 hours of fasting at baseline and 48 hours after the last training session. The level of inflammatory cytokines including transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: The levels of TGF-β, IL-6, and TNF-α were higher in the control-overweight group than in the healthy control-normal group (P<0.05). Training and supplementation significantly reduced the inflammatory markers in overweight men (P<0.05). Moreover, the level of inflammatory markers was significantly lower in the training + supplement group compared with the training group and the supplement group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Endurance training combined with spirulina supplementation can significantly reduce inflammatory factors in overweight individuals.