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Background and Objective: Chronic itching reduces the quality of life of patients undergoing hemodialysis. This study was done to determine the effect of chronic itching on the quality of life of patients under hemodialysis in north of Iran.

Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 111 patients with mean age of 58.36±12.7 years were randomly selected from hemodialysis centers of Golestan province from May to December 2017. Demographic data, quality of life (Itchy QOL questionnaire), Xerosis, pruritus intensity (Balaskas 1998), and laboratory tests including calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, hemoglobin and hematocrit were evaluated.

Results: The mean score of itching severity and overall quality of life was 29.27±7.46 and 41.4±10.44, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the severity of itching and the overall score of patients' quality of life (P<0.05). Correlation between severity of pruritus with symptom dimension, functional dimension and emotional dimension was significant (P<0.05). There was a significant correlation between severity of itching and Xerosis and serum calcium level (P<0.05). There was a significant correlation between Xerosis and calcium level with increased itching (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Itching reduced the quality of life in hemodialysis patients in north of Iran.

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Background and Objective: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that associated with increased serum glucose and insulin function impairment. Exercise training and saffron supplement are known as two effective factors in the prevention of the complications of type 2 diabetes. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of eight weeks of aerobic and resistance training with the consumption of saffron aqueous extract on malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase in men with type 2 diabetes.
Methods: In this clinical trial study, 36 men suffering from type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned into six groups: placebo, aerobic training, aerobic training with supplement consumption, resistance training, and resistance training with supplement consumption. Aerobic training was performed at 50-70% of maximal heart rate, and the resistance training was performed at 65-70% of the maximum replication for eight weeks. The saffron supplement was consumed at the dosage of 3 mg day-1. The concentration of malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase was measured before and after the trial after the 12-hour fasting period.
Results: Level of malondialdehyde significantly reduced in placebo and aerobic training with supplement prior to intervention (P<0.05). Level of glutathione peroxidase were significantly increased in aerobic training with supplement (P<0.05), resistance training (P<0.05) and resistance training with supplement (P<0.05) groups after intervention.
Conclusion: Aerobic and resistance training and their supplementation with saffron consumption can be regarded as an effective method to improve the peroxidase and antioxidant balance.

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Background and Objective: Cardiovascular diseases and heart failure are major diseases in developed countries. Stem cells showed specific features to play an important role in heart disease treatment. One of the most common compounds has been used to induce differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocyte is 5-Azacytidine. Medium contents of cell culture such as different glucose concentrations also influence on morphology and function of final differentiated cells. This study was done to evaluate the effect of glucose on improvement of BM-MSC differentiation into cardiomyocyte - like cells.
Methods: In this experimental study, effect of two different glucose concentrations (5 and 25mM) on the mesenchymal stem cells differentiation (MSCs) to cardiomyocytes during 21 days was evaluated. Bone marrow MSCs (BM MSCs) seeded in differentiation medium which treated with 5-aza and 5 & 25mM glucose concentrations. In next step, total RNA was extracted and cDNA synthesis was carried out. Finally, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) was done to determine level of cardiac-specific markers during differentiation process including Connexin43, α-cardiac actin, TroponinT and TroponinI.
Results: Level of cardiac-specific markers during differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to cardiomyocyte including Connexin43, α-cardiac actin, TroponinT and TroponinI in 5 and 25 mM of glucose concentration was diferent, but this diference was not significant.
Conclusion: Our results showed that two concentrations of glucose (5, 25mM) have no remarkable effect on the expression of cardiac markers during differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to cardiomyocyte.

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Background and Objective: Todays, coronary artery disease is one of the most important health issues. Antioxidants are the agents that can play important role in reducing cardiovascular diseases. The present study was done to determine the effect of resveratrol supplementation during rehabilitation exercises training on systemic inflammation factors in patients after coronary artery bypass surgery.
Methods: This clinical trial study was done on 40 patients after coronary artery bypass surgery in the heart rehabilitation center of Farshchian cardiovascular specialist hospital in Hamadan, Iran during 2016. Patients randomly assigned into four groups including control (Con; n=10), resveratrol supplementation (RS; n=10), rehabilitation exercise training (RXT; n=10), and resveratrol supplements-cardiac rehabilitation exercise training (REX; n=10). Rehabilitation exercise training was done in nonconsecutive three sessions for eight weeks in the form of endurance training at 50-70% HRmax for 15-20 min, and resistance training at 20-50 one-repetition maximum (1RM). The number of repetitions was 8-15 reps, where done based on the capacity and ability of the subject, while the subjects in supplement groups consumed daily 400 mg of resveratrol. Blood sample was done before and 48 hours after exercise training and supplementation, and concentrations of Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), Interleukin- 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in the plasma.
Results: CRP, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta and IL-6 were significantly reduced in resveratrol supplements-cardiac rehabilitation exercise training group in compared to control, resveratrol supplementation and rehabilitation exercise training groups (P˂0.05).
Conclusion: This study showed that combination of consuming resveratrol with rehabilitation exercise training in reducing some inflammatory factors was evaluated selectively, more effective than rehabilitation exercise training and resveratrol supplementation alone.

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Background and Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common progressive neurological diseases affecting the motor pathways leading to muscle fatigue. This study was done to evaluate the effect of eight weeks of aquatic exercises on fatigue, balance and functional training in male patients with multiple sclerosis.
Methods: This clinical trial study was done on 15 men with multiple sclerosis in Zahedan, south-east of Iran. The subjects selected by available and purposeful sampling method participated in research. After primary screening and reconnaissance person of bona fide, subjects randomly divided into intervention group (n=8) with average age 42.62±6.67 height 171.87±2.47 weight 69.62±12.39 and control group (n=7) with average age 30.28±7.11, height 171.57±8.05 weight 66.68±17.26. During study the patients used and follow medicinal drugs according to prescription. Subjects in interventional group were received aquatic exercises program. Aquatic exercises program consisted of 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week. The level of fatigue, balance and functional movement respectively evaluated with fatigue assessment battery for MS, Y balance and side hop jump tests.
Results: The mean of functional movement was significantly increased in interventional group in comparison with controls (P<0.05). The mean of fatigue was significantly reduced in interventional group compared to controls (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Eight weeks of aquatic exercises improves functional movement and reduce fatigue in male patients with multiple sclerosis.

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Background and Objective: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is highly prevalent in the group of autoimmune and inflammatory patients. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) plays an important role in regulating complex interactions between pancreatic beta cells and immune cells in the development of T1D. This study was performed to determine the simultaneous effect of resistance training and endothelial progenitor cell injection on blood glucose levels and protein expression of proinflammatory factors TNF-a and IL-10 in muscle tissue of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic male rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 36 male Wistar rats weighing approximately 200±20 g and six weeks old were randomly divided into six groups. Induction of diabetes was performed by intraperitoneal injection of STZ at a dose of 45 mg/kg body weight. Groups included diabetes + stem cell injection + resistance training group, diabetes + resistance training group, diabetes + stem cell injection group, control diabetic group to control the passage of time, and healthy basal and diabetic groups for defaults. Exercises were performed for 17 sessions of resistance training, including climbing ladders with increasing weight three days a week in the same laboratory conditions. Endothelial progenitor cells were cultured by femoral bone marrow aspiration and culture and then injection into the tail vein. 68 hours after the last training session, blood glucose levels were assessed by ELISA and the expression of TNF-a and IL-10 protein in muscle tissue was assessed by Western blotting.
Results: Endothelial stem cell injection, resistance training and resistance training with the simultaneous injection of endothelial stem cells significantly increased the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 in the skeletal muscle tissue of diabetic rats in compared to control group (P<0.05). Expression of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 in the skeletal muscle tissue was significantly increased in resistance training plus the simultaneous injection of endothelial stem cells group in compared to injection of stem cells and resistance training groups (P<0.05). Glucose concentration in the skeletal muscle tissue was significantly reduced in resistance training plus the simultaneous injection of endothelial stem cells group in compared to injection of stem cells and resistance training groups (P<0.05).
Conclusion: It seems that 17 sessions of resistance training reduces blood glucose level and improves inflammatory conditions in response to an increase in IL-10 and a decrease in TNF-a in a group of diabetic rats with resistance training and simultaneous injection of endothelial progenitor cells in diabetic male rats.

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Background and Objective: Spirulina (Spirulina platensis) has numerous nutritional and therapeutic benefits. This experimental study aimed to investigate the effect of spirulina on changes in the levels of liver enzymes of male BALB/c mice exposed to a high dose of acetaminophen.
Methods: In this experimental study, 42 adult male BALB/c mice were divided into seven groups of six. The toxic dose of acetaminophen 600 mg/kg body weight was considered. The control group received only a standard diet and water. The sham group was gavaged with saline solution. The third to seventh groups were treated as: acetaminophen; spirulina 600 mg/kg/bw, spirulina 300 mg/kg/bw, spirulina 600 mg/kg/bw + acetaminophen, and spirulina 300 mg/kg/bw + acetaminophen, respectively. In all groups, mice were treated with acetaminophen and spirulina powder by gavage for 14 consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after receiving the last dose of medication and deprivation of food (the animals still had access to water), the animals were anesthetized and blood samples were taken from the heart. Activity of liver enzymes including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was measured by spectrophotometry. Protein concentration was determined by the Lowry method. Catalase activity was assessed using hydrogen peroxide. The amount of malondialdehyde was measured and the total antioxidant capacity was determined by FRAP method by reducing ferric to ferro ions.
Results: The levels of serum transaminases (ALT, AST, ALP) as well as the level of total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde of the acetaminophen-treated group increased significantly compared to the control group (P<0.05). The levels of these enzymes in the group treated with S. platensis 300 mg/kg/bw + acetaminophen decreased significantly compared to the group treated with acetaminophen (P<0.05). Catalase activity in the acetaminophen group was significantly decreased compared to the control group (P<0.05).In the group of S. platensis 300 mg/kg/bw + acetaminophen, catalase activity increased significantly compared to the acetaminophen group (P<0.05). The results of experiments in two groups of spirulina and acetaminophen showed that the active ingredients of the algae at a dose of 300 worked better than 600 mg per kg of body weight in response to oxidative stress.
Conclusion: Consuming 300 mg/kg of S. platensis along with a near toxic dose of acetaminophen increases resistance to oxidative stress and injuries caused by drug poisoning by affecting the activity of enzymes and the antioxidant defense system.
 

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Renal cavernous hemangioma is a rare benign tumor. This case report describes a 44-year-old male who was incidentally found to have a renal mass during an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound. The patient's abdominal ultrasound revealed a mass, which was further evaluated with a CT scan. The CT findings suggested renal cell carcinoma. Suspecting malignancy, the patient underwent radical nephrectomy. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations ultimately diagnosed the mass as a cavernous hemangioma. Despite its benign nature, the patient was followed up with a control ultrasound three months post-surgery. This case is presented due to the significant clinical and radiological resemblance of this tumor to renal carcinomas, highlighting the importance of considering benign tumors in differential diagnoses.

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Background and Objective: Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug associated with severe psychosocial consequences and is extensively abused. This study aimed to determine the effects of four weeks of aerobic exercise and berberine supplementation on the expression of dopamine 5 receptor and poly (adenosin diphosphat [ADP]-ribose polymerase (PARP) genes in the heart tissue of methamphetamine-exposed rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 30 female Wistar rats were randomly allocated into five groups of six: Control, methamphetamine, methamphetamine + aerobic exercise, methamphetamine + berberine, and methamphetamine + aerobic exercise + berberine. Intraperitoneal injections of methamphetamine (10 mg/kg) and aerobic exercise and berberine consumption (100 mg/kg) were administered for 4 weeks during the withdrawal period. The expression levels of dopamine 5 receptor and PARP genes was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Results: There was no significant difference in PARP gene expression between the methamphetamine group (1.02±0.65) and the control group (1.02±0.24). Similarly, there was no significant difference in dopamine 5 receptor gene expression between the methamphetamine group (5.74±4.94) and the control group (4.76±2.63). The expression levels of PARP and dopamine 5 receptor genes following exercise (1.01±0.55 and 4.30±1.96, respectively), berberine supplementation (0.61±0.25 and 2.97±1.45, respectively), and the combined intervention (0.67±0.30 and 3.43±1.87, respectively) showed no significant differences between the groups.
Conclusion: Short-term methamphetamine induction did not induce significant changes in the expression of dopamine 5 receptor and PARP genes in the hearts of methamphetamine-exposed rats.