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Background and Objective: In pathogenesis of beta major thalassemia, tissue damage is occurring due to oxidative stress. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of vitamin E supplementation on serum Paraoxonase, SOD, GPX enzyme activity and lipid profiles in beta major thalassemia patients. Materials and Methods: In this clinical tiral study, Sixty (25 males, 35 females) beta major thalassemia patients with age≥18 years who had criterias to enter the study, were selected randomely in two groups. The patients in interventional group, vitamin E at a dose of 400 mg/day were given for three months, with no supplementations in control group. The enzyme activities of paraoxonase, SOD, GPX and lipid profiles (LDL-c, HDL-c, triglyceride, total Antixidant Capacity) were measured prior and after 3 months in both case and control groups. Data analyzed by using paired t-test. Results: Significant increases in serum levels of vitamin E, Paraoxonase activity, HDL cholesterol (P<0.001), BMI (P≤0.001) and a significant reduction in GPX activity (P<0.05) were observed in cases compared to controls. Conclusion: The vitamin E supplementation may be useful in reducing oxidative stress and lipid profiles in beta major thalassemic patients.

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Aging is an inevitable process, which is associated with the development of various diseases such as cardiac hypertrophy. Hypertrophy can occur in both pathological and physiological form. Both types can be divided into a variety of eccentric and concentric types. In the present review, we present the effects of aging and exercise on patological and physioligac cardiac hypertrophy, oxidative stress and some of the mitogen-activated protein kinases with using 79 articles which acceable in pubmed and SID indexing which published during 1976-2016. If the age is associated with inactivity, leads to pathological heart hypertrophy. Meanwhile, the role of the protein family of kinases activated with mitogen and oxidative stress is important. Adolescence, if accompanied by low activity, can lead to increase oxidative stress through mitochondrial dysfunction. Oxidative stress can affect the activity of MAPKs. MAPKs have important role in wide variety of biological events, such as proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, mobility, survival and apoptosis. The tipping point of signal transduction and the regulation of these biological events bigin initially by the four MAPK subunits, including extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1 / 2), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK1, -2.3) kinase P38 (A, B, y, S) and large MAPKs (BMKs or ERK5s). This paper focuses on two types of ERK1 / 2 and P38 that play an important role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. ERK1 / 2 and P38 amounts change with aging. These changes are associated with the development of pathological hypertrophy. Sports activities can control the pathological pathway of hypertrophy and can lead to physiological hypertrophy. Exercise can control or reduce oxidative stress, ERK1 / 2 and P38 and ultimately can affect cardiac hypothyroidism.

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Background and Objective: Lung volume loss, airway obstruction and air flow limitation, and also hypertension are risk factors for mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study was done to determine the effect of supplementation of saffron and exercise training on blood pressure changes, pulmonary function and spirometric indices in obese and overweight women affected by type 2 diabetes.

Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, forty-eight type 2 diabetic obese and overweight women were non randomly divided into four equal groups including placebo, saffron + training, training + placebo, saffron plus placebo). The saffron group + training and training + placebo groups did aerobic training with intensity of 60-75% of maximal heart rate for 8 weeks (three sessions per week). A daily dose of 400 mg of saffron sprout powder (once a day) was used for two months. The variables were measured in the pre-test, 48 hours and two weeks after the last training session.

Results: Intra-group results showed a significant increase in pulmonary function variables (VO2max, FVC, FEV1, FVC/FEV1, PEF, MVV), and significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and anthropometric indices (weight, BMI, and body fat percentage) in all three groups of exercise, saffron and practice + saffron (P<0.05). However, the results intra-group showed a significant difference in the above variables between the exercise + saffron supplement group in compared to other intervention groups (P<0.05), also, the highest effect was observed in the exercise + supplemental group.

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, saffron with exercise led to significant improvement in pulmonary volume and capacities, as well as a decrease in blood pressure in obese and overweight women affected by type 2 diabetes.

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Background and Objective: Proprioceptors of the plantar surfaces of the foot have less efficiency and the stimulation and reinforcement of them may be lead to reduction of falling risk. One of the methods to reinforce proprioceptor receptors in these individuals is using textured foot orthoses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of textured foot orthoses on frequency spectrum of lower extremity muscles, stance time and comfort in individuals over age of 55 years during walking.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was done on the 14 females and 14 males age ranged of 56-70 years with the ability to walk independently and with physical and mental health status. Subjects were compared during five conditions including without foot orthoses and using four foot orthoses (including small and large foot orthoses with two types of flexible and rigid), flexible and rigid large textured foot orthoses. The 8 electrodes were located on tibialis anterior, medial gastrocnemius, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, semitendinisus, gluteus, and erector spinae in 3 lumbar vertebrae region muscles.
Results: Frequency content of tibialis anterior and vastus medialis was significantly increased in males than female (P<0.05). Vastus medialis frequency during walking with large foot orthoses was more than walking without foot orthoses (P<0.05). The comfort level was different during flexible large textured foot orthoses condition compared with flexible small textured foot orthoses condition (P<0.05). The stance time was not significant between all conditions.
Conclusion: Increased frequency content of the vastus medialis muscle can increase the absorption and decrease the vertical loading rate imposed on the foot, which in turn reduces the risk of injury of the lower limb in older adults.

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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: People with asthma are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and increased risk of death. Asthma is associated with the structure and function of vessel changes. In this regard, MicroRNAs, AKT and VCAM play an important role in endothelial function. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 12 weeks of interval training on expression of mir-126, mir-1185 AKT and VCAM in cardiac tissue rats with allergic asthma.
Methods: This experimental study was performed on 15 Wistar rats. Animals were randomly allocated into three groups (n=5) including healthy control, asthma control and asthmatic interval training. Ovalbumin solution was injected subcutaneously 3 times per week to asthma groups, and suffering from asthma was confirmed by increasing the amount of IgE. The asthma group participated in 8-week exercise training. The rats were anesthetized at the end of 8 weeks and then their heart tissue was isolated by surgical instrument and immediately placed in nitrogen fluid. Expression of mir-126, mir-1185, AKT and VCAM in rats cardiac tissue were evaluated.
Results: AKT and VCAM expression was significantly increased in asthma control group compared to healthy control group (P<0.05). mir-126, AKT and VCAM expression were significantly increased in asthmatic interval training group in compared to asthma control group (P<0.05) while Mir-1185 was significantly reduced in asthmatic interval training group in compared to asthma control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Interval training by increasing mir-126, by reducing the expression of mir-1185, AKT, and VCAM reduces the risk of atherosclerosis in rats affected with asthma.

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Background and Objective: One of the most important concerns in children is self- medication that may cause in delay the correct diagnosis, and increases morbidity and mortality. This study was performed to determine the frequency of self-medication of parents in children in need of medical care in Gorgan city.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 270 children referred to the pediatric clinic of Taleghani Hospital in Gorgan, northern Iran during 2018-19. Medications were given to the children by their parents arbitrarily without prescriptions by doctors during the recent week were evaluated.
Results: 58.5% and 41.5% of children were males and females, respectively. The average age of children was 5.79 ±4.15 years. Self-medication was the first choice of 60.4% of parents. In the recent week, 48.9% of parents had self-medicated to treat their child's current illness, of which 31.8% reported antipyretic, 17.4% herbal medicines, 11.4% antibiotics and 23.5% other medicines. 91% of parents were unaware of correct dose of drugs and 96.3% did not have any knowledge about possible side effects of drugs, contraindications and precautions. There was a statistically significant association between parent job (self-employment) and self-medication (P<0.05).
Conclusion: 48.9% of parents were performed self-medication on their children. Out of those parents 91% and 96.3% were not aware from the correct drugs dosage and of possible side effects, contraindications and potential risks respectively.

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Background and Objective: Genu varus is a deformity in frontal plane that in weight bearing position whiles the medial malleolus’s touch each other, the medial knee epicondyles far from each other. Genu varus is very prevalent in soccer players. This study was done to evaluate the effect of using knee brace and lateral wedge on muscular activity amplitude in male soccer players with genu varus during running.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was done on 15 right-footed male soccer players with genu varus and 15 healthy soccer players. A wireless electromyography system with eight pairs of bipolar Ag/AgCl surface electrodes (20 mm center-to-center distance; input impedance of 100 MΩ; and common-mode rejection ratio of >110 dB) was used to record the activity of the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius medialis, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris, and gluteus medius muscles of the right leg. Electromyography data were recorded by sampling rate of 1000 Hz in selected muscles during running at five conditions including: control, 10 degrees lateral wedge, 15 degrees lateral wedge, simultaneous using 30 degrees brace and 10 degrees lateral wedge, and simultaneous using 30 degree brace and 15 degrees lateral wedge.
Results: Treatment intervention had reduction effect on muscular amplitude of biceps femoris and vastus lateralis during push-off phase (P<0.05). Muscular amplitude of biceps femoris and vastus lateralis during loading phase was reduced due to Treatment intervention (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Simultaneous using of lateral wedge and knee brace reduce the electromyography activity of vastus lateralis and biceps femoris muscles. This reduction may be associated with passive support of knee brace that in result could decrease the external knee adductor mowment.

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Background and Objective: Hemoptysis is defined as the expectoration of blood from the lower respiratory tract. Bronchiolitis, bronchogenic carcinoma, and bronchiectasis are the most common causes of hemoptysis in developed countries, while infections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis are the most common cause in endemic countries. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of causes of hemoptysis and some related factors.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was done on 68 patients (37 men and 31 women, average age 56.85±17.27 years) who were referred to the Shahid Sayyad Shirazi Hospital in Gorgan, north of Iran during 2014-16 with the complaint of hemoptysis. Demographic information, cause of hemoptysis and history of illness or drug abuse were extracted from the patients’ records.
Results: Based on the results, 42.6%, 45.6%, and 17.6% of the patients had a history of smoking, drug abuse, and diabetes, respectively. The most frequent causes of hemoptysis were bronchiectasis (25%), pneumonia (20.6%), tuberculosis, and lung cancer (16.4%). Gender was determined as an independent risk factor for hemoptysis (P<0.05). The most common causes of hemoptysis were bronchiectasis, lung cancer and pneumonia in men, and tuberculosis and bronchiectasis in women. Age, drug abuse, smoking, and diabetes had no significant association with the occurrence of hemoptysis.
Conclusion: Bronchiectasis, tuberculosis, and lung cancer are the main causes of hemoptysis, and gender is an independent risk factor for hemoptysis in the study area.
 

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Background and Objective: Puberty is a period of transition from childhood to adulthood which is accompanied by physiological changes. Menarche age is an important puberty indicator for assessing growth status. Growth and maturity of the genitals are essential for a girl's reproductive health. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between uterine sonographic characteristics and dimensions with menarche and puberty in girls.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 76 healthy girls (aged 9-16 years) who were referred to the endocrinology clinic of Taleghani Hospital in Gorgan (Iran) during 2017-2020. Height, weight and age were recorded and uterine and ovarian dimensions were measured by pelvic sonography.
Results: There was a significant positive correlation between menarche age (r=0.79, P=0.001) and ovarian length (r=0.81, P=0.007), ovarian volume and the length of the largest side of the uterus (r=0.77, P=0.001). Height had a significant positive association with menarche age (b=0.082, P=0.002) and ovarian length in the second place (b=0.097, P=0.004). But there was an inverse relationship between menarche age and girls' weight.
Conclusion: An increase in the menarche age increases the size of the uterus and its volume.
 

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Background and Objective: Micro-ribonucleic acids (microRNAs) have introduced a new field in the molecular diagnosis of cancer. However, the role of circulating microRNAs in the plasma/serum of colorectal cancer patients is still unclear. This study was conducted to determine the expression of let-7d microRNA in patients with colorectal cancer.
Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 40 patients with colorectal cancer and 40 healthy people. In this study, 7 mL blood samples were collected from patients with colorectal cancer (both before and after tumor resection) and healthy individuals (only once). The serum samples were isolated and stored at - 80°C until molecular analysis. MicroRNAs were extracted from serum samples, and cDNA was synthesized. Let-7d expression was examined using the RT-qPCR method. Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism v. 9 software. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, sensitivity, and specificity were also calculated for the let-7d microRNA data to introduce a diagnostic biomarker between the preoperative patient group and the control group.
Results: In the preoperative samples of the patients, the expression of let-7d microRNA was significantly lower than that of the control group (P˂0.05). The expression of let-7d microRNA significantly increased after tumor resection compared to before. The ROC analysis for let-7d microRNA in the preoperative patient group with the control group showed that the sensitivity was 33.3%, specificity was 92.3%, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.622.
Conclusion: Let-7d microRNA could potentially serve as a new noninvasive diagnostic biomarker for the early detection of colorectal cancer. However, further studies are required on this subject.