Jorjani Biomedicine Journal

Effects of eight weeks of Pilates exercise on serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, Omentin-1, and lipid profile in overweight women

Mojdeh Khajehlandi

Background: Insufficiency of omentin-1 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels is associated with obesity, which is known as a threat to health. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the effect of eight weeks of Pilates exercise on the serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, omentin-1, and lipid profile in overweight women.
Methods: In the present clinical study, 26 young overweight women were divided (block randomization method) into the Pilates exercise (PT, n= 13) and control group (CG, n= 13). The PT group performed Pilates exercises for eight weeks (three 60-min sessions per week). The movements started from simple and then increased in intensity and complexity based on the Borg index. The CG group had no training session for eight weeks. Blood samples were taken before the first training session and 48 hours after the last training session. Analysis of covariance was used for between-group comparisons.
Results: Findings showed a significant increase in the serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (p=0.008, SD= 4.78±0.12 ng/ml, effect size= 0.243) and HDL-C (p=0.04, SD= 6.44±1.05 mg/dl, effect size= 0.168), but a significant decrease in HOMA-IR (p=0.001, SD= 1.54±0.09, effect size=0.199), cholesterol (p=0.001, SD= 16.72±3.24 mg/dl, effect size= 0.326), and triglyceride (p=0.001, SD= 2.46±0.07 mg/dl, effect size= 0.209), and no significant change in omentin-1 (p=0.65, SD= 3.01±0.08 ng/ml) and LDL-C (p=0.58, SD= 2.46±0.07 mg/dl) serum levels in the PT group compared to the CG group.
Conclusion: It seems that this type of exercise training may play a critical role in controlling the health parameters and physiological status of the overweight women by having positive effects on serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and lipid profile, which are affected by body composition, weight, and fat.

Long-term pulmonary assessment in Iranian severe COVID-19 ICU survivors in 2020-2021: A Cohort Study

mahila monajati

Background: Severe coronavirus infections may lead to long-term effects, such as persistent lung dysfunction and residual involvement. This study aimed to evaluate pulmonary function tests (PFT) and chest computed tomography (CT) scans of severe COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) survivors one year after discharge.
Methods: A cohort study was conducted, assessing spirometry and chest CT scans in patients with severe COVID-19 admitted to the ICU. Patients with pre-existing lung disease were excluded. Initial laboratory tests, clinical information, and medication (antivirals and corticosteroids) were reported in patients with and without fibrosis on chest CTs.
Results: Thirty patients (57% female) with a mean (SD) age of 50 (13.5) years were included. Initial pulmonary involvement had a mean score of 16 (±4), with ground-glass opacification (GGO) observed in all patients, consolidation in 88%, and pneumomediastinum in 10% of patients. One-year chest CT scans revealed mild fibrotic changes in 70% of patients, presenting as a fibrotic band (47%) or a fibrotic band with GGO (23%). Patients with fibrosis had lower serum albumin levels, lower platelet counts, and were older. One-year follow-up spirometry showed that 73% had normal results, 20% had mild obstruction, and 7% exhibited a hyperreactive airway pattern. Spirometry parameters did not significantly differ between the fibrosis and non-fibrosis groups.
Conclusion: Most patients who survived severe COVID-19 infection showed significant improvement in one-year follow-up chest CT scans, and their PFT was not severely impaired. Importantly, our findings indicate no association between the severity of initial lung involvement, medication use, and follow-up chest CT results.

Impact of high-fat diet and resistance training on oxidative stress and cardiac health in rats

Abdolhossein Taheri Kalani

Background: When metabolic demands increase due to an obesity-induced high-fat diet (HFD), mitochondrial function is impaired, production can increase, and oxidative stress occurs. This type of stress has been shown to play a key role in various pathological conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and cancers. This study aims to evaluate the impact of HFD and resistance training (RT) on oxidative stress biomarkers and cardiac health in rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 21 male Wistar rats (weighing 200-300 g) were randomly and equally assigned into the following groups: control (CTRL), HFD, and HFD+ RT. Animals in the HFD groups received a high-fat diet for 23 weeks. During the treatments, rats in the HFD+ RT group, besides receiving a high-fat diet, performed the progressive RT protocol three times per week with 30- 100% of their body mass in the last eight weeks. At the end of the treatments, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in cardiac tissue were measured by colorimetric method. The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s post hoc test at a significant level of P<0.05.
Results: HFD did not alter levels of SOD, GPX, TAC, or MDA in cardiac tissue. Cardiac SOD (P=0.021), GPX (P=0.024), and TAC (P=0.041) levels in the HFD+ RT increased significantly compared to the HFD group, but there was no significant difference in cardiac MDA levels between the three groups (P=0.438).
Conclusion: RT seems to improve cardiac tissue oxidative stress adaptations in an animal model fed with an HFD.

Effect of phenelzine and serotonin on RAW264.7 macrophage cell viability

Afifeh Jaefari

Background: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter with extensive physiological effects on the Central Nervous System (CNS) and various biological functions, including the regulation of immunity through 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors (5-HTRs) expressed by immune cells such as macrophages. Phenelzine, a medication used in managing treatment-resistant depression, acts as a potent monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). This enzyme metabolizes serotonin into 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). Antidepressants e.g., Phenelzine may benefit patients with neurological disorders, who can also be prone to immune-related conditions and cancer. This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of Phenelzine, serotonin, and 5-HIAA on RAW264.7 macrophages.
Methods: We cultured RAW264.7 macrophages as a model that could express transporter receptors and enzymes associated with serotonin. We utilized MTT assay to evaluate the survival of RAW264.7 cells exposed to different concentrations of Phenelzine, serotonin, and 5-HIAA, pre-treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
Results: Our findings revealed that LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells exhibited increased resistance to the cytotoxic effects of Phenelzine. Treatment with serotonin resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in RAW264.7 cell proliferation. In contrast, 5-HIAA did not significantly impact cell viability.
Conclusion: The present study reveals the effect of Phenelzine and serotonin on viability of RAW264.7 macrophages, particularly in the context of inflammation. It demonstrates increased resistance to the cytotoxic effects of Phenelzine in RAW264.7 cells treated with LPS. Our study contributes to a broader understanding of the potential systemic impacts of antidepressant medications and the intricate interplay between the serotonergic system and immune responses.

Agenda setting analysis for social health policies of the ministry of health of Iran based on Kingdon's Multiple Streams Model

Abdolreza Bay

Background: The Ministry of Health has prioritized social health interventions to enhance the social capital within health systems. This study analyzes the implementation of Iran's Ministry of Health's social health policies based on Kingdon's model.
Methods: This qualitative study, conducted in 2022, utilized Kingdon's (2003) model as the research framework. Data were collected through in-depth personal interviews with 15 managers and scientific and executive experts from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Interior, the governorate, universities of medical sciences, and non-governmental organizations. Sampling was purposive, and interviews were analyzed using the frame analysis method.
Results: The findings were categorized into three main themes and ten sub-themes which include the problem, policy, and the political stream. The problem stream, focus on definition of social health among stakeholders, addressing the nature of social health, exploring the impacts of social health on society members' roles, duties, and social activities, and clarifying communication regarding the concepts of social health for ministry managers and employees. The policy stream, emphasized on people's participation is a primary health care (PHC) principle, Laws highlighting the social dimension of health, and the potential utilization of NGO capacities within the country. The political stream highlighted the Social Vice-Chancellorship in the Ministry of Health with the onset of the 11th government, and the formation of the General Directorate of Non-governmental Organizations within the Social Vice-Chancellorship.
Conclusion: Despite the critical need for social health policies and the requirements set by upstream laws, the complexity and multi-dimensionality of social health have hindered successful policy implementation. To attract interdisciplinary leadership and cross-sectoral support, it is recommended that a dedicated trustee within the Ministry of Health be appointed and practical measures for promoting healthy social behaviors be implemented by identifying and monitoring social health indicators be implemented.

The effect of eight weeks of resistance training with spirulina platensis supplementation on the RAGs/Rheb/mTORC/S6K pathway in male rat kidneys

Seyed Mohsen Avandi

Background: Resistance training and protein supplementation are known to increase protein synthesis and hypertrophy, primarily through the activation of the mTORC1 signaling pathway. However, mTORC1 activation in the kidneys can potentially lead to kidney disease. This study investigates the effects of eight weeks of resistance training combined with Spirulina platensis supplementation on the RAGs/Rheb/mTOR/S6K pathway in male rat kidneys.
Methods: In this study, 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: control (Co; n = 8), Spirulina platensis (SP; n = 8), resistance training (RE; n = 8), and Spirulina platensis + resistance training (SP+RE; n = 8). The resistance training group engaged in five sessions per week over eight weeks. Spirulina was administered at a dosage of 200 mg/kg/day to the supplement and SP+RE groups. Gene expression was analyzed using real-time PCR following the last training session.
Results: The mTOR gene expression significantly increased in the SP group (p = 0.01), while no significant changes were observed in the RE and SP+RE groups. Rheb gene expression did not show significant changes across any groups. Significant changes were noted in the RAGs gene in the SP group (p = 0.001), RE group (p = 0.047), and SP+RE group (p = 0.025). The S6K gene showed significant changes in the SP group (p = 0.01) but not in the other groups.
Conclusion: Spirulina supplementation may activate the mTORC1 signaling pathway in the kidneys, potentially contributing to kidney disease progression. However, combined resistance training and Spirulina supplementation did not show changes in mTORC1 expression, suggesting that this combination might prevent further kidney tissue damage in athletes.