Associations of Dietary Patterns with Colorectal Adenomas in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Cohort

BACKGROUND

Most colorectal cancers arise from adenomas, and although insulinemic and inflammatory dietary patterns have been associated with colorectal cancer risk, these dietary patterns have not been studied in relation to adenoma risk.

METHODS

Using data from 21,192 participants in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer screening cohort, we calculated the Empirical Dietary Index for Hyperinsulinemia (EDIH), Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Pattern (EDIP), and overall dietary quality measured via the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015), from food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). In multivariable-adjusted logistic regression, we investigated associations of these dietary indices with adenoma (any adenoma, advanced adenoma, n = 19,493) and recurrent adenoma (n = 1,699).

RESULTS

EDIH was not associated with adenoma or advanced adenoma but was marginally associated with recurrent adenoma. The OR (95% CI) comparing highest (lowest insulinemic) versus lowest (most hyperinsulinemic) quintiles was 0.76 (0.55-1.05) after multivariable adjustment including BMI. EDIP and HEI-2015 were not associated with any of the three outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

In the PLCO cohort, we did not observe substantial associations between dietary patterns and risk of colorectal adenomas.

IMPACT

Pending confirmation in larger prospective studies, our findings suggest that these dietary patterns may not substantially affect colorectal cancer risk via the adenoma-carcinoma sequence.

THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN COLORECTAL CANCER AND INDEX OF NUTRITIONAL QUALITY (INQ); A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

•Is the Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) associated with colon cancer? •This study compared the INQ of various dietary components between colorectal cancer patients and healthy controls. A total of 480 participants were enrolled in the study (160 patients with colorectal cancer as a case group and 320 healthy control). The results showed that CRC is significantly associated with INQ for some micronutrients. INQ can be considered as an indicator to assess clinical nutritional problems. Background - The nutritional quality of diet may influence the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study compared the Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) of various dietary components between colorectal cancer patients and healthy controls. Methods - A total of 480 participants were enrolled in the study (160 patients with colorectal cancer as a case group and 320 healthy control). An analysis was conducted on the general characteristics of the participants, their medical histories, anthropometric indicators, physical activity, alcohol consumption, reproductive history, smoking and food intake. A valid food frequency questionnaire was used to assess nutrient intake and INQ was calculated from daily nutrient intake. Results - A Significant inverse association was found between CRC and INQ for vitamins A (OR=0.01, CI: 0.01-0.01), K (OR=0.04, CI: 0.01-0.15), and B12 (OR=0.71, CI: 0.51-0.98), B5 (OR=0.43, CI: 0.00-0.01), zinc (OR=0.35, CI: 0.13-0.95), and phosphorus (OR=0.17, 0.19-0.94). The association between the INQ of vitamin B12 and zinc with colorectal cancer was disappeared after age adjustment. There was a significant negative association between CRC with the INQ of vitamins A, K, B5, phosphorus, and calcium after further adjustments for gender, BMI, menopausal status, and total energy intake. Conclusion -CRC is significantly associated with INQ for some micronutrients. INQ can be considered as an indicator to assess clinical nutritional problems.

Therapeutic Utilization of Zinc Supplementation Concurrent with Ozone Therapy Ameliorates Diabetic Foot Ulcer and Attenuates Serum Level of C-reactive Protein- A Case Report Study

Non-healing diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the main complications in diabetic patients. This case reported a 65-year-old male with a neuropathic ulcer in the right foot came to Ahwaz Wound Clinic after the wound had not healed with routine treatments. In addition to the routine treatment program, we used tropical ozone therapy and autohemotherapy (blood ozone therapy) for 2 months. Zinc supplementation (50 mg) was also administered daily during the treatment. The DFU was clearly healed with diminishing inflammation and wound closing, and there were no side effects. Additionally, the C-reactive protein level was obviously decreased during the treatment indicating effective suppression of infection. This way indicates a helpful new intervention approach to the treatment of DFU.

Synthesis and characterization of gentamicin loaded ZSM-5 scaffold: Cytocompatibility and antibacterial activity

Porous structure, biocompatibility and biodegradability, large surface area, and drug-loading ability are some remarkable properties of zeolite structure, making it a great possible option for bone tissue engineering. Herein, we evaluated the potential application of the ZSM-5 scaffold encapsulated GEN with high porosity structure and significant antibacterial properties. The space holder process has been employed as a new fabrication method with interconnected pores and suitable mechanical properties. In this study, for the first time, ZSM-5 scaffolds with GEN drug-loading were fabricated with the space holder method. The results showed excellent open porosity in the range of 70-78% for different GEN concentrations and appropriate mechanical properties. Apatite formation on the scaffold surface was determined with Simulation body fluid (SBF), and a new bone-like apatite layer shaping on all samples confirmed the in vitro bioactivity of ZSM-5-GEN scaffolds. Also, antibacterial properties were investigated against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The incorporation of various amounts of GEN increased the inhibition zone from 24 to 28 (for E. coli) and 26 to 37 (for S. aureus). In the culture with MG63 cells, great cell viability and high cell proliferation after 7 days of culture were determined.

Association between dietary antioxidant index and risk of Helicobacter pylori infection among adults: a case-control study

Backgrounds and aims

One of the most important risk factors for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is nutrition. Balanced diets with high antioxidant properties may have protective effects against the consequences of this infection. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the association between the dietary antioxidant index and the risk of H. pylori infection among adults.

Methods

In a case–control study the dietary intake of patients with H. pylori infection was compared with healthy subjects. The dietary antioxidant index (DAI) was calculated using dietary intakes derived from a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Demographic information was obtained by a related questionnaire and Physical Activity was measured by International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were used to obtain information. Using logistic regression models, we evaluated the association between the DAI and H. pylori infection risk. The significance level was determined as P < 0.05.

Results

Finally, dietary data of 148 cases and 302 controls (mean age: 38.72 ± 10.61 (were analyzed. The mean of total DAI was significantly higher in controls (7.67) when compared with H. pylori cases (3.57) (P < 0.001). After adjustment for covariates, participants with less than median DAI values had an increased risk of H. pylori onset (adjusted OR 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02–1.12, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Appropriate intake of nutrient antioxidants may have a role in decreasing the likelihood of H. pylori infection risk.

Antibacterial Activity and Cell Responses of Vancomycin-Loaded Alginate Coating on ZSM-5 Scaffold for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications

Despite the significant advancement in bone tissue engineering, it is still challenging to find a desired scaffold with suitable mechanical and biological properties, efficient bone formation in the defect area, and antibacterial resistivity. In this study, the zeolite (ZSM-5) scaffold was developed using the space holder method, and a novel vancomycin-loaded alginate coating was developed on it to promote their characteristics. Our results demonstrated the importance of alginate coating on the microstructure, mechanical, and cellular properties of the ZSM-5 scaffold. For instance, a three-fold increase in the compressive strength of coated scaffolds was observed compared to the uncoated ZSM-5. After the incorporation of vancomycin into the alginate coating, the scaffold revealed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The inhibition zone increased to 35 mm. Resets also demonstrated 74 ± 2.5% porosity, 4.3 ± 0.07 MPa strength in compressive conditions, acceptable cellular properties (72.3 ± 0.2 (%control) cell viability) after 7 days, good cell attachment, and calcium deposition. Overall, the results revealed that this scaffold could be a great candidate for bone tissue engineering.

Diagnostic sensitivity of impulse oscillometry in early detection of patients exposed to risk factors chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases

Background: Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is a method that does not depend on the cooperation of the patient and can detect small airway diseases with higher sensitivity than spirometry. However, the clinical application value of IOS in the screening of patients exposed to risk factors COPD and early diagnosis remains unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate diagnostic sensitivity of IOS in the early detection of patients exposed to risk factors COPD.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in Rasoul Akram Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from 2013 to 2015. 28 patients with COPD risk factors and normal spirometry participated in the study. The IOS was performed. We obtained the respiratory resistance and impedance of 5 Hz (R5) and 20 Hz (R20) and 5 Hz (Z5), respectively. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 17 using Chi-square and two independent sample t-test. Spearman correlation test was used to measure the correlation of oscillometry parameters in the diagnosis of COPD. P-value <0.05 was considered significantfor all statistical analyses.

Results: The mean patient age was 55.50±11.27 years. In this study, the sensitivity of Z5, R5, and R20 was respectively 28.5%, 25%, and 31.5%. All oscillometry parameters were significantly correlated with each other but none of the oscillometry parameters showed significant correlations with FEV1/FVC (rZ5=0.018, rR5=0.082, rR20=0.041 and PZ5=0.932, PR5=0.711, P R20=0.850). According to the results, only 9 patients (32.5%) with normal values of FEV1/FVC had abnormal values of oscillometry.

Conclusion: IOS has a low sensitivity and cannot be used in the screening of early-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Carbohydrate quality index: Its relationship to menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between carbohydrate quality intake and menopausal symptoms.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a cross-sectional study of 393 postmenopausal women attending municipality health houses and health centers in the south of Tehran, Iran, from September 2016 to January 2017.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The dietary intake and menopausal symptoms of the participants were assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire and a menopause rating scale (MRS) carbohydrate quality index (CQI) was calculated using three indices: dietary fiber, glycemic index, and the ratio of solid carbohydrates to total carbohydrates. Linear and logistic regressions were used to assess the relationship between CQI and menopausal symptoms.

RESULTS

After adjustment for age, education, time passed since menopause, body mass index, physical activity and energy intake, an inverse association was found between CQI and total MRS score (TMRSS) (β -0.61; p <0.001), somatic score (SS) (β -0.27; p <0.001) and psychological score (PS) (β -0.37; p <0.001) in multivariable linear regression. In addition, logistic regression analysis revealed that compared with the lowest quartile of CQI, participants in the highest quartile of CQI had a lower TMRSS (odds ratio (OR) 0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.19-0.68). Moreover, CQI was inversely related to SS (OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.17-0.68) and PS (OR 0.32; 95% CI 0.16-0.61). However, there was no significant association between CQI and urogenital score (US).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher-quality carbohydrate intake was found to be associated with lower somatic and psychological symptoms of menopause. These findings suggest that CQI may be an important basis for developing an effective dietary modification for reducing menopausal symptoms.

Association of dietary acid load with anthropometric indices in children and adolescents

PURPOSE

High dietary acid load (DAL) may have an influence on anthropometric indices. Given that there was no study on the association between DAL and anthropometric indices children and adolescents, the current study was aimed to examine the association between DAL and anthropometric indices in Iranian children and adolescents.

METHODS

Students aged 6-18 years were recruited using a multi-stage, cluster sampling method from 30 provinces of Iran. Dietary intake was assessed through a validated food frequency questionnaire. Height (Ht), weight (Wt), neck circumference (NC), waist circumference (WC), wrist circumference, and hip circumference (HC) were measured. WC-to-HC ratio (WHR), WC-to-Ht ratio (WHtR), body mass index (BMI) z-score, tri-ponderal mass index (TMI), and parental BMI were computed. Potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net endogenous acid production (NEAP) were used to estimate DAL. The association between DAL and anthropometric indices was evaluated using linear regression models.

RESULTS

In total, 5326 students (46.92% girls), with mean (standard deviations (SD)) age of 12.50 (3.14) years participated in the study (response rate: 98.13%). After adjusting for confounders, there was a significant association between NEAP and NC (P < 0.05). Also, an inverse association was observed between PRAL and NEAP with parental BMI (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our findings showed a direct association between diet-induced acid load and NC and an inverse association between DAL indices and parental BMI. More well-designed clinical studies are warranted to confirm our results and the underlying mechanisms.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level V, cross-sectional descriptive study.

Correction to: Association of dietary inflammatory potential with cardiometabolic risk factors and diseases: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Empowerment of Nurses: A Key to Stroke Patients' Satisfactions

Background

Stroke is a major cause of disability around the world. Different studies have shown the inadequate knowledge and skills of nurses to educate and manage stroke patients. Therefore, stroke patients are facing many challenges in their lifetime. In this study, we investigated the effects of nursing empowerment on stroke patients' satisfaction.

Materials and Methods

This cross-sectional study is the fifth stage (evaluation phase) of action research study that was conducted on 29 stroke patients from Alzahra hospital, Isfahan, Iran, during 2013-2014. Workshops, pamphlets, and booklets were used for nursing empowerment. The stroke patients have been trained by empowered nurses. The data gathering tool that was the researcher-made survey questionnaire included the characteristics of patients, participants' satisfaction with self-care training and nurses' performances. T-test was used for the analysis of the obtained data.

Results

Twenty-seven (93.10%) cases mentioned that "they would try to follow all the received trainings". Twenty-three (73.10%) cases were satisfied with self-care training. Majority of patients, 25 (85%) participants were satisfied with the training performances by the empowered nurses and 24 (82.80%) cases were highly satisfied with the nurses' training method.

Conclusions

Most patients were satisfied with the self-care training held by the nurses. Based on the obtained data by questionnaires, the nurses' performance and their training methods were directly associated with a high satisfaction level in stroke patients. Therefore, improving the skills and knowledge of nurses could be a potential approach for increasing the satisfaction levels among stroke patients.

Association of dietary inflammatory potential with cardiometabolic risk factors and diseases: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of observational studies

CONTEXT

The association of dietary inflammatory index (DII®), as an index of inflammatory quality of diet, with cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) and risk factors (CMRFs) has been inconsistent in previous studies.

OBJECTIVE

The current systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis was performed to investigate the association of the DII score with CMDs and CMRFs.

DATA SOURCES

All published observational studies (cohort, case-control and cross-sectional) using PubMed/Medline, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were retrieved from inception through November 2019.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two reviewers independently extracted the data from included studies.

DATA ANALYSIS

Pooled hazard ratio (HR) or odds ratio (OR) were calculated by using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

Ten prospective cohort studies (total n = 291,968) with 31,069 CMDs-specific mortality, six prospective cohort studies (total n = 43,340) with 1311 CMDs-specific morbidity, two case-control studies with 2140 cases and 6246 controls and one cross-sectional study (total n = 15,613) with 1734 CMDs-specific morbidity were identified for CMDs. Meta-analyses of published observational studies demonstrated that the highest DII score category versus the lowest DII score category was associated with 29% increased risk of CMDs mortality (HR = 1.29; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18, 1.41). Moreover, there was a significant association between the DII score and risk of CMDs in cohort studies (HR = 1.35; 95% CI 1.13, 1.61) and non-cohort study (HR = 1.36; 95% CI 1.18, 1.57). We found a significant association between the DII score and metabolic syndrome (MetS) (OR: 1.13; 95% CI 1.03, 1.25), hyperglycemia and hypertension. None-linear dose response meta-analysis showed that there was a significant association between the DII score and risk of CMDs mortality (P_nonlinearity < 0.001). Moreover, evidence of none-linear association between the DII score and risk of CMDs was not observed (p-value = 0.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Adherence to pro-inflammatory diet was associated with increased risk of CMDs, mortality and MetS.

Dietary total antioxidant capacity is inversely associated with depression, anxiety and some oxidative stress biomarkers in postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Postmenopausal women are at higher risk of mental disorders. Oxidative stress has implication in the development of these disorders. Dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) has been proposed as a tool for assessing dietary antioxidants intake. The relationship between DTAC with depression, anxiety and stress has not been investigated in postmenopausal women. Thus, we aimed to assess the association between DTAC and depression, stress and anxiety as well as oxidative stress biomarkers.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was carried out on 175 postmenopausal women. Data on dietary intake and mental health were collected by 147-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-42), respectively. Dietary and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidized-LDL, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. ANOVA test was applied to compare the mean of variables across the tertiles of DTAC. The relationship between DTAC and oxidative stress biomarkers was determined through ANCOVA method. Simple and multivariate linear regression tests were performed to measure the relationship between DTAC and mental health.

RESULTS

Serum MDA level was significantly lower in the subjects at the highest tertiles of DTAC (P-value < 0.001). In addition, serum TAC level was significantly higher in subjects at the second tertile of DTAC (P-value = 0.04). DTAC was inversely and independently related to depression (β = - 0.16, P-value = 0.03) and anxiety scores (β = - 0.21, P-value = 0.007). There was no significant association between DTAC and stress score (β = - 0.10, P-value = 0.1).

CONCLUSION

An inverse relationship was found between DTAC with depression, anxiety scores and some oxidative stress biomarkers in postmenopausal women. These findings indicate DTAC may be used for developing effective dietary measures for reducing depression and anxiety in these women.

Higher intake of dietary n-3 PUFA and lower MUFA are associated with fewer menopausal symptoms

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary fat quality and menopausal symptoms.

METHODS

We carried out a cross-sectional study with 393 Iranian postmenopausal women. Dietary intakes and menopausal symptoms were assessed, using a validated food frequency questionnaire and a menopausal rating scale (MRS) questionnaire, respectively. Participants were divided into low and high total MRS and its domain scores.

RESULTS

Women in the highest quartiles of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) had higher somatic symptoms compared with women in the lowest quartile (odds ratio [OR] 3.41; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17-9.95). Women in the highest quartiles of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (OR 0.58; 95% CI 0.32-1.05), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.37-1.20), and n-3:n-6 PUFA ratio (OR 0.49; 95% CI 0.25-0.97) had lower somatic symptoms compared to the lowest quartiles. The OR for psychological symptoms decreased from the lowest to the highest quartiles of n-3 PUFA (OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.20-1.11) and n-3:n-6 PUFA ratio (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.24-0.86). Higher intakes of EPA (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.29-0.99) and docosahexaenoic acid (OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.27-0.95) were found to be related with fewer urogenital symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Consuming diets low in MUFA intake, but high in n-3 PUFA, and with a more favorable ratio of n-3:n-6 PUFA may be helpful for improving menopausal symptoms.

Effects of grape products on blood lipids: a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Grape products through several plausible mechanisms-of-action are reported to improve lipid profile. The present systematic review revealed that grape product supplementation might have a positive effect on achieving a lipid profile target.

Effect of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Serum of High Sensitivity c-reactive Protein Level in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Possible effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplement on the serum level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remains unclear.

Objective

Therefore, this meta-analysis was conducted to investigate its effects on the serum hs-CRP level in patients with CVDs. A comprehensive search was conducted on the EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PubMed Central databases for pertinent papers in English up to November 2016. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that studied the effects of supplementation with CoQ10 on the serum of hs-CRP level in cardiovascular patients were included. We used random-effects models (the DerSimonian-Laird method) to estimate the pooled effect of selected studies and the I² test to assess the between-study heterogeneity. The subgroup analyses were carried out according to the baseline serum hs-CRP, quality assessment score, supplementation dosage, and duration of intervention. Of 205 studies, five trials were eligible for inclusion in this study with 159 participants in the ntervention and 143 participants in the placebo group. Results of the pooled analysis revealed that the CoQ10 supplementation had no significant effect on the serum level of hs-CRP compared with the placebo group (MD: 0.120; 95% = -0.944, 1.185; P = 0.825). Moreover, the subgroup analyses showed the baseline serum hs-CRP, quality assessment score, and duration of intervention can be sources of heterogeneity. The results of this study demonstrated that the beneficial effect of CoQ10 supplementation for patients with CVDs is observed in those who received this supplement for more than 12 weeks and with the baseline serum hs-CRP >3 mg/L.

Dietary total antioxidant capacity is inversely related to menopausal symptoms: a cross-sectional study among Iranian postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the association between dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) and menopausal symptoms (MS) in postmenopausal middle-aged women.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 400 postmenopausal women who referred to municipality health houses and health centers in south Tehran, Iran. Sociodemographic data and anthropometric measures such as body weight, height, and waist circumference were determined. Dietary intake was assessed using a 147-item validated food frequency questionnaire. Energy-adjusted DTAC was calculated using the US Department of Agriculture database. Individual MS was measured by the Menopause Rating Scale questionnaire.

RESULTS

Multivariable linear regression analyses indicated that DTAC was negatively associated with total Menopause Rating Scale score, somatic and psychological score, which was independent of confounding variables such as age, education, waist circumference, total physical activity, dietary intake of fiber, tea and coffee intake, total energy intake, and dietary supplement use (P < 0.001). Additionally, in logistic regression, a negative association between MS and DTAC was observed, which was independent of confounding variables (P_trend = 0.002). Logistic regression for each symptom indicated that higher DTAC was associated with reduction in hot flashes and sweating, sleep problems, anxiety, exhaustion, and difficulty concentrating. However, a significant positive association was observed between DTAC and sexual problems.

CONCLUSION

DTAC is inversely associated with MS, which could be of particular significance for somatic and psychological symptoms. These findings indicate that DTAC could be an important basis for developing an effective dietary measure for reducing MS.

Nurses' Empowerment in Self-Care Education to Stroke Patients: An Action Research Study

BACKGROUND

Self-care needs are major problems among stroke patients. Nurses can support them through interventions such as education, a change in their attitude and emphasis on their remaining abilities. However, research has shown some weak points in the quality of care given to these patients. So the aim of this study was to improve the nurses' practice in self-care education to stroke patients.

METHODS

The findings of evaluation phase showed that during action research, approaching the nurses' empowerment in self-care education to stroke patients has been set in motion. The nursing practice improvement, knowledge based practice, nurses' attitude change, ability to respond against routinization, and motivation promotion emphasize the success of change process. Facilitators and barriers of educating patients are acknowledged by the participants as a factor influencing the continuation of change.

RESULTS

The lack of nurses' educating performance skills was overcome using action research and changes were made to improve the performance of nurses.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of nurses' educating performance skills was overcome using action research and changes were made to improve the performance of nurses.

Lentil Sprouts Effect On Serum Lipids of Overweight and Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Background: The present study aimed to determine the effect of lentil sprouts [LS] on lipid profiles in overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Forty- eight overweight and obese type 2 diabetic patients, September and November2013, 30-65 years, participated in this clinical trial and randomly divided into two groups; LS group and controls. Patients in control group received conventional drug therapy, while patients in LS group received 60 g LS daily during 8 weeks along with routine medication. Significant differences among and between the groups were determined by independent t-test and paired sample t-test using SPSS software. The patients were blinded for the treatment. In this trial the effect of LS on serum lipid profiles were inves-tigated.

Results: Thirty-nine patients completed the study. After 8 weeks, serum levels of HDL-C was higher in the LS group compared to control group (48.3 ±1.9 vs. 42.8±1.7, P<0.03). TG and ox-LDL were lower in the LS group compared to controls [(127±13.4 vs. 170± 12.4.P<0.01) and (83.3±29.1 vs. 98.7±28.2.P<0.6)].

Conclusions: LS consumption could have favorable effect on serum lipid profiles.

Better evaluation of PTSD by MRI

Background:

Methods:

Results:

Conclusions:

Keywords:

Acute and chronic effects of morphine on cardiovascular system and the baroreflexes sensitivity during severe increase in blood pressure in rats

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to determine the role and effects of baroreflexes during acute increase in blood pressure (BP) after severe and long-term infusion of morphine.

METHODS

This experimental study was conducted on male desert rats. They were assigned into 4 groups and the rats of the case group received morphine in the short and long term periods, whereas the control rats received normal saline for the same duration. Then, the rats were anesthetized, and their femoral artery and vein were cannulated for the injection of phenylephrine and naloxone, respectively. The injection of phenylephrine was performed by the device after a period of recording BP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in order to induce acute hypertension before and after injecting naloxone. The Student t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The obtained results suggested that acute and chronic injections of morphine may cause significant reduction in systolic and diastolic arterial BP as well as the mean arterial pressure; moreover, it significantly increased the sensitivity of baroreflexes. Furthermore, the increased baroreflex sensitivity was observed after acute injection of morphine, whereas chronic morphine injection caused reduction in baroreflex sensitivity.

CONCLUSION

It seems that the details of the opiates' effects on the body including cardiovascular system depend on the type of opioids and consequently, on the type of stimulated receptor.