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  Background & Objectives: Numerous studies have been conducted to assess the effects of acute resistance exercises on the structure and the function of heart, but little works done on effects of chronic resistance exercises. So, the objective of current study was to investigate the long term effect of regular exercises on cardiac function and oxidative stress.

  Methods: Forty male Wistar rats in the weight range of 250- 300 g were used in this study. They were divided in 2 following groups: The 3 months exercises test group and control group which remained without exercises. Regular resistive exercise was carried out according to the model proposed by Tamaki et al. Test group rats exercised for three months. Finally the hearts of 10 rats in each group were taken for homogenization, oxidative stress measurement and the other ten were examined for heart function. Malondialdhyde as an index of oxidative stress and superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxides and catalase as an indicator of antioxidant capacity with special kits were specifically measured.

  Results: Regular resistive exercise didn't significantly affect the rats' weight, but heart weight in exercise group showed a significant increase (p<0.05). There was a significant decrease in heart rate in exercise group (p<0.05). Left ventricle contraction strength and coronary flow had a significant increase in exercise group in comparison with control group (p<0.05). There was not any significant difference in Malondialdhyde and antioxidant enzymes activity.

  Conclusion: This study showed that, heart efficiency had a significant improvement under effect of regular resistive exercise. Meanwhile, regular resistive exercise didn’t have any significant effect on oxidative stress and heart antioxidant defense capacity.

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 Background & Objectives: The intake of antioxidant supplementations can have key role in prevention of oxidative stress in healthy individuals. Pomegranate has antioxidant effects and may play a role in reduction of oxidative stress in healthy males. Therefore, this study examined the effect of pomegranate juice supplementation on oxidative stress in young healthy males.

 Methods : In semi-experimental study, 14 healthy students living in Dormitories of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences were included. Subjects were given one cup of pomegranate juice supplementation per day for two weeks . Fasting blood samples were taken both at the start and the end of 2-week period to measure the antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase , glutathione peroxidase , paraoxonase - 1, aryl esterase , and the values ​​of serum total antioxidant capacity , glutathione, and lipid profiles . Data were analyzed using descriptive and paired t - test s.

 Results: T he level of serum total antioxidant capacity and activities of enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, arylesterase, and standardized arylesterase activity were significantly increased at the end of two weeks (p<0.05). The serum level of malondialdehyde was significantly decreased after intervention (p<0.05). Changes were not significant, although the serum levels of glutathione and HDL- cholesterol increased and LDL- cholesterol decreased at the end of two weeks period.

 Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the pomegranate juice supplementation had beneficial effects in helping body's antioxidant defense system and reduction of oxidative stress in young healthy males . This study suggests that the pomegranate juice supplementation can be useful against oxidative stress included in dietaries of young healthy males.

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  Background & Objectives: Epidemiological and experimental evidences suggest that oxidative stress is elevated in children with Down syndrome (DS). Some studies show that consumption of diets with a high content of fruits and vegetables results in a significant reduction in markers of oxidative stress. We investigated the frequency of fruits and vegetables intake in children with DS and the influence of variations in the level of this consumption on biomarkers of oxidative stress .

  Methods: Frequency of consumption of fruit and vegetables by children with DS were recorded by interview with the children’s parents. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were also measured as biomarkers of oxidative stress. Data analysed using ANOVA and Student’s t-tests .

  Results : Mean consumption of fruits and vegetables was 4.6 and 0.74 servings per week, respectively. No significant relationships were found between consumption of fruits and vegetables with markers of oxidative stress. Based on our findings, the 65.9 % of the children did not eat any vegetables and the rest of the children consumed less than one serving per day. There was a significant correlation between the frequency of fruits and vegetable consumption (r=0.212 p <0.04).

  Conclusion : There wasn’t any significant relationship between fruits and vegetables consumption and indicators of oxidative stress in children with DS. This lack of correlation could be due to low consumption of fruits and vegetables in children with DS.

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 Background & objectives: Childbirth is the most stressful event for the women both mentally and physically affecting their physiological and psychological indicators during labour. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of non-pharmacological methods of labor pain relief in mothers’ perceived stress conducted in Alavi hospital of Ardabil, 2013.

 Methods: In this double blind randomized controlled trial, 320 mothers were allocated into two groups by stratified block randomization . The intervention group (n=158) received continuous support throughout the labour process, positioning and movement, music, aromatherapy, showering andconsumption of a light diet or water.The control group received only a routine care. The perceived stress scale (PSS) was employed to collect data in three stages at the beginning of the active phase, before the intervention, six hours after birth and then eight weeks postpartum. The two groupswere compared using General Linear Model with controlling the baseline scores.

Results: There were 14 participants loss to follow-up. The mean of perceived stress score in the intervention group was significantly lower than the control group at 6 hours [adjusted mean difference: -1.0 (95% confidence interval: -0.01 to -1.9]. However, there was no difference between two groups in terms of perceived stress score at 8 weeks postpartum (p=0.692).

 Conclusion: Non-pharmacological methods of labor pain relief are an effective intervention for reducing perceived stress level in mothers during labor and therefore use of this intervention is recommended.

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  Background & objectives: The “redox” state represents the oxidation/reduction potential within the cell in a way that more “redox” is the marker of health, while the more oxidized reflects predisposition to diseases. Different types of exercise training may change the thiol/disulfide ratio of redox couples such as glutathione and represent a shift in redox balance. This study was assessed the influence of high-intensity aerobic exercise on glutathione redox state in red blood cells in professional, recreational athletes and nonathletes.

  Methods: Ten voluntary well trained (WT), moderately trained (MT) and untrained men subjectswere randomly selected for this semi-experimental study (mean ages of 21.10±1.72 21.70±1.88 and 20.10±1.44, respectively). Blood samples were collected before, immediately, 10 min and 30 min after acute aerobic exercise with 75%VO2max. The levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and (GSH/GSSG) in red blood cells (RBCs) as well as serum levels of cortisol and creatine kinase (CK) were measured.

  Results: The results showed reduction, elevation and no changes in RBCs GSH/GSSG ratio in UT, MT and WT groups, respectively. The lowest levels of GSH/GSSG ratio in RBCs and the highest one were detected in the WT and MT groups, respectively. The serum levels of cortisol and creatine kinase were increased following the exercise in three groups.

  Conclusion: It is concluded that acute aerobic exercise with high intensity does not change redox balance in well trained subjects, however it is capable to shift redox balance towards more reducing environment in moderately trained subjects and also to more oxidizing one in untrained subjects.

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 Background & objectives: Diazinon (DZN) as an organophosphate pesticide widely used in agriculture is associated with reducing the antioxidant capacity of the cell. Use of thiol compounds such as N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) as an antioxidant decreases oxidative stress in the cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of NAC as an antioxidant against DZN- induced oxidative stress in rat brain and heart. 

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Background & objectives: Depression and perceived stress are considered among the most common symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Dialectical behavior therapy was presented as one of the most effective treatment of many disorders in the past decade. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of dialectical group behavior therapy on perceived stress and depression in patients with the irritable bowel syndrome.

Methods: The research method was an experimental pretest-posttest control group design with random assignment). Of all the patients referred to medical centers in Tabriz during 1393 SH, 30 patients selected with irritable bowel syndrome and Rome-III diagnostic criteria after using the interview, completed perceived stress questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory. The subjects were selected and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (n=15 per group). After completing dialectical behavior therapy in the experimental group, the questionnaire was administered in both groups. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis with SPSS-20 software.

Results: Dialectical group behavior therapy was significantly effective in reducing perceived stress (p= 0.004, F= 9.91) and depression (p= 0.005, F= 9.60) in patients with irritable bowel syndrome in experimental group, so that after the intervention the perceived stress and depression scores decreased in experimental group.

Conclusion: It seems that dialectical behavior therapy is effective in reducing perceived stress and depression in patients suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and can be helpful in improving the symptoms of perceived stress and depression in these patients.

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Background & objectives: Zinc as one of the most important trace elements is needed for proper functioning of the nervous system and homeostasis. Many studies show that stress causes memory impairment through various mechanisms, including oxidative stress induction and some mechanisms which are directly effecting brain function. So, in this work we assessed the effect of zinc chloride on passive avoidance memory and oxidative stress following acute stress in male rats.

Methods: In this study, 50 male Wistar rats were used in five groups: control, sham, stress, zinc chloride treatment and zinc chloride treatment before stress induction. For stress induction, rats were restrained (not immobilized) for 6 h/day, 7 days in a Plexiglas restrainer, and treated rats received an oral dose of zinc chloride 32 mg/kg/day by gavage for 6 days. At the end of the experiment, passive avoidance memory was avaluated by shuttle box and some oxidative damage markers were determined in all groups.

Results: Results of this study showed that animals which were exposed to stress showed a significant decrease in passive avoidance memory compared to control group (p<0.01) and the oxidative stress parameters in this group showed significant changes compared to the control group (p<0.05). While passive avoidance memory and oxidative stress parameters in group treated with zinc chloride were nearly closed to control group.

Conclusion: According to our results, zinc chloride with antioxidant properties can have a protective effect on memory impairment and oxidative stress induced by stress.

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Background & Objectives: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers of women in the world. Apoptotic pathway is one of the most important pathways to deal with cell damage, especially cancer, which is usually blocked in this disease. One of the main enzymes to set up this pathway is JNK (1,2,3α,3β), which is activated by cellular stress.
Methods: In this study, breast cancer cells with the origin of MCF-7 cell lines were cultured in RPMI medium using 10%fetal bovine serum.Then , they were subjected to heat (42 & 45 ^̊ C) for 1,2,4,6 and 8 hours under X-ray and γ-ray radiations for 1,2,3 and 4 hours as well. Their viability and enzyme level were evaluated by MTT and ELISA tests, respectively.
Results: The obtained results showed that abiotic stresses including heat and radiations resulted in JNK level increase and recovery of apoptosis pathway function in breast cancer cells. In addition, they led to decreased of cell viability and increase of JNK level depending on the duration and kind of stress.
Conclusion: The results in this study showed abiotic stress directly affected the JNK level. Increase of this enzyme in the cell resulted in activity of JNK apoptosis pathway. We hope to find methods to help to cancer treatment by means of more studies on JNK enzyme and relevant pathways.

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Background & objectives: The purpose of this study was to show the dose response relationship of anti-inflammatory effect of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) on carrageenan induced rat paw edema as an acute model of inflammation.
Methods: A total of 54 male, Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 180-190 g, were used. One hundred, 200, 400, 800 and 1200 mg/kg of MSM were administered intraperitoneally to the rats 30 minutes before induction of paw edema with injection of 0.1% carrageenan. Diclofenac was used as a control drug. Rats were divided into three groups: MSM, diclofenac and normal saline, and their paw tissue were collected for the study of inflammatory and oxidative markers (MDA, GSH, TNF-α and IL-1 β). The relationship between the different concentrations of MSM and decrease in rat paw edema was calculated using a simple Emax model.
Results: the ED₅₀ value for effect of MSM on carrageenan induced rat paw edema was 193±9.7 mg/kg. A significant reduction in paw edema following administration of MSM at 200, 400, 800 and 1200 mg/kg was observed, but statistical analysis did not reveal any significant reduction in paw edema after administration of 100 mg/kg. MSM did not show statistically significant difference from control group in tissue level of GSH, but it was able to decrease MDA level significantly. MSM was able to significantly alleviate IL-1 β and TNF-alpha tissue levels.
Conclusion: The recommended anti-inflammatory dosing range of MSM is 200-800 mg/kg for pharmacological studies in rats and the average appropriate dose is 400 mg/kg. Also, it seems that anti-inflammatory effect of MSM is more profound than its anti-oxidant effects.
 

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Background & objectives: Chronic illnesses are one of the most important causes of mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between perfectionism and stress with life satisfaction in cardiovascular patients.
Methods: The research method is descriptive correlational. The statistical population of this study included patients who came to receive the services in Ardabil in the first half of 1396. The sample consisted of 60 cardiovascular patients who were selected by simple random sampling. Data was collected using questionnaires of perfectionism scale, stress scale and life satisfaction scale. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis using spss-19 software.
Results: The results showed that there is a significant negative relationship between perfectionism and life satisfaction. Also, there was a significant negative relationship between stress and life Satisfaction (p<0.01). In other words, with increasing stress, life satisfaction decreases. There is a multiplicity relationship between perfectionism and stress with life satisfaction (p<0.01).
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that reducing the perfectionism and stress of individuals helps to increase the satisfaction of people from life and also effective in the process of treatment.
 

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Background & Objectives: Based on the probably positive role of exercise on total oxidative status (TOS) and total antioxidant system (TAS) and their effect on the process of angiogenesis, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of one course of moderate-intensity endurance training on the gene expression level of vascular endothelial growth factor-B (VEGF-B) and angiopoietin-1(ANGPT-1) and TAS and TOS status in cardiac tissue of male rats.
Methods: In this study, 20 male Wistar rats were divided into two equal groups as follows:   1-training group and 2- control group: no sports activities were performed on them. Rats in the training group performed moderate endurance training for 6 weeks and 5 sessions per week from the twelfth week of life. Twenty-four hours after the last training session, heart tissue samples were extracted to measure gene expression levels of VEGF-B and ANGPT-1 and the TAS and TOS status in heart tissues. T-test with the statistical level of (p˂0.05) was used for between groups comparison.
Results:­ Findings showed that after six weeks of endurance training, the expression level of ANGPT-1 and VEGF-B and the amount of TAS in the exercise group significantly increased (p=0.001) and the amount of TOS significantly decreased compared to the control group (p=0.008).
Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, it seems that moderate-intensity endurance training can be effective in preventing cardiovascular disease by increasing factors involving in angiogenesis, improving TAS and reducing TOS in heart tissue of rats.

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Background & objectives: Vincristine (VIN) is a broad-spectrum anticancer drug has been used to treat various cancers. Resveratrol (Res) is a natural polyphenol found in many plant sources. Many studies have reported anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of resveratrol. We have explored the protective effect of resveratrol on vincristine-induced oxidative stress in mouse ovarian tissue.
Methods: In this study, 32 female mice weighing 25-30 grams were randomly divided into four groups (each group n=8): 1- control group, 2- Vin- group, 3- Vin-Res group and 4- Res group. The mice received a single IP injection of vincristine (3 mg/kg) weekly for 4 weeks. Res treatment was done 28 days by gastric gavage (daily 30 mg/kg).At the end of the study, Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the antioxidant activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzymes were measured in ovarian tissue and uterus of the studied animals. Also, ovarian follicles were counted.
Results: The results indicated that the MDA level was elevated and TAC, GPx as well as SOD activities were decreased in Vin- group significantly. Resveratrol reduced MDA level and increased GPx and SOD activities in Vin-Res group significantly. Also histological findings showed that Res increased primordial and primary follicles and reduced atretic  follicles in Vin-Res group significantly.
Conclusions: These results indicate the protective effect of resveratrol on ovarian and uterine tissue against oxidative damage of vincristine in mice

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Background & objectives: The 2019 coronavirus pandemic is a major threat to global public health due to unprecedented individual and social fear and anxiety and it puts significant stress on health-related quality of life and challenges health care professionals, including dentists, with increasing patient burdens, unprecedented disruptions in normal life and The high risk of being exposed to the disease has put them in stressful situations and therefore they are more exposed to stressful situations that can affect their quality of life. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of investigating the level of perceived stress and the quality of life of the students and professors of Ardabil Dental School in the face of the outbreak of the 2019 coronavirus disease in 2021 and the relationship between these two variables with the demographic characteristics of the participants.
Methods: To measure the level of perceived stress, Cohen's Perceived Stress Questionnaire was used, and to measure the quality of life, the World Health Organization Quality of Life Standard Questionnaire-Abbreviated (WHOQOL-BREF) was used. The statistical population in this study is all dental professors and dental students of the Faculty of Dentistry of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences. A significance level of less than 0.05 was considered.
Results: From the statistical population of this study, a total of 227 people including 33 professors and 194 students participated in the study. There was no significant relationship between demographic variables and perceived stress variables and quality of life. Perceived stress and quality of life were higher for professors than for students during the pandemic. There was a direct relationship between perceived stress variables and quality of life in both groups. The level of perceived stress in both groups was lower than the optimal level and the quality of life in both groups was higher than the optimal level.
Conclusion: Students and professors of Ardabil Faculty of Dentistry experienced moderate stress during the Covid-19 epidemic and had a good quality of life. By comparing between the two groups of participants, professors had more perceived stress.

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Background & objectives: Menopause and especially acute menopause due to surgery is associated with many complications in women. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of genistein and regular swimming exercise (alone/or in combination) on pain through a possible mechanism of inflammation and oxidative stress in ovariectomized rats.
Methods: In this study, rats were divided into six groups, including: control, sham, ovariectomy (OVX), ovariectomized with eight weeks of swimming exercise training (OVX.E), ovariectomized with eight weeks of genistein administration (OVX.G), and ovariectomized with eight weeks of combined treatment (OVX.G.E). The effects of genistein and/or exercise were evaluated by examining the pain intensity with tail-flick and formalin tests. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also evaluated by ELISA and spectrophotometer.
Results: In the OVX group compared to the control group, tail-flick and formalin tests showed an increase in pain response. Also, a significant increase in the serum levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, MDA, TOS and a decrease in TAC was observed in the OVX group, however, in the OVX.E, OVX.G and especially OVX.E.G groups, pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress as well as pain responses showed a significant decrease compared to the OVX group.
Conclusion: A combination of genistein and regular swimming exercise was synergistically more effective in reducing acute and chronic pain than using them alone in the postmenopausal period.
 

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