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  Background & Objectives : Intense training increases the production of free radicals and causes inflammatory response in athletes. Strengthen and improving athlete’s immune system may reduce the harmful effects of intense physical activity. The aim of this study was to investigate supplementary consumption of coenzyme Q₁₀ on serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) during the maximal activity.

  Methods : Twelve healthy active males (age 21.75 ± 0.64 yr, BMI 23.7±0.94 kg/m²) performed 30-min exercise at 80% to 85% HRmax. Subjects 120 minutes pre-exercise received either of the following regimens: Coenzyme Q₁₀ (2 mg per kg body weight) or placebo (food color). Blood samples were obtained prior to supplement consumption and immediately after exercise, then groups were reversed after 4 days. The data were analyzed using paired and independent t-test. The statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

  Results: TNF-α serum level increased in both supplementation and placebo group (4.2% and 5.12% respectively) and the difference between two groups was insignificant.

  Conclusion : The results of this study indicated that after maximal activity increasing of TNF-α serum level was slower in the supplement group in comparison with placebo group but Q₁₀ consumption did not caused a significant difference between two group (p=0.8).

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 Background & Objectives: Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs), a member of photolytic enzyme family, degrade the extra cellular matrix. MMPs have very important roles in physiological and pathological processes. It has been reported that MMPs concentration increase in malignancies such as stomach, breast, colon, lung, head and neck cancers . Infection�with Helicobacter pylori is risk factor for gastric cancer and may increase the serum level of MMP-9. The aim of this study was to measure the concentration of MMP-9 in sera of patients infected with H. pylori.

 Methods: In a descriptive-experimental study, apparent healthy individuals who were refereed for stool and blood tests were randomly selected and their stools and sera samples were collected. A questionnaire containing age, sex, smoking and special diseases in family and type of their diseases was filled for every volunteer. The sera collected immediately after blood sampling and stored in -70^oC until used. The concentration of MMP-9 was assessed using ELISA. Stool samples were used for detection of H. pylori antigen.

 Results: H. pylori positive, negative and equivocal volunteers were 52.38%, 29.76% and 17.85%, respectively. Differences between MMP-9 concentration and H. pylori negative and positive groups were not significant (p=0.25). A significant increase in MMP-9 concentration was found in sera from drivers in compare with housewives.

 Conclusion: Although there was an increase in serum concentration of MMP-9 in H. pylori infected person, differences between H. pylori negative and positive groups were not significant. The raised concentration of MMP-9 in drivers may arise from difference in their health condition in compare with the housewives. This study suggests that MMP-9 level in serum may increase before initiation of gastric cancer in H. pylori infected individuals.

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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 & aim: Nowadays because of difficulty in the supply and injection of insulin and blood sugar reducing drugs and considering the side effects of chemical drugs, researcher’s attention is drawn to using herbal medicines. Liver is one of the organs affected by diabetes in different functional aspects. The purpose of this research was studying the effect of Rosa canina extract on reducing the adverse effects and improving diabetes symptoms related to histophysiology, amount of biochemical serum factors and liver enzymes in male rats.

Methods: 32 male Wistar rats, weighed 200-220 gr, were divided into 4 groups. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60mg/kg). The period of experiments was 4 weeks. At the end of experiments, the rats were sacrificed and their serums were collected for measurement of liver enzymes. Also, histological sampling of liver was done. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA).

Results: The results of this study showed that treatment with ethanol extract of Rosa canina led to significant reduction of liver enzymes in the Rosa extract-treated groups in comparison with the diabetic group, indicating the protective effect of alcoholic extract of Rosa canina on liver tissue against diabetes-induced damages. In liver histopathology, a distinct fat change in the lobular center areas was created in the diabetic group. Pathological changes were not significant in the liver of the Rosa extract-treated groups; liver in this group was relatively healthier than in diabetic group.

Conclusions: Rosa extract improved this organ's function in STZ-induced diabetic rats by reducing serum biomarkers of liver pathology and reducing histological damages.

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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: Curcumin has antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of curcumin on bax, bcl-2, antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation of sperm after freezing procedure.
Methods: In this experimental study, semen samples were collected from four mature Holstein bulls, twice a week in eight innings. Semen samples were divided into four groups. Zero (control), 10 (Experimental group one), 20 (Experimental group two) and 30 (Experimental group three) mg/ml of curcumin with diluents were added to the semen samples. After thawing, Bax, Bcl-2 and malondialdehyde levels as well as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase enzymes were measured in sperm samples using ELISA.
Results: According to the results, Bcl-2, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase levels  in sperm samples treated with 20 and 30 mg/ml curcumin significantly increased and Bax and malondialdehyde levels significantly decreased compared to control groups (p<0.05). This difference was not significant for sperm samples treated with 10 mg/ml curcumin.
Conclusion: Dose-dependent administration of curcumin decreased oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation and increased anti-apoptosis proteins in freeze-thawing sperms.

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Background & objectives: Due to the prevalence of obesity and the subsequent development of metabolic risk factors, cardiovascular and fatty liver complications, exercise programs and the use of natural supplements can play a significant role in controlling and preventing these diseases. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to review the effect of eight weeks of combined exercise and Chlorogenic acid intake on C-reactive protein and liver enzymes in obese women.
Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, which was performed as a pre-test, post-test with a control group, a total of 48 obese women were selected purposefully and divided randomly into four equal groups (n=12); exercise, supplement, exercise+supplementation and control group. The exercises program consisted of 8 weeks of aerobic and resistance training, 3 sessions with 60 minutes per week. The chlorogenic acid supplement group received daily Green coffee in capsule form contain 400 mg powder for 8 weeks and the concurrent group performed exercise and received Green coffee simultaneously. By using blood sampling the variables were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention. Data were analyzed by t-test and ANOVA at significance level of p<0.05.
Results: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the supplement group were the lowest and in the exercise+supplementation group had the highest decrease and there was no significant difference in the control group. The C-reactive protein (CRP) in the training+supplementation group was significantly decreased and in the three experimental groups there was a significant difference compared to the control group (p≥0.05).
Conclusion: It seems that combined exercise and natural substances rich in chlorogenic acid can decrease inflammatory factors such as C-reactive protein and liver enzymes.
 

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