Profiling inflammatory mechanisms, hyperphosphorylated tau of hippocampal tissue and spatial memory following vitamin D3 treatment in the mice model of vascular dementia.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin D3 (VitD3) on inflammatory mechanisms, hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) in the hippocampus, and cognitive impairment of the mouse model of vascular dementia (VaD). METHODS: In this study, 32 male mice were randomly assigned to the control, VaD, VitD3 (300 IU/Kg/day), and VitD3 (500 IU/Kg/day) groups. VaD and VitD3 groups were gavaged daily for 4 weeks with a gastric needle. For biochemical assessments, blood samples and the hippocampus were isolated. IL-1ß and TNF-α were analyzed by ELISA, and p-tau and other inflammatory molecules were measured by western blot. RESULTS: VitD3 supplements significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the level of inflammatory factors in the hippocampus and prevented apoptosis. However, regarding p-tau in hippocampal tissue, this decrease was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The results of behavioral assessments showed that VitD3 significantly improved the spatial memory of treated mice. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the neuroprotective effects of VitD3 are mainly associated with their anti-inflammatory effects.

A shear-wave sonoelastography investigation of calf muscle pump biomechanics in patients with chronic venous disease and healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: chronic venous disease (CVD) is a common progressive disorder with incompetence of calf muscle pump due to weakness and ankle mobility abnormality is an important etiological factor in CVD, but the biomechanical properties of calf muscle pump are remain unknown. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate group differences between the biomechanical properties changes of the medial gastrocnemius muscle (GM) and its fascias in participants with CVD and healthy controls. METHODS: In this case-control study, thirty patients with CVD in three equal groups (mild: C1 - C2, moderate: C3 - C4, severe: C5 - C6) and 20 healthy subjects in a control group participated. The medial GM and its fascias shear modulus (stiffness) were measured using a shear-wave sonoelastography in rest and active dorsiflexion positions of ankle joint. RESULTS: The results of variance (ANOVA) analysis showed a significant difference in shear wave elastography (SWE) value between the groups for medial GM and its fascias at rest and active dorsiflexion of the ankle joint (P < 0.05). There was a statistically significant increase in SWE value of the medial GM and its fascias in moderate (c3-c4) and severe CVD groups (C5-C6) compared to the control and mild (C1-C2) CVD groups. A positive correlation was discovered between disease grades and the medial GM and its fascias SWE in patients with CVD ranging between r = 0.846 to 0.891; P < 0.001. CONCLUSION: An alteration stiffness in calf myofascial pump as compared to control group indicated an impaired myofascial biomechanics. Calf myofascial SWE may be valuable information in the diagnosis and follow-up processes of patients with CVD.

High-intensity interval training with or without chlorella vulgaris supplementation in obese and overweight women: effects on mitochondrial biogenesis, performance and body composition.

The beneficial effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and chlorella vulgaris (CV) on body composition and mitochondrial biogenesis have been shown in some mechanistic studies. This study aimed to determine the effects of CV and/or HIIT on mitochondrial biogenesis, performance and body composition among overweight/obese women. There was a significant reduction in the fat mass (FM) of the CV + HIIT group, as compared with the placebo group (P = 0·005). A marginal significant increase in body water (P = 0·050) and PPAR-γ coactivator-1α (P = 0·050) was also found only in the CV + HIIT group, as compared with the placebo. Relative (P < 0·001) and absolute (P < 0·001) VO2max, as well as Bruce MET (P < 0·001), were significantly increased in the HIIT and HIIT + CV groups. Besides, the synergistic effect of CV and HIIT on the Bruce MET increment was found (interaction P-value = 0·029). No significant changes were observed in BMI, fat-free mass, visceral fat, silent information regulator 1 and fibroblast growth factor-21. In this randomised clinical trial, forty-six overweight/obese women were assigned to four groups including CV + HIIT and HIIT + placebo groups that received three capsules of CV (300 mg capsules, three times a day) or corn starch, in combination with three sessions/week of HIIT. CV and placebo groups only received 900 mg of CV or corn starch, daily, for 8 weeks. Biochemical assessments, performance assessment and body composition were obtained at the beginning and end of the intervention. HIIT may be, therefore, effective in improving mitochondrial biogenesis, performance and body composition in overweight/obese women.

The effect of Chlorella vulgaris on obesity related metabolic disorders: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: Chlorella vulgaris (CV) as a unicellular algae is a dietary supplement with beneficial nutritious content, used for decades in some countries. Positive effects for CV supplementation on metabolic parameters has been established in animal and human studies. However there is a gap for this results summary for a definite conclusion announce. This systematic review aimed to summarize the effects of CV on body weight, lipid profile, and blood glucose. CONTENT: PRISMA guidelines were charted in this review. Subject search was performed in MEDLINE, ProQuest, PubMed, ISI web of sciences, Google scholar, Cochrane and Scopus databases for randomized clinical trials published in English languages, until December 2020, which assessed the effects of CV on metabolic syndrome related symptoms in clinical trials. SUMMARY: Out of 4,821 records screened, after duplicate and irrelevant exclusion by title and abstract, 20 articles remained for full text screening. Finally a total of 12 articles met the study inclusion criteria and were assessed for study method and results. OUTLOOK: The findings showed controversies in anthropometric, glycemic and lipid profile effects. CV may have beneficial effects on obesity-related metabolic disorders; however, collected studies lacked statistical power to reach a definite conclusion. More well-designed studies are required.

Effects of vitamin D supplementation on apolipoprotein A1 and B100 levels in adults: Systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death around the world. According to the studies, apolipoproteins A1 and B100 play crucial role in CVD development and progression. Also, findings have indicated the positive role of vitamin D on these factors. Thus, we conducted the present meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to demonstrate the impact of vitamin D supplementation on apolipoproteins A1 and B100 levels in adults. PubMed and Scopus databases and Google Scholar were searched up to 21 December 2020. Relevant articles were screened, extracted, and assessed for quality based on the Cochrane collaboration's risk of bias tool. Data analysis conducted by random-effect model and expressed by standardized mean difference (SMD). The heterogeneity between studies was assessed by I-squared (I2) test. Subgroups and sensitivity Analyses were also conducted. Seven RCTs were identified investigating the impact of vitamin D on Apo A1 levels and six on Apo B100 levels. The findings showed the insignificant effect of vitamin D supplementation on Apo A1 (SMD=0.26 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.10, 0.61; P = 0.155) and Apo B100 (standardized mean difference (SMD)=-0.06 mg/dL; 95% CI, -0.24, 0.12; P = 0.530) in adults. There was a significant between-study heterogeneity in Apo A1 (I2=89.3%, P < 0.001) and Apo B100 (I2 = 57.1%, P = 0.030). However, significant increase in Apo A1 in daily dosage of vitamin D (SMD=0.56 mg/dL; 95% CI, 0.02, 1.11; P = 0.044) and ≤12 weeks of supplementation duration (SMD=0.71 mg/dL; 95% CI, 0.08, 1.34; P = 0.028) was observed. No significant effects of vitamin D on Apo A1 and Apo B100 levels after subgroup analysis by mean age, gender, study population, dosage and duration of study. Overall, daily vitamin D supplementation and ≤12 weeks of supplementation might have beneficial effects in increasing Apo A1 levels, however, future high-quality trials considering these a primary outcome are required.

The immediate effect of lumbopelvic manipulation on knee pain, knee position sense, and balance in patients with patellofemoral pain: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder. Quadriceps and core muscle neuromuscular control impairments are frequently associated with PFP. Lumbopelvic manipulation (LPM) has been shown to improve quadriceps and core muscle activation and decrease their inhibition, but changes in balance and knee joint position sense (JPS) after this intervention remain unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether LPM decreases knee pain and JPS error and increases balance performance in patients with PFP. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Biomechanics laboratory at a rehabilitation science research center. METHODS: Forty-four patients with PFP participated in this study that randomly divided into two equal groups. One group received LPM and the other received sham LPM (positioning with no thrust) in a single session. At baseline and immediately after the intervention, the outcomes of pain using a visual analog scale, balance using the modified star excursion balance test (mSEBT), and JPS at 20° and 60° of knee flexion using a Biodex dynamometer. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement in pain, balance control (anterior direction) and JPS in the LPM group immediately after the intervention. In addition, we observed significant differences between groups in pain, balance control (anterior direction) and JPS at 60° of knee flexion immediately after the intervention. CONCLUSION: A single session of LPM immediately improved balance control, knee JPS, and pain in patients diagnosed with PFP. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Findings suggest that LPM may be used as a therapeutic tool for immediate improvement of symptoms of PFP. However, more research is needed to determine long term results.

Effect of Ferula persica plant methanol extract on the level of Cox-2 in induced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in rat tongue.

Background: More than 90% of oral cancers are cases of squamous cell carcinoma. Standard treatment of cancer includes a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Each of these treatments, however, brings about certain problems and side effects. Today herbal medicine, has become a more preferable option in dealing with health problems or preventing them because this type of medicine has better compatibility with the body and does not cause undesirable side effects. In this study , the effect of Ferula persica plant methanol extraction on Cox-2 levels in SCC induced rat tongue is conducted in vivo. Methods: In this lab research, 75 rats from SD race in the age - range of 2/5 - 3 months were selected and put in five groups. In order to induce tongue carcinoma, 4- Nitroquinoline 1 (4 NQO) powder was used 3 times a week for each rat. Furthermore, Ferula persica extract was given to each of the groups in order to examine Cox-2 changes in the blood. Results: Comparison of Cox-2 average in various groups resulted in the observation that there was significant difference between the Cox-2 levels in the groups which had only received carcinogen and the other groups. In this group, Cox-2 level was less and in the group that had received Ferula extract (500 mg) along with carcinogen , Cox-2 level was found to be more than other groups. Conclusion: Ferula persica extract does not have reducing effect on serum Cox-2.