Relationship between breastfeeding and obesity in high school girls.

Objectives Some factors in infancy can play a role in the development of adolescent obesity. Understanding these factors can help prevent early complications in adolescents associated with obesity in adulthood. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among high school girls in Khorramabad and its relationship with breastfeeding history. Methods This was a cross-sectional study. This study was conducted in 832 high school girls during the academic year 2016-2017. Samples were selected by multi-stage random sampling. General questionnaires, physical activity, and 24-h food questions were completed through interviews with students. Data regarding breastfeeding was obtained by mothers. Results The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the study population was 16.3 and 5.8%, respectively. Overweight and obesity had a significant association with breastfeeding history (p = 0.001), while there was no significant relationship between overweight and obesity with school type, student's age, parental occupation, education Parents, household size, birth rate, physical activity, and energy intake. Conclusions The results of this study showed that breast feeding has a protective effect on overweight and obesity during adolescence. To reduce the incidence of overweight and obesity, necessary education regarding breastfeeding should be provided.

Reduction of expression of IL-18, IL-1ß genes in the articular joint by sumac fruit extract (Rhus coriaria L.).

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis is the most common malignant disease in the world. The disease is caused by changes in the metabolism, the structure and function of multiple joints, and joint tissues. Sumac is one of the indigenous plants of Iran and has traditionally been used as a spice in Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate the reduction of expression of IL-18, IL-1ß genes in the articular joint by sumac fruit extract (Rhus coriaria L.). METHODS: The alcoholic extract of sumac fruit (E.E.R.C.L) was prepared from the Genetic Reserve Center. Bleeding was used to provide synoviocyte cells from the joint and fluid of the anatomical metacarpal limb of the 8-month-old Holstein healthy calf without any signs of inflammation. Using cell-hemocytometer count, their viability was evaluated by trypan blue and after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) proliferation and injection to enhance the level of cytokines. After isolating the RNA and preparing the cDNA, RT-PCR and PCR were performed and then, using the real-time PCR method, the expression of the desired genes was investigated. RESULTS: In this study, after the expression of IL-18 cytokines, IL-1ß increased to 100%, and following the treatment with alcoholic extract, the reduction of expression of these cytokines was 33.61% and 29.01%, respectively. The results of anti-inflammatory effects showed that the alcoholic extract of sumac reduced the IL-1ß, IL-18 expression in LPS-stimulated cells. CONCLUSION: Sumac fruit extract can be an effective medication for reducing pain.

Effect of a session of intensive exercise with ginseng supplementation on histone H3 protein methylation of skeletal muscle of nonathlete men.

PURPOSE: The pressure and stress caused by some intense exercises cause changes in histone proteins and gene expression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of one session of intensive exercise with supplementation of ginseng, on the methylation of H3K-36 histone protein in skeletal muscle of young nonathlete men. METHODS: After the approval by the ethics committee, 12 untrained male subjects were randomly assigned to either exercise group (six subjects) or exercise and supplement group. First, from both groups, the muscular sample was taken from the broad-lateral muscle of the subjects. Immediately after the muscle biopsy, exercise and exercise + supplement groups completed the exercise protocol. During this period, the exercise + supplement group consumed ginseng supplementation and took placebo group. Immediately after exercise, all subjects were retested. RESULTS: There was no significant increase in histone H3-k36 protein methylation in the intergroup between exercise + supplementation and exercise. There was a significant difference within the training group but there was no difference in the exercise + supplementation group. CONCLUSION: The methylation caused by intense physical pressure, can be reduced by ginseng extract.

Epigenetic changes due to physical activity.

One of the epigenetic-modifying factors is regular and continuous physical activity. This article attempts to investigate the effects of physical activity and exercise on changes in histone proteins and gene expression, as well as the effect of these exercises on the prevention of certain cancers and the ejection of age-related illnesses and cellular oxidation interactions. All of this is due to epigenetic changes and gene expression. Most studies have reported the positive effects of regular exercises on the expression of histone proteins. DNA methylation and the prevention of certain diseases such as cancer and respiratory diseases, caused by antioxidative interactions that occur more often in the elderly, have been studied.

Prevalence of anemia and its risk factors among pregnant women in Khorramabad (Iran) 2010-2014.

PURPOSE: Anemia's adverse effects on physical and behavioral development and on the reduction of efficiency have been proven. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women referred to the health care centers of Khorramabad from 2010 to 2014. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 2821 prenatal care cases of pregnant women referred to health care centers of Khorramabad were studied. Studied variables included the following: hemoglobin, hematocrit, age, parity, trimester of pregnancy status, number of deliveries, number of abortions, number of children, weight, height, time gap from previous delivery, negative RH, history of eclampsia/preeclampsia, coagulation disorder and blood pressure. RESULTS: The mean age of the studied women was 26.7 ± 5.5. The mean levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit from the population was 12 ± 1.1 and 36.1 ± 9.2, respectively. The prevalence of anemia was 16.8%. Prevalence of anemia among pregnant women referred to health care centers of Khorramabad was found to be high. CONCLUSIONS: Staff working at different parts of health care centers were advised to pay more attention to this problem. They should also try to control and treat anemia by regular distribution of iron supplements among women referred to health care centers.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of lactic acid bacteria from traditional cheese in Khorramabad city of Iran with probiotic potential.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with proteolitic activity are used as aromatic and antibacterial substances, cholesterol reduces, bile salt hydrolyses, and probiotic. The aims of this project were to isolate and identify natural LAB flora involved in traditional fermentation in cheeses of Khoramabad city and also to survey their probiotic potential. In order to achieve this goal, LAB were isolated and characterized using phenotypic and genotypic methods (PCR-sequencing); in the next stage, they were analyzed lowering cholesterol medium, hydrolysis of the bile, resistance to bile-resistant PH acidic stomach. At the end of the study, 88 cocci and 3 bacill were found: 58 Enterococcus faecium, 16 Enterococcus hirae, 5 Lactococcus lactis, 3 Lactobacillus plantarum, and 9 undetermined. The probiotic results of the bacteria had effects on the reduction of cholesterol, resistance to stomach acid, had relative antibacterial effects, and some strains had effects on hydrolyzing the bile. For further identification, the PCR method and the application of 16s-DNA-ITS genes and its sequencing were found useful. This study showed that lactic acid bacteria in the traditional cheese of the Khorramabad city have relative probiotic effect and that these lactic acid bacteria in fermented milk are suitable.

Investigation of the assembly of chylomicrons in hamster enterocytes using pluronic-L81 acid as a probe.

A major function of the enterocytes is absorption, processing, and export of dietary lipids into the lymphatic system. Pluronic L-81 is a non-ionic hydrophobic surfactant, which specifically inhibits lipid absorption in the intestine when administered in vivo. This compound is therefore an attractive probe to perturb and investigate the molecular and intracellular events in chylomicron assembly in the enterocytes. In the present study pluronic acid was administered to hamsters followed by isolation of the enterocytes and cell fractionation to investigate the effect of pluronic acid on intracellular events in lipid absorption. Four types of diet were administered to hamsters for three weeks; low-fat chow, high-fat chow and each diet with or without added pluronic acid. Sub-cellular fractions of freshly isolated enterocytes were prepared. Consistent with morphological observation, the high fat diet resulted in a three-fold increase in the triacylglycerol (TAG) content of the enterocytes and addition of pluronic acid to either the low fat or the high fat diets resulted in a ten-fold increase in cellular TAG levels. Determination of the mass of TAG and the time course of incorporation of 3H-triolein, administered by gavage, showed that the increased TAG was recovered in the microsomal (endoplasmic reticulum) fraction and the cytosol. In microsomes, increased TAG was recovered mainly in the membrane although there was a significant amount in the microsomal luminal contents. Pluronic acid therefore acts at the level of the endoplasmic reticulum and inhibits the assembly of apo-B48 with chylomicron TAG. The excess TAG is transferred to cytosolic stores.