Effect of Beta-Alanine Supplementation on Exercise-Induced Cell Damage and Lactate Accumulation in Female Basketball Players: A Randomized, Double-Blind Study.

Beta-alanine (BA) is a supplement that has received attention for its buffering potential among athletes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of BA supplementation on exercise performance and exercise-induced cell damage in female basketball players. Twenty-two female basketball players participated in a randomized, double-blind study. They ingested 6.4 g·day-1 of BA or an isocaloric placebo (dextrose) over 4 weeks. Exercise performance including aerobic (Bruce test), anaerobic (Wingate test), intermittent (Yo-Yo test) and basketball performance (countermovement jump and free throw shots) was measured before and following the intervention. Exercise measures were performed at the lab and free throw shots were undertaken on a wooden indoor basketball court. Blood samples were also collected before and after the exhaustive exercise to assess lactate concentration, creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) activity. The exhaustive exercise test induced an increase in lactate concentration and MDA, CK and LDH activity (all p < 0.05). BA supplementation significantly reduced the lactate response to exhaustive exercise (p = 0.001); however, it had no significant effect on exercise-induced MDA, CK and LDH activity (all p > 0.05). Furthermore, exercise performance measures improved from pre- to post-test regardless of supplement/placebo ingestion (all p < 0.05). BA consumption over 4 weeks significantly reduced lactate accumulation following exhaustive exercise, but had no ergogenic effect in female basketball players. Usual dosing of BA does not seem to exhibit protective effect against oxidative damage.

Fabrication of Cellulase Catalysts Immobilized on a Nanoscale Hybrid Polyaniline/Cationic Hydrogel Support for the Highly Efficient Catalytic Conversion of Cellulose.

A novel conductive nanohydrogel hybrid support was prepared by in situ polymerization of polyaniline nanorods on an electrospun cationic hydrogel of poly(ε-caprolactone) and a cationic phosphine oxide macromolecule. Subsequently, the cellulase enzyme was immobilized on the hybrid support. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analyses confirmed a mesoporous, rod-like structure with a slit-like pore geometry for the immobilized support and exhibiting a high immobilization capacity and reduced diffusion resistance of the substrate. For comparison, the catalytic activity, storage stability, and reusability of the immobilized and free enzymes were evaluated. The results showed that the immobilized enzymes have higher thermal stability without changes in the optimal pH (5.5) and temperature (55 °C) for enzyme activity. A high immobilization efficiency (96%) was observed for the immobilized cellulose catalysts after optimization of parameters such as the pH, temperature, incubation time, and protein concentration. The immobilized enzyme retained almost 90% of its original activity after 4 weeks of storage and 73% of its original activity after the ninth reuse cycle. These results strongly suggest that the prepared hybrid support has the potential to be used as a support for protein immobilization.

The Effect of Peer Education on Self-Care Behaviors and the Mean of Glycosylated Hemoglobin in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes control in adolescents is a difficult and tedious process. Diabetic teens need training to control it and prevent its complications. This study aimed to investigate the effect of peer education on self-care behaviors and glycosylated hemoglobin among adolescents with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: This controlled clinical trial was conducted in Iran from July 2018 to June 2019. 84 teenagers with type 1 diabetes were selected using a simple random sampling and randomly divided into control and intervention groups using block randomization. The intervention group received 4 sessions of training by peers on self care behaviors in diabetes. The control group received the routine training. The self-care questionnaire was filled out, and glycosylated hemoglobin was measured before and three months after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. The significance level was set at P<0.0. RESULTS: Three months after the intervention, the intervention group reported significantly higher levels of score of self-care behaviors (P<0.001) and lower levels of mean glycosylated hemoglobin (P<0.001), as compared with the control. Also, the mean self-care score was not significantly different in the control group before and three months after the intervention (P>0.05). Besides, the mean glycosylated hemoglobin significantly increased three months after the intervention in the controls (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The implementation of peer education can improve the self-care behaviors and glycosylated hemoglobin in adolescents. Hence, regarding its low cost and high safety, it is suggested that this approach should be established in the control of other chronic diseases in order to strengthen the self-care behaviors in adolescents.Trial Registration Number: IRCT20180904040944N1.

Structurally Tunable pH-responsive Phosphine Oxide Based Gels by Facile Synthesis Strategy.

Design and synthesis of nanostructured responsive gels have attracted increasing attention, particularly in the biomedical domain. Polymer chain configurations and nanodomain sizes within the network can be used to steer their functions as drug carriers. Here, a catalyst-free facile one-step synthesis strategy is reported for the design of pH-responsive gels and controlled structures in nanoscale. Transparent and impurity free gels were directly synthesized from trivinylphosphine oxide (TVPO) and cyclic secondary diamine monomers via Michael addition polymerization under mild conditions. NMR analysis confirmed the consumption of all TVPO and the absence of side products, thereby eliminating post purification steps. The small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) elucidates the nanoscale structural features in gels, that is, it demonstrates the presence of collapsed nanodomains within gel networks and it was possible to tune the size of these domains by varying the amine monomers and the nature of the solvent. The fabricated gels demonstrate structure tunability via solvent-polymer interactions and pH specific drug release behavior. Three different anionic dyes (acid blue 80, acid blue 90, and fluorescein) of varying size and chemistry were incorporated into the hydrogel as model drugs and their release behavior was studied. Compared to acidic pH, a higher and faster release of acid blue 80 and fluorescein was observed at pH 10, possibly because of their increased solubility in alkaline pH. In addition, their release in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and simulated body fluid (SBF) matrix was positively influenced by the ionic interaction with positively charged metal ions. In the case of hydrogel containing acid blue 90 a very low drug release (<1%) was observed, which is due to the reaction of its accessible free amino group with the vinyl groups of the TVPO. In vitro evaluation of the prepared hydrogel using human dermal fibroblasts indicates no cytotoxic effects, warranting further research for biomedical applications. Our strategy of such gel synthesis lays the basis for the design of other gel-based functional materials.

The relationship between chest pain intensity and physiological indicators after coronary artery bypass grafting: A correlational study.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the relationship between chest pain intensity and physiological indicators in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: In this correlational study, chest pain intensity and physiological responses of a total of 126 coronary artery bypass grafting patients (104 males, 22 females; mean age 62.3±8.5 years; range, 45 to 80 years) during respiratory exercise were evaluated in a referral hospital setting between December 2016 and March 2018. On the second day after surgery, pain intensity was measured by a numerical rating scale. Physiological indicators were collected using the Nihon Kohden (MU65) monitoring device. RESULTS: The mean pain intensity score was 7.8±1.9 (range, 1 to 10). There was no significant correlation between the pain intensity and physiological indicators (p>0.05). There was a negative correlation between the pain intensity and age of the patient (r=- 0.183 and p=0.04). Pain intensity was not significantly different between male and female gender (p=0.064). CONCLUSION: Our study results show no significant relationship between the chest pain intensity and physiological responses in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Barriers and facilitators affecting vasectomy acceptability (a multi stages study in a sample from north eastern of Iran), 2005-2007.

BACKGROUND: In this study we aimed to find factors affecting vasectomy acceptability in Shahroud (north eastern Iran). METHODS: This study was carried out in three stages. The first stage was a survey of couples that had the vasectomy procedure during 2004-2007 in the Shahroud area. In the second stage of the study we compared characteristics of the cases (the couples who had the vasectomy procedure during the study period) and controls (including couples with at least one child that choose other contraceptive methods excluding a vasectomy) using χ² and T student tests. In the third stage of the study we aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes of those who did not choose to have a vasectomy as there contraception method by filling out questionnaires in personal interviews. RESULTS: An increasing trend toward the vasectomy procedure was observed during 2005 to 2007. We found positive associations between male and female educational levels and choosing to have a vasectomy (p < 0.05). Majority of women (88.44%) thought that their husbands would prefer to have a tubectomy to a vasectomy. CONCLUSION: The study results show a necessity for both couples to participate in educational programs about the vasectomy procedure.