The response of circulating omentin-1 concentration to 16-week exercise training in male children with obesity

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of the 16-week exercise training program on serum omentin-1 in relation to change in insulin resistance in obese male children.

Methods: Thirty-two obese male children, aged 9–12 years, were randomly assigned into Exercise Group (ExG; n = 16) and Control Group (CG; n = 16). ExG participated in a 16-week exercise training program which combined various forms of aerobic activities and resistance training. Body composition, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), fasting glucose and insulin, homeostasis model assessment estimate of insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR), blood lipids and serum omentin-1 were assessed before and after 16 weeks of training.

Results: Exercise training significantly decreased body mass (7.5%), BMI (7.6%), WC (4.3%), body fat % (15%), fasting insulin (18.5%), total cholesterol (TC) (5.4%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (17%) and triglyceride (TG) (7.4%) compared to CG. Between-groups comparison showed a considerable exercise-induced upregulation in omentin-1 (ES = 89; P < 0.05) levels. Furthermore, in ExG serum omentin-1 levels were significantly increased from 24.5 ± 8.4 to 35.9 ± 9.3 ng/ml (45%; P < 0.001) after the training program, which was accompanied with significantly decreased fasting insulin (P < 0.001). The changes in omentin-1 concentrations correlated with the changes in BMI (r = ?0.67, P < 0.001), WC (r = ?0.62, P = 0.002), body fat % (r = ?0.50, P = 0.004), insulin (r = ?0.65, P = 0.001), HOMA2-IR (r = ?0.60, P = 0.004), TC (r = ?0.53, P = 0.004) and LDL-C (r = ?0.51, P = 0.004) in ExG. BMI (β = ?0.50, P = 0.009) and fasting insulin (β = ?0.54, P = 0.006) changes were found to be independent predictors of omentin-1 increment in multiple regression analysis.

Conclusion: Exercise training resulted in a significant increase in serum omentin-1 concentrations in children with obesity. The ?ndings suggest that exercise-induced changes in omentin-1 may be associated with the bene?cial effects of exercise on reduced insulin and weight lost.     

Friction Stir Welding/Processing of Mg-Based Alloys: A Critical Review on Advancements and Challenges

Friction stir welding (FSW) and friction stir processing (FSP) are two of the most widely used solid-state welding techniques for magnesium (Mg) and magnesium alloys. Mg-based alloys are widely used in the railway, aerospace, nuclear, and marine industries, among others. Their primary advantage is their high strength-to-weight ratio and usefulness as a structural material. Due to their properties, it is difficult to weld using traditional gas- or electric-based processes; however, FSW and FSP work very well for Mg and its alloys. Recently, extensive studies have been carried out on FSW and FSP of Mg-based alloys. This paper reviews the context of future areas and existing constraints for FSW/FSP. In addition, in this review article, in connection with the FSW and FSP of Mg alloys, research advancement; the influencing parameters and their influence on weld characteristics; applications; and evolution related to the microstructure, substructure, texture and phase formations as well as mechanical properties were considered. The mechanisms underlying the joining and grain refinement during FSW/FSP of Mg alloys-based alloys are discussed. Moreover, this review paper can provide valuable and vital information regarding the FSW and FSP of these alloys for different sectors of relevant industries.     

Live birth/parity number and the risk of incident hypertension among parous women during over 13 years of follow‐up

The effect of live birth/parity number on incident hypertension was investigated among Iranian parous women aged 30–70 years. The study population included 2188 normotensive women who were enrolled in 1999–2001. They were followed for incident hypertension (based on JNC 7 report) by 3‐year intervals up to April 2018. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for a wide set of potential hypertension risk factors, reproductive factors, and pregnancy complications, were applied to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the number of parity/live birth(s) for incident hypertension. Additionally, as a sensitivity analysis, age‐scale Cox regression was also done. During a median follow‐up of 13.5 years, 935 incident hypertension have occurred. Compared to those with two live births, the participants who had 3 and ≥4 live births were at higher risk of hypertension development by the HRs of 1.25 [95% CI: 1.02–1.55] and 1.39 [1.12–1.72], respectively, in the full‐adjusted model. Moreover, each additional live birth increased the risk of hypertension by a HR of 1.06 [95%CI: 1.02–1.11]. Results of parity number were also similar. Considering age as time scale also did not change the results generally. The authors found a significant interaction between live birth/parity number and age groups; the adverse effect of higher live birth/parity numbers on hypertension development was mainly found among those aged < 50 years. To sum up, compared to the live birth/parity number of two, Iranian women with ≥3 live birth/parity had a higher risk of incident hypertension; the issue was more prominent among younger mothers.     

Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T interdigitale genotypes are associated with particular geographic areas and clinical manifestations

The fungi Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T interdigitale account for significant amount of dermatophytosis cases worldwide. These two dermatophytes form a species complex and have a number of ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region genotypes, allowing simultaneous species identification and strain typing. Our aim was to describe the geographic distribution of T mentagrophytes/T interdigitale ITS region genotypes and find an association between the genotypes and clinical presentations of respective infections. We performed rDNA ITS region sequencing in 397 Iranian T mentagrophytes/T interdigitale isolates and analysed all available in GenBank entries with sequences of this kind. For the study, 515 clinical annotations were available. Statistical analysis was performed by chi‐squared test and Spearman rank correlation analysis. A total of 971 sequences belonged to genotypes with at least 10 geographic annotations and were classified on the basis of exclusive occurrence in a particular region or high relative contribution to a regional sample. We discerned Asian and Oceanian (“ KU496915 ” Type V, “ KT192500 ” Type VIII, “ KU315316 ”), European (“ FM986750 ” Type III, “ MF926358 ” Type III*, “ KT285210 ” Type VI) and cosmopolitan (“ FM986691 ” Type I, “ JX122216 ” Type II, “ KP132819 ” Type II* and “ AF170453 ” Type XXIV) genotypes. There was statistically significant difference in the ITS genotype distribution between different affected body sites. Trichophyton mentagrophytes “ KT192500 ” Type VIII correlated with tinea cruris, T mentagrophytes “ KU496915 ” Type V correlated with tinea corporis, T interdigitale “ JX122216 ” Type II correlated with tinea pedis and onychomycosis. Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T interdigitale genotypes can be associated with distinct geographic locations and particular clinical presentations.     

Trend of cardiovascular risk factors in the older Iranian population: 2002–2014

Aim

Current study aimed to investigate the sex‐stratified secular trend of cardiovascular disease risk factors among an older population in Iran during a median follow‐up period of 8.76 years.

Methods

A total of 1490 participants (733 women) aged ≥60 years were evaluated in four study phases of 2002–2005, 2005–2008, 2008–2011 and 2011–2014. The trends of cardiovascular disease risk factors for each sex were estimated using generalized estimating equations.

Results

The age‐adjusted prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, central obesity, and chronic kidney disease at the baseline was 24%, 43%, 55%, and 32% in men and 31%, 57%, 60% and 53% in women, respectively, and had noticeable upward trend during the study period to reach 35%, 56%, 61% and 51% in men, and 42%, 71%, 74% and 67% in women, respectively. However, lipid profile parameters showed favorable trends. Despite the increasing trend in drug consumption, approximately 27% of women with diabetes and 37% of men with diabetes did not use antidiabetic medication, respectively; the results were 23% and 35% for hypertensive women and men, respectively. Among men, there was a decreasing trend towards low physical activity, from 40% at baseline to 26% at the most recent follow up. The prevalence of smoking remained steady throughout follow up.

Conclusions

Despite the benefits of lipid lowering, the status of other risk factor profiles are often suboptimal in both sexes. There remains much room for improvement in risk factors management, particularly for hypertension, smoking and adiposity status, and a need for an intervention. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 130–137 .     

Vulnerability and the intention to anabolic steroids use among Iranian gym users: an application of the theory of planned behavior

This correlational study explored the psychological antecedents of 253 Iranian gym users' intentions to use the anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The three predictor variables of (1) attitude, (2) subjective norms, and (3) perceived behavioral control accounted for 63% of the variation in the outcome measure of the intention to use the AAS. There is some support to use the TPB to design and implement interventions to modify and/or improve individuals' beliefs that athletic goals are achievable without the use of the AAS.     

Laparoscopic treatment of liver tumours using a two-needle probe bipolar radiofrequency ablation device

BackgroundMany hepatobiliary centres are increasingly utilizing thermocoagulative devices such as bipolar-radiofrequency ablation (B-RFA). Compared with monopolar-radiofrequency ablation (M-RFA), B-RFA does not require grounding pads, thereby avoiding dermal burn injuries, and does not position probes directly into the tumour but rather on the perimeter. Additionally, B-RFA can precoagulate parenchyma to assist in hepatic resection. Herein, we report our early experience using B-RFA.MethodsA retrospective review identified 68 patients who underwent M-RFA or B-RFA between June 2004 and September 2010 in an academic centre. Peri-operative metrics were analysed.ResultsM-RFA was used to treat 30 patients, whereas B-RFA was used for 17 patients. There were no differences in peri-operative metrics, survival or disease recurrence between M-RFA and B-RFA. Seventeen additional patients underwent B-RFA precoagulation during laparoscopic resection (segmentectomy in eleven patients and multi-segmental resection in six patients). Four patients with multifocal disease underwent procedures that combined B-RFA with resection.ConclusionsThe early experience utilizing B-RFA demonstrates equivalency to M-RFA with respect to peri-operative metrics and survival. Moreover, B-RFA can be utilized to precoagulate tissue during a planned resection, making it not only a useful tool for tumour therapy but also a useful adjunct during surgical resections.