Iranian Journal of

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Background: The precise mechanisms of vascular diseases in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) are not clearly understood. There are evidences of alteration in mechanisms involved in regulating vascular tone including increased ACE activity in some tissues. To investigate the effect of insulin treatment on these changes this study was performed.
Methods: Three groups of 8 male Sprauge Dawely rats including control (C) and two diabetic groups (D, IT) were used in this study. Diabetes was induced by injection of 60 mg/kg STZ ip. After induction of diabetes IT group were treated with insulin (10 units/kg/day s.c.) for four weeks. The control group and the untreated diabetic group were treated with the same amount of Saline and for the same time. ACE activity was determined by HPLC method.
Results: 4 weeks after induction of diabetes, SBP and ACE activity in serum, lung, heart and aorta increased in D group compared to control rats. Insulin treatment reversed these changes to normal values in IT group.
Conclusion: It is concluded that increased ACE activity could contribute to the development of diabetic vasculopathy and ACE reducing activity of insulin may be partially involved in decrease of cardiovascular complications in diabetes.

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Background: Due to homeostatic and regulatory potentials of nitric oxide (NO) in vascular physiology, regulatory systems that determine NO bio-synthesis and bioavailability have been the subject of extensive research in molecular medicine. In the field of vascular system pathophysiology, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) which is the major producer and regulator of NO in vascular tissues has received the most attention. Impairment of NO bioavailability (NO quenching) is a common feature in poorly controlled diabetics due to increased catabolism and decreased production of NO. Such impairment in severe forms could end to vasodilation breakdown in peripheral tissues (mainly in skeletal muscles) and defective regional blood flow, that in turn disturb insulin-dependent glucose uptake ensuing insulin resistance state.
Methods: The phenotypic impact of an eNOS gene polymorphism at position 786*C/T (that its functionality has been revealed already) on genetic propensity to diabetic retinopathy is evaluated in a British-Caucasian population with type 1 diabetes (T1DM).
Results: In contrast to genotypes, there was a significant difference in distribution of allele frequencies between T1DM patients (n= 249) and healthy controls (n= 104) (p= 0/036), that may imply eNOS and/or NO involvement in development of T1DM. Most notably a significant difference also was evident in allele frequency between retinopaths (n= 134) and healthy controls (p= 0/02). No significant difference was detected when the genotype/allele frequencies were compared between retinopaths (n= 134) and non-retinopaths diabetics (n= 115) (p=NS).
Conclusion: Our data is compatible with previous studies which demonstrated that allele C of eNOS 786*C/T polymorphism is associated with increased HbA1c levels. By emphasizing the phenotypic and prognostic value of the abovementioned polymorphism, our data calls for further investigations to find out whether this polymorphism can be employed as a genetic marker in clinical medicine to recognize high-risk diabetics at the time of diabetes onset/diagnosis.

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Background: To determine the importance of type 2 Diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, this study was designed in endocrine clinic of zanjan in 2003.
Methods: As a case-control study, 40 diabetic and 40 healthy menopause women have been recruited. These two groups were matched in terms of their age, length of their menopausal period and body mass index. Serum Calcium, Phosphorus, Alkaline phosphatase and Estradiol were measured in all the cases and bone densities in three sites (Femoral neck, lumbar spine and forearm) were evaluated with DXA. All data were analyzed using T-test, analysis of variance, chi-square and multiple regression tests.
Results: The frequency of osteoporosis and osteopenia in diabetic women were not significantly different from non diabetics. The mean bone density in femoral neck was higher in diabetic group (P= 0.013). In both groups there was a significant relationship between bone density and length of menopause (P<0.01) .The relationship between BMI and Bone density was significant only in femoral neck (P<0.01) in both groups. In diabetic women, the higher HbA1c accompanied with the lower bone density in lumbar spine.
Conclusion: Although the level of HbA1c as a marker of blood glucose control, has a relationship with lumbar spine density in diabetics, Diabetes type 2 is not a risk factor for osteoporosis, So screening, diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in diabetes type 2, Should be done independently and according to other risk factors.

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Background: Pancreatic islet transplantation has been reported as an appropriate method for treatment of type I diabetes patients, however there are strong indications that cytokine and chemokines secreted from transplanted islets play an important role in islet graft rejection in different stage post-transplantation. The NF-kB signaling pathway is activated in response to the stress resulted from isolation and purification process of pancreatic islets. Secretion and release of inflammatory mediators, including MCP-1, result from activation of this pathway which plays important part in activation of inflammatory processes accelerating graft rejection.
Methods: This study was performed to examine the effect of curcumin on secretion of inflammatory mediators and function of pancreatic islets.
Results: We observed that curcumin significantly decreased MCP-1 release from mouse islets compared to the control group and had no effect on function of pancreatic islets. Conclusion: Investigating the stimulatory signals leading to production and secretion of inflammatory mediators from pancreatic islets and discovering their underlying mechanisms will be useful in finding new therapeutic interventions for blocking inflammatory pathways and improvement in outcome of islet cell transplantation.

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Background: Finding effective drugs is considered for healing diabetic wounds by researchers. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the wound healing effects of palmatine in the healing of skin wounds in normal and diabetic rats. Methods: In this study 16 male Wistar rats were dهvided into four groups (Negative control, Positive control, The first experimental,The second experimental) . A 4 cm2 wound was created in the left side of the spinal cord in each of these groups and the process of wound healing was macroscopically evaluated. Results: The wounds of the diabetic groups (the diabetes was coused by streptozocin) showed longer healing process in comparison with the normal groups and the wound healing in the experimental groups which were treated by palmitine was faster in comparison with the control group. Conclusions: the results showed that palmatine speeds the wound healing up in normal and diabetic samples.

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Background: Exercise training is identified as a beneficial component of diabetes treatment plan. Angiogenesis process in diabetics can be affected by exercise activity. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of aerobic exercise on the expression of mir-126 and capillary density in the cardiac tissue of diabetic rats.

Methods: Twenty diabetic male Wistar rats (mean weight, 191.9±10.85) were divided into two groups of control (n=10) and training (n=10) and the groups were matched based on weight. 48 hours after the last training session, cardiac tissue samples were taken after an overnight fast. Mir-126 expression was used through Real Time PCR. Also, immunohistochemistry (alkaline phosphatase activity) was used to measure the cardiac muscle capillary density.

Results: Independent t-test showed that the 8-week aerobic training significantly increased the expression of mir-126(p=0.001) and capillary density (p=0.018) of cardiac tissue in the exercise group compared to the control group.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the development of angiogenesis by aerobic exercise in diabetic conditions; can be expressed as a non-drug treatments for aerobic exercise and can be used to improve heart perfusion.

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Background: Determine of position and role of each country on scientific production in different subject areas shows level of capacity and performance of the country to help and improve this subject area. The aim of this study is to quantitative and qualitative examine of scientific production of Islamic Republic of Iran in the field of Diabetes and determine its regional and international position.
Methods: This is Survey-Descriptive Study and use Scientometrics approach. Statistical populations include 2291 scientific articles and papers which have been published by Iranian authors in the field of Diabetes in Scopus Database during 2 last decades. We used SPSS, NodeXL and VOSviewer to draw graphs and analysis data.
Results: Findings show that Iranian scientific outputs in the field of Diabetes increased from 5 in 1996 to 299 in 2015. Tehran University of Medical Science, United States and Dr Freedom Azizi Respectively founded as the most important producer Center, Partner country and high producer Author. Also place of Islamic Republic of Iran upgraded in the period study and stay on second position in region and twenty first position in the word.
Conclusion: Although Iranian scientific production in the field of Diabetes have been increased in a quantitative factors, but share of the Islamic Republic of Iran among all world production in the field of diabetes was so low. Also most of scientific papers and articles published in internal journals which haven’t good and high quality. Making planning and tacking decision by Medical Universities and Government of Health seems necessary to increase number of researches in diabetes and promote quality and quantity of scientific papers.

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Background: Vitamin D plays an important role in the health, survival and fertility of humans, This Vitamin has a significant role in calcium homeostasis and cellular growth and facilitating normal immune system function. In recent years, the role of vitamin D in various diseases has been highlighted. Regarding high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Iran, The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and status of vitamin D of Hamadan.
Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study in a one-year period, 7816 patients were referred to the laboratories of Shahid Beheshti and Farshchian Sina Hospitals of Hamadan Were investigated. The data was analyzed using R-version 3.2.3 and at a significant level of 0.05. The modified effect of age and sex factors on vitamin D level was investigated using logistic regression model.
Results: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 0.69 in Hamadan province. 20.2% had severe deficiency (less than 10 Ng/ml) vitamin D, 20.5% moderate deficiency (10 to 20 Ng /ml), 28.6% mild deficiency (20 to30 Ng/ml), the prevalence of this deficiency was 46.7% in men and 38.7% in women. According to the results, there is a significant relationship between sex and age with vitamin D levels (p-value <0.001).
Conclusion: Based on this study and other studies, vitamin D deficiency is common in Iran and requires further investigation to improve the quality of life and prevent complications from deficiency of this essential vitamin.

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Background: Thymus species have significant amounts of phenolic and flavonoid compounds and demonstrate strong antioxidant activities. Paraoxonase1 act as antioxidant enzyme and protect the low-density lipoprotein against oxidation. In our study we aimed to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of Thymus Kotschyanus Hydroalcoholic extract and its effect on serum paraoxonase 1 activity in healthy and diabetic person.
Methods: The antioxidant activity, and functional groups of the constituents in T. Kotschyanus Hydroalcoholic extract were determined using DPPH free radical scavenging assay, and The FTIR spectroscopy, respectively. Paraoxonase-1 activity was determined in 40 healthy and diabetic persons by measuring the rate of paraoxon hydrolysis substrate to p-nitrophenol, which absorbance was monitored at 405 nm. The data Statistically were analyzed by Duncan's and independent t-test.
Results: The IC50 values (the concentration with scavenging activity of 50%) was found to be 477.5 μg/ml. FTIR spectrum analysis showed biomolecules containing a hydroxyl group and aromatic ring in T. Kotschyanus hydroalcoholic extract. Serum paraoxonase activity in healthy and diabetic humans exposed to the extract at concentration of 1 mg/mL increased by 49.95 ± 3.57% and 51.05 ± 3.25%, respectively. Although there was a significant difference between serum enzyme activity in healthy and diabetic subjects in the presence and absence of the extract but the amount of enzyme activation affected by the extract in two healthy and patient did not show significant difference.
Conclusion: This plant extract increased enzyme activity due to the antioxidant properties and the presence of phenolic compounds in the plant extract.

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Background: Animal studies have shown maternal low/ high-calorie diet during pregnancy can alter metabolism of offspring through change in Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression, as a metabolic sensor. However, there is no study on the effects of isocalorie diet. Herein, effects of two isocalorie diets with different amounts of fat were assessed on SIRT1 gene and protein level in the liver of male and female offspring.
Methods: The control group received AIN93G diet. In this diet, 16% and 64% of total calorie were prepared from fat and carbohydrate, respectively. The intervention group received high fat AIN93G diet contained 48% and 32% of calorie from fat and carbohydrate, respectively. In both diets, fat was prepared from soy oil. Diets were isocaloric and 20% of total calorie was provided from protein. Mothers categorized to one of these diets and offspring received the control diet after weaning (3 weeks after the birth).
Results: SIRT1 gene and protein levels were lower in male and female offspring born from mothers received high-fat diet than the controls (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Change in maternal dietary fat, without increase in calorie, effects on gene and protein levels of SIRT-1 in the liver of next generation. 

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Background: The Actinobacteria and Bifidobacterium population, which are the beneficial intestinal bacteria, was compared between pregnant women with gestational diabetes (GDM) and healthy-one, and their relationship with the amount of dietary macronutrients was investigated.
Methods: Fifty pregnant women with GDM, who were identified in the 24-28 weeks of pregnancy, based on the oral glucose tolerance test, and 50 healthy pregnant women with normal results were selected. Stool samples were collected. Bacterial DNA was extracted and 16S rRNA gene amplification was done by qPCR method, using universal bacterial primers. Food information was collected using a food frequency questionnaire.
Results: In total, Actinobacteria phyla (P= 0.02) and Bifidobacterium (P= 0.001) were significantly lower in the pregnant women with GDM than the normoglycemic. Adjusting to all factors and grouping, age (P= 0.02), and education (P= 0.04) showed a significant effect on the gut Actinobacteria population. Higher daily calorie intake decreased the intestinal Actinobacteria population by 11.1 times (P=0.01). Dietary carbohydrate and fat showed a positive effect on the gut Actinobacteria (P= 0.02 and P= 0.003, respectively). Dietary cholesterol showed a negative effect on the Bifidobacterium population (OR= -0.54, P= 0.02).
Conclusion: Increase in dietary carbohydrates and fat with an emphasis on mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids, decrease in daily calorie intake and cholesterol lead to increase in the Actinobacteria and Bifidobacterium, respectively as the beneficial gut bacteria.

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Background: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Mindfulness Training on social isolation, sense of coherence, and body appreciation in overweight girls.
Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test/post-test control group. The statistical population consisted of overweight girls aged 14 to 18 in the city of Sari during the 2024-2025 academic year. A sample of 32 participants was selected via purposive sampling and then randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. The experimental group received Compassion-Focused Mindfulness Training, delivered in eight structured sessions, while the control group received no intervention. The Compassion-Focused Mindfulness protocol was developed and administered based on the therapeutic framework proposed by Sadeghi et al. (2021), the instruments used in this study included: the Body Appreciation Questionnaire by Mendelson et al. (2001), the Sense of Coherence Scale by Antonovsky (1987), the Social Isolation Questionnaire by Madrasi Yazdi et al. (2017), the collected data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Univariate and multivariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA & MANCOVA) were performed using SPSS software, version 26.
Results: The results indicated that Compassion-Focused Mindfulness Training had a significant effect on self-worth, sense of coherence, and social isolation in overweight girls. Specifically, this training led to a reduction in social isolation and an improvement in self-worth and sense of coherence among the participants. (Wilks' Lambda = 0.151, F = 11.787, P< 0.001).
Conclusion: Compassion-Focused Mindfulness Training, by emphasizing the non-judgmental acceptance of experiences and fostering a meaning-centered approach, can play a vital role in enhancing psychological well-being, regulating emotions, and improving social interactions. Therefore, incorporating this effective intervention for vulnerable groups, particularly overweight girls, is crucial for designing supportive and therapeutic strategies and can significantly contribute to improving their quality of life.