Journal of Translational Medical Research

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  Background and Aim: During the intense and prolonged exercise, muscle and tissue damages may occur due to production of free radicals and other reactive oxygen compounds. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare antioxidant status and lipid profile of karate athletes and non-athlete individuals.

  Materials and Methods: In a descriptive analytical study, 17 healthy active male karate athletes, who have continues exercise training during previous 6 months for at least 3 sessions per week, each session lasted 45 minute and 20 male non-athletes without previous history of regular exercise in the same time, were selected randomly. Total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, lipid concentration, maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂ max) and legs anaerobic power were determined through standardized and valid methods. Mann-Whitney tests was used to compare groups with α =0.05.

  Results: The SOD activity, VO₂ max and legs peak anaerobic power of karate athletes were significantly higher (P<0.05), and body mass index and body fat percentage of them were significantly lower (P<0.05) than non-athlete individuals. However, there were not significant differences between the two groups regarding their lipid concentrations and other antioxidant indexes (P>0.05).

  Conclusion: Karate athletes have more favorable antioxidant system, physical fitness, and body composition than non-athletes, and these factors make them more resistance against cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis.

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  Background and Aim: Emotional intelligence covers a range of abilities and non-cognitive skills that increase an individual's success in fighting against environmental stress contingency, especially job stress. The aim of the present study was to find out the relationship between emotional intelligence and job stress.

  Materials and Methods: This study was a descriptive one which was done on 200 subjects selected from the managers and employees of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and Health Care in 2007. Standard emotional intelligence and job stress questionnaires were used to gather data. The obtained information was analyzed by means of statistical tests including Pearson's correlation, step-by-step regression, T-test and ANOVA at the significant level of P<0.05.

  Results: It was found that there was a significant difference in emotional intelligence and job stress between the two genders (P<0.05). Besides, a reverse significant correlation was observed between emotional intelligence and job stress (P<0.05). Various components of emotional intelligence, particularly self-consciousness, sympathy, and self-motivation, had a significant role in anticipating job stress.

  Conclusion: Having favorable components of emotional intelligence will lead to reduction of job stress. Thus, it is suggested that all organizations, especially medical services, hold requisite educational courses to promote and increase emotional intelligence and decrease job stress.

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  Background and Aim: Selective PDE3 inhibitors, via cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation increase cardiac contraction and augment glucose-induced insulin secretion. In this study, the effects of some synthetic methylquinolinone derivatives (MC1-MC10) on glucose-induced insulin secretion in rats' isolated Langerhans islets model were investigated.

  Materials and Methods: After the digestion of isolated pancreas using collagenase-IV, the isolated islets were collected manually under a stereomicroscope and were incubated in carboxyl buffer having 3mM glucose for 30 minutes. Then, they were incubated at 37°C presented to basal (3mM) and stimulatory (10mM) dose of glucose with or without different methylquinolinone derivatives and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) (as standard) in 100µM concentration. After 60 minutes of incubation, the secreted insulin was measured using a radioimmunoassay method.

  Results: Glucose significantly increased insulin release with 10mM concentration in comparison with 3mM concentration (P<0.01). IBMX (100µM) significantly augmented glucose-induced insulin secretion (P<0.01). However, among the investigated ten compounds only MC7 and MC9 significantly increased glucose-induced insulin secretion (P<0.01) which was comparable with IBMX.

  Conclusion: In spite of having similar structure, the effect of the test compounds (MC1-MC10) on insulin secretion varied widely which may be due to their tissue-specific effects. Finally, it is hoped that the ligands will probably be used in the treatment of diabetes in the future.

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Background and Aim: Currently, several methods are used to remove heavy metals from aqueous solutions one of which is the adsorption process. Graphene oxide nanoparticles, due to their high adsorption capacity, have caused major concerns. The current study aimed at assessing the role of these particles in removing Chromium and Lead from aqueous solutions. Materials and Methods: This empirical study investigated the effect of the initial concentration of pollutants, their PH, adsorbent dose, time and temperature on graphen oxide nanoparticles capacity in removing Chromium and Lead from aqueous solutions. Results: Maximum adsorption efficiency occurred at PH=9 with initial concentration of 4 mg/L and at PH=3 with initial concentration of 3 mg/L for Lead and chromium, respectively. Maximum efficiency of Lead and Chromium adsorption by graphen oxide occurred at 0.01 g dosage of the adsorbent and after 15 minutes of contact time i.e. 90% and 42.33%, respectively. Results showed that adsorption of the two metals was better in accord with Freundlich isotherm. Thermodynamic reaction results revealed that Cr adsorption reaction was exothermic and that of Pb was endothermic. Conclusion: The adsorbent Graphen Oxide has got a favorable role in removal of the two contaminants Lead and Chromium from aqueous solutions and waste waters.

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Background and Aim: One of the notorious  air pllutants on which air quality is determined is  carbon monoxide (CO). The aim of the present study was to measure the concentration of CO outdoor and indoor urban environments and compare it with air quality standards within buildings  and open spaces.

Materials and Methods: This research was a descriptive-analytical study of CO estimation in outdoor and indoor air of Birjand. Concentration of CO at the height of 150 cm and in the closest street leading to the specific building and also, inside the building (i.e.drawing room)-at the hight of 75 cm was measured using a CO meter. For data analysis, statistical softwares SPSS (V:18) and Excel were used applying Mann-Whitney, Friedman, and Wilcoxon statistical tests.

Results: It was found that the highest concentrations of CO in the outdoor air in Birjand were 11 and 10 ppm in December and March, respectively. And highest concentrations of CO in indoor air were 11 and 9 ppm in February, respectively. But, in general, the average concentration of CO measured in outdoor and indoor air quality in both months were less than the standard measure air pollution outside (9ppm) and the quality of indoor air pollution (25ppm).

Conclusion: Regarding to results of the present study, concentrations of indoor and outdoor CO of Birjand air were in standard ranges.

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Background and Aim: Fluoride is one of the essential elements of water that is introduced into water sources through several natural and human activities. Maximum contaminant level for fluoride in drinking water is set at 1.5 mg/L by WHO. In the present research, defluorination of aqueous solutions using graphene oxide nanoparticles is discussed.

Materials and Methods: In the present study, effects of pH, contact time, fluoride initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, temperature as well as presence of sulfate anions in the performance of graphene oxide nanoparticles in removing of fluoride from aqueous solutions were investigated .Besides, investigation of thermodynamic, synthetic, and Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm were employed for the process.

Results: Maximum adsorption capacity occurred in the first 15 minutes .for the adsorbent with pH=3 and initial fluoride concentration of 10 mg/L. The results also showed that adsorption of fluoride by graphene oxide was well in accord with Langmuir isotherm. . .Furthermore, increasing of temperature led to reducing the adsorption capacity that was indicative of exothermic adsorption reaction. Moreover, it was found that the process followed the pseudo- second order kinetic.

Conclusion: Graphene oxide nanoparticles have higher removal capacity for fluoride in acidic conditions, ambient temperature and higher fluoride concentration.

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Background and Aim: Humic substances include natural organic polyelectrolyte materials that formed most of the dissolved organic carbon in aquatic environments. Reaction between humic substances and chlorine leading to formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) those are toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic. The aim of this study was investigation of isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics of humic acid removal process by nano chitosan from aquatic environment.

Materials and Methods: This practical research was an experimental study that performed in a batch system. The effect of various parameters such as pH, humic acid concentration, contact time, adsorbent dosage, isotherms, thermodynamics and Kinetics of humic acid adsorption process were investigated. Humic acid concentration measured using spectrophotometer at wave length of 254 nm.

Results: The results of this research showed that maximum adsorption capacity of nanochitosan that fall out in concentration of 50 mg/l and contact time of 90 minutes was 52.34 mg/g. Also, the maximum adsorption was observed in pH = 4 and adsorbent dosage 0.02 g. Laboratory data show that adsorption of humic acid by nanochitosan follow the Langmuir isotherm model. According to result of thermodynamic study, entropy changes (ΔS) was equal to 2.24 J/mol°k, enthalpy changes (ΔH) was equal to 870 kJ/mol and Gibbs free energy (ΔG) was negative that represent the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic. The kinetics of adsorption has a good compliant with pseudo second order model.

Conclusion: Regarding to results of this study, nano chitosan can be suggested as a good adsorbent for the removal of humic acids from aqueous solutions.

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Background and Aim: Adding salt to foods including bread along with improving its taste can cause problems such as high blood pressure; therefore, considering the importance of the presence of salt in bread, the purpose of this study was to investigate the amount of bread salt in bakeries in South Khorasan province in 2014-2018.
 Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical and retrospective study was performed by random sampling method on bakeries in South Khorasan province in the period of 2014-2018. The measurement of the salt level was done according to the standards of the Iranian Institute of Standards and Industrial Research. The data were analyzed by using variance analysis tests and Tukey's post-hoc test.
Results: 2577 loaves of bread were sent to the food laboratory of South Khorasan province during the years 2014-2018, which is the total average amount of salt In Lavash bread, it was equal to 1.63 ± 0.57 g, Taftoon was 1.51±0.53 g, and in Sangag bread, it was 1.42±0.56 g. The mean of salt levels in years had significantly various (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Our result showed that the amount of salt in bread was highest in 2016. It seems to be due to the lack of awareness of bakers about changing the standard of salt in that year. In this regard, the adoption of preventive and regulatory programs by the Food and Drug Administration can be a guide.