---

Background and Objective: The synthesis of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in adipose tissue plays an important role in providing resistance and prevention of fat accumulation, weight gain and obesity. This study was done to evaluate the effect of eight weeks aerobic training with moderate and high intensities on serum levels of Irisin and UCP1 white adipose tissue in obese male rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 24 adult obese male Wistar rats (weight: 250 to 300 gr, BMI>30g/cm²) were randomly assigned into three groups including moderate aerobic training intensity, high intensity aerobic training and control group. The aerobic exercise training was included 8 weeks (5 sessions/per-week for 60 min per session). All training groups carried out aerobic training with 28 m/min (moderate intensity), aerobic training with 34 m/min (high intensity) on treadmill. 48 hours after the training period, the level of UCP1 and Irisin protein was measured.
Results: The level of UCP-1 in adipose tissue and serum Irisin in both aerobic training intensities increased compared to control group, but this increase only in aerobic training group with a moderate intensity was singnificant (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Eight weeks aerobic training with moderate intensity leads to increase of UCP-1 in adipose tissue and Irisin levels.

---

Background and Objective: Ciprofloxacin is effective against a wide range of bacteria, particularly Enterobacteriaceae. However, studies have shown that the resistance of Escherichia coli to ciprofloxacin is enhanced. Thyme is one of the medicinal plants whose essential oil has anti-microbial effects. This study was aimed to investigate the antimicrobial properties of local Thyme essential oil alone and in combination with ciprofloxacin on Escherichia coli mutant strain with intermediate resistance.
Methods: In this descriptive laboratory study, Thyme plants (10 samples) were collected from Lorestan Province, west of Iran during 2016. Theses samples belonged to T. eriocali species. Plant essential oil was extracted by distillation method with Clevenger equipment. The antimicrobial properties of local thyme were determined by measuring minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of it alone and in combination with ciprofloxacin using sequential dilution method (macrodilution and microdilution methods) in Escherichia coli strains. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was measured by cultivation method. The interaction between essential oil and ciprofloxacin was determined by calculation of fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI).
Results: MIC of essential oil for wild type strain MG1655 and mutant strain RE6 was 8 and 10 µl/ml, respectively. MBC was equal to MIC. 0.4 µl/ml of essential oil decreased 45 fold the MIC of ciprofloxacin in mutant strain and produced synergistic interaction (FICI=0.06).
Conclusion: Thyme essential oil in concentration less than its MIC in combination with ciprofloxacin via synergistic interaction reduces antibiotic MIC and antibiotic resistance.

---

Background and Objective: Gingival recession is a common disease leads to esthetic problems, increased sensitivity of teeth and root caries. This study was done to determine the prevalence of gingival recession in dental students with high level of oral hygiene.
Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was performed on 214 dental students of Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran during 2017-2018. After collecting demographic information, clinical examination including Oral Hygiene Index (OHI) and Gingival Index (GI), Severity of gingival recession, width of keratinized gingival, attachment of frenulum, toothbrush trauma, tooth malpositions, periodontal diseases and other iatrogenic factors was measured.
Results: Prevalence of gingival recession was 23.8% .Class 1 and 2 of gingival recession was 84.62 % and 15.38%, respectively. Class 3 and 4 of gingival recession did not observe in any subjects. Toothbrush trauma was the most etiologic factor in 35.4% of dental students suffering of gingival recession (P<0.05). Also, dental malposition with 20.83%, loss of keratinized gingival with 14.58%, orthodontics procedures with 12.5%, periodontal diseases with 10.4% were the other factors in gingival recession.
Conclusion: Toothbrush trauma and dental malposition are the most important etiologic factors in dentistry students suffering from gingival recession.

---

Background and Objective: Sodium levothyroxine is one of the common medicines used for treatment of hypothyroidism and thyroid cancer. The study was done to determine the effect of sodium levothyroxine on knee articular cartilage tidemark integrity, plateau tibia cartilage thickness (calcified and non-calcified) and liver enzymes in induced hypothyroidism rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 50 adult female BALB/c mice, weighting 25-30 grams were randomly allocated into one control and four experimental groups. Animals in control did not receive any medicine. Animals in the second group were received different increasing doses of sodium levothyroxine daily for 8 weeks. Animals in the third group were received constantly high dose of levothyroxine daily for 8 weeks. In the fourth group, the animals became hypothyroid with propylthiouracil (PTU). In the fifth group, animals with hypothyroidism were received sodium levothyroxine by gavage same as group 2. After 8 weeks serum samples were taken to determine ALT, AST and ALP. The plateau tibia cartilage stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Histologic changes evaluated by light microscopy. Using a light microscope equipped with camera, the samples were photographed and using a computer equipped with axiovision software. Cartilage (calcified and non-calcified) thickness measured in micrometer. The integrity of tidemark line on hematoxylin-eosin staining also evaluated.
Results: The results of the present study showed separation, disruption and destruction in tidemark line in group 3 (the group with high dosage of sodium levothyroxine from the beginning of the treatment). The total cartilage and non-calcified part thickness in groups 3, 4, 5 were reduced and in group 3 showed significant reduction (P<0.05). Calcified cartilage thickness in all groups were reduced and in group 3 showed significant reduction (P<0.05). ALT level decreased in all groups compared to control group but only in the second and third groups, the decrease of ALT was significant (P<0.05). AST serum level in all groups significantly increased in compared to control group (P<0.05). ALP serum level in all groups increased compared to the control group, but this increase was significant only in the groups 4, 5.
Conclusion: Consumption of sodium levothyroxine with constantly high dose can cause severe alteration in knee joint cartilage in hypothyroidism rats.

---

Selenium is an essential mineral found naturally in soil, water, and some foods. Today, selenium, as an antioxidant, is one of the vital elements in the human body. Although the human body needs a small amount of selenium daily, recent studies have shown that the same small amount of selenium is essential for maintaining healthy body function. It is challenging to choose the right dose of selenium. According to several studies in this present review, a daily supplement of 31.5-200 micrograms seems beneficial since the amount of selenium in various diseases is less than the amount in healthy people. The articles published in PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar and SCOPUS databases were screened and collected based on the keywords including selenium, oxidant, antioxidant, diabetes, cancer, toxicity, heart disease and liver disease. These keywords were chosen because of the antioxidant role of selenium as well as the prominent role of oxidation in the progression of these diseases. 150 articles published over a period of 20 years from 2000 to 2020 were used in this study. Articles about nano-seleniums, non-dietary supplements, and diseases caused by the underlying disease of metabolic syndrome were excluded and finally 121 articles were included in the study. A limited number of studies show that patients with multiple disorders may need to take higher doses of selenium (82.4 to 200 micrograms) than healthy people. In this study, selenium's antioxidant role in chronic metabolic disorders, including hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia, and some cancers, were investigated. Also, the clinical significance of selenium deficiency in metabolic diseases, as well as clinical and experimental observations on the effect of selenium dietary supplements in the treatment of chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes and atherosclerosis, and cancers, are briefly mentioned. Besides, the recommended toxicity and dose of selenium have been discussed.

---

Background and Objective: Among short-term therapies, psychoanalytic approaches use the therapeutic relationship more than any other approach as a context for change. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of short-term object relation psychotherapy on interpersonal relationships, self-destruct behaviors and personality organization of patients with borderline personality disorder.
Methods: This clinical trial study was done on the 20 patients with borderline personality disorder who referred to medical clinics in Sari city in northern Iran during 2020. Patients were divided into two intervention and control groups by random sampling. Patients in interventional group were received short-term object relation psychotherapy in 16 individual sessions of 45 minutes once a week. The control group did not receive any intervention. Patients completed the structured clinical interview scales of First et al (SCID-II), the Bell’s object relations inventory (BORI), self-destruct questionnaire of Sharabaf et al and Kernberg’s inventory of personality organization (IPO).
Results: Scores of interpersonal relationships, self-destructive behaviors and personality organization were significantly reduced in interventional group in compared to control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Short-term object relation psychotherapy is an effective therapy to reduce the symptoms of patients with borderline personality disorder.

---

Background and Objective: Major depression is a common disease in the world, which is associated with cognitive impairment. Executive functions are among the cognitive functions that are influenced by major depression. This study was conducted to comprehensively evaluate the executive functions of people with major depressive disorder and normal people using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB).
Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 13 patients with major depressive disorder and 13 normal individuals aged 21 to 35 years who were referred to psychology and psychiatry centers in Tehran (Iran) in 2019. The subjects were randomly selected from six centers in four districts of Tehran and then divided into an experimental group and a healthy control group. Both groups were subjected to cognitive assessment using the CANTAB, n-back test as well as Daneman and Carpenter's working memory sentences.
Results: The mean of executive functions was significantly lower in people with major depressive disorder compared to their healthy counterparts (P<0.05). When examining the components of executive functions in both the experimental and control groups, there was a significant increase in the shifting in the total number of errors and the inhibition component in direction errors. In addition, there was a statistically significant decrease in the updating component in errors 1 and error 2 and an increase in time 2. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the component of working memory maintenance in error as well as the planning component in the average delay (response speed) to the first choice, to correct the error and a decrease in working memory manipulation (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the executive functions of people with major depressive disorder are lower than healthy counterparts according to the CANTAB.
 

---

Background and Objective: Neuropathic pain is a large and difficult group of peripheral nerve diseases, which are complicated to treat. This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on psychological well-being and pain perception among patients with chronic neuropathic pain.
Methods: This clinical trial was performed on 30 patients with chronic neuropathic pain who were referred to the Rohani Hospital and private clinic of a neurologist in Babol (Iran) in 2022. The patients were randomly divided into an interventional and a control group. The patients completed the psychological well-being scale (Ryff) and pain belief and perception inventory (Williams and Thorn) in the pretest. Then, ACT (120 minutes) was performed for the interventional group, 8 sessions a week. The patients completed the scales after the treatment course and 2 months after the posttest.
Results: In the first follow-up, there were significant differences between the two groups in terms of total score of psychological well-being (P<0.05), the subscales of self-acceptance (P<0.05), positive relationships with others (P<0.05), autonomy (P<0.05), environmental mastery (P<0.05), purpose in life (P<0.05), personal growth (P<0.05), the total score of pain perception (P<0.05), the subscales of belief in the stability of pain in the present (P<0.05) and belief in the mysteriousness of pain (P<0.05). The treatment results were maintained in the second follow-up phase. In the first follow-up, the subscales of belief in the continuation of pain in the future and belief in self-blame did not differ significantly between the two groups, but in the second follow-up, the subscales of belief in the continuation of pain in the future (P<0.05) and belief in self–blame (P<0.05) differed significantly between the two groups. In addition, the average psychological well-being in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group, and the average pain perception in the intervention group was lower than that in the control group.
Conclusion: This study shows the ACT could be an effective intervention for improving psychological well-being and pain perception among patients with chronic neuropathic pain.
 

---

Background and Objective: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and ranks second in terms of mortality rate. This study was conducted in order to determine the personal, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of women with breast lesions referred to the Dr. Beski Hospital in Gonbad-e Kavus, Iran.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 130 women with breast lesions (benign and malignant) who were operated on in the Dr. Beski Hospital from March 2019 to March 2020. Demographic data (age, family history, and ethnicity) and pathology results (grade, lesion type, surgery type, location, and tumor size) were recorded.
Results: Breast lesions were malignant in 51.53% of the patients. The most common malignant tumor was invasive ductal carcinoma (71.64%), and the most common benign tumor was fibroadenoma (69.84%). Most malignant cases were observed in patients aged 41-50 years (43.28%). Almost half of the studied population (49.15%) had no positive family history, and about a quarter of the patients had at least one first or second-degree relative with breast cancer. Most patients (44.78%) had grade II malignant tumors. In addition, 78.51% of the subjects had not undergone chemotherapy before breast surgery. About half of the patients (49.57%) did not undergo any adjuvant treatment after surgery; however, chemotherapy was the most common type of adjuvant treatment (13.68%) after surgery. Simultaneous chemotherapy and radiotherapy were performed for 24.78% of the patients after surgery. There were statistically significant relationships between age and type of lesion and adjuvant treatments after the operation, and involvement of lymph nodes was observed (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant relationship between age, tumor size, family history, and tumor malignancy (P<0.05). There was a significant correlation between age and tumor malignancy (P=0.02, F (2.48) = 4.19) so the degree of malignancy was higher in younger individuals.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed the young age of developing malignant breast lesions in the study area. Most malignant lesions are invasive ductal carcinoma and grade II. There is a positive relationship between a family history of cancer and the classification of breast tumors.
 

---

Background and Objective: Helicobacter pylori infection is a chronic bacterial infection in humans, and its link to epilepsy has been reported in some studies. This study was conducted to compare the frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with and without epilepsy.
Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 234 patients with focal and generalized epilepsy (the case group consisted of 88 males and 146 females) referring to Alavi Hospital in Ardabil, Iran and 234 individuals without epilepsy (the control group consisted of 88 males and 146 females) during 2019. Stool samples were taken from the subjects to assess the Helicobacter pylori stool antigen. Demographic information, including age, gender, place of residence, a history of alcohol, cigarette, hookah, and opium use, and the test result of the Helicobacter pylori stool antigen, were collected in a checklist.
Results: The frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection was determined to be 67.2% in the case group and 71.1% in the control group, and no statistically significant difference was found between the case and control groups. Cigarette and opium use had statistically significant relationships with epilepsy (P<0.05). Moreover, opium users had a 6.92 times higher odds rate (OR) of contracting Helicobacter pylori infection than other individuals (CI 95%=1.05-45, OR=6.92, P<0.04).
Conclusion: No difference was observed in Helicobacter pylori infection between individuals with and without epilepsy.

---

Background and Objective: In the post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era, messages and video calls with loved ones, family, and friends have brought individuals closer together and made social isolation more bearable. Although the utilization of these tools has numerous positive aspects, there are also negative ones. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Internet addiction among medical students at Golestan University of Medical Sciences and its association with psychiatric disorders.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 189 medical students (73 males and 116 females; mean age=23.35±3.03 years) at Golestan University of Medical Sciences in 2021. A convenience sampling method was used, and all students were taken into account as the statistical population. Data collection tools included Young’s Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) short form, which were completed by the students.
Results: Fifty (26.45%) medical students were identified as being at risk of Internet addiction, and 3 (1.58%) students were classified as having Internet addiction. Less than 4% of the students had severe psychiatric disorders, while 9.5% to 19.6% exhibited various psychiatric disorders of moderate severity. Beyond the area of hypochondriasis symptoms, significant positive correlations were found between Internet addiction and increased psychiatric disorders in other areas, including depression (r=0.285, P<0.001), hysteria (r=0.170, P<0.019), psychopathy (r=0.338, P<0.001), paranoia (r=0.384, P<0.001), mania (r=0.336, P<0.001), psychasthenia (r=0.432, P<0.001), and schizophrenia (r=0.415, P<0.001). With increasing Internet addiction, the severity of psychiatric disorders also increased.
Conclusion: The prevalence of Internet addiction among medical students was shown to be at a low level, but the severity of psychiatric disorders increased with higher levels of Internet addiction.