Significant Decrease In Experimental Group Research Articles

Mixed-effects models: Family burden and functionality in patients with bipolar disorder

IntroductionThe bipolar disorder (BD) has an important effect over the lives of patients and families. The attitude of the family is a modifiable factor through specific interventions and it has been related with BD prognosis.ObjectivesStudy a sample of families and patients with BD.AimsCompare between two groups its course of burden of caring for family members with BD. Also, we will see the course of the functionality in patients.MethodsSample of 148 individuals who caring a familiar with BD. Seventy-six of these followed psychoeducation session are going to be experimental group (EG), and the others 72 did not followed any session are going to be control group (CG). There is a follow-up at 6 months and one year. To see the course of the burden and the functionality it will be used mixed models.ResultsAt baseline, there were not significant differences between CG and EG in objective and subjective burden and functionality. But over time there were significant results in the three cases. For objective burden (b = −0.016; P = 0.0001) EG presented a drop (b = −0.014; P = 0.0062), while CG did not show changes (b = 0.002; P = 0.4691). For subjective burden (b = −0.014; P = 0.0058) without significant results for CG (b = −0.352; P = 0.3203) and a significant decrease in EG (b = −0.017; P = 0.003). For the functionality (b = 1.474; P = 0.000) there was a significant increase in EG (b = 1.349; P = 0.000) but not for CG (b = −0.125; P = 0.3828).ConclusionsTwo groups did not differ at baseline however after the psychoeducation sessions appear clear differences, decreasing the burden for EG group and the functionality also improved for EG.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Effect of 8-Weeks Yogic Practices on the Hematological Variables and Lipid Profile of Sportsmen

Objectives: The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of 8-week Yogic practices on hematological variables and lipid profile of university level sports persons. Methods: Pretest and posttest design was used. Experimental group (N = 10) allowed to undergo yogic practices for 8 weeks (six days a week), while control group (N = 10) maintained their daily routine activities. The selected Hematological variables that is White Blood Cells and Red Blood Cells and Lipid profile that is High Density Lipoprotein and Low Density Lipoprotein were examined by laboratory tests. For the analysis of data paired ‘t’ test was applied. Findings: There was insignificant reduction of white blood cells in experimental group [pretest value (8.69 x 109/L) and posttest value (8.66 x 109/L)], but the numbers of red blood cells has significantly improved in experimental group [pretest value (4.46 x 1012/L) and posttest value (4.59 x 1012/L)] after 8 week yogic training (P<0.05). With the yogic practices high density lipoprotein has also significantly improved in experimental group [pretest value (37 mg/dl) and posttest value (55.40 mg/dl)] at (P<0.05). The low density lipoprotein has shown significant decrease in experimental group [pretest value (98.50 mg/dl) and posttest value (89.30 mg/dl)] after 8 week yogic training (P<0.05.) From the results, it can be predicted that, yoga practice is a cost-effective method which can be helpful to improve performance in sportsperson, especially in endurance sports. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that yogic practices enhance the Red blood cells and high density lipoprotein level and help to decrease the low density lipoprotein level among the sportsmen.

The Effect of Swedish Massage on Relieving Fatigue of Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Undergoing Chemotherapy

Background: Fatigue is the most annoying side effect of cancer treatment in children who experience it from the time of diagnosis till conclusion of therapy. About 75% to 90% of children undergoing chemotherapy suffer from this complication. To relieve this problem, massage therapy is recommended which is the most widely applied adjuvant therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Swedish massage on fatigue relieve in children aged 7-12 years suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who are undergoing chemotherapy at the Children’s Medical Center of Tehran, Iran. Methods: In this clinical trial, 50 children with ALL undergoing chemotherapy were assigned into 2 groups of intervention and control. First, the severity of fatigue in both groups was measured employing a child fatigue scale questionnaire. Then, in the intervention group, the Swedish massage with the effleurage technique was applied by the child’s mother daily for 4 weeks. The fatigue in both groups was measured at the end of each week. The obtained data were analyzed, using descriptive and inferential statistics (repeated measures analysis). Results: Indicated a significant difference in total score of quality of life and the mean score of fatigue between two groups after intervention (P<0.001). The mean score of fatigue intensity and total score of quality of life, had significant decrease in experimental group than control group after intervention. Conclusion: Considering the results of this study, applying the Swedish massage by the mother as a supplemental and non-invasive intervention can be effective in reducing fatigue in children suffering from ALL who are undergoing chemotherapy. A B S T R A C T

Effect of prenatal stress (immobilization) on blood glucose levels and body weight

We studied effect of immobilization stress of mothers during third week of pregnancy on blood glucose levels and body weight in adult male rats. Male rats of each group were weighted on the 60th day of their birth and blood glucose was measured. Birth weight showed a significant decrease in experimental groups (birth weights in control group, experimental group1, 2, 3 were 171.54, 157.01, 132.42, 126.28 g) and serum glucose level showed a significant elevation in experimental groups compared with control group (serum glucose levels in control group, experimental group1,2,3 were 99.29, 113.99, 115.05, 120.79 mg/dL).

The Effects of hydro alcoholic extract of Matricaria chamomilla flower on testosterone and gonadotropins hormone in adult male rat

Introduction: Chamomilla is a valuable plant that has been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years to treat different diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chamomilla flower extract on pituitary-gonadal axis in adult male rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 45 adult male Wistar rats with a mean weight of 250-300 g were divided into five groups: control group, sham group and experimental groups 1, 2 and 3. The experimental groups, respectively received 10, 20 and 40 milligram per kilogram body weight of intraperitoneal injection of chamomile flower extract for 14 consecutive days. At the end of the treatment course, the rats were anesthetized with ether and their ventricular blood samples were collected for measuring serum concentration of gonadotropins and testosterone by radioimmunoassay. Data were analyzed using ANOVA. Results : The serum concentration of testosterone showed a significant decrease in experimental groups as compared with the sham group (p≤0.05). Nonetheless, the serum concentration of gonadotropins no showed a significant difference in experimental groups as compared with that of the control group. Conclusion: Given the results of this study, intraperitoneal injection of chamomile flower extract reduces testosterone secretion in male rats.

Effect of cotton dust on pulmonary function among cotton textile workers

Background: The health of the individuals will largely depend upon the work environment. In many of the cotton and textile industries, workers are largely exposed to dust. In the light of rapid economic growth and individual progress, it becomes imperative that safety and health at the workplaces will have to be given due importance. Objective: To study the effect of cotton dust on the lung function test of cotton spinning mill workers Methods: The study was conducted on 50 controls and experimental group in Karimnagar town. The ventilating parameters considered for analysing the pulmonary function test (PFT) were Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 sec (FEV1 ), Percentage of Forced Volume in 1 sec (FEV1/FVC %), Maximum Mixed Expiratory Flow Rates for 25-75% (FEF 25-75%), Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) and Maximum Voluntary Ventilation (MW). Results: All studied parameters if PFT show significant decrease in experimental group as compared to control group. This shows that the cotton dust has adverse effect on the health of the cotton spinning mill workers. Conclusion: The continued exposure to cotton dust cause progressive impairment of lung functions and adversely affect the parameters such as FVC, FEV1, FEF 25-75%, PEFR and MW and causes restrictive and obstructive pattern of lung function impairment, which is also associated to the duration of exposure.

The Effects of Atrazine on Levels of Pituitary–testis Hormones in Adult Male Rat

Objective(s): Atrazine is a widely used herbicide in agriculture. In the present study, the effects of this herbicide on the levels of pituitary-testis hormones in adult male rats were investigated. Materials and Methods: In total, 40 male Wister rats were used. These animals were randomly divided into five groups of eight: the control group which was left untreated, the sham group receiving solvent, and three experimental groups receiving (100mg/kg), (200mg/kg) and (400mg/kg) dosages of Atropine, respectively. Dosages of solvent and herbicide were injected intra peritoneally for 14 days, and afterward, blood samples were taken and serum levels of LH, FSH and testosterone were measured by RIA method. The body and testicular weights were also determined. The mean results were evaluated by ANOVA and Tukey test among the experimental and control groups. Results: Mean body weight showed significant decrease in experimental groups relative to control group. Testes weights were also decreased only in experimental groups receiving 200,400 (mg/kg) dosage of Atrazine. In addition, serum levels of LH showed a significant decrease in experimental groups receiving 200, 400(mg/kg) dosages of Atrazine, compared to the control group. Mean concentration FSH decresed significantly in the experimental groups receiving 400 (mg/kg) dose, while testosterone level decreased significantly in all the experimental groups, compared to the control group. Conclusion: Atrazine can interfere with food absorption mechanisms and cause body and testicular weight loss by increasing estrogen and decreasing testosterone levels. According to the results of present study and other investigations, this herbicide probably decreases the secretion of LH, FSH and testosterone concentrations through reducing the pituitary weight and secretion of GnRH from hypothalamus, thereby, decreasing the activities of pituitary-testis axis and spermatogenesis processes.