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Background & aims: Some studies have shown that beta-alanine supplementation may delay fatigue during strenuous exercises. The aim of this study was the effect of 10 days β-alanine supplementation with different doses on neuromuscular fatigue and blood lactate levels. Material & methods: 40 active men with a mean age of 21.9±2.6 years and body mass index 24.54±1.8 kg/m2 were randomly divided into four groups of 10 people including: 2, 4 and 6 g doses of beta-alanine supplement (Experimental groups) and placebo (control) group. Competitors completed four 30-second Wingate tests with maximum power, before and after 10 days beta-alanine supplementation period. 4 minute rest interval was set between each exercise. The first blood sampling administrated before first exercise and second one after 6 minutes of fourth exercise. The EMG amplitude as neuromuscular fatigue index was measured before the first wingate and during the fourth wingate test. Results: the result showed that supplementation with different doses of β-alanine has no effect on M wave amplitude in vastus lateralis muscle. In other words, neither within-group (P=0.078) and between-group changes (P=0.66) was significant. Moreover, after repeated wingate exercises, amount of lactate in all groups (received β-alanine supplement and placebo group) increased significantly (p=0.000), while, no difference showed between groups (p=0.1). Conclusion: The present findings suggest that doing repetitive maximal exercises results in significant increase of lactate, but short-term β-alanine supplementation with different doses has no effect on neuromuscular fatigue and blood lactate accumulation.

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Background & Aims: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by various autoantibodies formation and immune complex deposition in various organs. Lupus nephritis is a common and severe manifestation of SLE that can lead to end stage renal disease and death. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of cyclosporine A in the treatment of resistant proliferative lupus nephritis.

Materials & Methods: In a retrospective study, patients with proliferative lupus nephritis that were resistant to treatment with mycophenolate mofetil and/or cyclophosphamide and was treated with cyclosporine A were entered to the study. They were evaluated according to the remission of the renal disease, SLE disease activity index, occurrence of end stage renal disease, mortality and side effects of treatment.

Results: Twenty-five patients with biopsy proven proliferative lupus nephritis with mean age of 30±6.9 years including 5 men (20%) and 20 women (80%) were studied. The follow up duration was 27.1±17.6 months. Proteinuria was decreased significantly during the treatment with CSA (p<0.001). Serum creatinine was stable and changes was not significant. Complete renal remission and partial renal remission was occurred in 60% and 32% of patients, respectively. Prednisolone dose was reduced from 26.3 mg/d before treatment to 6.8 mg/d after treatment with CSA (P=0.001). The most common adverse event was dyspepsia.

Conclusion: According to results of our study, CSA is effective in the treatment of proliferative lupus nephritis.

SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2016: 27(2): 129 ISSN: 1027-3727

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Background & Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of eight weeks resistance and endurance training with vitamin D₃ supplementation on inflammatory cytokines in obese hypertensive middle-aged men.
Materials & Methods: Sixty three obese hypertensive middle-aged men (age= 39.85±2.8 years and BMI= 31.6±1.4 kg/m2) volunteered to participate in this study and were randomly divided into six groups of resistance training with vitamin D (R+D, N=11), resistance training with placebo (R+P, N=12), endurance training with vitamin D (E+D, N=9), endurance training with placebo (E+P, N=11), vitamin D (D, N=10) and control (C, N=10, no intervention). The training protocol consisted of endurance training with gradually increasing of duration and intensity and resistance training with 80% of the 1RM, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. The supplement groups consumed daily 3000 IU of vitamin D and the placebo groups ingested the same amount of maltodextrin. Blood pressure and blood samples were measured before starting training protocol and 36 hours after last training sessions.
Results: In intervention groups, serum levels of interleukin-8 and interleukin-4 were significantly decreased and increased, respectively. Also, in training groups, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly decreased. Moreover, only in the systolic blood pressure there were significant differences between groups in favor of the E+D group at the post-test.
Conclusion: Implementation of endurance and resistance training with vitamin D₃ for 8 weeks caused to decreases of blood pressure and inflammation in obese hypertensive men, but the effect of endurance training with vitamin D₃ on systolic blood pressure was significantly better.

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Background & Aims: Cholemic nephropathy is one of the important and serious complications associated with chronic liver damage and bile duct obstruction. Finding drug solutions to alleviate this complication or prevent its occurrence can be of clinical importance. Since luteolin is an antioxidant and one of the mechanisms of cholemic nephropathy is the induction of oxidative stress, this study was designed to investigate the protective effect of luteolin (LUT) on cholemic nephropathy in cholestatic rats.
Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, 50 male Wistar rats were used. Cholestasis was induced by common bile duct ligation (BDL). Rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 10 as follows: a control group, a BDL group, and groups that received different doses of LUT (15, 5, and 30 mg/kg/day) daily by gavage for 14 days in addition to BDL. After the end of this intervention, the effect of cholestasis induction and the protective effects of LUT on serum, urine, and kidney tissue oxidative stress indices were examined.
Results: The present study showed that the levels of serum BUN and Cr, oxidative stress (MDA and ROS) indices in cholestatic rats were significantly increased compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Also, the activity of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, GPx) in cholestatic rats was significantly decreased compared to the control group (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: It seems that LUT can be a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of renal damage caused by cholestasis by reducing oxidative stress and improving the activity of antioxidant enzymes.