Laser Diode – GaAlAs Acupuncture in the Treatment of Central Obesity: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Razzaghi Mohammadreza,Akbari Zahra,Mokmeli Soheila,Razzaghi Zahra,Rezaei-Tavirani Mostafa,Afzalimehr Maryam,Kamani Ehsan 사단법인약침학회 2023 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.16 No.6

Background: Obesity is a global health challenge. Traditional approaches, including increased physical activity, dietary interventions, and medical therapy, often yield limited success, propelling some patients toward costly and invasive procedures like bariatric surgery. Laser acupuncture has been suggested as a complementary therapeutic approach to overcome this challenge. The present study investigated the effectiveness of laser acupuncture treatment in weight loss and abdominal subcutaneous fat reduction. Methods: A randomized, blinded, sham-controlled clinical trial was conducted, with 30 subjects each in the intervention and control groups. Patients in the intervention group underwent 12 sessions of laser acupuncture treatment within a month (three sessions/ week), whereas those in the control group received sham laser treatment on identical acupoints. The patients were instructed not to alter their physical activity levels or dietary regimens. All parameters were evaluated before and after the treatment. Results: Significant reductions in weight, body mass index, and waist circumference were noted in both intervention and control groups. Further analysis revealed a more significant decrease in the laser acupuncture group. Abdominal sonography revealed a marked decrease in periumbilical fat thickness in the intervention group. Conversely, laboratory evaluations showed no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Laser acupuncture is an effective method for weight loss in patients with periumbilical abdominal fat. The observed impact on subcutaneous fat suggests its potential as a non-invasive intervention for individuals seeking weight management alternatives. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms of laser acupuncture in adipose tissue modulation.

Quantifying the criteria for classification of mineral resources and reserves through the estimation of block model uncertainty using geostatistical methods: a case study of Khoshoumi Uranium deposit in Yazd, Iran

Taghvaeenezhad Mojtaba,Shayestehfar Mohammadreza,Moarefvand Parviz,Rezaei Ali 한국자원공학회 2020 Geosystem engineering Vol.23 No.4

Investments and progress of mineral projects depend on the quantity (tonnage) and quality (grade) of mineral resources and reserves. This study examines the impact of various criteria used in the classification of mineral deposits or parameters defining these criteria. The data used in this study include the uranium assay analysis from 127 exploratory boreholes, which were then subjected to a three-directional variography after statistical studies to identify regional anisotropy. A grade block model was built using the optimal parameters of variograms and with the help of kriging estimator. Then, by using different methods of estimating the block model uncertainty including kriging estimation variance, block error estimation, kriging efficiency and slope of regression, classification of mineral reserves was carried out in accordance with the JORC standard code. Based on different cut-off grades, the tonnage and average grade were calculated and plotted. An innovative quantitative method based on the distribution function of the mentioned parameters and the fractal pattern of separation of populations was used for the classification of mineral reserves. The existence of the least difference between the use of standard and fractal patterns in the slope of regression method indicated less error and was a proof of more reliable results.

Evaluation of the Effect of Pentoxifylline on Cisplatin-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Rats

Ali Reza Fallahzadeh,Zohreh Rezaei,Hamid Reza Rahimi,Mehrazd Jafari Barmak,Hossein Sadeghi,Sadrollah Mehrabi,Seyed Mohammadreza Rabani,Iraj Ragerdi Kashani,Vahid Barati,Reza Mahmoudi 한국독성학회 2017 Toxicological Research Vol.33 No.3

Chemotherapy is associated with male infertility. Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloro-platinum (II) (CDDP) as a chemotherapy medication used to treat a number of cancers has been reported to most likely induce testicular toxicity. Administration of antioxidants, such as pentoxifylline (PTX) may reduce some Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) of CDDP. Therefore, this study investigated the potentially protective effects of PTX on CDDP-induced testicular toxicity in adult male rats. For this purpose, 42 male rats were randomly divided into 7 groups. The rats were orally pretreated with PTX at the 3 doses of 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg once a day for 14 successive days. On the 14<SUP>th</SUP> day of the study, they were intraperitoneally (IP) administered with a single dose of CDDP (7 mg/kg). Finally, the sperm/testis parameters, serum levels of reproductive hormones, including testosterone, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) as the pivotal endocrine factors controlling testicular functions, and histopathological changes of testis tissue were examined. Pretreatment with the two doses of 75 and 150 mg/kg PTX indicated significant increases in the sperm count and motility induced by CDDP administration. The right and significantly left testis weights were decreased following the treatment with 300 mg/kg of PTX plus CDDP. However, 75 mg/kg of PTX plus CDDP showed the best near-to-normal histopathological features. The results demonstrated that PTX alone enhanced some parameters, such as the sperm count, while reducing other parameters, including sperm fast motility and germ layer thickness. Furthermore, despite testosterone or LH levels, the mean serum FSH level was significantly augmented by the doses of 75 and 150 mg/kg. It was concluded that PTX administration cannot reduce CDDP-induced testicular toxicity even at high doses (e.g., 300 mg/kg), while it seemed to partially intensify CDDP toxicity effects at a dose of 75 mg/kg. Thus, further research is required in this regard.

Evaluation of the Effect of Pentoxifylline on Cisplatin-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Rats

Fallahzadeh, Ali Reza,Rezaei, Zohreh,Rahimi, Hamid Reza,Barmak, Mehrazd Jafari,Sadeghi, Hossein,Mehrabi, Sadrollah,Rabani, Seyed Mohammadreza,Kashani, Iraj Ragerdi,Barati, Vahid,Mahmoudi, Reza Korean Society of ToxicologyKorea Environmental Mu 2017 Toxicological Research Vol.33 No.3

Chemotherapy is associated with male infertility. Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloro-platinum (II) (CDDP) as a chemotherapy medication used to treat a number of cancers has been reported to most likely induce testicular toxicity. Administration of antioxidants, such as pentoxifylline (PTX) may reduce some Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) of CDDP. Therefore, this study investigated the potentially protective effects of PTX on CDDP-induced testicular toxicity in adult male rats. For this purpose, 42 male rats were randomly divided into 7 groups. The rats were orally pretreated with PTX at the 3 doses of 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg once a day for 14 successive days. On the $14^{th}$ day of the study, they were intraperitoneally (IP) administered with a single dose of CDDP (7 mg/kg). Finally, the sperm/testis parameters, serum levels of reproductive hormones, including testosterone, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) as the pivotal endocrine factors controlling testicular functions, and histopathological changes of testis tissue were examined. Pretreatment with the two doses of 75 and 150 mg/kg PTX indicated significant increases in the sperm count and motility induced by CDDP administration. The right and significantly left testis weights were decreased following the treatment with 300 mg/kg of PTX plus CDDP. However, 75 mg/kg of PTX plus CDDP showed the best near-to-normal histopathological features. The results demonstrated that PTX alone enhanced some parameters, such as the sperm count, while reducing other parameters, including sperm fast motility and germ layer thickness. Furthermore, despite testosterone or LH levels, the mean serum FSH level was significantly augmented by the doses of 75 and 150 mg/kg. It was concluded that PTX administration cannot reduce CDDP-induced testicular toxicity even at high doses (e.g., 300 mg/kg), while it seemed to partially intensify CDDP toxicity effects at a dose of 75 mg/kg. Thus, further research is required in this regard.

Seismic Behavior of Steel Braced Frames Equipped with Metal Foam

Mehdi Ebadi Jamkhaneh,Mohammadreza Rezaei,Masoud Ahmadi 한국강구조학회 2021 International Journal of Steel Structures Vol.21 No.4

One of the methods for improving the seismic behavior of structures was to use inactive control devices. Recently, in civil engineering applications, a relatively new material named metal foam has been utilized progressively due to its high energy dissipation capability and remarkable axial strain. In this study, several non-linear time-history analyses were conducted for investigating the seismic behavior of steel frames equipped with the composite brace using a three-dimensional (3D) fi nite element (FE) method. Crushable foam (CF) and elastic-perfectly plastic models were considered for metal foam and steel members. FE results revealed that the maximum drift ratio decreased by 35% and 72% under near-fi eld and far-fi eld records in the steel frames equipped with composite brace compared to the conventional steel brace frames. Employing the composite brace led to prevent global buckling of the brace and consequently decrease in load-bearing capacity. Furthermore, composite brace caused the reduction of bending moment demand in the fi rst-story column by 18%.