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Background & Objective: Appendicectomy for suspected acute Appendicitis is a common procedure. The rate of normal Appendices unnecessarily removed remains high (15-30%) despite several techniques and investigations used to improve the diagnostic accuracy. Many studies investigated the role of raised C-reactive protein in improving the diagnosis of acute Appendicitis. This study emphasizes the impact of a normal serum C-reactive protein in reducing the rate of negative explorations. Materials & Methods: In a double blind study, blood for the WBC count and measurement of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was collected pre-operatively from 100 patients just before going to the operating room for appendicectomy. The histopathology of the 100 Appendices was grouped into positive (Acute Appendicitis) and negative (Normal appendix). White blood count (WBC), CRP and the histopathology finding were correlated. Results: In-patients with histopathologically proven acute Appendicitis both the WBC count and serum CRP level were significantly raised (P=0.000 and P=0.000 respectively). Serum CRP level was normal in 16 out of 18 negative explorations (Normal appendix on histopathology). The specificity and sensitivity of serum CRP was 88.8% and 92.6% respectively. Conclusion: Normal pre-operative serum CRP measurement in-patients with suspected acute Appendicitis is most likely associated with a normal appendix. Deferring surgery in this group of patients would probably reduce the rate of unnecessary appendicectomies.

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Background and Objective: Flax seed has been shown to play a role in the prevention and treatment of dislipidemia and inflammation, which may enhance the benefits of training. This study was done to determine the effect of 10 weeks of aerobic training with flax seed supplementation on blood lipids profile and C-reactive protein in obese women.

Methods: In this clinical trail study, 45 obese middle-age women were randomly divided into 3 groups. Aerobic training program was performed 50-60 min/d, 3d/wk, for 10 weeks. Subjects in aerobic training with flax seed supplementation were received 6-9 garms, daily of flax seed. Body composition and metabolic parameters were assessed before and after the training period.

Results: Flax seed supplementation significantly improved triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol TC/HDL, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference and fat mass (P<0.05). Flax seed supplementation in combination  with aerobic training significantly improved adiposity indices body weight,body mass index, waist circumference , fat mass, triglyceride, HDL- cholesterol, LDL- cholesterol, LDL/HDL and TC/HDL (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Flax seed is safe and effective for improvement of cardiometabolic health in obse women and combination of flax seed can enhance beneficial effect of training over a ten-week period.

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Background and Objective: Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of 50% of death in women after menopause. This study was done to evaluate the effect of combined training on cystatin C, high- sensitivity C-reactive protein and some cardiovascular risk factors in sedentary postmenopausal women.

Methods: In this quasi -experimental study, 24 sedentary postmenopausal women (50-65 years) were non-randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Women in the experimental group were received a combined training program including aerobic exercise (65-75% of MHR) and resistance exercise (55-65% of 1RM), 4 d/wk for 10 weeks. The control group did not participate in any physical activity. Body weight, BMI, BF%, blood pressure, levels of cystatin C, C-reactive protein, triglyceride, HDL-C and LDL-C were measured before and after study.

Results: Exercise training showed no significant effect on serum levels of cystatin C, C-reactive protein and cardiovascular risk factors such as HDL-C, LDL-C, triglyceride and blood pressure in postmenopausal women.

Conclusion: Short-term combined training with moderate intensity has no effect on cystatin C levels and other cardiovascular risk factors in sedentary postmenopausal women.

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Background and Objective: Todays, coronary artery disease is one of the most important health issues. Antioxidants are the agents that can play important role in reducing cardiovascular diseases. The present study was done to determine the effect of resveratrol supplementation during rehabilitation exercises training on systemic inflammation factors in patients after coronary artery bypass surgery.
Methods: This clinical trial study was done on 40 patients after coronary artery bypass surgery in the heart rehabilitation center of Farshchian cardiovascular specialist hospital in Hamadan, Iran during 2016. Patients randomly assigned into four groups including control (Con; n=10), resveratrol supplementation (RS; n=10), rehabilitation exercise training (RXT; n=10), and resveratrol supplements-cardiac rehabilitation exercise training (REX; n=10). Rehabilitation exercise training was done in nonconsecutive three sessions for eight weeks in the form of endurance training at 50-70% HRmax for 15-20 min, and resistance training at 20-50 one-repetition maximum (1RM). The number of repetitions was 8-15 reps, where done based on the capacity and ability of the subject, while the subjects in supplement groups consumed daily 400 mg of resveratrol. Blood sample was done before and 48 hours after exercise training and supplementation, and concentrations of Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), Interleukin- 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in the plasma.
Results: CRP, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta and IL-6 were significantly reduced in resveratrol supplements-cardiac rehabilitation exercise training group in compared to control, resveratrol supplementation and rehabilitation exercise training groups (P˂0.05).
Conclusion: This study showed that combination of consuming resveratrol with rehabilitation exercise training in reducing some inflammatory factors was evaluated selectively, more effective than rehabilitation exercise training and resveratrol supplementation alone.

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Background and Objective: Many studies have been done on the effects of ginseng and green tea on inflammatory factors and liver enzymes, but no research has yet studied the comparative effects of ginseng and green tea extracts with Pomeol Breuler on C-reactive protein (CRP) and liver enzymes in hyperlipidemic rats. This study was done to evaluate the effects of ginseng and green tea extracts in comparison with Pomeol Bruler on CRP and liver enzymes in hyperlipidemic rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 42 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 7 groups. Animals in group 1 (control group) received a normal diet. The experimental groups 2-7 received a high-fat diet for a month. The groups were treated with the extract for 8 weeks and by intraperitoneal injection. Groups 1 and 2 received 77.5 mg/kg/day and 155 mg/kg/day green tea extract, respectively. Groups 3 and 4 received 103.3 mg/kg/day and 206.6 mg/kg/day ginseng extract, respectively. Group 5 received 0.16 g/kg/day of Pomeol Bruler, and group 6 received green tea extract (155 mg/kg/day) and ginseng extract (206.6 mg/kg/day). At the end of the treatment, the level of CRP and liver enzymes including aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were measured.
Results: The level of CRP was significantly reduced in the rats treated with ginseng, green tea, and Pomeol Bruler compared with the control group (P<0.05). The level of AST and ALT did not differ significantly between the ginseng, green tea, Pomeol Bruler, and control groups.
Conclusion: The combined use of ginseng and green tea with Pomeol Breuler for 8 weeks may reduce inflammatory factors but does not affect liver enzymes.
 

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Background and Objective: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an important complication in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with endotracheal intubation. Finding potential early indicators of this condition can aid in reducing the disease burden. We aimed to investigate the relationship between VAP occurrence and serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and hemoglobin (Hgb) during ICU hospitalization of brain trauma patients.
Method: This descriptive-analytical study was carried out on brain trauma patients (99 male, 39 female), referring to the 5th Azar hospital in Gorgan, Iran, in the course of 2017. The patients were hospitalized in ICU with endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. The diagnosis of VAP was confirmed by a 12-score rating based on chest radiographs, body temperature, white blood cell count, and sputum culture. After admission, serum CRP, PCT, and Hgb were documented daily for 6 days.
Results: According to the diagnostic criteria, VAP was confirmed in 41 patients (30%). Serum CRP and PCT levels on the 6th-day post-admission were significantly associated with VAP diagnosis, while Hgb levels did not differ significantly between VAP and non-VAP patients. Serum levels of CRP, PCT, and Hgb on the 6th day were not associated with age or sex.
Conclusion: Our results indicate that serum CRP and PCT levels are associated with the occurrence of VAP in ICU patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Therefore, these biomarkers could be utilized to warn physicians about the possibility of VAP, thereby reducing mortality rate and hospitalization length.
 

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Background and Objective: Regular physical activity can improve the function of various body systems and exert significant effects on pulmonary function, inflammation, and vascular growth factors. The present study aimed to determine the effects of eight weeks of aerobic exercise training on pulmonary function, C-reactive protein (CRP), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in active young females.
Methods: This field trial was conducted on 20 active young females aged 19 to 24 years at University of Mohaghegh Ardabili in 2024. The subjects were randomly assigned to two groups of 10, including an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group performed a regular aerobic exercise training program for eight weeks (three sessions per week) at an intensity of 70% of their maximum heart rate (HRmax) for 40 minutes per session, whereas the control group had no specific physical activity. Pulmonary function indices, including forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), as well as CRP, CPK, and VEGF levels, were measured before and after the training period.
Results: Following 8 weeks of aerobic exercise training, the intervention group demonstrated a significant increase in FVC (3.11±0.61) and FEV1 (3.10±0.58) compared to the control group (P<0.05), alongside a statistically significant decrease in CRP (1.6±0.61) (P<0.05). However, changes in CPK levels were not significant. Additionally, VEGF (9.74±2.3) significantly increased post-intervention compared to the control group (P<0.05). Between-group comparisons revealed no significant differences at the pre-test stage. Conversely, a statistically significant difference in CRP levels was observed between the groups at the post-test stage (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Eight weeks of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training (at 70% of HRmax) was effective in improving pulmonary function, reducing CRP, and increasing VEGF in active young females.