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This study aimed to investigate the interactive effect of aloe vera intake and eight weeks’ aerobic exercise on serum BDNF, glucose, and insulin levels in women with type 2 diabetes. In this experimental study, 32 women with type 2 diabetes were selected and randomly divided into four groups of control, supplement, exercise, exercise + supplement. The exercise program was performed 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks (40 min of exercise with 50-60% of heart rate reserve in the first four weeks and 60 min of exercise with 60-80% of heart rate reserve in the second four weeks). The supplement taking groups received 400 mg/kg of oral aloe Vera 3 days per week for 8 weeks. The data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). A significant increase was observed in BDNF levels, insulin sensitivity of patients in the supplement, exercise, and exercise + supplement groups (p=0.001). The glucose and insulin levels, insulin resistance, BMI, and body fat percentage significantly decreased in the supplement, exercise, and exercise + supplement groups (p=0.001). It seems aloe Vera intake and aerobic exercise to have protective effects against development of type 2 diabetes complications in women.

Background and purpose: Circulating monocytes are divided into different subpopulations according to the expression of CD14 and CD16. In this study, we investigated the correlation between the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the frequency of two monocyte subsets and also expression level of CCR1 receptor on these monocytes. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in 88 patients who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography (CAG) in Tehran Shahid Rajaee Heart Center, 2014-2015. The participants were selected using convenience sampling. They were divided into four groups: 50% stenosis in one vessel (MVD), single vessel stenosis (1VD), 2 or 3 vessels stenosis (2+3 VD), and no CAD as the control group. The severity of CAD was evaluated by Gensini score. Frequency of the two monocyte subsets, including classical (CD14+CD16-) and non-classical (CD14+CD16+) were measured by flow cytometry. Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CCR1 receptor on monocyts was also measured in two subsets and all groups of patients. Results: Circulating non-classical monocytes were observed more frequently in patients with 2+3 VD than in controls, MVD, and 1VD groups, but the differences were not statistically significant (P> 0.05). Both classical and non-classical monocytes expressed CCR1, but it was expressed on higher number of classical monocytes than in non-classical ones. Also, no significant differences were seen in MFI of CCR1 in different groups. Conclusion: This study showed that higher frequency of non-classical monocytes was correlated with severity of CAD.