Background and Objective: Regarding the recent evidence suggesting the effect of apple vinegar on reduction of postprandial blood glucose, this study was carried out with the aim of determining the effect of apple vinegar on fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c), and lipid profile in healthy and diabetic rats.
Materials and Methods: 31 wistar male rats were assigned into 4 groups as follows: the healthy control, apple vinegar-fed healthy, diabetic control, and apple vinegar-fed diabetics. Streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes in rats. The control groups received standard rat food, while the treatment groups received mixed 6% apple vinegar and standard rat food for 4 weeks. Fasting blood glucose, HbA_1c and lipid profile (total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol) were measured before and after the intervention.
Results: Fasting blood glucose did not change with the consumption of apple vinegar. However, HbA_1c in diabetic group decreased significantly compared with pre-intervention (P<0.05) and control-diabetic group (P<0.05). In healthy group with the uptake of apple vinegar, reduction of LDL (P<0.005), and increase of HDL (P<0.005) were observed compared to pre-intervention and with healthy control. In diabetic group with  the uptake of apple vinegar significant reduction of TG (P<0.005) and significant increase of HDL (P<0.05) were observed compared to the control group.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that uptake of apple vinegar improve lipid profile in healthy and diabetic rats, and reduces HbA_1c in diabetic rats.

Background and Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate psychosocial predictors of substance use during adolescence among the Iranian youth. Based on the “peer cluster theory” (Oetting and Beauvais 1986a, 1986b), structural connections between family, school, peer cluster, and religion, as well as their direct and indirect effects on drug use were studied. Materials and Methods: In this study, we collected data on 746 school students from 19 different schools in 9 educational districts of Tehran. Using confirmatory factor analysis, the validity of scales were evaluated, followed with structural equation modeling analysis using LISREL (8.53 package), generalizability of “Peer cluster theory” evaluated the findings. Results: The results showed that our scales were reliable in measuring latent variables in the model. Based on fitness indices, Peer cluster theories with some modification in endogenous variables have good generalizability among the Iranian adolescents. Conclusion: We can consider the "Family" as a fundamental factor in prevention of drug use in adolescents. As long as the family has less power, e.g. paying less attention to their adolescent or the presence of conflicts between parents, the possibility of drug use in adolescent will increase.

Background and Objective: Child weight is considered as one of the most appropriate criteria for determining the nutritional status of the children particularly prior to 24 months of age. There is an association between duration of breastfeeding and child weight via which childhood and even adult obesity can be predicted. Regarding the importance of breastfeeding and its critical role in future health of children, the present research was carried out to investigate the association between the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and the weight of 24- month-old children in Zanjan province.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional research was carried out using the registered data from 24 months old children records in rural/ urban health centers of Zanjan province. The sampling included all records of neonates born from 2010 to 2012 which were selected using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Data were assessed by ordinal regression with the Proportional odds model and chi-square test. Stata12 was used for data analysis.

Results: Of 8456 children with the age of 24 months, 4146 (49%) were female. The mean age of the mothers was 27.1±5.4 years. The mean duration of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding with related standard deviation were 20.3±5.8 and 4.7±1.4 months, respectively. The mean and standard error concerning 24-month- old children’s weight was 11939±13.2 grams. There was an inverse relationship between the duration of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding with 24-month-old children’s weight (p<0.001).

Conclusion: This study elucidates that continuation of breastfeeding until 24 months of age may prevent child obesity. Therefore, exclusive breastfeeding encouragement and the continued breastfeeding until 24 months are critically recommended.