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Introduction: Because tetraploid embryo is used as a base for growth and development of transgenic cells, one of the most important stages in animal biotechnology is to produce tetraploidy by electrofused 2-cell embryo. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of fusion duration on developmental rate of tetraploid embryos.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study some of the bovine 2-cell embryos were obtained from in vitro matured and fertilized cumulus oocyte complexes 33-35 hr post fertilization as an unexposed control group (UCG). The remaining 2-cell embryos were exposed to 0.75 kilovolt per centimeter for 80 microsecond, and were transferred to SOF1 medium. Subsequently those embryos fused at 30 and 60 minute post electrofusion were categorized as fused groups (FG30 and FG60) and separated from unfused embryos as exposed control group (ECG). The developmental rate was compared between UCG, ECG, FG30, and FG60 groups and the relation between fusion duration and cleavage and developmental rate was surveyed. Results: The cleavage rate up to 8-cell stage in FG60 was increased significantly compared to FG30 (p<0.05) while the blastocyst rate has no significant difference between the two groups. The cleavage and developmental rate in UCG was significantly higher than ECG, FG60 and FG30. Chromosomal analysis showed that 76% of embryos were true tetraploid.
Conclusion: The fused embryos in FG60 had more ability to produce embryos up to 8-cell stage than FG30. The electrical pulse can decrease the cleavage and developmental ability of embryo

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Introduction: Hyperlipidemia is one of the main known risk factors for coronary artery disease. Regarding the undesirable consequences of hyperlipidemia and its long-term treatment, it is important to use drugs with lesser complications during the long period of treatment.
Materials and Methods: This study was a double-blind randomized clinical trail that carried out on 65 patients with hyperlipidemia. Patients were divided into two groups. Case groups took dill pearl, and control group took placebo pearl for one month. Serum lipids of both groups were measured before and one month after interference. Data was analysed with t-test and p<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: In this study , differences between mean level of cholesterol, triglyseride, HDL and LDL in case group before and after interference were statistically significant (P<0/05) but in control group only difference between HDL before and after interference was significant .
Conclusion: Regarding the result of the study dill pearl can be a useful drug for treatment of hyperlipidemia.

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Introduction: Type of anesthesia is important in the maternal and fetal well being. There are different informations about effect of general and spinal anesthesia on Apgar score, so in this study a comparision was made on Apgar scores of neonates following these two methods. Materials and Methods: This study is a clinical trial and 168 term pregnant women were selected from elective cesarean candidates and divided in to general and spinal anesthesia groups by randomized allocation method. Then Apgar scores in first, fifth and twentieth minutes were mesured in infants. Also maternal age, cause of cesarean, sex and duration of cesarean section time were all documented. Data was analyzed using T and Chi square tests. Results: Mean Apgar scores were 8.66±0.68, 9.8±0.42 and 9.970.15 at first, fifth and twentieth minutes in general anesthesia group, and 90.38, 9.880.32 and 10 at first and fifth and twentieth minutes in spinal group. The group differed significantly for first minute Apgar score (p<0.001) but there were no significant differences in fifth and twentieth minutes Apgar scores. Conclusion: First minute Apgar score of newborns of mothers under spinal anesthesia was more than those of mothers under general anesthesia but there was no difference between their five minute Apgar score.

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Background: Pain is an unpleasant feeling which humans experience. It is a warning sign of the damaged tissue. Due to the awful sense of pain, scientists always attempt to relieve it. Retinoic acid (RT), an active metabolite of natural vitamin A has important roles in modulation of the inflammatory responses. The aim of the present study was to analyze the pain threshold of rats which had microinjections of RT, applying acute and chronic models. Methods and Materials: In this study, the tail flick and formalin tests were used to determine pain threshold. In each test, the acute and chronic pain thresholds of 252 Wistar male rats (275 ± 25 gr) were assayed. The druge were injected in the acute model one-dose30 minutes before behavioral testing and in chronic model two-dose for one or two-weeks. The rats of both models divided randomly into six groups (n=7). In four treatment groups retinoic acid (RT) intra cerebro ventricular (i.C.V) were injected as dosagc of 0.5, 3 and 6 (µg/kg) micrograms per kilogram. In control group, was microinjected by ACSF. In vehicle group injected RT solvent (DMSO+ Distil water). Results: The resuits Showed acute injection of RT did not change pain thresholds in the tail-flick methd, but the chronic administration of RT (0.5, 1, 3, 6 µg/kg) reduced tail-flick latencies of the rats (p<0.05) in compare to DMSO group. The threshold of pain in the first phase of formalin test was reduced after injection of 3µg/kg of RT for two weeks. Conclusion: It was concluded that chronic i.c.v. injections of RT can induce significant hyperalgesia in rat.

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Background: Epileptic seizures are manifestation of epilepsy. Understanding of the mechanisms causing epileptic disorder needs careful analyses of the electroencephalograph (EEG) records. The detection of epileptic form discharges (spike wave) in the EEG is an important component in the diagnosis of epilepsy. Approximately one in every 100 persons will experience a seizure at some time in their life. Already intelligence spike detection method discucsed but purpose of this research is diagnosis of different kind of epilepsy (grandmal and Petitmal) by design of an intelligence diagnosis processing. Methods and Materials: In this descriptive study, 100 EEG signals of brain hemispheres from different person in healthy, interictal and ictal conditions were used. Fifty Hz noise and artifact signals were removed by soft ware procedure then signals separated by expert neurologist to three categories, healthy (frequency band 8-12 Hz), petitmal seizures (typical 3 Hz), grandmal seizures (clonic stage with 4 Hz frequency) and divided each of them to 6 seconds segments. Information of this signals (background alpha, spike and slow, poly spike and poly sharp) were extracted by wavelet transform and classified by soft ware procedure neural network to there groups healthy, ptitmal and grandmal epilepsy. Results: In designed software accuracy of diagnosis ptitmal and grandmal epilepsies was obtained about 80% Conclusion: This method introduced intelligent diagnosis of epilepsy (ptitmal and gradmal) and automatically detected healthy person from epileptic patients. One of the other advantages is help to neurologist for detection of sickness clearly and expendable different kinds of other epilepsy

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Background: Medical equipment improvement and tremendous expenditure is allocated costs annually, so that optimum and proper maintenance management of equipment would have outstanding effects on health and treatment of medical training and research economies of the country. Present research was implemented aiming to examine effect of the medical equipment maintenance management systems on the hospital setting expenditures. Methods and Materials: In an interventional research, the model of medical equipment maintenance management system implemented in Imam Khomeini Hospital was examined precisely and based on appropriate software for Vali-e-Asr Hospital was designed. According to the model for all available medical instruments in Vali-e-Asr hospital with usage of more than 5 years (240 medical equipment) all costs were recorded in 2006 and compared with previous year (2005). Results: There wasn't any training for medical equipment operators and for its implementation necessity on 21.7% of equipment in the installation and start up phase with for 83.7% of equipments the operator was not fixed using of medical equipment maintenance management system, the repair events decreased from 78 events in 2005 to 58 events in 2006. Vali-e-Asr hospital recorded costs for maintenance and repair of medical equipment in 2006 was 801765375 Rials(Iran)which decreased to 513212912 Rials (Iran) according to accurate calculation of costs and auditing by medical equipment engineer and shows 36% saving in expenditures by medical equipment maintenance management system. Conclusion: Medical equipment computer–based maintenance, management system implementation and also using of medical engineers potentialities in hospital are necessary.

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Introduction: Stirility is a problem throughout the world. Decreasing the growth and developmental rate of embryo and arresting in certain step of development like two cell block, could be the reason of infertility in some couples. Previous study show that arrest and retardation in embryo development can produced by low temperature exposure. We aimed to evaluate the effect of Ethanol on growth and development of mouse two-cell arrested embryo. Material and methods: The 4-6 week old female mice were coupled with male mice following superovulation and positive vaginal plaque mice were killed 48 hour after HCG injection by cervical dislocation method. Two cell embryo were collected in RPMI medium and divided and cultured (in M16 medium) in three groups. The 2nd and 3rd groups were exposed to 4°C for 24 hour in order to delay and arrest for cleavage and developmental rate. The 2nd group (2nd control) were incubated immediately, while the 3rd group (experiment) were exposed to % 0.1 Ethanole for 5 minutes and the 1st group (1st control) without any exposure to low temperature group were incubated . Results: The data analysis by one-way ANOWA show that the developmental rate of embryos exposed to low temperature (4°C) significantly decreased (P=0.001), retardation and arrest being produced. The mean of cleavage rate between groups were not significantly affected, but the mean percent of degenerated embryos between groups have significant differences (P=0.045). On the other hand the mean percent of morulla is significantly different between groups (P=0.005) similarly the mean percent of blastocyst and hatched blastocyst have significant differences between groups (P=0.014) (P=0.001) after 120 hr evaluation. Conclusion: Effect of %0.1 Ethyl-alchol on arrested two cell embryos can significantly increase the mean percent of morulla and development up to blastocyst and hatching blastocyst stage related to control group, without any significant effect on cleavage rate

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Abstract Background: Current electrocardiography (ECG) criteria are insensitive for the detection of posterior acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and most of these cases remain undiagnosed. The purpose of this study has been evaluated of prevalence and clinical value of ST-segment in posterior electrocardiography leads during acute myocardial infarction. Materials and Methods: In cross- sectional analytic study, posterior ECG leads (V7, V8 and V9) as well as standard 12 leads in 210 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to CCU wards of Shahid Rijaie hospital. Reinforcing, continuous arrhythmia, hypotension, cardiologic shock, marked heart failure and/or acute pulmonary edema were considered. Related parameters to basic characteristics and next process of patients in two groups with/ without ST- segment elevation in posterior ECG lead were compared. Results: There were 153 patients with ST-segment elevation 1 mm in 2 contiguous leads. 12.4% patients had STE1 mm in 2 posterior leads, either as an isolated finding (4.6%) or in association with STE at inferior or lateral sites (7.8%). The standard 12-lead electrocardiogram was normal in two patients and 5 other patients were admitted with the diagnosis of non-Q infarctions. Tall R waves in V1/V2 developed in 5 cases. In-hospital complications were significantly more frequent among patients with STE in posterior leads (47.4% vs. 20.9% respectively, P=0.01). Conclusion: STE in posterior electrocardiography leads is not uncommon during acute myocardial infarction and may portend a worse in-hospital course.

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Background: Since cardiac surgeons have not kept up with advancements in pacing technology, there has been a tendency to limit the implantation of pacemakers by surgeons. This study compares two eras of pacing therapy including pacemaker implantation by cardiac surgeons and pacemaker set-up by a group of cardiologists in Shahid Rajaee Hospital in Tehran. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we compared the existing data from all pacemaker implantations in the first half of 1999 (surgical era, era 1) to that of the first half of 2001 (cardiologists era, era 2). Results: During era 1, a total 114 pacemakers (46.5% male, mean age 63.3 ±18.4) and during era 2, 299 pacemakers (63.9% male, mean age 63.9±18.2) had been implanted. Indications for implantation were nearly similar, with AV block as the most common reason in 21.9% and 19.1% of implantations in eras 1 and 2, respectively. Single chamber pacemakers comprised 86% of implantations during era 1 compared to 54% during era 2 (p<0.01). The mean duration of admission was 18 days during era 1 while it was 10 days during era 2. Pacemaker malfunctions were detected following 7.9% of implantations in era 1 compared to 0.3% of cases in era 2 (p<0.01). Re-do procedures were performed after 2.7% of implantations during era 1 in comparison to 0.3% during era 2 (p<0.01). Conclusion: Pacemaker implantation was performed better by a coordinated pacemaker service run by cardiologist trained in pacemaker implantation.

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Background: Albizzia lebbeck is used for the treatment of diarrhea and dysentery. In this study the efficacy of hydro-ethanolic extract of this plant on enteric gram-negative and aerobic gram-positive bacillis was determined. Materials and Methods: In this experimental-clinical trial, cold maceration method by ethanol was used for extraction of Albizzia lebbeck fruit, seed, flower and leaves. Then its polyphenolic components were separated by ethyl acetate. After concentrating the different extracts through disk diffusion and tube dilution, the effect of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bacteriocidal concentration (MBC) of their antibacterial component on shigella dysenteriae, proteus mirabilis, escherchia coli, bacillus cereus and bacillus anthracis were evaluated. Also, the antibacterial effects of Albizzia lebbeck extracts together and in combination with some antibiotics, were compared through variance analysis. Results: Different extracts of Albizzia lebbeck just had similar and positive effects on shigella dysenteriae, bacillus cereus, and bacillus anthracis. However, the hydro-ethanolic fruit extract was more effective than the falavnoid fruit, flower and leave extracts. MIC and MBC results for antibacterial material on the three aforementioned bacterias were 0.125 and 0.25 gram/ml, respectively while the effects of the polyphenolic components of this plant's fruit were similar to its hydro-ethanolic extracts. Conclusion: Through the identification of different components of Albizzia lebbeck and the attainment of new formulations of these components, the grounds will be provided for its application on treatment of patients with inflammatory diseases and asthma, and on improvement of their immune system.

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Background: Due to concerns over the negative impacts of PCB compounds on environment and their persistence, their production, use, and import has been banned in some countries. More recently, the Chemical Treaty on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) has listed PCBs among priority chemicals for eventual elimination by 2025. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of solvents on the photodegradation of askarel oils using photolysis for reducing their hazards. Materials and Methods: The photochemical reactor, used in this experimental trial, was based on photolysis through UV/ H2O2 with a 500 ml beaker and low-pressure mercury lamp with a wavelength of 254 nm. The lamp was immersed in the beaker. The temperature and PH of the samples were constantly monitored. The experiments were repeated three times. Askarel oils were analyzed by GC/ECD. Results: The means of degradation of total PCBs due to the use of lamp for ethanol solvent and isooctane were 88% and 77%, respectively. The mean degradation of total PCBs in terms of the applied solvent ratio to the oil transformer for 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 values for ethanol and isooctane were 55%, 85%, and 88%, and 40%, 77%, and 78%, respectively. Conclusion: Photolysis of PCB compounds in the presence of ethanol solvents, isoocatnes with strong oxidants such as H2O2, indicated their degradation or reduction in oil transformers with lower energy, and no yield of toxic byproducts. There was a significant difference in the employment of ethanol solvent and isooctane in degradation of askarel oil.

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Background: Brucellosis is a major zoonotic disease with worldwide distribution. The prevalence of this disease has decreased in developed countries however, in developing countries, it is still prevalent. The aim of study was to determine the effect of a health belief model (HBM) based educational program on the empowerment of rural women in Zarandieh in prevention of brucellosis. Materials and Methods: In a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test/post-test design, 141 rural women were randomly selected and assigned to experimental and control groups. The educational program was implemented for the experimental group. Data were gathered by a researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS software version 16. Results: Demographic variables of the two groups were similar before education. In addition, there were no significant differences between the experimental and control groups with regard to mean knowledge, HBM constructs, and performance however, the post-test revealed significant differences in terms of the mean of variables between the two groups (P<0.001). Conclusion: The HBM based educational program is effective in women’s empowerment and also promoting women’s beliefs and performance regarding brucellosis therefore, the findings of this study may be used as a framework in designing zoonotic diseases prevention programs

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Background: The general method for paraclinic diagnosis of epilepsy is electroencephalography that is performed by visual analysis by experienced neurologist. However, due to false detection and impossibility of evaluating electrodes and brain areas coherence, it is not uniquely used for seizure detection. In recent years, Quantitative Electroencephalogram (QEEG) has become a strong instrument for detection of brain disorders. Hence, studies in the field of EEG performance improvement and brain mapping images analysis corresponding to new methods that contain 2-D and 3-D output images and automatic epilepsy diagnosis are necessary.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, through extracting epilepsy feature by computing the energy of each EEG channel, brain map pattern of each patient was plotted using cubic interpolation and generalized and partial patterns and potential center of epilepsy were diagnosed by LVQ artificial neural network using image processing combination methods.

Results: In the proposed algorithm, 11 epilepsy brain mapping patterns, including 1 generalized and 10 partial seizure patterns, were automatically diagnosed.

Conclusion: Since seizure detection in the EEG signals is a complex procedure and the number of expert neurologists is small, this schema can be used for epilepsy diagnosis as an intelligent diagnosis method so that generalization of this method can help detect various brain disorders.

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Background: Nowadays, many patients with cardiovascular diseases require pacemaker implantation that is associated with few complications such as cardiac and valvular insufficiency. This study aims to compare the development of tricuspid and mitral regurgitation in right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and right ventricular apex (RVA) pacing.

Materials and Methods: In this single-blind clinical trial, 164 candidates for permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation due to sick sinus syndrome or atrioventricular block were randomly divided into 2 equal groups to receive either RVOT or RVA pacing. Patients with heart failure or valvular diseases were excluded from the study. Pre and post-procedural echocardiography after 6 months were performed and the results were compared for the development of mitral and tricuspid regurgitation and probable changes in the ejection fraction (EF).

Results: Age, gender, pacing mode, and baseline cardiac rhythm did not significantly differ between RVOT and RVA pacing groups. The incidence of mitral regurgitation was significantly higher in the RVA group (p=0.033), whereas the incidence of tricuspid regurgitation was similar in both groups (p>0.05). There was a trend toward less tricuspid regurgitation in the RVOT group however, it was not statistically significant. Ejection fraction was not significantly different between the study groups.

Conclusion: It seems that the incidence of mitral regurgitation in RVA pacing is significantly higher than RVOT although this needs further investigation in future studies.

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Background: Pentoxifylline is a xantin derivative that causes deduction of blood viscosity, improves peripheral blood current and increases tissues oxygenization. In this study, considering special properties of this drug and inspite of undefined mechanism of its effect, the effect of pentoxifylline on skin biomechanical indices in acute phase of skin wound healing in rat is evaluated.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study 14 adult Wistar rat were divided in two groups of experimental (n=7) receiving 100mg/kg twice a day and control (n=7) receiving distilled water intraperitoneal. Incisional wounds, 20mm length in identical pattern were created on back skin of rats. On day 15 skin strips containing incision were excised and used to evaluate biomechanical indices, work up to maximum force-Nm and Tensile strength= Rm-N/mm2. Results were analyzed by Spss soft ware and K-S, Levens and student T-Test.

Results: According to biomechanical test findings, pentoxifylline administration causes improvement in biomechanical indices of skin after 15 days of drug administration. Discrepancy between skin biomechanical indices of experimental and control subgroups was significant (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Pentoxifylline caused improvement in skin biomechanical indices and accelerated skin wound healing in experimentals.

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Background: One of the side effects of chemotherapy agents is gonadal suppression leading to infertility. The present study examined the feasibility of using a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-A) in the prevention of busulfan induced azoospermia in prepubertal mice.

Materials and Methods: In this case and control research, Leuprolide (3.8 mg/kg) was given to prepubertal male mice 2 weeks after or prior to busulfan (40 mg/kg) administration. The animals received one or two doses of leuprolide after busulfan administration with 4 weeks apart. Six weeks after the last leuprolide treatment, the sperm parameters were analyzed icluded sperm count and motility according to the World Health Organization criteria.

Results: At the time of scarifies, testicular weight were increased in animals receiving leuprolide. In animals receiving leuprolide pretreatment, the percentage of progressive and immotile sperm was significantly (p&le0.05) increased and decreased respectively. But the percentage of non progressive sperm did not change. The sperm motility in busulfan treated animals with post treatment didn't change. The sperm count also increased in pretreatment animals but it was not significant (p&ge0.05).

Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that leuprolide pretreatment resulted in improvement in sperm motility in prepubertal male mice.

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Background: Brucellosis is a major cause of zoonosis disease and is endemic in hamadan Province in Iran. The purpose of this study was to isolate Brucella species from brucellosis patients and identify different species of this bacterium in order to determine the prevalence of the species.

Materials and Methods: This study was descriptive- cross sectional and fifty blood samples were obtained from brucellosis patients with clinical symptoms. The samples were cultured in BACTEC system and incubated for 14 days. Then, the samples were cultured on Brucella agar and biochemical tests were done for identification of bacteria. Finally, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) applied for confirmation and isolated identification with specific primers.

Results: Seven Brucella strains were isolated from 50 blood samples of the patients with brucellosis by blood culture and PCR. The PCR results on blood specimens showed 4 positive in spite of the negative results of blood culture. PCR and biochemical methods revealed that all the 11 isolated bacteria were Brucella Melitensis.

Conclusion: This study was designed to evaluate PCR technique as a diagnostic tool for brucella spp in comparison to conventional techniques. This study showed a high prevalence of brucellosis due to Brucella Melitensis in Hamadan Province and efforts in this region should be aimed at the eradication of this bacterium.

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Background: It is expected that affected people with diabetes will increase to 439 million in 2030, 15% of them are affected with chronic leg ulcer disease. Increasing number of researches implicate the positive influence of pentoxifylline (PTX) on the skin wound healing. Pentoxifylline is a xantin derivative that modifies or inhibits inflammatory factors, reduces blood viscosity, improves peripheral blood currency and increases oxygenation of tissues the In this study the effect of Pentoxifylline (PTX) on skin biomechanical indices in acute phase of skin wound healing in diabetic rat is in considerable interest.

Materials and Methods: It is an experimental- interventional study in which fourteen adult male wistar rats were divided into experimental group (n=7), receiving pentoxifyllineintraperitoneally and control group (n=7) receiving distilled water (DW). Diabeteswas induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin in both groups then full thickness incisional wound (20mm length) in identical pattern was made on the dorsum of rats. After 15 days a band of skin (4×60mm) containing wound was extracted and used to evaluate skin biomechanical indexes (work up to maximum force-Nm and Tensile strength= Rm-N/mm2). Results were analysed by SPSS software version 19 and K-S, Levens Test and Student SampleT-Test were used.

Results: Pentoxifylline administration improved skin biomechanical indices after 15 days after skin incisional wound. Differences between experimental and control’s indices were significant (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Pentoxifylline accelerated wound healing and improved tensile strength of skin in diabetic rats of experimental group.

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Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common nosocomial pathogens with high mortality rates. OprD is the major resistance mechanism to carbapeneme antibiotics. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of the genes encoding these efflux pumps using qRT-PCR.

Materials and Methods: This study examined 100 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients admitted to various hospitals in the Hamedan. Conventional phenotypic tests were used for identifying the 100 collected samples, then 31 samples were selected based on type of collected specimen and antibiotic susceptibility test i.e. antibiotic disk diffusion method performed for aminoglycoside, quinolone and carbapenem antibiotics. Furthermore, MIC method was performed for imipenem. Finally, RNA was extracted and converted to cDNA for determining the efflux pump genes expression using qRT-PCR.

Results: Among 8 selected antibiotics, the greatest resistance was for levofloxacin (61.2%, n=19) and the lowest one for imipenem (9.6%, n=3). The results of MIC were to imipenem 12 samples (38.7%) resistant, 13 samples (41.93%) intermediate, and 6 samples (19.35%) sensitive. The OprD gene was present in all strains but different expression has been observed. The strains with over expression of OprD gene showed high sensitivity towards carbapenems family antibiotics especially imipenem.

Conclusion: Identifying of bacterial resistance mechanisms is very complicated and extensive due to different mechanisms involved for similar antibiotics. OprD is main cause of attachment to the carbapenems family antibiotics. The more expression of OprD shows the more antibiotic sensitivity.

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Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease. Hypertension could occur as a result of chronic inflammation in RA patients. Some evidence demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects of alpha-lipoic acid in inflammatory diseases. However, a limited number of studies have evaluated the effects of alpha-lipoic acid in rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate the effects of alpha-lipoic acid supplementation on blood pressure and some inflammatory factors.

Materials and Methods: The present study was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial in which 70 female patients aged 20–50 years were randomized to two groups to receive either alpha-lipoic acid (1200 mg/day) or placebo. The intervention duration was 8 weeks. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured before and after the supplementation period. Also, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS13 software.

Results: 65 RA patients completed the trial. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure in alpha-lipoic acid group was significantly decreased in comparison with placebo group (p<0.05). But, CRP and IL-6 serum levels did not indicate any significant within- and between group changes.

Conclusion: In the present study, alpha-lipoic acid supplementation resulted in significant blood pressure reduction in rheumatoid arthritis participants.