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Introduction: Diabetes is the most important metabolic disease in human. The prevalence of both types of diabetes is rapidly increasing ocross the world. Diabetes causes many complications including End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Diabetes is responsible for 30% of ESRD. The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy in Iran is also high. Many of these patients are becoming dialysis dependent. Many studies have shown the changes of trace metals’ levels in diabetic patients including Copper, Zinc, Manganese and Chromium. This study evaluates the correlation between urinary Copper and diabetic nephropathy Materials and Methods: This is a case-control study. Samples were selected among type 2 diabetic patients attending to diabetes clinic in Vali-e-Asr hospital in Arak. Diabetic patients were divided in two groups based on microalbuminuria, 42 patients in case and 40 patients in control group. Then the patients were classified based on duration of diabetes into 4 groups and based on the HbA1c into two groups. Then urinary Copper was determined with atomic absorption spectophotometry and compared. Independent t-test was used to analyze data. Results: Patients were 28.1% male and 69.9% female in case group and 37.5% male and 62.5% female in control group. The mean Copper level was 36.14µg /L (14.54-57.74) in case group and 14.77% µg /L (10.17-19.37) in control group. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.003). Conclusion: The results show a positive relation between urinary Copper and diabetic nephropathy and confirmed the results of other studies that reported the elevation of Copper in microalbuminuria. This study also showed that age, gender, duration of diabetes and HbA1c level have no effect on urinary Copper.

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Background: Some plant extracts, including species of Santolina have antibacterial effects and they can be used as antimicrobial agents in treatment of infections. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the compounds of essential oil and the anti-microbial properties of its essential oil and extract. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, yarrow plant in late spring was collected from Sistan region in 2008. The compounds of the essential oil were analyzed by GC/MS. In this study, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and diameter of inhibition zone of growth for the standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, E.coli, P.aeruginosa, and Candida.albicans were determined through disk diffusion and agar-well diffusion methods and dilution in the liquid medium, respectively. Results: Camphor was the major compound of the essential oil. The standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus presented the greatest sensitivity to the stem extract and leaf extract in MIC> 0.573 and MBC> 1.146, respectively and to the flower extract in MBC> 1.663 and MIC> 0.831, respectively. In addition, it presented an intermediate sensitivity to standard strains E.coli with MBC> 2.293 and MIC> 1.146, respectively to the stem and leaf extract and MBC> 6.650 and MIC> 3.325 respectively to the flower extract. However, the standard strains of Candida albicans and P.aeruginosa did not show a significant sensitivity to the extracts. Also, the essential oil of this plant in comparison with the extracts did not have any significant antimicrobial effects. Conclusion: The plant extracts, especially stem and leaf possess anti-bacterial effects. But further investigations are needed for determining its exact mechanism

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Background: Peripheral neuropathy is a common complication associated with diabetes mellitus. It has been shown that oxidative stress is an important etiological factor in neuropathy which contributes to its development however, the exact pathophysiology underlying this complication is not fully understood. This study was designed to examine the effect of regular exercise and vitamin C administration on pain threshold in rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 36 male Wistar rats (220±10 g) were allocated to control and diabetic (control, vitamin C, exercise, and exercise+ vitamin C) groups. Diabetes was induced by the subcutaneous administration of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). A week after the induction of diabetes, the rats were subjected to swimming training and vitamin C treatment for 8 weeks. At the end of weeks 3, 5, and 8, Tail-Flick test was done on the rats to assess pain threshold. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Diabetes significantly decreased pain threshold in the rats. Diabetes-induced hyperalgesia was significantly decreased by training and vitamin C. Concurrent effects of training and vitamin C on thermal pain threshold were significantly higher than each of them alone. Conclusion: Regular exercise together with vitamin C administration can be a proper method for preventing thermal hyperalgesia associated with diabetes. Therefore, they can be effective in the treatment and management of pain