---

Introduction: Pollen grains are male gametophytes of flowering plants that with self interference in fertilization have an important role in plant fertilization, increasing fertilization and improving quality of products. Pollen grains are of important allergenic plants and 80-90% of allergens have plant origin. Achillea plant has medical usage and grows in different regions of the country. This research is done in order to acquire scientific information pertaining to pollen grains allergenicity in their development stages and comparing mature and immature pollen grains allergenicity. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study Achillea plant pollen grains in different developmental stages were collected around Isfahan city and samples were studied using light and electronic microscopy (SEM). Pollen extracts were prepared by incubating pollen grains in phosphate buffered saline, PH: 7.4. The allergenicity experiment was done on male Guinea pigs (Hartley strain, 350-500g weight, 4-6 week-old, Pausteur institute of Iran) and electrophoresis of proteins was done on 12% SDS- polyacrylamide gel. Data were analyzed using one way ANOVA and Duncan test. Results: Images of light and electronic microscopy showed pollens from ellipse-spherical type, with two colpate and echinate exine. The skin tests in Guinea pigs treated with pollen extracts indicated wheal with diameter larger than control group. In clinical tests, the numbers of eosinophils, neutrophils and IgE were increased in animals treated with pollen extract comparing control group. In SDS- PAGE protein profiles, 6 richly colored protein bands were seen in mature pollens in 14.4 to 66 KD and 5 slightly colored protein bands in immature pollens in 14.4 to 45 KD. Conclusion: This research shows changes of immature pollens` ellipse morphology to spherical form in mature pollens, partial increasing in accumulation and height of exine surface echins, changes in quality and quantity of immature and mature pollen grains and difference in their allergenic severity.

---

  Background: Considering some evidence on anti-diabetic potential of Allium ursinum (AU) , this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of oral administration of AU on contractile responsiveness of thoracic aorta in diabetic rats.

  Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats were divided into control, AU-treated control, diabetic, glibenclamide-treated, and AU-treated diabetic groups. For inducing diabetes, streptozotcin (STZ) was administered (60 mg/Kg). AU-treated group received AU mixed with standard pelleted food at a weight ratio of 1% for 2 months. Serum glucose level was measured at weeks 4 and 8. Eventually, contractile responsiveness of thoracic aortic rings to KCl and noradrenaline (NA) was evaluated .

  Results: Serum glucose level, at weeks 4 and 8, in the AU-treated diabetic group was significantly lower than that in the diabetics group (p<0.01 and p<0.005, respectively). In addition, the maximum thoracic aorta contractile responsiveness to NA in the AU-treated diabetic group was significantly less than the diabetic group (p<0.05) however, such a significant reduction was not observed for KCl.

Conclusion: Oral administration of AU for 2 months is of a moderate hypoglycemic effect and attenuates the contractile responsiveness of the vascular system in diabetic rats. Background: Considering some evidence on anti-diabetic potential of Allium ursinum (AU), this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of oral administration of AU on contractile responsiveness of thoracic aorta in diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats were divided into control, AU-treated control, diabetic, glibenclamide-treated, and AU-treated diabetic groups. For inducing diabetes, streptozotcin (STZ) was administered (60 mg/Kg). AU-treated group received AU mixed with standard pelleted food at a weight ratio of 1% for 2 months. Serum glucose level was measured at weeks 4 and 8. Eventually, contractile responsiveness of thoracic aortic rings to KCl and noradrenaline (NA) was evaluated. Results: Serum glucose level, at weeks 4 and 8, in the AU-treated diabetic group was significantly lower than that in the diabetics group (p<0.01 and p<0.005, respectively). In addition, the maximum thoracic aorta contractile responsiveness to NA in the AU-treated diabetic group was significantly less than the diabetic group (p<0.05) however, such a significant reduction was not observed for KCl. Conclusion: Oral administration of AU for 2 months is of a moderate hypoglycemic effect and attenuates the contractile responsiveness of the vascular system in diabetic rats.

---

Background: Measurement of service quality is a basic prerequisite for improving quality. Studies show that consumers are in close contact with services quality better than any other group. This study was conducted with the aim of measuring service quality based on patients’ expectations and perceptions teaching hospitals in Arak, Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 260 patients at under auspices of Arak University of Medical Sciences. For data collection SERVQUL questionnaire was employed to measure quality of services. The reliability and validity of this questionnaire had already been confirmed by studies both in Iran and other countries. Results: The results showed that there were significant differences between patients’ expectations and perceptions in all dimensions of quality. The accessibility dimension constituted the most serious problem at hospitals. Conclusion: The negative scores show that it is necessary to promote all quality services dimensions at hospitals. For reducing the qualitative gap among all dimensions, it is recommended that hospital managers take patients’ needs into account and provide desirable services for them.

---

Background: Obesity is a complex, multifaceted disease resulting from a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle backgrounds, and is associated with increased risk of diseases, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes. MiRNAs have been reported to be associated with chronic diseases such as obesity. The present study is the first investigation that examines the possible association of rs2910164 polymorphism in mir-146a gene with overweight and obesity in Iranian women.

Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 133 overweight, 75 obese and 173 healthy control women with normal weight. The rs2910164 polymorphism genotypes of mir-146a gene were determined by the Tetra-ARMS PCR method. Also, logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between genotypes and obesity risk.

Results: There was a significant association between GC (OR: 1.8, 95%CI: 1-3.3, p: 0.04) and CC (OR: 4.5, 95%CI: 1.6-12.6, p: 0.004) genotypes with susceptibility to obesity. In the dominant genetic model of the C allele (comparison between CC+GC vs. GG), CC+GC genotypes were associated with the risk of obesity (OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.2–3.7, p= 0.01).

Conclusion: This study showed that mir-146a gene rs2910164 polymorphism is associated with obesity risk and the C allele may act as a dominant allele and increase the obesity risk in Iranian women.

.