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Introduction: Neisseria  gonorrhoeae  is  a  gram  negative  diplococci  belong  to  family  neisseriacae  and  is  causative  agent  of  gonorrheae.  Culture  and  antibiograme  of  this  bacteria  is  done  lower  than  other  cases  and  determination  rate  of  MIC  in  this  bacteria  is  inly  done  in  reference  laboratories.  The  goal  of  this  study  id  introducing  a  relationship  which  in  studied  population, MIc  more  easily  and  eithout  doing  complex  technical  examinations  is  placed  available  for  physicians.
Materials  and  Methods: In  this  research  on  50  cases  of  Neisseria  gonorrhoeae  isolated  from  patients  with  gonorrhoeae  antibiograme  test  were  done  and  then  for  every  antibiotic  discs  the  zone  of  inhibition  were  measured.  Then  on  the  basis  of  instructions  of  NCCL  for  four  antibiotics  were  planed  to  this  disease (penicillin, tetracycline, spectinomycine  and  ceftriaxone) MIc  on  GC  agar  medium  were  measured  and  between  zone  of  inhibition  as  an  independent  variable  and  MIC  as  a  dependent  variable  linear  regression  is  seen  which  from  this  line  equation  can  understand  how  is  the  relation  between  MIc  and  zone  of  inhibition. It  means  that  wether  this  relationship  is  direct  or  reverse?
Results: The  findings  show  that  in  all  antibiotics  the  relationship  between  zone  of  inhibition  and  MIc  are  negative (reverse)  and  regression  coefient  for  first  three  antibiotics  have  (p<0.0001)  and  for  fourth  antibiotics  has  (p<0.001).
Conclusions: It  means  that  with  probability  less  than  0.0001  for  penicillin, tetracycline, spectinomycine  and  probanility  less  than  0.001  for  ceftriaxone  can  estimate  the  counter  effect  pf  zone  of  inhibition  and  MIc  in  studied  population.
 

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Introduction: different  isotypes  of  antibody  can  be  produced  by  immune  system  after  antigen  contact.  Detection  and  measurement  of  different  classes  of  antibody  against  the  antigen  is  very  important  in  some  cases.  The  aim  of  this  study  is  designing  of  an  ELISA  method  on  the  basis  of  inhibition  of  enzyme  activity  by  using  a  non-competitive  inhibitor.  Therefore  in  this  study  rheumatoid  factor  is  used  as  a  model  for  the  detection  of  different  other  classes  of  antibodies  against  the  antigen.
Materials  and  Methods:  In  this  cross  sectional  analytical  study, we  measured  IgM  and IgA   rheumatoid  factors  in  sera  of  10  patients  with  rheumatoid  arthritis  and  positive  latex  test , by  mixed  and  routine  ELISA.  In  mixed  ELISA  the activity  of  the  first  conjugated  enzyme  was  blocked  by  a  non-competitive  inhibitor  after  adding  the  substrate. Then  the  next  conjugated  antibody, which  was  specific  for  another  isotype, was  added. By  optical  density, results  was  comparisoned  with  routine  ELISA.
Results:  The  obtained  results  showed  that  the  average  optical  density  is  lower  when  compared  with  routine  ELISA , but  the  difference  is   not  statistically  significant.  however  these  two  methods  did  not  show  any  significant  difference  in  quantifying  antibody  isotypes. Also  there  is  a  positive  association  between  mixed  and  routine  ELISA (r=0.9, p=0.001).
Discussion: Lower  optical  density  in  mixed  ELISA  is  probably  because  of  stick  hindrance  by  the  first  conjugate. So, because  there  is  no significant  difference  between  the  results  of  these two  types  of  ELISA, and  also  no  need  to  repeat  the  test  for  each  isotype  in  this  method, it  is  recommended  to  use the  new  method  instead  of  the  routine  one  to  save  time  and  reagents.
 

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Background: Glycoconjugates molecules showed a programmed changes during the development. These components in the cell-surface and extracellular matrix plays important roles for different developmental processes. In this study lectin histochemistry technique was used for identification and localization of some glycoconjugates during the development of thymus. Methods and Materials: Balb/C mice embryos from days 10 to 15 and also day 18 fetuses fixed in formalin and provided 5m serial sections of these samples for histochemical study. Slices were incubated with three types of HRP-conjugated lectins (HRP) include: SBA specified for α, β-D-N-acetylgalactoseamin (α,β-D-GalNAc), PNA specified for β-D-Galactose -(1-3)-D-N-acetylgalactoseamin (β-D-Gal-(1-3)-D-GalNAc) , MPA specified for D-Galactose (D- Gal). Results: SBA lectin was presented with decreasing intensity in the Golgi zone (GZ) and cell surfaces of mesenchymal cells, epithelial cells and T-cells microenvironment in studying days. In first day (12&13) T-cells had high reaction with SBA in membranes and GZ. PNA lectin was revealed with several intensity in basal membranes and membranes of mesenchymal cells, epithelial and microenvironment of T-cells in studying days. MPA lectin weakly presented in the endodermal and mesenchymal cells and microenvironment of T-cells in all days. Conclusion: Results indicated that glycoconjugates molecules with terminal carbohydrate of GalNAc might have a role in the development of thymus gland and maturation of the T-cells. Glycoconjugates with terminal disaccharide of Gal/GalNAc probably have significant effect on the total developmental process of thymus gland. Further, Glycoconjugates with terminal carbohydrate of Gal probably had not a key role in the development of thymus gland and T-cells or with low quantity effect.

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Abstract Background: Necessary to making constant revisions in the continuous education programs and updating the physicians’ knowledge in accord to the needs of society seems to be essential. The present study was conducted to conformity of continuous educational programs’ content of radiology department with needs of Continuous medical education learners, Markazi province, 2008. Materials and Methods: In this cross- sectional study, in 2008, the opinions of 40 physicians falling under continuous medical education (CME) were collected through a questionnaire on a Likert scale in more than 30 instructional topics. Before educational program performance, priorities in education were assessed and after performance, rate of coverage and requirements conformity with content was determined. Results: The most educational need was indication of chest x-Ray with mean of 4.21 and the less need was wrist MRI with mean of 2.42. After program performance, the greatest conformity of needs with educational content was indication of mammography (mean= 83.1) and wrist and shoulder MRI (mean=53.2) which was the least required. Though, there was a general correlation between need and content coverage in both areas of graph indication order and interpretation, but was not base on priority needs. There was significant relationship between physicians needs with educational needs (p<0.001). But about gender and work experience was not significant relationship. Conclusion: Lake of complete coverage of needs base on educational priority of CMS learners will seek greater attention and emphasis or scientific secretary and lecturer on needs in special educational objectives frame for accelerating of continuous education effectiveness.

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Background: The use of proper contrast agents is very effective in improving the quality of medical imaging. In this study, we dealt with the effect of high PH blackberry juice accompanied with omeprozole in reducing the upper fluid artifact in MRCP images. Methods: This single blinded before-after clinical trial was done with the enrollment of 34 patients. After receiving official agreement from the patients and applying the enrollment criteria, they were ordered to take two 20mg omeprozole capsules the night before the exam. The next day, while they had been held NPO, they were exposed to the first MRCP. After this, they drank 300cc blackberry juice and were re-examined after 15 minutes. The related checklists were printed and three radiologists independently inspected the reduction of artifact checklists and the resolution of images. Eventually, the quality of images and the mean of artifact reductions in the images before and after black berry Juice consumption were compared. Results: Reduction of artifact scores due to gastrological secretions did not show any significant differences before and after black berry juice consumption (2.97±0.37 and 2.89±0/87, respectively). Additionally, no significant changes were observed in the visibility of gall bladder, water ampoula, common hepatic duct, intrahepatic ducts and head of pancreatic duct images. There was a decrease in the common bile duct visibility (p=0.01). In the case of pancreatic duct tail and body visibility, images showed improvements (p=0.04 and 0.03, respectively). Conclusion: Blackberry juice, as a contrast agent, does not seem to have enough paramagnetic metals and does not improve the quality of MRCP.

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Background: Considering that pre-diabetes is one of disorders that increases developing of diabetes, this study was performed to investigate the effect of L-Arginine supplementation on antioxidant enzyme activity, total antioxidant capacity, and body composition in patients with pre-diabetes.

Materials and Methods: A double-blinded randomized clinical trial was performed on 46 pre-diabetic patients. Patients in intervention (n=23) and  placebo groups received  3g/day L-arginine and placebo (three 1gr L-arginine capsules), respectively for 8 weeks. Anthropometric, body composition, and dietary intake assessments, and also biochemical tests were done at baseline and end of study. Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase enzyme and superoxide dismutase activity were measured. Paired t-test, independent t-test and ANOVA were used to analyze quantitative variables.

Results: Thirty eight patients (19 subjects in each group) completed the study. After adjusting confounding factors, no significant difference in body composition, anthropometric indices and dietary intake was observed at the end of study (p<0.05 in all factors), but a significant difference in TAC level was observed in the intervention group at the end of study (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Supplemenation with 3gr/day L-arginine for 8 weeks led to raised serum TAC level without changes in body composition in pre-diabetic patients.

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Background: The prevalence and incidence of cancer in different parts of the world have different patterns. To recognize the frequency of malignancies in different social groups according to climatic conditions is considered as the primary component of prevention programs at different levels. This study was conducted to investigate the epidemiology, survival rates and geographical epidemiology of breast cancer in Markazi province.

Materials and Methods: In this epidemiological study, needed data were obtained from cancer registration program and death registration data. The data were analyzed by using SPSS software version 16 and Winpepi and significant level was 0.05. And to draw a map to show the breast cancer incidence rate in Markazi district, Arc view software was used.

Results: Out of the 400 cases recorded during the 5-year, 8.5% died due to breast cancer. 5-year survival rate was 87% and there was a significant correlation between survival rate and age. Most records were related to the age group 49-40 years and the highest incidence rate was in Arak. The trends of incidence rate was not significant.

Conclusion: The results showed that 5-year breast cancer survival rate is more than some other places which could be due to new and improved methods of treatment and methods of screening and early detection of disease. Other aspects of the epidemiology of the disease is similar to other parts of Iran.

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Background: Human &beta-defensin 126 (12kDa) is a small cationic glycoprotein that is highly rich of cysteine. DEFB126 gene is located on the subtelomeric end of 20p1.3 in human. High expression of this protein is reported in epididymis. This polypeptide coats the plasma membrane of sperm during epididy‌mal transit. It is likely that &beta -defensin 126 might have role in unexplained male infertility since it involves in sperm maturation and capacitation. The current research designed to investigate if there is relation between &beta-defensin 126 gene mutation and unexplained male infertility.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study we followed a two cytosine nucleotides deletion of &beta-defensin 126 gene in 35 Iranian men with unexplained infertility and 40 fertile men with normal spermogeram as control group. Standard PCR, SSCP(Single strand conformational polymorphism), and sequencing were used to detect genetic alteration of &beta-defensin 126. ELISA was performed for the assessment of the protein expression on sperm cells.

Results: Analysis of genetic data revealed 28.6% homozygote deletion in unexplained infertile men while this deletion was detected in 7.5% of controls. The deletion frequency was statistically higher in infertile patients than normal control group (p<0.05). The protein expression was less in men with del/del genotype compare to the other genotypes (p<0.005).

Conclusion: Our study shows that this common sequence variation of &beta-defensin 126 takes part in impairment of male reproductive function. Consequently, men with the del/del genotype are significantly less fertile than men who carry the wild type allele.

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Background: The outbreaks of new antigenic variants of influenza viruses in human populations have increased necessity the improvement of controlling programs. Influenza vaccines are formulated with adjuvant to enhance and direct the host immune responses. Currently, much effort is devoted to designing molecular adjutants. Hemokinin-1 (HK-1) activates T and B cells for proliferation, survival, differentiation into plasma cells, and antibody production. In this study, the effect of HK-1 as a molecular adjuvant for inducing humoral immune response against influenza virus was investigated.

Materials and Methods: The HK-1 coding sequence was cloned into pcDNA3.1 vector and used as adjuvant. Groups of mice were immunized with an inactivated influenza vaccine formulated with HK-1. The sera of vaccinated mice were collected prior to priming and boosting injections and at defined weeks, and analyzed with serological assays.

Results: The results showed that HK-1 was able to increase antibody titer against virus vaccine. The mice immunized with the adjuvanted vaccine produced higher antibody titers against influenza comparing to vaccine alone immunized group. Number of boosting had no effect on the enhancing of antibody titer.

Conclusion: These data revealed that HK-1 as a molecular adjuvant induces stronger humoral and memory responses against influenza immunization.

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Background: Thyroid nodules are common. 4-7% of adults have a palpable nodule and up to 50-70% of nodules are detected in high-resolution sonography. Thyroid nodules in women are 4 times greater than men and the rate of thyroid cancer in women is 3:1 compared to men, and is the sixth most common cancer in women. Epidemiological findings and experimental evidences show that sex hormones, especially estrogen, may have effect on this gland and its neoplasm. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between rs1256049 polymorphism in the estrogen receptor beta gene with thyroid nodular disease.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 146 Patients with nodular thyroid and 151 health individuals were referred to Amiralmomenin hospital of Arak were recruited in study. Diagnosis is based on by ultrasonography and was confirmed by an endocrinologist. Genomic DNA was extracted from EDTA treated whole blood .The genotypes were determined using tetra-amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR) and analyzed by statistical methods.

Results: The frequency of CC, TC and TT genotypes in case group 136(93.2%), 10(6.8%) and 0(0%) and in the control group 139(92.1%), 12(7.9%) and 0(0%) were obtained respectively. No statistically significant association (p=0.72) was observed between nodular thyroid disease and rs1256049 polymorphism.

Conclusion: Our findings showed no significant association between rs1256049 polymorphism and nodular thyroid disease. For best deduction, it is recommended that this study be done in other populations.

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Background: Height and weight growth failure are among the most important health disorders affecting children less than two in the developing countries. Failure to treat this disorder can lead to the development of serious conditions including increased mortality and types of disability. The aim of the present study is to investigate the factors affecting the height and weight growth of children less than two years old.

Materials and Methods: This historical cohort study was conducted on a sample of 2030 children less than two in Khorramabad who were selected using stratified and cluster sampling methods. Based on household records, data related to the height and weight were recorded as quantitative variables and finally were modeled using a longitudinal marginal model, identity link functions and the R software.

Results: Based on the marginal model, the effect of such variables as child's age, child's gender and mother's educational attainment were significantly related to the child's height and weight. Moreover the child's birth order had significant relationship with only the child's height. However, the variable of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months was no significantly related to weight and height growth of the children.

Conclusion: Given the results, it seems that monitoring the growth of the children of the illiterate mothers, specially the girls and the children with first birth orders are the most important approaches to deal with growth disorders among this population.

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Background: Dendrimers are macromolecules with regular three-dimensional structure that have many branches. The aim of this study was to investigate the fficiency of Nano Polyamidoamine–G5 (NPAMAM-G5) dendrimers in removal of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus aureus from aqueous solution.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, initially, dilution of 10³ CFU/ml was prepared from each strain of bacteria. Then, different concentrations of dendrimers (0.025, 0.25, 2.5 and 25 µg/ml) in the ambient temperature (23-25°C) was added to water. In order to determine the efficiency of dendrimers in removal of bacteria, samples were taken at different times (0, 10, 20, 30, 50 and 60 min) and were cultured on nutrient agar medium. Samples were incubated for 24 hours at 37 ° C and then the number of colonies was counted.

Results: There is a direct relation between antibacterial properties of dendrimers in aqueous solution and increasing the dendrimer concentration and contact time. At a concentration of 25 μg/ml and 60 minutes, all kinds of bacteria except Staphylococcus aureus, and at 30 minutes, E. coli and Klebsiella bacteria, were removed by 100% The concentration of 2.5 μg/ml at 60 minutes of  bacteria, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Proteus mirabilis, 100% Were removed. All concentrations of dendrimer at different times were reduced bacteria.

Conclusion: Results of this study indicated that NPAMAM–G5 dendrimer is able to remove Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Staphylococcus aureus from aqueous solution.

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