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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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Background: Permanent pacemakers are applied to treat some 2nd and 3rd degree AV blocks. Previous studies have shown the hemodynamic changes that may occur after pacemaker implantation. In this study, we have evaluated these hemodynamic changes from a different view point, with measurement of urinary sodium and blood pressure. Materials and Methods: This is a before and after clinical trial study in which 30 patients, who were hospitalized for permanent pacemaker implantation for the first time in Tehran heart center during 3 years, including 12 women (mean age 62.92 years) and 18 men (mean age 60.07 years), were tested for urinary specific gravity and sodium, blood pressure, blood sodium and potassium, before and after pacemaker implantation. Paired sample T test and Chi Square test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Systolic blood pressure was 136.5 mmHg and 120.6 mmHg before and after pacemaker implantation, (P<0.001). Also, after pacemaker implantation, urinary sodium rose from 83.45 meq/L to 106.61 meq/L (p=0.018). Conclusion: This study is consistent with previous studies, which showed hemodynamic changes after permanent pacemaker implantation including decrease in blood pressure and elevation of serum neuropeptides.

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Introduction: Regarding the fact that dissanitation in swimming pools can cause a lot of diseases such as Dermatophytosis in swimmers, this study is done with the aim of determination of Dermatophytic infections in covered public swiming pools of Qom city during 2004. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study 480 samples were taken from six public swimming pools. Samples were carried to the laboratory where they were passed through milipore filters. Filters then were trasfered to mycosel agar medium and incubated for three weeks at 25 Co. Data was analyzed using fisher test. Results: Among 480 samples, eleven Dermatophytes (8/8 percent) were isolated and indentified as follow: Trichophyton Mentagrophytes (2/4%), Trichophyton Tonsuranse (1/6%), Trichophyton Equinum (1/6%), Trichophyton Verrucosum (0/8%) Trichophyton Rubrum (0/8%), Trichophyton Schoenlinii (0/8%) and Epidermophyton Floccosum(0/8%). There was a significant relationship between prevalence of Dermatophytes and disregarding of personal hygiene standards (p=0/0001) and no significant relationship between residual Chlorine of swimming pools and prevalence of Dermatophytes. Conclusion: Because the majority of isolated Dermatophytes were anthropophilic and had been transferred from swimmers to the swimming pools it is necessary to care personal hygiene standards and provide good sanitation conditions in water and environment of the swimming pools.

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Background: One way of embryo preservation is cryopreservation, but this process may damage and lead to the loss of the embryos, and bring about chromosomal abnormality. This has led researchers to seek techniques for short term preservation of embryos in 0-10 ºC temperatures. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of short time exposure to 4°C temperature on the expression profiles of mono-carboxylic transporter genes 1,2 ,3, and 4(MCT1-4) in 4-cell mouse embryos. Materials and Methods: In this fundamental study, forty 4-cell mouse embryos from NMRI strain were randomly divided into two groups. The first group consisted of fresh 4-cell embryos, and the second group included 4-cell mouse embryos that were exposed to 4°C temperature for 24 hours. After RT-PCR, the samples were electro-phoresised for expressing the MTC1-4 genes. Results: The expression of MCT 1-3 was observed in the first group, but the obtained results did not indicate their expression in the second group. Conclusion: Preservation of 4-cell embryos in 4°C for 24 hours inhibits the expression of MCT 1-3 genes. Keeping embryos in 4°C temperature is not a proper way for their short time preservation.

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origanum vulgare l.spp viride was used in ancient medicine and it was medicated for digestive disease, diabetes, remedy of trauma. While antimicrobial, ant diabetic, anticancer and antioxidant effect of this plant was proved but there is done no study for its effect on reproductive system. Therefore the purpose of recent study is surveying eventual androgenic effect of this plant on hormonal level of pituitary - gonadal axis in mature male vistar rats. Materials and Methods: recent study was done on five groups of male rats of vistar race and every group includes nine rats. The control group received no drug. The sham group received physiological serum and experimental groups of A, B and C were received the ethanolic extract of origanum vulgare l. with concentration of 40, 20, 10 mg/kg body weight respectively with gavaj for 14 days. Then levels of FSH, LH and TSH hormones in blood sample was measured with RIA method and obtaining result was compared between control group and other groups. Data was analyzed with SPSS software and statistical method of ANOVA and Tukey test. In this research, significant level was p<0.05. Results: in control group, sham group and A, B and C groups, respectively mean and standard deviation from average of plasma concentration for LH hormone based on mlU /ml were: 0.18±0.006, 0.183±0.017, 0.187±0.026, 0.241±0.012 and 0.284±0.027 And for FSH Hormone were: 0.321±0.025, 0.342±0.071, 0.372±0.026, 0.383±0.031 and 0.372±0.026 And for TSH hormone were: 5.28±0.683, 6.07±0.5, 6.09±1.94, 6.66±1.48 and 8.1±1.66. Conclusion: ethanolic extract of origanum vulgare leaf in maximum dose have androgenic effects and it can affect the activity of different levels of hypothalamic – pituitary – gonadal axis and increase the secretion of testosterone and gonadotropic hormones.

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Background: Vibrio cholera is an important agent causing cholera in human. The expression of Flagellum and the movement of the bacterium are critical in the colonization and virulence of Vibrio cholera. FlaA gene is one the five genes encoding Flagellin which plays an important role in the activity and movement of the bacterium and its colonization which has a significant role in its immunogenicity. The aim of this study was to express and produce the recombinant FlaA protein in E.coli using Western blot method. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, FlaA gene was proliferated by PCR method using the specific primers and cloned with BamHI and Xhol in pTz57R/T. Then it was proliferated and sequenced in DH5a vector of E.coli. The cloned FlaA gene was inserted into pGEX-4T-1 vector. The cloned vector was transformed to BL21-DE3 of E. coli and successfully expressed by induction of IPTG. The expressed protein was purified by GST affinity resin. For preparation of the primary antibody, the purified recombinant protein was injected to rats. Western blot assay method was used for determining the antigenicity of the recombinant FlaA. Results: Determination of gene sequencing showed that this gene has been proliferated properly and the antibody used in Western blot verified the production of the recombinant protein. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that FlaA protein is immunogenic and can be evaluated in vaccine designing and as a diagnostic tool for detection of cholera infection.

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Background: Factor XIII deficiency is an extremely rare, autosomal recessive coagulation disorder with estimated prevalence of 1/2000000 worldwide. This disorder represents with different clinical manifestations including, umbilical cord bleeding, recurrent abortion and CNS bleeding. CNS bleeding is a common but life threating complication of disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a common polymorphism of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) occurrence of CNS bleeding in patients with severe factor XIII deficiency.

Materials and Methods: This case control study was performed on 34 patients with factor XIII deficiency and history of CNS bleeding and 36 patients with factor XIII deficiency but without CNS bleeding as control group. Initially all patients were molecularly analyzed for factor XIII deficiency, then both groups were assessed for common TAFI Thr325Ile polymorphism. Finally obtained data was analyzed by SPSS software.

Results: Molecular analysis of TAFI Thr325Ile polymorphism revealed that almost all patients with CNS bleeding (89%) had this mutation that in 67% of patients was homozygote. There is a significant relationship between Thr325Ile polymorphism in homozygote manner with incidence of CNS bleeding in factor XIII deficient (OR 18.9, 95% CI 3.8 to 95.1).

Conclusion: It seems that Thr325Ile polymorphism is a suitable prognostic factor in patients with severe factor XIII deficiency and this probably polymorphism increases risk of CNS bleeding about 20 fold.

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Background: Cardiac accidents due to Coronary Artery Disease are the most common cause of mortality in the world. On the other hand, vitamin D deficiency is known as an emerging risk factor of this disease. Considering the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Iran we investigated the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in angioplasty patients, effect of gender and its relationship with Coronary Artery Disease severity.

Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study serum level of 25(OH) D3 in was measured in 149 patients undergoing PCI between May and September 2013 in Baqiatallah hospital. Patients with renal failure (Cr>2mg/dl), liver disease, and those treated with glucocorticoids or anti-epileptic drugs were excluded. Data were analyzed with SPSS 21 software. Chi-square and T-Test were used and P value<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients was 77.2% (men 86% and women 62.5%) (p=0.0005). Vitamin D deficiency severity was related to the number of involved vessels in men (p=0.046). Vitamin D deficiency was related with stent length in patients with right coronary angioplasty (p=0.041).

Conclusion: The effect of vitamin D deficiency on coronary artery disease seems to be different in men and women. Complementary studies are needed to elucidate this issue further.

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Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), also known as atypical mycobacteria or mycobacteria other than tuberculosis are environmental organisms that are normally found in soil and water. Many of the mycobacterial species that have been described in the past decade are involved in human diseases, especially in patients with AIDS and immunocompromised HIV-negative patients. In this study, pathogenicity and clinical significance of new species of mycobacteria were evaluated. A total of 63 new species of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria, recognized in the past ten years (2003-2013), were classified in different Runyon groups. Approximately, 40 isolates were reported to infect human. Of these, 27 (67.5%) were non-chromogenic and 13 (32.5%) were scotochromogenic. The majority of the 40 isolates belong to the slow grower group. Photochromogenic species were not pathogenic to human. The most frequent infections included respiratory infections in elderly people and cervical lymphadenitis in children caused by Mycobacterium kyorinense and Mycobacterium mantenii, respectively. NTM also causes disseminated infections, the most frequent agents of which are M. boenickei, M. houstonense, M. neworleansense, and M. brisbanense in immunocompromised HIV-negative persons. Some of the NTMs, such as Mycobacterium riyadhense, are considered the primary pathogens for human. Considering the progressive spread of HIV co-infected mycobacteria in recent years, accurate identification of these agents’ pathogenicity, drug resistance, and appropriate treatment in epidemic regions, such as Iran, is essential.

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Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of cancer in children. Currently, chemotherapy is the most effective method of leukemia cancer treatmentwhich has many side effects. New strategies in cancer therapy utilizecompounds that specifically target aberrant signaling pathways in order to reduce toxic sideeffects Indole-3-carbinl (I3C) found in vegetables has multiple anti-cancer properties because of its ability to modulate multiple cellular signaling pathways. In this study the molecular mechanism of the action of indole-3-carbinol on pre- B ALL cells was investigated.

Materials and Methods: In current study, NALM-6 cells were treated with different concentrations of I3C at specific times. Analysis of cellular DNA content was performed by flow cytometry for evaluation of cell cycle status. The protein expression of p21, p53 as well as c-Myc proteins was determined by Western blot in I3C-treated cells.

Results: Cell cycle histogram analysis showed that I3C significantly increased the percentage of G1 cells compared with non-treated cells (control)(p<0.05). The western blot analysis also indicated I3C significantly up regulated p21, p53 expression and down regulated c-Myc expression (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The G1 arrest induced by I3C is associated with down-regulation of c-Myc and up-regulation of p53 and its downstream target p21.

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Background: Doxorubicin is a chemotherapeutic agent still in widespread use in hematologic malignancies. A side effect of anthracyclines such as doxorubicin is the activation of nuclear factor-&kappaB (NF-&kappaB), a potent inducer of antiapoptotic genes, which may blunt the therapeutic efficacy of the drugs. In this study, the effect of indole -3-carbinol (I3C) on the activation NF-&kappaB and the anti-apoptotic genes whose expression is regulated by NF-&kappaB was assessed in NALM-6 cells.

Materials and Methods: NALM-6 cells were preincubated with various concentrations of I3C and then treated with doxorubicin. Cellular DNA content assay and Annexin V-FITC staining were performed by flowcytometry for evaluation of apoptosis. For assessing the effect of I3C on the expression of XIAP, survivin, and nuclear p65 proteins, NALM-6 cells were pretreated with I3C and then incubated with doxorubicin. Whole-cell and nuclear extracts were prepared for Western blot analysis. A paired t-test was conducted to evaluate the results.

Results: DNA histogram analysis of NALM-6 cells indicates a combination of I3C with doxorubicin significantly escalated the percentages of sub-G1 population cells compared with doxorubicin - only treated group (p<0.05). Annexin V-FITC staining also showed that cotreatment of NALM-6 cells with I3C and doxorubicin significantly increased the proportion of Annexin-V positive cells in comparison with the doxorubicin treated cells (p<0.05). The western blot analysis indicated I3C significantly inhibits both doxorubicin -induced nuclear translocation of p65 and the expression of doxorubicin-induced NF-&kappaB target.

Conclusion: Our results indicated that using natural non-toxic inhibitors of NF-&kappaB such as I3C in combination with anthracyclines might be a rational combination therapy for BCP-ALL cells in which NF-&kappaB is constitutively active.

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  Background: The physiological role of apelin, an adipokine secreted by adipose tissue , in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes has been identified . The aim of this study was to determine t he correlation of plasma level s of apelin-13 with insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and plasma leptin of diabetic male rats after 8-week aerobic exercise .

  Materials and Methods: Peresent study was an experimental study with animal model. Twenty eight diabetic male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: Non-diabetic (n=9), control diabetic (n=9) and trained diabetic (n=10). Type 2 diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of nicotinamide and streptozotocin. The trained diabetic rat ran 8-week on treadmill progressively. After the training period, plasma levels of glucose, insulin, leptin and apelin-13 were measured and HOMA-IR was calculated. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson’s correlation were used for analyzing data. p<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

  Results: A significant decrease in plasma levels of glucose, insulin and leptin and HOMA-IR in trained diabetic vs control diabetic rats, a significant increase in plasma levels of apelin in trained diabetic vs non-diabetic and control diabetic rats and a significant negative correlation of plasma levels of apelin with HOMA-IR and plasma leptin in trained diabetic rats was observed.

  Conclusion: In present study, 8-week aerobic training by improvement of insulin sensitivity (decrease of HOMA-IR and plasma leptin) increased plasma levels of apelin-13 in diabetic male rats.

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  Background: Mandibular premolars, because of high anatomic variations, are among the most difficult teeth for root canal treatment.The aim of this study is to compare and evaluate root canal morphology of mandibular first premolars between males and famales in an Iranian population applying CBCT imaging.

  Materials and Methods: In this analytical-cross sectional study, 230 CBCT imaging belonged to 115 males and 115 females were evaluated in this study. Images were assessed in the three spatial planes and the difference in the number of canals and roots were compared and reported statistically. Data were analyzed using SPSS 17 software and Chi-square test.The significance level was set as p<0.05.

  Results: In total, of 460 mandibular first premolars, 85.7% had one root, 14.3% had two roots, 63.9% had one canal and 36/1% had two canals. In comparison between two genders, in the males the prevalence of one root was 78.7%, two roots 21.3%, one canal 60% and two canals 40%. In the females, the prevalence of one root was recorded as 92.6%, two roots 7.4%, one canal 67.8% and two canals 32.2%.

Conclusion: According to the results of this study the number of roots in the mandibular first premolars in males was statistically more than in females.

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Background: Hearing loss is a common sensory impairment in humans which half of its causes are genetic reasons. Genetic hearing loss can be divided into the two types of syndromic and non-syndromic, which 80% of non-syndromic cases is Autosomal Recessive Non-Syndromic Hearing Loss. The aim of the present research is to determine the contribution of DFNB2 locus (MYO7A gene) in causing an autosomal recessive hearing loss in the one group of the deaf families of Khuzestan province.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 26 families with autosomal recessive hearing loss (with 4 patients) and negative for GJB2 mutations in Khuzestan province. 22 families suffered from ARNSHL and 4 families suffered from Usher syndrome. Linkage analysis was performed by using STR (Short Tandem Repeat) markers related to DFNB2 locus. Each family’s genotype was determined by PCR-PAGE method. Furthermore, haplotypes drawing and LOD score calculations were performed.

Results: From 26 families with hearing loss participating in this research, following genetic linkage analysis and haplotypes drawing, two families (7.7% of the families) showed linkage to DFNB2 locus. One family (4.5%) suffered from ARNSHL and another family suffered from Usher syndrome.

Conclusion: The results of the present research show that the contribution of DFNB2 locus in causing hearing loss in the population of Khuzestan province was similar to other studies conducted in Iran and this locus with other important loci should be considered to check in the hearing loss panel.

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Background: Parvovirus 4 (PARV4) was first discovered in 2005, in a hepatitis B virus–infected injecting drug user (IDU). To date, the best evidence about PARV4 transmission is parenteral roots and comes from IDU individuals. It seems that the prevalence of the virus in the normal population is very low. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of PARV4 virus among patients with chronic HCV infection compared with healthy controls and related risk factors among these groups.

Materials and Methods: A total of 206 patients, including 103 patients with chronic HCV infection and 103 healthy controls, were studied by use of nested-PCR and also real-time PCR techniques.

Results: AST enzyme levels with a mean of 40.45+34.84 and 18.58+5.9 in patients and healthy group respectively and the amount of enzyme ALT among patients with a mean of 40.45+35.75 and 21.50+11.35 in patients and healthy group respectively, were reported. Finally, after screening all DNA samples from patients and controls, we discovered that none of these people are infected with the PARV4 virus.

Conclusion: This study is the first to investigate the occurrence of PARV4 among HCV patients in Iran. The results show that, the virus is not important in Iranian population, even in patients with blood born infections such as HCV and further studies in other areas and various groups are required.

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Abstract

Background: Vitamin D was recognized with protective effects on nerve cells of Parkinson’s patients. The relationship between several VDR gene polymorphisms and age and risk of the disease was determined. Also, the relationship between VDR gene FOKI genotypes and PD was specified. The main goal of this study is to evaluate the relationship between polymorphic loci of FokI, TaqI, BsmI, ApaI and serum factor related to vitamin D metabolism in Isfahan population.

Materials and Methods: Case- control study of 125 Parkinson’s patients with their matched control individuals has been investigated based on Parkinson's disease brain bank criteria of Great Britain. After receiving consent, serum levels were measured. The genetic material was isolated by Miller protocol and polymorphisms has been analyzed and confirmed by repeated PCR-RFLP.

Results: Comparing the five serum factors between healthy subjects and patients with Parkinson's disease, we have  shown a significant reduction in the levels of calcium, ALP and PTH (p<0.01). However, none of the levels of vitamin D and phosphate show any kind of significant relationship between patients and control subjects. Concentration of blood serumic factors including calcium and PTH showed p-values less than 0.01 between Parkinson's patients and control subjects according to different genotypes containing FokI-F allele,ApaI-A allele and BsmI-b allele .

Conclusion: The result of this study showed that each of FokI and ApaI recessive alleles can influence serum calcium and parathyroid hormone between healthy individuals and Parkinson's patients significantly.

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