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Abstract Background: Developmental anomalies in sacral bone have been recognized as one of the causes of urinary incontinence. Sacral ration was suggested as a valuable scale in determining the sacral bone health. According to insufficient studies in this field and variation in results, a determination of relationship between sacral ratio (SR) with primary enuresis were seemed imperative. Materials and Methods: In a cross sectional-analytic study, two groups (n=59) of 5-9 year-old children who admitted in pediatric and urology clinics of Amir Kabir hospital in one year were determined. Primary enuresis group with normal urine-analysis and ultrasonography, no history of dysuria, frequency, and urgency and control group without primary enuresis were selected. The mean ratio between the greatest widths of the sacral bone to its greatest length in the AP radiogram was compared between both groups. Results: In case group, 98.3% had normal SR. The mean ratio of greatest width to length was 0.89. There were not a significant relationship between gender and normal or abnormal SR. In control group, 88.1% had normal SR. The mean ratio of greatest width to length was 0.91. Girls more than boys had normal SR. Significant difference between mean ratio of SR and greatest width to length in both groups were not seen. Conclusion: Significant relationship between SR with primary enuresis in 5-9 year-old children was not seen.

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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: Sumatriptan is a serotonin agonist. Hippocampal receptors contribute to the serotonergic control of learning. It seems that sumatriptan can also affect learning through serotonin receptors. Thus, this study was performed to investigate the effect of sumatriptan on cellular mechanisms of learning in male rats. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, male Wistar rats were kept in standard conditions in the Animal Laboratory of the Department of Physiology, Arak University of Medical Sciences. After doing the surgical procedure and locating the electrodes in the CA1 region of hippocampus, synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation were measured, and the effect of three doses of sumatriptan on these parameters was compared to the control group. Results: Sumatriptan could significantly inhibit the effect of tetanic stimulation on long-term potentioation in the CA1 region of hippocampus, as compared to the control group. However, there was no significant difference in the synaptic transmission between the sumatriptan and control groups. Conclusion: This results show that sumatriprtan can probably impair learning and memory through inhibition of LTP in the CA1 region of hippocampus.

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Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplants are routinely used to treat patients with cancers and other disorders of blood and immune systems. Osteoblasts constitute part of the stromal cell support system in marrow for hematopoiesis by participating in the formation of the HSC niche. It is believed that interaction between hematopoietic cells and bone forming osteoblasts regulate each other’s function. It is established that acute blood loss in animal models activates bone formation and niche development because of EPO stimulation. In this experimental study we have examined the co-culture of HSCs derived from cord blood which treated with EPO in vitro, on osteoblastic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study MSCs isolated from bone marrow and co-cultured with CD 34+ CD38- HSCs isolated from cord blood. These co-cultured cells were treated with different doses of erythropoietin for 14 days, after that RNA were extracted from MSCs and analysed with RT-PCR to evaluate the expression of osteopontin and osteocalcin. Alizarin red and alkaline phosphatase staining were done for osteoblastic differentiation.

Results: Osteopontin and osteocalcin were expressed in MSCs. Cellular staining were positive for osteoblastic differentiation. Differentiated cells expressed osteoblastic markers.

Conclusion: These data suggest that EPO regulates the osteoblastic differentiation from bone marrow MSCs in vitro.

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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.