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Introduction: Sexual instinct which is the cause of numerous changes in one’s life could be influenced by numerous factors such as menopause and aging. This study was focused on comparison of women’s sexual functioning disorders before and after menopause. Materials and Methods: This is an analytic cross sectional study in which data related to before and after menopause sexual activities of 174 married women (living with their spouses), referring to health centers in Isfahan in 2003 was collected and investigated. Data was collected by a self constructed sexual dysfunction inventory in which reliability and validity were reached by content validity and α chorenbach index. Findings were analysed through descriptive and inferential (MC-Nemar) statistics. Results: Findings showed that relative frequency of sexual functioning disorders in productive period was 38% and in menopausal period 72.4%. There was a significant association between sexual functioning disorders before and after menopausal period (P < 0.001). Frequency distribution of sexual functioning disorders in productive period of these women according to severity of disorders were: sexual desire disorder (49/2%), dyspareunia (34/3%), arousal dysfunction (26/8%), orgasmic dysfunction (23/8%), and vaginismus (16/4%). Frequency distribution of sexual functioning disorders in menopausal period of these women were: arousal dysfunction(75/3%), sexual disire disorder (62/6%), orgasmic dysfunction (56/3%), dyspareunia (34/9%) and vaginismus (15/8%).
Conclusion: As revealed by the findings of the study,a high percentage of women experience sexual functioning disorders in productive and menopausal periods. Menopause can be a cause to occur, or continue these disorders. The role of health care professinals in conselling and education is emphasized.

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Background: Candida species are the most common yeasts that reside in oral cavity in 30 - 50% of people, and are capable to produce opportunistic infections within the oral cavity. This study was done to determine the effect of cigarette smoking on the type and degree of Candida oral carriage. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, oral Candida flora in 34 smoker and 66 non-smoker men were compared. All of the samples were collected by swab and examined by direct microscopy and culture on CHOROM agar Candida and corn meal agar media. Isolated colonies were identified by carbohydrate assimilation method using RapID Yeast PLUS System. Results: Out of the 34 smoker individuals, 27(79.4%) had Candida colonization in their oral cavity while 30(45.5%) of the 66 non-smoker individuals had developed this kind of colonization. A significant difference was observed between the two groups (p<0.05). Additionally, there was a significant difference in the degree of colonisation and the type of candida species which were isolated from the oral cavity of the smoker and nonsmoker groups. Conclusion: Cigarette smoking can act as an important underlying factor in oral candidiasis.

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Background: It can be used different models such as nonparametric, semi-parametric and parametric to estimation of survival. Depending on the nature of the data, some methods may be more appropriate. Using of appropriate model result more accuracy estimation of survival and it's affected. so the aim of this study estimation of survival and determination of its related risk factor. Materials and Methods: In this study, 169 patients with colorectal cancer who had treated in Hamadan MRI Center from March 2005 to Jun 2013 were evaluated. Survival time of patients is considered from diagnosis time to death or end of study. The effect of Demographic and clinical risk factors on survival is assessed by parametric model. follow up of patient Data were analyzed using Spss16 and R statistical software.

Results: The median survival was 4.3±40 months. Univariate analysis showed that the effect of staging of tumor, tumor grade, histology type of tumor, metastasis and relapse on survival were significant but in multivariate model histology type of tumor and metastasis were significant.

Conclusion: using of appropriate statistical model for detection of affected risk factor on patient with colorectal cancer can be prevented progression of disease and increased of survival of them.

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 Background: Selenium is a unique trace element which is benefit on inflammatory underlining diseases. MAPK (Mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathways regulate several cellular functions including inflammation, cell differentiation, migration, and apoptosis. Objective: This study aimed to find out the pathway(s) by which Selenium modifies inflammatory events in oxidative or thrombotic induced stress in platelet.

Materials and Methods: This is a basic -experimental study on Human platelets obtained from 30 healthy individuals (age 35±12) .The phosphorylation rate of P38MAPK , c –JNK (c-Jun N-terminal Kinase), and ERK1/2(Extracellular signal-regulated kinases1/2) as three important proteins in MAPK family and P-selectin were measured in presence or absence of selenium by ELISA( solid phase sandwich Enzyme Linked-ImmunoSorbent Assay). Pharmacological inhibition is done by inhibitors of P38MAPK, ERK1/2 and c- JNK in order to compare with selenium effects. The percentage of ratio of phosphorylated to total protein was used for normalizing the phospho protein contents of platelets.

Results: Selenium significantly reduced P-selectin expression (p<0.05), P38MAPK (p<0.05) and c- JNK phosphorylation (p<0.05) induced by cu2+oxidized LDL in platelets but Se couldn’t significantly reduce Thrombin induced P-selectin despite of decreasing in mentioned phospho-proeins.

Conclusion: Our results indicated that Selenium can reduce inflammation via suppression of p38MAPK-dependent signaling pathway. These results may provide insights related to development of novel Selenium therapies in atherosclerosis.

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Background: Hydatidosis is one of the dengerous zoonotic diseases that cause serious problems for human health, as well as major economic losses for livestock industry. Due to the nature of the parasite life cycle and also the structure of the cyst in human, the control of parasite in community is difficult and its treatment has faced with a major challenge. One of these challenges is inactivating the protoscolices for treatment purposes and preventing secondary cysts. Different chemicals have been used in the treatment of cyst that most of them had serious side effects for the patient. The aim of this study was investigating the scolicidal effects of some herbal extracts in vitro.

Materials and Methods: Liver hydatid cysts were collected from slaughterhouse the cysts fluid containing live protoscolex was aspirated aseptically and stored at 4°C until use. Three concentrations (25, 50 and 100 mg per ml) of each extract (ginger and artemisia) prepared and protoscoleces placed into incubator at 37^oC. The viability of the protoscoleces was determined by eosin staining method at the times 5, 10, 25, 40 and 60 minutes.

Results: The methanolic extract of ginger at the concentration of 100 mg/ml leads to kill all of protoscoleces at 40 minutes. While the artemisia extract in none of   investigated concentrations had not much effect on the protoscoleces.

Conclusion: The study of animal models and complementary tests showed that methanolic extract of ginger can be used as an effective protoscolex for it has high activity.

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Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of morphine and naloxone on epileptic activity in live brain slices taken from morphine-dependent and control infant mice.

Materials and Methods: Forty neonatal mice were randomly selected. To establish dependency, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 mg / kg morphine was injected subcutaneously once daily (0.1 cc) for 5 consecutive days from day 14-18 after birth. On postnatal days 19-20, brain slices were prepared and cerebrospinal fluid was perfused with low magnesium to induce experimental- epiletform activity. The effects of 10, 100 and 1000 µM concentrations of morphine and 10 µM naloxone were investigated on epileptic activity. Chenges in the number as well as onset and amplitude of activities were considered as an indicator to determine the quantity of their effect.  

Results: The results showed that morphine 100 µM increased the activity while 10 and 1000 µM concentrations of morphine and 10 µM naloxone attenuated epileptic activity in both groups. Naloxone reduced pro-seizure effect of morphine, but anti-seizure effect of morphine couldn't restored by naloxone.

Conclusion: Morphine has a two-phase concentration-dependent effect on epileptic activity in the infant mice; so that low and high concentrations of morphine inhibit epileptic activity, but its moderate concentration potentiates the epileptic activity. Naloxone has an anti-seizure effect.

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Background and Aim: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) may lead to oral herpes, encephalitis and keratoconjunctivitis. Today, following the increasing of HSV-1 prevalence and drug resistance, there has been an interest in the use of natural substance. In this study, we assessed the effect of hexane and methanol extracts of Chelidonium majus L. against acyclovir-resistant HSV-1. Materials and Methods: The toxicity threshold of Chelidonium majus L. hexane and methanol extracts on HeLa cell was determined with trypan blue and MTT methods. Their direct antiviral effects were evaluated against HSV-1. Different concentrations of extracts in different times of virus replication have been evaluated. In each stage, the viral titers were tested by TCID50 assay. Findings: The methanol extract at the concentration of 200 µg/ml and hexane extract at the concentration of 600 µg/ml were determined as effective minimal cytotoxic concentration on HeLa cell line. These concentrations did not have significant virucidal effects on Herpes simplex virus. The maximum antiviral effects of methanol extract at the concentration of 200 µg/ml was exhibited 1 and 2 hours after virus adsorption and reduced virus titer 4 logTCID50 compared to the control. Hexane extract did not have antiviral effect. Conclusion: methanol extract of chelidonium majus L. compared to hexane extract showed significant antiviral effect on acyclovir-resistant HSV-1. Further research is required to identify specific bioactive compounds of this plant in order to be used in anti-herpes drugs.

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Background and Aim: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is a chronic and potentially life-threatening disease. Numerous factors affect its development and progression. Therefore, the present study attempted to identify characteristics impacting the prognosis and progression of AIDS using multistate models.
Methods & Materials: The present retrospective study consisted of 2185 patients affected with HIV referring to Behavioral Disease Counseling Centers in Tehran City, Iran, from 2004 to 2013. We considered multiple states of AIDS, tuberculosis, and tuberculosis/AIDS in the natural history of the disease (from the onset of HIV disease until death occurred). Then, we applied the multistate models, to examine the effect of contextual demographic and clinical variables on survival time; subsequently, the transition probabilities of HIV.
Ethical Considerations: This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences (Code: IR.UMSHA.REC.1396.117).
Results: HIV-Related deaths in individuals with an incarnation history were 2.40 times higher than in those without the prison history. Death risk was also 1.70 and 1.80 times higher in those aged 25-44 and 44 years, respectively, compared to the individuals aged less than 25 years. An inverse relationship was also found between CD4 levels and the risk of death in our participants.
Conclusion: Antiretroviral therapy, CD4 count, age, and history of imprisonment were the main factors in the progression of the disease and subsequent death in HIV patients. Thus, preventing the further spread of the disease to the community and controlling the disease in the patients requires targeted educational and therapeutic interventions; accordingly, the community will be familiarized with transmission routes and the preventing principle of disease. Furthermore, we can encourage patients to visit the healthcare centers early.

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Introduction: Hyperlipidemia, a chronic metabolic disorder marked by elevated blood lipid levels, significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in individuals with diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. While pharmacological interventions exist, factors such as medication side effects, cost considerations, and a growing interest in complementary and alternative medicine have stimulated research into the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants in managing hyperlipidemia. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of these botanical agents in reducing blood lipid levels.
Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across reputable databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and other relevant online platforms. Keywords such as "hyperlipidemia," "herbal medicine," "traditional medicine," "herbal extract," and "herbal therapy" were employed to identify studies published up to 2024. Inclusion criteria were established to select studies that reported the impact of medicinal plants on lipid profile modifications.
Results: Based on the results, the study revealed that various medicinal plants, including Thymus vulgaris, Apium graveolens, Cichorium intybus, Fumaria officinalis, Heracleum rawianum, Anthemis altissima, Gundelia tourneforttii, Cynodon dactylon, Anthriscus sylvestrianum, Solanum nigrum, Arum elongatum, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Berberis vulgaris, Rheum ribes, and Mentha spicata, are commonly used in traditional medicine to address hyperlipidemia.
Conclusions: The use of indigenous Iranian medicinal plants for managing hyperlipidemia is deeply rooted in the country’s ancient history and has been increasingly validated by contemporary scientific research. These natural compounds can help lower blood lipid levels by inhibiting fat absorption and boosting lipid metabolism. The growing interest in traditional medicine and medicinal plants can be attributed to their inherent advantages, such as a lower incidence of side effects compared to synthetic drugs. Ongoing scientific research in this field offers promising avenues for developing innovative and effective herbal-based therapies