Background: According to the important of SALL4 gene during the development of embryonic neurvous system, our aim in this study was to analyze and quantify mRNA expression of SALL4 in Prosencephalon during different stages of chicken embryogenesis.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, incubated Ross fertilized eggs were applied in 37°C-37.5°C in 60-65% humidified atmosphere after beginning of embryogenesis. Prosencephalon part of the brain tissue was collected from the eggs, daily. Total RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis was performed from resected tissues. The synthesized cDNA was used as template for quantitatively analysis of SALL4 mRNA expression by real-time PCR.

Results: The Results indicate that the level of SALL4 gene expression is significantly variable during embryogenesis. However it doesn’t show variation during the early days. The maximum copy number of SALL4 mRNA was quantified on 15 th day of chicken development.

Conclusion: SALL4 mRNA expression is high when the Prosencephalon is under development, using of HAMBURGER–HAMILTON chart, there is relation between increasing SALL4 expression and developing limbs and anterior brain.

Background: Streptococcus pyogenes produce extracellular hyaluronidase enzyme which is directly associated with the spreading of the organism during infection. Hyaluronidase enzyme is able to break hyaluronic acid or interstitial cement. This enzyme might be used in cancer treatment.The objective of the present study was to clone and express the nucleotide sequence of this enzyme which is involved in hyaluronidase enzymatic activity.

Materials and Methods: The enzymatic region of hyaluronidase gene was detected by bioinformatics methods. The polymerase chain reaction method was used to amplify the region. The amplified product was cloned into the expression vector pET32a. E. coli BL21 (DE3) pLYsS was transformed with recombinant plasmids. Then gene expression was induced by IPTG. The expressed protein was purified successfully via affinity chromatography by NiNTA kit. The integrity of the product was confirmed by western-blot analysis.

Results: The nucleotide sequence of amplified gene was consistent with the streptocuccal hyaluronidase gene. The concentration of recombinant protein calculated to 500 mg purified protein per liter. The enzymatic region of recombinant protein from Streptococcus pyogenes was recognized by all five patient’s sera with Streptococcus infection.

Conclusion: In general, it is possible to produce the enzymatic regions of the Streptococcus pyogenes hyaluronidase in Escherichia coli. The antigenic property of the produced protein is well retained. Considering the product's domestic demand and also low efficiency of production and pathogenicity of Streptococcus species, it is possible to produce it as recombinant product.

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.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive bacterium that has remained a persistent pathogen, causing infections such as endocarditis and toxic shock syndrome in humans. The accessory gene regulator (agr) system of Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for controlling the expression of many genes that code virulence factors and hemolysis.This study was carried out to determine the S.aureus agr group based on their source of isolation and any relation between agr specificity groups, pigmentation and hemolysis .

Materials and Methods: DNA of 194 S. aureus isolates were extracted by lysozym-phenol chloroform method, included 85clinical samples, 58 samples which isolated from nose of health care workers and 51 cases obtained from food product in Gorgan, North of Iran. PCR-based assays were used to evaluate agr locus nucleotide polymorphism for the identification of agr specificity group. Pigmentation on nutrient agar medium and hemolysis on sheep Blood agar medium were assessed.

Results: The majority of isolates belonged to agr group I (43.3%), followed by agr group III (28.87%), agr group II (22.68%), and agr group IV (5.15%). The isolates belonged to agr group IV have greater ability to produce hemolysin (60%) whereas isolates belonged to agr group III have greater ability to produce pigment (60.5%).

Conclusion: agr group I was predominant among health care worker and food product specimens in Gorgan, North of Iran but in strains isolated from patient, agr group III was predominant. Investigation of the possible role of agr group III in Staphylococcus aureus infection in the next studies is recommended.

Background: Nitric oxide is synthesized in endothelial cells by eNOS and acts as a pleiotropic regulator involved in carcinogenesis. Most gastric cancers develop from stomach epithelial cells therefore, NO may play a role in their development. Polymorphisms of eNOS have been shown to be associated with cancer susceptibility. In the present study, we investigated the association of the eNOS genotypes with gastric cancer risk in Guilan Population.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, we analyzed the Glu298Asp polymorphism of eNOS in 87 patients with gastric cancer and 90 healthy controls. The genotyping of eNOS polymorphism was performed using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism assays. All statistical analyses were conducted by the MedCalc statistical software.

Results: No association between the eNOS genotypes and gastric cancer risk was found. Among the 87 patients, 45 had Glu/Glu, 38 were Glu/Asp, and 4 were Asp/Asp. In the control group, 44 had Glu/Glu, 40 were Glu/Asp, and 6 were Asp/Asp. We found no significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies between control and patient specimens.

Conclusion: We found that there was no association between this polymorphism and gastric cancer risk. Results suggest that eNOS polymorphism may play a role in inhibition of gastric cancer. However, larger population-based studies are needed for clarifying the role of eNOS polymorphism in gastric cancer.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (vegf) is one of the most important regulator of angiogenesis, there are some reports about the relation of VEGF over expression and progression of tumor in several cancers. The aim of this study is assay of four VEGF isoforms expression in breast cancer tumor samples.

Materials and Methods: 25 breast cancer tumor samples and 25 health samples were used in this study, mRNA was extracted from each sample and then cDNA was made. The expression of four isoforms VEGF121, VEGF165, VEGF183 and VEGF189 was measured by real time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and gel electrophoresis.

Results: Among the four isoforms, VEGF165 and VEGF 121 had maximum and VEGF 183 and VEGF 189 had minimum expression level in all samples. The total expression level of VEGF had a significant increase in tumor samples in comparison with the control samples (4/6, p<0.01).

Conclusion: There is a significant relation between the VEGF over expression and breast cancer tumor formation, which it can be used as a prognosis marker of breast cancer in future.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a severe complication of diabetes and the leading cause of blindness among working adults worldwide. Chronic extra cellular hyperglycemia in diabetes stimulates reaction oxygen species (ROS) production and increase oxidative stress. Glutathion S- transferases (GSTs) enzymes have been shown to protect human from reactive oxygen compounds damage. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the genetic polymorphism of GSTP1 is associated with DR.

Materials and Methods: This case–control study, included 70 patients with DR and 70 healthy volunteers. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Statistical analysis was performed using the MedCalc program for Windows version 12.

Results: The prevalence of genotype frequencies of the GSTP1 Ile/Ile and Ile/Val were 71.42% and 28.57% respectively, in DR subject, whiles in healthy volunteers were 78.58% and 21.42%, respectively. Statistical analysis has not emerged significant difference from the comparison of either genotype (&Rho>0.05).

Conclusion: There was no evidence that GSTP1 variants were associated with DR in studied population. Further research is required to clarify role of GSTP1 in DR.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that mainly affects the peripheral joints and surrounding tissue. Genetic and environmental factors have important roles in pathogenesis. The role of oxidative stress and the enzymes involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis have been studied in these years. A predominant role in counteracting reactive oxygen spieces is played by endogenous antioxidant enzymes, and glutathion peroxidase (GPx). An alteration of CTC codon to CCC codon which results in substitution of leucine instead of proline in 198th amino acid location is one of the important polymorphisms of this gene. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of GPx1 gene polymorphism in patients with rheumatoid artheritis.

Materials and Methods: The case-control study included 130 patients with rheumatoid artheritis and 126 healthy individuals. Genomic DNA was extracted from white blood cells and the genotypes were identified using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR - RFLP). Statistical analysis was carried using the MedCalc (version 12.1).

Results: The frequencies of CC, CT and TT genotypes of GPx1gene were 32.31%, 43.08% and 24.61% respectively, in rheumatoid arthritis patients, whiles in healthy volunteers were 42.62%, 54.10% and 3.28%. Statistical results showed significant relationship between TT genotype of GPx1 gene and Rheumatoid arthritis (p=0.002, &chi2 =11.715, OR: 9.90 95% CI (2.04 to 48.01)).

Conclusion: In conclusion, these results indicate that TT genotype of GPx1 gene may be associated with the risk of rheumatoid artheritis in the studied population. However, further research is required to clarify the role of gene polymorphism in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common nosocomial pathogens with high mortality rates. OprD is the major resistance mechanism to carbapeneme antibiotics. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of the genes encoding these efflux pumps using qRT-PCR.

Materials and Methods: This study examined 100 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients admitted to various hospitals in the Hamedan. Conventional phenotypic tests were used for identifying the 100 collected samples, then 31 samples were selected based on type of collected specimen and antibiotic susceptibility test i.e. antibiotic disk diffusion method performed for aminoglycoside, quinolone and carbapenem antibiotics. Furthermore, MIC method was performed for imipenem. Finally, RNA was extracted and converted to cDNA for determining the efflux pump genes expression using qRT-PCR.

Results: Among 8 selected antibiotics, the greatest resistance was for levofloxacin (61.2%, n=19) and the lowest one for imipenem (9.6%, n=3). The results of MIC were to imipenem 12 samples (38.7%) resistant, 13 samples (41.93%) intermediate, and 6 samples (19.35%) sensitive. The OprD gene was present in all strains but different expression has been observed. The strains with over expression of OprD gene showed high sensitivity towards carbapenems family antibiotics especially imipenem.

Conclusion: Identifying of bacterial resistance mechanisms is very complicated and extensive due to different mechanisms involved for similar antibiotics. OprD is main cause of attachment to the carbapenems family antibiotics. The more expression of OprD shows the more antibiotic sensitivity.

Background: Nanoparticles due to their small size can overcome blood-testis barrier and affect spermatogenesis process. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of trioxide (MoO3) nanoparticles on histological changes of testis and spermatogenesis process in adult male Wistar rats.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study 30 adult male Wistar rats were randomely divided into five groups (n=6), including control, 2 sham groups, and 2experimental groups. Control group had no treatment. Two experimental groups received doses 5 & 10 mg/kg/BW nano molybdenum trioxide (20nm) respectively, and two sham groups received the same doses of normal saline by intraperitoneal injection. After 28 days, rats testis was removed and fixed in Bouin’s fixative for histological examination. The 5&mum sections were stained with hematoxilin-eosin.

Results: In experimental group which received 5mg/kg/BW nanoparticle, there was some disorganization of spermatogenic cells in some seminiferous tubules. In experimental group which received 10mg/kg/BW nanoparticle, a significant decrease was also observed in the number of spermatogenic and sertoli cells in comparison with the control group.

Conclusion: According to the findings of this study exposure to the high doses of (MoO3) nanoparticles can disrupt male reproductive system in a dose- dependent manner. Hence, the application of (MoO3) NPs should be carried out cautiously.

Background: Medicinal plants are primery source of many drugs to cure different diseases. The genus Prangos, (Umbelliferae family) consists of several medicinal plants that their desirable dffects have been approved. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of methanol extract in different parts of prangos ferulacea and prangos acaualis on human lymphocytes proliferation and their mutagenicity in salmonella typhimurium TA98.

 Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, the plants were collected from different areas of Kurdistan. Then, samples were air dried and powdered and methanol material of plants was extracted. The extracts were diluted to give concentrations of 10, 100, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 &mug/ml. Finally, the effects of these extracts on human lymphocytes proliferation and their mutagenecity have been investigated by the MTT and Ames test.

 Results: The results showed that different organs extract from both tested plants caused a significant increase in lymphocytes proliferation, specially in concentrations of 500 to 2500 &mug/ml. Of studied excrtacts, the highest and lowest effect on lymphocytes proliferation was obtained in presence of flower and seed, respectively. In total, the levels of proliferation resulted of prangos ferulacea as compared with prangos acaulis were higher. Also, the results of study showed no mutagenicity of studied plant exctracts with considered concentrations.

 Conclusion: The findings revealed that both species of prangos can increase immune system function and were used as an safe medicinal plant to cure patients with immune deficiencies and microbial infections.

Background: Wound healing is a complex process that is impaired in diabetic patients due to several factors. So far, the positive effects of mesenchymal stem cells secretions in wound healing process have been reported. In this study, we investigated the effect of human mesenchymal stem cells Conditioned media on expression of effective factors involved in wound healing.

Materials and Methods: 27 rats were divided into 5 groups: no wound control, normal control, diabetic control, diabetic placebo and diabetic experimental. Diabetes was induced by Alloxan. A wound was created on the back of the rats. Then, the conditioned medium was prepared from mesenchymal stem cells. Diabetic experimental rats received 200 microliter of conditioned medium intravenously. The wounds were sampled and expression of KGF and TGF-&beta1 genes was examined by RT-PCR on days four and seven after wounding.

Results: In the diabetic experimental group, expression of KGF gene at fourth and seventh days had been non-significantly increased in comparison to diabetic control group. While, expression of TGF-&beta1 gene in diabetic experimental group compared to diabetic control group had been significantly (p<0.05) increased on fourth day, and non-significantly increased on seventh day.

Conclusion: It seems that using the conditioned medium derived from human mesenchymal stem cells positively affects the expression of trophic and inflammatory factors involved in diabetic skin wound healing.

Background: One of the important adaptations that occurs after exercise is increased capillary density or angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor, has a mitogenic role for endothelial cells and acts as an important intermediator in the process of angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two kind of endurance training on vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression in healthy male rats.

Materials and Methods: In this laboratory experimental study, 18 male Wistar rats at the age of eight weeks, with an average weight of 210/5± 9/77g were  selected and randomely divided into three groups (control (n=6), ET (n=6) and HIIT (n=6)). Aerobic continuous training was performed 5 days a week, totally in eight weeks for 30 minutes with 70-75% VO2max and high intensity interval training consisted of three periods (four minutes with 90 to100% VO2max and two minutes with 50 to 60% VO2max). Vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression was measured by real time-PCR technique. To determine the significance of variables between these groups, one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests were used.

Results: The results showed that the gene expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor were increased significantly (p=0/006, F=7/243) in intense aerobic continuous and interval training groups compared to control group. Changes in exercise groups compared with each other were not significant.

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, increased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression in both training groups caused pro-angiogenic function in endothelial cells and an increase in ratsVO2max following eight weeks training may be due to increased angiogenesis process. High intensity interval training may cause faster adaptations in the body of organism than aerobic continuous training.

Background: Hemophilia A is an X-linked bleeding disorder caused by heterogenous mutations in factor VIII gene that encodes coagulation factor VIII (F8) protein. Due to the high heterogeneity of mutations, large size (186 kb) and structural complexity of the F8 gene, direct mutation analysis is costly and time consuming. Alternatively, linkage analysis using informative polymorphic markers such as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers has been introduced as a rapid and cost effective method for hemophilia A carrier detection in families with an affected individual. Several SNP markers associated with the F8 gene region have been studied.

Materials and Methods: In this exprimental study, the characteristics of A/T SNP (rs4898352) as an informative marker located in intron 18 of F8 gene region was investigated in Isfahanin population. rs4898352 marker was genotyped using tetra primer ARMS PCR method followed by agarose gel electrophoresis in 140 unrelated control healthy females in mentioned population. New primers were designed for rs4898352 marker using the oligo 7 software. The allele frequency, degree of heterozygosity and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were estimated by use of Genepop program. The polymorphism information content (PIC) value was estimated using the Powermarker software.

Results:  The results showed that the allele frequency of rs4898352 polymorphism for A and T alleles was 0.482 and 0.518, respectively. The observed heterozigosity rate was 60%. Analysis of Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium demonstrated that the Isfahan population was in equilibrium (p>0.05) for rs4898352 marker. Moreover, analysis of PIC value revealed that this marker could be considered as a highly informative marker in the mentioned population.

Conclusion: Together, the data suggested that rs4898352 could be introduced as an informative marker for molecular diagnosis of hemophilia A in Isfahan Population

Background: Agr systems, is responsible for control and coordination in production of virulence factors, exotoxins secretory and hemolysins in Staphylococcus aureus. The aim of this study was to determine and identify the frequency of agr genes in susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains in clinical samples and carriers employed in remedial centers.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was done among a total of 200 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinical samples and healthy carriers in Hamadan. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of all isolates was determined by disk diffusion methods. After DNA extraction, the presence of mecA and agr genes was investigated using PCR. SPSS software package version 20 was used to perform statistical tests.

Results: All 200 Staphylococcus aureus strains were susceprible to vancomycin. The prevalence of mecA was 50%. The PCR results showed that agrA was the most perevalent gene followed by the agrC in all isotated Staphylococcus aureus strains. None of the isolates harbored the agrB and agrD gene.

Conclusion: Pathogenesis of Staphylococcus is dependent on some proteins other superficial or excreted which under controlling of agr system. In the present study, the feequency of agrA gene in the methicillin-resistant strains, methicillin-sensitive strains isolated from clinical samples and carriers employed in remedial centers was higher than the other agr types. Therefore, presumably, agrA gene plays an important role Staphylococcal infections.

Background: Listeria monocytogenes is one of the most important causes of abortion and postpartum infection in newborns. Because of the importance of L . monocytogenes in the health of pregnant women and newborn babies, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of these bacteria in pregnant women and to compare the level of prevalence between women with a history of abortion and with no a history of abortion.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 540 samples of pregnant women were provided from Arak Taleghani hospital. The samples were cultured in enrichment media, then L .monocytogenesis was isolated in specific media.

Results: Of clinical samples, 14 cases had Listeria monocytogenes. Of these samples, 8 cases in women had a history of abortion, while women with no history of abortion were 6 Most cases of positive culture were related to the age of 25 to 34 years, including 7 cases, the lowest cases were 35 to 44 years old including 3 women and 4 women were between 17 and 24 years old.

Conclusion: The study showed that Listeria monocytogenes can cause infection in pregnant women. The use of Phenotypic methods and specific media can apparently isolate listeria monocytogenes from healthy pregnant women.

Background: Endothelial cells are very sensitive to mechanical force including microgravity and the morphological and functional changes in them are believed to be at the basis of weightlessness-induced cardiovascular deconditioning. It has been shown that the proliferation, migration, and morphological differentiation of endothelial cells play critical roles in angiogenesis. So far, the influence of microgravity on the ability of endothelial cells to foster angiogenesis remains to be explored in detail. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of microgravity condition on VEGFR-2 and CD34 genes expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in angiogenesis.

Materials and Methods: In this study, HUVEC cells were purchased from Pastor Institute. We used a clinostat to simulate microgravity condition for 2, 24 and 72 hours. Real time PCR technique was used for gene expression analysis after extraction of RNA from cells.

Results:  Our results showed that microgravity for 72h leads to a significant increase (6 times compared with control group, p<0.001) in the VEGFR-2 gene expression. However, expression of CD34 did not change (p>0.05) with microgravity.

Conclusion: Based on the results, microgravity has positive effect on angiogenesis and can be used to generate vascules for cell therapy of ischemic diseases and atherosclerosis.

Background: ANKK1 (ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1) gene is a member of the serine/threonine kinase family. This family involved in signal transduction pathways. This gene contains Taq1A (rs1800497) single nucleotide polymorphism. The A1 allele carriers of TaqIA polymorphism have shown reduced DRD2 (Dopamine Receptor D2) receptors. This decrease predisposes individuals to seek for addictive substances to compensate this deficiency in dopaminergic system. The present study investigated TaqIA (rs1800497) polymorphism in heroin and methamphetamine addiction.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 91 male methadone-maintained heroin and methamphetamine addicts and 100 male healthy controls were studied. Genomic DNA extraction was carried out from peripheral blood through salting-out method and individuals were genotyped for TaqIA polymorphism by RFLP-PCR technique and TaqI enzyme was used for RFLP.

Results: This survey revealed the significantly higher frequency of the A1 allele of TaqIA polymorphism in patients than control individuals (p<0.001). The frequency of A1 allele in patient and control individuals was %51 and %22.5, respectively. The A1A1 genotype was detected in 25% of patients and 7% of controls (p<0.001, OR=9.7, 95% CI=3.64-25.85).

Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that the A1 allele of TaqIA polymorphism is significantly associated with heroin and methamphetamine addiction.

Background: Circulating microRNAs are promising biomarkers in diagnosis and assessment of cancerous patients. Quantitative Real-time PCR assay is a sensitive test for evaluating the levels of miRNAs expression. Nevertheless, there is no concurrence on selecting appropriate reference genes for qPCR analysis of miRNAs in circulation. Therefore, the current study aimed to select a suitable reference gene for normalizing the RT-qPCR assay results in plasma samples of patients with gastric cancer.

Materials and Methods: Based on previously published studies, three molecules SNORD47, U6 RNA, and miR-103 were selected as the candidate reference genes. After RNA extraction from plasma samples of 40 patients with gastric cancer and 40 healthy individuals, expression levels of these molecules were evaluated using Real-time PCR method.

Results: The results showed that the developed assays are able to diagnose their specified targets by a suitable linear range. By comparing patients and control groups, although the expression levels of miR-103 molecule were not equal between the two groups (p= 0.017), SNORD47 and U6 RNAs had similar expression levels. However, the variations of SNORD47 expression were lower that U6 RNA.

Conclusion: Based on the results of the current study, the SNORD47 molecule has a stable expression levels in plasma samples of patients with gastric cancer and normal individuals and can be used as an appropriate reference gene for normalizing the quantitative data of qPCR assay.

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.