JOURNAL OF ILAM UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Year:2018 | Volume:26 | Issue:3 |Papers Count:25

Introduction: Edwards’ s syndrome is a chromosomal disorder caused due to the presence of an extra chromosome 18. This syndrome was first reported in 1960 by Edward. The prevalence of this disease is approximately 1: 6000 live births, and its prevalence increases with maternal age. Most of these fetuses die in the tenth week of pregnancy in the uterus. Case report: In this study, we presented the case of an infant with Edward’ s syndrome, which was diagnosed in utero. Ultrasound screening and maternal serum screening were not performed at 12 weeks. Choroid plexus cyst, Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD), and echogenicity with a diameter of 5 mm in the anterior abdominal wall were observed on ultrasound at 19 weeks. After the karyotype of amniotic fluid, Edward’ s syndrome was reported. According to gestational age (23 weeks) therapeutic abortion was not possible. After birth, the baby had multiple abnormalities including small oral opening, micrognathia, arch-shaped mouth, nasal bridge with an upward the tip, wide anterior fontanel, strabismus of the left eye, umbilical hernia, developmental disorders, weak cry, short neck, and closed fingers. He died at 5 months of age. Conclusion: Chromosomal abnormalities such as Down’ s, Edward’ s and Patau’ s syndromes are easily detectable during pregnancy and are considered for therapeutic abortion. Therefore, early diagnosis is important during pregnancy.

Introduction: Health literacy is a measure of individual’ s ability to read, comprehend, and act on medical instructions. Health literacy and lifestyle are determinants of health. We aimed to assess the relationship between health literacy and health promoting behaviors. Materials and Methods: This crosssectional, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted on 250 health volunteers who were selected randomly. Data were collected using questionnaires of Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) and Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (TOFHLA). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and to study the variables’ relationships Chi-square and Spearman correlation coefficient were applied. Findings: The mean age of the participants was 32. 9± 9. 7 years, and 61. 5% had elementary and junior high school education. Health literacy was insufficient in 44. 6% of the health volunteers, at a border level in 32. 2%, and adequate in 23. 1%. The mean score of health-promoting lifestyle was 130± 23. 8. In this study, there was a significant relationship between educational level, age and health literacy status. Inadequate health literacy was more common among individuals with advanced age and lower education. Health literacy level was significantly correlated with nutrition, spirituality, health responsibility, physical activity, interpersonal support, and stress management (P<0. 001). Conclusion: This study showed that the health literacy level was inadequate in health volunteers. This result showed that health literacy and striving to improve it are important. Creating a simple, understandable and accessible media and training materials, as well as implementing theory-based educational interventions are some the ways to improve health literacy.

Introduction: Health and the factors affecting it are the most important and effective components in behavior, work performance and productivity of individuals working in different organizations. Universities of medical sciences play a fundamental and functional role in health promotion, transfer of its concepts to the community, and delivery of healthcare services. This study aimed to evaluate the general health status and its effective factors among the staff of Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional and analytical study was performed on 153 of staff working at two sectors of pardis and setad of Ilam University of Medical Sciences. The participants were selected using the random sampling method. General Health Questionnaire (G. H. Q-28), which contains 28 items measuring general health, was used for data collection. To analyze the data, ANOVA, Chi-square test, Spearman correlation, and independent t-test were run in SPSS, version 16. Findings: The results showed that 50. 3% of the studied population had health score of 0-22 (healthy group). Spearman correlation test showed a significant correlation between general health and marital status (P<0. 05, r=0. 164), but no significant difference was observed between the staff of the two sectors in terms of general health and its subscales (P>0. 05). In addition, we did not observe a significant association between general health and variables such as age, gender, work experience, educational level, and type of employment (P>0. 05). Conclusion: In this study, work experience and employment type were introduced as the most effective factors on performance and general health. Additionally, the subscale of disruption in social performance was the most effective subscale on general health.

Introduction: Aging is accompanied by anatomical and physiological changes in most tissues and organs, especially the reduction of cells, tissues, and vascular levels. Endothelial progenitor cells are involved in maintaining endothelial health, preventing endothelial dysfunction, and increasing neovascularization process. Cardiac stem cells are effective in the regeneration and repair of heart tissue. Regular exercise training increases both of these cells. We aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of moderate and intense interval training on gene expression of endothelial progenitor cells and cardiac stem cells in aged rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one Wistar female rats with the mean age of 24± 1 months and the mean weight of 265± 44 g were randomly divided into three groups of control (n=7), moderate exercise (n=7), and intense exercise (n=7) groups. Both exercise groups were trained for 8 weeks, 3 sessions a week, each session for 40 minutes with 28 meters per minute in the moderate intensity exercise group and 34 meters per minute in the high intensity group. Forty-eight hours after the last training session, the rats were anesthetized and their cardiac tissue was isolated. CD34 and KDR gene expression for endothelial progenitor cells and c-Kit expression for cardiac stem cells were measured. Findings: The results showed that the level of c-Kit gene expression in both groups of moderate (P=0. 0001) and intense (P=0. 0001) training significantly increased compared to the control group. This increase was significantly higher in the intense training group (P=0. 0001). Eight weeks of moderate interval training significantly increased the expression level of CD34 (P=0. 0001) and KDR (P=0. 0001) genes. Also, eight weeks of high intensity interval training resulted in a significant increase in the level of gene expression of CD34 (P=0. 0001) and KDR (P=0. 0001). This accumulative effect in the intense training group was significantly higher compared to the moderate group (CD34: P=0. 0001 and KDR: P=0. 0001). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that regular interval training with two different intensity levels raises the level of gene expression of endothelial progenitor cells and cardiac stem cells. This increase is dependent on the intensity of training. High intensity interval training seems to stimulate the regeneration of heart tissue and development of coronary artery. These findings can be used to improve cell therapy and cardiac rehabilitation after injury and myocardial dysfunction, especially in the elderly.

Introduction: With the increased prevalence of candidiasis in recent years, the use of herbal medicines including garlic and thyme is considered to treat Candida albicans infection. We sought to compare the effectiveness of garlic and thyme on Candida albicans infection using a systematic review and meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: IranMedex, PubMed, Google scholar, Magiran and SID databases were searched and 12 experimental articles performed in Iran were retrieved. Data were extracted using STATA software (version 12. 2) and analyzed by meta-analysis and random effects model. Findings: The overall sample size of the 12 articles was 276. In five papers, the effectiveness of garlic in the inhibition of Candida albicans was considered, and the values of minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) 90 and 50 were 0. 062 and 0. 0312 mg/ml, respectively. In seven papers, the inhibitory effect of thyme against Candida albicans was considered, and the MIC 90 and MIC50 values were 2. With the combination of P-value obtained by the Fisher’ s exact test in the mentioned studies, we noted that garlic and thyme had significant inhibitory effects against Candida albicans (P<0. 001). Conclusion: Considering the low MIC50 and MIC90 of garlic compared to thyme, it can be stated that garlic is more effective in inhibiting Candida albicans than thyme.

Introduction: Individuals with borderline personality disorder have many problems in emotion regulation and quality of life. Regarding this, the aim of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy on the improvement of emotion regulation and quality of life among women with borderline personality disorder in Shahr-e Kord, Iran, in 2015. Materials and Methods: This semiexperimental study was conducted on women with borderline personality disorder referring to the psychology and counseling centers of Shahr-e Kord city in 2015 using a pretest-posttest control group design. The study population was selected using convenience sampling technique out of the women voluntarily participating in a treatment course held by the researchers. The inclusion criteria were: 1) borderline personality diagnosis based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision, 2) a minimum of high school education (diploma degree), 3) age range of 20-40 years, and 4) at least one suicide attempt. The participants were then randomly assigned into two groups of intervention (n=10) and control (n=10). The intervention group was subjected to eight 90-minute sessions of dialectical behavior therapy; however, the control group received no intervention. The data were collected using the Emotion Regulation Scale and Quality of Life Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 18) using covariance. Results: According to the results, there was a significant difference between the control and intervention groups in terms of emotion regulation (F=7. 61, P=0. 01) and quality of life (F=13. 68, P=0. 001) after the intervention. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it seems that dialectical behavior therapy improved the emotion regulation and quality of life among the women with borderline personality disorder.

Introduction: Skilled and efficient human resources is one of the most important tools for attaining organizational goals because it plays a key role in increasing or decreasing organizational productivity. Thus, we investigated the roles of emotional intelligence and leadership styles in job satisfaction of the staff of Kerman hospitals. Materials & Methods: The study population consisted of all the personnel of Kerman hospitals (n=160), Kerman, Iran, who were selected using the convenience sampling method. The data collection tools comprised emotional intelligence, leadership behavior, and job satisfaction questionnaires. To analyze the data, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression were used. Findings: Our findings revealed the significant positive relationship of emotional intelligence and leadership styles with employee job satisfaction in Kerman hospitals. Multiple regression analysis also showed that emotional intelligence and leadership styles describe 53% of variations in job satisfaction. Discussion & Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, organizational authorities should pay special attention to the role of these variables.

Introduction: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is one of the most important etiologic agents of urinary tract infection (UTI). The UPEC strains have various types of virulence factors, including adhesions, toxins, and iron uptake systems. Virulence genes are located on transmissible genetic elements and/or on particular locus on the chromosome called pathogenicity islands (PAI). The aim of the current research was to evaluate the frequency of PAI and Fim H virulence genes among E. coli strains isolated from UTIs in Rasht, Iran. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 50 E. coli strains, which were isolated from patients with UTIs referring to several medical laboratories of Rasht city. E. coli was identified using standard microbiological techniques and biochemical assays. Furthermore, the prevalence of PAI and Fim H virulence genes were evaluated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Results: The results showed that 76% of the females and 24% of the males were infected with UTI (P<0. 01), which was indicative of the higher rate of UTIs in females than in males. Based on the results of PCR, 42 (84%) and 38 (76%) isolates were positive for Fim H and PAI genes, respectively. Additionally, 33 (66%) isolates carried both of these genes. Conclusion: As the findings indicated, the prevalence of PAI and Fim H virulence genes in E. coli strains accounted for a high rate of UTI. Therefore, these genes could be studied as targets for medical interventions and epidemiological studies.

Introduction: Studies carried out with synchrotron radiation have shown that micro-beam radiation therapy (MRT) has unique advantages in the treatment of cancerous tumors. In this method, the determination of dose distribution and calculation of peak to valley dose ratio (PVDR) are considered as the most important steps in treatment planning. The PVDR is a criterion to evaluate the destruction of cancer cells and protection of normal cells in the tissues surrounding a tumor. Materials and Methods: Using a multi-slit collimator, planar sliced beams were generated in an X-ray generator in order to determine dose distribution in a multilayer phantom made of plexiglass. An ionization chamber was used to measure absorbed dose. Given the large size of the sensitive area of the chamber in comparison with the narrow beams, a mono-slit collimator made of tungsten with a slit of 0. 3×7. 5 mm2 in its center was placed in front of the ionization chamber. Furthermore, by using Geant4 computer code, a model, including X-ray source, multi-slit collimator, phantom, mono-slit collimator, and detector, was designed to compare experimental and simulation results. Findings: The investigation of dose distribution in the phantom with both methods indicated the presence of peaks and valleys. Given the low intensity of Xray beam generated by the X-ray generator, and limited exposure time, the experimental errors were considerable. When using 1 mm (Air)+0. 5 mm (W) collimator, PVDRs were obtained as 8. 7 and 10. 5 for ionization chamber and simulation, respectively, in the depth of 8 mm of the phantom. On the other hand, with a 1 mm (Air)+1 mm (W) collimator, the values obtained for this parameter were 11. 1 and 13. 3 for ionization chamber and simulation, respectively. Conclusions: Based on the results, a multislit collimator made of tungsten could produce multi-slice X-ray. The estimated dose distribution using the Geant4 code was more accurate than the one obtained through ionization chamber, which can be due to the possibility of using a detector in much smaller dimensions in the Geant4 code.

Background: During spinal anesthesia, blood pressure is often measured indirectly through inflating a cuff at the arm. However, the measurement of blood pressure at the arm is sometimes not possible due to the presence of burns and implementation of orthopedic or plastic surgery on the upper limb. In these cases, lower extremity blood pressure should be measured. Materials and Methods: This descriptive analytical study was conducted on 34 candidates for lower abdominal surgery. The blood pressure cuff was first placed on the right arm and leg, and then on the left arm and leg. The recorded variables included the region of measuring blood pressure, blood pressure, duration of surgery, and type of surgery. The agreement between the lower and upper extremity pressures at any time was determined using the Bland-Altman graphical method. Background: During spinal anesthesia, blood pressure is often measured indirectly through inflating a cuff at the arm. However, the measurement of blood pressure at the arm is sometimes not possible due to the presence of burns and implementation of orthopedic or plastic surgery on the upper limb. In these cases, lower extremity blood pressure should be measured. Materials and Methods: This descriptive analytical study was conducted on 34 candidates for lower abdominal surgery. The blood pressure cuff was first placed on the right arm and leg, and then on the left arm and leg. The recorded variables included the region of measuring blood pressure, blood pressure, duration of surgery, and type of surgery. The agreement between the lower and upper extremity pressures at any time was determined using the Bland-Altman graphical method.

Introduction: Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is an important marker for the evaluation and detection of the left ventricular systolic dysfunction. It seems that physical activity and circadian rhythms are effective in the changes of BNP concentration. Regarding this, the aim of the present study was to investigate the acute effects of low-volume high-intensity interval aerobic exercises in the morning and evening on BNP changes and double product in active men. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 11 male physical education students of Jahrom University, Jahrom, Iran. The study population was selected using the purposive sampling technique. The participants were subjected to two separate sessions (with an interval of 3 days) of low-volume high-intensity aerobic exercise in the morning and evening. Blood samples were collected before and immediately after every activity both in the morning and evening. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 17) using independent t-test to compare the mean pretest and posttest upon each session and obtain the mean difference between the morning and evening data. P-value less than 0. 05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The results showed that BNP concentrations increased after exercise in the morning and evening; however, this increase was not statistically significant (P>0. 05). In addition, the results showed that the double product in the morning and evening significantly enhanced after performing the exercises (P=0. 001). There was a significant difference between the BNP concentrations obtained in morning and evening in terms of double product (P=0. 035). Conclusions: Despite the lack of a significant difference between morning and evening BNP concentrations, due to the lower mean concentration of BNP in the evening, it seems that exercise in the evening exerted less stress on the myocardial wall and could be more appropriate.

Introduction: The resistance of opportunistic fungal strains has been on a growing trend in the recent years. The toxicity of antimicrobial drugs, development of fungal resistance, and incidence of drug interactions account for the consideration of new drug combinations against fungi. Regarding this, the present study was conducted to perform an in vitro investigation on the effect of paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and magnetic water on Fusarium oxysporum. Materials and Methods: The synthesis of paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles was conducted in Islamic Azad University, Falavarjan Branch, Falavarjan, Iran, using the co-precipitation method. The antifungal effects of paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and the impact of magnetic water with an intensity of 0. 1 Tesla on Fusarium oxysporum were investigated using pur plate technique. Accordingly, the percentage of Fusarium oxysporum growth inhibition was determined. Findings: The results of X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy showed that iron oxide nanoparticles had a diameter of 20-25 nm with a cubic shape. Based on the results of pur plate technique, 0. 1 Tesla magnetic water reduced the diameter of Fusarium oxysporum colonies by more than 49. 64% on all days. In addition, the iron oxide nanoparticles at a concentration of 500 ppm inhibited the diameter of the fungal colony by more than 30% on all days. Furthermore, the combination of iron oxide nanoparticles at a concentration of 500 ppm with 0. 1 Tesla magnetic water inhibited the growth of fungal colonies by more than 50%. Therefore, the combined method exerted the greatest synergistic impact on reducing the diameter of the fungal colony. Similar to ketoconazole (concentration of 0. 003 mg/ml), on the first day, iron oxide nanoparticles with a concentration of 500 ppm inhibited fungal growth. However, on the twelfth day, 0. 1 Tesla magnetic water had a better performance, compared to ketoconazole as a conventional antifungal drug. Conclusion: As the findings indicated, paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with a diameter of 20-25 nm alone and in combination with 0. 1 Tesla magnetic water had magnetic antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum.

Introduction: Manual techniques have a special place in the treatment of osteoarthritis. However, the effects of these techniques have been investigated only on pain. Regarding this, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Mulligan manual technique on quadriceps and hamstrings muscles activity pattern. Materials & Methods: This quasiexperimental study was conducted on 38 volunteers with moderate knee osteoarthritis, selected through a nonrandomized sampling method. The severity of osteoarthritis was determined based on the Kellgren-Lawrence grading system. In addition, the immediate effect of Mulligan manual technique on the pain and muscle amplitude in the pattern of muscle activity was investigated. The pain severity was measured using a numerical rating scale (i. e., 0-10). Furthermore, the evaluation of muscle amplitude was accomplished using surface electromyography. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and paired sample t-test. Findings: The results of the study showed statistically significant changes in the mean scores of the investigated variables after the implementation of Mulligan manual technique (P<0. 05). However, the amplitude of all muscles did not change uniformly after the intervention; in this regard, the amplitudes of some muscles increased, while those of other muscles decreased. Conclusion: As the findings indicated, treatment with Mulligan technique exerted immediate effects on the reduction of pain in patients with moderate osteoarthritis. It seems that this intervention also affected the amplitudes of quadriceps and hamstrings muscles individually in the muscle pattern.

Introduction: Crises are usually unexpectedly appearing, resulting in hidden and obvious consequences, so managers must always be prepared to deal with them in the right way. Managing crisis is one of the key elements of the success of government hospitals and their development. The present study was conducted to investigate the readiness of public hospitals in Ilam province in the face of natural disasters such as earthquakes. Materials & methods: This research in terms of target is applied and in term of method is descriptive-analytical method. The statistical population consisted of all staff of 9 state hospitals in Ilam province with a total of 1968 people. Using the of Cochran sampling, 321 samples were selected. The data gathering tool was a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of 53 questions. Data analysis was done using SPSS and PLS software. Findings: The results of the research indicate that the public hospitals of Ilam province have a mean of 2. 86, physical fitness readiness 3. 03, communication readiness and social capital 2. 97, and the dimension of operational capability 11. 3 and overall preparedness of 87. 8, 2, with one-way t test, the test statistic for these variables was 1. 47 for the attitude and knowledge probability dimension, 1. 98 for physical fitness readiness, 1. 46 for communication and social capital, and 2. 44 for the dimension of operational capability And 63/1 for total readiness. These results show that the level of hospital readiness in the context of physical and operational readiness is higher than the average and readiness level in the attitude and knowledge preparedness, communication readiness and social capital, as well as overall readiness less than the average. Discussion & Conclusions: According to the findings of the data analysis, it can be concluded that the state hospitals of Ilam province are poorly prepared to deal with crises in terms of their attitude and knowledge readiness. From the point of view, operational readiness is at an acceptable level. From the aspect of communicational readiness and social capital, they are less than the optimal and physically fit point. Based on research findings, managers of these hospitals are recommended to work on creating and strengthening these indicators. In this regard, in order to improve the physical and operational space, the development of communication and social capital, in order to maintain and increase the readiness of attitude and knowledge, knowledge Need to expand.

Magnetic nanoparticles composed of iron and nickel have broad application in biological and medical sciences. Increased production and application of nanoparticles has raised concern about their negative side effects on human health. In the present study, we examined the toxicity of Fe2NiO4 nanoparticle on some biochemical parameters of rat’ s liver. In this experimental study, 24 male rats were divided into three groups, including the group receiving Fe2NiO4 nanoparticles at a concentratios of 100 ppm, a group receiving the nanoparticle at a concentration of 200 ppm, and the control group. Then, 2, 7, and 14 days after the intervention, we drew blood samples from the rats and the levels of liver biochemical parameters were determined. According to the results, during the exposure period, serum albumin level was not significantly different between the groups. In the nanoparticle-treated rats, serum transferrin level showed a significant increase on the seventh day and a significant decline on the 14th day (P<0. 05). Exposure of rats to the nanoparticle at the doses of 100 and 200 significantly reduced lactate dehydrogenase level compared to the control group (P<0. 05). Alkaline phosphatase levels in the groups exposed to nanoparticles were not significantly different from that in the control group.

Introduction: Methylphenidate (MPH) is one of the common medications used for maintaining alertness and improving attention. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a food additive, which acts as an enhancer of palatability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the various effects of these compounds on the reproductive system during adolescence. Materials and Methods: Methylphenidate (5 and 10 mg/kg) and monosodium glutamate (6 and 60 mg/kg) were administrated to adolescent rats. After 60 days, the pituitary-testicular axis hormones were assayed and testicular histomorphometric studies were performed. Findings: The coadministration of MPH (5 mg/kg) and MSG (60 mg/kg) led to elevation in serum FSH levels (P<0. 05). The highest blood level of luteinizing hormone was observed following high doses of MPH and MSG separately or in combination form. The effect of MPH and MSG on serum testosterone level was observed dose dependently and contradictorily (P>0. 05). The administration of MSG led to a reduction in the population of Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, and spermatocyte. Coadministration of MPH and MSG also reduced this population. Morphometric studies revealed decrement of tubular diameter and germinal epithelium height (P<0. 05), especially with low doses of MPH and high doses of MSG. The changes in spermatogenic indices were similar to morphometric results. Tubular atrophy, interstitial edema, and depopulation of spermatogenic cells were observed in MPH and MSG treated groups. Coadministration of these compounds increased spermatids with pyknotic nucleus. Conclusion: It has been concluded that the coadministration of MPH and MSG through the induction of some hormonal and structural alterations could induce some changes in the normal structure and function of the reproductive system.

Introduction: Many factors, such as the lack of necessary skills, contribute to the emergence of high-risk behaviors in students. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and compassion focused therapy (CFT) on the quality of life among adolescents with high-risk behaviors. Materials and Methods: The present extended experimental study was conducted on 45 female students studying humanities at the 10th grade of high school in the academic year of 2016-2017 using a pretest-posttest control group design. The study population was selected by singlestage cluster sampling technique, and then randomly assigned into three groups of ACT (n=15), CFT (n=15), and control (n=15). The two intervention groups were subjected to eight 90-minute interventional sessions. Data collection tools included the Adolescent Risk-Taking Questionnaire and Quality of Life Questionnaire SF-36. The three groups filled out the research instruments before the implementation of the intervention and after the end of the eight interventional sessions in forms of pretest and posttest, respectively. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 16) using multivariate analysis of covariance, independent t-test, and modified Bonferroni test. Results: The results indicated that both treatments were equally effective in the quality of life (P<0. 01). The ACT group had the mean life of quality of 33. 87 and 52. 3 before and after the implementation of ACT, respectively. Furthermore, regarding the CFT group, the mean quality of life was obtained as 33. 5 and 44. 56 prior to and following the CFT intervention, respectively. However, no significant increase was observed in the control group in terms of this variable. The results also indicted the higher efficacy of ACT and CFT in the mental and physical health dimensions of the quality of life as compared to the control group (P<0. 01). Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, the combined application of ACT and CFT can have a significant impact on the quality of life among the female adolescents with high-risk behaviors and improve their well-being.

Introduction: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as three or more miscarriages prior to the 20th week of gestation. This condition occurs in 15-20% of all pregnancies. Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein that is expressed on the trophoblast cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of anti-GRP78 antibodies in the sera of women with RPL. Materials & Methods: This case-control study was conducted 80 women referring to the Infertility Center of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, during 2014-2016. The study population was assigned into two groups of case entailing 38 women with unexplained RPL and control including 42 healthy pregnant women with no history of miscarriage and a minimum of two successful pregnancies. The measurement of the anti-GRP78 antibody in the sera of the two groups was performed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, western blot technique was used to assess the expression of GRP78 in placenta tissue for both groups. Findings: The results of the western blot demonstrated the expression of GRP78 on the trophoblast cells in both groups. Furthermore, anti-GRP78 antibodies were detected in both case and control groups through ELISA. The case group had a lower level of anti-GRP78 antibodies; however, this difference was not statistically significant (P=0. 1). Discussion & Conclusions: The findings of the current study revealed no significant relationship between anti-GRP78 antibody level in RPL patients and healthy pregnant subjects.

Introduction: Zinc oxide nanoparticles that are used for industrial and domestic purposes can cause a widespread environmental contamination. Regarding this, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles on renal tissue in terms of bioaccumulation of nanoparticles, histopathology, serum biochemical index, and oxidative damage. Materials & Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 80 male Wistar rats that were divided into eight groups, including one control group, one sham group (receiving saline), and six groups administered zinc oxide nanoparticles at doses of 4, 8, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg for 28 days twice a week. The measurement of blood urine nitrogen (BUN), uric acid, and creatinine was accomplished using an autoanalyzer. Furthermore, histopathological examinations were performed after tissue processing. The digestion of the renal tissue by nitricperchloric acid provided suitable solutions for the determination of zinc oxide nanoparticles by atomic absorption spectrometry. Findings: According to the results, the histopathological lesions in the renal tissue at the dose of 200 mg/kg included glomerular proliferation and fibrosis. The groups treated with zinc oxide nanoparticles showed a higher increase in the serum levels of BUN and creatinine, compared with the control group, which indicated renal toxicity. Furthermore, a significantly higher level of zinc oxide nanoparticles was observed in the renal tissue of the groups receiving higher doses than those of the other groups (P<0. 05). Discussion & Conclusions: The findings of the current study revealed that zinc oxide nanoparticles exerted a destructive effect on the kidney. Moreover, it was found that these nanoparticles had a toxic effect on the renal tissue at a high concentration.

Introduction: So-called biofilm or biomass is interacting cells or microorganisms that accumulate together as a result of various factors on a surface. Biofilm formation increases resistance to unfavorable conditions and biocides. Of the strategies to deal with biofilms is using different plant compounds and nanoparticles. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of silver nanoparticles, lavender extract, and their combined effects in different concentrations on Klebsiella pneumoniae biofilm. Materials & Methods: The anti-biofilm effect and reduced rate of biofilm formation of Klebsiella pneumoniae in separated and combined treatments of stoechas extract (Lavandula stoechas) and silvernanoparticles at 24, 48 and 72 hours were measured by colorimetric microtiter method. Phenolic content was also measured by Folin-Ciocalteu method. Findings: Phenolic content was about 113. 3 mg/g. In the absence of treatments, Klebsiella was able to form strong biofilms. Three-way-analysis of variance of the main and interacting effects of silver nanoparticles, lavender extract and time on biofilm formation was significant. Silver nanoparticle and lavander extract at concentrations of 125 and 0. 0625 ug/mL, respectively, and co-treatments at 62. 5 and 0. 03125 ug/mL concentrations, respectively, significantely reduced biofilm formation. Discussion & Conclusions: By increasing time, biofilm formation reduced due to effects of treatments. Biofilm formation also reduced by increasing concentration of the treatments. The result of this survey showed that silver-nanoparticles and lavender extract have synergistic effects on reduction of biofilm formation.