Introduction: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most common form of leishmaniasis that usually heals spontaneously with unsightly scar but rarely non-healing lesion of CL develops which is refractory to all types of therapy. It is shown that Th1 and Th2 response is associated with healing and non-healing form of the diseases, respectively. On the other hand, it is reported that CD26 and CD30 are associated with Th1 and Th2 types of response, respectively. In some diseases, there is a relationship found between level of CD26 and CD30 and Th1 and Th2 responses. Objective: The goal of this study was to determine the concentration of soluble CD26 and soluble CD30 (sCD26 and sCD30) as a possible marker for Th1/Th2 response in CL.Materials and Methods: The blood samples were taken from 36 patients with healing form of the lesion and 10 patients with non-healing form of CL who were referred to Razi hospital or Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy in Tehran during 2003-2004. As a control blood samples were taken from 23 volunteers with no history of CL. In this study, the concentration of sCD26 and sCD30 were measured in plasma by ELISA method. Results: The results showed that the plasma levels of sCD26 and sCD30 were significantly higher in non-healing form of the disease than healing form of CL or control group (p<0.05). The level of sCD30 was more prominent than sCD26. There was no significant difference in the level of sCD26 or sCD30 markers in healing form of CL compared to normal control group.Conclusion: Overall it seems that the level of sCD30 might be a useful marker to study the immune response in CL, which needs to be studied further.

Background & Aims: Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common type of lateral curvature of the spine. 2-3% of children under 16 years old have idiopathic scoliosis greater than 10 degrees, but less than 10% of them require treatment. One treatment method is surgical correction and fusion and different types of instrumentation have been used. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of segmental fixation of the spine with Cotrel - Dubousset (CD) instrumentation that we have used in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients since 1999.Materials & Methods: Thirty patients (22 girls and 8 boys) with the average age of 10-18 years, had gone under one or two stages of the operation from 1999 to 2004. The amount of curves in sagital and coronal plans were measured on standing radiographs with cobb method. Control radiographs were taken immediately after the operation, then 3 month ,6 month later, and then yearly until 4 years.Results: The patients were followed up for 21 months. Average correction was 44.8% in coronal and 10.6 degrees in sagital plans. Apical vertebral rotation didn't correct significantly, and average rate of it was 0.46 degree. The average correction of apical vertebral translation was 3 cm (1.5-4 cm). Standing and sitting height was increased to 5 cm averagely.Conclusion: CD instrumentation is a suitable method for correction of spinal deformities in both coronal and sagital plans, specially to preserve thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis, and there is no requirement for post operative external immobilization.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: In recent studies, undifferentiated CD44 cells have been introduced as the major cause of chemotherapeutic drug resistance in esophageal cancer. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of all-trans retinoic acid on reducing chemotherapeutic drug resistance and improving the associated toxic effects.METHODS: In this clinical study, CD44+ and CD44- cells were separated from KYSE-30 cell line, using magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) method. The cytotoxic effects of retinoic acid treatment, combined with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, were separately evaluated in two cell groups, i.e., CD44+ and CD44-. Cytotoxicity was determined by identifying cellular metabolic activity, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, and flow cytometry.FINDINGS: In this study, CD44 marker was expressed in 6.25% of the cell population in KYSE-30 cell line. The results of flow cytometry revealed that treatment with a combination of retinoic acid and chemotherapeutic drugs could improve cell cycle arrest in CD44+ cells (p<0.05), unlike CD44- cells. Determination of cellular metabolic activity, increased cell apoptosis along with decreased half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50), and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining were indicative of the increased percentage of primary and secondary apoptotic CD44+ cells. However, in CD44- cells, these effects were only observed by using a combination of retinoic acid and cisplatin (p<0.05).CONCLUSION: The present results showed that all-trans retinoic acid could increase the toxicity of cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil in CD44+ cells.

This research was done in hydroponic environment in greenhouse at 3 stages (vegetative, flowering and full product) in 5 concentrations of Cd (0.1, 0.3, 0.9, 2.7, and 10 mm) for investigating physiological and biological effects. This study revealed that the increase of Cd concentration in understudy treatments causes the 49% reduction of sugar solution in 10 mm treatment. On the other hand, the gradual increase of Cd in cultivation caused the increase of starch, reduction of photosynthesis and blockage of carbon cycle enzymes. Furthermore, in heavy metal stress conditions of vegetative stage, Cd has negative effects on the protein amount of total treatments in p=0.01 signified level. When treatment starts, the amount of protein reduced until 33% in 0.1 mm concentration and this reduction can be seen also in other treatments. In contrast, in flowering stage the amount of protein is increased compared to the control. The study of different heavy metal concentration effects showed that plants are more sensitive to Cd (2-20 times more than others). The Generalized Linear Model variance test of aerial and underground plant organs traced the high level of Cd concentration in root in10 mm concentration. This increasing process in p=0.001 level also was seen in root, leaf, and fruit. The accumulation of Cd expressed high speed of Cd transport from the soil to upper organs of tomato, and this process reduced the amount of solvable sugar and protein.

The limitation on allowable temperature range of nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) requires the designers to analysis their thermal behavior with respect to its parameters. Ni-Cd batteries are use in many applications including cordless and portable devices, emergency and standby power, telecommunication equipments, photovoltaic systems, electric vehicle, satellite and spacecraft and power plant supporting equipments. To date, most studies have utilized averaged properties in their analysis. In addition, the chemical reaction effect on the source term has been neglected. The purpose of this study is to numerically investigate the transient thermal behavior of Ni-Cd batteries. The governing equation is the transient and non-linear differential energy equation subjected to non-linear radiation boundary conditions and source term. In formulation of the governing differential energy equation, the Ni-Cd properties (K, C, p) are not constant and the chemical characteristic of the Ni-Cd batteries, source term, vary with location and time. Calculated thermal characteristic of each battery is then compared to experimental results.