A particular characteristic of the neonatal hippocampus is the presence of spontaneous network-driven oscillatory events, the so-called giant depolarizing potentials (GDPs). GDPs depend on the interplay between GABA and glutamate. Early in development, GABA, acting on GABAA receptors, depolarizes neuronal membranes via a Cl- efflux. Glutamate, via AMPA receptors, generates a positive feedback needed for neuronal synchronization. The depolarizing action of GABA ensures calcium entry through NMDA receptors and voltage-gated calcium channels. The whole cell configuration of the patch clamp technique (in current and voltage clamp) was used to assess whether GDPs were present also in hippocampal slice cultures. This would constitute a good model to be used for imaging and genomic approaches. GDP-like activity started appearing during the second week in culture and disappeared during the third postnatal week. GDPs occurred at the frequency 0.14±0.03 Hz (n=15). GDPs were synchronous in pair recordings from pyramidal neurons (CA1 and CA3, CA3 and CA3) and pyramidal neurons and interneurons. They reversed polarity at –35±2 mV (n=9) and were blocked by bicuculline (10 mM) or DNQX (20 mM). In the presence of bicuculline, interictal burst occurred at the frequency of 0.013±0.003 Hz (n=6). They reversed polarity at -6±3 mV (n=6) and they were blocked by DNQX (20 mM), suggesting that they were mediated by AMPA/kainate receptors. Bicuculline also blocked spontaneously occurring spike-like events observed in cell attach recordings. In additional experiments performed with gramicidin-perforated patch, the reversal potential of GDPs was –42±3 mV (n=3). These data suggest that GDP like activity recorded from organotypic slice cultures displays a pattern very similar to that observed in acute slices obtained from neonatal rats and suggest that, at least in the majority of neurons, the action of GABA is still depolarizing and excitatory.

Introduction: The perinatal effects of antidepressants on CNS due to its common usage are important issues in neuroscience research. Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant that is used in smoke cessation under FDA approve widely. The study of synaptic effects of bupropion can reveal its mechanism for nicotine dependence cessation. In this study the long term effects of perinatal bupropion on population spike (PS) amplitudes were investigated. The PS amplitude is a good parameter for synaptic plasticity. Materials and Methods: Hippocampal slices from 18-25 day old rat’s pups were prepared. The exam groups included control and Bupropion treated groups. Bupropion (40 mg/Kg, i.p) was applied in perinatal period daily as pretreatment. Bupropion also was perfused in ACSF (10, 50, 200 mmol, 30 minutes) and tested for PS amplitude. PS amplitude of Stratum Radiatum was measured before and after Bupropion perfusion. Amplitude of PS before Bupropion perfusion was fitted as 100% for baseline. Results: A concentration of 10 mM did not reduce PS amplitude and Bupropion had no significant effects on PS amplitude. Bupropion in concentration of 50mM could reduce the amplitude of responses in 50% of cases. The 200 mM of Bupropion perfusion reduced population spike amplitude all slices (n=22). In the last state population spike amplitude in 8 out 0f 22 slices completely abolished. Decrease population spike amplitude in non-treated slices with 200 mM perfusion was more than treated slices. Conclusion: Analyzing of data showed that chronic perinatal exposure to Bupropion in concentrations 50, 200 mM reduced PS amplitude and we found adaptation synaptic in perfusion 200 mM compare with Bupropion treated slices with non- treated.

Background & Aims: Antidepressants are very common therapeutic agents in medicine. Design and using new antidepressants have built a new scope for depression treatment. Bupropion is an atypical antidepressant but it is used as an anti-smoke agent widely due to its smoke cessation. Its effectiveness in producing smoking cessation seems independent of its antidepressant effects. The study of synaptic effects of bupropion can reveal its mechanism for nicotine dependence cessation. This study has tested the effects of bupropion on evoked responses of rat hippocampal slices.Materials & Methods: 16 hippocampal slices from 18-25 old age rat pops were tested. The hippocampal slices have been prepared according to standard techniques. Bupropion was perfused in ACSF (2 mmol) for 30 minutes. The amplitude of population spikes (PS) amplitude of Stratum Radiatum was measured before and after bupropion perfusion. Amplitude of PS before bupropion perfusion fitted as 100% for baseline.Results: Bupropion (2 mmol) abolished PS of all slices for different periods. PS disappeared in 37.5% of slices for 1 hour, 25% for 1.5 hour, 12.5 % for 2 hour, and 25% for 4 hour or more. Bupropion disappeared PS 5-15 minutes after perfusion.Conclusion: Bupropion abolished or decreased PS amplitude. The results have showed that bupropion can decreases LTP or synaptic plasticity and alters the synaptic behavior in drug dependence.

The effect of ketamine (1-100 µM), which has NMDA receptor antagonist properties, on synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP) in CA, area of rat hippocampus was examined in vitro. Field potentials were recorded in pyramidal cell layer following Schaffer collateral stimulation. Primed-burst stimulation (PBs) was used for induction of long- term potentiation. The amplitude of population spiks (PS) was used as a measure of LTP induction. The results showed that ketamine (1-100 µM) affected baseline synaptic transmission in a concentration-dependent pattern. Furthermore, ketamine application at a high concentration (50-100 µM) for a period of 20-30 min markedly blocked the induction of LTP, whereas lower concentrations of ketamine (1-10 µM) failed to block LTP. However, ketamine at a concentration of 20 µM affected NMDA-mediated LIP induction in a different pattern. It is concluded that the effect of ketamine on baseline synaptic transmission and LTP induced by a 100 Hz PBs depends on ketamine concentration.

Introduction & Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in many western countries. Its prevalence and incidence among Iranians particularly in the urban areas are increasing. Ac-cording to the newest Tehran annual mortality re-port, the most common cause of death in Tehran is cardiovascular disease. Diagnostic gold standard in CAD is fluoroscopic coronary angiography (FCA) us-in catheterization. Nevertheless, it is an invasive method and in recent years, some non-invasive or less-invasive imaging modalities such as MRI and CT scans have been used to investigate CAD. One of the most attractive new methods in this regard is Coro-nary CT-Angiography (CCTA), which has gained considerable attention. Multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) scanners with simultaneous acquisition of multiple (up to 64) slices in less than half a second of gantry rotation time (in our study, 0.33 second), have be-come available, resulting in minimally-invasive Coro-nary artery imaging. The purpose of this study is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of a new 64-slice MSCT scanner in the diagnosis of coronary artery and/or bypass grafts occlusion or hemodynamic ally significant stenos is. Parents & Methods: This investigation is underway in patients undergoing elective FCA. A 64-channel per rotation MSCT scanner (Soma tom Sensation 64, Siemens Medical Systems, Forchheim, Germany), with 0.6 mm collimation, 0.33 second gantry rotation time and 120 Kip was used to perform CCTA. Ape-proximately 70-90 mol of a nonionic contrast medium was injected intravenously. All coronary artery segments, according to American Heart Association (AHA) classification & nomenclature system were analyzed. Patients who had undergone previous coronary artery bypass grafts (CABGs), or used Coro-nary stents were enrolled in the study, as well. MSCT scans were carried out within 10 days of catheterization, and the most dramatically steno tic lesions were analyzed in CCTA by a semi-quantitative scale (0= no lesion, I= non-significant lesions with less than 50% diameter reduction stenos is, II= significant lesions with more than 50% diameter reduction stenos is, and N/A= non-assessable lesions). Results: The results of CCTA are being compared with quantitative FCA findings of native coronary arteries as well as bypass grafts (arterial and/or vet-nous) or stents. Here the preliminary results of this comparison, as well as the CCTA accuracy as com-pared with FCA are demonstrated. Conclusion: We are hoping that this modality of diagnosis would find its way in the field of coronary artery disease diagnostics.

Background and Aim: The accuracy of linear measurements in CBCT images is one of the critical parameters in treatment planning. Slice thickness and exposure parameters seem to affect the accuracy of linear measurements. In this study, we investigated the impact of the above factors on the accuracy of linear measurements in CBCT. Materials and Methods: For the in vitro experiment, three dry human maxilla and mandibles were selected and the roots of their teeth were used as markers at the points of the anterior, premolars, and molars on both sides and placed in the desired locations. A digital caliper was used to measure its height and width prior to placement as the Gold Standard. For each location, the images were examined in slice thickness with dimensions of 0. 5, 1, 2 and 3 mm and a kVp = 84 and a kVp = 90 and the results were then compared with Gold standard. The data were analyzed using the ANOVA test. Results: The results of this study showed that the effect of slice thickness, kvp, location and type of jaw were not significant for measuring the length of the marker (p>0. 05) but about measuring the width of marker, in maxillary anterior and molar area and in mandibular premolar and molar area slice thickness was significant (p <0. 05) and the effect of kVp was not significant (p >0. 05). Similarly, the effects of slice thickness and kVp were also significant in the maxillary premolar area (p <0. 05), whereas in the anterior mandibular area, the effect was not significant (p >0. 05). Conclusion: The accuracy of CBCT in measurement is very high although, for CBCT measurements to be as accurate as possible, it is desirable to use thinner slice thicknesses and higher voltages.

Drying is one of the best ways to decrease transport cost and increase storage life of fruits and agriculture crops. Persimmon fruit (Diospyrus kaki L.) slices with initial moisture content of 75.21% wb. Were dried to various final moisture levels and their qualitative properties were studied. These properties included sweetness, color, smoothness, chewiness, astringency and smell while the final moisture content levels were 5, 10, and 15% wb. After drying, organoleptic test was performed by 26 persons in the age range of 25-30 years old. After plotting the moisture-time drying kinetic curve which was a six degree polynomial, analysis of the test results showed that fruit slices dried to 5% received the highest scores for sweetness and the lowest for astringency, while those dried to 10% were picked as being most chewy and smooth. The 10 % moisture level with an overall score of 85.13 was selected as the best moisture content for dried persimmon slices.

Maxwell 3D of Ansoft software were used for this study. Ansoft's solutions are based on a more general program using Maxwell's equations. A simple analysis has been done for calculating the magnetic force interacted between two magnets of similar poles facing each other. The modeling in Anosoft has been described.