[Antioxidant activity of different extracts of the Artemisia Annua growing in an area of Babol city]

Background: Plants are an important source of antioxidants that can help to cell's normal metabolism via preventing accumulation of free radicals and so, prevent developing diseases associated with oxidative stress. Thus, the present study was performed to determine the antioxidant properties of Artemissia Annua extracts [AA].

Methods and materials: at first, Artemisia Annua with a local name as Gandvash identified and then some parts of its leaves and flowers into powder. Extracting was done using water, ethanol and methanol solvent. FRAP assay was performed to determine the antioxidant properties. For this purpose, extract solutions with 20% concentration were added to FRAP solution and after incubation, the optical absorption values was measured. The ferrous sulfate and vitamin C were used as standard solutions.

Results: the Mean total antioxidant capacity [TAC] for methanolic leaves extract was 72.18 +/- 4.18 micro mol ferrous sulfate and 90.31 +/- 5.27 mg of vitamin C per gram of dry weight, which is considerably higher than other extracts [p<0.001] . TAC of Ethanolic extract of leaves and Methanolic extract of flowers ranked lower in terms of significance . There was no significant difference between aqueous extracts of leaves and flowers in TAC [p>0.05] while, the ethanol extract of the leaves and flowers were different significantly [p <0.01]

Conclusion: Various extracts of A.A showed different TAC values which may result from some differences in efficiency level of solvents used in extracting of plant's antioxidant substances. It seems that the methanol is better solvent in comparison to the ethanol and water for extracting of antioxidant materials.besides, The TAC findings of methanolic extracts of leaves and flowers suggest this is likely that the A.A antioxidant compounds distributed more in the leaves.

Landslide susceptibility mapping for the urmia lake basin, Iran: a multi-criteria evaluation approach using GIS

Although typically small in terms of their spatial footprint, landslide hazards are relatively frequent in Northern Iran. We assess landslide susceptibility for the nearly 20.000 km2 large study area of the Urmia lake basin which is dominated by agricultural land use but includes the major settlements areas of the East Azerbaijan province, Iran. Landslide factors are established in form of GIS dataset layers including topography, geology, climatology and land use. After pre-processing all data layers are standardized based on a fuzzy logic model. An Analytical Hierarchical Process [AHP] delivers the weights for the CIS-analysis. Datasets are combined by GIS spatial analysis techniques and a landslide susceptibility map of the study area is created. An existing inventory of known landslides within the case study area was compared with the resulting susceptibility map. We found that high susceptible zones cover about 4.47% [944 km2] of the total area whereby geological outcrops of sedimentary and volcanic formations such as volcanic ash contribute most to the landslide susceptibility. Due to the dynamic growth of settlements especially in the vicinity of the city of Tabriz landslide hazards may cause even more damage in the future.The resulting information of this research is useful for a] a better understanding of existing landslides and their origins in North-Western Iran, b] supporting emergency decisions and c] prioritization of efforts for the reduction and mitigation of future landslide hazards

Molecular characterization of environmental non-Tuberculous mycobacteria using PCR- RFLP analysis of 441 Bp heat shock protein 65 fragments

Non- Tuberculous Mycobacteria are environmental opportunistic pathogens that can be found in various terrestrial and aquatic habitats. There are an epidemiological links between species isolated in tap water and those isolated from patients. hsp65 gene has more variability in its sequences, compared to the some more conserved genes in NTM, for identification of mycobacteria to species level. In this study, the prevalence of NTM in Isfahan City water samples was determined using culture, biochemical tests and PCR-RFLP analyses of hsp65 gene. Eighty-five water samples were collected and cultured. The mycobacterial isolates were identified by conventional biochemical tests. A 441 bp fragment of hsp65 genes was amplified and digested by two restriction enzymes, BstEII and HaeII. Digested products were analyzed using polyacrilamid gel electrophoresis [PAGE]. 25.9% of the water samples contained different species of NTM. Dominant isolates were M. fortuitum [26.7%], M. chelonae like organism [13.3%] and M. mucogenicum [13.3%]. Nineteen isolates of Mycobacteria were differentiated using hsp65 genes PCR-RFLP. Three isolates could not be identified at the species level because their RFLP patterns were different from other known PCR-RFLP profiles. There were different hsp65 gene PCR-RFLP profiles produced by digestion with BstEII and HaeIII. This study showed that PCR-RFLP of hsp65 gene in mycobacteria is more reliable method for identification of NTM at the specie level than conventional phenotypic methods [P<0.05]. In comparing of RFLP patterns of this study to other investigation, some minor differences were negligible

Typing of Ovar-DRB1 second exon with PCR-RFLP technique in Iranian Shaul Sheep

Several studies have focused on polymorphisms of major histocompatibility complex [MHC] in sheep, Ovar-MHC. This molecule plays a pivotal role in antigen presentation for eliciting immune responses against invading pathogens. The best-characterized genetic control of disease resistance and immune response in animals is associated with MHC. Numerous molecular genetic investigations have been undertaken to detect polymorphisms of MHC genes and their association with resistance to infectious diseases. We have examined Ovar-DRB1 in DNA samples of 82 Shaul Sheep using polymerase chain reaction [PCR] and restriction fragment length polymorphism [RFLP] method. Identities of 8 different patterns and 5 distinct DRB1 alleles among Iranian Shaul Sheep have been determined. PCR-RFLP analysis allows rapid identification of Ovar-DRB1 types and enables rapid discrimination between homozygotes and heterozygotes. Data obtained from the present study have revealed that the exon 2 region of Ovar-DRB1 was highly polymorphic in sheep. So PCR-RFLP can be applied to the analysis of this locus

[ effect of finishing line form on the microleakage of cement in implant supported fixed prosthesis with cups to marginal ridge occlusion]

Resistance to sliding and tipping of a restoration must be considered at the time of treatment planning. Some factors have influence in resistance such as type of occlusion, size of occlusal table in comparison with cervix, and place and amount of occlusal forces. When the occlusal table of a restoration is wide and the cervical part is narrow, it is very probable that the line of action of an applied force on marginal ridges passes outside the margins of the restoration and produce destructive torque and causes dislodgment of the restoration. Leverage is probably the predominant factor in the dislodgment of cemented superstructure of implant supported prosthesis, that results in disruption of the cement film. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of finishing line form on cement microleakage in implant supported prosthesis following occlusal forces in cusp to marginal ridge occlusion. In this experimental study, 90 metal models were made similar to implant abutment with three types of finishing lines [Shoulder, Sloping shoulder, and Knife edge]. Ninety crowns were made from base metal alloy with the occlusal table similar to mandibular first molar and cemented on the models. All specimens were subjected to 1000 thermocycles between 5[0c], and 55[0c], with a dwell time of 15 seconds. Each group was divided into 2 subgroups. The subgroups were subjected to 50000 masticatory cycles [equal to 3 months of mastication] with 60 and 100 N occlusal forces on the marginal ridge. All samples were then immersed in 5% basic foshin solution for 24 hours and mounted in polyester to be sectioned vertically. Microleakage was measured under a microscope with magnification of 40 times. The results were analyzed using One-Way and Two-Way ANOVA and t-test. There was no difference in microleakage rate between 3 forms of finishing lines. The interaction between finishing lines and occlusal force of 60 N showed significant difference [P= 0.0182<0.05]. The results of this study showed that the least microleakage was observed in shoulder finishing line