Molecular characterization of canine parvovirus [CPV] antigenic variants from healthy and diarrheic dogs in Urmia region, Iran

Background: canine parvovirus [CPV] has been incriminated as a primary pathogen related to acute hemorrhagic enteritis in dogs. Three major antigenic variants of CPV [CPV-2a/2b/2c] have so far been identified

Objectives: this study was carried out to investigate the frequency of CPV-2 and its variants [CPV-2a/2b/2c] in a population of healthy and diarrheic dogs in the northwest of Iran

Methods: a total of 35 stool samples from healthy [n=16] and diarrheic [n=19] dogs were screened for all variants [2a, 2b, and 2c] by polymerase chain reaction [PCR] using primer pair 555for/555rev resulting in a PCR product of 583 bp in length. The resulting fragments were further digested by MboII endonuclease that selectively recognizes the restriction site "GAAGA" unique to CPV2c only. All undigested samples were subjected to PCR assays with primer pair Pab [which detects both CPV-2a and CPV-2b types] and primer pair Pb [which detects only CPV-2b type] primer pairs. The relationship of health status, breed, age, and sex and vaccination status with PCR results was analyzed using statistical tests

Results: from a total of 35 samples, 10 samples were found to be positive by 555for/555rev primers that were further analyzed by MboII digestion of PCR products. One sample was characterized as CPV-2c and nine samples were categorized as CPV-2a or CPV-2b. All nine undigested samples resulted positive by PCR using Pab primers, out of which 7 resulted positive by PCR using Pb primer pairs, indicating that they are of CPV-2b variant

Conclusions: it seems that CPV-2b is prevalent variant circulating in the northwest of Iran. Results also indicated that CPV-2a and CPV-2c are affecting dogs, which suggests constant surveillance and monitoring of CPV variants

Seroepidemiology of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and 2 in Northern Iran

Herpes simplex virus [HSV] type 1 and 2 are common infectious agents worldwide. Data on prevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection are limited in Asia, especially in Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HSV type 1 and 2 based on age, gender, marital status, education, living area, job, symptoms and history of disease variables. The study population included 800 randomly selected persons from laboratories in Gilan Province, Iran, from 2010 to 2011. Demographic data gathered by a well-designed questionnaire and for serological studies, blood samples were collected and centrifuged. ELISA HSV-1, 2 and HSV-2 specific ELISA kits were used to determine IgG type specific antibodies in sera samples. Person's chi-square test was applied to compare HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositivities. HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgG antibodies wrere positive in 467 [58.4%] and 28 [3.5%] subjects, respectively. There was significant correlation between age, marital status, job, symptoms, history of disease and HSV seroprevalence [P<0.05]. Our findings were in agreement with prior studies in which HSV-1 infections was more prevalent than HSV-2 and seropositivity increased with age

[Analysis of the efficiency and optimal consumption of resources in selected hospitals in Urmia province through data envelopment analysis]

The recognition of economics of hospitals, as integral and costly components of health care systems, is vital for assessing their efficiency and the factors affecting them. The study through Data Envelopment Analysis [DEA] aimed to determine the efficiency of selected hospitals of Urmia University of Medical Sciences. This was a descriptive-analytic [cross-sectional and retrospective] study conducted in 2009. Input variables included the number of active beds, doctors and other personnel and output variables encompassed outpatients' admission and occupied day-bed. The data were analyzed through DEA method and Deap [2.1] software with variable return to scale assumption. Slack and radial movements, the efficiency of the hospitals and the excessive use of inputs were determined. The mean scores of technical, managerial and scale efficiency of the hospitals were 0.584, 0.782 and 0.771, respectively. Four hospitals enjoyed the maximum technical efficiency [1]. The capacity of efficiency enhancement was about 41.5% without any increase in costs, applying the same amount of inputs. A decrease of surplus production factor based on the results of DEA can lead to a reduction in expenditures. In hospitals with technical efficiency of less than one, the original and projected values of inputs were different and had a surplus. It is suggested that hospitals decrease their surplus from original values to achieve the expected optimal performance. The results could be applied in hospitals as a benchmark for decision making about resource allocation, controlling and improving hospital performance

[ relationship between type of pet ownning and pet owner personality and mental health care]

Due to conflicts in the results of previous studies comparing the mental health and personality characteristics of pet owners and non-pet owners, and because of the lack of similar research in the Iranian society, this study was conducted to compare the mental health and personality characteristics of pet owners and non-pet owners. The test group consisted of 400 individuals who referred to the veterinary clinic of the University of Tehran in a 12-month period, and 100 non-pet owners as a control group that were matched based on sex and age with the owners. The International Personality Item Pool [IPIP] and General Mental Health Questionnaire [GHQ- 28] were applied for data collection. Data analysis, using multivariate analysis of variance showed that all groups of pet owners were less open to experience than control group members. Furthermore, mental health problems were observed at a higher frequency in pet owners. Therefore, it was concluded that the causes and conditions of pet ownership in the Iranian culture could be different from those in other cultures

[Using lms method in smoothing reference centile curves for lipid profile of iranian children and adolescents: a caspian study]

LMS is a general monitoring method for fitting smooth reference centile curves in medical sciences. They provide the distribution of a measurement as it changes according to some covariates like age or time. This method describes the distribution of changes by three parameters; Mean, Coefficient of variation and Cox-Box power [skewness]. Applying maximum penalized likelihood and spline function, the three curves are estimated and fitted and optimum smoothness is expressed by three curves. This study was conducted to provide the percentiles of lipid profile of Iranian children and adolescents by LMS. Smoothed reference centile curves of four groups of lipids [triglycerides, total-LDL- and HDL-cholesterol] were developed from the data of 4824 Iranian school students, aged 6-18 years, living in six cities [Tabriz, Rasht, Gorgan, Mashad, Yazd and Tehran-Firouzkouh] in Iran. Demographic and laboratory data were taken from the national study of the surveillance and prevention of non-communicable diseases from childhood [CASPIAN Study]. After data management, data of 4824 students were included in the statistical analysis, which was conducted by the modified LMS method proposed by Cole. The curves were developed with a degree of freedom of four to ten with some tools such as deviance, Q tests, and detrended Q-Q plot were used for monitoring goodness of fit models. All tools confirmed the model, and the LMS method was used as an appropriate method in smoothing reference centile. This method revealed the distributing features of variables serving as an objective tool to determine their relative importance. This study showed that the triglycerides level is higher and HDL-C level is lower in Iranian children and adolescents than their counterparts in Western countries. Future studies with larger sample size and with higher density at the end points and equal distribution of measurements in changing limits of covariates would hopefully reach more precise findings

[Effect of iron supplementation prophylactic on maternal iron status and pregnancy outcome]

Background and aims: Considering the iron supplementation during pregnancy and the problems due to over using of this supplementation, almost all women take iron supplementation during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the iron supplementation prophylactic on outcome and the problems of pregnancies

Methods: In this double- blind randomized clinical trial study 129 women with Hb > 110 g/l, serum ferritin > 20 micro g/l and gestational age less than 20 weeks were randomly divided to receive either of ferrous sulfate tablets [n=62], 1 table / day [60 mg] or placebo [n=67]. Hemoglobin and ferritin were also measured in the 24-28[th] weeks and at the end of pregnancy. In addition, weight and length were recorded at the beginning and during the pregnancy in both groups. Data were analyzed using independent-t test, ANOVA, and Chi square tests

Results: Iron deficiency prevalence in Fe and placebo groups was found 5.8 and 24.8 percent in the 24-28[th] weeks [P=0.002] and 9.5 and 28.2 percent at the end of the study respectively. No significant differences were found in hemoglobin and ferritin indices during the study in both groups. Average birth weight was 3.30+/-0.49 Kg and 3.27+/-0.47 Kg in Fe and placebo groups, respectively. Average length birth was 49.1+/-3.9 cm in Fe group versus 49.3+/-4.4 cm in placebo group. Duration of gestation in Fe and placebo groups were 38.9+/-1.7 weeks and 38.8+/-2.2 weeks, respectively [P>0.05]

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that iron supplementation during pregnancy may have no effect on pregnancy outcome. It is obvious that because of more iron deficiency prevalence in placebo group, absolute conclusion about whether iron supplementation prophylactic during pregnancy is useful or not, more studies are needed in the future

Utility of filter paper for preserving insects, bacteria, and host reservoir DNA for molecular testing

Appropriate methodology for storage biological materials, extraction of DNA, and proper DNA preservation is vital for studies involving genetic analysis of insects, bacteria, and reservoir hosts as well as for molecular diagnostics of pathogens carried by vectors and reservoirs. Here we tried to evaluate the utility of a simple filter paper-based for storage of insects, bacteria, rodent, and human DNAs using PCR assays. Total body or haemolymph of individual mosquitoes, sand flies or cockroaches squashed or placed on the paper respectively. Extracted DNA of five different bacteria species as well as blood specimens of human and great gerbil Rhombomys opimus was pipetted directly onto filter paper. The papers were stored in room temperature up to 12 months during 2009 until 2011. At monthly intervals, PCR was conducted using a 1-mm disk from the DNA impregnated filter paper as target DNA. PCR amplification was performed against different target genes of the organisms including the ITS2-rDNA of mosquitoes, mtDNA-COI of the sand flies and cockroaches, 16SrRNA gene of the bacteria, and the mtDNA-CytB of the vertebrates. Successful PCR amplification was observed for all of the specimens regardless of the loci, taxon, or time of storage. The PCR amplification were ranged from 462 to 1500 bp and worked well for the specified target gene/s. Time of storage did not affect the amplification up to one year. The filter paper method is a simple and economical way to store, to preserve, and to distribute DNA samples for PCR analysis

Microsporidian infection in lizardfish, Saurida undosquamis of Persian Gulf

Lizardfish is one of the economically important fishes of Persian Gulf. In recent years, white, ellipsoid, round or elongated nodules were found in body cavity of this fish species which in preliminary microscopic examination were recognized as microsporidia. To determine the approximate prevalence rate of microsporidian infection and to establish its taxonomic position, 50 lizardfish were bought from the local markets of Ahvaz city [the center of Khozestan province - Iran] and transferred to the laboratory for parasitological examination. In the laboratory, internal organs including liver, kidneys, spleen, intestines, gonads and muscles were examined grossly and microscopically for the microsporidian infection using wet and dry smear [stained with Giemsa]. Histopathological sections were prepared from the cysts of infected fishes and stained with haematoxylin and eosin to see the arrangement of the spores within the cysts. Some of these small cysts were sampled and fixed in 3% glutaraldehyde for electron microscopic study. According to the results, the total infection rate was 44%. The infection rate in the peritoneum, stomach, gonads, intestine, spleen, muscles and liver were 16, 2, 4, 8, 2, 10 and 2%, respectively. The cysts were mostly ovoid in shape with mean size of 4.3 +/- 1.8 mm [0.8 to 10 mm]. The spores were ovoid and uninucleate with mean diameter of 2.4 _ 1.3 micro m. Polar tube coiled between six and eight time, in one row. According to the histopathology and light and electron microscopic studies, the parasite was recognized as Glugea sp

Restore to good health in baby turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans with chronic anorexia and blind eyes

As the first case, a baby red eared slider turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans, 1.77 inches long, with a 4 month history of anorexia and blind eyes was referred to the Aquatic Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Iran. The eyes of the pet were swollen and he was not active in swimming and feeling around. In the clinic, after stress treatment, he was kept in a clean aquarium containing a rock for him to get on. Water temperature in the aquarium was set at 27-29°C. As the basic treatment, the animal was fed with trash fish and shrimp minced with cod liver oil during treatment. As its eyes opened, the baby turtle was treated with a drop of ciprofloxacin [%0.3 ciprofloxacin hydrochloride] eye drop two times a day for prevention of any secondary infections. The case was diagnosed as vitamin A deficient baby turtle. It was restored to good health after three weeks following the prescribed treatments. The results of the investigation of this case show the need for special care in the feeding of baby turtles as they are kept as pets

[Evaluation of the effect of progesterone on prevention of preterm delivery and its complications]

Preterm delivery is a major cause of prenatal mortality and morbidity in the world and results in increased obstetric and pediatric care costs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of prophylactic vaginal progesterone in decreasing the rate of preterm delivery and its complications in high risk women. This study included 150 asymptomatic women with high risk singleton pregnancies. The subjects were assigned randomly into two similar groups. One group received 100 mg of prophylactic vaginal progesterone therapy [n=75] daily between the 24th and 34th week of gestation and the other group received no treatment [n=75]. The two groups were similar regarding maternal age and preterm delivery risk factors. Uterine contractions were monitored by external tocodynamometer for 60 minutes and in case of true contractions, routine tocolytic drugs were started for the subjects. In some patients, in spite of receiving tocolytic drugs, delivery progressed and the related data were collected. Data were introduced into SPSS software and analyzed by means of chi square, exact Fischer, ManWitney U, and t tests. The results were reported with a confidence level of 95%. The mean gestational age at the time of delivery was higher in the interventional group [38.62 +/- 2.08 week vs. 35.88 +/- 3.5 week] [P=0.001]. Preterm delivery before the 37th week of gestation occurred in 11.6% and 31.9% of the subjects in the progesterone and control groups respectively [P=0.004] and preterm deliveries before the 34th week occurred in 22.2% and 2.9% of the women in the control and progesterone groups respectively [p=0.001]. Moreover respiratory distress syndrome, low birth weight, birth weight, need for oxygen, infant apgar,need for mechanical ventilator, and hospitalization in NICU were significantly different between the two groups [P<0.01]. Prophylactic vaginal progesterone reduced the frequency of uterine contractions which led to decreased rate of preterm delivery in women with high risk factors for preterm delivery

[ effect of water birth on the duration of labor and pain level in comparison with land birth]

Due to the objectives of the World Health Organization and ministry of health concerning decreasing the rate of cesarean section, elective cesarean substitutes have to be investigated. Consequently, this study tried to evaluate the effect of water birth as a vaginal delivery method without the physician intervention on decreasing the pain level and the labor duration. This clinical trial study was carried out on 100 G1 and G2 pregnant women of 38 to 42-week pregnancy referring to Assalian Clinic. The samples were divided into two 50-member groups undergoing either water birth or land birth. The labor duration, as well as the pain level were evaluated and analyzed statistically using Chi-Square, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney test, and the p< 0.05 criterion was considered to be significant. We found that the average duration of the active phase of pregnancy for water birth was 3.1 +/- 0.8 hours compared to the same duration in the opposite group which was 4.7 +/- 0.8 hours showing a statistically significant decrease [p<0.05]. Moreover, the duration of the second stage of water birth group was 0.53 +/- 0.22 hours in comparison with 0.88 +/- 0.43 hours for the second group. Based on the p<0.05 criterion, the duration of the second stage of labor significantly decreased for water birth. The pain levels were determined in both groups using Visual Analog Score, which are: 3.53 +/- 0.79 and 6.96 +/- 1.7 for water birth and land birth respectively based on the criterion, and the decrease in the pain level was considered to be significant for water birth. Results of the study suggested that the water birth may have been a non-pharmaceutical and non-invasive substitute for the selected cesarean cases due to the shorter labor, the lower pain level, and the lowered physician intervention

[Frequency of enterohaemorrhagic Escherlchia coil isolated from patients with acute diarrhea in Tabriz hospitals]

Diarrhea is a major cause of morbidity in all age groups worldwide. Bacteria can cause 24% of infectious diarrhea which accounts for 70% mortality in affected children of <5 years old. Among the bacterial agents Salmonella spp, entero pathogenic E. coli, Campylobacter spp, Shigella spp and clostridia are the main causes of diarrhea. Escherichia coli O175 is an emerging cause of foodborne illness that presents with acute diarrhea. It transmits through the contaminated water, direct or indirect contact with animals and also through person to person contact. In addition to diarrhea, 2-7% of the patients infected with enterohemorrhagic E. coli [EHEC] will possibly develop haemolytic uremic syndrome [HUS] or acute renal failure. This study was conducted to determine the frequency of enteric pathogens with special reference to enterohaemorrhagic E. coli O157. A total of 1020 fecal specimens were collected from patients with acute diarrhea in Imam Khomeini and Children hospital of Tabriz. Direct examination was carried out for leukocytes, erythrocytes, parasite ova and trophozoites by wet mount preparation and the specimens also were cultured in selective and differential culture media for pathogenic bacteria. E. coli isolates were further typed using specific antisera and EHEC isolates were subjected to susceptibility testing against routinely used antibiotics. Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia were detected in 91[8.9%] and 51[5%] of cases. Pathogenic enteric bacteria were also isolated and recorded as E. coli O157 [n=6, 0.58%], E. coli O111 [n=15, 1.47%], E. coli O26 [n=13, 1.27%], Campylobacter jejuni [n=35, 3.4%], Salmonella spp. [n= 177 17.3%] and Shigella spp [9.5%]. All EHEC isolates were recovered from children <5 years old. In serological tests, 139 [13.5%] isolates of E. coli showed autoagglutination, which suggest their probable dependence to EAEC [entero aggregative E. coli]. Based on information collected from the EHEC positive patients' files, no sign of anemia or kidney disorder was detected. Entero pathogenic E. coli isolates are not usually tested in most of the routine diagnostic laboratories, so these medically important bacteria remain undiscovered, unless in an epidemic situation. Our findings of 3.3% enterohaemorrhagic E. coli and the presense of 0.58% E. coli O157 shows less frequency for these pathogenic bacteria and are in accordance with reports from other countries

Antifungal activity of thymus vulgaris l. and origanum vulgare l. against fluconazol-resistant and susceptible candida albicans isolates

In recent years, systemic fungal infections due to Candida species have been received major consideration about inducing mortality in nosocomial patient's because of increasing in immunocompromised disorders such as AIDS and hematological disorders as well as long term use of broad spectrum antibiotics and corticosteroids. Wide range use of antifungal agents specially azole compounds in treatment of sever Candidiasis has resulted in fungal resistance in Candida species, there fore, it is necessary to use antifungal susceptibility tests before selecting a suitable drug for such above mentioned infections which can resulted in the decrease in secondary drug resistance and better manipulation of treatment protocols. The present study was done with the aim of evaluating antifungal effects of a aqueous and essential oils prepared from Thymus vulgaris and Origanum vulgare against fluconazole [FLZ] susceptible and Fluconazole resistance Candida albicans strains isolated from different types of Candida using standard drug susceptibility tests. Evaluation of FLZ susceptibility of C. albicans strains by disk diffusion method showed 26 [78%], 4 [12.1%] and 3 [9.9%] isolates were susceptible, dose - dependence and resistant, respectively. Aqueous and essential oils from both Thymums vulgaris and Origanum vulgare showed inhibitory effects on growth of FLZ-susceptible C. albicans isolates, where as, only essential oils from Thymus vulgaris were found to be able to inhibit growth of FLZ-resistant C. albicans isolates. These resultrs show that there is a direct relationship between FLZ resistance and resistance to both thymus and Origanum in C.albicans. Thus, it is seems that these two plants could inhibit C. albicans growth by a similar mechanism which occure by FLZ. In general, the results obtained in this study indicate that both thymus vulgaris and Origanim vulgare have potential values for growth inhibition of C. albicans in vitro

Evaluating stigma among infertile men and women in Iran

Psycho-social aspects of physical disability may create more problems for the individual than the disability itself. The infertile may suffer from misjudgments or prejudices in different situations by their colleagues and relatives. All factors for this suffering can be evaluated in stigma settings which the infertile confront. In addition to these pathological settings, there are some opportunities which infertile people can enjoy for more adaptations with their social environments. The objective of this study was to become familiarized with different aspects of psycho- social life of the in fertile in the setting of Iranian culture. 268 fertile and infertile subjects were involved in this study from two different regions of Iran. Through a considerable number of interviews with infertile individuals in the pilot study, the styles of social interaction with people and also positive and negative constructs related to their social lives were recognized. Utilizing a suitable instrument [Repertory grid] and factor analysis of scores, disability factors concerning social aspects of infertility were discovered. Moreover, regression analysis and t-test [p<.05] were used for the analysis of the data. The statistical analysis including t-test, factor and regression analyses indicated that social comparison, as one of the sources for self, has an imminent role in the prediction of psychosocial adjustment of infertile individuals. Meanwhile, the infertile women showed more negative views in the elements "comparison with fertile people" and "my view toward infertility" but both fertile and infertile subjects did not show any significant differences in psychosocial adjustments. From the three sources of self-knowledge, social comparison, social feedback and self-observation, social comparison plays the first role and social feedback the second in the construction of stigma among infertile people. The results of this study showed the necessity of a health-oriented approach in the evaluation of psycho-social aspects of physical disability among infertile people and also the necessity of modifying and equalizing the functions of the three sources of self-knowledge through group therapy sessions

[Effects of increased intravenous hydration on the outcome of labor in nulliparous women at Shariati hospital in Bandar Abbas, 2003]

Background: One of the most controversial issues in obstetrical practice is how to provide essential calories and fluids for women in labor, and because most of the parturients, when admitted in labor ward, are N.P.O with seemingly inadequate doses of intravenous fluids, researcher decided to find an inexpensive way compatible with physiological situation of mothers to provide adequate fluids during this time

Purpose: This single-blind clinical trial was conducted to determine the effects of increased intravenous fluid on the course of labor in nulliparous women referring to Shariati Hospital in Bandar Abbas in 2003

Methods: Three doses of intravenous fluids [60, 120 and 240 ml/hr] were infused in labor to compare the Apgar scores of newborns with the kind of delivery in these three groups. In this study, all of the nulliparous women with selected specifications took part. Available sampling method was used to select 35 persons in each group [totally, 105 persons]. Each group randomly received I.V fluids 60, 120, and 240ml/hr. Data were collected by observation and a demographic questionnaire, a checklist of observation, a ruler, and an infant scale

Results: Findings showed that there was no difference between Apgar scores in the three groups. The type of delivery was also similar. By using odds-ratio test, the possibility of Cesarean section in 60 ml-per-hour group was found to be 6 times greater than the two other groups, but this finding was not uiasnot conclusive

Conclusion: Difference between the amounts of infused fluid during labor has no effect on outcome of labor. It seems that the 240 ml-per-hour dose can be used safely for the mother and her baby during delivery

[Study of the effect of mmc on the sister chromatid exchange in the human lymphocytes]

Some environmental mutagenic agents cause genomic instability and increase susceptibility of DNA damage. One of them is mitomycin C which is connected to DNA as an alkylating factor and affects susceptible cells to reduction reactions. This drug is used in chemotherapy and treatment of tumors. Study of genomic instability in the presence of different concentrations of MMC can show susceptibility of DNA damage in the patients who are under chemotherapy with this drug. For this purpose, SCE is a qualified method that shows the number of sister chromatid exchanges in the metaphasic chromosomes. The number of 10 5 lymphocytic cells which were separated with ficol, were cultured in media [5m1, F12 15%-20% FCS] that contains mitogen of PHA [phytohemagglutinin] and MMC in the concentrations of 3ng/ml, 6ng/ml and 9ng/ml and a control sample without MMC. The specific concentration of BrdU was added after 24 hours to cell cultures. Then metaphasic cells were halted in the metaphasic stage with colchicine after 48 hours and were stained with SCE method and were studied for the number of sister chromatid exchanges in each metaphasic plaques. Evaluation of 100 metaphasic plates showed that SCE was %3.35 in the control cells while it was %5.43, %7.1 and %8.13 in the treated cells with MMC in the concentrations of 3ng/ml, 6ng/ml and 9ng/ml. In view of the results, it is clear that MMC can cause genomic instability even in the low concentrations and it can increase SCE so that the level of SCE is become the most with the concentration of 9ng/ml and the least with the concentration of 3ng/ml. In view of relation between SCE and DNA damage, we can conclude that the genome of normal cells will be damaged in the presence of MMC and in the patients who are under chemotherapy with this drug. It means that the genome of cells will become sensitive to mutation in the presence of low concentrations of MMC. Therefore we can postulate that we should use the concentrations of less than 3 ng/ml in order to decrease mutagenic effects of MMC in normal cells

Sodium valproate-induced potentiation of antiherpetic effect of acyclovir

Sodium valproate [VPA], an anticonvalsant drug, has been reported to stimulate viral replication. A combination therapy with VPA and acyclovir [ACV] is used for the treatment of herpesvirus encephalitis, the commonest sporadic encephalitis of viral origin. To determine a possible interaction between VPA and ACV leading to a modification of antiviral activity of ACV. Cultured Hela cells were treated with 5 micro M of ACV and various concentrations of VPA followed by infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 [HSV-1]. Virus replication was monitored by quantal assay. Further investigations comprised electron microscopy, immunoperoxidase and immunoblot procedures. Possible chemical interaction between VPA and ACV was studied by nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] spectrometer. Combined treatment of infected cells with ACV and VPA revealed 50- to 250-fold potentiation of antiviral activity of ACV by increasing VPA concentrations. Examination by NMR spectrometer showed a strong chemical interaction between amino groups of ACV and carboxyl part of VPA. The present in vitro studies should be paralleled by appropriate in vivo investigations, and if substantiated, a combination therapy with ACV and VPA may supersede single ACV therapy for herpesvirus encephalitis. Further studies are thus needed to establish which of VPA metabolites or newly-formed compounds is accountable for augmentation of antiviral effect of ACV

[Knowledge of women working in hospitals of Lorestan medical sciences university about smoking effects on fertility]

Smoking has some undesirable effects on human health. Its effect on fertility is one of health problems, which public has little knowledge about them. Considering the prevalent of smoking between youth, we decided to assess the knowledge of women working in hospitals of Lorestan Medical Sciences University regarding the effect of smoking on fertility. This is a cross sectional study. 280 women were chosen so to assess the knowledge of women working in hospitals of Lorestan Medical Sciences University in 2001. Information were gathered through questionnaire which was prepared base on objectives of study and was used after proving to be valid. Results showed that 75.7% of women knew about respiratory disease, 79.1% knew about heart disease and 69.3% had knowledge about addictive effect of smoking. Base on results of this study, few women knew about fertility problem of smoking. Only 37.5% knew about infertility effect, 47% knew about intra uterine fetal death, 70.7% knew about spontaneous abortion, 52.1% knew about infant death and 10.7% had knowledge on early menopause effect of smoking. Therefore by increasing knowledge of women on effects of smoking, we can reduce the related effects

[Introduction of a recirculator for long term anesthesia applicable in the surgery of fishes]

An instrument with the name of recirculator was designed for long term anaestheria of fishes for clinical and other investigations outside the water. Recirculator, circulates the water containing anaesthetic drugs over the respiratory system of fishes and prevents any distruption and contact of animal with water. After designing and production of the aforementioned instrument, it was tested an cyprinus carpia for gounadal removals and an salmo gairdneri fishes, for langterm anastheria, it was also tested on cyprinus carpio and hypophthalmichthys molitrix. The results showed that by using this procedure fishes stand the necessary time for surgery while being anasthetised by recirculator and recovery during 3-4 minutes without and any problem