[Effect of combination of Melatonin and All-Trans retinoic acid on maturation, fertilization and embryonic development of immature mouse oocytes]

Background and Objective: With respect to the antioxidant role of melatonin and retinoic acid, it seems to be effective both in the maturation and embryonic development. This study was done to investigate the effect of combination of melatonin and All-Trans retinoic acid [RA] on maturation, fertilization and embryonic development of immature mouse oocytes

Methods: In this experimental study, cumulus - oocyte complex [COCs] were recovered from 4-6 week old female mice NMRI and were divided into 6 maturation medium groups including control, sham, experiment 1[melatonin 100 nM, 1 and 2 microM], experiment 2 [retinoic acid 1, 2, 4, 6 microM], experiment 3 [melatonin 2 microM+RA 4 microM], experiment 4 [Mel 100nM + retinoic acid 4 microM]. The maturation rate was recorded after 24 hours of culture in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 at 37°C. The matured oocytes were fertilized with sperm. Fertilization and embryonic development rates to the blastocyst stage were recorded

Results: Maturation rate in the control and sham groups were 50.6% and 49.4%, respectively. Maturation rate were 54.3%, 54.8%, 59.9% in melatonin group with concentrations of 100 nM, 1 and 2 microM, respectively. Maturation rate were 51.6%, 51%, 59% and 49.6% in t-RA group with concentrations of 1, 2, 4, 6 microM. Maturation rate were 60.4% and 54.2% in the experiment 3 and 4 groups, respectively. The maturation rates in the melatonin 2 microM, retinoic acid 4 microM and experiment 3 significantly increased in compare to control [P<0.05]. The embryonic development rate in the melatonin with 100nM concentration and 4 microM of retinoic acid increased significantly compared to controls [P<0.05]. Although, embryonic development rate in experiment 3 was higher than control, but lower in compare to melatonin 100 nM and the retinoic acid 4 microM. The embryonic development rate in experiment 4 significantly increased in compare to control [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Combination of melatonin and All-Trans retinoic acid in medium culture increase maturation rate and improved embryonic development in dose dependent manner

[Effects of hydroalcoholic extract matricaria chamomilla L. on paraquat-induced blood oxidative toxicity in rat]

Paraquat [PQ] is a herbicide and exerts its cytotoxicity via the generation of reactive oxygen species [ROS]. There is no specific treatment for PQ poisoning. The purpose of this study was to investigate of hydroalcoholic extract Matricaria chamomilla L. [M. chamomilla] against PQ-induced injury in association with its antioxidant activity. The male rats were treated by gastric gavage daily with PQ [5 mg/kg/day] and M. chamomilla [50 mg/kg/day] were administered alone or in combination for 7 days. After treatments, in blood sample, lipid peroxidation [LPO], total antioxidant capacity [TAC], the activity of glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and superoxide dismutase [SOD] were measured. In this sample, the TAC was lower in the PQ group as compared with control group. PQ increased LPO level, GPx and SOD activities compared control group M. chamomilla extract increased TAC and decreased LPO level, GPx and SOD activities compared PQ group. Co-administration of PQ with M. chamomilla extract increased TAC and decreased GPx and SOD activities as compared with PQ group. In conclusion, M. chamomilla ?as natural antioxidant may be considered beneficial for the protection oxidative damage in PQ poisoning

[To identify the facilitator and barrier factors of physical activity among elderly people in Tehran]

Physical activity is important for the health of all individuals, however, the determinants of physical activity behavior for elderly remain unexplored in Iran. The purpose of this investigation was to explore a range of factors that influence participation in physical activity for a group of elderly people in Tehran in 2008. This was a population-based study. Structured interviews with a valid questionnaire were employed for this survey. It was carried out on four hundred members of Healthy Association in Tehran. Multistage sampling was used. The mean age of participants was 64.07 +/- 4.49. The prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle among elderly fifty-three [53%] estimated. The prevalence across the stages was as follows: 30.25% in pre contemplation, 12.75%in contemplation, 27.25% in preparation, 6.25% in action and 23.5% in maintenance. Inactive participants perceived that their laziness prevented them from being physically active. Meeting friends was the most important facilitator for participating in physical activity. The individuals who married, younger, lower body Mass index, having no chronic disease, and those with past history of exercise were more likely to adopt, initiate and maintain regular physical activity. Regression analysis showed that the greater knowledge of physical activity, higher Perceived health benefits, more Self efficacy were associated with physical activity. Knowing the facilitators and barriers factors of physical activity in elderly would help to implement any future intervention for this group of people

effect of three-dimensional model on anatomy learning of middle ear

The aim of this study was to study the effect of three-dimensional model in learning the anatomy of middle ear. The study was conducted at Artesh University of Medical Sciences in 3 phases in 2007: 1- preparation of three-dimensional model with reference to the Gray's Anatomy for Students [2005-1[st] edition], 2- dividing medical and nursing students into 4 grouos accidentally, teaching with lecture and powerpoint slides to control groups and additional teaching with three-dimensional model to study groups, 3- taking similar pre-test and post-test exam and statistical analysis. Analysis of pre-test and post-test scores in each group with t-test showed significant differences [p=0.000]. There were not significant differences in respect to analysis of difference of pre-test and post-test scores between groups. Three-dimensional model had positive effect on anatomy learning of middle ear but it didn't cause significant difference in comparison with traditional educational method

[Effect of antioxidants supplementation on human sperm parameters after freezing]

Antioxidant reduces oxidative stress during cryo-preservation. The aim of this study was to find out the effects of vitamin E and C on sperm parameters after cryo-preservation. Human semen samples were obtained from Vali-e-asr Hospital. The samples were divided in two groups [normal and oligospermia groups]. Semen was pooled in liquid nitrogen after thawing, samples were centrifuged, then vitamin E and C were added to medium and the aliquots were incubated for 45 minutes in incubator Co2. In control group, no antioxidant was added to medium. Sperm parameters were analyzed according to WHO criteria. Data was analyzed by ANNOVA test. There was a significant increase in the progressive motility and viability of sperm which was supplemented by vitamin E, with 1, 2 Mm [p<0.05] in the normal groups [the increase in the oligospermia group, after addition of vitamin E with 1, 2, Mm was not significant]. Vitamin C did not have a significant effect on sperm parameters with 1, 2 Mm concentration. Supplementation of media with alpha-tocopherol is beneficial for sperm motility and viability rates after cryopreservation and it may be of clinical value in assisted conception procedures

[ therapeutic effects of oral administration of garlic extract and tablet on experimentally lead acetate poisoning in mouse]

To study the therapeutic effects of garlic extract and tablet on lead poisoning in mouse. Experimental study. Eighty mature male mice with 22-25g body weight. Mice were divided into 8 groups of 10 mice each. All groups received lead acetate [5mg/kg of bady weight] for 21 weeks and after then treated daily for another 4 weeks as follows: group A1, 500mg/kg fresh garlic; group A2, 250mg/kg fresh garlic; group A3, 125mg/kg fresh garlic; group B1, 1/4 Garlet tablet per kg body weight [Eq. to 500 mg fresh garlic]; group B2, 1/8 Garlet tablet per kg body weight [Eq. to 250 mg fresh garlic]; group B3, 1/16 Garlet tablet per kg body weight [Eq. to 125 mg fresh garlic]; group C, 5mg/kg lead acetate and group D did not received any thing in both the first 4 and the second 4 weeks. These results showed that daily administration of fresh garlic [preferably 250-500 mg/kg] or Garlet tablet [1/4 of one garlet tablet per kg body weight] can have therapeutic effects on mice with chronic lead administration. Result showed that garlic and garlet tablets [in a lower grade] have the ability to reduce the lead residues in soft tissues as well as bone in chronic lead poisoned mouse. So, it can be concluded that garlic can be used for lead poisoning therapy in mouse and probably in human and other animals. Moreover, fresh garlic or garlet tablet in aforementioned dose could be used in areas with lead pollution

[Investigating the relation between lifestyle and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]

Introduction: In studies or lifestyle of patients with [Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD], physical and, social activities, nutrition and smoking are the behavioral patterns, which aggravate this disorder and cause a dysfunctional circle, which prevents healing

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the lifestyle of patients with COPD and control group and then the two groups according to severity and length of disease

Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was done on 70 patients with COPD as the case group, which was selected, based on American Thoracic Society and also on 70 healthy persons as the control group. Patients with any psychiatric or chronic disorder or those who didn't cooperate were excluded from this study. The questionnaire included demographic information such as age, sex, education level, duration of affliction to this disease and FEV1 and Miller-Smith lifestyle questionnaire were filled for all patients. All data were statistically analyzed by t-student and ANOVA tests

Results: The mean age of case and control groups were 66.3 +/- 9.2 and 64.2 +/- 11.6 respectively. Thirty-six persons [51%] in case group and 35 persons [50%] in control group were male. The means of education level in case and control groups were 8.3 +/- 4.1 and 9.2 +/- 3.4 respectively. The mean score of lifestyle in case group was 66.64 +/- 18.6 and in control group was 32.01 +/- 6.49, which was statistically significant [P<0.013]. The mean score of Miller-Smith questionnaire was significantly increased as the severity of the disease [based on FEV1] and the duration of the disease increased [P<0.003]

Conclusion: Lifestyle is an important factor in patients with COPD. Suitable management and effective pulmonary rehabilitation can be effective in the treatment of patients with COPD. So it is necessary to consider lifestyle change as a part of patients' treatment

comparitive study of mouse ovarian alkaline phosphatase activity in normal and pseudopregnancies

The purpose of this study was to determine alkaline phosphatase [ALP] activity of ovary after ovarian induction using pregnant mare serum gonadotropin [PMSG] and human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG] during implantation periods. A total of 240 female NMRI mice aged 6-10 weeks were selected and divided into control and hyperstimulated. These mice were rendered normal or pseudopregnant. Five mice per each group were sacrificed by cervical dislocation at the first to sixth day of natural or pseudopregnancy. For biochemical assay the samples were obtained from the ovary, then were hemogenated using Tris HCl buffered salin [pH=8.3] and centrifuged with 14000 g. The activity of enzyme was determined using paranitrophenyle phosphate as substrate. Then specific activity of enzyme was calculated according to the total protein. The data were evaluated with Mann whitney test. For histochemistry the samples were cryosectioned [5mm thickness] and the ALP activity was determined by azo-coupling technique using alphanaphtole phosphate as substrate. The pattern of ALP activity in the biochemical and hisotchemical study was the same in each group. The activity of the ovarian ALP was increased during early pregnancy in the control and hyperstimulated natural pregnant groups. There were significant differences between these groups in every days except on the first and fourth day of pregnancy [p<0.05]. The ovarian enzyme activity was increased in pseudopregnancy control until 4th day and in the pseudopregnant hyperstimulation groups until 2nd day of pseudopregnancy then it was decreased. The daily patterny of these alterations were significantly different [p<0.05] comparing the above-mentioned groups. ALP activity was increased in every day of pregnancy [p<0.05] in normal pregnant hyperstimulated group in comparison with the psuedopregnant hyperstimulated group. Thus ovarion hyprstimulation alters the ovarian ALP activity during early pregnancy. These alteration may be due to esteroidogenesis activity of ovarian cells. However more investigation with complementary technique is needed

Frequency of diabetic retinopathy and related factors in ophthalmologic consults in Shahid Mostafa Khomeini hospital between 1998-2002

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most frequent and important human metabolic disorders. More than 150 million people all over the world and near 3 million people in Iran are involved. A great number of cases are undiagnosed. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most important complications of diabetes which may result in blindness. The aim of this study was to determine frequency and progression of diabetic retinopathy and its related factors and also role of ophthalmologic consult in detecting early stages of diabetic retinopathy. As a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study, we studied 253 records of hospitalized diabetic patients who had ophthalmologic consultation in Shahid Mostafa Khomeini hospital during 1998-2002. We considered age, gender, duration of diagnosis, treatment modality, fasting plasma glucose, serum cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine, blood urea, urinary protein and glucose, hypertension, and severity of diabetic retinopathy. Results were analyzed with SPSS software. Among 740 records that had ophthalmology consult, 253 cases [35.54%] had type2 diabetes mellitus. The frequency of diabetic retinopathy [DR] was 69.6% and background DR, preproliferative DR [NPDR] and proliferative DR [PDR] were 34.8%, 13.8% [NPDR=48%] and 20.9%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the diabetic retinopathy and age, duration of diagnosis, hypertension, serum creatinine, urine protein, urine glucose, blood urea, and cause of hospitalization. There was not any relationship with fasting blood sugar, serum cholesterol, triglyceride and gender. The frequency of DM in the type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who were hospitalized was more than most of the other studies. In our study duration of diagnosis, age and hypertension are the factors which increase frequency of DR. In order to prevent it, ideal blood pressure control is necessary. Preventive efforts can postpone other diabetic complications such as nephropathy. Ophthalmologic consults in hospitalized diabetic patients can help us in screening, detecting early stages and appropriate treatment of DR

Disseminated nocardiosis in an immunocompromised child with unknown cause

Disseminated nocardiosis [DN], is an infrequent and severe infection due to Nocardia species and defined as infection in two or more discontinuous organs. Most infections occur in the immunocompromised host or in persons with underlying disease. DN occurs rarely in children. In this report, we describe an 11-year-old immunecompromised child with nocardiosis involving the lung, skin, brain and bone. No predisposing factor nor any underlying disease was found to explain his immune deficiency. Diagnosis of nocardial infection is often cumbersome, resulting at times in wrong initial clinical diagnosis such as cancer and other bacterial infections [e.g. tuberculosis]. Therefore, it is important to consider nocardial infection in the differential diagnosis of children with combined brain and lung lesions