[Effect of listeria monocytogenes colonization on maternal and fetal liver and spleen in BALB/c haploid mice]

Background and Objective: Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive facultative intracellular non spore forming bacillus. The epidemiologic studies have shown that Listeria monocytogenes is the cause of abortion and abnormalities in human embryo. This study was done to determine the effect of listeria monocytogenes colonization on maternal and fetal liver and spleen in mice

Methods: In this experimental study, Inbred BALB/c dams allocated into case and control groups. Dams in interventional and control groups were received 200micro L of 1.2 LogFCU/ml, Listeria monocytogenes and normal salin intraperitoneally, respectively. Few mice from each group were randomally selected and 5ml of blood collected, placenta, uterus liver and spleen were removed subsequently in 13 and 24 day of gestation and listeria monocytogenes colonization were determined. Liver and spleen of full term offsprings were stained for the histological studies

Results: L.monocytogenes strains were detected in different organs of mice damsup for 30 day of gestation. The higest and lowest of organ contamination were seen in liver and blood samples, respectively. The ratio of weight/volume of organ was higher in case than control groups. Hepatocytes degenration, hepatocyte size alteration, cell cord atrophy and sinusoid dilatation were seen in the liver. Disruption of red pulp, disorganization of lymphoid nodules and necrosis were noticed in the spleen

Conclusion: Contamination of BALB/c dams causes the histological alterations in the liver and spleen of offesprings

Relation between cranial capacity and brain weight with body weight and height in 18-26 years old Iranian students

Background and Objective: The size of the human body is studied in anthropometry. In the one field of anthropometry, the relation of skull and brain size with body weight and height in human are studied. This study was done to determine the relation between cranial capacity and brain weight with body weight and height in 18-26 years old Iranian students. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 286 students [150 females and 136 males] in Arak, Iran. Cranial capacity, brain weight, body weight and height, cerebral index and the ratio of brain to body [cerebral quotient] in 18-26 years old students were measeared. Results: The mean of cranial capacity in males and females were 1393.71 and 1168.71 mm3, respectively [P<0.05]. The mean of brain weight in males and females were 1445.19 and 1209.61 gram, respectively [P<0.05]. The mean of cerebral index in males and females were 1.99 and 2.2, respectively [P<0.05]. Positive statistical correlation was seen between cranial capacity with body weight, height and BMI in both gender. Conclusion: Cranianl capacity and brain weight in males was more than females while cerebral index was more in females

[Complex variation in the brain arteries in Tehran]

Variations in the cerebral arterial circle [CAC] correlate with incidence of some cerebrovascular diseases and must be considered during surgical operations [1, 2]. It also seems that different distribution of variations of the CAC is related to the race. This issue may partially explain the different incidences of some of the cerebrovascular diseases in different ethnic or racial groups [3-5]. Although there have been some reports of Variations in the cerebral arterial circle in other part of the world, the evidence for Iranian population is poorly reviewed. A 70 year-old female of Tehran population in central Iran is presented here. In this case Subclaivan and Vertebral arteries have abnormal origin and circumflex of Willis isn't complete because posterior cerebral arteries are absent

Evaluation of liver volume and its megakaryocyte's population in NMRI mice fetus exposed to electromagnetic field

During the recent decades, a lot of studies were conducted to asses the effect of electromagnetic fields on fetal developmental disorders, sterility, and a variety of neoplasms. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of low electromagnetic field [LEMF] on the liver's volume and the number of its megakaryocytes in NMRI mouse fetus. LEMF of 50 HZ frequency was used and 66 three month old NMRI mouse embryos were divided into 6 groups. The experimental groups were exposed to LEMF and then an embryo was randomly selected from each mother and its liver was extracted and fixed in formalin. Cell counting and volume evaluating were done by stereological methods and the data were analyzed. Although the number of liver megakaryocytes and the embryos weight in all experimental groups as compared to sham and control groups reduced but the differences were not significant. The results of this study revealed that in the pregnant mice exposed to LEMF, irrespective of the length of pregnancy, there was not a significant change in the liver volume and the number of liver's megakaryocytes in NMRI mouse fetus