[Effect of methanolic soy extract on serum levels of lipid and lipoproteins in ovariectomized rats]

Disorders in lipid metabolism and increases of serum lipid and lipoprotein levels have been associated with postmenopausal complications. Some studies have demonstrated that isoflavones and soy proteins could have useful effects on serum lipid and lipoprotein levels; however, there are a few reports about the effects of total soy extract on serum lipid and lipoproteins. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of methanolic soy extract on serum levels of lipid and lipoproteins in ovariectomized rat. In this study 40 female rats were allocated randomly into 4 equal groups: 1] sham; 2] ovariectomized; 3] treatment and 4] control-gavage. The animals in treatment group received 60 mg/kg soy extract in drinking water using gavage for 28 days. At the end of the treatment, serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, HDL and VLDL were determined. Results showed that administration of total soy extract can improve the serum concentrations of lipid and lipoproteins in treatment group. Moreover, the study revealed a significant difference between the sham group and the other groups in serum concentrations of VLDL and triglyceride [P<0.05]. Soy extract administration can have a positive effect on serum lipid and lipoprotein levels in ovariectomized rats

Correlation between dental and chronological age in 6-15 years old orthodontic patients in Qazvin

The use of different stages of tooth eruption is preferred to estimate the children chronological age as it is less affected by hormonal changes or nutritional status. The most accurate method developed for determination of dental age is the Demirjian technique as indicated by different studies. The objective of this study was to assess the correlation between dental age and chronological age in 6-15 years old orthodontic patients in Qazvin in 2010. In this descriptive analytic study, 468 individuals [255 females and 213 males] were selected based on simple sampling and the dental age for each person was determined by Demirjian technique based on 7 mandibular left teeth. The chronological age was calculated by subtracting the birth date from the panoramic date. The correlation between the dental age and chronological age was assessed by Pearson coefficient and the difference between two genders evaluated. Significant and direct correlation was found between the chronological age and dental age [r=0.912 for females and r=0.905 for males]. With the exception of age 12 in males, the dental age of each individual was higher than the chronological age. The highest and the lowest differences between the two dental age and chronological age in each gender was noted in chronological ages of 6 and 14 in males and 6 and 8 in females, respectively. Based on results found in the presents study, it seems that the Demirjian technique to be valid for dental age estimation among Iranian people. However, the development of exclusive tables for Iranian population is necessary due to the overestimation of the individual's dental age compared to the chronological age