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Introduction: Echinococcus granulosus is the causative agent of hydatid cysts, which are distributed worldwide. Nowadays, much research is being done to inactivate hydatid cyst protoscoleces. This study was conducted with the aim to compare the scolicidal effect of two chemical compounds 12 and 2 on hydatid cyst protoscoleces in vitro. Material & Methods: The scolicidal activity of two amini-hydrox-phenylcoumarin and amini-bromo-phenylcoumarin at concentrations of 1.2, 1.5, 1.10 and 1.100 after 15, 30 and 60 minutes of incubation was tested separately and each of the experiments was repeated three times. The viability of protoscoleces was checked with 0.1% eosin dye under a light microscope. Subsequently data were analyzed using GraphPad version 5 software and two-way repeated measures ANOVA and values (P > 0.05) was considered a significant level. Findings: The results of this study showed that the chemical compound amini-bromophenylcoumarin at a concentration of 1.10 destroyed 100% of protoscoleces after 60 minutes of exposure compared to the control group, but amini-hydroxophenyl-coumarin, at a concentration of 1.100 could destroy 98% of protoscolecia after 60 minutes of exposure. Discussion & Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that amini-bromophenylcoumarin had stronger protoscolicidal effects than amini-hydroxophenyl-coumarin. However, further studies and in vivo studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of these chemical compounds.

Background and Objectives: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is one of the most important health-threatening diseases in Iran and other countries. Glucantime is currently used to treat this disease, but due to its side effects and high resistance, alternative therapies such as the use of nanoparticles have been considered by researchers. This study aims to investigate the anti-leishmania activity of silver nanoparticles on Leishmania major in vitro. Methods: This is an experimental study on the anti-leishmania activities of silver nanoparticles at different concentrations of 0.75-0.96 µg/ml after 24, 48 and 72 hours of exposure to 106 live Leishmania major promastigotes. The numbers of live parasites were counted by Trypan Blue on a neobar slide using optical microscope (Hemocytometer method). Glucantime and distilled water were considered as positive and negative controls, respectively. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was calculated by SigmaPlot™ software, v‌ersion 13. All reactions were done three times and their average was considered as final result. Results: All concentrations of silver nanoparticles had anti-leishmania activity, where the concentration of 96 µg/ml had the highest effect (100%) 72 hours after exposure. The IC50 was obtained 36.67, 27.2 and 21.08 µg/ml after 24, 48 and 72 hours of exposure, respectively. Conclusion: Silver nanoparticles have an inhibitory effect on the growth of Leishmania major in different concentrations. However, further in-vivo studies are needed to determine the effictivness of silver nanoparticles.

Background and Objectives: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is one of the common diseases between humans and animals that is considered a health problem in Iran and many countries around the world. Currently, glucantime is used to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis. Due to its high side effects and resistance, the use of alternative therapies, especially plants and natural compounds, has been highly recommended by researchers. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the methanolic extract of dandelion root (Taraxacum officinale) on Leishmania major in vitro techniques. Methods: In this experimental study, the extract was prepared by the Soxhlet method and to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of dandelion root on L. major parasite at concentrations of 300-1200 mg/ml. Amphotericin B and distilled water were considered as positive and negative controls, respectively. Then, 106 live parasites were added to all tubes, and all groups were kept at 25 ±1 °C. At 24, 48, and 72 hours, the number of live parasites was counted by Trypan Blue using a neobar slide and light microscope (Hemocytometer method). Then Half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value for the above extract was calculated using SigmaPlot™ 13 software. All steps of the experiment were done in triplicate and the results were considered as average. Results: The IC50 content of methanolic extract of dandelion roots after 24, 48, and 72 hours on L. major were calculated to be 1.04, 0.9, and 0.68 µg/ml. The highest growth inhibition (100%) was observed at a concentration of 1200 μg/ml after 72 hours of exposure. There was a significant difference between the IC50 extract and amphotericin B drug after 24, 48 and 72 hours (P

Background and Objectives: Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellate protozoan that is the most common sexually parasitic transmitted infection in the world. Metronidazole is currently used for the treatment of trichomoniasis, which has side effects. In recent years, the use of plants and natural compounds has been considered by researchers. This study was conducted to investigate the anti-trichomonal activity of methanolic extract of Hyssopus officinalis on Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro. Methods: In this experimental study, the extract was prepared by Soxhlet method, and to evaluate the effect of methanolic extract of Hyssopus officinalis on Trichomonas vaginalis parasites, the concentrations of 50, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1,000, 1,200, and 1,400 μg/ml was prepared. Metronidazole and distilled water were considered as positive and negative controls, respectively. Afterward, 105 live parasites were added to all tubes, and all groups were kept at 37°C. Live parasites were counted at 24, 48, and 72 h intervals by Trypan Blue using a neobar slide and light microscope (Hemocytometer). Subsequently, the IC50 value for the above extract was calculated using SigmaPlot ™ software (version 13). It should be noted that all steps of the experiment were performed in triplicate and the results were considered as average. Results: The IC50 of methanolic extract of Hyssopus officinalis on Trichomonas vaginalis parasite was calculated at 965.8, 730.4, and 542.1 μg/ml after 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. The highest mortality rate (100%) was observed at a concentration of 1,400 μg/ml after 72 h of exposure. Conclusion: Methanolic extract of Hyssopus officinalis in different concentrations had an inhibitory effect on the growth of the Trichomonas vaginalis parasite. Further and more comprehensive studies are suggested to investigate the constituents of this plant and the lethal effect of the parasite in vivo conditions.

As our recent society is turning to senility, this research tries to analyze meaningful factors on elders' lives according to social interpretation approach. In this research, it is tried to reach a background theory through qualitative method and deep interview. Using systematic sampling and theoretical saturation scale,21 people among 68 to 81-years-old elders in Tehran, district 21 (Tehransar) were interviewed and the information received coded(open and axial)and concepts and categories reached, were analysed. The data using background theory contains 10 categories. Categorizing in this research is family adaptability that generally covered all other categories. Based on nuclear category, two cases out of data, are convergence and disparity and the most important achievement of research is the effect of convergence (family and social) on life's meaningfulness and the effect of disparity on life's meaninglessness. Factors like health or sickness, financial situation and fidelity of elders are considered underlie that shows their approach to life. Finally, basic reached theory presented in the form of paradigm, selective, adaptive and marriage.

Parasitic infections are a threat to the wildlife by endangering the health of wild animals and serving as a source of transmission of infectious agents to livestock and humans. Despite the distribution of wild boars (Sus scrofa), wild goat (Capra aegagrus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) throughout the world, information on their parasitic infections is limited. Knowledge of the parasitic fauna of animals in protected areas may be used in protection of endangered species. The present study aimed to investigate the status of gastrointestinal parasitic infections in wild boar, wild goat and red deer in the Aynaloo protected area, Northwest of Kaleybar city, East Azerbaijan province. For this purpose, in spring 2015, 30 fecal samples of wild boar, 30 fecal samples of wild goat and 30 fecal samples of red deer were collected. The samples were processed using direct smear and Clayton lane floatation technique. Five species of helminths were detected from wild boar fecal samples consisting of Trichuris suis, Strongyloides suis, Physocephalus sexalatus, Ascaris suum and Metastrongylus apri. Among them, one species (Strongyloides suis) was reported for the first time in Iran. Protozoa were not detected in the fecal samples of the wild boar. Wild goats were infected with Oesophagostomum columbianum, Muellerius capillaris and Eimeria spp. Respiratory larva and Eimeria spp. were detected from red deer samples.