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Abstract Sustainable development requires focusing on renewable energy, such as solar power, due to the limited availability of fossil fuels. Solar energy, available only during daylight, can be stored in thermal batteries using phase change materials (PCM). However, PCM has low thermal conductivity, slowing its melting process. Fins have been added to enhance heat diffusion, but their optimal design requires further study. This research examines an annular chamber with fixed inner and outer wall temperatures and explores fin configurations. Two series of evenly spaced fins (four and five) were analyzed, with melting times calculated using CFD simulations. Larger fins reduce melting time but limit PCM storage. Effectiveness, defined as the PCM space over melting time, was used to evaluate performance. Higher boundary temperatures decreased melting time but did not always increase effectiveness. The study also used artificial neural networks (ANN) combined with a genetic algorithm to predict optimal conditions. The configuration with five fins, a 90°C boundary temperature, a fin length of 45 mm, and a thickness of 5.4 mm achieved the highest effectiveness of 4.7, showing that smaller fins at lower temperatures are more efficient.

Background: In Iran, a variety of medicinal plants are used, either alone or in combination, for the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, scientific and clinical studies are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of these medicinal plants. Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of AKROPOL, a poly-herbal extract mixture used in Persian medicine, in the treatment of type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: Eighty six male and female patients, aged 40-60 years, registered at the Diabetes Clinic Registry of the Baqiyatallah Hospital, in Tehran, Iran, randomly allocated to two groups of 43 each. The patients in AKROPOL group received one capsule (containing 500 mg of poly-herbal extract mixture: chicory, turmeric, nettle, fenugreek and whortleberry) and the patients in placebo group received one capsule (containing 500 mg toast powder) twice a day in addition to their routine anti-diabetic medications for 3 months. The primary outcome measures were HbA1C and FBG (fasting blood glucose) levels, while lipid levels, liver enzymes and renal function tests were secondary outcome measures. Results: Compared with the placebo group and baseline, the AKROPOL group showed significant reductions in FBG, HbA1C, total cholesterol, and LDL-C levels. No significant hepatic, renal, gastrointestinal, or other side effects were observed during the study. Conclusion: The findings suggest that AKROPOL in addition to anti-diabetic and cholesterol-lowering effects, had no adverse effects in type 2 diabetic patients.

Background and purpose: This study was carried out to analyze the trend of death due to substance abuse and related factors in Iran in order to design and implement preventive and therapeutic interventions for substance related deaths. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the data of 6810 deaths caused by drug abuse, registered in the "System of Registration and Classification of Causes of Death", defined by ICD-10 criteria and based on the reports of Ministry of Health and Legal Medicine Organization in 2014-2018. Variables including age, gender, type of poisoning and the type of substance leading to death were examined. Description of these data and examination of the time trend of the raw mortality rate were performed using joinpoint regression analysis and percentage of annual changes (APC) and average percentage of annual changes (AAPC) were calculated in SPSS V23. Results: The average age of the deceased was 39.2±17.0 years. Majority of them were men. Central regions followed by western regions of Iran accounted for the highest number of deaths that was related to opioid poisoning. Accidental poisoning and poisoning with unknown intention were the most frequent causes. Deaths due to opioids (APC=27.2, P=0.008) and stimulants (APC=109.24, P=0.1) overdose showed an increasing trend and a peak in 2014 in Iran. A decreasing trend was found in two groups of sedative-hypnotic-anxiolytics and other drugs, but it was not statistically significant. No trends were found for alcohol-related deaths. Conclusion: There is a considerable increasing trend in accidental deaths, especially caused by opioids and mainly in middle-aged men which requires limiting measures. It is recommended to intensify drug monitoring and provide trainings about using naloxone as an emergency antidote to opiate overdose to families, police and emergency staff in early stages of drug poisoning.

Abstract In this Letter, a new low‐voltage and low‐power current‐mode winner‐take‐all (WTA) circuit is proposed. The proposed circuit is able to operate with a low supply voltage requirement while exhibiting a high accuracy. Moreover, the sensitivity of the circuit to the process variations and mismatches is improved. The proposed WTA circuit is designed and simulated in a 65‐nm technology with a supply voltage of VDD = 0.9 V. The post‐layout simulation results show that the power consumption of the proposed circuit is about 72 μW with the input dynamic range of 40 μA.

Background: The death registration is conducted by different systems in Iran. The drug-related death registration is exclusively conducted by Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) and Legal Medicine Organization (LMO). This study investigates the causes of undercounting drug-related deaths (DRDs) in Iran, provides recommendations for addressing this issue, and provides a geographical evaluation of the integrity and quality of drug-related mortality registration (2014–2017).Methods: This is a mix-method study. In part1, individual targeted interviews were conducted with 12 experts in death registration in MOHME and LMO to collect data on the causes of low registration in Iran and provide recommendations for resolving the issue. Part2 of the study involved an intervention in the form of a memorandum of understanding on reduction of low-registrations. This memorandum was signed to transfer information about the corpses between the MOHME and LMO. First, the number of DRDs (2014-2017) was examined using capture-recapture method and, then, we calculated and compared the rate of pre intervention (2014-2016) and post-intervention (2017) under-registration to assess whether this memorandum of understanding had been effective in reduction of under-registrations.Findings: In part1, according to the participants, the causes of undercounting DRDs in LMO and MOHME were arranged and categorized into 4 categories: weak administration system, physician and personnel training problems, system constraints, and client-related problems. Also, some suggestions were presented to help resolving the problem of undercounting; these suggestions concern the administrative system, technology, and educational domains. In part 2, about half of the provinces in Iran had a positive performance in reducing the undercount.Conclusion: At the macro level, the memorandum of understanding between the two organizations responsible for registering deaths was effective. However, increasing the quality of data registrations requires monitoring at the micro and organizational levels to lead to a positive performance in reducing death under-registration in all provinces.

Introduction: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most widely used drugs in the treatment of pain and inflammation. Although, their side effects i.e.; gastrointestinal and renal adverse effects, limit the use of these drugs. Therefore, investigating new compounds with higher efficacy and fewer side effects is considerable issue. In this study, the analgesic activity of rosmarinic acid at different doses was compared with piroxicam (known standard NSAID).Methods: To evaluate the analgesic effects of rosmarinic acid, two well-known methods, Hot plate, and Tail-flick, were used. The experiments were performed in 10 groups (6 male mice per group) including the experimental groups (rosmarinic acid), the positive control group (piroxicam), and the negative control group (normal saline). All administrations were through intraperitoneal injection. The obtained data were analyzed separately by SPSS software and an independent student t test.Results: Rosmarinic acid at doses of 10 mg/kg and higher had significant analgesic effects compared with the control group, 30 minutes after injection in both hot plate and tail flick tests (P < 0.05). Concomitant injection of 50 mg/kg of rosmarinic acid with 15 mg/kg of piroxicam produced significant painkiller effects when compared with the dose of 15 mg/kg piroxicam injection alone.Conclusion: Rosmarinic acid was able to exert analgesic effects in pharmacological tests in a dose-dependent manner. Concomitant use of rosmarinic acid and piroxicam may lead to synergic pain relief, especially in acute and severe pain in patients, reducing the therapeutic dose of piroxicam and subsequently, its side effects.

Introduction: Today, humans live in a world surrounded by electromagnetic fields. Numerous studies have been conducted to discover the biological, physiological, and behavioral effects of electromagnetic fields on humans and animals. Given the biological similarities between monkeys and humans, The present research aimed to examine Visual Memory (VM), hormonal, genomic, and anatomic changes, in the male rhesus macaques exposed to an Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Field (ELF-MF). Methods: Four male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were used. For the behavioral tests, the animals should be fasting for 17 hours. For the tests such as visual memory, the animal’s cooperation was necessary. Using the radiation protocol, we exposed two monkeys to a 12-Hz electromagnetic field with a magnitude of 0.7 µT (electromagnetic radiation) four hours a day for a month. Before and after the exposure, a visual memory test was conducted using a coated device (visible reward) on a movable stand. Ten milliliters of blood was obtained from the femoral artery of each monkey, and half of it was used to examine cortisol serum levels using the MyBioSource kit (made in the USA). The other half of the blood was used to extract lymphocytes for assaying expressions of Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) genes before and after radiation using the PCR method. Anatomic studies of the amygdala were carried out based on pre- and post-radiation Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Results: Research results indicated that visual memory in male primates increased significantly after exposure to the 12-Hz frequency. Hormonal analysis at the 12-Hz frequency showed a decrease in cortisol serum levels. However, visual memory and serum cortisol levels did not change considerably in male primates in the control group. There was no considerable amygdala volumetric difference after exposure to the 12-Hz frequency. The expression of the GR genes decreased in the 12-Hz group compared to the control group. Conclusion: In short, these results indicated that ELF might benefit memory enhancement because exposure to the 12-HZ ELF can enhance visual memory. This outcome may be due to a decrease in plasma cortisol and or expression of GR genes. Moreover, direct amygdala involvement in this regard cannot be recommended.

Background: Oxymetholone, an anabolic-androgenic steroid, has been used to treat some diseases. The abuse of this compound, especially for muscle growth, has severe oxidative side effects on the liver and kidneys. Oxidative stress and free radicals are responsible for the development of various diseases. Phytochemicals are sources of polyphenols, flavonoids, saponins, etc. and may act as scavengers of free radicals. Saffron (Crocus sativus) has considerable antioxidant properties, which may be useful in reversing or preventing these negative effects. Methods: To evaluate the effects of saffron on the liver and kidneys degenerative changes induced by oxymetholone, 24 male Wistar rats were used. The rats were randomly divided into four groups of six rats each as: a) sham (normal saline, 40 mg/kg/day), b) saffron control (40 mg/kg/day), c) oxymetholone (50 mg/rat), and d) treatment group [saffron (40 mg/kg/day)+oxymetholone (50 mg/rat)]. The course of examination was 30 days. Results: After one month, the sham and saffron control groups had normal histological findings. The treatment group with saffron showed a significant reduction in the hepatic and renal degenerative changes induced by oxymetholone compared to those observed in group. Conclusion: Based on the histopathological results, the use of saffron produced protective effects against the degenerative changes in rats’ liver and kidneys induced by oxymetholone.

Background: The Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) and the Legal Medicine Organization(LMO) are the 2 death registration systems in Iran for registering drug-related deaths. The aim of the presentstudy was to assess the number of undercount and the overlap between the deaths registered by the 2 sources.Methods: In this descriptive study, according to the 10th revision of the International Classification ofDiseases (ICD-10), the registered data on drug-related deaths in the years 2014-2016, as recorded by theMOHME and the LMO, were collected and the number of deaths was estimated using 2-source capturerecapture method and Excel and SPSS software.Findings: The total number of drug-related deaths, as registered by the 2 sources, was 8639 during the3 years. A major part of the drug-related deaths (75% of the data) had been registered by the LMO and only25% of deaths had been registered by the MOHME. There was also a small overlap (7.7% of deaths) betweenthe data from the 2 sources. The final estimation from the capture-recapture model and analysis of sensitivityshowed that, during the 3 years, the total number of drug-related deaths was 14517 [95% confidence interval(CI):14498-14558]. Based on the complete overlap assumption and 50% of unidentified individuals in the2 sources, the number of deaths was estimated at 11341 and 12418, respectively. The largest number ofdrug-related deaths had occurred within the age range of 25-39 years and in men. Kermanshah, Hamedan,and Zanjan Provinces (Iran) had the largest number of cumulative incidences of drug-related deaths. Basedon the data provided by the MOHME, the most common cause of death was Methadone poisoning.Conclusion: There was a small overlap between the MOHME and the LMO in the registration of drug-relateddeaths. Failure to enter accurate and correct information has led to miscalculations of these deaths in Iran

The most common functional gastrointestinal problem in the world is functional constipation. "Ayarij-e-Faiqra (AF)" is a polyherbal formula that has been recommended by Persian Medicine as an efficent purgative agent . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of AF on functional constipation using a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. According to the Rome III classification, 79 adults with functional constipation were included in this trial. The diagnostic criteria were according to the Rome III classification. Patients with constipation symptoms who referred to the traditional medicine clinic of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences from April 2014 to September 2016 were randomly allocated to the AF and placebo groups. The AF and placebo groups received AF and placebo for three months, respectively and followed up for another three months. During the study, the treatment efficacy was assessed by a questionnaire. AF treatment significantly decreased most of the symptoms by 84% at the end of the first month (p < 0.05) and by 90% at the end of the third month in comparison to placbo group (p < 0.001). However, three months after the end of the intervention, the frequency of constipation symptoms in both groups was not statistically significant. Based on the satisfaction questionnaire, the treatment satisfaction score during the intervention was increased to 9 in the AF group, but no significant difference was found between the two groups three months after the intervention (p > 0.005). Although AF could be beneficial for treating functional constipation without significant side effects, changing patients’ lifestyles has great importance in this process.

Thermal pasteurization is known as the most common method in food processing. In this study, the effectiveness of come up time on inactivation of heat resistance isoform of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), as a pasteurization index, was investigated during heating of the quince puree in a water bath at 60 to 90 . M5 decision tree, a novel statistical method, was applied to understand the simple relationship between the treatment conditions (time and temperature) and changes in physicochemical properties of the puree. Browning index and the total color difference increased as a result of PPO inactivation and ascorbic acid degradation. Based on the results of the M5 decision tree models and sensitivity analysis it showed temperature was a more leading factor in the changes of the puree quality.

Delinquency and victimization are two complicated social issues which could be seen in different social environment in different forms. These phenomena are due to personality traits, familial state, mental health and intellectual capacity. This study was done to compare personality traits, familial state, mental health and intellectual capacity between delinquent adolescents and victimized adolescents in Tehran province. The method was causal comparative. Statistical society included delinquent adolescents who were stayed in" Correction and rehabilitation center of Tehran" and victimized one who were referred to legal medicine office of Tehran by the courts for psychological assessment. Of delinquents, 175 were randomly selected as the study group and 85 people who were victimized and referred to psychiatry department of legal medicine as the victimized group. We applied cloninger questionnaire of temperament and character personality traits, Mac master family assessment device (FAD), Goldberg mental health and Tehran-Stanford-Binet intelligence Scale. Results showed that There are meaningful differences between two groups in the dimensions of temperament (persistence, novelty seeking, harm avoidance and reward-dependence), character (self-directedness, cooperativeness and self -transcendence), mental health (anxiety, depression and social functioning) and family specificities (problem solving, affective involvement, affective accompaniment and behavioral control) (P0.05).

Introduction: The present research aimed to examine Visual Working Memory (VWM) test scores, as well as hormonal, genomic, and brain anatomic changes in the male rhesus macaques exposed to Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Field (ELF-MF). Methods: Four monkeys were exposed to two different ELF-MF frequencies: 1 Hz (control) and 12 Hz (experiment) with 0.7 µT (magnitude) 4 h/d for 30 consecutive days. Before and after the exposure, VWM test was conducted using a coated devise on a movable stand. About 10 mL of the animals blood was obtained from their femoral vain and used to evaluate their melatonin concentration. Blood lymphocytes were used for assaying the expressions of N-Methyl-D-aspartate NMDA-receptor genes expression before and after ELF exposure. Anatomical changes of hippocampus size were also assessed using MRI images. Results: Results indicated that VWM scores in primates exposed to 12 Hz frequency ELF increased significantly. Plasma melatonin level was also increased in these animals. However, these variables did not change in the animals exposed to 1 Hz ELF. At last, expression of the NMDA receptors increased at exposure to 12 Hz frequency. However, hippocampal volume did not increase significantly in the animals exposed to both frequencies. Conclusion: In short, these results indicate that ELF (12 Hz) may have a beneficial value for memory enhancement (indicated by the increase in VWM scores). This may be due to an increase in plasma melatonin and or expression of NMDA glutamate receptors. However, direct involvement of the hippocampus in this process needs more research.

Background: Humans in modern societies expose to substantially elevated levels of electromagnetic field (EMF) emissions with different frequencies.The neurobiological effects of EMF have been the subject of debate and intensive research over the past few decades. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of EMF on visual learning and anatomical dimensions of the hippocampus and the prefrontal area (PFA) in male Rhesus monkeys. Materials and Methods:In this study, four rhesus monkeys were irradiated by 0.7 microtesla ELF-EMF either at 5 or 30 Hz, 4 h a day, for 30 days. Alterations in visual learning and memory were assessed before and after irradiation phase by using a box designed that cchallenging animals for gaining rewards Also, the monkeys’ brains were scanned by using MRI technique one week before and one week after irradiation. The monkeys were anesthetized by intramuscular injection of ketamine hydrochloride (10–20 mg/kg) and xylazine (0.2–0.4 mg/kg), and scanned with a 3-Tesla Magnetom, in axial, sagittal, and coronal planes using T2 weight­ed protocol with a slice thickness of 3 mm. The anatomical changes of hippocampus and the prefrontal area (PFA) was measured by volumetric study. Results: Electromagnetic field exposure at a frequency of 30 Hz reduced the number of correct responses in the learning process and delayed memory formation in the two tested monkeys. While, ELF-EMF at 5 Hz had no effect on the visual learning and memory changes. No anatomical changes were found in the prefrontal area and the hippocampus at both frequencies. Conclusion: ELF-EMF irradiation at 30 Hz adversely affected visual learning and memory, pprobably through these changes apply through effects on other factors except changes in brain structure and anatomy.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is one of the most common bacterial infections, affecting almost half of the world’s population. It is associated with peptic ulcer disease, gastric adenocarcinoma, and lymphoma. In Iran, the prevalence of H. pylori infection has been reported to be between 36% and 90% in different geographic regions. Several studies have assessed the efficacy of different therapeutic options for firstline and second-line H. pylori eradication in Iran; however, the results are conflicting. Therefore, we conducted a review to evaluate different studies in order to select the best options and to provide recommendations for H. pylori eradication in Iran. Accordingly, we searched through PubMed to obtain relevant randomized clinical trials published in English language up to June 2017. According to our study, among first-line eradication regimens, bismuth-based furazolidone- or clarithromycin-containing quadruple therapies, hybrid regimen, and concomitant therapy seem to be appropriate options. Also, 10- or 14-day clarithromycin-containing triple therapy can be used if local H. pylori resistance to clarithromycin is known to be less than 15%. For second-line H. pylori eradication, bismuth-based quadruple therapies and 14-day levofloxacin-based triple therapy can be used, provided that antibiotics other than those used in the first-line regimen are used. Third-line H. pylori eradication regimens have not been addressed in Iranian studies. However, most guidelines recommend treatment according to the results of culture and susceptibility testing. Although we limited our investigation to H. pylori eradication regimens in Iran, the results are transferrable to any region as long as the patterns of antibiotic resistance are the same.

Objective(s): In the present study the effect of stress on monkeys that had learned to retrieve food from a five-chamber receptacle, as well as the relationship between their behavior and the serum cortisol and epinephrine levels and relative size of the amygdala was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Six male rhesus monkeys were individually given access to the food reward orderly. They could easily retrieve the rewards from all chambers except for the chamber 4, which a brief, mild electric shock (3 V) was delivered to them upon touching the chamber’s interior. The coping behaviors were video-recorded and analyzed offline. Baseline serum cortisol and epinephrine levels were measured before the experiments using monkey enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. One week after the behavioral experiment, the monkeys’ brains were scanned using magnetic resonance imaging under general anesthesia. The cross-sectional area of the left amygdala in sagittal plane relative to the area of the whole brain in the same slice was evaluated by the planimetric method using ImageJ software. Results: Exposure to the distressing condition caused different behavioral responses. Monkeys with higher baseline levels of serum cortisol and epinephrine and larger amygdala behaved more violently in the face of stress, indicating adopting emotion-focused stress-coping strategies. Conversely, those with low plasma epinephrine, moderate cortisol, and smaller amygdala showed perseverative behavior, indicating a problem-focused coping style. Conclusion: In dealing with the same stress, different responses might be observed from nonhuman primates according to their cortisol and epinephrine levels as well as their amygdala dimensions.

Objective- To compare the effects of topical eye-drop and subconjunctival administration of diclofenac on improvement of experimental corneal alkali wound in rabbits eyes. Design- Experimental study. Animal- fifteen rabbits. Procedures- Alkali wounds were inflicted on the central corneas of 15 rabbits which were divided into three groups, A, B and C. A round 9 mm diameter paper filter that had been soaked in normal NAOH was positioned on all the rabbits’ right central cornea, to cause corneal wound. Group A and B were treated with Diclofenac eye-drop and subconjunctival injection of Diclofenac, respectively. And group C was indicated as a control group. After 21 days, all the right eyes were sent to laboratory for pathological analysis. Result- Comparison between groups showed that groups A, and B, had significantly lower (P Conclusion and Clinical Relevance- Corneal ulcer is one of the most important and common disease of the anterior segment of the eye. Many drugs have been used to prevent and treat corneal ulcer complication. According to our results, topical usage of Diclofenac is easier and more practical than subconjunctival injection.

Case Description- A 3-month-old female intact Boxer dog was presented to the Veterinary Hospital of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman with a complaint epiphora, photophobia and corneal opacity of both eyes. Clinical Findings- Ophthalmic examination revealed mild blepharospasm and mucoid discharge of both eyes, with severe bilateral chemosis and conjunctival hyperemia. Severe corneal edema and a white haze to the corneal stroma in the affected area were also observed. Treatment and Outcome- The dog was admitted to the hospital for 14 days for intensive topical treatment including atropine eye drop, acetylcysteine eye drop, tetracycline eye ointment, ciprofloxacin eye drop, diclofenac eye drop and topical autologous therapy, Three weeks after the injury, the epitheliums were covering entire of the corneal surface and the corneas were fluorescein negative. Clinical Relevance- Chemical injuries of the eye rarely occur in the animals based on the scarcity of publications on the subject in the veterinary literature. In the present case, chemical eye burns due to accidental exposure to the povidone-iodine occurred during an elective surgery.

Background: The symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are common in the general population. The aim of this population-based study was to determine the prevalence of IBS and describe the associated factors including demographic, life style and health-seeking behaviors in Shiraz city, southern Iran. Methods: From April to September 2004, 1978 subjects aged > 35 years old completed a validated and reliable questionnaire on IBS. Results: The prevalence rate of IBS was 10.9%, higher in females, in 35-44 years old age group and among subjects eating fast food (14.1%) but was lower in those taking more fruits and vegetables (10.5%). The occurrence of anxiety, nightmare and restlessness was also significantly higher in subjects with IBS. It had an association with psychological distress and recurrent headaches but not with drinking tea/coffee, smoking or physical activity. Conclusions: In our area, IBS was correlated with gender, age, psychological distress, recurrent headaches and con-sumption of fast foods that necessitate health planning programs by health policy makers.

A one-month-old male terrier dog was referred in shock status with a history of anorexia, tachypnea, abdominal distention and progressive weight loss. Auscultation of right side of the lungs found enhanced respiratory noises. The thorough auscultation of the opposite side of the chest revealed the presence of typical intestinal sounds. Cardiac auscultation revealed muffled heart sounds and a diminished palpable precordial cardiac impulse was evident. The radiograph showed the presence of gas within the bowel in abrupt contrast to the adjacent structures of soft tissue opacity. Conservative treatment was failed and the animal died. At necropsy, cranial displacement of abdominal viscera into the pericardial sac was seen. A definitive diagnosis of peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia was made. Although congenital pericardial diseases are rare in dogs, awareness of the clinical manifestation of these kinds of defects combined with early use of available imaging modalities can yield a preoperative diagnosis.

Introduction: Heavy metals are important occupational andenvironmental pollutants that cause damage to various organs.Although there is no effective therapy for such a poisoning,metallothionein has been shown to play a key role in thedetoxification of cadmium (Cd). Evidence in the literature suggeststhat superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalaseconstitute important defense mechanisms against oxygen toxicity inthe cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect ofcadmium chloride and Pb-acetate on antioxidant enzymes in thehuman skin fibroblast cells (HF2FF).Material and Methods: The human skin fibroblast (HF2FF) cellswere incubated in serum-free medium containing 20 μM CdCl2 for18 hr three times a week. The same exposure to an equimolar doseof Pb-acetate was performed. After each exposure and after threetimes exposure the cells were collected and cell viability, thecontents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathioneperoxidase (GSH-Px), GSH and malondialdehyde (MDA) weremeasured.Results: Cd caused cytotoxicity and inhibition of glutathioneperoxidase (GSH-Px) and SOD activity, as well as depletion of thereduced form of glutathione (GSH) in the cell. The level of lipidperoxidation (LP) was increased, but catalase activity was notsignificantly altered. These defects were increased with repeatedexposures. The same exposure to an equimolar dose of Pb-acetateevoked only inhibition of GSH-Px and SOD. The values of GSH,catalase and LP activity remained unchanged.Conclusion: The inhibition of GSH-Px and SOD may be consideredas an important biomarker of the toxic effect of metals.

A new configuration of an ultra-wideband (UWB) dual band-notched antenna is presented. The designed geometry consists of octagonal radiating patch, a 50 Ω microstrip feed-line on the front and an asymmetric partial ground on the back. For impedance bandwidth enhancement, a unilateral stepped structure is utilised on the ground. By etching two E-shaped slots connected to each other on the radiating patch and applying E-shaped defected ground structure on the back, dual notched bands are achieved. The antenna is printed on a low profile FR4 substrate with a compact size of 25 × 18 × 1 mm^3. The experimental results indicate that the antenna has an impedance bandwidth from 2.55 to 21.65 GHz for voltage standing wave ratio ≤2, except the notched bands on worldwide interoperability for microwave access and wireless local area network bands. Moreover, stable radiation patterns and gains within the operating band are shown.

Objective: To study the qualification of divorce main factors so that it would be clarified proper consultation-intervention solutions to decrease it by counseling methods in the courts and counseling clinics. The divorce is categorized as the most tragic of social phenomenon, the damages and problems of which undergone by the couple and their families before and after divorce and the effective factors of this phenomenon incidence have been studied for many years. Divorce has different factors and it can never clarify a specific one as the main factor of divorce. Materials and methods: This survey studied the divorce creating factors in divorce applicants in Tehran Family courts (Shahid Mahalati-Vanak) during 2010-2011. The applicants of sampling group were including 300 referred ones from the courts, and the research method was descriptive and cross-sectional accomplishing by structured interview. Findings were shown as frequency and percent. Results: The results showed that the important factors of divorce request are including in order of psychic factors (93.3%), social and cultural factors (87.3%), sexual factors (88%), economical factors (80.3%), and violence (84.3%), and it may be multi-factors as well. Conclusion: In addition to recommendation for more study in these fields, the results of this survey suggest to apply the necessary programming in teaching and counseling before the marriage as well as the necessity of informing the couple in receiving professional consults in time of problem incidence and proceeding for divorce in order to prevent from divorce incidence.

Mutations and promoters' methylation of a set of candidate cancer genes (CAN genes) are associated with progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). We hypothesized that these genes' promoters are inactivated through epigenetic silencing and may show a different profile in high-risk populations. We investigated the status of CAN gene methylation and CHD5 protein expression in African American CRC tissue microarrays (TMA) using immunohistochemical staining.The promoter methylation status of the CAN genes was studied by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) in 51 Iranians (a white population) and 51 African Americans (AA). Microsatellite instability (MSI) was analyzed as well. The differential frequency of methylation for each gene was tested by chi-square analysis between the two groups based on matched age and sex. CHD5 protein expression was evaluated in moderate to well differentiated and poorly differentiated carcinomas compared to matched normal tissue using TMA. In addition, the correlation between these epigenetic biomarkers and various clinicopathological factors, including, age, location, and stage of the disease were analyzed. Seventy-seven and 34% of tumors were distal in Iranian and African American patients, respectively. In both populations, the percentage of methylation was >65% for SYNE1, MMP2, APC2, GPNMB, EVL, PTPRD, and STARD8, whereas methylation was

Background: Helicobacter pylori, the most prevalent infection in the world, has great importance due to being related to peptic ulcer disease, gastric metaplasia, dysplasia, and even gastric adenocarcinoma or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. The standard H. pylori eradication regimen is based on antibiotic susceptibility testing. If susceptibility testing is not available, a standard treatment regimen will be recommended based on records of H. pylori resistance rates to antibiotics in a region or locally proven highly effective regimens (equal to or higher than 90% eradication rate). The aim of this review was to define suitable recommendations for local treatment in different cities of Iran. Methods: This review article consists of randomized controlled trials related to H. pylori eradication in Iran. Data including the kind of therapy, number of patients and per-protocol H. pylori eradication rates were recorded in data gathering forms. Data search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar databases from 2018 to December 2023. Results: According to our review of Iranian articles regarding first-line H. pylori eradication regimens, these treatment protocols could be recommended: Bismuth-clarithromycin quadruple therapy in Ardabil, bismuth-clarithromycin quadruple therapy with probiotics in Birjand, standard triple therapy in Ilam, bismuth quadruple therapy or bismuth triple therapy or concomitant regimen in Sari, sequential therapy in Tehran and bismuth quadruple therapy in Yazd. These regimes can be extended to other regions that have a similar situation. According to the reports of Iranian researchers, a quinolone-containing regimen (levofloxacin preferred) is recommended for second-line eradication therapy. Conclusion: Various H. pylori eradication regimens can be used as first-line therapy; however, choices for second-line therapy are limited. We recommend the quinolone-containing regimens as the preferred second-line therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Following a plant-based diet is associated with a wide range of health benefits. The current study aimed to investigate the association between plant-based diet indices, specifically the plant-based diet index (PDI), healthful PDI (hPDI), and unhealthful PDI (uPDI) and risk of mortality in cirrhotic patients. Methods This cohort study included a total of 121 patients with cirrhosis, who were followed for four years. Plant-based diet indices were calculated based on a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire consisting of 168 items. The Hazard ratio (HR) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using the Cox proportional risk models. Results During 414 person-year of follow-up, 43 deaths (7 women, 36 men) were documented. After adjusting all confounders, it has been found that the PDI (HR T3 vs. T1 = 0.16, 95% CI = 0.03–0.89, P trend = 0.024) and hPDI (HR T3 vs. T1 = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.02–0.61, P trend = 0.020) were inversely associated with the risk of mortality. While uPDI was directly associated with a significant increase in mortality risk (HR T3 vs. T1 = 8.74, 95% CI = 0.33–17.14, P trend = 0.018). The 4-year survival rate among patients showed a significant relationship with all three indices. Conclusions Our findings highlight that higher scores of PDI and hPDI can significantly reduce the risk of mortality in patients with cirrhosis, while a significant increase in mortality risk was found in those with higher uPDI. However, confirmation of these findings requires further studies.