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Background and Objective: Change in the cell surface and extracellular matrix glycoconjugates has been reported in many cancers. Moreover, diagnostic and prognostic importance of these substances and also their roles in therapeutic modalities for cancerous patients has been emphasized. This study was designed to explore the histochemical study of cellular mucopolysaccharides in esophageal and gastric carcinoma and its relation to tumor differentiation. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study tissue samples of 40 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 40 patients with stomach adenocarcinoma in different grades of tumor were selected from pathology department of Emam Reza hospital in Mashhad, Iran. Tissue samples were stained with Alcian Blue (PH 1 and PH 2.5) for Sulfated and Carboxylated mucosubstances respectively, along with positive and negative controls. Results: Normal esophageal epithelium and carcinoma cells of different grades showed negative reactivity but normal and tumoral stromal cells depicted positive staining in both PHs. In PH 1, normal glandular and carcinoma cells of the stomach were negative but in PH 2 glandular cells were positive though carcinoma cells showed weakly staining. Normal and tumoral gastric stromal cells showed positive staining in PH 1 and PH 2.5. Conclusion: It is highly probable that in the process of cancerization of normal esophageal squamous cells, functional changes, from the perspective of producing Carboxylated and Sulfated mucosubstances, do not occur, whereas some changes in glandular cells of stomach which result in diminishing the production of Carboxylated mucosubstances during cancerization process are observable.

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Background and Objective: Electromagnetic waved generated by electronic industries and the increasing use of electrical appliances have led to higher rise in chronic exposure to extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF). This study was done to investigate the effects of low electromagnetic field on mice embryos development. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, eighty female NMRI mice were super ovulated and coupled with male mated over the night. Next morning the female mice with a vaginal plug were identified as pregnant mice. Animals allocated into 2 groups control group was not exposed to EMF and animals in case group exposed to 50 Hz and amp 1.2 mT EMF the pregnant mice were scarified by cervical dislocation at 24, 72, 81, 96, 110 and 120 hours. Embryos were subsequently obtained from the mice by flashing the fallopian tubule and uterus horn. Data were analyzed using SPSS-13.5, ANOVA and student’s t-tests. Results: The number of 2, 3-4 cells and 5-8 of embryo cells and blastocyst decreased in case group compared to controls, but these reduction were not significant. The number of morula in cases significantly reduced in comparison with control group (P<0.05). The average number of fragmented blastocyst in experimental groups siginficantly increased compared to control group (P<0.05). The number of inner cell mass and trophoectoderm in experimental group significantly reduced in comparison with controls (P<0.05). Conclusion: The exposure of extremely-low electromagnetic field in pregnancy reduces the number of morula, inner cell mass and trophoectoderm.

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Background and Objective: Hypoxia is one of the most common clinical stresses that occur during pregnancy, which has adverse effects on fetal development. Fish oil, with its antioxidant properties, prevents fetal disorders during pregnancy. This study was conducted to determine the effects of fish oil on apparent congenital abnormalities and fetal dimensions caused by hypoxia during gestation in rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 36 female pregnant Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups of control, hypoxia, fish oil 0.5 ml, fish oil 1 ml, hypoxia+fish oil 0.5 ml, and hypoxia + fish oil 1 ml. Fish oil was administered by gavage, and the hypoxia model was established between 6 and 15 days of gestation by 3 hours of daily exposure to 10% oxygen and 90% nitrogen. On the 20th day of pregnancy, the embryos were removed from the uterus. First, the number of obtained embryos from each group was counted. Then, in terms of apparent abnormalities, the number of live fetuses and fetal resorption was evaluated. Finally, the length and weight of the fetuses were measured.
Results: The frequency of embryos with apparent abnormalities in the hypoxia and control groups was 18.18% and nil, respectively. The frequency of fetal resorptions in the hypoxia and control groups was 27.27% and 1.92%, respectively. Moreover, fetal weight and length were significantly reduced in the hypoxia group compared with the control group (P<0.05). However, the average weight and length of fetuses in the hypoxia groups receiving fish oil showed a significant increase compared to the hypoxia group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Hypoxia during pregnancy in rats reduces fetal body dimensions and increases fetal abnormalities. However, fish oil can reduce the harmful effects of hypoxia on apparent congenital abnormalities and fetal body dimensions during pregnancy.
 

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Background and Objective: In recent years, studies have been conducted to determine the prevalence rate of congenital abnormalities in different regions of Iran, most of which were conducted on live births. This study was conducted to determine fetal abnormalities in pregnancies leading to legal abortion in Golestan province.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 199 pregnant women with a gestational age of less than 20 weeks with abortion licenses from the Forensic Medicine Center of Golestan province over 9 months during 2018-19. Demographic characteristics, including parents’ age, ethnicity, and family relationship, and the type of fetal abnormalities were recorded.
Results: Given 29,460 births in Golestan province over a 9-month period, the prevalence of fetal abnormalities was determined to be 6.75 per thousand births. The incidence rates of fetal abnormalities were determined to be 6.78, 6.68, 7.69, and 5.65 per thousand births in native Fars (80 cases), Turkmen (65 cases), Sistani (34 cases), and other (20 cases) ethnic groups, respectively. Since the gender of 80 fetuses was unknown, the incidence rates of abnormality were determined to be 4.36 and 3.72 per thousand births in female (63 cases) and male (56 cases) fetuses, respectively. The most common fetal abnormalities included central nervous system (n=49, 24.62%), chromosomal abnormalities (n=47, 23.61%), and cardiovascular impairments (n=26, 13.06%). The incidence of fetal abnormalities was not found to have a statistically significant relationship with parents' age, ethnicity, and family relationship.
Conclusion: The most prevalent fetal abnormality was related to central nervous system disorders. The incidence of fetal abnormalities had no relationship with the parents’ age, ethnicity, and family relationship.