---

Background and Objective: Cryptosporidium is a parasite with worldwide distribution, a significant cause of diarrhea in children and immunodeficient patients. In some country this parasite is either or fourth factor of diarrhea in children. In developing country the prevalence rate of disease is increased but because of specific method recognition in special survey, information about prevalence in our country isn’t completely available. Materials and Methods: From December to March in Zahedan, capital of Sistan and Baluchestan province, 528 patient referred to Ali-Asghar Hospital, parasitology center, in 25 cases of whom Cryptosporidium Parvium was detected (4.7%). Results: The prevalence rate of disease was more in the 1-2 age group. The infants who didn’t use mother milk were significantly more commonly infected and children in nursery school similarly more infected. The majority of cases were detected in summer and spring, although there was no significant relationship between season’s prevalence. Conclusion: Although some C.parvum cases harbored Giardia Lamblia, there was no relation between the two infections.

---

Background and Objective: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear is One of the most common injuries at knee joint. Threshold of motion sense included inputs that are received by mechanical receptors at dynamic position. The objection of present study was to find the effect of functional brace on the Kinesthesia motion sense in patients with ACL rupture.

Materials and Methods: In this Quasi- experimental study, 20 patients with ACL tear, with aging range between 18 to 44 years old were recruited. Patients were selected in a simple non probability sampling manner. Using Continuous passive motion for testing the Kinesthesia motion sense, as a dependent variable. Data was analyzed with Paired t-test and Colmogrof-Smirnof tests.

Results: Threshold of motion sense at affected knee before and after bracing was 3.93±1.67, 4.45±1.86 in open eyes and 3.82±1.61, 4.13±1.96 in closed eyes (P<0.05).

Conclusion: This study showed that the functional brace did not play in important role in the improvement of threshold of motion sense in patients with ACL tear.

---

Background and Objective: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear is one of the most common injuries at knee joint. This study was done to evalute the effect of reconstruction surgery on hamstring reflex in patients with ACL tear. Materials and Methods: In this Quasi- experimental study, 30 patients (16 males, 14 females) with ACL tear, with mean age of 26.52±8.72 years old were recruited during 2007. Patients were selected in a non probability sampling manner. The Kinsiological Electromyography and trauma mechanism were used for testing the hamstring reflex. Muscle activity were measured as a dependent variable. Data were analyzed with Paired T-Test, ICC, SEM and K-S tests. Results: Hamstring reflex in affected knee and after reconstruction surgery was 73.25±3.22 and 47.35±3.85, respectively. This difference was significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Reconstruction surgery in patients with ACL tear at acute phase is effective in improvement of hamstring reflex.

---

Background and Objective: Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) is a parasitic disease which caused by a protozoan belongs to the genus Leishmania. ZCL is of great public health importance in many countries and also in endemic parts of Iran. Leishmania major is the causative agent, Phlebotomus papatasi as the main vector and Rhombomys opimus is the most important reservoir of the disease. Species identification of Leishmania in a large scale of human samples is necessary to conduct a useful program for controlling the disease outspread. This study was done to identify the Leishmania using microscopic and molecular methods in suspected patients of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis by targeting ITS-rDNA gene, Golestan province, Iran. Materials and Methods: 121 smears collected from suspected patients of ZCL, in Eastern region of Golestan province, Iran during 2009-10, stained and examined under a light microscope. DNA of parasites extracted directly from smears and ITS-rDNA gene amplified. Positive samples digested with BsuRI restriction enzyme, according to RFLP method and subsequently the parasite was identified. After sequencing the ITS-rDNA gene, Molecular software was applied for verification of RFLP results. The achieved results were definitely approved by this procedure. Results: 113 out of 121 and 92 out of 121 samples detected as Leishmania positive using microscopic examination and molecular method respectively. All 92 molecular positive samples digested with BsuRI endonuclease and 90 individuals identified as Leishmania major. In order to final verification, 8 samples of Leishmania major sequenced and confirmed by molecular software analysis. Unfortunately, sequences of two samples which were not Leishmania major were not readable, and consequently, these could not be identified. Conclusion: Comparison of obtained sequences of current study with Gene Bank sequences confirmed L.major in human from Northern Iran. Other species of Leishmania were not identified in this investigation but detection of two other samples, which were not L.major, could indicate the role of other Leishmania species causing infection in human in Eastern region of Golestan province, northern Iran. These findings should be considered to improve the disease control programs, which can be led to increase the rate of public health in Golestan province.

---

Background and Objective: Imperforate anus is a common anorectal malformation, which is associated with other anomalies. This study was done to determine the associated malformations in newborns with imperforate anus in northern Iran. Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on 40 hospitalized newborns (24 boys and 16 girls) with imperforate anus in Taleghani teaching hospital in Gorgan, northern Iran during 2006-10. Results: From 40 newborns with imperforate anus, 23 newborns (57.5%) had associated anomalies. The commonest associated anomalies was genitourinary (65.2%) followed by heart (47.8%), gastrointestinal (13%) and musculoskeletal anomalies (8.7%). Conclusion: Associated anomalies in newborns with imperforate anus in northern Iran have a high prevalence in comparison with other reports.

---

Background and Objective: Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity. The classic procedure, jejunoileal bypass, has many complications. This study was carried out to assess the evaluation of clinical complications in morbid obese patients after modified jejunoileal bypass surgery. Method: This descriptive – analytic study was carried out on 120 morbid obese patients referred for bariatric surgery. A modified jejunoileal bypass was performed in which the defunctionalized organ eliminated by anastomosing its ends to the gall bladder and cecum. Weight loss and clinical complications were recorded after one year follow up. Results: The mean weight and body mass index reduced from 136 kg and 48 kg/m2 before surgery to 83 kg and 29/8 kg/m2 after one year follow up, respectively (P<0.05). Before surgery, articular pain (24.3%), dispana (21.6%), cardiovascular disorders (10.8%), fatty liver (5.4%) and sleep disorder (5.4%) due to obesity were recorded. One year follow up after surgery, articular pain (1.5%) and dispana (1.5%) were seen in patiants. No serious post-operative clinical complication was observed. Conclusion: One year follow up after surgery showed that the modified jejunoileal bypass is very effective in reducing body weight and does not lead to serious complication.

---

Background and Objective: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is highly prevalent in the group of autoimmune and inflammatory patients. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) plays an important role in regulating complex interactions between pancreatic beta cells and immune cells in the development of T1D. This study was performed to determine the simultaneous effect of resistance training and endothelial progenitor cell injection on blood glucose levels and protein expression of proinflammatory factors TNF-a and IL-10 in muscle tissue of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic male rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 36 male Wistar rats weighing approximately 200±20 g and six weeks old were randomly divided into six groups. Induction of diabetes was performed by intraperitoneal injection of STZ at a dose of 45 mg/kg body weight. Groups included diabetes + stem cell injection + resistance training group, diabetes + resistance training group, diabetes + stem cell injection group, control diabetic group to control the passage of time, and healthy basal and diabetic groups for defaults. Exercises were performed for 17 sessions of resistance training, including climbing ladders with increasing weight three days a week in the same laboratory conditions. Endothelial progenitor cells were cultured by femoral bone marrow aspiration and culture and then injection into the tail vein. 68 hours after the last training session, blood glucose levels were assessed by ELISA and the expression of TNF-a and IL-10 protein in muscle tissue was assessed by Western blotting.
Results: Endothelial stem cell injection, resistance training and resistance training with the simultaneous injection of endothelial stem cells significantly increased the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 in the skeletal muscle tissue of diabetic rats in compared to control group (P<0.05). Expression of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 in the skeletal muscle tissue was significantly increased in resistance training plus the simultaneous injection of endothelial stem cells group in compared to injection of stem cells and resistance training groups (P<0.05). Glucose concentration in the skeletal muscle tissue was significantly reduced in resistance training plus the simultaneous injection of endothelial stem cells group in compared to injection of stem cells and resistance training groups (P<0.05).
Conclusion: It seems that 17 sessions of resistance training reduces blood glucose level and improves inflammatory conditions in response to an increase in IL-10 and a decrease in TNF-a in a group of diabetic rats with resistance training and simultaneous injection of endothelial progenitor cells in diabetic male rats.

---

Background and Objective: Micro-ribonucleic acids (microRNAs) have introduced a new field in the molecular diagnosis of cancer. However, the role of circulating microRNAs in the plasma/serum of colorectal cancer patients is still unclear. This study was conducted to determine the expression of let-7d microRNA in patients with colorectal cancer.
Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 40 patients with colorectal cancer and 40 healthy people. In this study, 7 mL blood samples were collected from patients with colorectal cancer (both before and after tumor resection) and healthy individuals (only once). The serum samples were isolated and stored at - 80°C until molecular analysis. MicroRNAs were extracted from serum samples, and cDNA was synthesized. Let-7d expression was examined using the RT-qPCR method. Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism v. 9 software. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, sensitivity, and specificity were also calculated for the let-7d microRNA data to introduce a diagnostic biomarker between the preoperative patient group and the control group.
Results: In the preoperative samples of the patients, the expression of let-7d microRNA was significantly lower than that of the control group (P˂0.05). The expression of let-7d microRNA significantly increased after tumor resection compared to before. The ROC analysis for let-7d microRNA in the preoperative patient group with the control group showed that the sensitivity was 33.3%, specificity was 92.3%, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.622.
Conclusion: Let-7d microRNA could potentially serve as a new noninvasive diagnostic biomarker for the early detection of colorectal cancer. However, further studies are required on this subject.

---

Background and Objective: Oxidative stress can harm cells, proteins, and DNA and play a role in the aging process. The present study was conducted to determine the impacts of six weeks of Pilates exercises and Lycium barbarum supplement on oxidative stress indices of saliva and body composition of inactive elderly females.
Methods: This field trial was carried out on 49 inactive elderly females. The subjects were selected in a purposeful manner and were randomly assigned to 4 groups, including control, supplement, exercise, and exercise plus supplement. The exercise program protocol was implemented for six weeks, three 45-60 minute sessions per week with an intensity of 50-70% maximum heart rate. The Lycium barbarum supplement group used 14 g of supplement daily. Oxidative stress indices of saliva and body composition were compared. The individuals’ physical activity level was determined using the Kaiser Physical Activity Survey (KPAS) and the samples’ health status was specified using the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q).
Results: The amount of malondialdehyde had a statistically significant reduction in the exercise plus supplement group compared to the control group, the exercise group, and the supplement group (P<0.05). The amount of malondialdehyde was not statistically significant in the exercise group and the supplement group compared to the control group. The amount of salivary catalase was not statistically significant in the exercise group plus supplement group compared to the control group, the exercise group, and the supplement group. The amount of salivary catalase had a statistically significant increase in the exercise group compared to the control group and the supplement group (P<0.05). The amount of glutathione peroxidase had no statistically significant difference in the exercise plus supplement group compared to the control group but had a statistically significant increase compared to the supplement group (P<0.05). The amount of glutathione peroxidase had a statistically significant increase in the exercise group than in the supplement group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Regular exercise with moderate intensity and Lycium barbarum supplement resulted in improved antioxidant function and body composition in inactive elderly females.