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Background&Objective: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a xenobiotic estrogenic compound that are a monomer of some plastics (poly carbonate and epoxy resin) that are widely used in dental sealant, dishes and tableware. This compound has suspected to have estrogenic effects on reproductive system and related to endocrine disrupting chemicals. In this present study we investigated possible low dose effects of BPA on testis weight and structure and prostate weight. Materials&Methods: Male wistar rats (12-13 week old) were administrated a daily intra peritoneal 10µg/kgbw/day, 50µg/kgbw/day, 100µg/kgbw/day dose of BPA for6 and 12 days and one day after last injection testis and prostate weighted and histological section of testes prepared( 5 micrometer ) and stained by H&E and weigert hematoxilin . All data were expressed as means±SE. two-way ANOVA and chi- quire was performed. Results: in compare with control group, testis and prostate weight of dose groups were decreased. Disruptions of epithelial layer cells of semniferous tubules were detected. Conclusion: The present study showed that BPA at low doses affects histological structure and weight of testis and prostate, in the adult wistar rat.

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Background&Objective: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in Iran and there are different systemic and local treatments for this disease. There is continuous investigation for finding the most efficient and economical method with little side effects for the treatment of cutaneous leishemaniasis. For this purpose we performed a comparative study between intralesional glucantime injection and cryotherapy in the treatment of papular cutaneous leishmaniasis. Materials&Methods: In this clinical trial 47 patients with papular cutaneous leishmaniasis refered to dermatology clinic of Ghaem hospital in Mashhad were assayed. All patients had positive direct smears. They divided randomly in two groups. First group treated by weekly intralesional glucantime injection and second group treated by weekly cryotherapy. The length of therapy for two groups was 5 weeks. Two groups were followed for 1.5 months after the last week of the treatment. Results: Thirty eight patients completed the study, 21 patients with 35 lesions and 17 patients with 36 lesions were treated by interalesional injection of glucantime and cryotherapy respectively. Clinically in interalesional glucantime group 37.1% of lesions and in cryotherapy group 22.2% of lesions completely cured. The difference between two groups was not statistically significant using chi-square test. Conclusion: Cryotherapy in comparison with interalesional glucantime injection is equally effective and also is cheaper with little side effect.

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Background and Objective: Tuberculin skin test (TST) is the standard method for diagnosis of latent tuberculous infection. Positive results of TST (significant induration) may be seen in persons with latent M.tuberculosis infection and negative results of this test may be seen in patients with active tuberculosis. After performing TST false positive reactions may be seen with nontuberculous mycobacterial infections or false negative results may be encountered in anergic patients with tuberculosis disease. Quantiferon TB Gold test (QFT) is a new diagnostic test which assays the amount of released interferon gamma from peripheral blood lymphocytes in response to M.tuberculosis antigens. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree TST and QFT correlation.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive study carried out on 72 nurses of two internal medicine and infectious diseases wards of Imam Reza and Imam Khomeini hospitals in Kermanshah located in West of Iran, during 2009. 58 of nurses were vaccinated with BCG vaccine and none of them had any immune compromising condition. TST was performed by intradermal injection of 0.1 ml of standard tuberculin test (5 TU) and QFT was performed 48 hours then after using peripheral whole blood. The amount of released interferon gamma from lymphocytes in response to antigens were measured by ELISA method.

Results: Three of nurses excluded and this study was done on 69 nurses. Overall the degree of agreement of TST and QFT was 63.7% (P=0.69 and Kappa=0.139). The degree of discordance between these tests in PPD negative but QFT positive persons was 15.94% and in PPD positive but QFT negative persons was 20.3%. The sensitivity and specificity of QFT was 41.67% and 75.56% respectively. The degree of agreement of TST and QFT in vaccinated and unvaccinated nurses was 63.8% (Kappa=0.143) and 66.67% (Kappa=0.54) respectively.

Conclusion: There was no significant difference between QFT and TST in diagnosing latent tuberculous infection.

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Background and Objective: Hirschsprung’s disease is a congenital disorder, characterized by the absence of ganglion cells in the intramural and submucosal plexus in distal parts of large bowel. Diagnosis is based on the histopathologic examination of hematoxilin and eosin stained sections. Due to diagnosis limitation by Hematoxylin and Eosin staining (H&E), this study was done to identify the ganglion cells by BCL-2 immunoreactivity and compared it with H&E staining. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, paraffin blocks of 36 specimens demonstrating ganglion cells on original H&E stained sections and 35 specimens lacking ganglion cells on H&E staining, were selected. Recuts were stained by H&E and BCL-2 methods. Results: Ganglion cells were observed in 36 cases by H&E staining but in BCL-2 staining ganglion cells were detected in 29 cases. In 35 cases reported negative for ganglion cells on H&E staining, ganglion cells were detected in 5 cases by BCL-2 method. Sensitivity, spesificity, positive and negative predictive values for BCL-2 method for diagnosis of hirshsprung’s disease were 81%, 86%, 85% and 86% respectively.discordancy (positive BCL-2, negative H&E) was 14%. Conclusion: Immunohistochemistry method using BCL-2 improve the accuracy of diagnosis in hirschsprung’s disease, when accompanied with H&E staining, particulary for negative slides.

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Background and Objective: The vaccination against hepatitis B is a front line defence for all at-risk groups. Conventional methods of hepatitis B vaccination (0, 1 and 6 months) is considered a long process. But vaccination at shorter intervals (0, 10 and 21 days) is suggested to achieve rapid immunity. This study was carried out to compare for the protective antibody level against hepatitis B in accelerated and conventional vaccination. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive and analytical study 160 health personnel of Imam Reza hospital of Kermanshah, Iran with no history of vaccination against hepatitis B were selected and divided into two groups during 2009. The volunteers were received vaccination according to accelerated (0, 10 and 21 days) and convetional (0, 1 and 6 months) methods. The antibody titer measured two years after the final dose of vaccination. The acceptable level of antibody was considered higher than 10 IU/ml. Results: After two years the acceptable level of antibody was observed in 94.5% and 97.9% of subjects in accelarated and conventional methods, respectivley. This difference was not significant. Conclusion: This study showed that there is not significant differences between accelerated and conventional methods in antibody production against hepatitis B antigen.

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Background and Objective: Lead is one of the most toxic environmental pollutants, which is very dangerous for living creatures, including humans. Therefore, the use of various compounds such as nanochitin to remove lead from aquatic environments has been considered in recent years. This study was performed to determine the effect of nanochitin on the Tissue absorption rate of lead acetate in the liver of rats.
Methods: This experimental study was performed on 15 Wistar rats with a weight of 150-180 grams and an age of 8-10 weeks. The animals were allocated into three groups including control group, the lead group, and the nanochitin and lead simultaneously group. Animals were received lead and nanochitin by gavage for six weeks. Then liver tissue was removed and lead concentration was measured with an atomic absorption device. Liver tissue was prepared for hematoxylin-eosin staining and then examined under an optical microscope.
Results: The mean lead concentration in the liver tissue of the control, lead and the nanochitin and lead simultaneously groups were 8.1±0.45, 45.41±4.73, and 17.06±0.83 mic/g, respectively. The concentration of lead in the lead group increased significantly compared to the control group (P<0.05). Also, the hepatic concentration of lead in the nanochitin and lead simultaneously group significantly reduced in compared to lead group (P<0.05). Histopathological studies showed a reduction in tissue lesions including degeneration and necrosis of liver hepatocytes, hypertension, and severe congestion in liver tissue in the nanochitin and lead simultaneously group in compared to lead group.
Conclusion: Nanochitin without adverse effects on liver tissue can increase the removal and inhibit the absorption of lead in rats liver tissue.

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Background and Objective: Chronic use of opioids leads to analgesic tolerance. Protein kinase C (PKC), adenylyl cyclase (AC), nitric oxide (NO) and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β) are involved in morphine tolerance. Lithium activates the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway that inhibits GSK-3β and reduces morphine-induced tolerance. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of lithium on morphine dependence symptoms and tolerance of its analgesic effects in Swiss mice by GSK-3β signaling.
Methods: This experimental study was performed on 56 Swiss male albino mice that were randomly allocated into 8 groups (each containing 7 mice). The intraperitoneal injection of morphine at different concentrations (50, 50 and 75 mg/kg) and different hours (08:00, 11:00 and 16:00, respectively) was performed for 4 days, and a single dose 50 mg/kg was administered on the 5th day. The effects of three doses of lithium (1, 5 and 10 mg/kg) given orally, 45 min before morphine injections on morphine-induced analgesic tolerance were evaluated. To evaluate analgesia latency on day 1, 3 and 5, tail flick and hot plate tests were done. The brain of each animal was removed to measure nitrite levels, and histological evaluation and immunohistochemistry for p-glycogen synthase (p-GSSer640) were performed on the last day of the study.
Results: Co-administration of lithium significantly increased the latency of analgesia in comparison with the morphine group on the 3rd and 5th day (P<0.05). Lithium reduced the morphine-induced increase of nitrite levels and also reduced brain damage. In addition, immunohistochemistry assay of p-GSSer640 indicated a significant reduction of the morphine-induced phosphorylation of GS at S640 by GSK in the lithium-treated mice.
Conclusion: Lithium administration can reduce morphine tolerance in adult male Swiss mice.