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Background and Objective: Most of the diagnostic methods of Helicobacter Pylori infection are invasive and time consuming. This study compared salivary IgG with serum IgG in diagnosis of H.pylori infection in dyspeptic patients in order to search for a non-invasive, cheaper and more tolerable method. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional diagnostic study, during one year (Feb 2002-Feb 2003) 200 consecutive patients (Age range 11-83) referring to Imam Khomeini Hospital. For upper gastroduodenal endoscopy were recruited. Three biopsy specimens were obtained from antrum and body of the stomach and three from duodenum. Histological examination (Hematoxylin-Eosin and Gimsa), rapid urease test and culture were performed. Saliva and serum were obtained before endoscopy and IgG antibody level were determined by ELIZA using Randim Kit (Roma, Italy). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were evaluated by SPSS soft ware. Results: Salivary IgG correctly identified 120 out of 146 H.pylori infected patients (82%). Salivary IgG assay showed high sensitivity in the detection of H.pylori infected patients (88.2%). Specificity and positive predictive value of Salivary IgG were higher than those of serum (84.4% versus 83.1% and 92.3% versus 91.9%). Conclusion: Salivary IgG assay can be used as an alternative to other non-invasive methods for screening of H.pylori infected patients.

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Background & Objective: The burden of psychiatric disorders in the developed countries has been identified by the screening questionnaires and standard clinical interviews at a high level, but the epidemiological studies of psychiatric disorders in our country are brief and their numbers are few. Providing essential mental health services to the people requires us to be knowledgeable about the present status of psychiatric disorders in the society. The objective of their research was to carry out the epidemiological study of the psychiatric disorders in the 18 years and above individuals in the urban and rural areas of Golestan province. Materials & Methods: 518 individuals selected through randomized clustered and systematic sampling methods from among the existing families of Golestan province and the schedule for affective disorders and Schizophrenia (SADS) questionnaires completed by the clinical psychologist. The diagnosis of the disorders was based on DSM-IV classification criteria. Results: The results of the study showed that the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the province is 14.69%, which was 18.14% in the women, and 11.47% in the men. The mood and affective disorders respectively with 7.93 and 4.05% had the higher prevalence in the province. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in this study was 0.97%, neuro-cognitive disorders 1.16% and dissociative disorders 0.58%. In the group anxiety disorders, panic disorder with 4.05% of had the higher prevalence and in the group of affective disorder, major depression, hypomanic and manic disorder with 1.93. Conclusion: This study showed that 7.53% of individuals that were studied suffered from at least one of the psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the province among the individuals in the age group of 41-55 years with 13.04%, separated or divorced individuals 50%, residents of urban areas 11.03%, illiterate individuals 12.75% and housewives 13.04% was more than other individuals in the sample. Being aware of this matter reveals the responsibility of the health policy makers and programmers, prevention, treatment and medical education more than before in relation to preparing application and executive plans in Golestan province for mental health.

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Background & Objective: Pulse pressure is a marker of arterial stiffness. In old age the pressure wave reflection also contribute to disparity of pulse pressure between upper and lower limbs. This study was done to determine the relation between ageing and increased pulse pressure of upper and lower limbs. Materials & Methods: In this discriptive study blood pressure measured in 40 nonsmoker men, all free from medication and disease history, insubjects divided in two groups: 18-25 and 50-70 years old with mean age of 22±1.3 and 59±2 years respectively. Using a mercury-column sphygmomanometer (ERKA) with appropriate cuff size and after five minutes of quiet rest, the blood pressure was determined in supine posture at three separate times. The lower limb pressure was measured with placing the cuff on calf muscle and the stethoscope on posterior surface of internal malleolus. The mean of the second and third records rounded and were used for analysis. Results: The right and left brachial and ankles pulse pressure in two groups were: 44.50±2.03, 44.50±1.71, 37.90±2.24, 37.25±2.30 mmHg in 18-25 years old group and 47.10±2.74, 46.90±2.65, 56.05±3.18, 55.90±4.48 mmHg in 50-70 years old group, respectively. Significant differences were found between brachial and ankle pulse pressure in both sides in first group, (P<0.05). In the second group this difference was only significant at right, (P<0.05). The ratio of brachial pulse pressure to ankle pulse pressure in 18-25 years old group was greater than 1 and in 50-70 years old group it was less than .15 In both side the ankles pulse pressure was significantly greater in 50-70 years old group (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that in subjects of more than 55 years of age, the increasing of pulse pressure was more prominent in lower limb. The ankle pulse pressure may be a proper index of central pulse pressure changes and atherosclerosis of elastic arteries with ageing.

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Background and Objective: Visceral Leishmaniasis or Kala-azar is an important infectious disease in northwestern Iran. Members of the Leishmania donovani complex, L. donovani and L.infantum, are the two main parasites causing the disease in the world. In this study immunophenotype characters such as N-glycosylation, and T-cell and B-Cell epitopes of CPB gene was evaluated in the Leishmania parasites isolated from sandflies of the region. Materials and Methods: Partial of the CPB (702-741 bp) of Leishmania parasites was amplified and sequenced and used for bioinformatics analysis such as test three dimensional (3D) protein structure, N-glycosylation, and T-cell and B-Cell epitopes. Results: In 7 out of 3477 sand flies there was a positive PCR test for systeine protease B, gene. Also according to findings of this study, both agents of kala-azar L. donovani and L. infantum were bing transfered by sand flies of Phlbtomus perfiliewi transcaucasicus in North West Iran. DNA analysis of the CPB gene showed a cytosine insertion at 5’ end of the proofreading frame of the gene resulted in a stop codon (TGA) seven AA further down and hence translation is halted. This caused a short amino acid chain with only 76 AA much shorter than normal CPB peptide with 234-247 AA. This mutation has not been found in the L.infantum strain resulted in a normal CPB peptide. AA analysis showed no N-glycosylation site, T-cell and B-Cell epitopes on the short peptide of the L. donovani strain. Conclusion: This is the shortest CPB peptide chain reported for the L. donovani complex in the literature. This short peptide could have an effect on host-parasite and vector-parasite interactions. Since the CPBs genes have important implication on host–parasite and play key roles in infection and expression of the disease, further studies on the L. donovani parasite and its diminutive peptide necessitate to improve our understanding about the epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran.

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Background and Objective: Epidemiology of Visceral Leishmaniasis is affected by combination quality and interaction of Parasite-Vector-Host and environmental conditions. So, disease cycle related and eco-social factors and environmental risk factors co-analyzing, help to understanding these interactions, prognosis and orientation in disease control and treatment. This study was done to determine the role of nomadic and non-nomadic lifestyle in transmission of Kala-Azar in the Northwest of Iran.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, firstly the prevalence of Kala-Azar among people living in selected villages were determined by both serological test (Direct Agglutination Test: DAT) and immunological test (Montenegro Skin Test: MST) in the Northwest of Iran, on the way of Shahsavan tribe travelling in summer/winter quarters villages. Then DAT was conducted on the dogs presenting in those villages during 2006. One year later Seroconversion rate was calculated through collection of the individual’s negative sera and re-analyzing them via DAT. Finally, occurrence of Visceral Leishmaniasis in relation with various involving factors like dog density/abundance and nomadic and non-nomadic lifestyle using Chi-Square test were determined.

Results: Both MST and DAT were significantly higher in the nomadic lifestyle than in the non-nomadic lifestyle (P<0.05). Three values of prevalence (5.5%), seropositivity (2.7%) and seroconversion (2.5%) were higher in nomads than non-nomads. The GIS studies and electronically prepared maps showed that the endemicity and the infection rate are higher in nomads than non-nomads. There were a negative correlation between general distribution of Visceral Leishmaniasis in relation with environmental conditions altitude, mean temperature and rainfall.

Conclusion: This study indicated that Nomadic lifestyle can play as a risk factor in transmission of Visceral Leishmaniasis due to nomads/dog contacting, their entering in the wild cycle of disease and travelling.

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Aspiration pneumonia is a critical disease and can result from a various causes. Epiphrenic diverticula is a rare disorder, which can cause aspiration of food material contained in it. Mediastinal tuberculosis can also cause traction diverticula at mid-esophagus, which usually are asymptomatic and induce no complication. In this article we describe a case, suffering of all these three disorders and after seven years of surgery and medical treatment any symptom was not found in the patient.

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Background and Objective: Superficial pigmented lesions are the most common complaint in dermatology. This study was done to assess the therapeutic effect of cryotherapy in facial lentigo and junctional nevus. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 100 cases of flat-pigmented lesions with diameters up to 2 mm and after taking a photograph with USB microscope M2 (Scalar) treated with one freeze thaw cycle with liquid nitrogen through an applicator for 2 second in Imam Reza hospital, Mashhad, Iran during 2004-05. The patients were visited 3 times again through 3 successive months. According to the decrease in color of the lesion, patients were divided into 4 groups: sever pigmentation, no response, partial (>50% color loss) and complete response (<50% color loss). Data were analyzed using SPSS-11.5 and Wilcoxon test. Results: 96% of our patients were female and 4% were male. Mean age was 30±11.7 years. Based on Fitzpatrick criteria fifteen patients had type 2, fifty had type 3 and 35 had type 4 skin color. After the period of 3 months follow up, 6% of the patients completely healded, 58% had partial response, 31%with no response and 5% develop hyperpigmentation. Response in patients with type 2 Fitzpatrick skin color was clinically better than type 3 and 4 but this difference was not significant. Conclusion: Cryotherapy is considered as a simple, cost effective and safe therapeutic regiment in treating of 64% facial pigmental lesions.

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Cogan's syndrome is a chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown cause affecting mostly young adults. Two main observation of the disease are bilateral interstitial keratitis and vestibuloauditory dysfunction. Association between Cogan's syndrome and systemic vasculitis as well as aortitis are exist. The diagnosis of the disease is based upon the presence of inflammatory eye disease and vestibuloauditory dysfunction . In this article, the classic Cogan's syndrome has been reported in a 47-year-old woman. Two months prior to admission, the patient had been suffering from headache, vertigo, nausea, vomiting, right leg claudication, musculoskeletal pains, bilateral hearing loss and blindness. Ophthalmologic examination revealed that visual acuity was 0.1 bilaterally and on slit lamp examination, there was a conjunctival hyperemia, bilateral cataract and interstitial keratitis. Pure tone audiogram (PTA) and auditory brain stem response (ABR) showed bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. The patient was initially treated with pulse intravenous methylprednisolone and was followed by oral prednisolone and cyclophosphamide, which in follow-up showed partial improvement.

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Background and Objective: Hydatidosis is a chronic, zoonotic worldwide infection which induced by larval stage of Echinococcus worm. This study was done to assessment the pure and B hydatid cyst fluid antigens for the serological diagnosis of human hydatidosis. Methods: In this descriptive laboratory study, infected liver with Hydatid cyst were obtained from Tehran's slaughterhouses to prepare cyst fluid in different stages. After draining and purifying the cyst fluid, it was centrifuged and subsequently concentrated. Specificity and sensitivity of sera samples including hydatidosis (n=60), worm parasites (n=55), fascioliasis (n=35), toxocariasissera (n=20) and negative control (n=35) were tested by Counter Immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP), ELISA and Dot ELISA methods. Results: Specificity and sensitivity of pure antigen of hydatid cyst using CIEP method was 68.9% and 86.7%, respectively. Specificity and sensitivity of B-antigen using CIEP method was 87.8% and 83.3%, respectively. Specificity and sensitivity of pure antigen of hydatid cyst using ELISA method was 76.7%, and 93.3%, respectively. Specificity and sensitivity of B-antigen using ELISA method was 96.7% and 88.3%, respectively. Specificity and sensitivity of pure antigen of hydatid cyst using Dot ELISA method was 83.3% and 100%, respectively. Specificity and sensitivity of B-antigen using Dot ELISA method was 100% and 98.3%, respectively. Conclusion: B-antigen using Dot ELISA method is the most suitable serological test for the diagnoses of hydatid test.

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Background and Objective: Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is the most common and important type of diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Silent myocardial infarction, respiratory failure and increased mortality are the outcomes of CAN. This study was carried out to screen the cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in non- insulin dependent diabetics patients. Method: This descriptive - analytic study was carried on 70 (22 males, 48 females) non- insulin dependent diabetics’ patients. Resting heart rate, heart rate variability, orthostatic changes in heart rate, blood pressure and corrected QT interval were recorded for each subject. The final findings were categorized as follow: 0=normal, 1=borderline and 2=CAN positive. Results: 10 (14.3%) of patients were normal, 35 (50%) of patients were borderline and 25 (35.7%) of patients were considered cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy positive. There was significant differences between duration of diabetes and three CAN scores (P<0.05). The systolic blood pressure alterations showed the maximum correlation with CAN scores (r=0.509). Conclusion: In our study, the rate of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy was higher than other reports. The most important risk factor for cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy was more than 10 years history of diabetes mellitus.

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Background and Objective: Gerotranscendence, as a component of spiritual health, influences their quality of life and adaptation to chronic diseases by creating meaning in life. It is an important approach to enhancing the dimensions of aging health. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between gerotranscendence and quality of life in the elderly with cancer.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 200 older adults with cancer who were selected from Firouzgar and Rasool Akram medical centers in Tehran, Iran, during 2021. The checklist of demographic characteristics, the Gerotranscendence Scale (GTS), and the quality of life questionnaire (LEIPAD) were used.
Results: Gerotranscendence had a statistically significant relationship with marital status, level of education, employment status, housing status, type of cancer, and type of treatment (P<0.05). Age had a statistically significant negative correlation with the quality of life (r=-0.206). Gerotranscendence also had a statistically significant positive correlation with the dimensions of quality of life (r=0.221, P=0.002), including depression and anxiety (r=0.146, P=0.04), mental performance (r=0.167, P=0.018), social performance (r=0.266, P<0.001), and satisfaction with life (r=0.256, P<0.001).
Conclusion: Increasing gerotranscendence increases the quality of life of the elderly.

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Background and Objective: Silver nanoparticles are produced in large quantities in the industry and have estrogenic activities and toxic effects on different organs. This study was conducted to determine the effect of silver nanoparticles on the ovarian tissue of NMRI rats treated with alpha lipoic acid.
Methods: In this experimental study, 24 female NMRI rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 6. The groups included the control group, oral silver nanoparticles (500 mg/kg of body weight), injected alpha lipoic acid (100 mg/kg of body weight), and silver nanoparticles (500 mg/kg of body weight) plus alpha lipoic acid (100 mg/kg body weight). The treatment was performed for 28 days. After the treatment period, blood sampling was performed from the rats’ hearts to analyze biochemical parameters (malondialdehyde, estrogen, progesterone, and total antioxidant capacity using the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) method). By dissecting the rats, the left ovaries were removed, fixed, molded, and cut, tissue passaging was performed, and the ovaries were stained using the hematoxylin-eosin method. Then, the ovarian tissue was evaluated by different stereological methods.
Results: The total mean ovarian volume, the cortex volume, the medulla volume, and the corpus luteum volume, and the total number of primordial, primary, secondary, and Graafian follicles were significantly reduced in the silver nanoparticles group compared to the control group (P<0.05). The simultaneous administration of alpha lipoic acid and silver nanoparticles compensated for the adverse effects of silver nanoparticles on the above parameters. On the other hand, the mean number of different types of follicles in the rats treated with alpha lipoic acid significantly increased compared to the control group (P<0.05). A statistically significant reduction was observed in the measurement of estrogen and progesterone hormones in the serum of the silver nanoparticles group compared to the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, in assessing the antioxidant capacity of the serum of the group treated simultaneously with silver nanoparticles + alpha lipoic acid, a statistically significant increase was observed compared to the group treated with silver nanoparticles (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Silver nanoparticles can have adverse effects on the structure of the ovary and its components, and alpha lipoic acid can largely compensate for these detrimental effects.

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Background and Objective: Considering the increasing use of silver nanoparticles in various products, including industrial and medical products, serious worries have been created regarding the potential dangers of silver nanoparticles. This study was conducted to determine the effect of silver nanoparticles on the kidney tissues of quercetin-treated NMRI rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 24 adult male NMRI rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 6. The groups included the control group, the silver nanoparticles group (500 mg/kg/bw), the quercetin group (50 mg/kg/bw), and the silver nanoparticles (500 mg/kg/bw) + quercetin (50 mg/kg/bw) group. Silver nanoparticles were fed orally on a daily basis for 35 days. Quercetin was injected intraperitoneally on a daily basis for 42 days. At the end of the study, after taking blood from the rats, the dissection, tissue passaging, and Heidenhain’s Azan staining stages were carried out. The total volumes of the kidney, cortex and medulla, renal corpuscle, and glomerulus were evaluated by a stereological method. A qualitative assessment of apoptotic cells was performed using the tunnel method. The amount of malondialdehyde (MDA) in blood serum was specified as an indicator of lipid peroxidation by the Buege and Aust method.
Results: Comparing the body weight and kidneys, and the total kidney, cortex, and medulla volumes showed no statistically significant difference between the silver nanoparticles group and the control group. The silver nanoparticles group showed a significant increase in the total mean renal corpuscle volume, glomerular volume, tuft volume, Bowman’s capsule membrane volume, and the amount of MDA compared to the control group (P<0.05). Also, a statistically significant reduction was observed in the silver nanoparticles group in the total mean volume of Bowman’s capsule and capillary spaces compared to the control group (P<0.05). Quercetin could reduce the detrimental effects of silver nanoparticles on kidney cells as much as the control group; however, apoptosis was not shown in kidney cells in the group treated with quercetin. Assessing the cells in the silver nanoparticles group indicated the creation of apoptosis. The amount of serum MDA in the silver nanoparticles group showed a statistically significant increase compared to other groups (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that quercetin could reduce the detrimental effects of silver nanoparticles on kidney cells as much as the control group.

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Background and Objective: The application of different nanoparticles using green synthesis is increasing due to fewer complications. This study was conducted to identify the effect of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles synthesized with sumac extract on changes in biochemical and histological factors in rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 30 five-month-old male Wistar rats with an approximate weight of 250-300 mg/kg of body weight were divided into three groups: The control group (saline receiving), the experimental groups receiving intraperitoneal cobalt ferrite nanoparticles synthesized with sumac extract at a dose of 10 and 20 mg/kg of body weight. Serum and tissue samples (liver, kidney, and spleen) were isolated. Serum concentrations of urea, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and creatinine were determined. The photometric method was used to measure liver enzymes, the calorimetric method without omitting proteins based on the Jaffe method was used to measure creatinine, and the urease-glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) method was used to measure urea. Tissue samples were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) microscopic studies were used for microscopic investigations.
Results: No statistical significance was observed in blood samples and factors (urea, creatinine, ALT, and AST) in the experimental groups compared to the control group. Similarly, in the morphological investigation, the size of the liver, kidney, and spleen of the groups receiving cobalt ferrite nanoparticles synthesized with sumac extract was normal compared to the control group.
Conclusion: Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles synthesized with sumac had no toxic effect on the rats’ liver, spleen, and kidney tissues.

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Background and Objective: Bacterial nanocellulose is known as a potential carrier for a widespread spectrum of biological compounds, including antibacterial and antifungal compounds. The present study was conducted to determine the impact of bacterial nanocellulose containing Natamycin and Amphotericin B on Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium citrinum in an in vitro environment.
Methods: In this descriptive-analytical research, Aspergillus flavus-PTCC: 5006 and Penicillium citrinum-PTCC: 5304 fungi were prepared from the Fungal Collection of the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of Natamycin and Amphotericin B against Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium citrinum were evaluated by the microdilution method. Bacterial nanocellulose was prepared using Komagata xylinum bacterium, and Natamycin and Amphotericin B were added in three concentrations of 0.01%, 0.05%, and 0.1% to wet and lyophilized nanocellulose films by the immersion method. Then, the antifungal effects of the film containing the above compounds against the investigated fungi were investigated by the agar diffusion method. Parchment paper was used as a control for comparison. Spectral properties of nanocellulose film containing antifungal compounds were evaluated by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) method.
Results: MIC and MFC of Natamycin for Aspergillus flavus were determined as 3.9 μg/mL and 7.81 μg/mL, and for Penicillium citrinum as 7.81 μg/mL and 15.62 μg/mL, respectively. MIC and MFC of Amphotericin B for Aspergillus flavus were determined as 7.81 μg/mL and 15.62 μg/mL, and for Penicillium citrinum as 15.62 μg/mL and 31.25 μg/mL, respectively. The increased concentration had a statistically significant impact on the antifungal properties of all films (P<0.05). The best antifungal effects of the film were related to the film containing Natamycin.
Conclusion: Bacterial nanocellulose containing Natamycin showed stronger antifungal effects in an in vitro environment compared to Amphotericin B against Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium citrinum.