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Background and Objective: Diabetes mellitus can cause kidney histological changes. This study was done to evaluate the effect of barley grain (Hordeum vulgare L.) consumption during pregnancy in diabetic rats on kidney histological altrations of offsprings. Methods: In this experimental study, 60 adult female albino rats, randomly allocated into four groups including: healthy with regular meals consumption as control, healthy which consumed barley (10 grams per each rat per daily), diabetic with regular meals consumption and diabetic group which consumed barley (10 grams per each rat per daily). Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 45 mg/kg/bw of streptozotocin. After confirmation of pregnancy by observing the vaginal plug, on 21th day, the dams were anesthetized and embryos were removed. Crown rump length and weight of embryos were recorded. After kindney tissue processing, sections with 5 micrometer thickness were stained with H&E method. Results: Interstitial tissue and capillary congestion, Bowman's capsule wall thickening, degeneration of epithelial tissue, distal and proximal tubules, incomplete formation of glomerular and inflammation were observed in embryos of diabeticts group. These tissues alterations significantly reduced in the embryos of diabetic group which consumed barley. The crown rump length of embryos significantly reduced in diabetic group in comparision with controls. There was not any diferences in crown rump length of embryos between diabetic consumed barley and diabetic group. The weight of embryos was non - significantly more in diabetic groups than controls. The weight of embryos reduced non - significantly in diabetic plus barley consumption in comparision with controls. Conclusion: The consumption of barley is beneficial in reducing kidney histological alterations in embryos of diabetic rats.

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Background and Objective: Soybean as a cheap protein and without side effects has been introduced to food industry. This study carried out to determine the effect of diet containing soybean on histology and histomorphometry of duodenal villi and serum levels of Calcium, Phosphorus and Glucose in mice.

Methods: In this experimental study, 30 female immature BALB/c mice with 3 weeks of age were randomly allocated into control, and experimental 1 and 2. The control group was fed a diet with complete protein. Animals in the experimental 1 and 2 were received a diet of complete protein with 40% soybean and 20% soybean, respectively. After 3 months the mice were anesthetized and blood samples were taken from the heart for determining serum level of Calcium, Phosphorus and glucose. Duodenum specimens from were prepared and stained with hematoxylin and eosin.

Results: Tissue structure of duodenum in experimental groups in compare to control group was not significantly changed, except for some scant specimens who showed some degrees of destruction in villi apicese. In histomorphometrical evaluation, the thickness of sub - mucosa and musculature were significantly increased in experimental groups compared to the controls group (P<0.05). The height of villi, depth of crypts and serum Glucose level were significantly reduced in experimental groups compared to the controls group (P<0.05), whereas the level of Calcium was significantly increased in experimental with the control group (P<0.05), but the level of Phosphorus did not show any significant changes in experimental groups compared to the controls.

Conclusion: Long term consumption of soybean can induce significant alteration in serum Calcium and glucose level, thickness of sub mucosa and musculature, the height of villi and depth of crypt in duodenum.

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Background and Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to organ failure by the occurrence of mechanisms such as increased thrombosis and, subsequently, increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). This study was conducted to determine LDH serum levels in COVID-19 patients and the factors affecting their mortality.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 212 patients (57 males and 155 females) with COVID-19 with a mean age of 49.19±10.6 referring to Imam Ali Hospital in Chabahar, Iran during 2021. After obtaining patients’ informed consent and demographic information, the heparinized peripheral blood sample was taken from them. The LHD levels were determined using an autoanalyzer.
Results: Twenty-nine (13.67%) patients died. The mean LDH serum level of 29 deceased patients (708.420±96.25 U/L) was not statistically significant compared to survivors (640.360±96.80 U/L in 183). The comparison between the surviving and deceased groups showed that 25% of the deceased patients were hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU), and 90.90% of the survivors were hospitalized in the internal ward (P<0.05). All the deceased and 85.85% of the survivors were 40 years old and above, and this difference was not statistically significant. Furthermore, 24.56% of the deceased were male, 90.32% of the survivors were female (P<0.05), 22.72% of the deceased had a university education, and 88.69% of the survivors had a diploma or under-diploma education (P<0.05), and 71.42% of the deceased patients had thin, and 91.37% of the survivors were overweight (P<0.05).
Conclusion: There was no difference in the LDH serum levels of the COVID-19 survivors and deceased. The age of 40 years and above, lean and morbidly obese body mass indices, male gender, and the need for hospitalization in the ICU were determined as risk factors.