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The treatment of supraventricular arrhythmia include wide range of medical intervention, but ideal drug for treatment of this kind of arrhythmia is yet to be developed. Pharmacological interventions due to their adverse side effects and the possibility of proarrhythmic effects are usually ineffective in treating these conditions. Herbal remedies are suitable alternatives for synthetic drugs, due to their availability, minimal side effects and lower price. Pharmacological studies and traditional medical literature point to the cardiovascular effects of the Achillea Santolina in many instances. In present study, we used isolated heart of langandrof rats as an experimental model to determine the effect of various concentrations of the methanol extract of Achillea santolina (2×10^-7, 2×10^-9, 2×10^-10 W/V) on the electrophysiological properties of the isolated heart. Results of this study show a significant depression of WBCL, AVCT and ERP and non-significant increased in time constant of recovery (trec). It may be therefore be considered a potential role for anti-arrhythmic effect of Achillea Santolina in suppression or treating supraventricular tachyarrhythmia.

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Background & Objective: Addiction to opiates such as morphine is one of major public health problems. It has been shown that in addicted animals, administration of antioxidant agents such as vitamin C can reduce the withdrawal symptoms (WDS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the preventional effect of grapefruit juice (Citrus Paradisi Macf.) on withdrawal symptoms in rats. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, Sixteen male Wistar rats (250-300g) randomly divided into two groups (n=8). All animals were addicted by intraperitoneal (i.p) injection of morphine (the 1-3 days: 10 mg/kg, the 4-6 days: 20 mg/kg and the 7-9 days 40 mg/kg daily) for 9 days. The first group received 2 ml Citrus Paradisi Macf. orally 1 hour before morphine administration. The sham group received 2 ml of normal saline. Naloxone (10mg/kg, s.c) was administrated 45 minutes after of an additional dose of morphine (40 mg/kg) in the tenth day for withdrawal symptoms inducing. Then withdrawal symptoms such as frequency of wet-dog shaking, teeth chattering, defecation and penis licking were evaluated for 30 minutes. Results: All withdrawal symptoms including frequency of wet-dog shaking, teeth chattering, defecation and penis licking were reduced in the Citrus Paradisi Macf. group in comparison with the sham group significantly (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our results showed that presumably antioxidant activity of Citrus Paradisi Macf. can reduce withdrawal symptoms. Although the exact mechanisms of its effect in brain need to be elucidate.

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Tissue engineering is based on three main factors including scaffolds, cells and growth factors. Natural scaffolds derived from decellularized tissues and organs have been successfully used in tissue engineering. Decellularization studies have shown that natural scaffolds which maintaine their main structure and properties could be a suitable tool for studying cellular behaviors and preparation of such scaffolds is an important part of future research in biology that may have extensive applications in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Blastema tissue which is produced after injuries in some organisms has embryonic cell characteristics, and can be a suitable model for evaluation of cell behaviors in various tissues. In this review, the process of decellularization, process involved in preparation of 3D scaffolds derived from extracellular matrix of various tissues including cartilage, bone, gingiva, aorta and bladder, and assessment of their interactions with blastema tissue under in vitro conditions are discussed.

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Background and Objective: Listeria monocytogenes is an important food-borne intracellular pathogen which can transmit to human through contaminated foods and causing meningitis, meningoencephalitis and abortion. This study was done to determine the frequency, antimicrobial susceptibility and serotyping of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from food samples in Tehran, Iran.
Methods: This descriptive was carried on 150 food samples including vegetables, cheese and meat were collected from supermarkets, open-air markets, and delicatessens in different regions of Tehran, Iran since April to September 2018. The presumptive isolates were characterized biochemically. All L. monocytogenes isolates were further analyzed by serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility tests.
Results: Out of 150 samples, Listeria spp. was detected in 30 (20%) samples in which 9 (6%) were positive for L. monocytogenes [vegetables (n=4, 44.44%), cheese (n=2, 22.22%) and meat (n=3, 33.33%)]. of the 9 L. monocytogenes isolates, 5 (55.55 %), 3 (33.33 %), and 1 (11.11%) belonged to serotypes 4b, 1/2b, and 1/2a, respectively. The most L. monocytogenes isolates were resistant to Trimetoprime, Sulfamethoxazole, Tetracycline, Streptomycin, Chloramphenicol, and Ciprofloxacin while were sensitive to Penicillin G, Gentamicin, Streptomycin, and Ampicillin, and were intermediately resistant to Ciprofloxacin.
Conclusion: The rate of Contamination of vegetable, cheese and meat samples with L. monocytogenes is important in Tehran, Iran. Due to the potential contamination samples to Listeria, there is necessity need for continuous monitoring and the development of a precise program for identifying this bacterium in Tehran and the whole country.

 

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Background and Objective: Chronic itching reduces the quality of life of patients undergoing hemodialysis. This study was done to determine the effect of chronic itching on the quality of life of patients under hemodialysis in north of Iran.

Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 111 patients with mean age of 58.36±12.7 years were randomly selected from hemodialysis centers of Golestan province from May to December 2017. Demographic data, quality of life (Itchy QOL questionnaire), Xerosis, pruritus intensity (Balaskas 1998), and laboratory tests including calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, parathyroid hormone, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, hemoglobin and hematocrit were evaluated.

Results: The mean score of itching severity and overall quality of life was 29.27±7.46 and 41.4±10.44, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the severity of itching and the overall score of patients' quality of life (P<0.05). Correlation between severity of pruritus with symptom dimension, functional dimension and emotional dimension was significant (P<0.05). There was a significant correlation between severity of itching and Xerosis and serum calcium level (P<0.05). There was a significant correlation between Xerosis and calcium level with increased itching (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Itching reduced the quality of life in hemodialysis patients in north of Iran.

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Background and Objective: Genu varum is a lower limb deformity. This study was done to evaluate the effects of shoe aging on the general and directional contraction of ankle muscles during running in females with genu varum.
Methods: This case-control study was done on 30 female students (15 individuals with genu varum degree 2 and 15 healthy individuals) using new and old sneakers for 6 months in the sports biomechanics laboratory of the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Iran. Each subject was given a new pair of sneakers, and after the initial data collection, the subjects were asked to use them in their daily activities for at least an hour a day for 6 months. Electrical muscle activity was recorded using surface electromyography.
Results: There was no significant difference in the general and directional contractions if ankle muscles during the running phases.
Conclusion: Shoe aging has no effect on ankle joint co-contractions.