---

Background and Objective: Zinc is an essential ion for living and inter the body from different sources. Since Zn⁺⁺ interfere on many cellular process such as biological function such as calcium chanalls, this study was designed to investigate the effect of oral ZnCl₂ on glucose, Insulin, lipoproteins and liver enzymes in male Rats.

Materials and Methods: This experimental study was performed on 48 of Wistar-Albino male Rats randomly allocated into three exprimental and one control groups. Exprimental groups received 50 mg/l, 100 mg/l and 200 mg/l ZnCl₂ in drinking water daily for four weeks but the control group received tap water. After four weeks, animals were anesthetized, sacrificed and blood samples were collected. Glucose, insulin, lipoproteins, aspartat amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) were measured. Data were analyzed by SPSS-11, ANOVA and Tukey-tests.

Results: The mean±SD of Cholesterol in group D (85.7±3.2), HDL in groups B, C, D (66.1±2.7, 67±2.18, 68.83±2.69 mg/dl) and LDL in groups B, C, D (2.8±0.9, 14.6±6.3, 13.4±2.8 mg/dl) respectively were significantly decreased compared with Cholesterol (125.5±4.9 mg/dl), HDL (80.5±3 mg/dl) and LDL (30.3±3.2 mg/dl) in group A. Mean±SD of glucose, insulin, triglyceride and liver enzymes did not show any differences among the groups.

Conclusion: This study showed that ZnCl₂ added on drinking water reduce serum lipoproteins in male Rats.

---

L-glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). It contribute in various physiological conditions such as brain development, synaptic plasticity, memory and learning. However, increasing of the extracellular glutamate concentration and overactivation of glutamate receptors in particular ionotropic subtypes leads to excitotoxicity which is the fundamental pathological pathway of neuronal injury. Due to lack of extracellular enzymatic destruction, the removal of released glutamate is achieved through the excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) which are distributed in glia that tightly surround the synaptic clefts, as well as in neurons. EAATs which known as Na+-dependent high-affinity glutamate transporters are the main responsible for maintaining extracellular glutamate concentration below excitotoxic levels. Moreover another membrane transporters regulating the flux of glutamate in different areas of the CNS. This system is cystine-glutamate exchanger (XCG-) that is Na+-independent system. Dysfunction of EAATs has been implicated in both acute insults e.g. stroke, trauma and chronic neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders e.g. amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, epilepsy, schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, the purpose of this review article is to explain the pathway of glutamate biosynthesis, its release into CNS, discribing and elaborating Glutamate transporters, activites and their role in excitoxcity in CNS.

---

Background and Objective: Glaucoma is one of the most important cause of blindness wordwide. Exact determination of intra ocular pressure is important for the diagnosis and decision making about glaucoma treatment. Central corneal thickness is considered as effective factor on intra ocular pressure and visual field defect. This study was carried out to determine the relationship between central corneal thickness, intra ocular pressure and visual field in normal tension and primary open angle glaucoma. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on 45 eyes with normal tension glaucoma and 45 eyes with primary open angle glaucoma in Al-Zahra ophthalmology hospital in Zahedan, Iran during 2010. Intra ocular pressure and central corneal thickness were measured by Goldman tonometer and pachymeter and visual field exanimated by Humphrey perimeter. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16, paired t-test, ANOVA, Mann–Whitney and Pearson corlateion tests. Results: There was significant correlation between central corneal thickness and intra ocular pressure (r=0.309, P<0.05). A significant difference was detected in intra ocular pressure between two type of glaucoma (P<0.05). Mean value of central corneal thickness in patient with mild visual field defect was higher than severe visual field defect but there was not significant statistical difference between central corneal thickness and visual field defect in subjects with glaucoma. Conclusion: This study indicated that increasing corneal thickness is accompanied with intra occular presure.

---

Background and Objective: Transaction or laceration and compression of peripheral nerves in accidents and different circumstances resulting Wallerian degeneration which go back to perikaryon through retrograde reaction. This study was done to determine the effect of alchohlic extract of Achillea wilhelmsii on density of motor neurons of spinal cord after sciatic nerve compression in male Wistar rats.

Methods: In this experimental study, 30 male wistar rats were randomly allocated into 5 groups: group A: control, group B: compression, group C: compression and treatment with 50 mg/kg/bw of ethanolic extract, group D: compression and treatment with 75 mg/kg/bw of ethanolic extract and group E: compression and treatment with 100 mg/kg/bw of ethanolic extract of Achillea wilhelmsii. After anesthetizing rats, skin and sub cutaneous muscles of right thigh were cut to sciatic nerve appears. Then, compression of sciatic nerve was done by a surgical forceps for 60 seconds, followed by suturing muscle and skin. Extract injection was done intraperitoneally for three weeks after compression. Group A and B were received normal saline. 28 days after compression, samples were prepared from lumbar spinal cord under perfusion method and histological sections were provided serially. After staining, density of motor neurons was calculated by dissector method.

Results: Neuronal density in the compression group (707±38.56) significantly reduced in compare to control group (1740±49.81), (P<0.05). Neuronal density in group C (1208±57.58), group D (1370±33.91), and group E (1437±64.46) significantly increased in compare to compression group (P<0.05), respectively.

Conclusion: Ethanolic extract of Achillea wilhelmsii increased neuronal density of rat's spinal cord after compression of sciatic nerve.

---

Background and Objective: Enterococci is gram positive bacteria which is the inhabitants of gastrointestinal tract. Hospital infections and antibiotic resistance to enterococci is increased. This study was done to determine the molecular evaluation of vanA and vanB genes of enterococci isolates resistant to Vancomycin and Teicoplanin.

Methods: In this descriptive study, 113 isolates samples were collected and identified according to biochemical test and cultural characteristics in Ali ibn Abi Talib hospital in Zahedan, Iran. Antibiogram test was done to determine antibiotic resistance pattern. E-test strip was used to evaluate the minimum inhibitory of concentration (MIC). PCR was used to detect the vanA and vanB genotype in Vancomycin and Teicoplanin resistance enterococci.

Results: 92%, 6.2% and 1.8% of isolated samles collocted from urine, blood culture and pleura fluid, respectively. According to phenotype, 18.6% and 17.69% were resistance to Vancomycin and Teicoplanin, respectively. Resistance was observed in strains of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium. VanA genotype was seen in all of the resistance isolated species.

Conclusion: This study showed that strains of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium have more antibiotic resistance to the Vancomycin and Teicoplanin, morever vanA genotype precence in all of resistance isolated samples.

---

Background and Objective: Medicinal plants contain a high level of antioxidant compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic, carotenoids, and tannins, which can be used to eliminate excess free radicals in the body. This study aimed to determine the total phenolic and flavonoid content and to investigate the antioxidant and antibacterial effects of Berberis integerrima and Graminifolius tragopogon methanolic extracts on some Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms.
Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, methanolic extracts of B. integerrima and G. tragopogon were prepared using 80% methanol. Total phenol and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric methods, respectively. The antioxidant capacity was assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and reducing power methods. The antibacterial activity of the extracts of B. integerrima and G. tragopogon on Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhimurium were determined by the disk diffusion method. Butylated hydroxytoluene and ciprofloxacin were used as positive controls for antioxidant activity and bacterial strains, respectively.
Results: Total phenol and flavonoid compounds in the extracts of B. integerrima and G. tragopogon were 46.90±0.70 and 22.63±0.59 mg gallic acid per gram of extract and 5.61±0.01 and 46.74±0.81 mg quercetin per gram of extract, respectively. The extracts of B. integerrima and G. tragopogon showed significant antibacterial activity. B. subtilis and S. typhimurium showed the highest sensitivity and resistance to the extracts, respectively. Moreover, the extract of B. integerrima had the most potent inhibitory effect on the examined microorganisms.
Conclusion: B. integerrima extract exhibits higher phenolic content, antioxidant properties, and antimicrobial activity than G. tragopogon extract.
 

---

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a heterogeneous group of tumor predisposition syndromes that lead to malignancy in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), along with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and schwannomatosis (SCH), are the three main types of NF. As the most common form, NF1 is characterized by neurofibromas and Cafe-au-lait macules (CALMs) in early childhood. Neurofibromatosis type 1 is caused by mutations in the NF1 gene, which codes for neurofibromin, and mutations in NF2 and SMARCB1 gene lead to neurofibromatosis type 2 and schwannomatosis, respectively. In addition, most patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 have vestibular schwannoma, also associated with hearing problems and body imbalance. Recently, schwannomatosis has been proposed as a distinct genetic disorder because it shares many symptoms with neurofibromatosis types one and two, characterized by benign schwannoma around nerves. NF1 and NF2 may show symptoms in childhood, but schwannomatosis is often diagnosed in people in their thirties or older. This article reviews the latest scientific literature according to the keywords of neurofibromatosis, pathogenesis, treatment, NF1, and NF2 in Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science online databases on the types of neurofibromatosis, molecular pathways, diagnostic criteria, clinical symptoms, condition management, treatments and drugs under development.

---

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definition, genetic counseling is a process in which information is presented about how genetic conditions affect a patient or his/her family. A genetic counselor collects a patient’s personal and family health history to promote the family’s awareness and perception of specific genetic diseases, testing risks and advantages, disease management, and assessment of available therapeutic options. Intellectual disability (ID) and deafness are two common disabilities with considerable impacts on the quality of life of patients and their families. The present research has investigated the role of genetic counseling in the screening and prevention of deafness and ID based on the studies published in the Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases between 2015 and 2023. Genetic counseling can be employed as an influential tool in screening, early diagnosis, and prevention of ID and deafness. Considering that many cases of ID and deafness are rooted in individual genetics, genetic counseling can help lessen the risk factors of developing these disabilities and improve the quality of individual and family life. The effect of genetic counseling, as an influential tool, on screening, early diagnosis, and prevention of ID and hearing loss is also assessed.