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Background and Objective: Hypericin is found in different species of Hypericum genus, as a main compound with antimicrobial, antiviral, nonspecific kinas inhibition and dopamin β-hydroxilase inhibitoring effects. This study was done to compare the hypericin content, antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of Hypericum perforatum L. from three geographic regions of Iran.

Methods: In this descriptive study, Hypericin content of aerial parts of H. perforatum L. was assessed using UV-Vis spectrometric method. Antioxidant activity was measured using DPPH and β-carotene bleaching assay. Cytotoxicity was evaluated via brine shrimp lethality assay. Antimicrobial activity was determined using inhibition zone diameter evaluation via disc diffusion method and measuring minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value.

Results: Hypericin content of aerial parts of H. perforatum L. from Qom, Golestan and Kurdestan provinces were 673, 1223 and 1568 ppm, respectively. Antioxidant and cytotoxic activities in samples from Kurdestan was more than samples from Qom and Golestan. Antimicrobial activity, as far as the number of sensitive microorganisms was evaluated. In this way the order of Golestan>Kurdestan>Qom was exhibited, however the extract of the plant from Kurdestan had the highest activity for two staphylococcus species with the inhibition zone diameter of 17 and 19 mm for S. aureus and S.epidermidis, respectively and MIC value of 250 µg/mL.

Conclusion: Hypericin content was more from samples of Kurdistan province with cold climate. Antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of aerial parts of all samples were high. There is a relationship between hypericin content of aerial parts of H. perforatum L. and biological activities.

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Background and Objective: Stiffness and restricted range of movement (ROM) affect muscle balance and body alignment. The purpose of this research is the study the relationship between Iliopsoas tightness and hip active range of motion, extensor-flexor muscle strength and thoracolumbar curves.
Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 15 adolescent's male soccer players with short length of Iliopsoas muscle as case group and 15 healthy adolescents witch matched based on age, height, weight, BMI, dominant leg and sport experience as control group. The range of motion was measured with universal goniometer, kyphosis and lordosis with flexible ruler and muscle strength with manual dynamometer.
Results: The range of motion of the hip extension and the strength of the Iliopsoas muscle in the case group were statistically lower than the control group (P<0.05). The rate of lumbar lordosis and the ratio of gluteus maximus to the strength of the Iliopsoas muscle in the case group were significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the range of motion of hip flexion, dyspnea kyphosis, and gluteus maximus muscle strength in the studied groups.
Conclusion: Adolescents with Iliopsoas tightness have limited hip extension and greater lumbar lordosis and weaker Iliopsoas strength in comparison to healthy counterparts.

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Background and Objective: Various infections and the formation of stones could be the cause for bile duct obstruction of that sterile organ. Determination of pathogenesis factors and the bacteria involved in infections are important in the prevention of disease, and cares needed following surgery. This study was done to determine the bacteria in the gallbladder of patients with cholelithiasis and evaluation of pathogenic factors of the prevalent isolated bacteria.
Methods: In this descriptive laboratory study, 35 samples of gallbladder tissues which contained gallstones were collected under sterile conditions in “Department of General Surgery of Imam Khomeini Hospital”, Tehran, Iran during 2016. The stone types were analyzed and decomposed by chemical procedures, and the bacteria existed in the tissues were also identified using biochemical experiments. The tissues with negative results in microbiological studies were looked for any contaminating bacteria, applying the DNA extracted from gallbladder tissue as a template using F27 and R1492 as the primers for PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) amplification of 16SrRNA gene. Those with the positive results of microbiological tests were subjected to the DNA sequencing following gel purification and blasted against the NCBI gene database. The most frequently isolated bacteria were studied according to the intensity of biofilm formation, using the microtitre plate method. CsgF and Ag43 (Flu), the genes involved in the induction of such phenotype were also analyzed in this study. The antibiotic resistance assay of the isolates was performed using disc diffusion procedure.
Results: Thirteen out of thirty five samples of post-surgery gallbladder tissues were found to be infected by different bacteria, including: Klebsiella (3 cases), Escherichia coli (4 cases), Enterobacter (1 case), Staphylococcus aureus (2 cases), Enterococci (2 cases), and Streptococcus (1 case). In 23 out of 35 samples (65.7%), no bacteria could be isolated using microbiological methods. However, in seven out of 23 samples, the amplified 16SrRNA had an indication of Klebsiella (6 cases) and Enterococcus (1 case) isolates. Therefore, the most prevalent genus in gallbladder infections was Klebsiella (47.36%). Chemical analysis showed that the highly frequent compound of gallstones (98%) were of cholesterol and bilirubin. Escherichia coli with fourcases were the highest culture growing isolated bacteria, in all of which, the biofilm formation genes were present. In the two out of four Escherichia coli isolates the intensity of biofilm formation was high. Although, in the remaining two isolates was medium. While, they were found to be sensitive to the most of the antibiotics, they showed resistance to Tetracycline, Ciprofloxacin and Ceftazidime in different ranges.
Conclusion: The present study provided evidence that non-cultural bacteria are hihly present in gallbladder infections. The high potential of the commonly isolated bacteria in biofilm formation should be taken as a warning to follow the precise protocol of antibiotic prescription for treatment of gallbladder infections.

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Background and Objective: Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in pars compacta of substantial nigra. The most important symptoms of this disease include slow motion, lack of movement, tremor and imbalance. This study was done to determine the effect of probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei on motor disorders caused by injection of 6-hydroxy dopamine in Parkinson's model in male rats.
Methods: In this experimental study, 48 male rats were randomly allocated into six groups. To create an animal model of Parkinson's disease, a black body component in male rats was injected 6-hydroxy dopamine (6-OHDA) (0.5 mg/kg) unilaterally by stereotaxic apparatus. After 3 weeks of recovery, to evaluation of degradation rate, animals were received apomorphine, intraperitoneally. In the first experiment, rats were randomly divided into Sham and Parkinson's (injured) groups, the Sham group were received only water and food, and the injured group received 6-hydroxy-dopamine. In the second experiment, male rats were divided into 4 groups of 8 rats, each of the 4 groups was injected 6-hydroxy-dopamine and 21 days later, they were tested for assay of apomorphine. The results were recorded, then for 28 days, the first group was taken as control. The second group of saline, the third group of milk, the fourth group of milk and probiotic were gavaged. At the end of day 28, once again, each group was subjected to rotation of apomorphine test and the rotations were recorded.
Results: The behavioral analysis of saline, milk, milk plus probiotics were indicated that the group receiving probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei plus milk was significantly less apomorphine rotation test than the saline group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: It seems that probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei can reduces Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

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Background and Objective: Congenital anomalies are one of the major causes of neonatal mortality. Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect world wide, and recent studies about CHD have reported congenital heart disease approximately is about one percent of all live births. This study was done to determine the frequency of congenital heart disease using ecocardiography in patients with extra-cardiac anomalies in Gorgan peadiatric center in north of Iran.
Methods: In this descriptive study, 55 girls, 84 boys a total of 139 patients were in the age range of birth to 12 years of age whom have referred to Taleghani Teaching and Medical Center in Gorgan during 2012-17. 139 cases of congenital heart disorders with echocardiographic report sheet in their medical record were evaluated. Information of patients including age, sex, ethnicity, type of extra-cardiac, anomalies, cardiac anomalies (simple, complex and ductal anomalies), cardiac murmur status, and clinical symptoms were extracted from their medical records.
Results: From of total of echocardiography, 139 patients (88.5%) were affected by congenital heart disease. The anomalies were included of 88 cases (56.05%), 48 cases (31.21%), 2 cases (1.27%) simple, complex anomaly and ductal dependent anomaly respectively. The other disorders accompanied with congenital heart diseases were 17 cases (12.2%) with cleft palate, 4 cases (2.9%) with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 8 cases (5.8%) with closed anus, 52 cases (37.4%) with Down syndrome, 4 cases (2.9%) with Turner syndrome, 4 cases (2.9%) with ileum atresia, 11 cases (7.9%) with Esophageal atresia, 7 cases (5%) with Hirschsprung's disease, 6 cases (4.3%) with urogenital anomalies and 26 cases (18.7%) with other extra-cardiac abnormalities.
Conclusion: Down syndrome and cleft palate are among the highest prevalant anomalies with congenital heart diseases.