---

Background and Objective: Aspergillosis is the most current causative agent of exogenous fungal nosocomial infection. This study was done to evaluate the drug susceptibility of Aspergillus flavus and A.fumigatus to itraconazole and amphotericin B. Materials and Methods: This Laboratory study was done on 25 Aspergillus fumigatus and 25 Aspergillus flavus species isolated from transplant's patients. Drug susceptibility test was done according to NCCLS M38-P document. Fungal suspensions of mentioned fungi were supplied with ranges 0.5–5×10⁴ by spectrophotometer at 530 nm. Serial dilutions of drugs were supplied from 0.03125 to 16 µg/ml and MICs determined following 48h incubation at 35°C. Results: Obtained MICs ranges for Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus were 1-4 µg/ml and 0.5–4 µg/ml for itraconazole, respectively while MICs ranges against Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus were 0.5-2 µg/ml and 0.25-2 µg/ml for amphotericin B, respectively. Amphotericin B MICs were significantly lower than itraconazole (P<0.05). Conclusion: Aspergillus flavus and A.fumigatus were susceptible to amphotericin B and itraconazole.

---

Background and Objective: Nosocomial fungal infections have considerably increased due to incrasing of immunocompromised diseases. This study was done to evaluate the antifungal activity of Amphotericin B and Fluconazole on hospital wards fungi. Methods: In this descriptive - analytic study, 33 fungal samples isolated from Imam Khomini hospital in Tehran, Iran during 2013. Samples were identified using slide culture method. Serial dilution of drugs and fungal suspensions were supplied from 0.25-128 µg/ml and range 0.5–5×10⁵ cfu/ml, respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined in accordance with NCCLS M38-p guideline. Results: The most frequent isolated fungus was Aspergillus spp. with 39.4% while the low frequent were Alternaria Spp. and Circinella with similar frequency (3%). MIC range for Fluconazole and Amphotericin B were 64-128 µg/ml and 16-64 µg/ml, respectively. Amphotericin B showed a MIC significant reduction in comparision with Fluconazole (P<0.05). Conclusion: Hospital wards fungi were resistant to Amphotericin B and Fluconazole.

---

Background and Objective: Low birth weight (LBW) is one of the most important problems in the world. Many morbidity are more prevalent in LBW included in attention deficit and hyper activity disorder (ADHD). This study was done to find the Relation between low birth weight with attention deficit and hyper activity disorder in children. Methods: This historical cohort study was done on 226 rural children in Yazd province, central area of Iran. ADHD symptoms were evaluated in LBW and NBW using DSM-IV criteria. Results: Frequency of ADHD was 22.8% in LBW and 12.5% in NBW (P<0.05). The mean of family members was 4.7±0.6 and 4.2±0.8 in child with ADHD versus child without ADHD (P<0.05). Odd's ratio for ADHD was 3.1 in patient with more than one sister or brother (95% CI: 1.2-7.9, P<0.001), and 5.7 in patients with positive familial history (95% CI: 2.6-12.4, P<0.001). Conclusion: Relationship between ADHD and LBW was statistically significant. Positive familial history for ADHD and over-crowded family were social factors related with ADHD. LBW is one of the risk factors for ADHD and can be considered in children health program ADHD was frequent in child with low birth weight than child with normal birth weight.

---

Background and Objective: Skeletal muscle expresses several neurotrophin and their receptors which providing the basis for neurotrophin signaling within the muscle compartments. This study was done to evaluate the effect of a session of resistance exercise on mRNA expression of NT-3 and TrkC proteins in soleus muscle of Wistar Rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 16 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into exercise and control groups. The resistance training protocol consisted of climbing a 1-meter–long ladder, with a weight attached to a tail sleeve. Expressions of NT-4/5 and P75, quantitatively were measured using RT-PCR. Results: There was not any significant alteration in NT-3 mRNA in soleus muscle after resistance exercise. However, one session of resistance exercise significantly increased mRNA expression of TrkC (1.7 Folds) in soleus muscle (P<0.05). Conclusion: Resistance exercise increases TrkC expression in soleuse muscle of wistar rats.

---

Background and Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory and systemic disease with peripheral, symmetric polyarthritis symptoms. Several genetic, environmental, and immunological factors contribute greatly to the disease pathogenesis. This study was done to evaluate the effect of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti - CCP) and rheumatoid factor on clinical disease activity index (CDAI) in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: This prospective cohort study was done on 64 rheumatoid arthritis patients according to ACR criteria (1978) whom referred to Rheumatology Clinic of Hajar Hospital in Shahrekord, Iran. Patients were clinically examined for primary CDAI and tested for anti - CCP and rheumatoid factor in the prior and six months after the initiation of the study. Results: 81.3% and 74% of the patients had high titers of anti – CCP antibody and positive rheumatoid factor, respectively. A non-significant recudtion was observed in intensity of secondary clinical activity of the disease in compare to primary clinical activity in the patients with high antibody titer. Conclusion: This study indicated the important role of rheumatoid factor and anti- CCP antibody in the on time diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

---

Background and Objective: Several methods are available for measuring fever in children. This study was done to compare the accuracy of three method of measuring body temperature using left and right tympanic, axillary and rectal methods in three months to five years old children.

Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was done on 126 children (63 without fever and 63 children with fever) with 3 months to 5 years age in Mofid hospital, Tehran, Iran. Rectal temperature lower than 38°C was considered as Gold standard to determine fever. Body temperature was also recorded for subjects through right and left tympanic and axilary methods.

Results: Body temperature was recorded in axillary method 37.1°C (sensitivity: 92.1%, specificity: 90.5%), right tympanic 36.9°C (sensitivity: 74.6%, specificity: 84.13%) and left tympanic 37.3°C (sensitivity: 93.65%, specificity: 84.13%). The mean temperature in the axillary method 0.77°C, right tympanic 1.02°C and left tympanic 0.48°C was lower than the mean rectal method (P<0.05). The correlation between right, left tympanic and axillary with rectal method was 0.84, 0.894 and 0.925, respectively (P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for left and right tympanic and axillary were 0.95, 0.87, 0.965, respectively.

Conclusion: The difference between rectal and left tympanic method was at the lowest level due to the ease of measuring temperature through tympanic membrane in three months to five years old children.

---

Background and Objective: Helicobacter pylori are one of the most common gastrointestinal bacterium infections. This study was done to compare the urease test with Giemsa staining to detection of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with gastric ulcer and gastritis.

Methods: This descriptive – analytic study was conducted on 601 patients' diagnosed with gastric ulcer and gastritis, whom under went endoscopy in 5th Azar hospital, Gorgan, Iran during 2008-12. Rapid urease test was immediately taken during endoscopy. Pathological examination, Giemsa staining on paraffin blocks and haematoxylin and eosin stain were done to assess either presence or absence of Helicobacter pylori.

Results: Based on biopsy results, Gastritis and gastric ulcer were diagnosed in 80.69% and 19.3%, respectively. In gastritis and gastric ulcer patients, there was a significant differences between urease test (91.5% and 90%, respectively) in comparison with Giemsa staining (91.5% and 90%, respectively) (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The study revealed that in primary diagnosis and screening of role of Helicobacter pylori in patients with gastric ulcer and gastritis, urease test is suitable than giemsa staining.

---

Background and Objective: Candida albicans is the normal flora of the body as opportunistic fungi. It causes candidiasis in immunocompromised condition. This study was done to drug susceptibility testing of Candida albicans isolated from patients against Amphotericin B and Ketoconazole.

Methods: In this descriptive – analytic study, drug susceptibility of 30 Candida albicans isolated from patients admitted to Tehran hospitals, Iran was tested against Amphotericin B and Ketoconazole by micro dilution method in accordance with CLSI M27-A2 guideline and disk diffusion method in accordance with CLSI M44-S2 guideline. Standard isolate Candida albicans PTCC (5027) and Candida krusei PTCC (5295) were used for quality control.

Results: The minimum and maximum MIC against Amphotrericin B was 0.0625 µg.ml^-1 and
4 µg.ml^-1, respectively. The minimum and maximum MIC against Ketoconazole was 0.5 µg/ml^-1 and 32 µg/ml^-1, respectively. The minimum and maximum zone diameter was 6 and 28 mm for both drugs. The results of drug susceptibility testing by two methods did not show significant differences. 25 isolates (83.3%) against ketoconazole and 2 isolates (6.7%) against Amphotericin B were resistant.

Conclusion: Amphotericin B administration seems better choice in candidiasis treatment in comparision with Ketoconazole.

---

Background and Objective: Proprioception an important role in shoulder joint function. Exercise and throat of the upper extremity are complex and skinny movements that apply a great deal of stress on the shoulder joint. This study was done to evaluate the relationship between proprioception and rotator muscles strength in dominant and non-dominant side with shoulder pain of wheelchair basketball athletes.
Methods: In this descriptive-analytic study, 50 wheelchair basketball athletes were selected in non-random sampling way from wheelchair basketball gyms from Alborz and Tehran in Iran. WUSPI, MMT system and repositioning error test with felexometere were used for assessment of shoulder pain, rotator muscles strength and proprioception respectively.
Results: There was a significant difference between dominant and non-dominant side rotators strength and proprioception (P<0.05). There was a significant relationship between internal rotators strength and proprioception in dominate side with shoulder pain (P<0.05). There was not a significant relationship between external rotators strength and proprioception in non-dominate side with shoulder pain.
Conclusion: Repeated pattern of movements in the wheelchair basketball athletes at the long time causes muscle imbalance in strength shoulder joint. It is known as a risk factor in shoulder injuries.

---

Background and Objective: Identification of Fasciola species is important. Fascioliasis is one of the important diseases in animals and humans caused by genus Fasciola. This study was done to determine the identification of Fasciola species with RFLP-PCR in animal liver in Gorgan City, northern Iran.
Methods: In this descriptive study, worms were obtained from the livers of infected sheep and cattle in Gorgan slaughterhouse in northern Iran. DNA of worms was extracted with phenol- chloroform method. Fragment of ITS-1 genome was amplified and TasI enzyme was utilized for amplified fragments then 8 samples were sequenced.
Results: A total of 49 Fasciola worms were isolated from infected cattle and sheep. The PCR products of all specimens were affected by the TasI enzyme, and F.hepatica species showed two fragments and F.gigantica species indicated three fragments. The enzyme in F.hepatica species showed a fragment of 151 bp and a fragment of 312, but in the F.gigantica, three fragments were 151, 93 and 219 bp. 36 (73.46%) worms were identified as Fasciola gigantica and 13 (26.53%) worms were identified as Fasciola hepatica. Out of the six infected sheep liver, 22 were isolated from the Fasciola worms, 13 (59.1%) of which were F.hepatica and 9 (40.9%) of them were F.gigantica. Out of the six infected cattle liver, 27 Fasciola worms were identified, all of which were identified as Fasciola gigantica (100%).
Conclusion: This study showed that Fasciola gigantica is the dominant species in infected livers of the cattle in Gorgan city.

---

Background and Objective: Fungal diseases are increasing in immunocompromised patients. One of the important fungal disseases is Aspergillosis. Few studies have been conducted on the effects of melatonin on fungal diseases. This study was performed to determine the protective effect of melatonin and Amphotericin B in Aspergillosis in rat model.
Methods: This experimental study was done on 40 Wistar rat with weight ranging from 200 to 250 grams. Animals were allocted in five groups. The first group was positive control (immunocompromised condition with cyclophosphamide and inoclusion of Aspergillus spore). The second groupe was negative control (without drug and inoclusion of Aspergillus spore) and the third group was treated by melatonin (200 μg/kg). The forth group was treated by Amphotericin B and fifth group was treated by melatonin plus Amphotericin B, IL.6 and TNFα were measured in the first and ten^th days after contamination.
Results: The level of the IL.6 and TNFα in three interventional treated groups significantly reduced in compared to positive control group in first and ten^th days (P<0.05). The level of the IL.6 and TNFα in melatonin plus Amphotericin B group significantly reduced in comparison with Amphotericin B and melatonin treated groups in first and ten^th days (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Melatonin with Amphotericin B increases immune competent system in rats affected with Aspergillosis.
 

---

Background and Objective: Car accidents are one of the most common causes of traumatic mental disorders. This study was done to evaluate the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with lumbar spinal dislocation fractures caused by road accidents.
Methods: This case-control study was performed on 100 patients with lumbar spine dislocation fractures due to road accidents. After the seventh day, they were admitted to the orthopedic and trauma wards of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari. It was done six months after hospitalization. Data collected from 100 non-injured individuals using the Marmar and Weiss Revised Event Impact Questionnaire (Impact of Event Scale - Revised: IES-R) were compared.
Results: There was no statistically significant relationship between PTSD and age, sex, marital status, education of the two groups. In all subscales related to the effect of the event, ie avoidance, disturbing thoughts, and over stimulation indices, the mean score of the participants in the case group was significantly higher than the mean scores of the individuals in the control group (P<0.05). The mean in case group was significantly higher than the mean in the control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate the important role of road accidents in the formation of PTSD symptoms.

---

Background and Objective: Fish is one of the creatures which have the bio-accumulation of heavy metals. Terapon puta belongs to the order of Perciformes, is a benthic species in the waters of the Persian Gulf. This study was performed to evaluate the bio-accumulation of iron and nickel metals in the muscle of Terapon puta.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 30 pieces of Terapon puta caught in the Jefreh pier area of Bushehr, north of the Persian Gulf during the summer of 2019. Length (mm) and total weight (g) of fish were measured. The concentrations of iron and nickel in fish muscle tissue for human consumption were compared with international standards and calculated according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) method for fish consumption, estimated daily uptake (EDI), and pollutant risk index (CR). After preparation, bioassay and, digestion of fish muscle with concentrated nitric acid, the concentration of iron and nickel (mg/kg) in muscle tissue was measured with ICP-OES.
Results: The mean concentrations of iron and nickel in muscle tissue of fish samples were calculated 36.08±15.72 and 0.39±0.13 mg/kg, respectively. There was a significant difference between the concentrations of iron and nickel in the muscle tissue of the Terapon puta in the sampling area (P<0.05) and these values were lower than the standard and meaningless the muscle tissue of the Terapon puta in the sampling area compared to the FDA standard. The highest concentration of metals was observed in the length class of 20-25 cm and weight class of 230-260 g. Linear regression analysis showed that a strong increase (R²=0.9) between the concentration of iron and nickel with the length and total weight of fish. The daily uptake of both metals was obtained by consuming Terapon puta muscle tissue for consumers below the USEPA reference dose. The concentration of iron in the muscle tissue of Terapon puta was lower than the international standards. Nickel concentration was more than allowable limit according to WHO standards. The carcinogenicity risk index for nickel was acceptable.
Conclusion: Concentrations of iron and nickel in Terapon puta were considered acceptable for human consumption in terms of toxicity. The risk index for Terapon puta was less than one; therefore, the consumption of Terapon puta will not cause adverse health effects for consumers.

---

One of the main spermatogenesis events is the replacement of histones with small proteins called protamines, which leads to chromatin's condensation in the sperm nucleus and protects it against possible damage. Today, tests such as aniline blue (AB), toluidine blue (TB), and chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining are used based on different characteristics to evaluate sperm chromatin compaction. For the assessment of DNA fragmentation in sperm, several tests such as 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), TUNEL, Comet, sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA), sperm chromatic dispersion (SCD), and acridine orange have been introduced that directly and indirectly assay DNA damage. The articles in PubMed and Google Scholar, as well as related books, from 2007 to 2022, were collected and reviewed based on keywords 8-OHdG, TUNEL, Comet, SCD, and acridine orange. So far, many studies have been conducted at the treatment level and on sperm chromatin tests, but the number of cases published so far is limited. Various sperm samples have been used in different studies, with different threshold limits in the tests. The sixth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) book notes that each laboratory has its threshold limit. Therefore, in this review study, common methods of evaluating chromatin packaging and DNA damage are introduced, and the advantages and disadvantages of each test are discussed based on the latest achievements related to infertility.