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Background and Objective: Several studies have reported high prevalence of severe lack of cobalamine and Folate in aged people. The most important causes are: malnutrition, atrophic gastritis and drug use. Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a primary degenerative disorder of central retinal area with loss of visual acuity. Recent studies have shown a significant relationship between age related macular degeneration and lack of plasma level of Folate, red blood cells and cobalamine. This study was caried out to investigate the relationship between age related macular degeneration and plasma Folate, Cobalamine and photostress recovery time, in elderly population. Materials and Methods: This case – control study was done on 124 elderly population. The participants were collected from by cluster sampling in mashhad located in the Noth – East of Iran during 2006. The patients underwent eye examination including indirect ophthalmoscopy. Slit lamp examination and photostress recovery time for age related macular degeneration by an ophthalmologist. After blood sampling, plasma Folate, serum Cobalamine, were determined by RIA method (DRG kit). Results:The Mean+-SD of cobalamin and folate in age related macular degeneration patients was 298.848+-288.66 pg/ml and 5.543+-3.58 ng/ml and in normal group was 310.775+-531.38 pg/ml and 5.365+-3.52 ng/ml. There was no significant difference between age related macular degeneration patients and control group. Photostress recovery time was significantly increased in patients with age related macular degeneration (P<0.05). There was no significant relationship between photostress recovery time and Cobalamine and folate level. Conclusion: This study showed that serum cobalamin and folate non significantly is decreased in age related maucular degeneration patients, with increasing photostress recovery time, we can use this screening test for the dignosis of age related macular degenertion.

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Background and Objective: Neurons are injured under physical, chemical and pathological conditions. The effects of injuries in peripheral nervous system returns as retrograde to the cell body of neurons in central nervous system and causes brain and spinal degeneration. This study was done to evaluate the effect of aquatic extract of Cannabis sativa leaves on degeneration of alpha motoneurons in spinal cord after sciatic nerve compression in Rats.

Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out on thirty two male Wistar rats, weighing 300-350 grams. Animals were divided into four groups each consisting eight members A: control, B: compression, C: compression + treatment with 25 mg/kg aquatic extract, D: compression + treatment with 50 mg/kg aquatic extract. In order to induce compression in B, C and D, after cutting the right thigh muscle, Sciatic nerve of thigh was exposed to compression for 60 seconds using locker pincers. The first extract injection was done intraperitoneally immediately after compression and the second intera peritoneal injection was done 7 days later. 28 days after compression, the Lumbar spinal cord were dissected, fixed and stained with toluidine blue. The density of alpha motoneurons was measured using dissector and stereological methods. Data was analyzed with using Minitab-13 software, ANOVA and Tukey tests.

Results: Neuronal density was 611.5±34.2 and 1633.4±30.7 in compression and control groups respectively (P<0.001). There was a meaningful statistical increase in neuronal density of group C (1278.6±28.1) in comparing compression group (P<0.001). The neuronal density in group (D) (1549.8±87.7), significantly increased in comparison with group (B) (P<0.001).

Conclusion: This study showed that aquatic extract of Cannabis sativa leaves increases the density of alpha motoneurons in spinal cord after sciatic nerve compression in Rats. The increase in neuronal density is relevant to the amount of extract used.

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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.