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Background & objectives: Epidemiological and clinical studies have shown a close relationship between asthma and obesity. The present study examined the effect of obesity on the airway response to methacholine and the number of inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar fluid of ovalbumin-sensitized male rats.
Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: normal diet (C+ND), OVA‐sensitized with the normal diet (S+ND), high-fat diet (C+HFD) and OVA‐sensitized with high‐fat diet (S+HFD). All animals were fed for 8 weeks with standard diet or high-fat diet, and then were sensitized with ovalbumin or normal saline for another 4 weeks while receiving the designed regimens. At the end of the study, the number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) and tracheal responsiveness to methacholine were examined.
Results: In diet-induced obesity groups, weight and obesity indices increased (p<0.05 to p<0.001). The results also showed that tracheal responsiveness to methacholine in S+HFD group compared to S+ND group, was significantly increased (p<0.05). In addition, the number of inflammatory cells in the BAL, in the S+HFD group was higher than other groups (p<0.001).
Conclusion: the results of this study suggest that the response of the airways to methacholine and the number of inflammatory cells are increased in obese-asthmatic male rats.
 

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Background & objectives: Gestational diabetes is one of the most common medical problems during pregnancy, which has many negative consequences for mother and fetus. Knowledge of women about gestational diabetes and educational planning based on needs assessment can be effective for early diagnosis and reduction of possible complications of gestational diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the educational needs of diabetic pregnant mothers in Meshgin health centers in 2018.
Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted by- census on 689 pregnant women referring to Meshgin health centers in the spring and summer of 2018. Data were collected using a valid and reliable questionnaire of Hashemi-Beni and colleagues (2015) including three parts: demographic information, knowledge and educational needs assessment for mothers with gestational diabetes. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software.
Results: The mean age of pregnant women participating in the study was 26.94±6.22 years, with an average gestational age of 24.36±9.18 weeks. 22 persons of 689 pregnant women were diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and the prevalence of gestational diabetes was 3.2%. The mean score of knowledge of diabetic pregnant mothers about gestational diabetes questions was 9.95±3.79 out of 13. In all items of gestational diabetes, at least one third of diabetic mothers reported need for education.
Conclusions: Diabetic pregnant mothers, despite of high knowledge about gestational diabetes, still need to be trained in this regard. Therefore, it is necessary to hold leveled training courses to complete the information of mothers for better care of themselves

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Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii (P. jirovecii) causes Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in people, especially the immunocompromised ones. It is also one of the serious causes of numerous lung problems in affected patients. Since documented data about P. jirovecii is not available in patients with pulmonary infections in Tehran, this study aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology and parasitology of Pneumocystis to determine the frequency of the organism infection.
Methods: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples were collected for 367 patients hospitalized in the lung department of Shariati Hospital in Tehran from July 2022 to July 2023. The samples were analyzed using Giemsa staining and molecular methods. After DNA extraction from samples, Nested polymerase chain reaction (Nested PCR) was employed for the amplification of the 18SrRNA gene and identification of P. jirovecii. The PCR products of Nested PCR were sequenced for final confirmation. 
Results: Out of 367 samples, only one sample (0.27%) and 28 samples (6.7%) were found to be positive through parasitology and NestedPCR analysis, respectively. P. jirovecii was detected in seven (25%) and 21 (75%) immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients, respectively. Fever, shortness of breath and dry cough were the most common clinical symptoms among patients with Pneumocystosis. Patients with pulmonary disorders are prone to colonization by pneumocystis, which increases the risk of pneumocystosis and makes them a reservoir for transmission to susceptible people.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that patients with distinct lung disease are prone to colonization by Pneumocystis and, importantly, are at risk of infection. Also, according to the current study, Nested PCR was a suitable method for detecting P. jirovecii organisms because it had a very high sensitivity and specificity.