Background & Objective: Previous studies have suggested that early smoking initiation predicts the duration of smoking, its daily consumption and increased chances of nicotine dependence. The peresent study was an attempt to determine the psychological predictors of transition in different stages of cigarette smoking.

Methods: A total of 1132 students in 45 school classes were assesed two times, 8 months apart (Age range: 14-19). The subjects filled out a questionaire about cigarrete consumption behavior and predictor variables. 8 menths later they completed a second questionnaire regarding the cigarette consumption. The data were analyzed using logistic regression.

Results: Among non-smokers, using alcohol was a predictor of experimenter smoker whereas positive attitude toward smoking predicted regular smoker. Drug abuse and positive attitude toward smoking set out to be strong predictors of transmission from experimenter smoker to regular smoker.

Conclusion: Smoking prevention should begin during and before high school period. This study may support interventions that aim at changing high-risk behaviors.

  Background & Objectives: Infertility affects approximately 10-15% of reproductive age couples. Intra Uterin Insemination (IUI) is a primary, simple and effective method of infertility treatment in ovulatory disorders, unexplained infertility, cervical factors and some cases of male factor. In this research, the success rate of IUI with regard to different causes of infertility was studied in Kowsar IVF centre.

  Methods: In this retrospective study, 404 infertile couples were studied using a questionnaire that included the demographic data, duration of infertility , sperm count and mobility, follicular diameter and count, situation of uterus and fallopian tubes and pregnancy results. The data were analyzed with SPSS.

  Results: Pregnancy rate was 11.1% for patients with ovulatory factors and 7.1% for male factors. There were no significant differences in sperm count and diameter of follicles in pregnant and nonpregnant women.

  Conclusion: With regard to different causes of infertility the best treatment results were achieved by IUI in ovarian factor. Patients over 35-40 did not have a good prognosis in COH-IUI cycles. Other methods of ART are recommended in such cases.

Backgrounds & objectives: Liver damage results in a large accumulation of external cellular matrix that affects the function of this important body organ in a long term and finally stops its function completely. The growth factors existing in platelet extract are more cost-effective, available, and stable than recombinant ones. To determine whether the platelet extract effects on histological changes in liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄), we used immunohistochemical analysis in male rats.

Methods: In this project the 28 male Wistar rats (250-300 g) were randomly divided into 4 groups, each consisting of 7 animals. The rats were divided into four experimental groups as follows: the first group (sham) intraperitoneally received only olive oil as the solvent of carbon tetrachloride; second group (CCl₄) intraperitoneally received carbon tetrachloride dissolved in olive oil (ratio of about 1: 1) at a concentration of 1 ml/kg and a twice a week for eight weeks; third group subcutaneously received only platelet extract at a concentration of 0.5 ml/kg twice a week for three weeks; and fourth group received both CCl₄ intraperitoneally for eight weeks and platelet extract subcutaneously for last three weeks. After 8 weeks of trial blood and liver sampling were done. Blood samples sent for enzymatic (AST, ALT) tests and liver samples tested for histological and immunohistochemical studies. The data were analyzed using  one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test by Graph pad Prism 5 software and data were considered significant at p≤ 0.05.

Results: The results show that platelet extract causes a significant (p≤ 0.001) decrease in liver enzymes and albumin improves the function of liver. The level of alfa smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) as an index of hepatic stellate cell activation was decreased by platelet extract administration which eventually reduced the necrosis and fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in studied rats