Background & Objective: Self Confidence, is a continuous evaluation of an individual on himself. Hence it is important regarding the mental health and the personality balance. Due to the problems that low self-confidence brings about especially during the youth age and regarding the prevalence of this problem among adolescents, the present research was conducted in order to investigate the level of self-confidence among students.

 Methods: Self-confidence of 500 students was determined using Eysenck test. Multistage sampling was employed to select 7 out of 15 boys high schools randomly In each grade of study the required numbers were chosen randomly proportionate to the number of students in that grade. Scores more than 21 showed high self-confidence, 14-21 average and less than 14 indicated low confidence. To analyze the data, Chi- square and Mantel- Hanzel tests were used, with 95% significance.

 Results: 29.6% of students have had high self-confidence, 57.8% of them had average self-confidence while 12.6% of them had lower level of self-confidence. No significant relationship was seem among the rank of birth and the literacy of parents with the level of self-confidence. However there was a significant relationship between the number of siblings (P=0.0135) and study grade (P=0.0018) with the level of self-confidence. As a result, 11.5% of the students in the first grade, 6.6% in the second grade and 20.5% in the third grade had low self-confidence.

 Conclusion: The prevalence of�low self-confidence among third grade high school students, warns that they should be paid much attention by their parents and their school officials.

  Background and Objectives: A great amount of evidence shows that Oxidative stress is high among hemodialysis patients. The purpose of present investigation is examination of the effect of zinc supplementation on improvement of oxidative stress in chronic hemodialysis patients.

  Methods: In this double blind clinical trial 65 chronic hemodialysis patients were studied in two groups Group one (35 patients) received placebo and group two (30 patients) received 100 mg elemental zinc (as zinc sulfate) daily for 2 months. The placebo and supplement discontinued in next 2 months. Then, the study continued for two other months in the cross-over from. The levels of serum zinc, total glutathione, malondialdehyde (MDA), total serum antioxidant capacity and the activity of whole blood superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined on 0^th, 60^th,120^th,180^th days, in fasting, predialysis samples. Food record was recorded for one day prior to dialysis in above-mentioned days and their dietary zinc was assessed.

  Results: Basal serum zinc levels in both groups were below 80 μ g/dl. The zinc upplementation led to significant increase in the levels of serum zinc in both groups .The levels of serum total antioxidant capacity, total glutathione and activity of whole blood SOD increased significantly during zinc supplementation period. The concentrations of serum MDA decreased significantly in zinc supplementation period in both groups. During the placebo period the levels of MDA in first group increased significantly, whereas the concentration of glutathione in second group decreased significantly. The body mass index (BMI) values did not change significantly during the study.

  Conclusion: It can be concluded that in patients undergoing hemodialysis the oxidative stress enhanced during nonsupplementation period (zinc sulfate). Low serum zinc levels are improved by zinc administration and zinc supplementation improves oxidative stress.

  Background & Objectives : Panel-reactive antibody (PRA) is a routine test to evaluate for sensitized human leukocyte antigens (HLA) before kidney transplantation. The present study evaluates the correlation of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) polymorphisms with the level of PRA in renal transplant candidates.

  Methods: This study included 108 renal transplant candidates. The current patients sera were screened by standard complement-dependent microlymphocytotoxicity technique. RAS polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction. PRA<10, 10-29, 30-49, and ≥50 considered as negative, mild, moderate, and highly positive PRA, respectively.

  Results: Twelve (11.1%) patients had positive PRA, among them 10 (83.3%) had mild and 2 (16.7%) of them had moderate PRA levels we had no highly positive PRA. Ninety-six of cases (88.9%) were negative for PRA. There was no significant correlation between discrete RAS polymorphisms (alone or together) and the degree of panel antibody reactivity (P>0.05).

 Conclusion: We suggest that none of the RAS polymorphisms could predict the positivity degree of PRA level.

 Background & Objective: As renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity could affect the severity of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers the effect of enalapril and losartan on these markers in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) with RAS polymorphisms was assessed.

 Methods: After determination of RAS genotypes including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE I/D), Angiotensinogen (AGT M235T) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (ATR1 A1166C) by PCR, seventy-six RTRs recruited to four groups randomly: first group (17 patients) and second group (24 patients) were treated with E (E⁺: 10mg/daily) and L (L⁺: 50 mg/daily) alone, respectively. The third group (17 patients as positive control) received E+L (E⁺L⁺: 10mg/daily + 50 mg/daily) and the 4^th group (18 patients as negative control) received no medication (E^-L^-). Hs-CRP and total anti-oxidant (TA) as inflammatory and anti-oxidative markers were measured after 2 months. After 2 weeks as washout period, E group changed to L and vice versa as a cross-over design. They were followed for another 8 weeks and hs-CRP and TA were retested.

 Results: Following up the patients (after 2, 4 months of treatment) in treated groups revealed that hs-CRP and TA levels were significantly decreased and increased (consequently) in E⁺L⁺, L⁺, E⁺ groups (P<0.05). On analyzing the relationship between RAS polymorphisms with baseline hs-CRP and TA levels, CC genotype of ATR1 had lower hs-CRP levels (P=0.04). But none of the RAS polymorphisms could predict the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory response rate to the drugs (P>0.05).

 Conclusion: E and/or L reduce hs-CRP and increase TA regardless of the RAS genotypes.

  Background & Objectives: Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder in which lacking of control and suitable care lead to disability and mortality. American Diabetes Association (ADA) has emphasized the medical care of diabetic patients and has suggested several objectives to increase survival and improve health outcomes with low complications by controlling the glycemic, lipids, nerupathy and hypertension as well as foot care, nutritional therapy and screening of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of care in diabetic patients from Ardabil and its concordance to the standards recommended by ADA.

  Methods: In a cross sectional study, 100 diabetic patients referring to a clinic of diabetes in Ardabil (2005) were randomly selected and enrolled.

  The study was conducted according to a questionnaire with 90 questions and physical examination and Final lab tests. Data were collected and analyzed with Spss version 12. ANOVA test was used to compare groups.

  Results: The 12 months recorded lab tests for diabetic patients were as follows: Hb A₁C in 33%, MicroAlbuminuria in 16%, HDL in 58% and LDL in 55% of patients had been checked. Foot and peripheral pulses exams were only recorded in 9 and 5% of patients respectively. In final lab tests, 24% of patients had favorable FBS level (90- 130mg/dl). 46% of patients had suitable Hb A₁C and 32% patients had MicroAlbuminuria. Aspirin was recommended to 45% of patients over 50 years old.

  Only 10% of patient for three lab tests (FBS, LDL cholesterol, Hb A₁C) achieved the intended aims. According to ADA recommendations 22% of patients for three risk factors (BP, LDL cholesterol & Total cholesterol) were in optimal level.

  Conclusion: There is a high difference between current diabetes care in our clinic and ADA goals.

  Background & objectives : The surgery of breast cancer like any other surgeries may bring about some problems and complications, which the knowledge of these problems may be an effective way for prevention or dealing with the complications. The motor and sensory impairments in the upper limb of the surgery side necessitate the utilization of the rehabilitation methods. The main purpose of this research was to show the effect of Pilates exercise on range of motion and edema of upper limb in females suffering from breast cancer after going through surgery.

  Methods: This quasi- experimental study was conducted on 25 patients randomly chosen among the patients referring to Cancer Institute. The designed exercise included five "Mat Pilates" moves which were done for 15 sessions until the patient reached fatigue borderlines. Meantime, the control group was doing routine active exercises in physiotherapy center. The range of motion and edema of upper limb was measured before and after applying the designed exercise. For describing the data, the mean and standard deviation, and for inferential analysis, the correlated T-tests and one way analysis of variance were used in level of significance of 5%, to compare the variants before and after applying the designed exercise.

  Results: The results showed a significant difference between the flexion, extension, and internal, external rotation of shoulder, flexion and extension of elbow, flexion, extension, supination deviation and pronation deviation of the wrist and forearm before and after experiment in Pilates group. While in the control group, flexion, extension, internal and external rotation of shoulder, flexion and extension of elbow, and flexion of wrist showed a significant difference before and after the experiment.

  Conclusion: The use of Pilates exercise after mastectomy surgery can increase the range of motion of the upper limb in the involved side of the patients, and decrease the edema, and improve the motion of the upper limb.