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  Background & Objectives : One of the first steps in diagnosis of pleural effusion is distinction between exudative and transudative types. The aim of this study was to assess C – reactive protein (CRP) level as one of the diagnostic marker for differentiation of exudative from transudative pleural effusions.

  Methods : In this descriptive and sectional study, 80 patients with confirmed pleural effusion were assessed. These patients were divided into two groups based on Light´s criteria. Serum and pleural CRP were measured with Latex Agglutination Test.

  Results : Out of 80 patients with pleural effusion 26 were transudative (32.5%) and 54 were exudative (67.5%). In exudative group, 72.2% of cases were CRP positive (1+ to 3+), and in transudative group, only 38.5% of cases were CRP positive (p < 0.05). There was no significant differences between different exudative pleural effusion etiologies (infectious and non infectious, malignant and non malignant and tuberculosis) and the number of CRP positive cases (p > 0.05). The rate of CRP positivity in exudative pleural effusion group was more than transudative group (p < 0.05).

  Conclusion: According to our study it seems that CRP criterion could help in distinction between exudative and transudative types of pleural effusion.

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  Background & Objectives :�Heart rate deflection point (HRDP) plays an important role in predicting anaerobic threshold and monitoring athletes training schedule. Despite some research, the physiological mechanisms involved in occurrence of the HRDP remains to be fully elucidated. The objective of this study was to survey of the agreement between Heart Rate Deflection Point (HRDP) and the Potassium Turn Point (KTP) in young athlete men.

  Methods :�Thirty young men athlete volunteer (Mean ± SD age= 20 ± 1.21 years height = 176 ± 7.34 Cm and weight = 6.58 ± 5.66 Kg) were selected as subjects. Hofmann protocol was used to cause the HRDP. One week later and after determining the HRDP by using the S.Dmax method, subjects performed Hofmann protocol again and blood samples were taken from left forearm vein in five phases, simultaneously. The amount of potassium was measured directly by the Flamephotometer.

  Results :�According to the results of study, the HRDP and KTP were occurred in average in 78% HRmax and 79% HRmax, in all of the subjects, also there was a highly agreement between HRDP and KTP (158 3.84 vs. 159 3.88 b/min). HRDP & KTP were occurred in third phase, simultaneously.

  Conclusion: Based on these results, exercise induced increase in serum potassium during Hofmann incremental cycle ergo-meter testing protocol can be one of the mechanisms of the occurrence of HRDP.

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  Objective: Spinal cord injury (SCI) has become an especially challenging target in experimental neuroscience. Approach into the spinal cord is the interface among all different types of spinal cord injury modeling. The lower thoracic spinal cord has generated special interest due to the lower limbs’ spinal pattern generator position and presence of relative scales for behavioral assessment. However, a clear method with which to approach the thoracic spinal cord has yet to be determined.

  Methods : A total of 20 animals were subjected to this study. Following induction of anesthesia, the 10th thoracic vertebra were positioned, and muscles were retracted. Using the high speed rotary, the vertebral lamina were carefully thinned. As a final point, the reduced lamina was meticulously removed away to expose underlying spinal cord. Loco motor behavioral test (BBB) was implemented before and after surgery procedure.

  Results: This manuscript has presented the stepwise method to expose rat thoracic spinal cord. Whole procedure took less than an hour. Animals acquired complete BBB loco motor rating score before and after surgery indicating the safety of procedure.

  Conclusion: This article introduces simple and practical approach for the rat lower thoracic spine. The anatomical orientation, anesthesia , postoperative management , and common problems are discussed .

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Background & objectives: The present study examined the gonadotoxic effects of ciprofloxacin antibiotics and protective effects of L-carnitine.
Methods: In this study, 20 NMRI mice were divided into four groups: control, ciprofloxacin, L-carnitine, L-carnitine-ciprofloxacin (each group included 5 animals). The control group received normal saline, the treatment group 1 received 12.5 mg/kg ciprofloxacin, the treatment group 2 received 100 mg/kg L- carnitine and the treatment group 3 received 100 mg/kg L- carnitine and 12.5 mg / kg ciprofloxacin simultaneously. All animals were treated by intraperitoneal administration for 15 days. Testis and epididymis were collected to evaluate sperm parameters (sperm count, motility, morphology and viability).
Results: In the ciprofloxacin group, a significant decrease in sperm count, sperm viability, sperm motility, progressive sperm motility and normal sperm as well as a significant increase in rotating sperm motility, sperm without movement, head and tail abnormalities were observed (p≤0.05). A significant increase in sperm count, sperm survival, motility and progressive sperm motility, normal sperm and a significant decrease in rotating sperm motility, sperm without movement and head abnormalities in the L-carnitine-ciprofloxacin group were observed (p≤0.05); however, the reduction in tail abnormalities of sperm was not significant.
Conclusion: L-carnitine improves sperm parameters in the adult mice treated with ciprofloxacin.