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  Background & Objective: Depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is an injectable contraceptive method that is widely used by 68 million women in over 114 countries and was reported Different medical and non medical reasons were reported for discontinuation of DMPA use. Due to little information about continuation rate and reasons for discontinuations of DMPA in this region and because of the different result of the research in other countries this study was designed. to evaluate the use of DMPA�including continuation rate and side effects.

  Methods: In this cross sectional retrospective study 396 DMPA user women referring to health care centers in Ardabil were selected through classified sampling. The data were collected by a questionnaire by interviewing the subjects and data were analyzed by SPSS software using analysis variance (ANOVA) and correlation and T-test.

  Results: The mean age of the study population was 32±7.8 years, 33.8% had primary education and the majority of the users were housewives (%95) and only20 (%5) were employed. 6, 9, 12 and 24 month cumulative continuation rate of DMPA were recorded as %44.5, %26.5, %18.2 and %2.3 respectively. The most common reason for discontinuation among all of groups was amenorrhea. The most common side effects were amenorrhea (%69.7), low back pain (%13.4), and weight gain (%13.4) and headache (%10.4). There was a significant corvelation belween education level and spouse's education level, spouse's job, family income, grariding, number of off spring, type of previous delivery and continuity of DMPA (p<0.05).

  Conclusion: The result of this study could help health authorities and care givers in term of correct counseling and follow up. This factor could result in more satisfaction and improve continuation rate of DMPA.

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Background & Objective: Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases in Iran and is endemic in all parts of the country. Patients recorded in 1988 were 71,051(132. 4 per 100,000). Brucella species are facultative intracellular bacteria, and therefore a limited number of antibiotics are effective against these organisms. The aim of this study was the
evaluation of in vitro sensitivity of various antimicrobial agents against 47 brucella melitensis strains isolated from blood culture.
Methods: The susceptibility of 47 Brucella melitensis isolates derived from clinical samples were tested in vitro. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the tested antimicrobials were measured by the agar dilution method.MIC90 and MIC50 values were defined as the lowest concentration of the antibiotic at which 90 and 50 percent of the isolates
were inhibited, respectively. The NCCLS criteria for slow growing bacteria were considered to interpret the results.
Results: Tetracycline (MIC50: 0.13μg/ml, MIC90: 0.25 μg/ml) and streptomycin (MIC50:0.003 μg/ml, MIC90:0.25 μg/ml) had the lowest MICs in vitro against the B. melitensis strains. Norfloxacin had the highest (8 μg/ml) MIC90 value. More than half
isolates presented reduced susceptibility to rifampin (MIC value: 2μg/ml).
Conclusion: Brucella isolates remain susceptible in vitro to most antibiotics used for treatment of brucellosis. There is no significantly important resistance problem for antibiotics targeted against Brucella species in Iran. However, since rifampin is commonly used for prevalent diseases such as tuberculosis, the regional susceptibility pattern of rifampin should be assessed periodically.

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Background & Objective: Some studies have shown the protective effects of Etomoxir and Ranolazine in the hypoxic and ischemic condition of the heart. However, at present, there has not been any comparative study between the effects of Etomoxir and Ranolazine on
ischemia/reperfusion injuries (esp. infarct size), So their effects on infarct size in the ischemic isolated rat heart were studied and  compared.
Methods: Isolated rat hearts were divided into 3 groups randomly (n=6 in each group) and mounted on a Langendorff apparatus then perfused by a modified Krebs-Henseleit solution. In control group, the hearts were perfused by the solution at stabilization, 30min regional ischemia and 120min reperfusion while in the test groups they were perfused by enriched Krebs solution with 1μM of Etomoxir or 20μM of Ranolazine during ischemia/reperfusion. At the end of reperfusion, Evans Blue solution was infused to stain the non-ischemic area. Then the heart was incubated in 1% thriphenyl tetrazolium chloride solution and fixed by formalin. The infarct size was determined by a computerized planimetry package.
Results: The results showed that Etomoxir results in the significant decrease in the size of infracted area. In the control group, infarct size was 6.3±2.9%, while Etomoxir reduced infarct size to 20.9±5% (p< 0.01). Perfusion of the hearts by Ranolazine enriched Krebs solution produced greater reduction in infarct size (16.4±3.6%, p< 0.001). The effect was not statistically significant between the test groups.
Conclusion: It seems that Etomoxir (an inhibitor of fatty acid uptake by mitochondria) and Ranolazine (an inhibitor of fatty acid oxidation by mitochondria) probably, by indirect increasing of glucose oxidation, duning ischemia and reperfusion, may improve reperfusion recovery of ischemic heart and reduce infarct size. The results showed protective effects of Etomoxir and Ranolazine on infarct size without any significant difference between them.

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  Background & Objective: Respiratory tract infections causes 4.5 million children death in the world annually that occur mostly in developing countries like Iran. Bacterial and viral pathogens are responsible for this event and Adenovirus is one of the major responsible agents. According to multiple survey, incidence of viral pathogens in different world region is different so local survey is needed to describe regional incidence of different viral pathogens. Rapid test for detection of respiratory pathogens help us to select appropriate treatment and avoidence of antibiotic overusage. So abuse the aim of this study was to evaluate incidence and clinical presentation of Adenovirus infection in children in Tehran with rapid test.

 Methods:�This study is a descriptive-cross sectional analysis. All 3 month to 15 year old children with upper respiratory tract infection that come to OPD of Rasol-e-Acram Hospital in one year(1385) are included.

  Direct smear of patient’s throat was evaluated by rapid chromatography test for adenovirus infection. SPSS software was used to analyse the data.

  Results: 160 children with upper respiratory tract infection with a mean age of 61.5 months were evaluated. 57.5% were boys and 42.5% were girls. 77.4% had fever, 66% had sore throat, 37.4% had cough, 27% pharyngeal exudate, 16.4% had abdominal pain, 15.7% had vomiting, 13.8% had cervical lymphadenopathy, 10% had diarrhea, 5.7% had petechea in palate and 1.9% had conjectivitis. They admitted 24% in spring, 14.1% in summer, 23.1% in fall and 38.5% in winter.

  Adenovirus infection was detected in 10(6.3%) cases, 4(40%) boys and 6(60%) girls with mean age of 83.7(SD=58.5). they were detcted 20% in spring, 30% in summer, 30% in fall and 20% in winter.

  Conclusion: Adenoviruses are responsible in 6.3% of upper respiratory infections in children. They become less prevalent with increasing age. Its prevalence did not obey seasonal pattern. Fever and sore throat are most common clinical signs and cervical lymphadenopathy is more prevalent in adenovirus infection than others.

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  Background & Objective: Hyperlipidemia is one of the main causes of cardiovascular diseases which have a high mortality throughout the world. Consumption of products containing specific strains of microbes as probiotics, produces positive effects in the host by balancing the flora of the digestive system. L.casei is a probiotic and the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of consumption of milk containing L.casei on serum lipid profile of rats fed high lipid diet.

  Methods : This was an experimental study in which 30 male albino wistar rats with a body weight of 200 ± 15 gr were randomly allocated to two groups of treatment and control each containing 15 rats and adapted to a high lipid diet (11.47%) and water containing milk (25%). Rats in both groups received high lipid diet and water containing 25% milk for 48 days with the difference that rats in the treatment group received water containing L.casei considering that water consumption is created throughout the experiment, the amount of L.casei added to milk was calculated to each rat consumed 10⁹ CFU bacteria per day.

  Results : Independent t-test revealed that at a level of α= 0/05 mean levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C of rats in the treatment group was significantly lower than that of control group (p<0/05), but the mean levels of triglyceride, HDL-C and VLDL-C was not significant. Also increase in body weight was significantly higher in the treatment group compared to the control group (p<0/01).

  Conclusion : Long term daily consumption of milk containing L.casei improve serum lipid profile by lowering total cholesterol level and also increase the rate of body growth.

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Background & Objectives: hyperphosphatemia and hyperkalemia have major roles of mortality and morbidity in hemodialysis patients. In this study we evaluated the effectiveness of increase in blood flow rate on blood potassium and phosphate of hemodialysis patients.
Methods: This is a clinical trial study 42 patients were assessed during the hemodialysis. A questionnaire and laboratory tests were used for gathering data. At first questionnaire of demographic data was completed and then the weight of patients was connected to each session of dialysis. Then the patient was connected to dialysis machine and blood sample was gathered before dialyzer. After taking blood sample, flow rate was regulated on 200 ml/min in the first session and on 250 ml/min in the next session. During hemodialysis, hemodynamic status and clinical status of patients was controlled. At the end of hemodialysis and before disconnection patient from dialysis machine, a blood sample was taken from arterial set before dialyzer (4 blood samples for each patient). Blood sample was sent to laboratory and all of them were analyzed by one technician and with one set.
Results: Average phosphorus changed significantly from 3.35 to 2.94 with increasing Qb from 200 to 250 similar to the increase in Qb in potassium removal (from 3.43 to 3.52) meq/lit. Paired t-test (p0.005).
Conclusion: It can be concluded so that increase in blood flow rate from 200ml/min to 250ml/min, can affect removal phosphorus but can not affect removal of potassium

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  Background & Objectives: Birth weight less than 2500gr (as result of preterm delivery and/or intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)) is a major cause of both neonatal health. Predominate cause of LBW in developed countries is premature birth, whereas in developing countries is more often IUGR. Different risk factors, including demographic and behavioral during and before pregnancy are effective in LBW incidences which can reduce LBW and neonatal mortality rate by identification and control of these risk factors. The present study has been carried out with purpose of identification and decreasing the LBW rate in Ardabil.

 Methods: In this case – control study all infants delivered in 2006 in hospitals in Ardabil were investigated. Every neonate whose weight was less than 2500gr was taken as a case (n=470) and 482 neonates whose weight was more than 2500gr was taken as a control. Data gathering was done through questionnaires, interviewing the mothers and physical examination. The data were analyzed statistically through SPSS.

 Results: In the present study, the presence of LBW amount is %6.4 in Ardabil hospitals. The results of our study showed that a significant relationship existed between prematurely and gestational age<37wk, mother’s age, mother’s job and maternal weight, premature rupture of membranes (PROM), maternal diseases, multiple births, bleeding during pregnancy, interval between pregnancies less than <2 years, prior history of low birth weight, use of drugs by mother in pregnancy, congenital malformation with LBW. In this study relation between parity, the use of Folic Acid, Fe, cigarette smoking and addiction of mother, living area (village or city), family marriage, health care and mother’s education were not significant with LBW.

  Conclusion: The LBW important risk factors in Ardabil hospitals were prematurity or gestational age <37wk, multiple pregnancies, PROM, mother’s age over 35 years, and mother weight <50kg, maternal diseases.

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  Background and Objective: Intradermal Purified Protein Derivative PPD test is a reliable test assessment of primary mycobacterial infection. In this test the specific antigen is Purified Protein Derivative (PPD). The reaction were assessed by touching, the induration's diameter after 48 &48hours. We compared the induration's size 48 and 72 hour in this study.

  Methods: At this semi experimental study a 5 unit PPD was administered to 120 healthy medical students.

  Results: The measurements made at 72 h were significantly (4.22 mm) (p<0.001) higher than those made at 48h (2.79 mm). The reading taken at 72 h were 1.47mm larger than at 48 h recovery. There were significant differences between induration size of 48 and 72h between male and female.

  Conclusion: This study demonstrates that, in adults, the size of the 5 U Monteux reaction is significantly larger at 72h compared to the reaction at 48h. We suggest to read PPD after 72 hours if the PPD is negative after 48 hours.

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  Background & Objective: Mortality statistics and cause of death are the main components in health planning in any community. Knowry the change of marraliy pattern is important for future health programming. This study have to determine and analyze the Mortality changing trends dury lest 35 years.

  Methods: In this study data recorded of 9740556 deaths from were analyzed. Graphical method were usead to analyze dara and . We analyzed data by croghal method and comping the trouds of morality cheye pattern.

  Results: Our servey should 60.4% of total deaths were in rural areas and 61.1% among males. The crude death rate was 13per 1000 pasim from to 1971-76 that decrease to 5 per 1000 pasim from to 2006-2010. Also life expectancy rate has been increased in study years from 55.2 in 1971-76 to 71 in 206-2010.

  Conclusion: results show that mortality pattern in years 1970 to 2007 have been changed and crude death rate with decrease tread and life expectancy with increase trend represent the level of health indicators in world and our country Iran have been developed and extended.

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  Background & Objectives: ECT is one of the most common methods in treatment of different types of psychological disorder. The effectiveness of this therapy has direct relation to the duration of convulsion. Knowing the rate of efficacy of anesthetic drugs over convulsion by ECT and preventing of hemodynamic complications are important. This study was conducted to compare effect of Propofol with Sodium Thiopental in the induction of anesthesia during ECT.

  Methods : The subjects of this randomized, controlled and trial study were 16 patents with psychotic disorders. These patients received Sodium Thiopental and Succinylcholine or Propofol and Succinylcholine during 72 sessions of ECT. Duration of subjective and objective convulsion and hemodynamic changes (HR and MAP) as well as side effects of anesthesia and ECT was recorded. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS.

  Results: Duration of subjective and objective convulsion was lower in Propofol taken group than Sodium Thiopental taken patients, but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.32). The variation of hemodynamic parameter was lower among Propofol taken patients.We observed significant difference between two groups regarding to increase of arterial BP’ mean after taking drugs and immediately after ECT (p=0.04). There was not significant difference from view points of prevalence of respiratory, Hemodynamic complications, nausea, vomiting and restlessness between two groups.

  Conclusion: Duration of convulsion in induction of anesthesia in ECT with Propofol and Sodium Thiopental was not different.

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 Background and objectives: During the last years the effects of pulsative electromagnetic fields have been studied in the human and animals nervous system. The using of these fields in today living has caused worriment in safety of human. Stress causes very problems in behavior and function of biological systems. In this survey the effects of electromagnetic fields on stress behaviors of rats have been studied.

 Methods: In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of electromagnetic fields with 700 milli Gauss currency produced by triangle electrical currents with low (10 Hz) and high (110 kHz) frequencies on stress behaviors in 60 adult, male Wistar rats. The rats were divided to two groups of control and test. The animals were exposed to the field for 80 minutes and in order to evaluate the possible effect of electromagnetic fields the Tail pinch (T.P.) test was conducted. The results were analyzed using statistical tests.

  Results: Analyzing of the results of response time and stress behavior by T-test. In the group exposed electromagnetic fields of triangular low waves (10 Hz) for 80 min the results were meaningful (p < 0.05). The response and stressed behavior with this field is decreased very much. The results of two groups after 80 min under this field that have a difference in frequency showed that effects of frequency in behavior was meaningless.

  Conclusion: The results of this study showed that electromagnetic fields produce anti-stress effect in rats. The radio waves (A.W) have higher effects.

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  Background & Objectives : Excessive amounts of nitrate and nitrite in food causes to increasing the risk of gut and intestinal cancer in adults and met-hemoglobinemia disease in infants. Human body intake about 80% of nitrate from fruits and vegetables. This research carried out with the aim of determining the nitrate concentration of fruits and vegetables consumed by Ardabil citizens and to compare with acceptable levels.

  Methods : Samples of fruits and vegetables were collected from 10 markets around Ardabil city in September and October of 2009. The samples were washed two times with tap and distilled water, dried at 55 ºC and their moisture content were measured. Samples were ground with regular and ball mills and 0.025 molar aluminum sulfate solution was used to extraction. Nitrate concentration of extracts was measured with anion selective apparatus with nitrate electrode. To investigate the possibility of nitrate intake reduction by peeling, the skin and meat of some fruits and vegetables samples were measured, separately. SPSS software was used for determining of mean and standard deviation of sample's nitrate concentration. Duncan multiple range test was used for grouping of fruits and vegetables in the respect of their nitrate concentration.

  Results : The concentration of nitrate in leafy vegetables was higher than those of root and glandy vegetables. Fruits had lower nitrate concentration than vegetables. The highest nitrate concentrations were observed in spring onion, purple headed cabbage, and spinach with the amounts of 1555.8, 1394.8, and 1021 mg/kg of wet weight and lowest belonged to red and golden apples with the amounts of 29.7 and 29.9 mg/kg, respectively. Most of fruits and vegetables samples had lower nitrate than acceptable levels.

  Conclusion: With regards to high consumption rate of some fruits and vegetables and great variation of nitrate concentration, additional investigation and permanent control of their nitrate concentration is necessary.

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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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 Background & Objectives: Previous studies indicated that morphine consumption during pregnancy could inhibit embryos development. Present study further evaluated the effects of oral morphine consumption on the maternal and fetal portion placenta cells development in Wistar rats.

 Methods: Female Wistar rats (W: 170-200 g) were used in the present study. Morphine group were received morphine (0.05 mg/ml of tap water) after one night coupling with male rats for mating. On 14^th, 17^th days of pregnancy, the pregnant animals were killed with chloroform and the placentas and uterus were removed surgically and fixed in 10 % formalin. The fixed placentas and uterus were stained by H & E method and evaluated for their development. The thickness of layers, as well as number of the cells in both maternal and fetal parts of the placentas was determined by light microscopy and processed using MOTIC software.

 Results: The results indicated that oral consumption of morphine compared to control group, increased the thickness of the layers in maternal portion and also, increased the number of the cells in both maternal and fetal portion of the placenta.

 Conclusion: All together, oral morphine consumption may inhibit placenta cells development and disturb their natural functions. These abnormalities observed in the placenta by opioid addicted pregnancy Wistar rats.

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 Background & objectives: Ischemic brain edema is one of the most important complications of cerebral infarction. Edema aggravates the primary ischemic injury to the brain. It was demonstrated that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and its active peptide angiotensin II involved in ischemic brain injury. But role of RAS in the formation of ischemic edema is not clear. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of the RAS inhibition by enalapril on edema formation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption.

 Methods: In this research frothy Sprague Dawley male rat in six groups were studied. Animals were anesthetized with chloral hydrate (400mg/kg, IP). Transient focal cerebral ischemia was induced by occlusion of right middle cerebral artery using intraluminal filament method. Three groups of animals as sham, ischemic and enalapril receiving (0.03mg/kg) groups were studied for assessment of neurological outcome and brain edema formation. 24 hours following ischemia (60minutes), animals were assessed for neurological deficits. Ischemic brain edema was investigated by brain water content detection. Another three groups of animals at the same conditions were studied to evaluate the possible disruption of BBB by Evans blue extravasation technique.

 Results: When sham operated rats had no motor deficit, induction of ischemia in ischemic group, seriously caused impairment of motor functions and neurological deficit score(NDS) of ischemic group was 2.67±0.42. Pretreatment with enalapril (0.03mg/kg) significantly reduced NDS and improved motor dysfunctions (1.5±0.34, P<0.05). Induction of ischemia seriously caused edema formation in right (ischemic) hemisphere of the brain in ischemic group (4.1±0.4 percent). Pretreatment with enalapril (0.03mg/kg) significantly decreased edema compared to ischemic group (1.89±0.23 percent). Extravasation of Evans blue in right side of the brain in ischemic group (12.48±1.94 μg/g) was significantly more than sham group. Pretreatment with enalapril (0.03mg/kg) had protective effects on BBB function and decreased Evans blue extravasation by 44.5 percent (6.92±1.46 μg/g).

 Conclusion: RAS�inhibition by enalapril reduces ischemic brain edema formation by protecting the integrity of BBB and reducing its permeability following focal cerebral ischemia in rat. Pre-ischemic inhibition of RAS activity may reduce ischemic brain injury by ameliorating edema formation.

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  Background & objectives: Exact diagnosis of mental disorder is important in psychology. With respect to common symptoms in schizophrenia, schizoaffective and bipolar mood, correct diagnosis of these disorders seems to be very difficult. The main goal of this study was to compare the body temperature of schizophrenic, schizoaffective and bipolar mood patients.

  Method: In this descriptive study, 60 schizophrenia, schizoaffective and bipolar mood patients, 20 persons in each group were selected. The patients were interviewed and their body temperature was measured. Finally, the data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA.

  Results: Schizophrenia, schizoaffective, bipolar mood patients had 38.15 ±11.13, 34.8±10.99, and 35.25 ± 9.05 years as a mean, respectively. About 63.3% of individuals had secondary , 15% high school, 16.7% diploma and 5% undergraduate education . About 51.7% of patients had non-governmental job, 8.3% and 40% were employed and jobless, respectively. Among them 45% were single and the rest married. 15% of individuals were admitted once, 25%, twice, 3.3% three times, 20% between 4-10 times and 41.7% frequently. Statistically, there was significant difference between the mean of body temperature in schizophrenia, schizoaffective and bipolar mood patients, (p < 0.001).

  Conclusion: The difference between the body temperature mean in three groups of patients showed that schizoaffective patients were more close to bipolar mood patients, and schizophrenia patients differ in terms of base keeping mean and body temperature balance from two other groups (schizoaffective and bipolar mood).

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  Background & objectives: During lifetime, hair follicles undergo three cyclic changes: anagen, catagen, telogen. In hair follicles, stem cells located in Bulge area, which is part of the outer root sheath. Bulge cells proliferate new cells in anagen phase. Bulge region of hair follicle indicated as a source of stem cell for many years, but little studies done in vitro to characterize rat bulge region hair follicle stem cells.

  Methods: In this study Bulge cells of rat hair follicle were isolated and cultured, then morphological features of these cells surveyed. Nestin and CD34 as hair follicle stem cell markers, and K15 as a keratinocyte marker assessed by immunocytochemistry after one to three weeks.

  Results: In this study, we found that, 2 days after attachment of cells to floor of plates, the cells were initiated to proliferation and migration. These cells had good nestin and CD34 immunostaining, but after three week differentiation,were nestin and CD34 negative. Also these cells couldn’t express K15.

  Conclusion : Results showed that cultivated rat bulge cells, have high proliferative potential, and also could express nestin and CD34 as stem cell factors.

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 Background & Objectives: Effects of new educational programs on health and physical fitness promotion is an important issue which needs regular evaluations. Physical fitness has many advantages such as cardio-respiratory health promotion, prevention of some diseases and improvement of quality of life. On the other hand, it has been shown that there is significant relationship between waterpipe smoking and cancer, cardiovascular as well as pulmonary diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between addiction to waterpipe smoking and cardio-respiratory fitness and body composition of physical education students in Islamic Azad University, Ardabil Branch.

 Methods: One hundred and eighty-one physical education students participated in this study. All subjects were selected by cluster sampling method. Cardio-Respiratory fitness (using Cooper test), Body Mass Index (BMI), Fat percent (using 2-point Lohman equation), addiction to waterpipe smoking, smoke exposure and awareness of waterpipe effects on athletic performance (using questionnaire) were evaluated.

 Results: The body composition of the most students was not suitable (50.3% extra fat), but the cardio-respiratory fitness of male students was better than that of female students.

 Furthermore, In spite of decrease in waterpipe smoking in comparison to last year (13.3% versus 35.6%), many non-smoking students are exposed to waterpipe smoke (21.0%) and some of them (48.1%) had little information about the harmful effects of waterpipe smoking on athletic performance.

 Conclusion: According to results of this study improvement in cardio-respiratory fitness and body composition of physical education students and enhancement of their information about side-effects of waterpipe smoking should be emphasized

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  Background & objectives: Ischemic stroke is the third leading cause of death and disability in most of the human societies. There is no effective treatment due to complexity of the pathophysiological mechanisms. Today, more researches are designed to introduce involving factors and new treatment strategies in brain ischemia. The objective of this study is to introduce an experimental model of the focal cerebral ischemia in rat with increased success rate and low mortality rate.

  Methods: In this research 32 male rats (Sprague-Dawley) were studied as in four experimental groups. Animals were anesthetized with chloral hydrate (400mg/kg, ip). Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by intraluminal filament method. A silicon coated nylon filament was used for middle cerebral artery occlusion. Regional cerebral blood flow was monitored by laser Doppler flowmetery to guide the insertion of the filament into the vascular pathway. 24 hours after ischemia (90minutes), animals were assessed for neurological outcome, infarct volume and brain edema formation. A new and reformed neurological test was used for evaluation of neurological deficits. 2 - millimeter coronal sections were collected from 6 levels of the brain and stained, digitized and quantified by using an image analysis system. Ischemic brain edema formation was investigated by brain water content detection.

  Results: Induction of ischemia in ischemic group, seriously caused impairment of motor functions (neurological deficit score 4±0.5) While sham operated rats had no motor deficit and infarction. Mean total infarct volume of left (ischemic) hemisphere was 402±43 mm³ and 62.7 percent of infarction occurred in cortical regions of the brain. Induction of focal cerebral ischemia in the left (ischemic) hemisphere of the brain significantly increased water content (84±0.23 percent) compared to both hemispheres of sham group and right hemisphere of the same group. Success rate of ischemia induction was 100 percent and there was no mortality due to technical problems.

  Conclusion: Our findings indicate that continuous recording of regional cerebral blood flow using laser Doppler flowmeter had significant role in increasing success rate and lowering mortality rate in the present model of ischemic rat. This experimental model with high success rate and low limitation can be used for brain ischemia studies and evaluating new therapeutic strategies.