Background & Objectives: Staphylococci are among common causes of community acquired and nosocomial infections around the world. Over the last decade, the resistance of these bacteria in hospital environments is increasing to various antibiotics such as vancomycin. The aim of present study was to determine the antimicrobial resistance pattern and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values among a clinical collection of staphylococci isolated from hospitalized children in Tabriz.

  Methods: In this prospective and descriptive study, 88 staphylococcal isolates including 53 S. aureus and 35 coagulase-negative staphylococcus species were recovered from various clinical specimens referred to microbiology laboratory of Children Hospital during study period (April 2011 to March 2012). Susceptibility of the isolates against 15 different antimicrobial agents and MIC values of vancomycin was tested using standard disk diffusion and E-test methods respectively.

  Results: According to the results of drug susceptibility testing, vancomycin and rifampin were the most effective but clindamycin and penicillin were the least effective drugs against tested isolates. Accordingly, the prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains was determined more than 80%. According to MIC values, 13.2% of S. aureus and 3.3% of coagulase-negative staphylococcus isolates showed intermediate resistance to vancomycin. None of the isolates was fully resistant to vancomycin isolates in this study.

  Conclusion: Although fully vancomycin resistant staphylococci was not found among tested isolates in this study, there was VISA strains. Since there are reports on the emergence of VRSA strains from Iran and other countries, it is necessary for the clinician to care in prescription of vancomycin as a selective drug against staphylococcal infections. Moreover, the necessity of MIC measurement in determining of vancomycin susceptibility is more apparent.

  Background: Crocus sativus L., commonly known as saffron is used for different purposes such as an antispasmodic and expectorant. Recent studies have demonstrated that saffron extracts have antitumor, radical scavenger, hypolipidemic, anticonvulsant effects and it improves activity on learning and memory. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of�aqueous saffron extract�on weight, length, macroscopic and microscopic skeletal malformation in fetuses of rats.

  Methods: Study was carried on 3 groups of female Wistar rats. Group1 was kept as control and received normal saline with equal volume of extract Group 2 received saffron extract with 80mg/kg-IP on 10^th and 11^th day of gestation Group 3 received saffron extract with 200mg/kg-IP on 10^th and 11^th day of gestation. Rats were dissected on day 20 of gestation, embryos harvested by cesarean section. The living status and weight and length of fetuses were detected. After examination for determination of gross malformations, fetuses were placed in alcohol and stained by Alizarin red-Alcian blue method then evaluation was carried by stereomicroscope.

  Results: Saffron extract at dose of 80 mg/kg significantly increased the weights and body-lengths of fetuses in compare with saline and extract at dose 200 mg/kg. Macroscopic and Microscopic studies did not show any skeletal abnormalities by two above doses of saffron.

  Conclusion: The results show short time administration of saffron aqueous extract does not cause malformation on skeletal system.

  Introduction : Cardiac events due to coronary artery disease (CAD) are the most common cause of death in all over the world. Myocardial ischemia and its consequent heart failure are considered as common problems and complications of CAD. The purpose of this study was to assess the anti-ischemic effects of fibrates in patients with CAD.

  Methods : This clinical-trial study was conducted on patients with dyslipidemia and CAD referred to the Baqiyatallah university hospital, Tehran, during 2008-2010. A total of 124 patients randomly divided into two groups: the first group (64 patients) received simvastatin (20-60 mg/day)+fenofibrate (200 mg/day) with lipid-limited diet and exercise and the second group (60 patients) received simvastatin (20-60 mg/day) with diet and exercise for one year and the patients were evaluated at the end of this period.

  Results : The mean age was 54.3±6.5 years and 53.2% of patients were male. Metabolic equation index was changed from 4.32±0.5 to 5.68±0.5 at the first group (P<0.001) and 4.43±0.9 to 4.41±1.1 at the other one (P=0.121) and also time of exercise was changed from 5.21±1.81 to 6.01±1.8 (P<0.001) and 5.43±1.26±5.23±1.2 (P=0.089) respectively. No serious adverse effects were seen.

  Conclusion : Lipid-lowering therapy with simvastatin and fenofibrate reduces myocardial ischemia. Therefore it’s recommended to add fenofibrate to statinsin the treatment of dyslipidemia in patients with high risk of cardiovascular accidents as complementary treatment.

  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 .

  Background and Objectives: Patient education has an important role in controlling the diabetes. Tele-education is impressive due to the elimination of­­ both space and time limitation and establishing an effective relationship with client care. This study was carried out to determine the impact of tele-education by telephone and short message service on laboratory parameters in patient with type 2 diabetes.

  Methods: This experimental study carried out on patients with type 2 diabetes members of Urmia Diabetes Association . A total of 66 samples selected and allocated randomly in two intervention and control groups. Data gathered with demographic questionnaire and lab work. For intervention group education and telephone follow up had given for 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical testes.

    Results: Finding of the study showed decrease in fasting blood sugar (-29.82), glycosylated hemoglobin (-0.54), cholesterol (-13.88), triglyceride (33.88) and insulin level (-4.59) in intervention group after performance of education and telephone follow up.

  Conclusion: Telephone follow up and tele-education have a beneficial effect on controlling the laboratory parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes .

  Background & Objectives : Pain is one of the preceding claims of Parkinson's disease (PD), that its mechanisms have not been fully identified. The purpose of this study was to investigate the chemical pain responses induced by subcutaneous injection of formalin in male parkinsonized rats.

  Method : In this experimental study, 40 Wistar male rats were used and PD was established by stereotaxic injection of 6-OHDA toxin into the striatum. Parkinson's disease severity determined by apomorphine-induced rotation test and then the pain response of 4 groups, the control, sham and 2 weak or full Parkinson groups, were evaluated using formalin test. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey test.

  Results : In both acute and chronic phases of the formalin test, the symptoms of pain in different groups were same, but at the interphase stage, pain intensity increased more in Parkinson 's rats, especially in full PD group compared to control (p<0.01).

  Conclusion: These results suggest that the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway have important modulating role on chronic pain.

  Background & Objectives: Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by derangement in protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Most of hypoglycemic agent used in medicine for diabetes treatment are reported to have side effects for long run. On the other hand, increase in oxidative stress is effective in the genesis of diabetes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the effect of alcoholic extract of Euphorbia cyparissias on serum glucose and antioxidant enzymes level in diabetic male rats.

  Methods : In this study, 40 adult male Wistar rats weighting 250±20 grams divided into four groups randomly: control, diabetic animals, treatment 1 and treatment 2 which received 500 and 250 mg/kg of E.cyparissias extract for 21 days by gastric gavage, respectively. At the end of the treatment, level of antioxidant enzymes including TAC, MDA, SOD and GPX and also blood glucose were determined in animal's serum.

  Results : The blood glucose levels were significantly lowered in the group of treatment 1 compared to diabetic group (p<0.05). Results showed that MDA level of serum was increased significantly in diabetic group in comparison with control group (p<0.05). Furthermore, the TAC, SOD and GPX level were increased significantly in the group of treatment 1 compared to diabetic group (p<0.05).

  Conclusion : This study showed that oral administration of E.cyparissias extract has antidiabetic and antioxidant activity in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

  Background & objectives: Ischemic stroke remains the third leading cause of invalidism and death in industrialized countries. It is suggested that renin–angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute in stroke related pathogenic mechanisms and involve in the ischemic brain damage. This study designed to investigate the role of angiotensin II (Ang II) in conjunction with AT₁ receptors in treatment of the brain injuries following transient focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

  Methods: Forty eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were studied in four groups. Sham group, ischemic control group and two ischemic groups that received candesartan (0.1mg/kg, or 0.5mg/kg) at the beginning of reperfusion period. Transient focal cerebral ischemia was induced by 60 minutes occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, followed by 24 hours reperfusion. At the end of the reperfusion period, neurological deficit score (NDS) was performed. Total cortical and striatal infarct volumes were determined using triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining technique.

  Results: Animals in sham operated group had normal motor function and no ischemic lesions were observed in cortical or striatal regions. Occurring ischemia in ischemic control group that received vehicle produced considerable infarction in cortex (253±15mm³) and striatum (92±7mm³), as well as these animals had sever impaired motor dysfunctions. Blocking of AT1 receptors with candesartan (0.1mg/kg or 0.5mg/kg) improved neurological outcome and significantly lowered cortical and striatal infarct volumes relative to ischemic control group.

  Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicated that stimulation of AT1 receptors by Ang II involved in ischemia/reperfusion injuries and blocking of AT1 receptors can decrease ischemic brain injury and improve neurological outcome.

  Background & objectives: Nitrate is one of the major contaminants in food and water. Excess intake of this substance can increase the risk of stomach cancer and also cause other health problems. The objectives of this study were estimation of dietary nitrate consumption in the Varzaghan with high and Parsabad with low stomach cancer incidence in country, and also the comparison dietary nitrate consumption with World Health Organization standards.

  Methods: In this comparative study performed during autumn and spring of 2011 about 216 food samples (including all food groups) and drinking water collected and their nitrate concentration was determined by colorimetric method. Then daily dietary consumption of nitrate calculated based on daily diet of each person (according to national study on food consumption pattern in Iran) and nitrate concentration in each group of food and drinking water.

  Results: Daily consumption of nitrate in Varzaghan and Parsabad was 8.53 ± 0.35 and 8.17 ± 0.54 mg per kg of body weight (of adults), respectively, which is much greater than the amount recommended by FAO/WHO (0-3.7 mg per kg of body weight). Significant difference was not observed in the dietary consumption of nitrate in two cities at studied period (P> 0.05).

  Conclusion: Despite of no significant difference in dietary consumption of nitrate in two cities, the daily consumption of nitrate in both of studied cities was significantly greater than the recommended level. Therefore monitoring sources of contamination and reduction of environmental pollution for decreasing food nitrate concentration are recommended.

  Backgrounds & objectives: In addition to their genomic actions, thyroid hormones (THs) can modulate the immune responses through cell surface receptors. One of these is the antiviral effect of THs. Methimazole, as an anti-thyroid compound, is widely used to treat hyperthyroid patients. It also reduces blood leukocytes, granulocytes in particular, and thereby may affect the immune response. Recently, we reported that methimazole-induced hypothyroidism intensifies herpes simplex virus-1(HSV-1) infectivity. To determine whether the effect is mediated through alterations in circulating leukocytes, we assessed the HSV-1 infectivity and circulating leukocytes in methimazole-induced hypothyroid rat.

  Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats received methimazole (200 μg/ml) in their drinking water for 2 weeks. Rats were then inoculated with a non-lethal single dose of HSV-1, and sacrificed 3 days later to harvest their spleen. Spleen extract was prepared, and virus yield was determined by evaluation of cytopathic effects (CPE) induced by the extract in a Vero cell culture system. For quantitative analysis, standard method of Reed-Muench was employed. The routine Wright’s staining protocol was used for blood leukocytes differential count.

  Results: The CPE development was significantly increased in the cell cultures exposed to the spleen extract of methimazole-treated animals (P < 0.05), indicating a higher virus yield and intensified virus infectivity. However, the effect of methimazole on blood leukocytes was minimal.

  Conclusion: Our data suggest that methimazole increases the susceptibility to HSV-1 infection, at least in part, by blocking THs synthesis but not alterations in circulating leukocytes.

 Background & objectives: Diazinon (DZN) as an organophosphate pesticide widely used in agriculture is associated with reducing the antioxidant capacity of the cell. Use of thiol compounds such as N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) as an antioxidant decreases oxidative stress in the cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of NAC as an antioxidant against DZN- induced oxidative stress in rat brain and heart. 

Background & objectives: Hyoscine (scopolamine) as an anticholinergic and antinociceptive drug, has some side effects. Recently, it has been received much attention to the interactions between synthetic drugs and herbal extracts and their pharmacological responses which made the possibility of using the minimum dose and low side effects. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Salvia officinale extract, hyoscine and their combinationin management of pain in rats.

Methods: In this experimental study animals were divided randomly into eight groups (n=6). Hyoscine (0.5, 1 and 5 mg/kg) administrated by intraperitoneal injection and extract (100 and 200 mg/kg) was administered by gavages one hour before administration of hyoscine. Thirty minutes after treatment, rats were subjected to tail-flick test and data were recorded. Statistical significance was considered at p<0.05.

Results: Administration of hyoscine at doses of 0.5, 1 and 5 mg/kg created significant analgesic effects compared to control group in the Tail-flick test (p<0.05, p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). The combination of S.officinale extract (100 and 200 mg/kg) and hyoscine (1 mg/kg) significantly increased the pain threshold than the groups receiving only extract or hyoscine.

Conclusion: Our data showed that hydroethanolic extract of Salvia officinale has an important antinociceptive effect which can lead to decreased pain in rats. Sincehyoscine as an analgesic drug has some side effects, combination of Salvia officinale extractand hyoscine can decrease the needed dose of hyoscine and itsside effects.

� Background & objectives: Obesity and visceral fat accumulation after menopause are associated with lipid profile changes, metabolic syndrome and c ardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 8-week aerobic - resistance training and estrogen replacement therapy on visceral fat and cardiovascular risk factors in ov ariectomized rats.

� Methods: Fifty female Wistar rats were ov ariectomized and divided into 5 OVX groups (n=10 rats per group): Ovx+sedentary (Sedentary), aerobic - resistance training (Ovx+Exe), aerobic - resistance training+estrogen replacement therapy (Ovx+Exe+Est), estrogen replacement therapy (Ovx+Est) and vehicle group or sesame oil (Ovx+Oil). The exercise consisted of aerobic-resistance training (20 m/min, 3 days/week, 60 min/day, 10% slope, Load 3% body weight) 17b-estradiol valerate (30 �g/kg bw in 0.2 ml sesame oil) were injected subcutaneously three days a week during 8 week. The co-treatment group received both exercise and estradiol protocol as same as previous groups.

� Results: After 8-week of interventions, visceral fat significantly reduced by Ovx+Exe and Ovx+Exe+Est compared to Sedentary rats (p<0.05), however no significant difference in body weight was observed. BMI significantly reduced in Ovx+Exe and Ovx+Exe+Est groups compared to Sedentary group. Also, BMI significantly reduced in Ovx+Est compared to Ovx+Oilgroup (p<0.05). Although this intervention changed lipid profiles, they were not statistically significant in neither of groups. Statistical comparisons between groups were performed usingone-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey&rsquos post-hoc test. The differences were considered significant at p<0.05.

� Conclusion: Eight weeks aerobic-resistance training successfully decreases visceral fat and BMI.

Background & objectives: Stroke is third leading cause of death and disability in the most of human communities. The use of herbs and medicinal plants in different countries is increasing. Today, herbal medicine is used as alternative or complementary therapies with a fewer side effects. Nigella sativa has a rich medical and religious history. Oxidative stress has important role in the pathophysiology of stroke. As Nigella sativa has antioxidant effects, its administration may produce a protective effect against complications of this disease. We examined the effects of the treatment with Nigella sativa oil on the cerebral infarction and edema.

Methods: 48 Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups, sham, control ischemic and Nigella sativa oil treated (2 ml/kg) ischemic groups. Transient focal cerebral ischemia was induced by 90-min-long occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery followed by 24-h-long reperfusion. Neurological deficit score was evaluated at the end of the reperfusion period. Thereafter, the animals were randomly selected and used for two projects: (i) Measurement of the infarct volumes and neurological outcome (ii) investigation of ischemic brain edema formation using a wet/dry method.

Results: Induction of cerebral ischemia in the control group produced considerable brain infarction in conjunction with impaired motor functions and severely brain edema. Treatment with Nigella sativa oil significantly reduced the infarct volume and improved the motor functions. The water content in the left (lesioned) hemisphere was considerably elevated in the control ischemic group. Administration of the Nigella sativa oil significantly lowered the water content in the ischemic lesioned hemisphere.

Conclusion: Treatment with Nigella sativa oil can noticeably decrease the ischemic brain injury, attenuate edema formation and improve motor disabilities.