Background & Objectives : Several studies have been conducted to explore anti-HIV drugs. Discovery and study of novel anti-HIV-1 compounds need live viruses and has serious biosafety concerns. In this research we reported a novel and safe system for assaying the cytopathic effects of HIV by using single cycle replicable (SCR) HIV-1 virions.

  Methods: To produce the SCR HIV-1 virions, pMD2G, pmzNL4-3 and pSPAX2 plasmids were co-transfected into HEK293T cells. Different amount of SCR virions were used to infect target cells (MT-2). Within the infected cells, the number of formed syncytia was counted under the light microscopy. The lethal effects of the SCR HIV virions were measured using XTT proliferation assay.

  Results: Formation of syncytia among SCR HIV infected cells was detectable 24 hours after infection. Highest amount of syncytia was seen 72 hours after infection. Increase in the amount of virions caused increasing of syncytia and the cytopathic effects of SCR HIV-1. Infection with more than 1600ng P24 SCR HIV decreased the syncytium formation and viability of all cells. The calculated IC50 (50 percent inhibitory capacity) for nevirapine and BMS806 using this method was 50nM and 30nM, respectively.

  Conclusion: SCR HIV-1 virions are replicable only for one cycle. Using these virions can improve the safety of HIV researches. Herein, we optimized the assaying of HIV induced cytopathic effects by using SCR HIV-1 (NL4-3) virions. The accuracy of this method was accepted by quantifying the anti-HIV-1 effects of nevirapine and BMS806 by (SCR) HIV-1 virions.

  Background & Objectives: Coronary artery disease is the main cause of mortality in developing and industrial countries. Recently the involvement of infectious agents as a risk factor for Acute Coronary syndrome is drafted. So this study was designed to investigate the probable association between Acute Coronary syndrome and Helicobacter pylori infection.

  Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 300 hospitalized patients with the diagnosis of Acute Coronary syndrome (UA and MI) and 300 hospitalized patients without the history of coronary heart disease. Anti Helicobacter pylori Antibody level was determined by as an indicator of infection history. Using chi-square and t- test the results were analyzed in SPSS software.

  Results: Results showed that 79 patients (26.3%) in control group and 122 patients (40.6%) in case group were seropositive and the difference was significant. Relationship between cronory diseases risk factors and levels of IgG was not significant. Also the results showed that the rate of hypertension in seropositive patients in case group was significantly upper than control group.

  Conclusion: Regarding the findings of this study we can conclude that Helicobacter pylori infection probably is a risk factor for Acute Coronary Syndrome. Thus, further studies are needed to elucidate the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and Acute Coronary Syndrome.

  Background & Objectives: Urinary stone disease is one of the common urinary tract complications that can lead to renal failure. It occurs usually in middle-aged and older men The aim of this study was to determine the association between types of urinary stones and risk factors for urinary stone formation in patients referred to Ardabil therapeutic centers.

  Methods : In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 150 patients with urinary stone were followed from March 2008 to July 2009 in therapeutic centers of Ardabil.

  Data were collected by a questionnaire include demographic factors such as age, gender, body mass index (BMI), Job and Habitation place. Data were analyzed by chi-square test and ANOVA in SPSS 16 software. The level of significance was p<0.05.

  Results: 116 of patients (77.3%) had calcium oxalate stone, 15 of patients (10%) had phosphate calcium stone, 10 of patients (6.7%) had acid uric and 9 of patients (6%) had phosphate ammonium stone. The mean age of patients was 41.90 + 14.41 years (48% of patients were 30-50 years old) and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 25.81+3.66. 91 of patients (60.66%) were male and 59 (39.4%) of them were female. There was no significant difference between types of urinary stones and factors including BMI the job of patient, (p=0.252), habitation place (p=0.173), history of previous illness (p=0.207) and history of drug use (p=0.247).

  Conclusion: The most common type of urinary stones was calcium oxalate (77.3%) in both men and women however ammonium phosphate (6%) is much less common.

  Background & Objectives: Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders in the world. It causes disruption in daily activities and increases the risk of major depression. Hence, clinically the appropriate and persistent treatment of insomnia is very important. Using of hypnotic drugs such as benzodiazepines is the common treatment for insomnia but they show several side effects and it seems that new medications should be used for treatment of sleep disorders. The aim of this study was comparison between the effects of electromagnetic therapy and conventional drug usage in the treatment of insomnia.

  Methods: In a blind randomized clinical trial study, 60 people referred to the private office of the psychiatrist and experienced more than 3 months extended primary insomnia were selected. They were diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria and had no other underlying problems. The subjects were divided in two groups: 30 people in each and treated electromagnetically or with Alprazolam for 3 weeks. Before treatment, immediately and one month after treatment, quality of sleep and severity of the insomnia were evaluated by using the standard questionnaires and finally, the results were analyzed statistically.

  Results : In this study, 60 individuals participated from whom 28 were male (46.7%) and 32 patients were female (53.3%).The mean age was 37.3 years old in a range of 17- 65. The mean point of each questionnaire, before and immediately after treatment significantly didn't show any difference but one month after treatment, there was a significant difference in both groups.

  Conclusion : To treat insomnia, electromagnetic therapy appears to be used as a replacement for sedative medicines. It also has more stability in comparison with other sedative medicines and no side effects have been reported yet.

  Background & Objectives: Severely comminuted distal femur fractures are in association with the high complications and their treatment is so difficult. Supracondylar femur fractures usually occur as a result of low-energy trauma in osteoporotic bone in elderly persons or high-energy trauma in young patients. This study was aimed to assess the results of new treatment plan for comminuted intra-articular distal femur fractures with locking condylar buttress plate. The results of this strategy will help us to find the effective method of treatment for the distal femur fractures.

  Methods: In a prospective cross-sectional study, 47 patients with intra-articular distal femur fractures after two weeks fracture and treating with locking condylar buttress plate were selected. Then, they were examined for infection, range of knee motion and ::union:: at the first and second week and 1, 2 and 3 months after surgery. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and the level of significance was set as p<0.05.

  Results: 53.2% of the patients had closed fractures, 6.4% of them had open type I and the rest showed open type IIIA fracture. The overall ::union:: rate was seen in 80.9% of cases and infection was detected in 19/1% and mal::union:: was observed 21.3% of patients. The mean degree for range of motion was 105.74 ±24.47 and the maximum degree of extension was 20.

  Conclusion : Complete fixation for distal femur fracture type C3 was achieved by buttress plate and using this locking condylar plate was association with less complication such as infection, mal::union:: and non-::union::.

  Background & Objectives: R eligion and its guidelines have important role on the mental health of people. Many studies show that moral and religious beliefs and behaviors lead to mental relaxation and pleasant living. Religious person shall try to be more helpful and successful in all fields of cultural, social, political and economic life. The aim of this article is to elucidate the role of mental health in the Holy Quran.

  Methods: This study was performed by the library field based on the results of the existing related researches and reliable sources.

    Results : If the human psyche is not understood, he could not achieve his perfection and maturity. It is because of lack of knowledge about the mental and spirit damages. How we can understand self and psyche and which information source is the best to refer?

  From the viewpoint of Quran, the first way to deal with psychological stress is back to human nature which is the base of mental relaxation. Avoid of human nature could lead to moral disorders. Therefore in Islam, regarding human nature is considered to improving mental health.  

  Conclusion: According to our discussion, one of the best and most reliable ways for maintaining and improving mental health includes spiritual beliefs and using concept of God in Holy Quran.

  Background & Objectives: Following to estrogen depletion in postmenopausal womens, its cardioprotective effect decreases. Stroke usually occurs in women during the menopause years. Estrogen hormone therapy is still controversial. Epidemiological data suggest that phytoestrogens have a preventive effect on various estrogen-related diseases/symptoms such as menopausal symptoms, cardiovascular diseases. Some studies suggest that genistein as an important component of soy have cardioprotection effects but its role on inflammation and cardiomyocte injury remained to be elucidated. So, this study was goaled to investigate the cardioprotective effect of methanolic soy extract on heart tissue injures.

  Method: In this study 40 female rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups: 1) Control (intact animals), 2) sham surgery (without ovarictomy), 3) ovariectomized (ovx), and 4) treatment (ovx and soy gavage) group that received 60mg/kg per day soy extract in drinking water for 28days (4 weeks). At the end of experiments, the rat heart tissue was processed histologically and the sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin to examine under light microscope. Statistical analysis was performed using the wilcoxon test.

  Results: The results showed that ovariectomy significantly increased inflammation and cardiomyocte injury and soy extract significantly promoted heart tissue recovery (p<0.05).

  Conclosions: This study indicated that oral administration of soy extract has a positive effect on attenuation of inflammation and myocyte injury in ovariectomized rat.

  Background & Objectives: Contrast media-induced nephrotoxicity is one of the most common causes of acute renal failure and promotes both increased morbidity and greater healthcare costs. several mechanisms by which contrast media induces renal injury. These include renal vasoconstriction and direct effect of the contrast agents and reactive oxygen metabolites production. L-carnitine facilitates the transfer of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria. By this mechanism carnitine maintains low pools of fatty acid (acyl)-coenzyme a compounds, which are potentially toxic. However some of the actions of L-carnitine may be opposite to the toxic effects of contrast media. This study examined wheter administration of L-carnitine ameliorates contrast media-induced renal injury in rats.

  Methods : Fifty Sprauge-Dawley rats, weighting 140-230 gr were assigned to one of five treatment groups: group A(control) rats were given normal saline injections daily for 4 consecutive days, group B rats were given contrast media(diatrizoate meglumine) 1cc/kg/d, group C rats were given meglumine 1cc/kg/d and carnitine 200mg/kg/d, group D rats were given meglumine 1cc/kg and carnitine 80mg/kg/d, and group E rats were given carnitine 200mg/kg/d. Four days after injections, the rat were killed and their kidneys and blood samples were prepared for pathological and biochemistry examination. Histological scoring of renal cortical pathology was performed.

  Results: In rats that were given meglumine and no carnitine, renal function tend to be lower than in control group (p=0.001). Among rats injected with meglumine, those given 200mg/kg/d of L-carnitine had higher creatinine clearances at day 4 than the rats not given carnitine (p=00.04). Renal cortical histopathology changes were milder with meglumine and L-carnitine, particularly at 200mg/kg/d.

  Conclusions: In rats receiving meglumine, daily L- carnitine injections, particularly at 200 mg/kg ameliorates the severity of renal cortical proximal tubular necrosis and maintain greater renal function.

  Background & Objectives: Excess body fat percentage is one of the risk factors in the progression of chronic diseases. Anthropometric indices of obesity are screening tools to determine subjects at risk of cardiovascular disease all over the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between abdominal obesity and the early stage of atherosclerosis by Carotid Intima- Media Thickness (CIMT) on women .

  Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 100 healthy women aged 18–50 year. Anthropometric indices were measured and calculated according to standard protocol. Cut off points for waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and waist to height ratio (WHtR) were 88 cm, 0.8 and 0.5 respectively Carotid Intima- Media Thickness was determined by using non-invasive ultrasound as an indicator of early stage of atherosclerosis. Subjects with mean CIMT≤0.8 mm and CIMT>0.8 mm were considered as "normal subjects" and "subjects at risk", respectively.

  Results: Average age of subjects was 30.96±8.1 and the mean of WC, WHR, WHtR and CIMT were 95±0.17, 0.87±0.08, 0.61±0.11 and 0.63±0.15, respectively. All abdominal anthropometric indices significantly associated with mean CIMT. Waist circumference with cut off point of 88 Cm had sum of sensitivity and specificity higher than WHR and WHtR.

  Conclusion: Waist circumference index with cut off point of 88 cm is better than WHR and WHtR to identify subjects at high risk of atherosclerosis.

  Background & Objectives : Breast cancer is among the most frequent disorders among the world. BRCA1 gene was known as a tumor suppressor gene which its loss could be resulted in various destructions in genome. Therefore, changes occurred in its expression level could lead to increasing the effects of oncogene activity on breast cells.

  Methods : RT-PCR and Q-RT-PCR were used for detecting BRCA1 expression status among 27 primary affected breast cancer patients. The association between its expression status and histopathologic data had been evaluated by statistical assays.

  Results: Eighty-five percent of patients showed BRCA1 expression and this expression as well as its quantity had significant associations with tumor grade. It was found that tumors with low levels of BRCA1 expression tend to have higher grades.

  Conclusion : BRCA1 has an important role in suppressing breast tumorogenesis. Corresponding to some of the previous reports, our findings revealed the role of decreasing in BRCA1 expression level as one of the factors which allows tumors to progress.

  Background & Objectives: In endemic area, chemically fighting with carrier of kala azar disease is one of the main ways for reducing disease, and ficam is one of the toxins that is appropriate to eliminate mosquitoes and is from health poison among the pesticides. Therefore, by considering the lasting in nature, using ficam can greatly destroy disease-carrying mosquitoes.

  Methods: In this cross - sectional study the rate of effect ficam on different vectors species were examined in Meshkinshahr city. First two infected villages, as cases and controls, and 10 households from each village selected and 1000 m² from the case village was spraying with ficam than 0.3 g /m². Then, using sticky traps set in the distances were attempted to identify species and Fon (per 2 villages).

  Results: In the rate of 524 sand fly predating in this study included 70.5% Phlebotomus Kandelakii, 5% F. Papatasi, 7.5% F. Major, 7.5% F. Balcanicus, 9.5% F. longidoctus. In the case village was spraying and , respectively, 3-15 - 30 - 45-60 -75 and 90 days after spraying at about 79.5% - 69.5% - 83% - 90% - 93% - 100% and 100 % sand fly vanished.

  Conclusion: According to this study can be said that ficam poison with the survival of three months in nature and with average of lethality coverage of appropriate terms of season to prevent from disease Kla-azar and eliminate sand flies and as a poison, appropriate of health before starts up the season of carriers activity. And ficam poison can be used in the whole of region and country.

  Background & objectives: There are growing evidences about relationship between vitamin D metabolism and occurrence of diabetes mellitus. Vitamin D has a role in secretion and possibly the action of insulin and modulates lipolysis and might therefore contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases. This study was aimed to evaluate whether serum vitamin D3 level in patients with diabetes is lower than that in non-diabetics and if its level has any relation to indices of metabolic syndrome.

 Methods: Sixty nine subjects were enrolled in this case-control study (23 diabetic patients with good control of blood sugar, 23 poor control diabetic patients and 23 healthy subjects as control group). Serum 25(OH) D3, Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), (2 hour postprandial blood sugar) BS 2hpp, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, HDL and HbA1C were measured. We also measured blood pressure, body weight, height and abdomen circumference for individuals. The data were analyzed by Anova, Chi-square and Pearson correlation.

 Results: Serum levels of Vitamin D3 were significantly lower in diabetics compared to non diabetics. (36/5±16/6 v.s. 56/6±19/1 nmol/lit, p<0/001). There was no statistical difference between the group with good control diabetes and poor control diabetes. There was no significant correlation between low serum vitamin D and metabolic syndrome parameters. These findings suggest the need for ongoing evaluation of possible protective role of vitamin D3 supplement in the development of diabetes.

 Conclusions: Based on our results vitamin D deficiency is prominent in patients with diabetes. It appears the vitamin D level should be monitored in diabetic patients.

  Background & Objectives : Considering the widespread use of walnut in the cooking of foods and medical applications, the present study evaluate possible effects of alcoholic extract of Walnut on FSH, LH and testosterone concentration in adult male rats.

  Methods: In this experimental study 40 adult male Wistar rats weighing 250-300g were used and divided into five groups, eight rats per each group. Control group do not receive any treatment . Organic solvent was administered as placebo to sham group , three experimental group, that receive different doses of alcoholic extract of walnut , 10 - 20 and 50 (mg/ kg/Intraperitoneally) respectively, were fed daily and serum levels of FSH, LH and testosterone were measured. All data were analyzed by SPSS 16 and one way ANOVA test.
Results: In comparison with control group, only in group treated by 50 mg/kg of walnut extract, FSH and LH concentration increased significantly (P<0.05). Concentration of testosterone in experimental groups (20 mg/kg and 50mg/kg dose of extract) showed significant statistical difference compared with other groups (P<0.05) .

  Conclusion: According to results of this study, alcoholic extract of Walnut affect pituitary- testis axis and increase GnRH and LH secretion rate therefore enhance reproductive activity in male rats.

  Background & Objectives: Visual impairment included mild visual loss to total blindness that depends on the definitions different results achieved in various studies in all over the world. These kinds of studies will be helpful for social and health problems because some of the causes of blindness are preventable and curable at early stages.

  Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study. In this study, 300 patients older than 40 years with CF visual acuity or less had been surveyed, and information related to the patients recorded in questionnaires. The patients diagnosed by expert physician and recorded data were analyzedby descriptive statistical methods.

  Results: 57% of patients were male and 43% were female, and 41% were urban and 59% rural. The most common cause of visual impairment regarding to the definitions in this study was cataract (57%) and primary glaucoma (16%), uveitis (61%), corneal disease (6%), ARMD (4.33%), diabetic retinopathy (4%) and refraction disorder (myopia) were respectively after cataract and central retinal artery obstruction with 0.66% had the less prevalence. At all, retinal disease with 15% of prevalence was in third place of the major causes of visual impairment. Cataract was the cause of 43.9% of visual impairment in men and 74.4% in women. Glaucoma (24.6%) was the second cause in men and third common cause of visual impairment in women with 4.7% and comparing with men has lower prevalence.

  Conclussion: In this study cataract and glaucoma were the main causes of visual impairment, same as global studies, respectively. In this study prevalence of glaucoma in men was more than the prevalence in women and appears to be related to the fact that women are more sensitive to their health status comparing with men and they go to ophthalmologists sooner than men. With knowing that glaucoma will be controllable with appropriate treatments at the early stage and irreversible visual loss will be prevented.

  Background & Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of Crocin on rat high fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis model.

  Methods: For this purpose, male rats were given either standard diet as control, high fat diet for induction of hepatic steatosis and high fat diet plus Crocin through gavage at different doses (25, 50 and 100 mg kg^-1/day) for protection of liver steatosis, at a period of 4 weeks in different experimental groups and compared considering serum lipid profile, serum biomarkers of liver tissue injury, hepatic antioxidant activity and liver histopathological changes. The serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein for determination of deleterious metabolic effects, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase for determination of hepatocyte injury, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin for assessment of biliary function, malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione content for assessment of liver free radical activity, the enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase as indicators of antioxidation in liver tissue, were measured. Finally, the biochemical findings were matched with histopathological verifications.

  Results: After 4 weeks, high fat diet caused deleterious metabolic effects, including hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia and liver dysfunction. Rats fed high fat diet alone showed increased activities of hepatocellular enzymes in plasma, significant decline in antioxidants, and elevated lipid peroxidation indices in liver. Crocin treatment significantly reduced elevated markers of liver tissue injury and malondialdehyde , and brought back the liver antioxidants and the over accumulation lipids in serum towards normal. Histopathology of the liver confirmed the changes induced by high fat diet and the heptoprotective effect of Crocin.

  Conclusions: Crocin exerts protective effects against hepatic steatosis in rats fed with high fat diet possibly through its antioxidant actions.

  Background & Objectives: Establishing Counseling Centers for Behavioral Illnesses (CCBIs) is a practical solution for preventi ng AIDS, sexually-transmitted diseases, and drug abuse in countries that have successfully implemented prevention programs. More efficient management models can help such centers better achieve their goals using the inevitably limited existing resources. The main goal of this study was to design a domestic model for resource management at CCBIs.

  Methods: In this descriptive-comparative study, a form was designed to gather relevant data from countries being studied. Based on the study goals, gathered data were organized into comparative tables, based on which the primary model was designed. A questionnaire was used to test and validate the primary model. The model was finalized by collecting the opinions of 30 experts, faculty members, and managers from the Ministry of Health and Universities of Medical Sciences using the Delphi technique.

  Results: All countries studied had used their resources for managing prevention and treatment programs for AIDS and other behavioral diseases despite existing challenges. In most countries studied, the clinics were decentralized and counseling and contraception services were also provided in rural areas. Besides, such services were often integrated with primary care clinical services. Occasionally, internet-based, online counseling was also used.

  conclusion: The present investigation showed participation of non-governmental organizations, provision of all services free of charge, integration of services into primary care clinics, continuing education for the personnel of CCBIs, establishing special centers for high-risk groups such as sex workers, school-based health education, launching educational websites, and absorbing international aid can all contribute to improvement of resource management and performance at CCBIs.

  Background & Objectives: The monoclonal antibody cetuximab binds to EGFR and thus provides an opportunity to create both imaging and therapeutic modalities that target this receptor. The potential of cetuximab as a radioimmunoconjugate was investigated and quality control tests (in vitro and in vivo) were performed as a first step in the production of a new radiopharmaceutical.

  Methods : Cetuximab solution was dialyzed and concentrated using an Amicon Ultra-15 filter. Purified antibody was labeled with lutetium-177 using the acyclic bifunctional chelator, DOTA-NHS, and radioimmunoconjugates were purified by PD10 columns. Radiochemical purity and stability in buffer and human blood serum were determined using thin layer chromatography. Integrity of the radiolabeled complex was checked by SDS-PAGE. Preliminary biodistribution studies in normal mice model performed to determine radioimmunoconjugates distribution up to 72h.

  Results: The radiochemical purity of the complex was 98±1%. The stabilities in phosphate buffer and in human blood serum at 96 hours post-preparation were 96±2 % and 78±4%, respectively. All of the samples, controls and radiolabeled antibodies, showed a similar pattern of migration in the gel electrophoresis. Biodistribution of Lu¹⁷⁷-cetuximab was evaluated in normal mice and the highest ID/g% was observed in the blood (13.2±1.3% at 24 hours) and the liver (9.1±1.3% at 24 hours).

  Conclusion: Our results show that DOTA-cituximab can be labeled with 177Lu. Lu177-cetuximab has sufficient stability and retains its integrity. The new complex could be considered for further evaluation in animals and possibly in humans as a new radiopharmaceutical for use in radioimmunotherapy of cancers.