Introduction: The use of cell phones is widespread and there are public concerns regarding its possible deleterious effects on human health especially on the pregnancy outcomes. In this study, structural changes of the placenta after applying the cell phone radiation were examined in the mice model.  

Materials and methods: For this work, 40 pregnant Balb/C mice were randomly allocated to one control and one experiment groups. The experimental animals were exposed to cell phone fields with a carrier frequency of 915 MHz, for 4 h a day continuously, during 5-17 days of gestation. On the 18^th day of pregnancy, the half of each groups were sacrificed and placentas specimens were taken for histological studies. In the rest of animals, the neonates were counted and the offspring’s survival rates were determined. Also, morphometrical aspects of the placentas were studied.

Results: There were no morphometric as well as light microscopic changes in the placentas between two groups. Ultrastructural results of the treated group revealed a slight elevation in the number of intra cytoplasmic droplets in the labyrinth interhemal membrane. In addition, in the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) exposed mice, the nucleus of the cytotrophoblast cells occasionally was large in the size and irregular in the shape and also had compact nucleoli. Finally, the survival rate of the neonate was not significantly affected by cell phone exposition.

Introduction: Acute Toxoplasmosis is more critical in immunocompromised patients with cancer. The present study was conducted to investigate the anti-Toxoplasma gondi antibodies and assess the toxoplasmosis risk in women with breast masses in western of Iran in 2012. This research was done as a case-control study on women who referred to the treatment centers in cities of Kermanshah and Ilam in 2011.

Materials and methods: 60 women with breast cancer were selected as cases, and also 60 healthy ones as the control group. They were evaluated in terms of IgG, IgM, estrogen and progesterone levels using immunoassay method. Women in this study were in the secretory phase and were under the age of menopause. Results were analyzed using SPSS software 16 with independent T test.

Results: Relationship between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection and breast cancer was statistically significant (P<0.01). There was a significant relationship between anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody and breast cancer (P=0.01). Women with breast cancer and healthy women were not reported positive in terms of IgM anti-Toxoplasma. Significant relationship was detected between estrogen and Toxoplasma in women with breast cancer (P<0.01). There was no significant relationship between the level of progesterone and anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. A total of 30 patients (50%) from the women under study had the tumor marker CEA 19-9 (Carcino embryonic antigen).

Conclusion: Patients with breast tumors may be at risk of opportunistic infections such as toxoplasmosis. Therefore, periodic examination of breast cancer patients should be conducted by clinicians to prevent the potential occurrence of toxoplasmosis.

Introduction: In this study, using the phenotypic and genotypic methods, oxacillin susceptibility in Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strains isolated from patients at two government hospitals in Ilam, Iran was tested.

Materials and methods: Out of 200 S. aureus isolates from different human clinical specimens consisting of blood (31%), wound (20%), urine (21%), catheters (7%), sputum (12%), others (9%) were collected. The methicillin resistant S. aureus isolates were investigated using disk diffusion methods and oxacillin (1&mu;g) and cefoxitin (30&mu;g), on Mueller-Hinton agar were used, and MecA and vanA genes were detected by PCR. In addition, the isolates were tested for their antibiogram profiles.

Results: Among 200 S. aureus strains included in this study, 35.96% were MRSA. The percentage of resistance by disk diffusion method was as below: penicillin 85.96%, vancomycin 0%, ampicillin 87.71%, gentamicin 48.25% erythromycin 54.25%, clindamycin 32.45%, amikacin 21.05%, ciprofloxacin 42.10%, tetracycline 51.75% and co-trimoxazole 42.10%. Phenotyping method by disk diffusion method using oxacillin and cefoxitin for detecting of MRSA showed sensitivity and specificity of about 33.33% and 35.96%, respectively. Presence of MecA and vanA genes in MRSA isolates by PCR were 35.96% and 0%, respectively. The oxacillin and cefoxitin disk diffusion methods showed 92.68% and 100% sensitivity, respectively, and 98.8% specificity.

Conclusion: Our finding showed that, the cefoxitin disk diffusion method is better in compared to the oxacillin disk diffusion similar to results from detecting of MecA gene in PCR as a golden test.

Introduction: There are general concerns about the hazardous impacts of the cell phones radiation on the human health. In this study, the structural and biochemical changes of the mice kidney were assessed after cell phone exposure in.

Materials and methods: A total of 40 Balb/C mice were randomly divided into the control and experimental groups. The experimental group exposed to cell phone devices with a carrier frequency of 915 MHz, for 4 h a day during 60 consecutive days. After mobile phone exposure, the blood samples and also the renal tissues were taken out for histological and biochemical examinations.

Results: The histological results revealed no light microscopic changes in the kidneys between two groups. Necrosis of the renal tubules epithelium was seen in some of the the sections belonging to the both control and experimental groups. Also, in the mice exposed to cell phone fields, the serum levels of creatinine, urea, chloride and total protein were not significantly altered. Although the serum levels of sodium and bicarbonate showed a significant increase, but the activity of alkaline phosphatase revealed no significant changes in comparison with control group. In addition, there are no morphometric, ultra-structural or light microscopic changes in the kidneys between two groups. In the treated animals; the mitochondria were often deformed in the shape and the cytoplasm of the renal tubules was folded in an abnormal manner.

Conclusion: Based on the study, it could conclude that there is no toxic effect on the mice kidneys after exposure to cell phone radiation.

Introduction: Depression has multifactorial characters including brain-behavioral disorders, alteration in cognitive psychomotor and emotional process. Millions of people are worldwide suffering from this illness. This disease happens in all ages of men and women. This research tries to introduce a traditional medication in comparison with common chemical anti-depressant drugs. This experiment was designed to evaluate probably the antidepressant effect of Citrullus colocynthis fruit extraction.

Materials and methods: Thirty-two male mice (Balb/c) was randomly divided to four groups (n=8 each). Animals adapted and treated to diazepam, imipramine, aqueous and hydro alcoholic extract of Citrullus colocynthis fruit. All administrations were done via intraperitoneal 0.2ml/animal. Plant material after grinding was extracted with ethanol and evaporated under reduced pressure. Tail suspension test was carried out to assay the antidepressant effect of plant extraction in animals. The test was carried on before, and as well as 30, 60 and 120 minutes after injections.

Results: Our data indicated that after intraperitoneal administration of aqueous and ethanol extract, immobility duration exhibits statistically significant increase compared to agitation phase in all times after injection(P<0.05). Ethanol extract reduced statistically agitation time in 30, 60 and 120 min after injection compared to imipramine. Both aqueous and ethanol extract elevated immobility in minute 60(P<0.5).

Conclusion: The present study suggested that Citrullus colocynthis extract could possess potential antidepressant and sedative effects which would be of therapeutic interest for using in the treatment of patients with depressive disorders. We suggest more research in this regard.

Introduction: Lansoprazole is one of the proton pump inhibitor drugs widely used in the treatment of gastro-duodenal ulcers and disorders. However, there is not enough data about unexplored adverse effects of lansoprazole on the integrity of the placental barrier. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine whether placental structure could be affected by lansoprazole administration.

Materials and methods: A total of 24 pregnant Balb/C mice were randomly divided into one control and three experiment groups (n=6).The experimental animals were given 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg of lansoprazole intraperitoneally on days 6-16 of pregnancy. At the end point and on the day 17 of gestation all animals were sacrificed. Then, the placentas specimens were taken and processed for histological examinations. Histological sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and were examined under light microscopy.

Results: The histological examinations showed remarkable cellular changes in the placenta after treatment with lansoprazole. The placentas from drug administrated mice exhibited conspicuous decrease in the spongy layers size when compared with controls. Also, both polymorph and mononuclear cell infiltration into placental parenchyma were seen in the animals treated with 100 mg/kg lansoprazole. In addition, dilation of the intervillous space, massive vasculature congestion, increased giant cell population and fibroblastic proliferation were seen in the placental tissues from experimental groups.

Introduction: Hydatid Disease (HD), a helminth infection with various clinical complications is a serious economic and public health concern around the world. Nowadays, different agents have been broadly applied as scolicids; these agents have several side effects on patients. Therefore, the aims of this experimental study were to evaluate the scolicidal activity of Cucurbita maxima seeds methanolic extract (ME) against protoscolices of hydatid cyst in-vitro. Also, an in vivo assay was designed to prove the preventive effects of the extract.
Materials and methods: For this work, Two different concentrations (25 and 50 mg/ml) of the C. maxima seeds ME were used in various exposure times (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min). Additionally, thirty mice were infected intraperitoneally by injection of 1000 viable protoscolices and were divided into three groups with ten mice in each Group I (treated by Albendazole), group II (received 50 mg/ml of C. maxima seeds ME) and group III (untreated controls).
Results: Overall, C. maxima seeds ME exhibited significant scolicidal effects in compared with control group (P<0.05). At a concentration of 50 mg/ml, the mortality percentage increased to 84.7%, 96.1% and 100% after 40, 50 and 60 minutes, respectively. Also, the obtain data in necropsy demonstrated that C. maxima seeds ME have an inhibitory effect on the hydatid cyst development. No hydatid cyst formation observed in mice treated with C. maxima seeds ME (50 mg/ml) versus control group which hydatid cyst occurred in 6 (from 10) mice.

Diabetic patients are more susceptible to cutaneous fungal infections. Cutaneous lesions and Foot infections are a frequent complication of patients with diabetes mellitus, accounting for up to 20% of diabetes-related hospital admissions. Foot ulcers and other foot problems are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in people with Diabetes mellitus. The higher blood sugar levels cause increasing the cutaneous fungal infections in these patients. More than 75% of diabetes mellitus (DM) patients are at risk for diabetic ulcers. About 15% of foot ulcers in diabetic patients lead to amputations. Although every 30 seconds one leg is amputated in the world due to DM, 80% of these cases are preventable. Poor controlled had significantly higher fungal infection in diabetic foot ulcers and require careful attention and management. The findings of various studies indicate that the prevalence of fungal infections in patients with diabetic foot ulcers is increasing and there are many drug resistance issues reported in this area, therefore more attention is important in diabetic centers about this neglected issue.

Introduction: Erythroblast transformation specific Related Gene (ERG) is a member of ETS transcription factors family, which act as a regulator of primary hematopoietic cell differentiation. Previous researches suggested proto-oncogene for response to mitogenic signal of different cell with MAP kinase and help to tumorgenesis, apoptotic and prognostic role for ERG gene in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. The aim of his study was to evaluate ERG gene expression level in AML cases compare to control group.
Materials and methods: For analysis of gene expression, total RNA was isolated from bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood of AML `s patient. This study was conducted on 54 AML patients and 54 healthy individuals as control group. ERG gene expression and reference gene glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) was assessed by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Clinical and laboratory findings studied cases were extracted from medical documents.
Results: This study results indicated that the level of ERG gene expression in AML patients had no significant differences compare to control group (1.81±2.41) (P <0.05), Also ERG gene expression was correlated to patients hematocrit (P <0.05).
Conclusion: This research recommends that there were no significant relation between ERG expression and control groups. It seems that ERG gene assessment is not a good index for AML patient’s evaluation.

Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the novel marker, body adiposity index (BAI), is accurate to measure percentage of body fat (PBF).
Materials and methods: Seventy-eight males were undergone anthropometric examination. PBF was calculated by BAI and measured using InBody 3.0.  
Results: Significant correlation was found between BAI and PBF (r = 0.751; P < 0.001).
Conclusion: PBF can be measured by BAI, which is calculating from hip circumference and height and we validated this novel index. Therefore, it can be widely used in the clinical settings.

Introduction: Cesarean Section (CS) is considered one of the most common surgeries in obstetrics and gynecology; it is, also, one of the methods of termination of pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and causes of CS among the primigravid women referred to Taleghani Hospital in Ilam located in western of Iran.
Materials and methods: This was cross-sectional (descriptive) study. All primigravid women who referred to Taleghani hospital in Ilam from October 2017 to April 2018 were included in study. Of the total 1738 deliveries performed during six months, 296 cases were related to primigravid women. The questionnaire was used as the research tool; it was completed through interviewing with women who referred to Taleghani hospital for delivery and reviewing patients’ records. SPSS software version 20was applied to analayze the collected data using descriptive statistics.
Results: The findings showed that 867 (49.88%) and 871 (50.12%) deliveries of the total 1738 deliveries performed during the second half of 2017, were related to multiparous and primigravid women, respectively. Among the performed vaginal deliveries and CSs, 427 (49.25%) and 296 (33.98%) cases were related to nulliparous women, respectively; the incidence rate of CS among the nulliparous women was 33.98%. The mean age of subjects was 23.64 ±4.1 and the age group of 29-30 years old had the highest frequency (75.7%). In general, the fetal factors accounted for more than 67 percent of CSs of primigravid women.
Conclusion: This study showed that the CS was highly prevalent among primigravid women; the fetal factors were the most important causes of CS.

Introduction: In the study we sought to determine the patterns of regional antibiotic resistances among uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) isolates. Our finding could be useful for better recognition of regional antibiotic resistances and scheduling a program to control this condition.
Materials and methods: In the study, 270 nonduplicate UPEC isolates were examined from urine samples of outpatients with urinary tract infections (UTIs). All isolates were identified by gram staining and standard conventional biochemical tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed by disk diffusion (Kirby–Bauer) method. The commercial antibiotics disks (PADTAN TEB Co., Iran) were applied in the study, included amikacin (30 μg), gentamycin (10 μg), ciprofloxacin (5 μg), and nalidixic acid (30 μg).
Results: Most of the patients were female (221, 81.9%). The highest resistance was observed for nalidixic acid (56%), followed by ciprofloxacin 39.64%. In contrast, the lowest resistance was seen for amikacin (3.90%) and gentamicin (10.04%). Moreover, 19.62% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR).
Conclusion: Amikacin and gentamicin could be chosen as first line antibiotics in treatment of UTIs. Continuous monitoring studies recommended for acquire a suitable regional antibiotic resistance pattern.

Introduction: Vital catalysts have long been widely used in the food industry, but with new applications in many industries, such as the chemical industry, they have become even more important. In biocatalysis, all parts of the cell, cell extract, purified enzyme, inactive cell, or inactive enzymes are used as catalysts in various processes. Enzymes are essential for various industrial, pharmaceutical, and especially biotechnological processes. Keratinase is produced by various microorganisms in the presence of keratin as a substrate. It mainly targets disulfide bonds. In this study, the biochemical properties of keratinase enzymes derived from Bacillus mojavensis (B. mojavensis) were investigated.
Materials and methods: The 3D structure of keratinases from B. mojavensis was created using Modeler software, and the model's validation and refinement indicators, including Prosa, Z-score, and Ramachandran Graph confirmed the high quality of the modeled protein. The PMSF, Pepstatin and leupeptin structures were prepared from the PubChem database server and introduced to the MVD software along with the 3D structure of the keratinase for molecular docking.
Results: The binding energies (Eaint#) for the Mojavensis-PMSF, Mojavensis-Pepstatin and Mojavensis-Leupeptin complexes were -71.73, -334.1 and -211.2, respectively. In all three Mojavensis-PMSF, Mojavensis-Pepstatin and Mojavensis-Leupeptin complexes, the Serine 277 keratinase mojavensis formed a hydrogen bond with inhibitors. Serine 295 also interacted with inhibitors in both of Pepstatin and Leupeptin complexes. Glutamic 299 keratinase mojavensis also interacted with PMSF and Leupeptin. All three PMSF, Pepstatin and leupeptin peptidase inhibitors were able to interact with keratinase mojavensis.
Conclusion: Docking results showed that Serine amino acids 277 and 295 in the active site of keratinase mojavensis, may play a key role in its catalytic function.

Introduction: Raising antibiotic resistance has led the human community to more frequent application of herbal medicines. The tomato fruit, scientifically called Lycopersicon esculentum mill, is an important source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, all with beneficial effects on human health. The present study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial effects of tomato aqueous extract on four species of common bacteria associated with gastrointestinal infections.
Materials and methods: After preparing the aqueous extract of native tomato, its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (TCC116538), Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumonia) (ATCC700603), Shigella flexneri (S. flexneri) (ATCC12022), and Proteus vulgaris (ATCC6380) species using micro dilution broth method based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Each of the experiments was repeated three times. The results were subdivided into normal and abnormal variables by one-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used for examining normal variables.
Results: The results of this study showed that the most significant effect of the tomato extract is on S. aureus. The MIC of tomato extract for S. aureus was 31.25 mg/ml, while for Proteus vulgaris, K. pneumoniae, and S. flexneri was 62.5 mg/ml. The mean MIC of the extract was significantly different between the studied bacteria (P < 0.05). The LSD post hoc test showed that the MIC for S. aureus (0.0599 ± 0.001) was significantly higher than that of Shigella flexinari (S. flexneri) (0.351 ± 0.009) (P < 0.001), K. pneumoniae (0.469 ± 0.062) (P = 0.001), and Proteus vulgaris (0.492 ± 0.005) (P = 0.003). Moreover, the MIC for S. flexneri was significantly lower than that of K. pneumoniae (P = 0.002) and Proteus vulgaris (P = 0.001). The mean MIC values for K. pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris (P = 0.394) were not significantly different.
Conclusion: The current study revealed a significant antibacterial effect of tomato extract against different bacterial species. Therefore, the extract can be used as an antiseptic agent in pharmaceutical and food industries.

Introduction: Elevated plasma LDL cholesterol levels play a crucial role in cardiovascular disease development. Squalene synthase (SQS), a regulatory enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis, is a target for controlling hypercholesterolemia. Traditional medicine recommends Crataegus Azarolus L. for heart-related conditions, including high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and arteriosclerosis. Our research focuses on drug-likeness/ADMET prediction and molecular docking studies of C. azarolus constituents for cardiovascular disease prevention.
Materials & Methods: Chemical constituents of C. azarolus L. were selected based on the squalene synthase co-crystal molecule (3ASX). After energy optimization with Hyperchem, Auto Dock Vina facilitated ligand docking into the SQS active site, providing data on binding methods and compound binding energy. SwissADME and SCF Bio IITD webserver were used for in silico drug-likeness/ADME predictions.
Results: Auto Dock Vina results and pharmacokinetic (PK) studies revealed that 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol exhibited the highest alignment with the synthetic co-crystal molecule concerning position, binding energy, and pharmacokinetic properties among herbal compounds.
Conclusion: Overall, 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol demonstrated significant affinity for squalene synthase, suggesting its potential to occupy the enzyme's active site. This compound holds promise as a viable substitute for the synthetic co-crystal molecule, pending laboratory confirmation.