Journal of

Background and Aim: Malnutrition is one of the causative agents of death in children. So, this study was done for assessment of anthropometric indices of students and malnutrition status in Golpayegan, Iran.

Materials and Methods: This research was done as a descriptive - analytical (inferential) study. Sampling was done as clusters and multistage. In order to collect data, the standard questionnaire of anthropometric indicators standards (ANIS) pattern was used. Low and low height was used based on Z score. Collected data was analyzed by Epi-info and SPSS software.

Results: Of 1062 schoolboys, 550 were male and 512 were female. Anthropometric indicators including age (month), weight (kg) and height (Cm) showed significant differences (P < 0.05). The mean of malnutrition index was 5.4 % (WAZ<-2) and 3% (WAZ<-2) in our study.

Conclusion: The significant difference between prevalence of slimness, low weighting and low growth in rural and urban Schoolboys is an indicator of the undesirable situation in rural areas. Therefore, nutritional planning should be considered in rural children.

Background and Aim: Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is a specific marker of osteoblastic differentiation. In this research, the effect of Zoledronic Acid on BSP expression and methylation status during osteoblastic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was evaluated.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, MSCs were isolated from human bone marrow. For osteogenic differentiation, hMSCs were pulse treated with zoledronic acid, and were incubated in osteogenic differentiation medium for 3 weeks. The DNA and RNA were extracted after the first, second and third weeks of culture and also from undifferentiated MSCs. After Sodium bisulfate (SBS) treatment, gene specific methylation analysis for BSP was carried out using Methylation Specific PCR technique.

Results: BSP expression was observed in osteoblastic differentiated cells whereas it was not seen in MSCs. MSP showed that BSP was unmethylated during osteoblastic differentiation.

Conclusion: BSP was expressed from the first week of differentiation. This confirms that zoledronic acid accelerates osteoblastic differentiation. Unmethylation status of BSP indicates that zoledronic acid does not have any effect on BSP methylation status. Other genetic or epigenetic mechanisms may control BSP expression during osteoblastic differentiation induction by zoledronic acid.

Background and Aim: Candida spp can colonize in oral cavity in immunocompromised patients and can lead to candidiasis. Because of immunocompromised condition in patients with Down syndrome, this study aimed at the colonization rate of candida spp in the mouths of such patients.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 53 patients with Down syndrome (29 males and 24 females) within the age range of 4-31 years (mean age: 11.1 years) and supported by the welfare organization, Tabriz branch.
The samples were taken from the dorsal and buccal parts of tongues using sterile swabs, and were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA+ Chloramphenicol) and corm candida agar.
Determination of candida species was based on phenotype characteristics and chlamydoconidia production in Corn Meal Agar containing Tween 80.

Results: Altogether 60 isolates of candida spp were isolated from 46 positive patients [26 males (56.52%) and 20 females (43.48%)]. C.albicans with 35 cases (66.03%) were the most frequent isolate and C.dubliniensis with 9 cases (16.98%), C.krusei with 7 cases (13.20%), C.globrata with 5 cases (9.43%) and C.tropicalis with 4 cases (7.54%) were the following ranks. In 12 patients (22.4%), there were more than one species of candida in their oral cavity.

Conclusion: Due to the immunocompromised condition in patients with Down syndrome caused by a decrease in IgA and the activity of H2O2 (main destructive agent of C.albicans), the necessity of colonization rate of Candida in such patients is recommended.

Background and Aim: Pityriasis versicolor is a fungal disease with causative agent Malassezia species which is an opportunistic and lipophilic yeast .With regard to liphophilic nature of the yeast, this study was carried out for evaluation of relationship between pityriasis versicolor and triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

Materials and Methods: This cross - sectional study was performed on 1500 subjects ranging from 10 to 50 years old in Isfahan province. Of total subjects, 105 had pityriasis versicolor. Disease confirmation was based on direct examination, inoculation and culture on Dixon media. Measurement of total cholesterol and triglyceride of patients and control groups in fasting manner was done by Auto analyzer RA 1000. Data of patients including age, education level and job was gathered by questionnaire and analysis of results was done by t student, chi square and Pearson correlation tests.

Results: Prevalence of infection was 7% in the test group. Maximum frequent rates of infection was %3.13 in age group 20- 30 years and minimum in age group 30-40 years(% 0.87). The highest rate of total cholesterol levels was seen in age group 40-50 years (mean 215 mg/dL) and the lowest was in age group 10-20 years(mean 205 mg/dL).

Conclusion: Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in patients were higher than the control group but the difference was not significant(P<0.05). No correlation was seen between pityriasis versicolor and increase in the total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in patients and control groups.