Tehran University Medical Journal

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: Gastric cancer is the second most common cancer and known as the second cause of death due to cancers worldwide. Adenocarcinoma is the most fatal cancer in Iran and a patient with this kind of cancer, has a lower lifetime than others. In this research, the survival of patients with gastric carcinoma who were registered at Taleghani Hospital, were studied.
Methods:  291 patients with Gastric carcinoma who had received care, chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, at Taleghani Hospital in Tehran from 2002 to 2007 were studied as a historical cohort. Their survival rates and its relationship with 12 risk factors were assessed.
Results:  Of the 291 patients with Gastric carcinoma, 70.1 percent were men and others (29.9%) were women. The mean age of men was 62.26 years and of women was 59.32 years at the time of diagnosis. Most of patients (93.91%) were advanced stage and metastasis. The Cox proportional hazards model showed that age at diagnosis, tumor stage and histology type with survival time had significant relationships (p=0.039, p=0.042 and p=0.032 respectively).
Conclusion: The five-year survival rate and median lifetime of gastric cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy are very low and seems that one of the important reasons for this situation is delayed diagnosis. The scheme of public education about the early warning signs of the disease and diagnosis and administration of periodic examinations is unavoidable.

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Background: Dopaminergic is the most important neurotransmitter is fear. The dopaminergic mesolimbic pathway has essential role in excitable behavior, and it's role in Parkinson disease. The aim of this research in study, the effect of dopaminergic pathway in fear response.
Methods: The elevated plus maze was used in combination with the percentage of time spent in the open arms of the maze (OAT%) and the percentage of entries into the open arms (OAE%) to measure fear. Increases in the OAT% and OAE% indicate an anxiolytic effect (reduction in anxiety), whereas decreases in the OAE% and OAT% indicate an anxiogenic effect. After five days, the rats were injected with saline and different doses of sulpiride and Bromocriptine.
Results: Results showed that intracerebroventricular administration of sulpiride, in the doses of 5, 20μg/rat and bromocriptine, D2 agonist in doses 65, 95μg/rat produced a significant effect comparing to sham groups (p<0.05). While intracerebroventricular administration of sulpiride 15, 10μg/rat, and bromocriptine 70, 80μg/rat, did not show any significant effect comparing with sham group (p<0.05). In the current research intracerebroventricular administration of sulpiride, D2 antagonist at the doses of 5, 10, 15, 20μg/rat and Bromocriptine, D2 agonist in the doses of 65, 70, 80, 95μg/rat were used and theire effect on the fear behavior were studied.
Conclusions: The possible effect of Dopaminergic system in the fear process, especially D2 receptor increase fear.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: Cystic fibrosis is a monogenic recessive disorder founds predominantly in caucasian population causes exocrine glands function defect. This disease arises from mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Because of heterogeneity of the mutations in CFTR gene, phenotypic symptoms in this disease are very variable. In this study we consider poly T polymorphism (T₅, T₇, T₉) in the intron 8 of CFTR gene in normal individuals and cystic fibrosis patients in mazandaran province.
Methods: Forty cases of cystic fibrosis patients and 40 normal individuals were screened for poly T polymorphism in intron 8 of CFTR gene using Reverse Dot Blot method.
Results: T₇ allele is the most prevalent in normal individuals and CF patients and it's abundance is approximately 75%. T₉ and T₅ represent approximately 20% and 5% of normal or mutant alleles respectively. T₇/T₇ genotypes in normal individuals and CF patients are the most prevalent with 72.5% and 60% prevalence rate, respectively. T₅/T₉ and T₅/T₅ genotypes were not found. 22.5% of normal individuals and 30% of CF patients had heterozygote genotypes.
Conclusion: The abundance of T₅, T₇, T₉ alleles and the presence of 22.5-30% heterozygote genotypes in normal individuals and CF patients indicates that poly T polymorphism in intron 8 of CFTR gene can be used as a marker for detection of normal and mutant alleles in prenatal diagnosis or can be used in carrier assessment in families with previous history of the disease.

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Background: Beta- lactamase enzymes are the most important resistant factors to beta lactam antibiotics among gram negative bacteria. Nowadays, the prevalence of beta- lactamase infection is increasing worldwide and drawn the scientists attention as an important subject. Due to high prevalence of bacteria contained TEM beta lactamase and AmpC enzymes, using molecular methods especially designing universal primers could be valuable to detect all of them. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of TEM and AmpC (Dha and MOX) beta- lactamase genes using universal primers.

Methods: A total of 500 clinical specimens from various Hospitals in Tehran, Iran were collected and analyzed for E. coli based on biochemical tests. These clinical specimens were also screened by Disk diffusion agar, combined disk method and PCR to detect the samples producing extended- spectrum beta- lactamase.

Results: Overall 200 isolates of Escherichia coli were collected from the 500 clinical specimens out of which 128(64%) isolates were positive by PCR assay and showed bla- TEM, bla- AmpC (Dha, MOX) genes, 74(57.8%) and 5(3.9%) to have bla- TEM and bla Dha, respectively. Mox gene was not detected in any of the specimens.

Conclusions: Our results revealed that using the molecular methods with phenotype methods is very essential for complete detection of Beta- lactamases. There is the need for updating the treatment protocol because the prevalence of this resistance is increasing.

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Background: The relationship between Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and the prevalence of Renal Artery Stenosis (RAS) has been demonstrated. Despite high incidence of heart diseases and high frequency of CAD risk factors among Iranian population, this relation has not been clearly determined. This study estimated the prevalence of RAS and its determinants in Iranian angiographic candidates. We also tried to find which risk factors of atherosclerosis are associated more frequently with renal artery stenosis.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study that was performed at the Tehran Heart Center, in Tehran, Iran, 146 patients who were candidate for angiography with suspected CAD were consecutively included. Selective renal angiography was performed following coronary angiography in all patients with established coronary artery stenosis and the presence and severity of RAS was evaluated.

Results: Prevalence of RAS in study patients was 25.3% (men, 13.7% and women 47.1%, (p<0.001). We found that only 6.2% of the patients had bilateral R.A.S. Also, RAS≥50% was found in 17.1% of patients. Regarding number of defected coronary vessels, two- and three-vessel diseases were found in 30.0% and 39.0% of participants, respectively. No significant relationship was found between the number of involved coronaries and the severity as well as side of RAS (p=0.716) Significant multivariate predictors of RAS were female gender (p=0.001), advanced age, (p=0.046) duration of hypertension (p=0.032) and baseline serum creatinine concentration (p=0.018).

Conclusions: Routine angiographic assessment of renal arteries following coronary angiography is recommended especially in women as well as those with long-term duration of hypertension or renal dysfunction.

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Osteoporosis is a condition characterized with reduced bone density and destruction of the bone structure. The ideal treatment aims to reduce the risk of fracture while improving the density and structure of the bone. Parathormone (PTH) and its main analogue triparatide (rhPTH [1-34]) is a new class of anabolic medications which accelerates the healing process in the fractured bone through improving bone formation and therefore is used for treating severe osteoporosis. The present review article was designed to report the history, different types, anabolic and catabolic effects, complications, indications and contraindications of the hormone.

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Background: Resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in clinical isolates frequently results from the production of β-lactamase enzymes. In recent years, the production of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and AmpC β-lactamase have greatly increased, especially in clinically isolated Escherichia coli. On the other hand, beta lactamase genes have several subfamilies and designing universal primers could be valuable in their detection. The beta-lactamase-producing E. coli which is resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics may pose a great risk to the patients. The CTX-M-1 gene is responsible for beta lactamase resistance. The purpose of this study was to find the percentage of CTX-M-1 carrying E. coli strains. Methods: A total of 500 urine samples were collected from different hospitals in Tehran, Iran during September to February 2009. The samples were cultured on EMB agar and incubated at 37 C for 24 hours. Some biochemical tests were carried out on the isolated samples. The presence of CTX-M-1 gene was determined by PCR on the isolates already identified phenotypically by disk diffusion agar and combined disks. Results: In general, 200 out of the initial 500 samples were identified as E. coli, among which 128 (79.5%) were ESBLs producing strains. PCR used for the detection of CTX-M- 1 gene, showed that 99 (77.34%) out of 128 isolates contained such gene. Conclusion: The results of this study showed a high percentage of β-lactamase resistant E. coli strains. This is a serious matter and would pose a public hazard and every step should be taken to avoid such hazard.

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Background: Numerous use of Beta Lactame in treatment of bacterial infections resulted in increments of drug resistance of such bacteria. One of difficulties in treatment of hospital infections is Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) among isolated clinical strains of E.coli. Since some of ESBL strains shows double reaction in drug sensitivity test at in vitro and in vivo condition, therefore it makes difficulties in selection of right treatment. In the last years, CTX-M enzymes have become the most prevalent ESBLs in worldwide. The prevalence of ESBL types largely remains unknown in many parts of the Iran. This study was made to find the prevalence of ESBL-producing E.coli and molecular detection of CTX-M-1 in Tabriz.

Methods: In the present study, 400 urine samples collected between November 2009 and April 2010, from Tabriz Hospitals were studied. Out of the 400 samples, 188 E.coli isolates were detected by standard biochemical tests. Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was tested to 10 antibiotics by the disk agar diffusion (DAD) method. ESBL production was screened by phenotypic test that included both separate and combined disk agar diffusion techniques. The screened isolates were investigated by PCR assay to detect CTX-M-1 gene.

Results: From the total 188 E.coli isolates, 82 (43.6%) were shown to produce ESBLs by phenotypic test. During the PCR method on the 82 isolates, 69 (84.1%) were confirmed as CTX-M-1 producing group.

Conclusion: The present study showed that CTX-M-producing isolates were increasing among E.coli strains and indicated the need for adequate susceptibility tests in laboratories for choosing the appropriate antibiotics for treatment.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) is a new biomarker which can predict acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients. Usefulness of NGAL in the early diagnosis of all types of AKI is under question. We hypothesized NGAL is an early predictive biomarker of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN).
Methods: In this process evaluation study, we enrolled 122 patients (Mean age 59.7±10.8 years) undergoing elective angiography/angioplasty with contrast media during April to September 2009. Serial urine samples were analyzed in a double-blind fashion by NGAL enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CIN was defined as a 25% increase in baseline serum creatinine. 
Results : The prevalence of CIN was 30.3%. Significant elevations in urinary NGAL concentrations were noted within 12-h and 24-h after the procedure in patients with CIN. NGAL concentrations after 12 hours was 90.62±105.63 vs. 27.6±45.8 ng/ml in patients with and without CIN, respectively P=0.0001, and 79.78±117.7 vs. 30.92±52.84 ng/ml, 24 hours afterwards P=0.002. Some patients had AKI after five days of exposure rather than the second day (P=0.0001). We found using a cut-off point of 8 ng/ml with a sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and area under the ROC curve 94%, 25%, 91% and 0.75 respectively are good for the prediction of CIN in 12-h urinary NGAL and a cut-off point of 5.5 ng/ml with respective values of 97%, 24%, 95% and 0.70 for 24-h urinary NGAL.
Conclusion: Urine NGAL may represent a sensitive early biomarker of acute AKI after angiography/angioplasty. We recommend the routine measurement of NGAL in high risk patients receiving contrast agents.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection in the hamstring and calf muscles with and without ankle serial casting in the improvement of gait in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
Methods : This double-blind prospective clinical trial was performed on 25, 2 to 8-year-old children with hemiplegic or diplegic CP in Tehran, Iran in 2010. The participants were chosen by simple randomized sampling and were matched for age, gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) and type of CP and were randomly divided into two groups: children in the first group (13) only received BTX-A injection, but the second group (12) received BTX-A and serial foot casting starting one week after the injection.
Results : Comparison of the gross motor function, right and left knee spasticities and passive ROM of both knees between the two groups before and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the injections were not statistically significant (P>0.1). Furthermore, comparison of the right and left ankle spasticities and passive ROM before the injections and in1 and 3-month follow-ups did not show a statistically significant difference (P>0.1), but the differences were significant in 6 and 12-month follow-ups (P<0.05).
Conclusion: BTX-A injection with serial foot casting vs. BTX-A alone was more effective in decreasing spasticity and improving passive ROM in the ankle of children with CP, but such injections in the hamstrings were not useful in these regards.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: Human amniotic membrane (HAM) forms the inner wall of the membranous sac that surrounds and protects the embryo during gestation. The main advantages of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) in the treatment of bacterial keratitis are its epithelial bandage properties. Previous studies have documented the presence of some antimicrobial proteins and peptides in amniotic fluid such as lactoferrin, lysozyme, bactericidal or permeability increasing protein, calprotectin (MRP8/14 protein complex), LL37, and neutrophil defensins (Human Neutrophil Peptides, HNP 1-3). Furthermore, the amniotic membrane does not express HLA-A, B, C or DR surface antigens, which may help avoid rejection after its transplantation. Thus, it can be used as a biological immune barrier. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the amniotic membrane's healing properties in rabbits with pseudomonas keratitis.
Methods : By using an animal model, 14 rabbits were divided into two groups of controls and cases. A syringe was used to inoculate the corneal stroma of the animals by Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853. After 20 hours pseudomonas keratitis was created and amniotic membrane was transplanted to the cornea of the case group. The infiltration size were observed on the first, third and seventh days after the experiment.
Results : Corneal perforation was seen in the controls (P<0.001) but amniotic membrane prevented perforation in the case group (P=0.02).
Conclusion: Transplantation of amniotic membrane in the primary stages of pseudomonas keratitis treatment remarkably prevents corneal perforation and it can be used to control the disease process.

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Background: Ascorbic acid (AA) is not synthesized in the brain but it is actively transported through blood-brain barrier by SVCT2 cotransporter and it is stored in high concentrations with heterogeneous distribution in areas such as nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) in the mammalian brain. Previous studies have shown that Ascorbic acid injection into AcbSh decreases feeding therefore, in the present study we evaluated the effects of oral Ascorbic acid pretreatment on changes in feeding upon its injection in AcbSh in adult male rats.

Methods: Sixty-three adult male rats (220-280 g) were divided into five treatment and five pretreatment groups. The treatment groups included the control (intact) group, sham-operated Ascorbic acid group that received normal saline as vehicle, and three other groups that received different doses of ascorbic acid (10, 50 and 250 µg/rat) by injection into AcbSh for four days. The pretreatment groups received Ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg) for 15 days via gastric gavage before receiving the aforementioned doses in treatment groups into intra nucleus AcbSh. Feeding measurement was repeated every 12 hours by automatic metabolic cage.

Results: The results indicated that all injected doses of Ascorbic acid (10, 50 and 250 µg/rat) into nucleus accumbens shell decrease food intake (P<0.05) in rats and oral Ascorbic acid pretreatment had no effects in this regard.

Conclusion: Our findings show that ascorbic acid is an effective factor in feeding regulation. Oral pretreatment seems to have no influence on the central effects of ascorbic acid in the nucleus accumbens shell.

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Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multiorgan autosomal recessive disorder. As CF is highly heterogeneous in Iran and many mutations have a low frequency, routine molecular diagnostic methods are not very efficient. The use of highly polymorphic intragenic markers not only can facilitate phenotype prediction in prenatal diagnosis by gene tracking, but also can lead to the demonstration of possible associations between haplotypes and specific mutations. We determined IVS8 polyT and M470V polymorphisms in exon 10 of CFTR gene in this case-control study.

Methods: Polymorphisms of IVS8 polyT in 53 patients with CF were referred to Amirkola children's Hospital of Babol University of Medical Sciences, 2007 to 2011 and 49 fertile healthy individuals were determined by reverse dot blot method. M470V polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-RFLP.

Results: In IVS8 polyT study, T7 was the most frequent allele in healthy individuals than patients with CF (respectively, 82.8% Vs. 77.2%). T9 was more abundant in patients with CF than normal individuals (respectively, 21.7% Vs. 7.4%, P=0.005). T9/T9 genotype was more frequent in patients than healthy individuals (respectively, 15.1% and 2%, P=0.032). Study for M470V polymorphism showed that M/V was the most common genotype in normal individuals and patients with CF (respectively, 49% and 40.4%). M-T9 haplotype was highly associated with the disease in both patients with CF and normal individuals (respectively, 19.1% and 2.4%, (P<0.001)

Conclusion: The allelic distribution and heterozygosity results suggest that both M470V and IVS8 polyT can be helpful in the prenatal diagnosis of CF in Northern Iranians with a positive family history of the disease.

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Background: The increasing use of β-lactam antibiotics in clinics for the treatment of different bacterial infections since early 1980s has led to increased rates of resistant bacteria isolated from patients. One of the problems in the treatment of nosocomial infections is related to resistant bacteria such as Enterobacter cloacae due to cross resistance through extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing E. cloacae from different clinical specimens collected from hospitalized patients.

Methods: In the present study, 101 E. cloacae confirmed by standard specific microbiologic tests were collected from different specimens in Milad and Motahri hospitals in Tehran, Iran during February 2010 and September 2011. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted according to the process recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute for 13 antibiotics of choice. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing strains were screened for by combined disk method as a phenotypic diagnostic test.

Results: From a total of 101 E. cloacae, 33 (33%) were shown to produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamase by phenotypic tests 5% of the bacteria were resistant to imipenem too.

Conclusion: This study clearly showed the high prevalence of resistance to broad-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics in the isolated E. cloacae among which 5% were multi drug resistant. All the isolated E. cloacae were susceptible to Colistin. These results can be alarming for physicians treating resistant E. cloacae infections, especially extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing species.

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Background: Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the serious complications of ventilatory support, occurring in ICUs. The aim of this study was to determine various risk factors associated with the acquisition of Acinetobacter infection and its antimicrobial susceptibility pattern.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in the ICUs of Rasoul-e-Akram Hospital in Tehran, Iran during the year 2011. A total of 51 endobronchial aspirates from intubated patients who had been clinically diagnosed to have VAP were studied bacteriologically. The in vitro susceptibility was determined by disk-diffusion and broth microdilution MIC methods.
Results: Out of 51 patients with VAP, 35 (66.66%) had positive cultures for Acineto-bacter species. In vitro susceptibility test revealed that a high percentage of isolates were resistant to imipenem, piperacillin-tazobactam, third generation cephalosporines, and aminoglycosides.
Conclusion: The antimicrobial resistance of gram negative bacteria, particularly Acine-tobacter species, is increasing and preventive measures need to be taken as a matter of urgency.

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Background: Primary cutaneous lymphoma is separated into two groups, cutaneous lymphoma (CTCL) and cutaneous B-CELL Lymphoma (CBCL). This study was performed to classify histopathologically and define demographic features of Persian patients with primary cutaneous lymphoma.
Methods: Twenty hundred and thirty four patients with primary cutaneous lymphoma who have been referred to Razi Hospital in Tehran, Iran during at four year period (October 2005 to October 2009), were investigated in this study. The data were gathered by reviewing their medical records andexaminedagain extant evidence andhistology slides.
Results: Among 234 Patients, the only clinical feature that could be assessed was itching. The most common involves location of disease was generalized. 189 (80.77%) cases of the patients had CTCL and 45 (19.23%) cases of the patients had CBCL. Age of patients with two lymphoma type were similar at the this time of diagnosis. Sex supremacy was with men in two groups.
Conclusion: This study provides histopathologic classification and demographic data.

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Background: It has been shown that coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) can be used as a diagnostic method in coronary artery disease (CAD). The relationship between CACS and calcium metabolism in the body has been shown. The arterial calcification is an organized process similar to bone formation which is controled by parathormone (PTH). The relationship between PTH as an osteoregulatory factor and CACS has been also indicated. In this study, we tried to assess the value of serum PTH and CACS in patients planned to undergo coronary angiography (CAG) in order to find a simple, cost -benefit, noninvasive way, for ruling in/out obstructive CAD.
Methods: In a cross sectional study in Imam Khomeini hospital in 1390, CACS by using non-enhanced multi detector computed tomography (MDCT) and measurement of serum level of PTH, Calcium and Phosphate were done in 178 patients suspected to CAD which were scheduled to undergo coronary angiography serum PTH was measured by immuno-radiometric assay (IRMA) and serum Ca and Phosphate were measured by spectrophotometry methods.
Results: Of 178 Patients, 50 patients were females and 126 patients were male. Mean age of them was 56.2±11.6. The correlation coefficient between CACS and Gensini score (0.507, P<0.001), PTH (0.037, P=0.693), Ca (0.062, P=0.499) and Phosphate (0.061, P=0.506) were obtained. The level of serum PTH in the patients with and without coronary artery disease were 21.8±11.6 pg/dl, 23.2±11.5 pg/dl (P=0.427) respectively.
Conclusion: Our study showed association between CACS and CAD that was statistically significant while no relationship was found between PTH, CACS and CAD.

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Background: Although a few studies have shown the positive correlation between patients’ serum concentration of 25 OH-Vitamin D3 and type II diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance, there are controversies regarding the relationship between 25 OH-Vitamin D3 as a risk factor for cardiovascular atherosclerotic diseases that has to be cleared. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the rate of 25 OH-Vitamin D3 and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Patients with suspected CAD. Methods: This study was a cross sectional study that has been conducted in the department of cardiology in Imam Khomeini Hospital complex in collaboration with endocrinology research center. In this study 178 patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) were enrolled. Based on their history and clinical findings coronary angiography was performed in all patients. Severity of CAD has been assessed by using Gensini score, based on their coronary angiography findings. The relationship between severity of CAD and their serum level of 25 OH-Vitamin D3 was evaluated. Serum level of 25OH- Vitamin D3 was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method by Euroimmiune kits (from Germany). Results: Of 178 patients, 50 (28.1%) were female and 128 (71.9%) were male. Mean±SD of their ages was 56.2±11.8 years old. Significant coronary artery stenosis (stenosis more than 50% luminal diameter) was observed in 91 (51.1%) of patients. Mean±SD of serum level of vitamin D3 in patients with CAD was 45±35 nm/l and in patients without CAD was 55±44 nm/l (P= 0.047). Mean±SD of Gensini score was 26.3±21.1, as well. Therefore correlation coefficient between 25 OH-Vitamin D3 and Gensini score was -0.262 (P= 0.043). Conclusion: Although there is a trend toward association between deficiencies of 25 OH-Vitamin D3 and the presence of CAD but their association is not statistically significant. For achieving more convincing findings larger studies are needed.

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Background: Toxoplasma gondii, is a mandatory intracellular protozoa, that many people worldwide are infected with. In children, the infection enters central nervous system and leads to inflammation of the gray matter. Autism, is a complex develop-mental disorder, altering social communication, with unknown origin. Neuropathologi-cal changes in autism are the same as those occurred in brain toxoplasmosis. The objective of this survey was to evaluate positive serology of toxoplasma gondii, in autistic children. Methods: This case-control study was done on 3-12 years old children, referring to the neurology and psychiatry sub-special clinics of Baqiyatallah hospital and also autistic children of Omid-e Asr and Navid-e Asr general rehabilitation centers in Tehran, Iran. The study performed at 2012-2013. Forty autistic children were placed in the case group and 40 children, suffering from no neuropsychiatric disease or other ones, were placed in the control group. A folder, containing demographic data, type of the disor-der, onset of diagnosis and child characteristics at birth, such as time of birth (preterm/ term) fulfilled for each child. Sampling was done with 5 ml blood, for determining IgM and IgG antibody levels against toxoplasma gondii, using ELISA method. Data ana-lyzed by the software SPSS ver. 17 and descriptive and analytic analysis were done, us-ing central and dispersion indexes and also chi-Square test. Results: The autistic group contained 34 boys and 6 girls (85 and 15 percent respectively), with the average age of 6 (±2.71) years old [minimum of 2.33 and maximum of 12]. The average age at the time of diagnosis was 4.01 (±1.87) years old. 87. The non-autistic group contained 17 boys and 23 girls (42.5 and 57.5 percent respectively), with the average age of 5.67 (±3.09) years old [minimum of two and maximum of 12]. IgM and IgG serology of all autistic children were negative, while in non-autistic group, 2.5 percent (1 child) were positive and 97.5 percent (39 ones) were negative. There were no statistically significant difference among these two groups according to the serology results. (P=0.31). Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference in comparing positive se-rology of toxoplasmosis, between the two groups. However, to obtain a perfect result, a larger sample size are required.

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Background: Bone is a hard and dynamic tissue, which continually undergoes remodeling process. Longitudinal growth of bone is mediated by growth plate that is a cartilage structure at the end of long bones. During puberty, along with the closure (ossification) of growth plate, the longitudinal growth of bone will stop. Diazinon is one of the widely used organophosphorus pesticides that have been known to cause damage to the cells and tissues of the body by enhancing oxidative stress. Due to the dynamism and active process, bone and growth plate tissues are suitable models to investigate the effect of diazinon on bone development and bone growth. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of diazinon on the epiphyseal growth plate width (including the proliferating cells zone and hypertrophy cells zone) of immature rat. Methods: This is an experimental study. This study was performed on 12 immature male in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in May 2014, Wistar rats that randomly divided into 2 groups: control group and diazinon group. All treatments were done by oral gavage during 28 days. The animals were sacrificed on day 28 and left femur bones were removed for histomorphometric studies of epiphyseal growth plate width. Assessments were done by ImageJ software, version 1.40g (Wayne Rasband, NIH, USA) and the significance of the results were performed by ANOVA analysis and Tukey’s test. Results: Epiphyseal growth plate width of diazinon group was significantly reduced (P=0.0126) in compared to control group. This reduction was associated with reduced of width of the proliferating zone (P=0.0001) and increased width of the hypertrophy zone (P=0.0166). Conclusion: Diazinon leads to reduction in the Epiphyseal growth plate width of immature male rats. Therefore it could be a factor in the impairment of bone longitudinal growth and premature closure of the growth plate.