[Assessment of protective effect of ethyl pyruvate on sperm parameters, and trend of embryological development after in vitro fertilization [IVF] in phenylhydrazine treated mice]

Background and Aim: oxidative stress can lead to change in the sperm parameters and cessation of embryological development This study aimed to assess the protective effect of ethylpyruvate [EP] on sperm parameters and trend of in vitro fertilization under oxidative stress conditions produced by phenyl hydrazine [PHZ] induced hemolytic anemia in mice

Material and Method: 40 NMRI mice with the age range of 8-10 weeks and mean weight of 26+/-2gr, were randomly divided into four equally groups. The control group received normal saline [0. 1 ml/day, IP]. Group2 [PHZ group] was treated with initial dose of PHZ [8mg/100gr/b. w, IP] followed by 6mg/100gr/b. w, IP, every 48hr. Group3, [Group PHZ+EP] received the same dose of PHZ and EP [40mg/kg/daily/IP]. Ethyl pyruvate group received only EP [40mg/kg/daily, IP]. Treatment period took 35 days. Then, after euthanasia the sperm were collected from caudal region of epididymis and examined for sperm count, sperm viability, motility and morphology. Testis tissue MDA and serum testosterone levels of all experimental groups were also evaluated

Result: in this study, in PHZ group we found a considerable reduction in the mean percentage of the number of the sperms with damaged DNA and abnormal morphology compared to the control group. After administration of antioxidant these parameters improved significantly [p<0.05]. In PHZ group we found significant decrease in the percentage of fertility, blastocysts, and the number of arrested embryos in comparison to the control group, which after administration of ethylpyruvate these parameters improved significantly

Conclusion: treatment of the mice with PHZ led to improvement of the sperm parameters and trend of embryological development

Rational evaluation of antimicrobial properties of lactobacilli isolates against some pathogenic microorganisms: a new method comparing the susceptibility of indicator microorganisms

Lactobacilli are known as a valuable source of antimicrobial compounds and have a high potential of use in food biopreservation against food related microorganisms. Antimicrobial potency of 63 dairy lactobacilli isolates against four highly important food-related microorganisms were evaluated. In addition, a new way in data organization was introduced, which led to a more informative and rational comparison of indicator microorganisms' susceptibilities to a set of compounds. Correlation of pH and antimicrobial properties was investigated. Microbroth dilution assay was used to evaluate indicator microorganisms' susceptibility to lactobacilli CFCS [cell free culture supernatant]. Results were organized by both the conventional way - demonstrating the minimum inhibitory and lethal concentrations of CFCS - and a new suggested method, representing comparative effectiveness of each CFCS specimen against indicator microorganisms of comparison interest. Susceptibilities of tested strains were in the following order: Escherichia coliO157:H7 > Listeria monocytogenes > Aspergillus parasiticus> Candida parapsilosis. Despite the high susceptibility of L. monocytogenes, it showed the highest resistance to death among the tested microorganisms. Efficiency of Lactobacilli CFCS in killing the tested strains showed the following susceptibility order: E. coli O157:H7 > A. parasiticus> C. parapsilosis> L. monocytogenes. Antimicrobial property was in correlation with the pH value of CFCS. PH had a pronounced impact on susceptibilities of C. parapsilosis and E. coli in pH values of concentrated CFCS lower than 4 and 4.5, respectively. Potency of lactobacilli isolates in growth inhibition of the indicator microorganisms was found promising, and the suggested data organization method provided additional information, leading to more precise comparison of indicator microorganisms

[Developing and standardization of quality evaluation and accreditation indicators for curricula of baccalaureate degree nursing education in Iran]

Curriculum of higher education enjoys the special prominence as transferor of information. Also it provides field for making knowledge and obtaining skills and attitudes. Therefore the quality evaluation of curricula and their updating with regard to standards are considered. Purpose of this research is to develop and standardize the quality evaluation and accreditation indicators for curricula of baccalaureate degree for nursing education. This descriptive- study was performed in three stages during 2010 to 2011. In the first and second stages, criterion and indices drafts were prepared based on the existed sources and strained by nursing and curriculum specialists. In the third stage, in order to standardization and determining the weight of elements, criterion and indicators of 93 faculty members of nursing departments were selected through relative random sampling method. Also their viewpoints toward appropriateness of proposed criterion and indicators were obtained. This study was guided to the proposal of 9 elements, 39 criterion and 143 indicators for the quality evaluation and accreditation curricula of baccalaureate degree nursing education. In this study, criterion and indicators compiled for accreditation of curriculum of baccalaureate degree nursing education have several specifications including the observation of international standards of curriculum of baccalaureate degree nursing education, consideration to all curriculum elements, observation of curriculum rules, standardization and determining the weight of elements, criterion, and indicators

[ sterological study of the effects of aloe vera aquose-methanolic extract on the kidney structure in the experimental diabetic rats]

Diabetes mellitus is the most common disease of the endocrinal glands. Since it is one of the ailments of nephropathic diabetes, so this research aims at the surveying of unbiased stereology [Cavalieri principle] of the extract of Aloe vera leaf on the diabetic rat kidney. At first, 32 male Wistar rats, 140/13 +/- 25/74 gr, were divided into: control, control + extract, diabetic control, diabetic + extract groups. Each group n=8 were divided randomly. IDDM was established by the Intra-Pertoneal injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin in two times, control groups. Control + extract and diabetic + extract groups were treated by Aloe vera extract with doses of 70 mg/rat/day. After 30 days, rats left kidneys were excised and fixed by bouin solution. After tissue processing, staining by H and E was carry out, and at the end, with the stereology technique, quantitative information about the cortex, medulla, total kidney and glomeruli volumes was deducted. Statistical results of Anova/Tukey test and T-Test by using of SPSS 11 software showed that the mean of final body weight is increased in control, control + extract and diabetic + extract groups in comparison with diabetic control [p<0/001]. Cortical and total kidney volumes are significantly increased in control + extract, diabetic + extract groups in comparison with diabetic control [p<0/001]. Total glomeruli volume also is increased in control + extract and diabetic + extract groups, in comparison with control and diabetic control. This research shows that Aloe vera extract dose not have an effect on diabetic kidney manifestation during the course of the above treatment

Subclinical eating disorder, polycystic ovary syndrome- is there any connection between these two conditions through leptin- a twin study

The genetic property of subclinical eating behaviour (SEB) and the link between SEB and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been studied before but the role of leptin within this connection has never been investigated. The objective of this study was 1). to study the genetic property of SEB. 2). To find a link between leptin, SEB and PCOS. One hundred and fifty four (77 pairs) female-female Iranian twins including 96 MZ individuals (48 pairs) and 58 DZ individuals (29 pairs) participated in the study. Clinical, biochemical and ultrasound tools were used to diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome. BITE questionnaire was filled out for subjects. Eight percent of subjects were diagnosed for subclinical eating disorder. No significant difference was found between intraclass correlation of MZ and DZ (z = 0.57, P = 0.569). Serum leptin level correlated significantly with bulimia score (P < 0.007). The mean (+/-SD) value for bulimia score was found to be higher among PCOS(positive) subjects (3.27 +/- 5.51) in comparison with PCOS(negative) subjects (2.06 +/- 4.48) (P < 0.001). The genetic property of subclinical eating disorder was not confirmed as shared environment might have played a major role in likeliness of DZ twins as well as MZ. Leptin is linked with both subclinical eating disorder and PCOS.