Therapeutic Effects of Laser on Partial Osteotomy in the Rat Model of Hypothyroidism

Introduction: Several experimental studies have displayed positive result for laser radiation on stimulating bone regeneration in recent years. The purpose of this experimental study was to determine low-level laser (LLL) effects on partial bone defects in hypothyroidism male rat.Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly distributed as below groups: hypothyroidism + laser (Hypo + laser), hypothyroidism (Hypo), and control. Four weeks after surgery, the tibia bone was removed. Biomechanical and histological examinations were performed immediately.Results: Our results showed significant reduction in the absorption of energy, resistance in bending deformation (bending stiffness), maximum force, high stress load, trabecular bone volume, and number of osteocytes, osteoblasts and osteoclasts in the osteotomy site in hypothyroidism rats compared to hypothyroidism + laser group (P < 0.05).Conclusion: The results indicated that using laser may improve fracture regeneration and it may accelerate bone healing in hypothyroidism rat

The Combined Effects of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Conditioned Media and Low-Level Laser on Stereological and Biomechanical Parameter in Hypothyroidism Rat Model

Introduction: Many studies have shown the positive effect of laser radiation and application of the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their secretion in stimulating bone regeneration. The aim of this study was determining effects of MSC conditioned media (CM) and low-level laser (LLL) on healing bone defects in the hypothyroid male rat.Methods: We assigned 30 male Wistar rats randomly to 3 groups: control, hypothyroidism, CM+LLL. Four weeks after surgery, the right tibia was removed. Biomechanical examination and histological examinations were performed immediately.Results: Our results showed significant increase in bending stiffness (116.09 ± 18.49), maximum force (65.41 ± 8.16), stress high load (23.30 ± 7.14), energy absorption (34.57 ± 4.10), trabecular bone volume (1.34 ± 0.38) and the number of osteocyte, osteoblast, and osteoclast (12.77 ± 0.54, 6.19 ± 0.80, 1.12 ± 0.16 respectively) in osteotomy site in the LLL + CM group compared to the hypothyroidism group (P < 0.05).Conclusion: The results indicated that using the LLL + CM may improve fracture regeneration and it may hasten bone healing in the hypothyroid rat

Reaction and fractal description of soil bio-indicator to human disturbance in lowland forests of Iran

Mollaei-Darabi S, Kooch Y, Hosseini SM. 2014. Reaction and fractal description of soil bio-indicator to human disturbance in lowland forests of Iran. Biodiversitas 15: 58-64. Earthworms are expected to be good bio-indicators for forest site quality. The deforestation of land into another function could changes the soil features that could effect on earthworm population. This study was conducted to understand the changes of soil functions, resulting from exploitive management using some soil features and their fractal dimensions. Two sites were selected, consisting of an undisturbed forest site (FS) and a completely deforested site (DS) in lowland part of Khanikan forests located in Mazandaran province, north of Iran. Within each site 50 soil samples were obtained from 0-30cm depth along two sampling lines with 250 meter length for each. Deforestation brought a lower soil quality in the sites under the study. Decreasing silt, clay, moisture, pH, carbon to nitrogen ratio, available Ca, earthworm density and biomass, increasing bulk density and sand were few outcomes of the deforestation. Except for clay, the deforestation affect on fractal dimension of soil features. The fractal dimension of bulk density, silt, moisture, pH, earthworm density and biomass were decreased imposed by deforestation. Our results suggest that deforestation should be regarded as an effective factor on variability of soil features that are tied to forest ecology. This is significant for evaluating forest management policies and practices with respect to effects on soil and also for the use of soils as indicators, especially earthworms as bio-indicator, of forest ecosystems

Internal evaluation and its roles in improving the quality of technique & engineering training, Case: Department of Technique and Engineering Faculty at Shahed University

Internal evaluation is a process in which faculty members of departments make judgments about their own performance and plan to improve their future activities. Internal evaluation in the department can be an effective step for increasing the quality of higher education system. Internal evaluation with data collection, analysis and feedback, supports management in decision-making. As internal evaluation project has been performed and approved in different departments of technique & engineering faculty at Shahed University. In the present paper the meta-analysis of the reports are presented. These departments include: 1) Department of Electrical Engineering 2) Department of Computer Engineering and3) Department of Medical Engineering. Data have been collected by analyzing internal evaluation reports. At the end, a framework for improving the quality of teaching and research has been recommende

Expansion of <FONT FACE=Symbol>gd</font><FONT FACE=Symbol> </font>T cells in patients infected with cutaneous leishmaniasis with and without glucantime therapy

The expansion of <FONT FACE=Symbol>gd </font>T cells in patients with active cutaneous leishmaniasis, with or without glucantime therapy, was investigated. Twenty patients with local cutaneous leishmaniasis including glucantime-treated (n=10) and untreated (n=10) patients were selected. The controls were healthy individuals (n=10) living in endemic areas. Whole blood was obtained and the T cell subpopulations were analyzed by flow cytometry. Significantly more <FONT FACE=Symbol>gd</FONT> CD3+ T cells were observed in untreated patients (15.9% ± 5.9), when compared with glucantime-treated patients (4.6% ± 1.4) and controls (5.3% ± 2.3). On the other hand, when the percentages of ab CD3+ T-cells were analyzed different results were obtained. A significant increase in <FONT FACE=Symbol>ab</FONT> T cells was seen in glucantime-treated patients (62.4% ± 7.6), when compared to the untreated patients (55.7% ± 5.5) and controls (55.1% ± 9.6). The percentage of total CD3+ T cells was statistically greater in both glucantime-treated (68.8% ± 7.4) and untreated patients (73.4% ± 5.9) when compared to the controls (61% ± 10.3). These results are consistent with previous results on the expansion of <FONT FACE=Symbol>gd</FONT>T cells during the course of cutaneous leishmaniasis. They also indicate that glucantime therapy can reverse the expansion of <FONT FACE=Symbol>gd</FONT>T cells and as a result increase the percentages of <FONT FACE=Symbol>ab</FONT> CD3+ T cells

Dietary phytochemical consumption is inversely associated with liver alkaline phosphatase in Middle Eastern adults

BACKGROUND The hepatoprotective effects of phytochemicals are controversial. A dietary phytochemical index (DPI) has been suggested as an alternative method for quantifying the phytochemical content of foods. AIM To assess the DPI in relation to liver function tests among a representative sample of Iranian adults. METHODS A total of 5111 participants aged 35-70 years old were included in this cross-sectional study by a multistage cluster random sampling method. Dietary intakes were collected by a validated and reliable food frequency questionnaire with 121 items. DPI was calculated by the percent of daily energy intake taken from phytochemical-rich foods. Fasting serum concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) were determined. Linear regression was used to investigate the association between DPI and levels of liver enzymes using crude and adjusted models. RESULTS There was an inverse association between DPI score and serum ALP in the crude model (β = -0.05; P < 0.001). This association remained significant after adjustment for body mass index, age, smoking, energy intake, history of diabetes, and education (β = -0.03; P = 0.01). No significant associations were found between DPI score and serum levels of AST, ALT, and GGT. The individuals with the highest DPI scores consumed significantly higher amounts of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and cereals, yet were shown to have significantly higher serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, as well as several other metabolic abnormalities. CONCLUSION Higher adherence to phytochemical-rich foods was associated with lower levels of ALP, but no change in other liver enzymes. Those with higher DPI scores also consumed food items associated with a healthier overall dietary pattern; however, they also presented several unexpected metabolic derangements. Additional randomised trials are needed to better determine the effects of phytochemical-rich foods on liver function