نشریه ارمغان دانش
سال بیست و چهارم شماره 2 (پیاپی 133، خرداد و تیر 1398)

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener which is being consumed by over 200 million people in the world and also is widely used in foodstuffs and medicines in more than 90 countries. On the other hand, there are a great number of contradictory reports about its toxic effect on variety of tissues. However, there is a few of information about the adverse effects of aspartame on adrenal glands, so the present study has been conducted to evaluate the effects of aspartame on the adrenal glands in male mice. A total of 36 adult male NMRI mice weighing between 20 to 25 g were randomly divided into four groups of nine each. For three groups, aspartame was administered orally with the doses of 40 (low dose), 80 (medium dose) and 160 (high dose) mg/kg.BW respectively for 90 days by gavage. Also a control group was considered. 24 hours after the last treatment, histological and histomorphometrical alterations were evaluated by digital microscope. Also, specific stains of periodic acid schiff, trichrome masson and toluidine blue were used to determine carbohydrate compounds, amount of fibrosis and the number of mast cells in adrenocortical tissue. In the high dose group, aspartame led to disorganization of cellular orders in zona glomerulosa, and zona reticularis. Besides, aspartame could induce cellular disorganization and disintegration in cellular columns of zona fasciculata in medium and high dose groups, and also inflammatory and necrotizing centers of zona fasciculata were observable. There were some necrotizing centers in central region of adrenal gland, in medium and high dose groups. Histometric changes revealed a significant increase in the number of mast cells, the size of spongiocytes, and the thickness of zona fasciculate and zona reticularis. Also it caused a significant decrease in the larger diameter of medulla of the adrenal gland in medium and high dose groups. There were no significant changes in the thickness of zona glomerulosa and adrenal capsule. Histochemical study with masson's trichrome revealed that aspartame could induce increase in fibrose tissue in the high dose group. Also with periodic acid schiff staining, there were no sensible changes in relation with carbohydrate compounds in all groups. The findings of this study showed that aspartame as an oxidant, in medium and high dose groups, could induce negative effects on histomofometric parameters and caused tissue damage in the adrenal gland. It also increased the number of mast cells and fibrosis of the adrenocortical tissue.

S-triazine is a class of herbicides which includes atrazine, simazine, ametryn, and prometryn. Atrazine is one of the most commonly used s-triazine herbicide. Atrazine is amongst the most persistent pollutants in water resources that is toxic for various living microorganisms. The aim of this study was investigation of atrazine removal using hydrogen peroxide-activated peroxidase enzyme. Atrazine samples were synthetically prepared. Experiments were carried out in 1000 mL sequencing batch reactor (SBR). Initial experimental phases including acclimation and enrichment of atrazine degrading bacteria were conducted. The effects of initial concentration of atrazine (25 - 100 mg/L), the effect of concentration of hydrogen peroxide H2O2 and microbial activity were studied. During the experiments, concentration of atrazine was measured using HPLC. Likewise, the pH value was controlled and set about 7 during the entire process.In this study, acclimation period was 72 days and Complete removal of atrazine in all tested concentrations and from 22 d in one of step to 1 d in final of step was obtained. Optimal ratio H2O2/ATZ equal to 11 that ATZ concentration 25 mg/L with concentration of  H2O2 to the 7.5 mM in HRT 24 h completely removed. In ATZ concentrations of 25 and 100 mg/L on times 15 and 54 h removal complete was done. with increasing concentration of ATZ from 25 to 50 mg/L dehydrogenase enzyme activity increased from 8.8 to 9.7 TF/g biomass.d.  Based on the obtained results, atrazine degradation using peroxidase enzyme in presence of hydrogen peroxide is a novel and efficient enzymatic method for degradation of this pollutant in aquatic environments.

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease which causes the damage the myelin system of the central nervous system. The aim of present study was to investigate the effects of aerobic training with and without blood flow restricted on stride length and balance in women with Multiple Sclerosis. 24 volunteer patients with disability scale of 1 - 4 (age: 37.08 ± 8.23 years, weight: 61.54 ± 8.58 kg and height: 159.5 ± 7.27 cm) were randomly divided into two groups: including aerobic training without Blood flow restricted group (n=12) and with Blood flow restricted training group (BFR, n=12). Both groups pedaled on aqua cycle (3 sets of 6 minutes with 1 min of rest between sets and 60-65% HRmax) for 6 weeks and 3 sessions in a week. To restrict the blood flow was used cuff with pressure of 96 ± 10 mmHg on the upper part of the foot. the stride length and balance were measure by camera and berg balance scale, respectively. Analyze of Covariance and Bonferroni post hoc at significant level of p < 0.05 were used to analysis the data. The results indicated that both of training caused significant increase in balance (p<0.05) and left stride length (p<0.05) but they induced significant decrease in right stride length(p<0.05). It seems that both of aerobic training with and without blood flow restricted caused the improvement in balance of patient with MS but in relation to their effect on stride length is need more consideration.

The phytoestrogen formononetin (FMN) is a polyphenolic non-steroidal plant compound with estrogen-like activity, which can be found in a number of plants such as red clover. The object of this study aimed to examine the effects of FMN during gestation on the onset of puberty, estrus cycle, reproductive organ weights and reproductive behavior in female mice. 20 pregnant mice were dived into 4 groups with 5 mice for each group and were exposed to FMN at doses of 0 (control), 5, 50 and 500 mg/kg/ day, by Intraperitoneal injection, from gestational days 7 until 21. Female offspring (n=6-8) were analyzed for vaginal opening day, estrus cycle regularity, weights of the uterus and ovaries, and lordosis behavior. Vaginal opening day was significantly advanced by 500FMN (p<0.01). First estrus was delayed by 50 (p<0.05) and 500FMN (p<0.01). There was a significant decrease in the number of estrous cycle and a significant increase in the length of the estrous cycle by 500FMN (p<0.05). diestrus index increased in 50 (p<0.05) and 500FMN (p<0.01). There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the weight of the ovary and number of corpus luteum with 500FMN treatment and a significant increase (p<0.05) in the weight of uterus with 50 and 500FMN. There was a significant decrease (p<0.001) in LH level and LQ by 500FMN with an increase in the level of estradiol by 50 (p<0.05) and 500FMN (p<0.001) treatments. The results of this study showed that the exposure of pregnant mice with formunontin leads to advanced puberty, disrupted estrus cycles disorder, weight alter in the sex organs, and reduced sexual behavior in female offspring.

Yellow Horned Poppy (YHP) is known as anti-diabetic plant in folk medicine in the southern regions of Iran. This study was conducted to compare the effects of oral administration of this plant and Glibenclamide on serum level of Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Creatinine and Bilirubin (total and direct) in Alloxan induced diabetic rats. in this experimental study, Forty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five equal groups: healthy control, diabetic control, diabetic treated with 250 mg/kg Body Weight(BW)/day of extract, diabetic treated with 500 mg/kg BW/day of the extract and diabetic treated with 5μg/kg BW/day of Glibenclamide. Diabetes induced in groups 2 to 5 by IP injection of Alloxan at a dose of 120 mg/kg BW. After thirty days, the animals were anesthetized and blood samples were collected from the heart. Creatinine, BUN, total and direct bilirubin were measured enzymatically. The results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test. there were significant different between means of 250 treated group and diabetic control in all four factors (P<0.001). Also, the difference of means were not significant between 500 treated group and healthy control in BUN, creatinine, total and direct bilirubin (P>0.05), this reduction for the drug treated group was limited to creatinine and total bilirubin. It can be concluded that oral administration of the extract at both doses may possibly modulate the renal and hepatic clearance activity of diabetic rats.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative bacillus and an opportunistic pathogen that causes high mortality in immunocompromised patients. The main antimicrobial activity of Satureja khuzestanica essence is due to carvacrol phenolic components. Nanomaterials can be a good choice because of low toxicity to fight pathogenic microbes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of copper nanocomposites on the expression of alkaline protease pseudomonas aeruginosa gene, which could be used as a complement to the infections caused by this bacterium. In this study, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of essential oil and nanocomplex were detected against the strains by microdilution broth method. After exposure to MIC, the alteration of alkaline protease gene expression by RT-PCR was investigated. The diameter of the inhibition zone (ZOI) and life percentage were determined by disk diffusion method and MTT assay in the presence of essential oil and nano-complex. The essential oil and nano-complex were MIC = 4.8 μg / ml and MIC = 25.50 μg / ml, ZOI = 18.19 mm and ZOI = 5.9 mm respectively. It was found that essence and nano-complex had an inhibitory effect on the expression of alkaline protease gene The results showed that the essence has a stronger antimicrobial and inhibitory effect on the expression of alkaline protease gene than the nanocomplex. Due to the inhibitory effect of essence and nano-complex on the expression of the alkaline protease pseudomonas aeruginosa gene, it is possible that these substances can be used as a complementary therapeutic agent against this bacterium.

Escherichia coli is one of the most important causes agents of urinary tract infection in human. Thus, identification of Escherichia coli resistance patterns seems to be necessary. traT gene has been reported variable in Escherichia coli strains isolated from urinary tract infection. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli and detection of traT gene in isolated from patients referred to Abadan hospitals. Totally, of 138 urine samples collected from patients with urinary tract infection in Abadan hospitals, 100 Escherichia coli strains were identified using microbiological and biochemical tests. The drug sensitivity definition test was done via the disk diffusion antibiogram method. Finally, the prevalence of traT gene was investigated by molecular PCR method. Among isolates isolated from Escherichia coli, 15 isolates were resistant to all used antibiotics. The highest resistance rates of Escherichia coli isolates to Nalidixic acid and Tetracycline were 92% and 91%, respectively. The least resistance was observed for Nitrofurantoin and Cefoxitin (23% and 24%). Also, in 11 isolates, the presence of traT gene was confirmed, therefore, the prevalence of the traT gene was 73.33%
The highest resistance rates of Escherichia coli isolates to Nalidixic acid and Tetracycline were 92% and 91%, respectively. Also, the prevalence of traT gene was 73.33%. Based on the results, the traT virulence gene was highly prevalent among strains isolated from Abadan hospitals. Therefore, traT gene could be considered as a therapeutic target in the future.

In recent years, the Internet has become one of the most important academic and recreational tools for students. Internet addiction is a newly emergent disorder. It has been found to be associated with a variety of psychiatric disorders. Information about such coexisting psychiatric disorders is essential to understand the mechanism of Internet addiction. This study aimed to investigate psychopathologic correlates of internet addiction among high school students in Yasuj. The sample consisted of 220 high school students (118 female and 102 male, aged 15-19) from the yasuj University. The Internet Addiction Test, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were employed in the collection of data. The data was analyzed using SPSS-21. Pearson correlation, regression analysis, and the t-test were used for data analysis. results revealed a significant positive correlations between depression, anxiety, and stress with Internet addiction (P< 0.01). Furthermore, depression, stress, and anxiety were found to be significant predictors of Internet addiction (P< 0/000). anxiety which accounted for 12% of the variance, was the best predictor, followed by depression (2%) and stress (2%). Prevalence of internet addiction was significantly higher among male subjects. finally our results suggest that Self-Esteem is largely irrelevant for internet addiction (P> 0.05). This research suggests that depressive, anxious and stressful individuals are particularly susceptible to problematic internet use. Furthermore, depression, stress and anxiety may be one of the strongest influences, if not the major determinant of internet addiction. These findings are compatible with the social compensation hypothesis that states the internet primarily benefiths individuals who feel uncomfortable communicating face to face. This findings also is compatible with the explanation that depressed, tense, and anxious individuals may find it easier to interact online where anonymity can be maintained rather than engage in face to face interaction where being observed by others might induce a fear of negative evaluation.

Different psychological factors can have a negative effect on our physical health and can cause or exacerbate various diseases such as heart disease. The purpose of this study was to compare stress, emotional suppression, rumination and anxiety in two groups of patients with coronary artery disease and healthy subjects. in a causal-comparative design, 19 male patients with coronary artery disease and 19 healthy controls responded to the following scale: "beliefs about emotions", "worry", "rumination" and "perceived stress". The results were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance and showed that two groups were not significantly different in terms of perceived stress (p = 0.15), however, they were different in terms of emotional suppression (p = 0.05), Rumination (p = 0.05) and worry (p = 0.001). The findings of the research indicate that healthy group and coronary artery disease patient experience an equal level of stress, but the patients experience worry, rumination and emotional suppression more than healthy control group. The results Indicate that the high level of emotional suppression in the patient group may lead to increased rumination and mental worry and mental continuity of stress and, consequently, adversely affects the health worsens the condition of illness over time.

Kynurenine pathway (KP) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of neuroinflammation  and neurodegenerative disorders. The metabolites of this pathway can regulate neurotransmitters such as serotonin and melatonin, as well as regulates inflammatory pathways in central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. In neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD) and Multiple sclerosis (MS), brain neurons are initially involved and gradually disappear. NDDs and MS are among the most debilitating and non-therapeutic diseases that are spreading rapidly in the world. In this review article, we will survey the role and effect of KP in the process of NDDs and MS. This study is a review article. Therefore, we have taken action by using the internal and external databases, to find and collect all research reports that have been conducted in recent years to evaluate the KP in NDDs and MS. Given the prevalence and importance of these diseases, there is an urgent need to develop new and more effective therapeutic strategies to combat these devastating diseases. One of the molecular pathways with its metabolites that is common in all of the aforementioned diseases, is KP. The effect of KP is seen in many diseases, including NDDs and MS and in all of them, an imbalance in the level of tryptophan and its metabolites is observed. That is, if the amount of KP’s metabolites is returned to the normal range, it will reduce the symptoms of the disease, while the change in the balance of these metabolites seen in NDDs and MS will worsen and progress the disease. KP has been known as an important determinant of immune responses and tolerance in T cells. It seems that the destruction of tryptophan and the production of a number of downstream KP's metabolites, causes a disruption of protein synthesis, and the suppression of the production and proliferation of regulatory T cells (Treg), and this is in favor of incidence of disease such as MS.