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Background: chorea-acanthocytosis is a form of the autosomal recessive disease. The onset of disease symptoms usually starts from the third decade of life and presents with chorea, other abnormal movements such as eating dystonia, tongue and lip biting, vocal and motor tics, seizure, and behavioral impairment. In this study, the clinical presentations and brain imaging of these patients were reported. Methods: In this descriptive study, information about patients with a specific movement disorder who were referred to a tertiary center in the Rasool Akram hospital (Tehran) from March 2018 to February 2019 were recorded. The inclusion criteria were the presence of chorea (a form of abnormal movement) and the presents of acanthocyte cells higher than 10% in a peripheral blood smear. The exclusion criteria were the evidence of secondary causes of the chorea or endocrine disorders. The clinical symptoms and brain imaging findings were evaluated by two expert neurologists and recorded in the patient's electronic files. Results: Twenty-seven eligible patients were included. 18 patients were male and 9 were female. Sixteen patients had seizures and 90% of them were categorized as generalized tonic-clonic seizures. 21 patients had eating dystonia (71 percent were male and 29 percent were female) and 18 patients had complex motor and vocal tics, 11 patients presented extra ocular movement disorders, and 11 patients had evidence of tongue and lip biting. The absence of the deep tendon reflex was detected in 23 patients. Considering all the patients' movement disorders, the prevalence of eating dystonia was significantly higher in men than in women. (P=0.049). Other abnormal movements were not different between men and female. All patients had caudate atrophy and increased signal intensity in T2/Flair sequences in caudate nuclei and putamen in the brain imaging. Conclusion: The most common abnormal movement after chorea was eating dystonia. The male gender was more susceptible to present eating dystonia than the female. However, this superiority was not seen in other movement disorders.

Background: Human breast milk contains high levels of fat and toxins. These substances which exist in our country based on many reports. This study aimed to evaluate the concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the mother’s milk during the first postnatal week. Methods: This study was accomplished on 50 mothers who gave birth to a healthy infant at Vali-e-Asr University Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, from 2014 through 2015. Within the first postnatal week a 20 cc sample of mother’s breast milk was obtained and was sent for laboratory analysis to measure PCB levels via GC-Mass method. Except of PCBs, triglycerides (TG), high-density cholesterol in breast milk was also measured. Also the relation between fat and polychlorinated bi phenyl was assessed. The association between PCBs and body mass index of mothers was investigated. Results: Mean age of mothers was 29.41±6.14 year. PCB180 was significantly correlated with TG values, while this correlation was not observed for other types of PCBs. There was no correlation between cholesterol and fat high-density with PCBs. Other PCB isomers 138, 153, 180 and 101, had not correlation with triglyceride, cholesterol and high density fat. There was a significant correlation between increasing weight and the concentration of PCB101, and PCB180 concentrations. It was also observed between increasing weight and the concentration of PCB101 (P=0.033, r=0.293) and concentrations of PCB180 (P=0.034, r=0.428), there was a significant correlation. In our study PCB101, (r=0.278, P=0.048) and PCb28 (r=0.328, P=0.021) were significantly correlated with body mass index (BMI). Conclusion: The present study showed a higher than normal concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls in breast milk. And therefore these compounds will be transferred to the baby. Due to the damaging effects of these toxins, it is recommended additional studies on larger groups and other types of samples (mother blood, cord blood etc.).

Since administration of androgens has been considered appreciable in hair follicle growth and wound healing, therefore the main objective in this study is evaluation the effect of sheep testis extract on improvement and growth of hair follicle and regeneration of injured Wistar rat skin. In this experimental study, rats were randomly divided into 7 groups, control (negative control), sham (treatment with physiologic serum), experimental group 1 (treatment with 100% sheep testis extract), experimental group 2 (treatment with 75% extract), experimental group 3 (treatment with 50% extract), positive control 1 (treatment with honey) for evaluation of wound healing and positive control 2 (treatment with Minoxidil) for evaluation of hair follicle growth. Then, rats were killed after and removed approximate wound skin, fixed in 10% formalin, kept in paraffin block. In addition, it was prepared serial section with 6 µm thickness and performed hematoxylin eosin staining. Then, epidermal thickness, the number of fibroblast, basal cells, inflammatory cells, vessel bud and hair follicle were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed by one way ANOVA, Tukey test at p ˃0.05. The results showed that wound healing process, hair follicle formation, the re-epithelialization, angiogenesis, the number of basal cell, fibroblasts, and the number of follicles was significantly improved in the experimental group 1, 2, rather than control group (p ˃0.05). Results of this study demonstrated that the sheep testis extract induced improvement in regeneration process, wound healing and hair follicle growth in rats which can be suggested as an appreciable candidate due to rich source of androgen and growth factors in clinical wound healing studies.

Electromagnetic field is a stress factor which can interfere with the functions of body organs. This study aims to evaluate the protective impact of the aqua extract of Persian Gulf sea cucumber on damages induced by low frequency electromagnetic field in male gonads of Balb/C mice. Mice were divided into control, sham-exposed and 5 experimental groups. The experimental groups were then exposed to electromagnetic field (for 10 days and 4 hours per day). Experimental groups 2-5 also received extract of sea cucumber (6h before electromagnetic field). The samples were fixed for histological studies and stained by H & E method. The measurement of the diameter and number of seminiferous tubules, testis diameter, testis and epididymis weight, tunica albuginea thickness, the number of spermatogenic cells including spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells was then executed. The results showed that the impact of electromagnetic field exposure was not significant on epididymis weight, seminiferous tubules diameter and tunica albuginea thickness, while its impact on the reduction of the testis diameter and weight, the number of seminiferous tubules and spermatogenic cells was significant in experimental group 1. In addition, the experimental groups pre-treated with sea cucumber extract indicated significant increment, as compared with experimental group 1.The results proved the destructive effect of electromagnetic field on testis tissue parameters, while sea cucumber extract prevents damages induced by electromagnetic field on male sexual glands of mice.

Background: Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP), developing in mechanically ventilated patients after 48 hours of mechanical ventilation, is the second most common nosocomial infection. Therefore, there is a vital need to study the etiology and risk factors associated with VAP in neonates.Methods: Neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), over a period of one year and who required mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours were enrolled consecutively into the study. Semi-quantitative assay of endotracheal aspirate was used for microbiological diagnoses of VAP. 105CFU/ml was taken as the cut off between evidence of pathological infection and colonization. The primary outcome measure was the development of VAP. Secondary outcome measures were length of mechanical ventilation, NICU length of stay, hospital cost, and death.Results: Thirty eight patients were enrolled (58% were boys and 42% were girls). 42% of neonates developed VAP. The most common VAP organisms identified were Acinetobacter baumanni (43%). On multiple regression analysis, duration of mechanical ventilation was associated with VAP (P=0.00). Patients with VAP had greater need for mechanical ventilation (18.7 vs 6 median days), longer NICU length of stay (39 vs 21.5 median days) and higher total median hospital costs (79.5 vs 52 million rials) than those without VAP. The mortality rate was not different between two groups.Conclusion: In mechanically ventilated neonates, those with VAP had a prolonged need for mechanical ventilation, a longer NICU stay, and a higher hospital costs. Longer mechanical ventilation was associated with an increased risk of developing VAP in these patients. Developing of VAP didn’t increase mortality in patients.

Background: Human breast milk contains high levels of fat, toxins, these substances which exist in our country based on many reports.this study aimed to evaluate the concentration of PCBs in the mother’s milk during the first postnatal week. Methods: this study was conducted on 50 mothers who gave birth to a healthy infant at Vali-Asr teaching hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, from 2014 through 2015. Within the first postnatal week a 20 cc sample of mother’s breast milk was obtained and was sent for laboratory analysis to measure PCB levels via GCMassmethod.Using the CHi-Square test and Man whitney relationship between the mother's milk fat and PBCs was evaluated. Results:Mean age of mothers were 29.41 ± 6.14 year.PCB180 was significantly correlated with TG values, while this correlation was not observed for other types of PCBs. There was a significant correlation between increasing weight and the concentration of PCB101, and PCB180 concentrations. It was also observed between increasing weight and the concentration of PCB101 (p = 0.033, r = 0.293) and concentrations of PCB180 (p = 0.034, r = 0.428), there was a significant correlation. In our studyPCB101(p=0.048 ,r=0.278) and PCB28(p=0.021, r=0.328) were significantly correlated with BMI. Conclusions:The present study showed a higher-than-normal concentration of PCBs in breast milk. And therefore these compounds will be transferred to the baby. Due to the damaging effects of these toxins, it is recommended measures be taken to solve this problem.

Understanding the concept of variable is a foundation for comprehension of many concepts of algebra. Abstract nature and multiple applications of variables are perceived as difficult by students. The goal of current research - which was a descriptive survey - was to identify misconceptions about the concept of variable in preliminary algebra. In this study, 185 female 10 years old students in two educational districts of Tehran were selected based on convenience sampling method. Measurement tools for this study were a written exam and a semi-structured interview. The reliability of the test was calculated using Cronbach’s Alpha (α = 0.811).The results showed that many students have a limited understanding of the concept of variable. Students’ performance in understanding the variable as a general number was weaker than the other application of variable as a specific unknown and its application in functional relationship. Moreover, they had various misconceptions such as considering variable as a label or abbreviation of the name of objects, considering a variable as a specific number, determining the amount of variable according to its sign, processing the non-homonymous units as homonymous ones, and supposing variable as positive number. They also believed that different variables cannot hold the same value.

Students’ mathematics anxiety and learning styles are factors that impact mathematics learning. The aim of this research was to determine the relationship between students’ mathematics anxiety and learning styles with solving calculus word problems (SCWP) and their effect on each other. To do this, the ex-post facto research method was used. To collect data, mathematics anxiety questionnaire and learning style test were used. Their reliability and validity were already checked at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Also, a researcher-made solving calculus word problem test has been used. The instructional objectives of the mentioned topic has been designed. Its content validity was confirmed by mathematics teachers and academic members. The research population consisted of all high school third grade mathematics and physics students (girls and boys) of Sabzevar in 2009-2010 academic year. Also, the research sample consisted of 143 students who were chosen randomly from the mentioned population. The results showed that there is a relationship between students’ mathematics anxiety, and learning styles with SCWP. Students with low mathematics anxiety perform better in SCWP than students with high mathematics anxiety. Students with field-independence learning style do better in SCWP than students with field-dependence learning style. Students with low mathematics anxiety and field-independence learning style perform better in SCWP than students with low mathematics anxiety and field-dependence learning style. In addition, the results of this study imply that the mathematical word problem test is a more distinctive and challenging for students than ordinary class tests. The result of this research can help teachers in designing mathematics homework and questions for students, with attention to students’ mathematics anxiety and learning styles.

Mathematics skill deficiencies for entrants into degrees are welldocumented. Quizzes at the first month of semester and mid-term test confirmed that incoming students to the Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University lacked basic mathematical skills. In 2011 visual learning resources were created using smart board, an interactive whiteboard, to helpstudents fill the gap between high school and university mathematics. They were also used to support student learning in subjects. The visual resources demonstrated and discussed how to start and complete mathematics problems. They enabled students to develop their conceptual understanding of mathematics at their own pace, in their own time and with feedback. The visual resources enabled weaker students to catch up and additional resources were subsequently developed to sustain improvements in new topics. This paper discusses the production process of the visual resourcesand provides an overview of their impact.