---

Background and purpose:Squatting test and heart rate variability (HRV) are currently being used to evaluate cardiovascular autonomic nervous function. HRV indexes are able to measure vagal function, while squatting test is able to measure both sympathetic and vagal functions. Our objective in this research is to evaluate the influence of injective dicyclomine hydrochloride (DCH)-an M1 receptor selective antagonist- on autonomic nervous system function regarding HRV indexes and squatting test.
Materials and methods:Fifteen healthy males 19-24 year-old volunteers were involved in this single blind research. Each volunteer was referred two times every week and in each session the DCH (20 mg / 2ml) or placebo (2 ml) is injected to the muscle and between 30 to 40 minutes after injection, the uncontrolled normal breathing test and squatting test were conducted. After that, those parameters which show cardiac vagus and sympatic activity were measured in these tests.
Results:Administration of single dose of DCH didn’t cause any side effects only one case of dry mouth is monitored. An increase in HRV indexes in uncontrolled normal breathing test, increase in vagal ratio, and decrease in sympathetic ratio in squatting test all caused by DCH.
Conclusion:Although DCH is an anticholinergic agent, in muscular administration with 20 mg dose, regarding HRV parameters and squatting test, it shows cholinergic effects.

---

Background and purpose: Hard water causes many problems in domestic and industrial usage. There are various techniques for removal of water hardness each with its own special advantages and disadvantages. The purpose of this study was to compare Polyaluminum Silicate Çhloride (PÂSÏD) method and Ëlectrocoagulation (ËÇ) Process in removing hardness from drinking water.
Materials and methods: This study was carried out in coagulant drinking water of Ghochan (Northeast of Ïran) during winter 2009 and spring 2010. Jar test was used to investigate the effects of the Hardness, Turbidity, pH, residual aluminum on ËÇ and PÂSÏÇ. The efficacy of each method was analyzed using Çovariance and Regression analyses.
Results: The results demonstrate that PÂSÏÇ coagulation was capable of removing 75% of hardness and 95% of turbidity at optimum concentration of 1-5 (mg/L) in raw water. The ËÇ process was able to remove 97% of hardness and 50% of turbidity. The maximum percentage of hardness was seen at 30 volt Voltage, residual time of 60 min and pH=6.5-7.5.
Çonclusion: Ït seems that both methods were efficient and cost-effective in removing of hardness and turbidity from surface water and can be used in coagulant drinking water.

---

Background and purpose: Oxidative stress inhibits sperm motility and changes in shape and be individuals leads to sterility. Cadmium, increased free radical production in cells and cell tissue damage. The best way to deal with it, increasing antioxidants secret among the antioxidants melatonin as an antioxidant was studied. Materials and methods: 64 male Wistar rats over 6-8 weeks were divided into 8 groups of 8, (two control groups and six experimental groups). The first group was injected intra peritoneal with a single daily dose of 10 mg / kg melatonin injection for 30 days, the second group injected intra peritoneal with a single daily dose of 15 mg / kg melatonin injection for 30 days, Group III intra peritoneal single daily dose of 20 mg / kg melatonin injection for 30 days. Group IV as a positive control group was injected intra peritoneal with a single daily dose of 2 mg / kg for 30 days Cadmium chloride injection, the fifth group intra peritoneal with a daily single dose of 2 mg / kg - Cadmium chloride with 10 mg daily of g / kg melatonin injection for 30 days , six daily intra peritoneal with a single dose of 2 mg / kg daily- Cadmium chloride with a single 15 mg / kg melatonin injection for 30 days , Group VII intra peritoneal dose single daily dose of 2 mg / kg daily Cadmium chloride with a single 20 mg / kg melatonin were injected for 30 days .Group of Eight negative control group received intra peritoneal injection of physiological solution. Testicular volume and weight measurements and cell counts based on morphology and testis were examined. Results: Results showed a significant reduction of the layer thickness and the number of germ cells Cadmium chloride group (P <0/05) and this was significantly different between the groups receiving melatonin to increase the layer thickness and the number of germ cells (P <0/05) compared to the control group and the group receiving both drugs simultaneously, particularly the significant differences in the groups receiving 20 mg of melatonin was compared to the group receiving cadmium alone (P <0/05). Conclusion: The present study shows the effects of cadmium chloride damage sperm activity and morphology of testis and melatonin are the property antioxidant, causing the low the effects of cadmium chloride on testicular improve spermatogenesis, increasing the number of cells and germinal layer thickness and ultimately will improve fertility.

---

Background and purpose: Presence of heavy metals in water resources is of great concerns due to adverse effects on human health. The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficiency of coagulation process using Polyaluminum Silicate Chloride (PASiC) in removal of hexavalent chromium and Cadmium from aqueous solutions and comparing that to the standards.

Materials and methods: Experiments were carried out by Jar test using PASiC coagulant. The applied pH range in this study was 4 to 11, and different PASiC dosage (15 to 187.5 mg/l), heavy metal concentrations (5 to 100 mg/l), and settling times (10 to 90 minutes) were investigated. All experiments were repeated three times for accuracy and precision.

Results: The optimum conditions for chromium removal was in PASiC dose of 150 mg/l, pH= 5, and settling time= 45 minutes, which decreased the chromium concentration (from 10 mg/l initial concentration) to 3.118 ± 0.29 mg/l and this was more than the standard levels of wastewater discharge into receiving water. The PASiC in 75 mg/l could reduce the cadmium level to 0.019 ± 0.01 mg/l (from 5 mg/l) in optimum condition (pH= 8 and settling time= 30 minutes). This level of cadmium removal was less than the standard levels of wastewater discharge into the receiving water.

Conclusion: The PASiC coagulant was found to be more effective in removing cadmium than chromium from aqueous solutions and could be applied for cadmium removal from water and wastewater.

---

Pregnancy at the site of cesarean section is an uncommon form of ectopic pregnancy which is associated with delayed diagnosis and late treatment may cause maternal mortality. This paper reports an ectopic pregnancy on the site of an earlier cesarean section. The patient is a 33-year-old woman with history of a normal delivery and a cesarean section and a uterine curettage in the past year who complained of unintentional uterine bleeding despite consistent use of combined contraceptive pills. Last menstrual period was 12 Sep 2017 and the patient reported abnormal uterine bleeding. In pregnancy tests, and after ultrasound for pregnancy, a uterine cavity without a pregnancy sack was observed. To make the final diagnosis, transvaginal ultrasonography was applied which proved ectopic pregnancy with fetal heartbeat at six weeks and two days. The patient was then referred to a clinic and pregnancy termination was started by injection of potassium chloride into the embryo and the mother received Methotrexate. The history of cesarean section and curettage can cause ectopic pregnancy. So, in the case of abnormal uterine bleeding, despite the use of contraceptive pills, pregnancy examinations should be done to avoid further complications. According to this study, administration of potassium chloride into the embryo and Methotrexate to the mother is an appropriate method in terminating ectopic pregnancy at the site of a previous cesarean section.
 

---

Background and purpose: Kidney stone is a common form of kidney disease and many efforts have been made to find medications for its prevention and treatment. Current study evaluated the protective effects of Sankol herbal product in the formation of renal stone in male Balb/c mice.
Materials and methods: Nephrolithiasis was induced in male Balb/C mice within 21 days by adding 75% ethylene glycol (EG) v/v and 2% Ammonium Chloride (AC) w/v in drinking water. Animals were divided into three groups (n=12 per group); a control group that received purified water, another group that was given EG/AC and the other group that received Sankol (Goldaro Company, Isfahan, Iran) 888mg/kg. 
Results: In EG/AC group, increased levels of serum creatinine, urea, and uric acid indicated renal damage.  In the group that received Sankol, these levels decreased which could help in preventing kidney stones. Histopathologic evidence showed inflammation and renal deposition in EG/AC group. In Sankol group, a decrease in the levels of renal sediments was observed, while inflammation of kidney and tissue damage increased. Present findings did not prove the safety of Sankol.
Conclusion: This study showed the beneficial effect of Sankol in preventing kidney stones but various side effects question treatment with this product. 

---

  Background and purpose: Liver is a vital organ in the body that plays key roles in metabolism and secreting enzymes. A better understanding of this vital organ for better care has always been of interest to researchers. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) is one of the most known liver toxins. This compound is used in scientific studies as a well-known model to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of various compounds. Iranian researchers in recent years have investigated the hepatoprotective effects of some native medicinal plants. These plants are abundantly found in Iran. This review aimed at exploring protective effects of different medicinal plants against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity.
Materials and methods: This review summarizes some of the most important research published in recent years on hepatoprotective effects of native Iranian medicinal plants against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Carbon tetrachloride, hepatotoxicity, hepatoprotective effects, and medicinal plants were the search keywords. Google Scalar, SID, Pubmed, and Sciencedirect were electronic databases searched. Emphasis was placed on native plants of Iran.
Results: Medicinal plants are considered as rich sources of antioxidants in treatment
of hepatotoxicity caused by hepatotoxins including CCl4. To counteract the hepatotoxin-induced hepatotoxicity, antioxidant compounds can be used to inhibit free radicals.
Conclusion: Medicinal plants containing antioxidant compounds can be very effective in preventing carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity due to their ability to inhibit free radicals.
 

---

Background and purpose: There are controversies on the association between electrolytes and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its severity. Studies on these issues may help in resolving ambiguities. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between electrolyte indices and being infected with COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms using a meta-analysis.
Materials and methods: A thorough search was done in national and international electronic databases using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms. Quality assessment was conducted by Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS) checklist. We estimated the standardized mean difference between electrolyte indices and the incident of COVID-19 infection and its severity.
Results: After screening the papers, 12 met the inclusion criteria. According to the meta-analysis results, the standardized mean differences for serum level of sodium and potassium between the dead and survived COVID-19 patients was estimated to be 0.22 (95% CI: -0.03, 0.46) and 0.14 (95% CI: -0.22, 0.50), respectively. The standardized mean differences for serum levels of sodium, calcium, and potassium between patients with severe and non-severe COVID-19 were estimated to be -0.28 (95% CI: -0.72, 0.17), -1.07(95% CI: -1.58, -0.55), and -0.10 (95% CI: -0.47, 0.27), respectively.
Conclusion: In this meta-analysis, the standardized mean difference for calcium was significantly lower in severe COVID-19 patients compared to that in patients with mild and moderate forms of the disease.

---

Background and purpose: Recent studies have demonstrated the promising effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in some neurodegenerative diseases and proved their neuroprotective effects. But, the detailed pathways and the ability of MSCs from various sources has not been fully investigated.
Materials and methods: Here, we isolated MSCs from two sources; adipose tissue and dental pulp, and compared the neuroprotective effects of adipose derived stem cells-conditioned media (ADSCs-CM) and dental pulp derived stem cells-conditioned media (DPSCs-CM) on SH-SY5Y cells exposed to Cobaltous chloride(CoCl2) as a model of hypoxia-induced neural damage. SH-SY5Y cells exposed to CoCl2 were treated with ADSCs-CM and DPSCs-CM and the cell viability, apoptosis, and cellular damage were determined by AlamarBlue ^®assay, propidium iodide (PI) test, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, respectively.
Results: According to AlamarBlue® results, both ADSCs-CM and DPSCs-CM showed protective effects on SH-SY5Y cells exposed to CoCl₂ at 0.6 mM for 12 and 24 h. Furthermore, ADSCs-CM could protect SH-SY5Y cells against hypoxic condition more intensively at all CoCl₂ concentrations and various incubation incubation periods (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). However, there were no significant differences between ADSCs-CM and DPSCs-CM. Also, ADSCs-CM and DPSCs-CM could considerably reduce the LDH release and apoptotic cells when SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to 0.6 mM CoCl₂ for 24 h.
Conclusion: The study indicated that both ADSCs-CM and DPSCs-CM have neuroprotective effects on hypoxic SH-SY5Y cells through reduction of apoptotic cells and release of LDH.

---

Background and purpose: Trimethyltin chloride (TMT) is an organotin thermal stabilizer used in plastics manufacture, and has strong neurotoxicity, especially on the hippocampus. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of resveratrol, an antioxidant, in reducing the side effects of TMT on the hippocampus.
Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 48 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, TMT (8 mg/kg, single dose), ethanol, and resveratrol (30 mg/kg). Animals received six days of treatment with resveratrol. At the end of the treatment period, the spatial, working, and reference memories were investigated using a radial arm maze. Histological evaluation and the expression of Bax and Bcl2 were analyzed in the hippocampus.
Results: According to our findings, TMT damaged spatial, working, and reference memories. The number of pyknotic cells and the expression of Bax significantly increased (P˂0.05) while the expression of Bcl2 decreased (P˂0.05). In addition, resveratrol could improve these negative effects of TMT on the hippocampus (P˂0.05).
Conclusion: Resveratrol may prevent damages caused by TMT in the hippocampus of rat. Resveratrol might be a candidate for use as an adjunct therapy against the neurotoxicity of TMT.