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Mucormycosis is the most threatening systemic mycotic disease, which occurs in case of underlying diseases such as, diabetes and immune difficiency and followed by high rate of mortality if not diagnosed in time and treated properly. Treatment of this disease starts with treatment of underlying disease, administration of amphothericin B and surgical debridment. The sooner the surgical intervention the more obvious improvement in prognosis.

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Background and purpose : Gestational diabetes mellitus is referred to the intolerance of carbohydrates with different degrees in which its onset or primary diagnosis is in the gestational period and generally occurring in 1-14% of the pregnancies. Çonsidering the importance of prognosis, aim of this study was to identify the women facing gestational diabetes and to determine the prevalence which was not done previously in the city.
Materials and methods : Ïn this study, the pregnant women referring to all of the obstetric and gynecologic clinics of fatemiyeh hospital, without considering the last meal and food regimen, were given 50 grams glucose orally as a screening method. Blood glucose level one hour after having 50mg of glucose was equal to, or more than 130 mg/dl (measuring) by glucose oxidase method. Ôral glucose tolerance test was repeated with 100 grams of glucose after 3 hours fasting. Ôn the basis of carpenter and causton diagnostic criteria gestational diabetes mellitus was diagnosed.
Results : Within 17 months, 1310 pregnant women went under screening test, of which 63(4.8%) were diagnosed to have diabetes. The obtained results showed significant statistical difference between healthy and gestational diabetic patients having the frisk factors such as, age above 30 years, family of diabetes, obesity, giving macrosomal neonate birth, glucose uria (P<0.001) and unkown history of neonatal death (P<0.05).
Çonclusion : Ït seems that, prevalence of gestational diabetes in our country having the same rate compare to the western countries,. There are controversial concepts regarding performing public or selective gestational diabetes screening tests. Ït was shown that 15.9%(10 patients) of gestational diabetes and 57.8%(791) healthy persons did not have any risk factor of gestational diabetes. Study on cost benefit of public sureening and also comparison of complications in the risk group and non risk group on the pregnant women having diabetes mellitus is necessary.

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Background and purpose: Diabetes is one the most common metabolic disease. 4.5-6% of Ïranian and 14.2% of Yazd people suffer from diabetes. Microalbuminuria occure before the developement of nephropathy, hence if detected at an early stage, effective therapy can be implemented by normalizaing of glycemia, strict blood pressure control and administration of ÂÇË inhibitors. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria and its correlation with sex, fasting blood glacose, 2 hours post prandial blood sugar, HbÂÏÇ and duration of diabetes among type 2 diabetic patients attending Yazd diabetes centre.
Materials and methods : Â cross sectional study was under taken from November 2002 to july 2003 to investigate the prevalence of microalbuminuria. 288type 2 diabetic patients (141 male and 147 female) visited at Yazd diabetes center were examined through consective sampling.
Results: Ôverall prevalence of microalbuminuria was 14.2%, males 14.9% and in males and females respective 13.6% Çhi- square analysis revealed that duration of diabetes is associated with microalbuminuria (Pvalue=0.001). No statiscally significant correlation was found between microalbuminuria and FBS, 2HPP(BS), sex and HbÂÏÇ.
Çonclusion: The Ôverall prevalence of microalbuminuria in this study was similar to that reported in Ïndia (15.7%) and Saudi arabia(16.8%). Çonsidering the high rate of diabetic nephropathy, microalbuminuria screening tests are the best was in diabetic nephropathy diagnosis, treatment and prevention of end stage renal disease.

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Background and purpose: Diabetes is a common disease with opthialmic complications which leads to partial vision loss and blindness. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the main causes of blindness in the world and the most common new blindness among 20-74 years-old patients in Westem countries. Diagnosis of ophthalmic complications in diabetic patients is an important priority of the health system and the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of retinopathy and risk factors in diabetic patients attending to Imam Khomeini hospital in Sari.
Materials and Methods: Five hundred and forty diabetic patients attending to diabetics center of Imam Khomeini hospital enrolled for this study. Medical history was taken and the patients undergone physical exam with blood pressure control, height and weight and BMI, Laboratory tests (HbA1C) including serum urea and keratinin and proteinuria and serum lipid. Standard ophthalmic exams including: visual acuity, intra ocular pressure, slit lamp exam, dilated pupils were examed by ophthalmologist and ETDRS grading was done. Data were analyzed using t-test, x2 , Mann Withney test and regression analysis. P value of < 0.05 was considered for significancy.
Results: Five hundred and forty diabetic patients including 150 men and 390 women were studied. One hundred and eighty five patients 5 with type one diabetes and 180 with type two diabetes had diabetic retinopathy.
Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 34.3%. There were significant differences in range of risk factors such as BMI, duration of diabetes, diabetic control, blood sugar control, level of HbA1C, serum urea and keratinin, proteinuria, blood pressure, level of serum lipid (P<0.05).

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Although impaired glucose tolerance affects 36% and overt diabetes mellitus can be seen in 30% of cases with acromegaly, diabetic ketoacidosis is rarely reported in patients with this disease. We present an unusual complication of acromegaly: a 22 year old woman with amenorrhea (6 month ago) and blurred vision of left eye (4 month ago) referred to Ghaem neurology clinic in Mashhad. With a growth hormone (GH) level of =100ng/ml, Insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) =1560 ng/ml and pituitary macro adenoma in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), she was candidated for surgery. A few hours before surgery she had dyspnea, loss of consciousness, fever and with blood sugar (BS) =500 mg/ml, Hco3=2.4, PH=7.06 and keton in urine. Diabetic ketoacidosis was diagnosed. The patient was treated with high dose of insulin (500 IU/day) and hydration. After octerotide administration the need for insulin decreased and after pituitary adenectomy, there was no need for insulin therapy and the patient was discharged on metformin (one tablet per day).

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Background and Purpose: Lipodystrophy is potentially a clinical adverse effect, associated with insulin therapy and is believed that usage of human recombinant insulin’s is associated with decreasing prevalence of Lipodystrophy. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of insulin induced Lipodystrophy, among diabetic out-patients referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital, in Sari during 2007.
Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional descriptive study, 220 diabetic patients referred to the Diabetes Center at Imam Khomeini Hospital, in Sari, who under treatment by insulin at least three months prior to referral was evaluated. First, the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded in a questionnaire then all patients were examined clinically to evaluate lipodystrophy. In all subjects, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) was measured to assess the range of blood glucose level control. Recorded data were analyzed by statistical methods, such as descriptive T-test and X².
Results: Of 220 diabetic patients studied, thirty-five (15.9%) showed clinical evidences of insulin induced Lipodystrophy 32 out of 35 cases of Lipodystrophic patients (14.5%) had Lipohypertrophy, while 3 cases (1.4%) had Lipoatrophy. The factors included Age, Sex, Education, BMI (Body mass index), type of Diabetes, The duration of insulin consumption and injection site had statistically significant effects on development of insulin induced Lipodystrophy (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that despite using human recombinant insulin’s, the prevalence of insulin induced lipodystrophy, especially Lipohypertrophy, has remained high up to present. Therefore, regular examination of patients for this side effect is necessary, especially in subjects without good control of blood glucose level.

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Background and purpose: Although Taype 2 diabetes is the most frequent among different types of diabetes, the cause of it is yet to be clarified. Several environmental and genetic factors are said to be involved in diabetes and it has been established that cytokines play key roles in pathogenesis of diabetes. Expression of cytokins is different from person and in defferent societies. Studies showed that polymorphisms of +874 of IFN-γ and -590 of IL-4 regions are related to the expression of these genes. In this study, we aimed to find polymorphisms of these regions in Type 2 diabetes patients.
Material and methods: In this study peripheral blood samples were collected from 51 type 2 diabetes patients and 50 healthy controls. DNA was isolated by salting out method, using ARMS-PCR, RFLP-PCR polymorphisms of = 874 of IFN-γ and -590 of IL-4, were analyzed, respectively.
Results: Our findings showed that TT genotype of IFN- γ was increased in type 2 diabetic patients as comford with control grop but difference was not significant. Our results also have not shown any significant difference between IL-4 genotype in diabetic and healthy controls.
Discussion: Our results suggested that TT genotype of IFN- γ can be related to diabetes. This relation can be sescribed by this known Todgment judyunt thar over expression of IFN- γ shifted immune system to Th1, therefore, pancreas cells were miscarried by immune cells.

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Background and purpose: Diabetes type 1 is a chronic disease in children during their childhood, which may have unfavorable effects on children, family and society. By enhancing self- care in children having diabetes type 1, we can reduce these effects. Self- care in children also can be affected by factors such as family reaction. The purpose of this research is to determine the relationship between self-care in diabetic children and their family’s reaction.
Materials and methods: This research is a non- experimental and correlative study which determines and specifies the relationship between diabetic self- care in children, who are affected by diabetes and their family’s reaction. 133 children between the ages of seven to fourteen suffering from diabetes type 1 were chosen with above continuous method for two months from selected centers. Collecting information, observation and questionnaire forms were used.
Results: The results obtained from this study, showed there is a meaningful relationship between child's self- care and reaction of their family (p=0.000). Variants such as age, sex, rank of birth and length of disease period are not considered as an interfering element in relation between self caring and family reaction.
Conclusion: The results from this research reveal that the self caring of children in an average level has a direct influence and relationship with family reaction and at the same time, the direct and strong correlation with the diabetic child’s knowledge regarding their functions and performances. We suggest that educational programs should be provided for these children and their families, in order to promote self caring of children and their family’s reaction. We also propose conducting similar research, by using case- control method, to identify other factors in this regard.

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Background and purpose: The core of the health information system in the hospitals lies within medical records. Ït is a means of communication between the care providers. Good medical record documentation is essential for effective clinical care. This study is designed to evaluate the condition of documentation of the data for diabetic patients and its effect on treatment in educational hospitals of Mazandaran Üniversity of Medical Sciences through the years 2006 and 2007.
Materials and methods: This is a descriptive study and the subjects recruited were medical records of diabetic patients from Ïmam Khomeini and Bou Âli educational hospitals in Sari Çity, Ïran 2006-2007. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 17.
Results: Ôf total 270 diabetic records, 16 records (5.92%) belonged to Ïnsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (ÏDDM), 14 records (5.19%) to non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NÏDDM), 50 records (18.52%) to gestational diabetes and 190 records (70.37%) to unidentified type of diabetes. 201 patients (74.44%) were women and 69 (25.56%) were men and of 227 patients 84.7% were married.
Çonclusion: Despite of efforts made in recent years in context of improving the documents of admitted patients and contrary to all practical training that physicians received on the basis of basic requirements for international classification of diseases (ÏÇD), still, there are major problems in record of main data. We conclude that more attention must be paid by medical administrators, physicians and medical record staffs to this matter. We suggest health authorities must reform the system of recording and more training courses must be funded to improve involving staffs’ awareness.

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Background and purpose: The role of beta carotene in glucose metabolism in type ÏÏ diabetes is unclear. Thus this study was designed to investigate the effect of fortified carrot juice with beta carotene on glycemic indices in these patients.
Materials and methods: This randomized controlled double blind clinical trial was performed on 44 patients with type ÏÏ diabetes. Ïnitially patients were randomly divided into two groups of consuming 200 ml of carrot juice fortified with 10 mg of beta carotene (group Â) and another group having 200 ml of carrot juice (group B). Both groups consumed carrot juice daily with their lunch (exchanged with one serving of cereals). Twenty four hour dietary recalls were done on 3 consecutive days and 6 alternate days at the beginning and the end of the study. The serum levels of glucose, insulin and beta carotene in fasting blood samples were measured at the beginning and the end of week 8 and insulin resistance was calculated. Finally food consumption data were analyzed by nutritionist ÏV and statistical analysis were performed using SPSS version 11.5.
Results: The level of beta carotene in serum was significantly increased in group  compared with group B. Glycemic indices were slightly changed during 8 weeks in this study which were not statistically significant.
Çonclusion: Ïn this group of patients with type ÏÏ diabetes, consumption of 200 ml carrot juice fortified with beta carotene for 8 weeks caused a significant increment in the levels of serum antioxidants with no significant changes in glycemic indices.

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Background and purpose: Diabetes mellitus is associated with coronary artery disease, and diabetic patients are frequently referred for Çoronary Ârtery Bypass Grafting (ÇÂBG). Plasma Haemoglobin Â1c (HbÂ1c) shows mean blood glucose over a 3 months period. This study aimed to determine whether elevated plasma HbÂ1c levels were associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing ÇÂBG.
Materials and methods: Plasma HbÂ1c was measured prospectively in 135 consecutive patients undergoing emergency and elective ÇÂBG in the two cardiac surgery departments of Mazandaran Heart Çenter and Shafa Hospital in Sari, Ïran from 11 Âpril 2009 to 11 September 2009. Âll patients were under observation for 6 months after operation to assess the postoperative morbidity and mortality.
Results: Ôf 135 studied patients (81 males and 56 females) who were admitted for emergency and elective ÇÂBG, 88 subjects (65.1%) were non-diabetic and 47 (34.9%) were diabetic patients. The mean age was 52 years ranged from 33 to 78 years. Suboptimal HbÂ1c levels were found in 48 (54.5%) patients without diabetes and in 24 (51%) patients with diabetes. Wound infection, low cardiac output state, need for Ïntra Âortic Balloon Pump, long hospital stay, and Çerebrovascular Âccident were more common after ÇÂBG in non-diagnosed (suboptimal HbÂ1c) patients. No significant difference was found in terms of length of hospital stay between the two groups.
Çonclusion: Ït seems that the complications of ÇÂBG surgery is significantly higher in patients with high level of plasma HbÂ1c level and those patients whose blood sugar was controlled inappropriately.

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Background and purpose: Macular edema is a common causes of visual imparity in diabetic patients. Several studies to evaluate ways to prevent and slow down its progression have been done. This study to determine serum lipids, accelerate the creation and macular edema was performed.
Materials and methods: Blood serum lipids in 180 diabetic patients referred to eye clinic of Shahid Beheshti Hospital was evaluated. Data obtained from patients were classified in three groups: diabetic retinopathy without macular edema (group 1), patients with mild diabetic retinopathy with macular edema (Group 2) and patients with diabetic retinopathy with macular edema and hard exudates (group 3). Then laboratory values were collected and analyzed by version 18 statistical software spss. For data parametric ÂNÔVÂ test and then Tukey test was used. P.value less than 0.05 were considered significant.
Results: Total cholesterol in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 402.53 ± 95.202, 213.52 ± 17.204 and 201.113 ± 74.228, respectively (P>0.05). The mean HDL in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 586.15 ± 25.44, 920.22 ± 32.47 and 009.11 ± 49.48, respectively. The mean VLDL in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 396.22 ± 09.37, 238.20 ± 85.36 and 127.15 ± 51.33, respectively (P>0.05). The mean TG in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 911.227 ± 74.212, 448.109 ± 43.187 and 741.238 ± 28.218, respectively (P>0.05). The mean LDL level in group 3 (132.33 ± 53.75) was statistically higher than group 1 (113.39 ± 38.48) and group 2 (113.08 ± 42.08) (P<0.05).
Çonclusion: The results of this study showed that, serum LDL, the intensity of macular edema and hard exudates plaques, are associated.

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Background and purpose: HbA1c is one of the best important markers in controlling of diabetic patients. Today, long-term assessment of blood glucose in diabetic patient's takes place by measuring glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C) .One of the main causes of death in diabetics is cardiovascular diseases that the increase in blood lipids and atherosclerosis is a major causes of these diseases. The aim of this study was investigated the relationship HbA1C with the Risk factors of blood lipids. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study on the records of 173 patients with type 2 diabetes (female: 132 and male: 41), which were chosen based on non-probability sampling that mean age were 51.8±11.5 years. HbA1C levels and lipid profile were determined respectively by Column chromatography and enzymatic methods. Values of LDL-C/HDL-C ratio, risk factor (TCH / HDL-C) and Atherogenic Index of Plasma or AIP (Log TG / HDL-C) was calculated. Data were analyzed with statistical software SPSSver.16. Results: TG levels were significantly higher in males and HDL-C levels significantly higher in females, but the other variables did not differ between the sexes. HbA1C was showed a significant direct correlation with the TCH, TG, AIP, LDL-C, and the risk ratio. But there is not significant correlation in age, HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that HbA1C levels not only can be used as an indicator of long-term control of blood glucose but also can serve as an early warning of heart complications - cardiovascular disease in diabetics.

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Background and purpose: Ângi Pars is a new herbal based compound formulation produced recently for treatment of diabetic foot ulcers by improvement in angiogenesis. This hypothesis suggests that perhaps the drug could reduce adverse effects of diabetes on the testicular function by improving blood supply. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of Ângi Pars consumption on testis through evaluation of sperm count and sperm morphology in chronic diabetic rats.
Materials and methods: This experimental study was carried out on 60 male rats weighing 200 - 250 g. The animals were randomly divided into 5 groups (Four experiments and one control). Diabetes was induced by S.Ç. injection of STZ (60mg/kg) at single dose in all experimental groups. Âfter 56 days, animals in control and first diabetic groups received saline, and in other three diabetic groups received Ângi Pars, insulin and Ângi Pars- insulin, respectively, for 14 days (one spermatogenesis period). Finally, 24 hours after the last injection, animals were anesthesized and sperms were collected from caudal epididymis and number and morphology of sperms were assessed. Çollected data were analyzed by ÂNÔVÂ, using SPSS software.
Results: The sperm number increased significantly in treatment diabetic groups in comparison with non-treatment diabetic group. Ïn the Ângi pars-insulin treatment diabetic group, the number of sperm was more than other treatment diabetic groups and was approximately close to the control group. Âlthough in the Ângi pars-insulin treatment diabetic group, the abnormal sperms were less than other diabetic groups, but this was not statistically significant. Sperm morphology was not significantly different in diabetic groups.
Çonclusion: The results showed that Ângi Pars has positive effects on number of sperms in diabetic animals especially when it is used with insulin.

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Background and purpose: Çonsiderable attention has recently been paid to the role of ghrelin hormone in the metabolism of carbohydrate. Beta-cell dysfunction is also considered to be an important factor in the prevalence of diabetes. This study aimed at investigating the relationship between serum ghrelin with beta-cell function and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients.
Materials and methods: Forty six male adults with type 2 diabetes and a body mass index of greater than 29 were recruited in this study through convenience sampling. To measure the participants’ serum insulin, ghrelin, and glucose level, their blood samples were obtained after an overnight fast. The relationship between serum ghrelin with beta-cell function index, insulin resistance, insulin, and glucose were determined through multiple regression analyses.
Results: Multiple regression analyses revealed that beta-cell function (P= 0.003) and fasting glucose level (P= 0.005) were positively correlated with serum ghrelin level, while serum insulin level was negatively correlated with ghrelin level (P= 0.011). Moreover, no significant correlation was observed between serum ghrelin levels and insulin resistance (P= 0.083).
Çonclusion: The findings support the role of ghrelin in blood glucose level in type 2 diabetic patients which is mostly due to the effect of ghrelin on beta-cell function.

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Background and purpose: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine diseases. Nowadays, there is a growing interest in the study of the antidiabetic effects of herbal plants. Previous studies have confirmed the antidiabetic effects of Çitrullus colocynthis. However, this study aimed at investigating the effect of the different concentrations of Çitrullus colocynthis fruit on the histological alterations in normal and diabetic male rats.
Materials and methods: Ïn this experimental study, diabetes mellitus was induced by subcutaneous injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). Normal and diabetic rats were daily fed by the 1%, 2% and 5% Çitrullus colocynthis fruit powder concentrations in their basic and usual diet for 4 weeks. Then, the rats were anesthetized and the kidney, liver, stomach, and pancreas tissues were obtained by slash surgical and stained by H&Ë method for histological studies.
Results: Çonsiderable positive effects were observed in the slides of kidney, stomach, pancreas and liver tissues in the diabetic rats fed with 5% concentration of Çitrullus colocynthis fruit powder. Ïn kidney cortex, abnormal width in the Bowman's capsular space, segregation of parietal cells and cellular infiltration were improved. Sinusoidal wide spaces between hepatocyts in the liver were also disappeared and epithelium naps staved in segments of stomach mucus recovered, too. Moreover, in pancreas, the bright corona at lobule centre indicating the evacuation of acinocyts changed to normal state.
Çonclusion: The results of the present study indicated that the consumption of 5% concentration of Çitrullus colocynthis fruit in diabetic rats had beneficial therapeutic effects on improving the signs of diabetes.

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Background and purpose: Frequent transfusions put the patients with thalassemia at risk of iron overload complications which in turn can lead to failure in the function of organs such as heart and endocrine glands like liver and pancreas. Hence, in this study, the researchers are aiming at investigating the clinical and laboratory changes of pancreas in thalassemic patients.
Materials and methods: This is a descriptive-analytic study in which 64 thalassemia major patients were enrolled and divided in two groups of diabetic and non diabetic. Ïn addition to some demographic and laboratory characteristics, serum amylase, trypsin, lipase, and fecal elastase were measured in both groups. Data were analyzed using t-test, Mann-Whitney, and Fisher’s exact tests.
Results: Significant difference was observed in the mean of the last three serum ferritin level between the two groups (P<0.05). Findings showed that diabetic and non-diabetic patients didn’t have significant differences in the mean level of serum insulin and amylase, and fecal elastase, while significant differences were observed in FBS and 2h postprandial serum glucose (P<0.05). The analysis of the laboratory tests showed significant differences in serum lipase and fecal elastase in the two groups (P<0.05).
Çonclusion: Diabetes mellitus can lead to some adverse effects on pancreatic functions in the thalassemic children. The incidence of diabetes in thalassemia is more due to tissue resistance against insulin rather than pancreatic beta cells destruction and a decline in the serum insulin level.

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Background and purpose: Health literacy can be defined as the ability to read, understand and act on health advice. The aim of this study was to determine health literacy and its relationship with medical adherence and health-related quality of life in diabetic community-residing elderly. Material and Methods: This descriptive- analytical study was conducted on 300 elderly diabetics (60 years old and older) who referred to health centers in Mashhad. Multi-stage stratified cluster sampling is used. Data were collected using Brief-TOFHLA health literacy, standardized health-related quality of life, HbA1c, BMI and MMAS medication adherence questionnaires. Furthermore, diet and exercise adherence questionnaire was developed by the researchers. Data analyses were done by using One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), T-student test, and Pearson's correlation test using SPSS (Version 21). Results: In this study, 70% of elderly with diabetes had inadequate health literacy. Older adult with sufficient health literacy had a higher-quality of life. There was a significant relationship between health literacy and physical and psychological dimensions of quality of life (P<0.05). However, there was not a marked correlation between health literacy and social dimension (P>0.05). The individuals with adequate health literacy had significantly higher medication, diet and exercise adherence with lower HbA1c (P<0.05). It is important to mention that, there was not a considerable relation between health literacy and BMI (P>0.05). Conclusion: According to the relationship between health literacy with medical adherence and elderly quality of life, there is a need to pay attention to health literacy in health promotion programs.

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Background and purpose: Imbalances in sex steroid hormone levels are strongly associated with diabetes and this may negatively impact upon sexual function. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective role of alcoholic extract of palm pollen (L.Phoenix dactylifera) on testosterone, LH and FSH levels in adult male diabetic rats. Material and Methods: In this experimental study, thirty adult male Wistar rats (250±23 gr) were selected and randomly divided into three groups (n=10): (i) control (ii) diabetic and (iii) treatment. Diabetes was induced by a single injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg, i.p). The treatment group received 0.2 mg/kg alcoholic extract of pollen of Phoenix dactylifera daily (gavages) for four weeks. At the end of experiments, the rats were anesthetized by injection of pentobarbital sodium (60 mg/kg i.p.) and sacrificed. Blood samples were taken from the left ventricle and testicular tissues were weighed and prepared for histological examination upon removal. Blood serum was separated and immediately assayed for LH, FSH and testosterone by ELISA method. The comparisons were carried out using oneway analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post-hoc Tukey test (package of SPSS, version 19) Results: The findings revealed that the mean of testosterone level in the diabetic group declined significantly (P<0.05) and testicular and epididymis weight in diabetic group significantly reduced in comparison with the control group (P<0.05). In addition, in the diabetic group, disintegration of tubular cells, vacuolization of spermatogonia cells were seen in most of seminiferous tubules. Also, spermatozoa were rarely seen in seminiferous tubules in comparison with control group.The LH and FSH level did not show any significant difference between groups. However, in treatment group, the testosterone level significantly increased in comparison with the diabetic group (P<0.05). Histopathological findings of the treatment group were similar to control group. Conclusion: According to the results, it is suggested that the extract of pollen of Phoenix dactylifera may improve and protect testis structure diabetic rats and may have a regulatory effect on diabetes-induced change of the level of testosterone hormone in diabetic male rats.

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Background and purpose: Several investigations recognized diabetes mellitus as one of the main risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). This study aimed at determining the prevalence of smear-positive pulmonary TB in diabetic patients in Southwest of Iran. Materials and methods: A census study was conducted from April 2010 to December 2011 in diabetic clinic in Zahedan. Standard chest radiography and sputum smear examination were performed on diabetics with tuberculosis symptoms. Cases of active TB were identified and referred to the directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS) centers. In addition, a purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test was done for all patients. Those with a positive PPD were referred to TB centers, based on their clinical signs and chest X-Ray results. Results: Among 400 diabetics, 269 (67.25%) patients had up to 4 clinical signs of TB, and laboratory paraclinical examinations revealed 4 cases of smear-positive pulmonary TB. The results of PPD test was negative for 64.2% (<5mm) while it was borderline for 29.5% (5 to 9mm) and positive for 6.35% (10 to 14mm). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate high prevalence of smear-positive TB in diabetic patients compared with expected cases in the community and global population. Thus, TB screening in patients with diabetes is recommended in order to control and succed in treatment of the two diseases.