Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a common phthalate derivative, interfering with normal function of reproductive system. The present study evaluated effects of melatonin on DEHP-induced testicular injury in mice. Thirty-two adult male mice were randomly divided to four groups; group I received normal saline, group II received DEHP, group III received DEHP and melatonin, and group IV was treated with melatonin alone. Body and testes weights, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione level and superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were measured. Serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) concentration were evaluated by ELISA assay. Also, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels, sperm characteristics and histological changes of testes were analyzed. Body and testes weights were decreased in DEHP group. DEHP also reduced the number of spermatogonia, primary spermatocyte and sertoli cells as well as sperm vitality and progressive motility; these toxic effects were associated with alterations in serum hormone levels. Melatonin remarkably inhibited DEHP-induced reduction of body weight and antioxidant capacity. Melatonin reduced DEHP-induced elevation of NO, MDA, IL-1β and TNF-α levels. Melatonin improved DEHP-induced changes in hormonal levels, number of sertoli cells, spermatogonia, and sperm viability and motility. Melatonin considerably inhibits DEHP-induced gonadotoxicity through reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. These results suggest that melatonin may be considered as a promising agent to reduce toxic effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals such as DEHP on the male reproductive system.

Background. Cisplatin is a powerful chemotherapeutic drug mainly used in the treatment of solid tumors. Aggregation of the drug in renal proximal tubule cells causes nephrotoxicity and renal failure. Investigations showed nephrotoxicity as Cisplatin’s dose‐limiting side effect. One of the Cisplatin toxicity mechanisms is generation of reactive oxygen species, which leads to oxidative stress and renal damage. The purpose of this study was evaluation of the modulating effects of Gallic acid on Cisplatin‐induced variations including Caspase‐3 and Clusterin expression and histopathological and biochemical parameters in adult male Wistar rats. Method. Rats were kept under standard condition of temperature, light, and humidity. The animals were divided into 4 groups: GpI: control group (received distilled water for 10 days); GpII: Gallic acid (alone) (50 mg/kg bw, once a day for 10 days); GpIII: Cisplatin (alone), single dose (6 mg/kg bw, I.P. on 5th day of study); GpIV: Gallic acid (50 mg/kg bw, once a day for 10 days) and also injected with single dose of Cisplatin (6 mg/kg bw, I.P., on 5th day of study). After 10 days, all rats were anaesthetized and plasma collected to estimate urea, creatinine, and uric acid. The right kidneys were removed for the study of gene expression and biochemical parameters. The left kidneys were used for histopathological studies. Results. The Cisplatin‐induced nephrotoxicity was evident from the elevated levels of creatinine, urea, uric acid, and renal tissue MDA and also decreased levels of SOD, CAT, GPX, and GSH in renal tissue. Administration of Gallic acid significantly modulated nephrotoxicity markers, gene expression variations, and histopathological damage. Conclusion. Outcomes of the present investigation suggest that Gallic acid provides protection against CP‐induced nephrotoxicity, but for application in people, further studies are needed.

Introduction: Newborn hearing screening is essential for early identification of hearing loss to decrease the adverse effects of hearing loss. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hearing loss and risk factors of congenital hearing loss in newborns. Methods: In this analytical case-control study, a hearing screening test was performed for all newborns aged 3-14 days. Results: Of 5,500 newborns evaluated, 24 newborns had hearing loss. The prevalence of hearing loss was 4.36 per 1,000. Of 24 hearing-impaired newborns, 15 had bilateral hearing loss (BHL) (62.5%) and nine had unilateral hearing loss (UHL) (37.5%). Among the neonates with hearing loss, the prevalence of hearing loss was higher (77.8%) in the right ear. The main risk factors identified in this study were low gestational age (P=0.001), hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) (P=0.008), exposure to ototoxic drugs (P=0.001), gestational diabetes P=0.01), craniofacial anomalies (P=0.01), convulsion (P=0.03), consanguineous marriage of parents (P=0.001), low birth weight (P=0.01), and hyperbilirubinemia (P=0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of hearing loss was higher in the right ear than in the left ear. NICU stay, use of ototoxic drugs, low gestational age (<35 weeks), gestational diabetes, craniofacial anomalies, convulsion, consanguineous marriage of parents, low birth weight, and hyperbilirubinemia were significant risk factors for congenital hearing loss in studied newborns.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, idiopathic and the most common inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that progresses to severe disability. Prevalence of MS is 2 - 150 per 100,000 people. The main cause of the disease is not clear and occurs due to a combination of both genetic and environmental factors. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of MS in the northern cities of Khuzestan Province, Iran, as well as to determine the demographic characteristics, initial symptoms at onset, clinical features and the correlation between the above factors with each other. Patients and Methods: In this descriptive correlational study, patients were recruited through the MS Society as well as the neurology clinics and departments of hospitals in north cities of Khuzestan Province (Iran). Data were collected through completing a face to face questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS version 17 and the chi-square test. P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significance. Results: A total of 142 patients were participated in this study. Prevalence of MS was 15 per 100,000 people. Seventy-eight percent of the patients had low literacy, and 81% were unemployed. Female to male ratio was 2.08: 1 that became less in younger patients. 69% and 15% of the patients were relapsing remitting and progressive relapsing, respectively. Demographic characteristics of the patients did not show any statistically significant relationship with clinical courses and signs at onset; however, a significant correlation was seen between severe disability and sex (P = 0.001) as well as between severe disability and progressive-relapsing subtype (P = 0.02). Conclusions: The prevalence of MS showed an increasing rate of the disease in recent years. Decreasing of the female to male ratio and patients’ low socio-economic level, need more studies. The increasing rate of patients with progressive relapsing feature and more disabled patients belong to this subtype show the poor prognosis. Keywords: Multiple Sclerosis; Prevalence; Demography; Sex Ratio

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) mucositis is one of the serious side effects of methotrexate (MTX) treatment. It is known that oxidative stress plays an important role in drug-induced side effects. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the effect of gallic acid (GA) against MTX-induced intestinal mucositis in male Wistar rats. Methods: Twenty-eight adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 7), including (1) control group; (2) GA group (gallic acid: 30 mg/kg/day, orally); (3) MTX group [20 mg/kg, intra peritoneal (IP)]; and (4) (MTX + GA) group (MTX: 20 mg/kg, IP and gallic acid: 30 mg/kg/day, orally). Then amounts of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were analyzed in serum samples and then the histopathological examinations of the duodenum and jejunum of animals groups. Results: The results showed that treatment with GA significantly reduced the MTX-induced elevation of serum MDA (P < 0.001), NO (P < 0.001), IL-2 (P < 0.001) and IL-6 (P < 0.001) contents and increased MTX-induced reduction in GSH (P < 0.001) content, GPx (P < 0.001) and SOD (P < 0.001) activity. In addition, the histopathological results showed that MTX leads to intestinal tissue damage, and gallic acid can remarkably improve the pathological changes. Conclusions: Our results indicate that gallic acid can mitigate oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory parameters and also moderately prevent histopathological damage of the small intestine of rats exposed to MTX.