R ESEARCHERS have shown an increasing attention to the use of medicinal plants because of their beneficial effect on human health. The antioxidant properties of medicinal plants is a strong reason to use them in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant properties of Ziziphus nummularia, Crataegus pontica and Scrophularia striata. Aerial parts of Ziziphus nummularia, Crataegus pontica and Scrophularia striata were dried and ground. Then, plant samples were prepared using homogenizing plant powders in methanol solution. Finally, the total antioxidant capacity of the plants was assessed by ferric iron reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay.The results indicated that the total antioxidant capacity was found as 3.16, 2.95 and 1.14 mmol Fe 2+ /L for Ziziphus nummularia, Crataegus pontica and Scrophularia striata, respectively. According to our results, Ziziphus nummularia, Crataegus pontica and Scrophularia striata showed a potent antioxidant activity. It is recommended that utilization of Ziziphus nummularia, Crataegus pontica and Scrophularia striata in food and pharmaceutical industries could possibly possess beneficial health effects.

Background Mediastinal gray zone lymphoma is a newly recognized rare B cell neoplasm, which is challenging in diagnosis and treatment. Case presentation In the current study, we aimed to report a 25-year-old pregnant woman at 25 weeks of gestation who presented with chronic cough and progressive shortness of breath, hypotension, tachycardia, and tachypnea. A large circumferential pericardial effusion with compressive effect on the right atrium and right ventricle and a large extracardiac mass with external pressure to mediastinal structures were seen on trans thoracic echocardiography. The emergency pericardiocentesis was performed with the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade. Also, CMR revealed a huge heterogeneous anterior mediastinal mass, and the pathology and the immunohistochemistry of the mass biopsy revealed gray zone lymphoma with positive CD3, CD20, CD30, CD45, PAX5, and negative CD15 expression. Three courses of chemotherapy with the CHOP regimen were performed with an acceptable response every three weeks before delivery. A caesarian section was performed at 37 weeks without any problem for the patient and fetus, and chemotherapy will be started three weeks after delivery. Conclusion Cardiac tamponade as an emergency condition occurred in this pregnant patient by malignant pericardial effusion and mediastinal mass pressure. Accurate diagnosis and on time interventions caused a significant improvement and a successful delivery.

Background: Mediastinal gray zone lymphoma is a newly recognized rare B cell neoplasm, which is challenging in diagnosis and treatment. Case presentation: In the current study, we aimed to report a 25-year-old pregnant woman at 25 weeks of gestation who presented with chronic cough and progressive shortness of breath, hypotension, tachycardia, and tachypnea. A large circumferential pericardial effusion with compressive effect on the right atrium and right ventricle and a large extracardiac mass with external pressure to mediastinal structures was seen on trans thoracic echocardiography. The emergency pericardiocentesis was performed with the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade. Also, CMR revealed a huge heterogeneous anterior mediastinal mass, and the pathology and the immunohistochemistry of the mass biopsy revealed gray zone lymphoma with positive CD3, CD20, CD30, CD45, PAX5, and negative CD15 expression. Three courses of chemotherapy with the CHOP regimen were performed with an acceptable response every three weeks before delivery. An elective caesarian section was performed at 37 weeks without any problem for the patient and fetus. She had an appropriate health status, and chemotherapy will start three weeks after delivery. Conclusion: Cardiac tamponade as an emergency condition occurred in this pregnant patient by malignant pericardial effusion and mediastinal mass pressure. Accurate diagnosis and on time interventions caused a significant improvement and a successful delivery.

Objectives: Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are a group of non-enveloped viruses which contain double-stranded DNA, and have widespread prevalence in human populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HPV in asymptomatic patients at the Women’s Clinic in Hamadan and compare the two techniques of Pap smear and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in detecting the virus. Materials and Methods: This epidemiologic study was carried out on 1770 asymptomatic patients at the Women’s Clinic in Hamadan. After collecting the cell samples from the cervical areas, they were placed in a pre-prepared medium by a physician and divided into two sections after being sent to the laboratory; the first part was for Pap smear and the second for PCR. If there was a viral genome, it could be determined by PCR. People who were HPV + were candidates for typing. Results: The results of the present study showed that out of 1770 patients aged between 14 and 60 years, referred to Hamadan health centers, 271 patients (15.31%) had HPV. Among them, the highest number of HPV+ cases belonged to the age group of 31-40 years, with the lowest number belonging to the age group of 15-20 years old. Furthermore, out of 271 HPV + patients, 111 (40.09%) had abnormal Pap smear and more than 90% had HPV infection, while less than 10% had low risk (LR) HPV. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the prevalence of HPV in Hamadan health centers was relatively high. According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that the use of PCR along with Pap smear can help the patients with diagnosis and better treatment.