فرزانه دهقانی

Brain tumor segmentation is an important step in the diagnosis and treatment planning of cancer patients. The procedure of manual brain tumor segmentation suffers from a long processing time. In this light, automatic brain tumor segmentation is highly appealing in the clinical routine. This study sets out to segment the tumors from brain MR images and to investigate the effectiveness/usefulness of the different MRI sequences for this purpose. Here, the MR images from the BRATS challenge were utilized. 310 patients with four different MRI sequences, including T1, T1ce, T2, and FLAIR were employed to train a ResNet deep CNN. Four separate models were trained with each of the input MR sequences to identify the best sequence for brain tumor segmentation. To assess the performance of these models, 60 patients (external dataset) were quantitatively evaluated. The quantitative results indicated that the FLAIR sequence is more reliable for automatic brain tumor segmentation than other sequences with an accuracy of 0.77±0.10 in terms of Dice compared to Dice indices of 0.73±0.12, 0.73±0.15, and 0.62±0.17 obtained from T1, T2, and T1ce sequences, respectively. Based on the results of this study, FLAIR is a more reliable sequence than other sequences for brain tumor segmentation.

Ginger in Iranian traditional medicine is known as an effective plant in reducing menopausal symptoms and treating osteoporosis. Therefore, in this study, the effects of ginger on the skeletal system in the fetus and the level of bone formation factors in the mice were investigated.

In this study, 40 pregnant Balb/c mice were equally divided into four groups 1) control group 2) group receiving 100 mg/kg ginger hydroalcoholic extract orally, 3) group receiving 500 mg/kg ginger hydroalcoholic extract orally and 4) group receiving 1000 mg/kg ginger hydroalcoholic extract orally. Alizarin Red S and Alcian Blue staining methods were used to examine the embryo skeletal system. Osteogenesis length and bony area of femur and tibia as well as the length, width, and height of the skull in the embryos were measured. Blood samples were taken on the 19th day of pregnancy to evaluate bone formation factors in pregnant mice and biochemical factors were measured in blood samples.

Evaluations showed that the length of femur and tibia and osteogenesis index in the treated groups relatively increased compared to the control group. Biochemical studies showed a significant increase in calcium, magnesium, and alkaline phosphatase levels in the group receiving 1000 mg/kg ginger hydroalcoholic extract compared to the control group.

The results of this study showed that ginger hydroalcoholic extract can be effective in increasing osteogenesis in the embryos and reducing the risk of osteoporosis in mothers.

Ovarian vitrification is a technique for assisted reproductive technologies, while ovaries are vulnerable to the damage caused by the freezing procedure. Pentoxifylline has a protective effect as an antioxidant in reducing the free radicals in the culture medium. This study aimed to determine the antioxidant effects of pentoxifylline on the changes stereological vitrified ovarian tissue of mice after the vitrification process.

The study was performed on 25 mice ovaries, which were randomly divided into five groups (five mice each group). Group 1 (control): No treatment was performed in this group. Groups 2 and 3 (sham 1,2): In Group 2, after the ovaries are removed, they are placed for half an hour in a CO2 incubator in the saline phosphate buffer + bovine serum albumin (PB1 + BSA) environment, And in Group 3, in addition to being placed in the incubator, 1.8 mM of Pentoxifylline was added to the buffer environment. Groups 4 and 5 (Experimental 1,2): In Group 4, after the ovaries are removed from the animalchr('39')s body, the ovaries are vitrified for two weeks, after which time they are melted and placed in a CO2 incubator for half an hour in the saline phosphate buffer + bovine serum albumin (PB1 + BSA) environment, and In Group 5, in addition to vitrified, melting, and incubation, the ovaries were exposed to buffers containing 1.8 mM pentoxifylline. after tissue processing, ovarian tissue sections were studied with stereological methods.

Stereological estimation showed that the ovarian tissue volume and cortex in the sham2, experiment1, and experiment2 were increased compared to control and sham1 groups, but this increase was not statistically significant (P>0/05). The volume of the medulla was reduced in the sham2, experiment1 and experiment2 groups compared to the control and sham1 groups, but the reduction was not statistically significant (P>0/05).

According to the results of this study, pentoxifylline and Vitrification increase the volume of ovarian tissue, and pentoxifylline, despite its antioxidant properties, will not affect protecting the ovaries against the negative effects of Vitrification.

The follicular growth and development may be affected by abused drugs. Nandrolone decanoate (ND) as an anabolic androgenic steroid can damage the morphological and functional features of the ovary and may lead to reproductive failure.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of synchronized and non-synchronized administration of Human Menopausal Gonadotropins (hMG) with ND on ovarian tissue and level of sex hormones in the adult female rat.

Forty adult female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into eight groups. The five experimental groups received 3 and/or 10 mg/kg of ND synchronized and non-synchronized with 10 IU of hMG and hMG alone. The two shams and control groups received solvents of ND and hMG. The animal's serum levels of Follicle-stimulating hormone, Luteinizing hormone, progesterone and estrogen and the weight, volume and dimensions of the ovaries were measured. The ovaries were prepared for apoptosis assessment and morphological study.

The ovarian volume and sex hormones in the experimental groups were decreased, but ovarian weight and dimensions didn’t change. The rate of apoptosis was increased in the experimental groups as follows; a low and high dose of ND synchronized with hMG 48.80±18.70 and 65.20±14.20 respectively vs. Sham 1, 33.20±17.80, a low and high dose of ND non-synchronized with hMD 55.80±17.20 and 75.20±14.30 respectively vs. Sham 2, 31.60±32.40 groups, p˂0.01. Follicular and stromal cells were damaged in the experimental groups except for the hMG group.

Administration of ND decreased the serum level of Luteinizing hormone, Follicle-stimulating hormone, progesterone and estrogen and damaged ovarian tissue irreversibly and irreparably and hMG cannot prevent the destruction of the follicles in the adult female rats. This can be a serious warning to women who abuse ND.

In traditional medicine zingiber officinale used to regulate female menstural cycle and treat male infertility. Recent studies have suggested the possible role of ginger extract in improving the testicular damage of busulfan.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of zingiber officinale on the sperm parameters, testosterone level and the volume of the testes and seminiferous tubules by stereological methods.

Fifty rats were divided into four groups. All the rats were given a single intraperitoneally injection of 5mg/kg busulfan solution. The first group was kept as busulfan control, while the other groups were orally administrated ginger extract in graded doses of 50, 100 and 150mg/kg b.wt, for 48 consecutive days. At the end, all animals were anesthetized and their testes and vas deference were removed, fixed, embedded, and stained. The volume of testes and seminiferous tubules were estimated by cavalieri methods.

The result showed, that zingiber officinale increased the volumes of seminiferous tubule in 100mg/kg treated group compared to control group. Sperm count (706×105 and 682×105) and the level of testosterone (50.90 ng/mL and 54.10 ng/mL) enhanced in 100 mg/kg and 150 mg/kg treated groups compared to control group (p=0.00).

It seems that zingiber officinale stimulate male reproductive system in induce busulfan infertility.

Olive (Olea europea), from the Oleaceae family, is known as a phytoestrogen plant compound, containing Lignans and phenolic compounds. Some studies have shown phytoestrogens to have spermatogenesis-decreasing effects.

The present study investigated the effects of a hydro-alcoholic extract of olive fruit on reproductive argons in male rats.

The hydro-alcoholic olive (Olea europaea) extract was given orally to three experimental groups of rats in 50, 150, and 450 mg/kg in 48 days. The vehicle group was fed with normal saline and nothing was given to the control group (each group with 8 rats). After 49 days reproductive indicators i.e., sperm count, sperm motility, the weight of prostate, testis, epididymis, and seminal vesicle were measured.

The results showed a significant decrease in the weights of the left testicle, seminal vesicle, testosterone hormone, sperm count and sperm motility but there was no significant difference with regard to the weights of prostate and epididymis, and estradiol hormone.

This study suggests that olive extract may have deleterious effects on fertility factors; therefore, after further studies, it may be used as a contraceptive in males.

The use of stereological methods in evaluation of volume changes in vital organs such as kidney is very important. In this study, the volume of glomeruli in glycerol-induced acute renal failure in rats was determined.

48 Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into 2 groups (1control, 1experiment). Experimental group was injected 10ml/kg of 50% glycerol intramuscularly, while the same volume of saline was injected in the control group. After 48h, animals were dissected under deep anesthesia, and right kidneys were fixed by vascular perfusion. Microscopic slides were stained with H-E. Glomerular volumes were calculated using projecting microscope, point counting and cavalieri principal.

The results indicated that renal failure induced-glycerol didn’t affect the glomerular volume

It seems that estimation of glomerular volume can not be a useful variable in identification of acute renal failure induced glycerol, but further investigations are needed to clarify the issue

Coffee is a diuretic plant, cause vascular expansion and reduce free radical oxygen. There is evidence that show its effects on kidney. Low dose of coffee reduces blood urea and cratinine but its overdose may lead to glomeruloschelrosis. In this study, the effect of high dose of coffee on rat kidney was evaluated by stereological method.

In an experimental study, 48 Sprgue-Dawley rats 230-250 gr were selected and divided randomly into 4 groups. The control group was fed with only tap water and the experimental groups were fed with different doses of aqueous extracts of coffee (0.25, 0.5, 0.125 gr/kg) twice daily. After 48 hours, the animals were deeply anesthetized and right kidneys were removed. The Sum slides were prepared and stained with Hematoxyline. Eosin. From each kidney, 15-17 glomeruli were selected and means of glumerular volume were estimated, according to Cavalieri principle and point counting methods.

Our findings revealed that low dose of coffee extraction were led to increase in glomerular volume, but higher doses decreased these volumes. These results were significantly different form control group (p<0.05).

It seems that decrease in glomerular volume leads glomeruloschlorosis and reduction of glomerular filtration rate. However, there should be more investigation such as urea and cratinine measurement to calrify the exact mechanisms.

Cisplatin is a drug widely used as an antineoplastic drug for treatment of malignant tumors. But because of its side effects on the different systems especially kidney (nephrotoxic), the use of this drug is very limited. Clinical as well as, laboratory animal studies have supported this observations. In this research study we have used stereological technique (3-D) for finding the changes, due to nephrotoxic effect of this drug, in the number of glomeruli in kidney (numerical density and total number).

For experimental, 30 rats were separated by random sampling in to 3 groups of 10 animals cache. The first group received acute dose (7.5 mg/kg) of the drug (cisplatin) in serum physiology (experimental group). The second group received equivalent placebo dose in serum physiology through peritoneum (control). The third group received chronic dose (1.25 mg/kg) for 5 days, in serum physiology. All the 30 animals, after 96 hours, were anesthetized, dissected and their right kidneys were removed and placed in fixative (10% formalin). Whole kidney specimens were processed for stereology by special method of sectioning for physical disector and glomeruli number were counted.

Number of glumeroli and numerical density was estimated for experimental groups (control, acute and chronic) was 31707, 30415 and 30802 as well 162, 119, and 140 respectively.

Stereological methods could be very useful for investigation of chemical drug effects in organs with good validity.