Background: Toluene and xylene are compounds of petrol that emit to ambient air through car exhaust pipe and affect humans' health. The biological factor for toluene and xylen is hippuric acid that is excreted in the urine. Objective: To determine the biological concentration of hippuric acid in urine of workers occupied in gas pump stations. Methods: 46 samples (23 before and 23 after working shifts) were collected and analyzed by spectrophotometer to determine the concentration of hippuric acid and creatinine. Findings: The mean concentration of hippuric acid in workers' urine before and after working hours were 0.116 and 0.95 gram per gram creatinine respectively; thus no significant difference was shown. The concentration of hippuric acid in workers urine in afternoon shift was more than the morning shift (P=0.032). Also, the mean concentration of hippuric acid in workers less than 10 years occupancy was more than the other workers (P=0.002). Conclusion: The concentration of hippuric acid in urine was less than the biological exposure determined by American conference governmental industrial hygiene.

Background and the purpose of the study: Pharmacokinetic parameters of tramadol and its three metabolites in plasma, saliva and urine following administration of 100 mg single oral dose were investigated in 24 healthy volunteers.Materials and Methods: 12 male and 12 female healthy volunteers received a single oral dose of tramadol and Plasma, mixed saliva -secreted samples without any stimulation and urine were analyzed for Tramadol and its main metabolites by HPLC method.Results and Disscusion: Almost 16.2% of tramadol and 11.2, 1.1 and 5.0% of O-desmethyltramadol (M1), N-desmethyltramadol (M2) and N,O-didesmethyltramadol (M5) respectively were recovered in 30 hrs collected urine. Renal clearance of tramadol, M1, M2 and M5 were 114.7 ± 44.5, 193.9 ± 67.6, 116.1 ± 61.8 and 252.0±91.5 (mL/min) respectively. The maximum plasma concentration of tramadol, M1, M2 and M5 were 349.3 ± 76.7, 88.7±30.3, 23.1 ±11.4 and 30.0 ± 11.7 (ng/mL) at 1.6 ± 0.4, 2.4 ± 0.7, 2.8 ± 1.0 and 2.7 ± 1.4 hrs after drug administration respectively. Tramadol and its metabolites appeared in a significant amount in saliva with the saliva/plasma ratios of 9.0, 1.6, 12.3 and 2.8 for tramadol, M1, M2 and M5 according to AUC(0-24) respectively. Conclusion: Conclusion Strong correlations were found between plasma and saliva concentrations for all studied compounds and a dissection to pre and post absorption components improved these correlations. Results o f this study suggests that saliva is a suitable alternative to plasma for clinical and toxicological studies of tramadol and in addition to passive diffusion, a possible active transport is also suggested to describe the elevated saliva/plasma ratios for these compounds.

Introduction: Level of sodium (Na) intake has an important effect on blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, and reduction in salt consumption is important as primary prevention of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Salt intake is estimated by either urine 24-hour sodium excretion or 24-hour dietary recall (which is unreliable). In this study, we evaluated salt intake and correlation of urine Na in spot urine and 24-hour urine collection.Methods: We evaluated 271 male aged 30 to 50 years old for urine Na, creatinine, and chloride in urine 24-hour collection and spot urine. Subjects have no history of DM, HTN, liver disease, renal failure, and they were not on any medication. Formore accuracy, both urine 24-hour and spot urine were collected 2 times in 2 different days.Results: The mean 24-hour urine sodium was 210.30 (79.53%) meq/d. Urine sodium was less than 100meq/d in 13 (4.8%), 100 to 170 meq/d in 84 (31%), 170 to 205 meq/d in 49 (18.1%), 205 to 256 meq/d in 56 (20.7%), and>256 meq/d in 69 (25.5%) of subjects. There is a significant correlation between Na/Cr and Cl/Cr in spot urine and urine 24-hour sodium. Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.268 and 0.198, respectively (that is a weak correlation).Conclusions: Salt intake is high in male and probably general population (>12 g/d). Salt intake is<6 g/d only in 5%, 6 to 10 g/d in 31%, 10 to 12 g/d in 18.1%, 12 to 15 g/d in 20.7%, and>15 g/d in 25.5%. Sodium and chloride in spot urine is not a good predictor for sodium in 24-hour urine.

Background: The majority of studies on soil Aspergillus concern the isolation and characterization of the antimicrobial compounds produced by this organism. Our previous studies indicated an isolated Aspergillus strain soil to be of interest, and this subject is further investigated here. Method: Soil samples of various locations in Iran were collected. Extract from Aspergillus sp. culture was obtained using ethyl acetate fractionation. Antimicrobial activity testing was performed using broth microdilution assay against Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Staphylococcus aureus microorganisms. One metabolite PA3-d10 was isolated from these active extracts and identified using thin layer chromatography, preparative thin-layer chromatography, HPLC, 1HNMR (proton nuclear magnetic resonance), 2D NMR, and LC-MS (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry). Results: According to morphological and biochemical properties as well as ITS rDNA sequencing, we identified an isolate of Aspergillus flavus. The ethyl acetate fraction of the fermentation medium containing membrane active metabolites showed antimicrobial effects against different bacterial and yeast indicator strains. One metabolite from these active extracts was finally identified. Conclusion: Membrane active fraction produced by Aspergillus strain in this research demonstrated antimicrobial activities against bacteria and yeast strains. Therefore, this metabolite can be considered as a potential antimicrobial membrane active agent.