Tehran University of Medical Sciences Acta Medica Iranica 0044-6025 54 6 2016 06 08 409 409 EN Forough Saki Shiraz Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 2015 10 26 2015 12 15 No Abstract https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/view/5064 https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/download/5064/4808

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Acta Medica Iranica 0044-6025 54 6 2016 06 08 407 408 EN Sevil Nasirmohtaram Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. AND Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nose and Sinus Diseases Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. Maryam Akbari Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. AND Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nose and Sinus Diseases Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. 2015 10 05 2016 02 07 Dermoid cysts are congenital anomalies derived from ectoderm. They are rare in head and neck region and especially in pinna. We presented an 8-year-old girl with a dermoid cyst in the conchal region of auricle which was treated with complete surgical resection. https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/view/4260 https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/download/4260/4807

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Acta Medica Iranica 0044-6025 54 6 2016 06 08 345 351 EN Akram Farahabadi Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mohammad Akbari Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Akram Amini Pishva Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Adib Zendedel Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. Ali Arabkheradmand Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Cordian Beyer Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. Nasrin Dashti School of Allied Health Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Gholamreza Hassanzadeh Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2016 01 04 2016 01 17 Spinal cord injury (SCI) as a destructive crash result in neurons degeneration. The SCI lead to the onset of biochemical and molecular cascades such as inflammation that in turn has a key role in neurodegeneration development. The previous studies demonstrated the role of TNF-α and iNOS genes in intensifying the process after SCI. As a consequence, these genes overexpression intensify the inflammation and neuron degeneration process. In the present study, 32 male Wistar rats were chased and divided into four groups of eight. The SCI were induced in three groups and another group used as a sham. The progesterone hormone used as a therapeutic agent in rats with SCI. The results showed that injection of 10 μg/kg/12h progesterone hormone reduced the TNF-α and iNOS gene expression significantly and confirmed the role of progesterone in the reduction of inflammation. Also, the numbers of intact neurons in progesterone group were higher than other groups that demonstrated the protective effects of progesterone on neuron death. The BBB test was performed and demonstrated that progesterone is an effective factor to the improvement of locomotor response. These results of the study confirmed the anti-inflammatory activity of progesterone hormone and suggested that it can be used as a therapeutic factor for SCI. https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/view/5341 https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/download/5341/4797

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Acta Medica Iranica 0044-6025 54 6 2016 06 08 352 358 EN Puran Fadakar Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, Molecular and Medicine Research Center, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. Abolfazl Akbari Colorectal Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Fariba Ghassemi Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Gholam Reza Mobini Medical Plants Research Center, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran. Masoumeh Mohebi Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Manzar Bolhassani Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Hoda Abed Khojasteh Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mansour Heidari Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. AND Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 11 25 2015 12 26 Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular tumor in children resulting from genetic alterations and transformation of mature retinal cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of SD-208, TGF-β-RI kinase inhibitor, on the expression of some miRNAs including a miR-17/92 cluster in retinoblastoma cells. Prior to initiate this work, the cell proliferation was studied by Methyl Thiazolyl Tetrazolium (MTT) and bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) assays. Then, the expression patterns of four miRNAs (18a, 20a, 22, and 34a) were investigated in the treated SD-208 (0.0, 1, 2 and 3 µM) and untreated Y-79 cells. A remarkable inhibition of the cell proliferation was found in Y-79 cells treated with SD-208 versus untreated cells. Also, the expression changes were observed in miRNAs 18a, 20a, 22 and 34a in response to SD-208 treatment (P<0.05). The findings of the present study suggest that the anti-cancer effect of SD-208 may be exerted due to the regulation of specific miRNAs, at least in this particular retinoblastoma cell line. To the best of the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that the SD-208 could alter the expression of tumor suppressive miRNAs as well as oncomiRs in vitro. In conclusion, the present data suggest that SD-208 could be an alternative agent in retinoblastoma treatment. https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/view/5192 https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/download/5192/4798

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Acta Medica Iranica 0044-6025 54 6 2016 06 08 359 365 EN Neneng Ratnasari Department of Internal Medicine, Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Putut Bayupurnama Department of Internal Medicine, Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Sutanto Maduseno Department of Internal Medicine, Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Fahmi Indrarti Department of Internal Medicine, Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Catharina Triwikatmani Department of Internal Medicine, Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Achmad Harijadi Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Siti Nurdjanah Department of Internal Medicine, Dr. Sardjito General Hospital, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. 2016 06 05 Local inflammatory processes in the gastric mucosa are followed by extensive immune cell infiltration, resulting in chronic active gastritis characterized by a marked infiltration of T(h)1 cytokine-producing CD4+ and CD8+T-cells Objective. To investigate the correlation between CD4+/CD8+ T-cells in gastric mucosa with endoscopic appearance in chronic gastritis with or without H.pylori infection. Prospective, cross sectional study is performed in a chronic dyspepsia population in July-November 2009 at Dr. Sardjito General Hospital Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The update Sydney system was used to analyze the gastroscopy appearance. Biopsy specimens were stained with HE-stain and IHC-stain. Data were analyzed by t-test, Mann-Whitney and Spearman correlation test. Number of 88 consecutive subjects are enrolled the study (50% male; 50% female), age 46±15 years; 25% H.pylori positive. The expression of CD4+ and CD8+ were higher in H.pylori negative subjects, but only the CD4+ was significant (P=0.011). A significant correlation was found between CD4+ and CD8+ in both subjects (r(Hp+)=0.62 and r(Hp-)=0.68; P<0.05). The expression of CD4+ and CD8+ in H.pylori positive showed a significant correlation with gastric lesions (r(CD4+)=-0.60; r(CD8+)=-0.42 ; P<0.05), only erosion showed a significant difference in both subjects. A positive correlation was found between CD4+ and CD8+ infiltration in both subjects with or without H.pylori infection, and a negative correlation was only found between gastric lesion with CD4+ and CD8+ infiltration in H.pylori subject. https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/view/5681 https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/download/5681/4799

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Acta Medica Iranica 0044-6025 54 6 2016 06 08 366 369 EN Hooman Hossein Nejad Department of Emergency Medicine, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mohsen Banaie Department of Emergency Medicine, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Seyed Hossein Seyedhosseini Davarani Department of Emergency Medicine, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Zahra Khazaeipour Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 12 15 2016 03 06 The Emergency Severity Index (ESI) is a five-level triage system that has shown promising reliability and validity. According to ESI algorithm, in the presence of danger zone respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR) or Oxygen (O2) saturation, patients should be up-triaged from ESI level 3 to 2 Hence, the current study aimed to investigate the value of the measurement of vital signs in predicting the up-triage of patients from ESI level 3 to 2. Patients who visited the emergency department at Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran, Iran, and were categorized into ESI level 3 were investigated. RR, HR, and O2 saturation were recorded by the triage nurse, and the rates of abnormalities in these three variables were evaluated. Out of 551 cases who were up-triaged from ESI level 3 to 2,489 (88.7%) had an increased RR, and 539 (97.8%) had an increased RR or HR. Only 12 cases (2.2%) had normal RR and HR, who were up-triaged only due to abnormal O2 saturation. Out of these 12 cases, 10 had O2 saturations <92% at common health status, 1 had acutely altered mental status and should have been triaged into ESI level 2 in the first place and 1 could not be located for further investigations. In conclusion, compared to O2 saturation, the abnormal findings during the assessment of RR and HR seem to much more commonly result in the up-triage of patients from ESI level 3 to 2. https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/view/5276 https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/download/5276/4800

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Acta Medica Iranica 0044-6025 54 6 2016 06 08 370 375 EN Alireza Namazi Shabestari Department of Gerontology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mojgan Asadi Osteoporosis Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. AND Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Zahra Jouyandeh Obesity and Eating Habit Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mostafa Qorbani Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Karaj University of Medical Sciences, Alborz, Iran. AND Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Roya Kelishadi Department of Pediatrics, Child Growth and Development Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 2016 06 05 The lipid accumulation product is a novel, safe and inexpensive index of central lipid over accumulation based on waist circumference and fasting concentration of circulating triglycerides. This study was designed to investigate the ability of lipid accumulation product to predict Cardio-metabolic risk factors in postmenopausal women. In this Cross-sectional study, 264 postmenopausal women by using convenience sampling method were selected from menopause clinic in Tehran. Cardio-metabolic risk factors were measured, and lipid accumulation product (waist-58×triglycerides [nmol/L]) was calculated. Optimal cut-off point of lipid accumulation product for predicting metabolic syndrome was estimated by ROC (Receiver-operating characteristic) curve analysis. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 41.2% of subjects. Optimal cut-off point of lipid accumulation product for predicting metabolic syndrome was 47.63 (sensitivity:75%; specificity:77.9%). High lipid accumulation product increases risk of all Cardio-metabolic risk factors except overweight, high Total Cholesterol, high Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and high Fasting Blood Sugar in postmenopausal women. Our findings show that lipid accumulation product is associated with metabolic syndrome and some Cardio-metabolic risk factors Also lipid accumulation product may have been a useful tool for predicting cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome risk in postmenopausal women. https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/view/5682 https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/download/5682/4801

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Acta Medica Iranica 0044-6025 54 6 2016 06 08 376 381 EN Somayeh Sharifynia Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Hamid Badali Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. Mina Sharifi Sorkherizi Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mohammad Reza Shidfar Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Atefe Hadian Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Shadi Shahrokhi Islamic Azad University, Varamin-Pishva Branch, Varamin, Iran. Ghazale Ghandchi Pediatric Infections Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Sassan Rezaie Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 10 18 2015 12 07 Candidiasis, the main opportunistic fungal infection has been increased over the past decades. This study aimed to characterize C.albicans species complex (C.albicans, C.dubliniensis, and C.africana) isolated from patients with respiratory infections by molecular tools and in vitro antifungal susceptibilities by using broth microdilution method according to CLSI M27-A3 guidelines. Totally, 121 respiratory samples were collected from patients with respiratory infections. Of these, 83 strains were germ tube positive and green colonies on chromogenic media, so initially identified as C.albicans species complex and subsequently were classified as C.albicans (89.15%), C.dubliniensis (9.63%), and C.africana (1.2%) based on PCR-RFLP and amplification of hwp1 gene. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) results showed that all tested isolates of C.albicans complex were highly susceptible to triazole drugs. However, caspofungin had highest activity against C.albicans, C.dubliniensis, and C.africana. Our findings indicated the variety of antifungal resistance of Candida strains in different areas. These results may increase the knowledge about the local distribution of the mentioned strains as well as their antifungal susceptibility pattern which play an important role in appropriate therapy. https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/view/4996 https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/download/4996/4802

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Acta Medica Iranica 0044-6025 54 6 2016 06 08 382 390 EN Gholamali Yousefipour Department of Neurology Sciences, Clinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Zabihollah Hashemzahi Department of Neurology Sciences, Clinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Masood Yasemi Department of Ophthalmology, Poostchi Eye Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Pegah Jahani Department of Medicine, Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 2015 09 29 2016 02 28 Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most prevalent disease caused by the inflammatory demyelinating process that causes progressive nervous system degeneration over the time. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive optical imaging technology, which can measure the thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer as well as the diameter of the macula. The purpose of the study is evaluation OCT findings in two common types of multiple sclerosis. For doing the cross-sectional study, 63 patients with two prevalent types of multiple sclerosis (35 patients with Relapse Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) and 28 patients with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS) were evaluated for 6 months. Exclusion criteria of the study were a history of optic neuritis, suffering from diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ocular disease, and the presence of other neurologic degenerative diseases. Then, the thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), as well as thickness and volume of the macula, were measured in the patients using OCT technology. The disability rate of patients was evaluated according to Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Finally, data was analyzed by means of SPSS software. Overall, 35 patients with RRMS (with mean age of 32.37+10.01, average disease period of 3.81+3.42 and mean EDSS of 1.84+0.45) and 28 patients with SPMS (with mean age of 39.21+9.33, average disease period of 11.32+5.87 and mean EDSS of 5.12+1.46) were assessed and compared in terms of retinal nerve fiber layer and size and thickness of macula. In all of these sections, the thicknesses were smaller in SPMS patients than patients with RRMS. But, there was a significant difference in total thickness (81.82µm versus 96.03µm with P=0.04) and thickness of temporal sector (54.5 µm versus 69.34 µm with P=0.04) of retinal nerve fiber layer and macular size at the superior sector of external ring (1.48 mm³ versus 1.58 mm³ with P=0.03), and nasal sector of external ring surrounding macula (1.53 mm³ versus 1.66 mm³ with P=0.03). No significant correlation was found among rising disability and reduced thickness of macula and optic nervous layer. Based on the study results, it can be said that OCT is a useful method for showing axonal degeneration severity and evaluation of various drugs effects on the course of MS disease, and thus we can change drugs based on OCT findings for achieving best results. https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/view/4242 https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/download/4242/4803

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Acta Medica Iranica 0044-6025 54 6 2016 06 08 391 394 EN Mojtaba Chardoli Department of Emergency Medicine, Haftom-e-Tir Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Nader H. Firoozabadi Department of Emergency Medicine, Haftom-e-Tir Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mohsen Nouri Department of Neurosurgery, Razi Hospital, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran. Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 11 11 2016 02 22 Cerebrovascular attack (CVA) and transient ischemic attack (TIA) are major causes of emergency department visits around the globe. A significant number of these patients may experience repeat attacks if left untreated. Several risk stratifying scoring systems have been developed in recent years to point out the high risk patients. ABCD2 is based on age, blood pressure, clinical status, diabetes mellitus, and duration of symptoms and is used commonly for this purpose. In this study, we were to enhance its sensitivity and specificity with the addition of another criterion namely atrial fibrillation and making ABCD2-F. A prospective study in two hospitals was performed and 138 patients diagnosed with TIA/CVA were enrolled. Demographic, clinical, and paraclinical data of all patients were registered. All patients were followed for three months for any sign or symptom of a recurrent ischemic attack. Recurrent ischemic attacks happened in 9.4% of the patients. None of the criteria of ABCD2-F was associated with higher chance of ischemic attacks. Similarly, ABCD2-F was not different between patients with or without repeat cerebral ischemia. The addition of atrial fibrillation to ABCD2 did not enhance the accuracy of this scoring system to detect patients high risk for repeat cerebral ischemia. More studies in the future to improve sensitivity and specificity of this test are warranted. https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/view/5130 https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/download/5130/4804

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Acta Medica Iranica 0044-6025 54 6 2016 06 08 395 400 EN Fatemeh Farahmand Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Tayebeh Mohammadi Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Medical Center, Pediatric Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mehri Najafi Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Gholamhosein Fallahi Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Ahmad Khodadad Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Farzaneh Motamed Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Sayed Mahdi Marashi Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran. Maryam Shoaran Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Raheleh Nabavizadeh Rafsanjani Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Medical Center, Pediatric Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2016 06 05 Helicobacter pylori infection is a prevalent disease among Iranian children. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of ciprofloxacin and furazolidone on eradicating helicobacter pylori in Iranian children in combination with amoxicillin and omeprazole. In this cohort study, helicobacter pylori infection was confirmed by gastroscopy, rapid urease test or pathologic assessments. A total of 66 children were randomly enrolled; based on the random number table, and were divided into two groups; first, a combination regimen consisting of ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, and omeprazole; second, a three-medication regimen consisting of amoxicillin, furazolidone, and omeprazole. The effect of both medical regimens on the successful eradication of helicobacter pylori infection was assessed and compared. Chi-square test was used for evaluating the association between quantitative variables. All comparisons were made at the significance of P<0.05. Endoscopic tests prior to initiating treatments showed that 66.7% of the patients had a degree of nodularity while peptic ulcer was only observed in one patient. One month after the end of the treatments, eradication of the helicobacter pylori infection was reported 87.9% (29/33) in the first group (CAO) and 60.6% (20.33) in the second group (FAO) (P=0.011). It appears that a major advantage of our proposed regimen over others is a lack of wide use of fluoroquinolones for treating children’s diseases. Given FDA’s recommendation about the possibility of prescribing ciprofloxacin for infected patients with multidrug resistance, we can use the regimen proposed in this study in patients with resistance to standard treatments. https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/view/5683 https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/download/5683/4805

Tehran University of Medical Sciences Acta Medica Iranica 0044-6025 54 6 2016 06 08 401 406 EN Rita Mojtahedzadeh Department of E-learning in Medical Education, Virtual School, Center of Excellence for E-learning in Medical Education, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Aeen Mohammadi Department of E-learning in Medical Education, Virtual School, Center of Excellence for E-learning in Medical Education, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Noushin Kohan Department of Medical Education, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mitra Gharib Department of E-learning in Medical Education, Virtual School, Center of Excellence for E-learning in Medical Education, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mitra Zolfaghari Department of E-learning in Medical Education, Virtual School, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 11 15 2015 11 28 Delphi as a consensus development technique enables anonymous, systematic refinement of expert opinion with the aim of arriving at a combined or consensual position. In this study, we determined the criteria and their weights for Iranian Medical Schools' ranking through a Delphi process. An expert committee devised 13 proposed criteria with 32 indicators with their weights, which were arranged hierarchically in the form of a tree diagram. We used the Delphi technique to reach a consensus on these criteria and weights among the deans of 38 public Iranian medical schools. For this purpose, we devised and sent a questionnaire to schools and asked them to suggest or correct the criteria and their weights. We repeated this process in two rounds till all the schools reached an acceptable consensus on them. All schools reached a consensus on the set of 13 criteria and 30 indicators and their weights in three main contexts of education, research and facilities, and equipment which were used for Medical Schools’ ranking. Using Delphi technique for devising the criteria and their weights in evaluation processes such as ranking makes their results more acceptable among universities. https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/view/5145 https://acta.tums.ac.ir/index.php/acta/article/download/5145/4806