Aims.
We investigate thermal and nonthermal radio emission associated with the early formation and evolution phases of young stellar clusters (YSCs) selected by their mid-infrared (MIR) emission at ...24
μ
m in M 33. We consider regions in their early formation period, which are compact and totally embedded in the molecular cloud, and in the more evolved and exposed phase.
Methods.
Thanks to recent radio continuum surveys between 1.4 and 6.3 GHz we are able to find radio source counterparts to more than 300 star forming regions of M 33. We identify the thermal free–free component for YSCs and their associated molecular complexes using the H
α
line emission.
Results.
A cross-correlation of MIR and radio continuum is established from bright to very faint sources, with the MIR-to-radio emission ratio that shows a slow radial decline throughout the M 33 disk. We confirm the nature of candidate embedded sources by recovering the associated faint radio continuum luminosities. By selecting exposed YSCs with reliable H
α
flux, we establish and discuss the tight relation between H
α
and the total radio continuum at 5 GHz over four orders of magnitude. This holds for individual YSCs as well as for the giant molecular clouds hosting them, and allows us to calibrate the radio continuum–star formation rate relation at small scales. On average, about half of the radio emission at 5 GHz in YSCs is nonthermal with large scatter. For exposed but compact YSCs and their molecular clouds, the nonthermal radio continuum fraction increases with source brightness, while for large HII regions the nonthermal fraction is lower and shows no clear trend. This has been found for YSCs with and without identified supernova remnants and underlines the possible role of massive stars in triggering particle acceleration through winds and shocks: these particles diffuse throughout the native molecular cloud prior to cloud dispersal.
PLGA-based nanoparticles as cancer drug delivery systems Sadat Tabatabaei Mirakabad, Fatemeh; Nejati-Koshki, Kazem; Akbarzadeh, Abolfazl ...
Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention,
01/2014, Letnik:
15, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is one of the most effective biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles (NPs). It has been approved by the US FDA to use in drug delivery systems due to controlled ...and sustained- release properties, low toxicity, and biocompatibility with tissue and cells. In the present review, the structure and properties of PLGA copolymers synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of DL-lactide and glicolide were characterized using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Methods of preparation and characterization, various surface modifications, encapsulation of diverse anticancer drugs, active or passive tumor targeting and different release mechanisms of PLGA nanoparticles are discussed. Increasing experience in the application of PLGA nanoparticles has provided a promising future for use of these nanoparticles in cancer treatment, with high efficacy and few side effects.
Microplastic (MP) pollution has been rising as a threatening risk and recently has appealed to the attention of more researchers. In this study, influential parameters affecting the removal rate of ...polyethylene microplastics (PEMPs) were optimized through response surface methodology (RSM). In Box Behnken Design (BBD), independent parameters were pH, PEMP size, coagulant dosage and polyacrylamide dosage. Two experimental sets were conducted, one with ferric chloride and the second with poly aluminum chloride as two commonly applied coagulants in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). Comparing the results of optimized parameters, PAC was a better coagulant with the predicted removal rate of 58.19%, while the removal rate with ferric chloride as a coagulant was predicted to be 56.37%. Moreover, some experiments were conducted to analyze the effect of ozone gas and sodium hypochlorite as disinfectants on removal rate. The highest removal rate was observed when 2 ppm of O
was added to the solution coagulated with optimal dosage of PAC, reaching the removal rate of 76.8%.
Microplastic (MP) pollution is a growing concern and various methods are being sought to alleviate the level of pollution worldwide. This study investigates the biodegradation capacity of MPs by ...indigenous microorganisms of raw water from Tehran drinking water treatment plants. By exposing polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) MPs to selected microbial colonies, structural, morphological, and chemical changes were detected by scanning electron microscope (SEM), cell weight measurement, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy test, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Selected bacterial strains include Pseudomonas protegens strain (A), Bacillus cereus strain (B), and Pseudomonas protegens strain (C). SEM analysis showed roughness and cracks on PP MPs exposed to strains A and C. However, PE MPs exposed to strain B faced limited degradation. In samples related to strain A, the Raman spectrum was completely changed, and a new chemical structure was created. Both TGA and FTIR analysis confirmed changes detected by Raman analysis of PP and PE MPs in chemical changes in this study. The results of cell dry weight loss for microbial strains A, B, and C were 13.5, 38.6, and 25.6%, respectively. Moreover, MPs weight loss was recorded at 32.6% for PP MPs with strain A, 13.3% for PE MPs with strain B, and 25.6% for PP MPs with strain C.
Mining activity constitutes a potential source of heavy metal pollution in the environment. Long-term exposure to heavy metals (e.g., cadmium) has adverse health effects. Rodents frequently serve as ...bioindicators to monitor the levels of heavy metals in the environment. In the present study, concentrations of 10 heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Zn) in kidney, liver, and muscle tissue of the Persian jird (
Meriones persicus
) were evaluated. This is the first study to examine the histopathological changes in Persian jird tissues caused by the bioaccumulation heavy metals. The samples were taken at location that surrounded by Sangan Iron Ore Mine (SIOM) mining activities, in northeastern Iran. The results show that the highest concentrations for the metals were observed in kidney and liver, whereas lowest concentrations were found in muscle of Persian jirds. The concentration of Pb was below the limit of detection. Sex and age were two factors that could explain the different levels of heavy metal bioaccumulation, which affects the concentration of some metals. Adults had significantly higher Cu and Cd levels compared to juveniles. Males bioaccumulated more Zn in their kidneys than females, whereas females bioaccumulated more Fe in their livers. As expected, heavy metals affected various organs of the studied specimens. Hyperemia, hemorrhage, necrosis, and degenerative damage to the epithelial cells of the tubules, the presence of hyaline casts, and in one case, mononuclear leukocyte infiltration, were observed in samples of renal tissue. Hemorrhage and hepatocyte vacuolization were the most common histopathological changes found in samples of hepatic tissue. These effects and the concentrations of heavy metals in the studied specimens indicate the need for monitoring and frequent sampling to evaluate long-term persistent pollutants.
Abstract
Objectives
The purpose of this study was to investigate the analgesic effects of duloxetine, specifically on postoperative pain, opioid consumption, and related side effects following total ...hip or knee arthroplasty.
Methods
In this systematic review and meta-analysis, Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched until November 2022 for studies which compared duloxetine with placebo when added to routine pain management protocols. Individual study risk of bias assessment was conducted based on Cochrane risk of bias tool 2. Random effect model meta-analysis was done on mean differences, to evaluate the outcomes.
Results
Nine randomized clinical trials (RCT) were included in the final analysis, totaling 806 patients. Duloxetine reduced opioid consumption (oral morphine milligram equivalents) on postoperative days (POD) 2 (mean difference (MD): −14.35, P = .02), POD 3 (MD: −13.6, P < .001), POD 7 (MD: −7.81, P < .001), and POD 14 (MD: −12.72, P < .001). Duloxetine decreased pain with activity on POD 1, 3, 7, 14, 90 (All P < .05), and pain at rest on POD 2, 3, 7, 14, and 90 (all P < .05). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of the side effects, except for increased risk of somnolence/drowsiness (risk ratio: 1.87, P = .007).
Conclusion
Current evidence shows low to moderate opioid sparing effects of perioperative duloxetine and a statistically but not clinically significant reduction in pain scores. Patients treated with duloxetine had an increased risk for somnolence and drowsiness.
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are one of the most widely used nanomaterials, although the mechanisms of AgNP toxicity in terrestrial plants is still unclear. We compared the toxic effects of AgNPs and ...AgNO3 on Brassica nigra seed germination at physiological and molecular levels. Both AgNPs and AgNO3 inhibited seed germination, lipase activity, soluble and reducing sugar contents in germinating seeds and seedlings. These reductions were more pronounced in AgNP treatments than AgNO3 treatments. Application of 200–400mg/L both AgNPs and AgNO3 increased transcription of heme oxygenase-1. However, at 800, 1600mg/L, AgNPs or AgNO3 suppressed HO-1 expression. At 400mg/L, AgNPs or AgNO3-induced inhibitory effects on seed germination and were ameliorated by the HO-1 inducer, hematin, or NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Additionally, 4μM hematin and 400μM SNP were able to markedly boost the HO/NO system. However, the addition of the HO-1 inhibitor (ZnPPIX) or the specific scavenger of NO (cPTIO) not only reversed the protective effects conferred by hematin, but also blocked the up-regulation of HO activity. In addition, hematin-drived NO production in B. niger seeds under AgNPs was confirmed. Our results at physiological and molecular levels suggested that AgNPs were more toxic than AgNO3. Based on these results, for the first time, we suggest that endogenous HO is needed to alleviate AgNPs-induced germination inhibition, which might have a possible interaction with NO.
•Toxicity of AgNPs was more pronounced than AgNO3 in Brassica nigra.•Low concentration of AgNPs or AgNO3 increased HO-1 expression.•High concentration of AgNPs or AgNO3 suppressed HO-1 expression.•Hematin and SNP improved seed germination under AgNPs or AgNO3 and ZnPPIX or cPTIO reversed their effect.•Crosstalk between endogenous HO and NO is needed to alleviate AgNPs toxicity.
Background and Aims
Data on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in low‐ to middle‐income countries are still being determined, despite the fact that most future older adults are expected to reside in ...these regions. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of MCI in Iran.
Methods
A cross‐sectional study was conducted on 4938 community‐dwelling subjects aged 50 years or above in the first wave of the Ardakan Cohort Study on Aging. MCI was evaluated using the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS) in literate and illiterate individuals. The relationship between factors associated with the odds of MCI was assessed through logistic regression.
Results
The prevalence of MCI among all participants, the literates and illiterates, was 15.8%, 6.3%, and 36.4%, respectively. It was found that failure to accomplish any of the MMSE or AMTS items was significantly related to MCI (p < 0.001). Age (odds ratio (OR): 1.05; p < 0.001 in the literates, OR: 1.06; p < 0.001 in the illiterates), sex (OR: 0.13; p < 0.001 in the illiterates), history of stroke (OR: 2.86; p = 0.006 in the literates, OR: 2.04; p = 0.045 in the illiterates), and depression (OR: 1.87; p < 0.001 in the literates, OR: 1.41; p = 0.008 in the illiterates) were significantly associated with MCI.
Conclusion
This study highlights the significant associations between age, education, depression, stroke, and MCI in Iranian participants. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions in low‐literacy populations, mental health screening, and stroke prevention strategies to mitigate the burden of MCI and enhance cognitive health.
Purpose
To identify pre-surgical imaging predictive value and factors associated with the clinicopathologic discrepancy for implication of definitive pelvic radiotherapy in clinically node-negative ...bladder cancer.
Method
The documented data of bladder cancer patients who underwent radical cystectomy plus pelvic lymphadenectomy were collected retrospectively. Patients’ characteristics, last imaging, pathology reports, disease-specific survival and overall survival were retrieved.
Results
From 142 patients, pre-surgical imaging had a sensitivity of 76.4%, specificity of 73.7%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 94.9%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 32.6% (
p
value < 0.0001) for detection of muscle invasion. Also, for detection of positive lymph nodes, imaging had a sensitivity of 31.8%, specificity of 85.7%, PPV of 50%, and NPV of 73.7% (
p
value: 0.022). 44.4% of study population were upstaged after surgery (24.6% associated with N-upstaging) and 18.3% were downstaged (12% associated with N-downstaging). Receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and T-stage were not correlated with N-upstaging. On multivariate analysis, lymphovascular invasion (LVI) maintained its significance for independent prediction of upstaging (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.5–7.5,
p
value: 0.004) and inversely with downstaging (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.12–0.96,
p
value: 0.04). Older age (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.0–1.05,
p
value 0.047), positive margins (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2–3.8,
p
value 0.011), presence of LVI (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.4–4.7,
p
value 0.003), perineural invasion (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2–3.4,
p
value 0.013), and lymph node ratio (OR 1.011, 95% CI 1.001–1.021,
p
value 0.03) were associated with worse survival. Also, N-upstaging independently predicted a worse survival after controlling for surgical pathology stage (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2–4.5,
p
value 0.011).
Conclusions
The optimal target volume in definitive chemoradiotherapy of node-negative bladder cancer patients remains to be established. Since then, customizing the treatment is considered especially for positive LVI in TURBT specimen.
Radiotherapy (RT) is an essential treatment modality against cancer and becoming even more in demand due to the anticipated increase in cancer incidence. Due to the rapid development of RT ...technologies amid financial challenges, we aimed to assess the available RT facilities and the issues with achieving health equity based on current equipment compared to the previous reports from Iran.
A survey arranged by the Iran Cancer Institute's Radiation Oncology Research Center (RORC) was sent to all of the country's radiotherapy centers in 2022. Four components were retrieved: the reimbursement type, equipment, human resources, and patient load. To calculate the radiotherapy utilization rate (RUR), the Lancet Commission was used. The findings were compared with the previous national data.
Seventy-six active radiotherapy centers with 123 Linear accelerators (LINACs) were identified. The centers have been directed in three ways. 10 (20 LINACs), 36 (50 LINACs), and 30 centers (53 LINACs) were charity-, private-, and public-based, respectively. Four provinces had no centers. There was no active intraoperative radiotherapy machine despite its availability in 4 centers. One orthovoltage X-ray machine was active and 14 brachytherapy devices were treating patients. There were 344, 252, and 419 active radiation oncologists, medical physicists, and radiation therapy technologists, respectively. The ratio of LINAC and radiation oncologists to one million populations was 1.68 and 4.10, respectively. Since 2017, 35±5 radiation oncology residents have been trained each year.
There has been a notable growth in RT facilities since the previous reports and Iran's situation is currently acceptable among LMICs. However, there is an urgent need to improve the distribution of the RT infrastructure and provide more facilities that can deliver advanced techniques.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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