The effect of temperature on kinetics and diffusion coefficients of metallocene derivatives in polyol-based deep eutectic solvents

The temperature dependence of the density, dynamic viscosity and ionic conductivity of several deep eutectic solvents (DESs) containing ammonium-based salts and hydrogen bond donvnors (polyol type) are investigated. The temperature-dependent electrolyte viscosity as a function of molar conductivity is correlated by means of Walden's rule. The oxidation of ferrocene (Fc/Fc+) and reduction of cobaltocenium (Cc+/Cc) at different temperatures are studied by cyclic voltammetry and potential-step chronoamperometry in DESs. For most DESs, chronoamperometric transients are demonstrated to fit an Arrhenius-type relation to give activation energies for the diffusion of redox couples at different temperatures. The temperature dependence of the measured conductivities of DES1 and DES2 are better correlated with the Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher equation. The kinetics of the Fc/Fc+ and Cc+/Cc electrochemical systems have been investigated over a temperature range from 298 to 338 K. The heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant is then calculated at different temperatures by means of a logarithmic analysis. The glycerol-based DES (DES5) appears suitable for further testing in electrochemical energy storage devices

Effects of Meta-Cognitive Therapy on Symptoms of Social Phobia Patients

Introduction & Objective: Social phobia is an anxiety disorder, which can be described as a strong, persisting fear of situations where humiliation or embarrassment may occur. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of meta-cognitive therapy (MCT) on symptoms of social phobia (SP) patients. Materials & Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted in 2010. with pretest-posttest and follow-up design, using control group. From all social phobia disorder (SPD) patients referring to psychology clinics in Shiraz, Iran in 2010, 19 patients were selected through the objective sampling method and were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. The Social Phobia Symptoms Assessment Questioner (SPSAQ) and Fears of Negative Evaluation Scale (FNE) were used as the pre–test measures. The experimental group received 8 weeks of Wells’ meta-cognitive therapy sessions. The control group was in the waiting list until the end of the follow up. The same measures were used for post–test and follow–up (after 3 months). Results: The results of analysis of multivariate covariance showed that MCT had a significant effect in reducing the symptoms of SPD (p<0.001). Conclusion: This intervention is believed to reduce symptoms of social phobia (SP) patients by facilitating transmission from the object mode to the meta cognitive mode and enhancing the efficient and flexible coping skills

Association of ApE1 gene Asp148Glu polymorphism and idiopathic male infertility

Background and Objective: Despite enormous progress in the understanding of human reproductive physiology, the underlying cause of male infertility remains undefined in about 50.0% of cases, which are referred to as idiopathic infertility and affects about 5.0-7.0% of the general male population. Human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (ApE1) is a multifunctional protein that has an important role in the base excision repair (BER) pathway. ApE1 SNP T>G found in exon 5 led to substitution of Asp>Glu at codon 148. This study was done to evaluate the association of ApE1 Asp148Glu polymorphism and the risk of idiopathic male infertility. Methods: In this case-control study, blood samples were collected from 90 patients diagnosed with idiopathic male infertility and 90 healthy men, genotyped by Allele-Specific PCR (AS-PCR) method by using specific primers that were designed and the association between genotype and allele frequencies in cases and controls were estimated. Results: There was no significant association between ApE1 gene polymorphism at codon 148 in case and control groups. Conclusion: No significant association was found between the Asp148Glu polymorphism and idiopathic male infertility

Association of Mdr1 Gene C1236t Polymorphism with Idiopathic Males’ Infertility in Guilan Population

Introduction: Infertility is defined as the inability of the couples to achieve pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) also known as multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) is an important protein of the cell membrane that pumps many foreign substances out of cells and has a protective role in sensitive tissues such as testis. MDR1 gene is located on q21.1 of chromosome 7. Hence, this study aimed to assess the association of MDR1 polymorphism and idiopathic male infertility. Methods: In this study (case- control), DNA was extracted from blood leukocytes of 136 male patients with idiopathic infertility as well as 130 healthy men. Genotypes were determined by using PCR-RFLP technique and EcoO109I enzyme. Results: The genotypes frequencies of CC, CT and TT in patient group were 19.12%, 39.70% and 41.18%, respectively, and the genotype frequencies of CC, CT and TT in control group were 12.30%, 61.54% and 26.16%, respectively. Conclusion: The study findings revealed that a significant association was found between MDR1 polymorphism and idiopathic infertility (P= 0.001). Therefore, the results suggest that CT heterozygous genotype has a protective effect on male fertility (P= 0.01, OR= 0.41; 95%CI: 0.23- 0.84). However, to achieve more accurate results, it is necessary to examine a larger target population

The Relationship between Level of Vitamin C in Follicular Fluid and ‎Maturation of Oocytes and Embryo Quality in Patients Undergoing In-vitro ‎Fertilization

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress and its adverse effects in vitro or on the body can reduce the number of reproductive cells and embryo quality. Given the fact that vitamin C is a natural antioxidant with a protective role, in this study we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the level of vitamin C in follicular fluid (FF) and maturation of oocytes and embryo quality of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on the eggs and embryos of 50 patients admitted to IVF unit of Al Zahra Hospital, Rasht, Iran. Patients underwent the same mediations used to induce ovulation, and then they were injected 10000 units of human chorionic gonadotropin. Finally, they underwent 36 hours of follicle suction. Vitamin C level in FF was measured by biochemical methods. Maturation of oocytes and embryo quality were examined with inverted light microscope. FINDINGS: After examining 583 eggs and 275 embryos the following results were obtained: the percentage of metaphase II oocytes in vitamin C level of less than one was 81.3% (412), but when compared to vitamin C level of one or more, it was 71.1% (54), which were significantly different (p=0.038). In the sub-classification, vitamin C level (0.5-1 mg/dl), MII oocyte frequency and the two pronuclei embryos were higher but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the quality of oocyte maturation and embryos in lower levels of vitamin C levels had improved, as compared to higher levels

Structural and Ultrastructural Study of Motor Neurons Following Sciatic Nerve Repair by Epineural Suture, Autograft and Nerve Guidance Channel in Adult Rat

ABSTRACT: Introduction & Objective: Much interest has been focused on the development of alternative instrument for bridging the nerve gaps. In the present study we used poled polyvinelidene fluoride (PVDF) tube filled with nerve growth factor (NGF) and collagen gel as a substitute for nerve autograft and compared the results with other current surgical techniques. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, 40 male Wistar rats each weighing 200-250 g were randomly divided in five groups nerve guidance channel, autograft, epineural suture, axotomy and sham operation. In nerve guidance channel groups, a 10 mm piece of left sciatic nerve was transected and this gap was repaired by PVDF tube containing NGF 7s (100 ng) and collagen gel (1.28 mg/ml). In autograft group, the 10 mm piece was 180° rotated and sutured to two nerve ends. In epineural suture group, left sciatic nerve in the middle thigh was transected then sutured end to end. In axotomy group, left sciatic nerve was transected in the middle thigh and was not repaired. After two months, left ventral L4-6 segments of spinal cord was removed and semi-thin and ultra-thin preparation for light and electron microscope were done. Contra-lateral side of spinal cord segments was used as control in all groups. Results: After two months we observed motor neuron atrophy and shrinkage, cytoplasmic vacouels and piknotic neurons in different surgical groups, but it was more intense in axotomy group. These changes were less in epineural suture group than in autograft and nerve guidance channel groups. In sham and control groups no changes were observed. In addition, increased nuclear condensation, nuclear membrane folding, central and marginal chromatin clumping in spinal motor neuron were observed in surgical groups mainly in axotomy group. Conclusion: According to the results, any type of injury to the sciatic nerve can cause cell changes and finally cell death in the spinal motor neurons. Using PVDF with NGF and collagen gel reduced cell changes at the level of autograft