Unilateral presentation of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome

Purpose: To report a case of acute Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease with unilateral clinical manifestations followed by late fellow eye involvement. Case Report: This case report reviews the 12-month follow-up observation of a 44-year old woman who presented to the emergency department with unilateral progressive and painless visual blurring. Ophthalmoscopic findings, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fluorescein angiography (FAG), enhanced-depth optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT), indocyanine green angiography, and response to treatment were evaluated. Her BCVA was 20/50 (logMAR: 0.4) in the right eye and 20/20 (logMAR: 0) in the left eye. Eye examination revealed optic disc swelling and multiple serous retinal detachments in the right eye and a normal left eye. She had headache, dysacusia, and mild hearing problem. Her past ocular and drug histories were unremarkable. Retinal imaging revealed characteristic features of VKH in the right eye. All laboratory testing results were inconclusive. VA and OCT findings significantly improved following the treatment with methylprednisolone 1 g/day continued by tapering dose of oral prednisolone. Two months after the presentation and during prednisolone tapering, VA of the left eye decreased and fundus examination revealed multiple serous retinal detachments in this eye. Conclusion: Ophthalmologists should recognize unilateral and asymmetrical VKH disease with subtle systemic involvement. © 2020 JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMIC AND VISION RESEARCH | PUBLISHED BY KNOWLEDGE

Analysis of the Farmers Economic Behavior to Reduce the Environmental Effects of Agricultural Chemical Inputs (a Case Study of Kashaf- Rood Basin in Mashhad)

The purpose of this study is the analysis of the farmers economic behavior to reduce the adverse environmental effects of agricultural chemical inputs by using contingent valuation approach and Tobit model by Heckman's two stage. To achieve the desired goal, 100 questionnaires collected by a random sampling from farmers of Kashaf- rood basin in Mashhad city in 2013. Results showed that variables of age, education, type of agricultural activity, index 2 (farmers agree with the adverse effects of overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, index 5 (farmers agree with investments to protect the soil and water), Sex, number of households employed in agriculture, experience in the use of soil and water conservation practices, total area under cultivation and index 4 (farmers agree with well being of available soil and water) have a significant impact on the farmers financial participation to reduce the adverse environmental effects of chemical fertilizers. also, variables of age, education, total amount annual consumption of chemical pesticides per year, sex, main job, number of households employed in agriculture, type of agricultural activity, net savings of agriculture, land ownership status, total amount annual consumption of fertilizer per year, index 1 (farmers agree with benefits of preventing soil washing), index 4 (farmers agree with well being of available soil and water) and index 5 (farmers agree with investments to protect the soil and water) have a significant impact on the farmers financial participation to reduce the adverse environmental effects of chemical pesticides. According to the study results, Suggestions is presented for reducing the adverse environmental impacts of chemical inputs

Influence of eutectic phase precipitation on cracking susceptibility during forging of a martensitic stainless steel for turbine shaft applications

The presence of the eutectic phase (delta ferrite + M23C6) in martensitic stainless steels brings significant deterioration of the in-service mechanical properties of the critical components such as turbine shaft made of these alloys. In the present study, thermodynamic and kinetics of eutectic phase formation during solidification and the reheating stages before forging of a large size X38CrMo16 martensitic stainless steel ingot are investigated. Material characterization and microstructural evolution were characterized in three different zones of a large size ingot. It was observed that the forging temperature and the solidification rate were the two most effective parameters influencing the volume fraction of the eutectic phase and its morphology. Optical and electron microscopy observations along with Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy (EDS) and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) measurements were used in the investigation. The results showed that the eutectic phase precipitated primarily at the grain boundaries. Furthermore, a clear evolution on the morphology and volume fraction of the eutectic phase including thin film-like and skeleton-like carbides was found from the outer surface to the center of the ingot along the radial direction. EDS analysis revealed the substantial presence of chromium, molybdenum, and carbon within the M23C6 along the grain boundaries. Phase transformation and the precipitation phase sequences were analyzed as a function of temperature and composition of eutectic transformation using the Thermo-Calc software and the predictions were validated with experimental findings

Prioritization of Factors Affecting the Delay or Inability to Repay Bank Facilities to Farmers

Introduction: The role of credits in agricultural development is very important, especially after implementing land reform and converting subjects to a large class of small owners, the demand has been intensified. Seasonality of agricultural productions usually creates temporary vacuum among farmers payments and receipts, thus farmers need to save their previous incomes or seek financial help out of the sector in order to pay current expenses and investments in agriculture sector. Due to farmers low income, the saving possibility is low and therefore farmers are not in a situation that they can invest in agriculture sector from their savings or to purchase required inputs Materials and Methods: The aim of this study was to prioritize the factors affecting the delay and lack in repaying loans, therefore at first it should identify the payment factors. This means that one should find what factors are affecting the lack or delay in repayment of loans granted to farmers. So the factors affecting the delay or failure to repay the loans were identified by using the Delphi method and then prioritizing the factors will be discussed with regard to experts perspectives by using the analytical network process model. Analytical network process (ANP) is one of the most efficient techniques for decision making with multiple criteria that it was proposed by Thomas Almaty for the first time in 1982 and as the developed form of AHP method. In cases where lower levels affect the upper levels or elements in a same level are not independent of each other, AHP method cannot be used. ANP technique is a more general form of AHP, but it does not require the hierarchical structure and therefore it show more complex relationships between different levels of decision in network form and it considers the interactions and feedbacks between criteria and alternatives. In fact the main objective of this process is to determine the overall impact of all factors in the face together. Results and discussion: In the study, factors affecting repayment were divided into the five categories, including farmers, the rules of bank loan payment, banking laws, the government and Jihad agricultural organization . In farmers sector, the farmers primary earned cash had weight of 0.3 out of 1 among five variables. The second stage is the farmers experience which has allocated the weight of 0.23 percent itself. Project failure is located in the third rank. The duration of project restoration and farmers activity volume has less weight than other variables. The results in section of rules of bank loan payment showed that lobbying in bank is in the first place with weight of 0.28. Insurance Fund was also one of the factors that its lack causes lack of immediate repayment of the loans. About bank laws, deep court sentences also were among the factors that its lacking may lead to delay or failure to repay loans. This variable with the weight of 0.2 is among variables affecting on the loan repayment. Long process of enforcements is a factor that in bank experts perspective, it has weight of 0.19 percent compared to other variables. Experts specialties has little weight compared to the other variables. Agriculture-related factors suggested that the accuracy and frequency of visits from project are the most important variables among agents. Preventing the failure of the project is among the factors that had allocated the weight of25% to it. The focus of special funds is among factors that have allocated the weight of 20% to itself that it be considered as an important factor. Jihad agricultural experts specialty and lobbying are the factors that are not of high importance and they are in grades 4 and 5. Agents related to government that effect the loan repayment according to the results also indicated that attention to relations in the macro-level and lobbying have high impacts on non-repayment of the granted facilities. In Agricultural Bank experts views, the repayment extending policy is among the factors that cause to non-repayment of the granted facilities. This variable has the weight of 25 percent among the other variables. Interest and inflation rates are the factors that have common weight in non-repayment of the granted facilities. Conclusions: The results showed that in bank experts views, banking laws are the most important criterion that affects the absence or delay in repayment of installments. Experts believe that if the banking system strongly enters into financial markets, it will contribute to the development of national economy. Accordingly, it was determined that lobbying in bank is the most important variable of banking laws subset, and it is the most effective factor on the lack and delay in repayment of loans. It means that if the banking legislations is performed correctly and enforced, then the payment of loans is timely and will ease the problems of lack of timely payment. On the other hand, according to bank experts, including measures that affects the delay and lack in timely payment. If the farmers have proper cash and sufficient experience in their own field, they can be successful in the timely payment

Identification of a novel nonsense mutation in kyphoscoliosis peptidase gene in an Iranian patient with myofibrillar myopathy

Myofibrillar myopathies (MFMs) are rare genetic and slowly progressive neuromuscular disorders. Several pathogenic mutations have been reported in MFM-related genes including DES, CRYAB, MYOT, LDB3 or ZASP, FLNC, BAG3, FHL1 and DNAJB6. Although MFMs is commonly inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, the inheritance pattern and novel mutated genes are not thoroughly elucidated in some cases. Here, we report discovery of a novel nonsense mutation in a 29-year-old Iranian male patient with motor disorders and deformity in his lower limbs. His parents are second cousins. Hereditary Motor Sensory Neuropathy as initial genetic diagnosis was ruled out. Whole exome sequencing using NGS on Illumina HiSeq4000 platform was performed to identify the disease and possible mutated gene(s). Our data analysis identified a homozygous nonsense unreported c.C415T (p.R139X) variant on kyphoscoliosis peptidase (KY) gene (NM178554: exon4). Sanger sequencing of this mutation has been performed for his other related family members. Sequencing and segregation analysis was confirmed the NGS results and autosomal recessive inheritance pattern of the disease. © 2018 Chongqing Medical Universit

Carbon and graphene quantum dots: A review on syntheses, characterization, biological and sensing applications for neurotransmitter determination

Neuro-transmitters have been considered to be essential biochemical molecules, which monitor physiological and behavioral function in the peripheral and central nervous systems. Thus, it is of high pharmaceutical and biological significance to analyze neuro-transmitters in the biological samples. So far, researchers have devised a lot of techniques for assaying these samples. It has been found that electro-chemical sensors possess features of robustness, selectivity, and sensitivity as well as real-time measurement. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and carbon QDs (CQDs) are considered some of the most promising carbon-based nanomaterials at the forefront of this research area. This is due to their characteristics including lower toxicity, higher solubility in various solvents, great electronic features, strong chemical inertness, high specific surface areas, plenty of edge sites for functionalization, and versatility, in addition to their ability to be modified via absorbent surface chemicals and the addition of modifiers or nano-materials. Hence in the present review, the synthesis methods of GQDs and CQDs has been summarized and their characterization methods also been analyzed. The applications of carbon-based QDs (GQDs and CQDs) in biological and sensing areas, such as biological imaging, drug/gene delivery, antibacterial and antioxidant activity, photoluminescence sensors, electrochemiluminescence sensors and electrochemical sensors, have also been discussed. This study then covers sensing features of key neurotransmitters, including dopamine, tyrosine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin and acetylcholine. Hence, issues and challenges of the GQDs and CQDs were analyzed for their further development. This journal is © 2020 The Royal Society of Chemistry

Recent developments in voltammetric and amperometric sensors for cysteine detection

This review article aims to provide an overview of the recent advances in the voltammetric and amperometric sensing of cysteine (Cys). The introduction summarizes the important role of Cys as an essential amino acid, techniques for its sensing, and the utilization of electrochemical methods and chemically modified electrodes for its determination. The main section covers voltammetric and amperometric sensing of Cys based on glassy carbon electrodes, screen printed electrodes, and carbon paste electrodes, modified with various electrocatalytic materials. The conclusion section discusses the current challenges of Cys determination and the future perspectives. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2021

Recent advances in the aptamer-based electrochemical biosensors for detecting aflatoxin b1 and its pertinent metabolite aflatoxin m1

The notable toxicological impacts of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and its main metabolite, aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), on human being health make the evaluation of food quality highly significant. Due to the toxicity of those metabolites�even very low content in foodstuffs�it is crucial to design a sensitive and reliable procedure for their detection. Electrochemical aptamer-based biosensors are considered the most encouraging option, based on multi-placed analysis, rapid response, high sensitivity and specificity. The present review specifically emphasizes the potential utilization of the electrochemical aptasensors for determining the AFM1 and AFB1 with different electrodes. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Recent advances in the electrochemical sensing of venlafaxine: An antidepressant drug and environmental contaminant

Venlafaxine (VEN), as one of the popular anti-depressants, is widely utilized for the treatment of major depressive disorder, panic disorder, as well as anxiety. This drug influences the chemicals in the brain, which may result in imbalance in depressed individuals. However, venlafaxine and its metabolites are contaminants in water. They have exerted an adverse influence on living organisms through their migration and transformation in various forms of adsorption, photolysis, hydrolysis, and biodegradation followed by the formation of various active compounds in the environment. Hence, it is crucial to determine VEN with low concentrations in high sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility. Some analytical techniques have been practically designed to quantify VEN. However, electroanalytical procedures have been of interest due to the superior advantages in comparison to conventional techniques, because such methods feature rapidity, simplicity, sensitivity, and affordability. Therefore, this mini-review aims to present the electrochemical determination of VEN with diverse electrodes, such as carbon paste electrodes, glassy carbon electrodes, mercury-based electrodes, screen-printed electrodes, pencil graphite electrodes, and ion-selective electrodes. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Electrocatalytic oxidation and selective voltammetric detection of methyldopa in the presence of hydrochlorothiazide in real samples

The combination of methyldopa and hydrocholorothiazide are used to treat high blood pressure. The present research dealt with the synthesis and utilization of the hexagonal-shaped of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) to develop a new, sensitive, and exclusive electrochemical sensor for detection of methyldopa. Thus, we did our examination on the methyldopa detection via cyclic voltammetry (CV) method, differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) technique, and chronoamperometry (CH) at molybdenum (VI) complex-ionic liquid�ZnO NP modified carbon paste electrode (MCILZNMCPE) in 0.1 M PBS (pH of 7.0) solution. The use of DPV showed linear dependence of methyldopa peak current at pH of 7.0 solution on their concentration ranging between 0.05 and 300.0 µM. Then, limit of detection (LOD) has been determined to be 20.0 nM for methyldopa. Ultimately, the modified electrode has been utilized for detecting methyldopa in the presence of hydrochlorothiazide by DPV. © 2020 Elsevier B.V