Identification and comparison of the yield and composition of essential oil constituents of four Eucalyptus species adapted to the climatic conditions of Khorramabad

Introduction: Eucalyptus has more than 400 species, while only a few species of this genus have been imported in Iran. In this study we aimed to investigate chemical compounds of the essential oils of Eucalyptus species adapted in Lorestan climate. Methods: In this study, the fresh young leaves of four different Eucalyptus species including E. suggrandis, E. globulus subsp. bicostata, E. nitens and E. globulus subsp. maidenii were collected in spring (the middle of May) in khorramabad, Iran. The powder of air-dried leaves of different species of Eucalyptus was subjected to hydro-distillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus. The chemical compositions of different essential oils were detected using gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and determination of their retention time (RT), retention index (RI) and Mass Spectra. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: The results of this study indicated that there was significant difference (P&lt;0.01) among the yield and chemical compounds of the essential oils of studied species. The results showed that the yield of essential oil extracted from E. suggrandis, E. globulus bicostata, E. nitens and E. globulus maidenii were 1.12, 1.34, 2.57 and 5.38, respectively. Conclusion: The essential oil constituents of four Eucalyptus species plant were different in among of some compounds. E. globulus maidenii&nbsp; &nbsp;had most content of essential oil and 1.8-Cineole compound so it is necessary to identify quality and quantity characteristics of compounds available in this plant.</p

Influence of spark plasma sintering and baghdadite powder on mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite

AbstractSince hydroxyapatite-based materials have similar composition and crystallinity as natural calcified tissues, can be used for bone/tissue engineering. In the present study a novel nanocomposite based on bioceramics such as Natural Hydroxyapatite (NHA) and Baghdadite (BAG), was sintered by spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. The prepared composite was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) techniques. The porosity of the samples was measured by Archimedes method. The cold crushing strength (CCS) test was applied to evaluate their mechanical properties. Our results demonstrated that NHA-30wt. %BAG nanocomposite specimens have the lower CCS in comparison with other examined composites. Consequently, NHA/BAG samples exhibited acceptable mechanical properties and could be suitable candidates for bone tissue engineering applications especially orthopaedic fields

Inhibition of Neurogenic Inflammatory Pathways Associated with the Reduction in Discogenic Back Pain

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine whether the initiation of anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP inhibitor) medication therapy for migraines was also associated with improvements in back/neck pain, mobility, and function in a patient population with comorbid degenerative spinal disease and migraine. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: CGRP upregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and nerve growth factor in spinal spondylotic disease, which results in disc degeneration and sensitization of nociceptive neurons. Although CGRP inhibitors can quell neurogenic inflammation in migraines, their off-site efficacy as a therapeutic target for discogenic back/neck pain conditions remains unknown. METHODS: All adult patients diagnosed with spinal spondylosis and migraine treated with CGRP inhibitors at a single academic institution between 2017 and 2020 were retrospectively identified. Patient demographic and medical data, follow-up duration, migraine severity and frequency, spinal pain, functional status, and mobility before and after the administration of CGRP inhibitors were collected. Paired univariate analysis was conducted to determine significant changes in spinal pain, headache severity, and headache frequency before and after the administration of CGRP inhibitors. The correlation between changes in the spinal pain score and functional or mobility improvement was assessed with Spearman\u27s rho. RESULTS: In total, 56 patients were included. The mean follow-up time after the administration of CGRP inhibitors was 123 days for spinal pain visits and 129 days for migraine visits. Back/neck pain decreased significantly (p CONCLUSIONS: Patients taking CGRP inhibitors for chronic migraines with comorbid degenerative spinal conditions experienced significant off-target reduction of back/neck pain

Inhibition of Neurogenic Inflammatory Pathways Associated with the Reduction in Discogenic Back Pain

Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Purpose This study aimed to determine whether the initiation of anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP inhibitor) medication therapy for migraines was also associated with improvements in back/neck pain, mobility, and function in a patient population with comorbid degenerative spinal disease and migraine. Overview of Literature CGRP upregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and nerve growth factor in spinal spondylotic disease, which results in disc degeneration and sensitization of nociceptive neurons. Although CGRP inhibitors can quell neurogenic inflammation in migraines, their off-site efficacy as a therapeutic target for discogenic back/neck pain conditions remains unknown. Methods All adult patients diagnosed with spinal spondylosis and migraine treated with CGRP inhibitors at a single academic institution between 2017 and 2020 were retrospectively identified. Patient demographic and medical data, follow-up duration, migraine severity and frequency, spinal pain, functional status, and mobility before and after the administration of CGRP inhibitors were collected. Paired univariate analysis was conducted to determine significant changes in spinal pain, headache severity, and headache frequency before and after the administration of CGRP inhibitors. The correlation between changes in the spinal pain score and functional or mobility improvement was assessed with Spearman’s rho. Results In total, 56 patients were included. The mean follow-up time after the administration of CGRP inhibitors was 123 days for spinal pain visits and 129 days for migraine visits. Back/neck pain decreased significantly (p<0.001) from 6.30 to 4.36 after starting CGRP inhibitor therapy for migraine control. As recorded in the spine follow-up notes, 25% of patients experienced a functional improvement in the activities of daily living, and 17.5% experienced mobility improvement while taking CGRP inhibitors. Change in back/neck pain moderately correlated (ρ=−0.430) with functional improvement but was not correlated with mobility improvement (ρ=−0.052). Conclusions Patients taking CGRP inhibitors for chronic migraines with comorbid degenerative spinal conditions experienced significant off-target reduction of back/neck pain

Honey, a Gift from Nature to Health and Beauty: A Review

Benefits of honey are contributed by the composition of its elements such as glucose, fructose, glucose oxidase, vitamins and phenolic compounds. For health, honey can be used to treat wounds due to the antibacterial activity conferred by the hydrogen peroxide produced by glucose oxidase in honey. Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, deodorizing and tissue regeneration activities in honey also help in the wound healing process. It can also be an alternative sweetener for diabetic patients to ensure compliance to a healthy diet. Moreover, honey exerts several effects such as lowering low density lipids and increasing high density lipids, thus reducing risk of atherosclerosis. In terms of beauty, honey can be used on skin and hair. It moisturizes skin through its natural humectant properties contributed by high contents of fructose and glucose. Honey treats acne on the skin due to its antibacterial activity, anti-inflammatory action and tissue repair. The hair can benefit from honey in such a way that the hair has abundance, and becomes easier to comb. However, there have not been as many studies regarding the use of honey in skin in comparison to its use for health. Therefore, future studies on honey could research its use, action and benefits in both cosmetics and dermatology

Non-Smoothness in the Asymptotics of Thin Shells and Propagation of Singularities. Hyperbolic Case

We consider the limit behaviour of elastic shells when the relative thickness tends to zero. We address the case when the middle surface has principal curvatures of opposite signs and the boundary conditions ensure the geometrical rigidity. The limit problem is hyperbolic, but enjoys peculiarities which imply singularities of unusual intensity. We study these singularities and their propagation for several cases of loading, giving a somewhat complete description of the solution

Surface characteristics and bioactivity of a novel natural HA/Zircon nanocomposite coated on dental implants

The surface characteristics of implant which influence the speed and strength of osseointegration include surface chemistry, crystal structure and crystallinity, roughness, strain hardening, and presence of impurities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioactivity and roughness of a novel natural hydroxyapatite/zircon (NHA/zircon) nanobiocomposite, coated on 316L stainless steel (SS) soaked in simulated body fluid (SBF). NHA/zircon nanobiocomposite was fabricated with 0 wt.%, 5 wt.%, 10 wt.%, and 15 wt.% of zircon in NHA using ball mill for 20 minutes. The composite mixture was coated on 316L SS using plasma spray method. The results are estimated using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation to evaluate surface morphology, X-ray diffraction (XRD) to analyze phase composition, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique to evaluate the shape and size of prepared NHA. Surfaces roughness tester was performed to characterize the coated nanocomposite samples. The maximum average Ra (14.54 μm) was found in the NHA 10 wt.% of zircon coating. In addition, crystallinity (Xc) was measured by XRD data, which indicated the minimum value (Xc = 41.1%) for the sample containing 10 wt.% of zircon. Maximum bioactivity occurred in the sample containing 10 wt.% of zircon, which was due to two reasons: first, the maximum roughness and, second, the minimum crystallinity of nanobiocomposite coating

Investigation of therapeutic potential in murine cutaneous leishmaniasis and antibacterial using biosynthesized silver nanoparticles using extract of Crocus sativus petals

Leishmaniasis, classified as a neglected tropical disease (NTD), is a parasitic infection caused by protozoa and transmitted through vectors. It is a widespread condition found in over 100 countries, known for its destructive nature. Consequently, there is an increasing need to establish novel approaches for combating leishmaniasis and developing effective strategies to combat the disease. In this study, we report an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and biocompatible process for the preparation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using aqueous extract of Crocus sativus petals and their antibacterial and anti-leishmanial activities. Characterization of biosynthesized AgNPs was conducted by UV-vis spectroscopy, TEM, FTIR, DLS, and FESEM spectroscopy. TEM and FESEM images revealed the existence of spherical/oval morphology with a size range of 30–70 nm. Additionally, functional groups associated with the extract were observed, indicating their involvement in the stabilization and coating of the biologically fabricated AgNPs. Furthermore, the AgNPs were confirmed through the observation of a surface plasmon response (SPR) with a peak wavelength of approximately 423 nm. This was accompanied by noticeable color transformation from transparent to brown, providing further evidence of the successful formation of AgNPs. Biosynthesized AgNPs from saffron wastages showed promising anti-leishmanial and antibacterial activities. The AgNPs displayed a zone of inhibition of 23 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and 10 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, indicating their potential antibacterial performance against these microorganisms. The application of an ointment containing quercetin/saffron-capped silver nanoparticles on mice infected with Leishmania major resulted in promising outcomes. The treated group exhibited a reduction in inflammatory responses and an increase in fibroblast activity compared to the untreated group. These results indicate the potential of this compound to alleviate inflammation and promote the growth of fibroblasts, which are beneficial for wound healing and tissue repair. In conclusion, the utilization of biogenically synthesized silver nanoparticles derived from saffron holds promise as an alternative therapeutic approach for treating cutaneous leishmaniasis