Structural and optical properties of PVP-capped nanocrystalline ZnxCd1−xS solid solutions

Nanocrystalline ZnxCd1−xS solid solutions were prepared in a microwave-assisted hydrothermal process with gradient distribution of components (x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9). The growth of the cubic-structured quantum dots was observed for all component stoichiometries with the crystallite size between 4.5 and 5.7 nm. The obvious peak shifts have been found in the XRD patterns and the lattice parameters showed linear variation with x increasing. The evolution of the optical properties of obtained solid solutions including absorption and photoemission was also monitored in detail. The solid solutions show a considerable shift in the nanoparticle optical absorption edge from 482 to 343 nm with the increasing of Zn fraction. The band gaps of the solid solutions were estimated to be between 2.94 and 3.40 eV and the position of conduction band was shifted toward more negative potential with x increasing. The photoluminescence spectra showed a broad blue-green emission spreading up to 600 nm with emergence of three dominant peaks belong to sulfur, zinc, and cadmium vacancies

Effect of Curcumin on Pediatric Intractable Epilepsy

ObjectivesEpilepsy is the most prevalent chronic neurologic disorder in children. One-third of patients with epilepsy do not respond to antiepileptic drugs. This condition is known as intractable epilepsy. Previous studies have shown the beneficial effects of curcumin in the treatment of epilepsy. There are no randomized controlled clinicaltrials assessing the use of curcumin in epilepsy. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of nanomicelle curcumin on intractable pediatric epilepsy. Materials & Methods This double-blinded randomized crossover clinical trial was performed by a consecutive sampling to select 22 patients with intractable epilepsy divided into two groups. Patients received a daily dose of 4 mg/kg of curcumin or placebo as add-on therapy for 4 weeks. After a 2-week washout period, the treatment was replaced, and the new treatment was given for another 4 weeks. The SPSS software version 16 was used for statistical analysis. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran Results A total of 22 children were enrolled in this study, 11 of which were boys. The mean age of the patients was 4.28±5 years. A female patient taking a placebo was excluded in the first week of the trial due to parental dissatisfaction. The most common type of seizure among our patients was a generalized myoclonic seizure (42.9%). The mean number of seizure attacks among the subjects was 68.76±69.26 preintervention and 39.85±39.41at the end of the intervention, which represents a statistically significant difference (P=0.01). Conclusion Nanomicelle curcumin reduced the number of seizures significantly. Our results imply that curcumin treatment can help treat patients wit intractable pediatric epilepsy

A Comparative Analysis of Clinical Characteristics and Laboratory Findings of COVID-19 between Intensive Care Unit and Non-Intensive Care Unit Pediatric Patients: A Multicenter, Retrospective, Observational Study from Iranian Network for Research in Viral

Introduction: To date, little is known about the clinical features of pediatric COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). Objective: Herein, we aimed to describe the differences in demographic characteristics, laboratory findings, clinical presentations, and outcomes of Iranian pediatric COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU versus those in non-ICU settings. Methods: This multicenter investigation involved 15 general and pediatrics hospitals and included cases with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection based on positive real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) admitted to these centers between March and May 2020, during the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. Results: Overall, 166 patients were included, 61 (36.7%) of whom required ICU admission. The highest number of admitted cases to ICU were in the age group of 1–5 years old. Malignancy and heart diseases were the most frequent underlying conditions. Dyspnea was the major symptom for ICU-admitted patients. There were significant decreases in PH, HCO3 and base excess, as well as increases in creatinine, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and potassium levels between ICU-admitted and non-ICU patients. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), shock, and acute cardiac injury were the most common features among ICU-admitted patients. The mortality rate in the ICU-admitted patients was substantially higher than non-ICU cases (45.9% vs. 1.9%, respectively; p<0.001). Conclusions: Underlying diseases were the major risk factors for the increased ICU admissions and mortality rates in pediatric COVID-19 patients. There were few paraclinical parameters that could differentiate between pediatrics in terms of prognosis and serious outcomes of COVID-19. Healthcare providers should consider children as a high-risk group, especially those with underlying medical conditions

Determination of Effective Factors on Attendance in Theoretical Classrooms from The Viewpoint of Students and Faculty Members of Paramedical Sciences Faculty of Mashhad in 2015

Abstract Introduction: The presence in the classroom is closely linked to academic achievement and the prevention of student academic failure. This is while students are unwilling to attend class today. Therefore, study was conducted to determine the effective factors in their absence from the theoretical classes from the viewpoint of faculty members and students of Paramedical Sciences Faculty. Methods: : In this descriptive-analytical study, 38 faculty members of Paramedical Sciences Faculty of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences and 447 students was participated The data gathering tool was a researcher-made questionnaire that it was included two parts of demographic information and attendance factors in the class including 25 questions in the faculty' questionnaire and 27 questions in the students' questionnaire and in the four areas of teacher, the student, the physical environment and  the content of course which were based on Likert scale.  The content validity of the questionnaire was evaluated after reviewing the relevant scientific texts and by qualified professors in this area and reliability of the questionnaire was calculated by Cronbach's alpha. Data were analyzed using SPSS18 software and descriptive tests. Result: The professors and students participating in this study were with an average age of (43.16 ± 9.39) and (21.64 ± 1.21). According to the opinion of faculty members and students, the most important factors were the teacher's teaching and mastery (73.7%) and (46.6%), respectively,  The least importance was attached to environmental factors such as light (7.9%) and heat (13.2%). Conclusion: One of the most important reasons for the effective presence of students in theoretical classes is the positive qualities of professors, As a result, they can improve their teaching methods, raise their level of science, and create an appropriate relationship with students so interested them present in the classroom

Relation of Healthy Eating Index with Body Composition Parameters in Iranian Adult

Background: Obesity as the excessive accumulation of adipose in adipocytes has still remained equivocal. Since diets contain many components to prevent from or promote diseases, assessing effects of the whole diet on health can be more practical. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between quality of diets through healthy eating index (HEI), and body composition parameters in Iranian adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 138 participants in the age range of 20-55 years, who referred to Endocrinology Center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences to receive health care services and fulfilled the eligibility criteria to participate in this study. Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to calculate HEI scores. Body composition data included: Fat mass (FM), fat free mass (FFM), abdominal fat (AF), muscle mass (MM), and total body water (TBW) that were collected by bioelectrical impedance instrument. Results: In this study the mean HEI score was 55.26. Based on HEI-2010 values, diet quality was good in 0.7% of participants, needed improvement in 55.9%, and was poor in 43.4% of the cases. There were significant linear trends between quality of diets and body composition parameters (P < 0.05). Conclusion: According to our study poor diet quality can be related to FM and obesity in Iranian adults

Correlation between Diet Quality and Metabolic Syndrome

Background: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing with an alarming rate world wide. Since diet components' studies that focus on MetS have produced largely inconsistent results, assessing the whole diet than single nutrients on health can be more practical. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between diet quality and MetS components. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a total of 152 participants aged 20-55 years recruited from the endocrinology center of Tehran University of medical sciences. Dietary intake assessed by food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to calculate healthy eating index 2010 (HEI-2010). Body mass index (BMI), weight, height, waist circumference, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), triglycerides (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and blood pressure were measured. Results: In this study HEI mean score was 55.26. Based on HEI-2010 values, diet quality was good in 0.7% of participants, needed improvement in 55.9%, and was poor in 43.4% of cases. Diet quality (HEI) was significantly and linearly related with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, TG, and BMI (P < 0.05). Conclusions: According to this study, low diet quality can be related to MetS components

Encapsulation of Curcumin in Diblock Copolymer Micelles for Cancer Therapy

Application of nanoparticles has recently promising results for water insoluble agents like curcumin. In this study, we synthesized polymeric nanoparticle-curcumin (PNPC) and then showed its efficiency, drug loading, stability, and safety. Therapeutic effects of PNPC were also assessed on two cell lines and in an animal model of breast cancer. PNPC remarkably suppressed mammary and hepatocellular carcinoma cells proliferation (P<0.05). Under the dosing procedure, PNPC was safe at 31.25 mg/kg and lower doses. Higher doses demonstrated minimal hepatocellular and renal toxicity in paraclinical and histopathological examinations. Tumor take rate in PNPC-treated group was 37.5% compared with 87.5% in control (P<0.05). Average tumor size and weight were significantly lower in PNPC group than control (P<0.05). PNPC increased proapoptotic Bax protein expression (P<0.05). Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein expression, however, was lower in PNPC-treated animals than the control ones (P<0.05). In addition, proliferative and angiogenic parameters were statistically decreased in PNPC-treated animals (P<0.05). These results highlight the suppressing role for PNPC in in vitro and in vivo tumor growth models. Our findings provide credible evidence for superior biocompatibility of the polymeric nanocarrier in pharmacological arena together with an excellent tumor-suppressing response