The Biochemical Outcome of two Treatment Protocols in Patients With Opium-associated Lead Poisoning: A Cross-sectional Study in North of Iran

Background: Lead is a potent toxin that targets heme synthesis and some antioxidant enzymes that induce oxidative stress. Lead exposure remains one of the significant health concerns all over the world. Chelating agents have been used as antidotes for acute and chronic lead poisoning. The present study was conducted to evaluate the biochemical outcome of two different chelating therapies. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in the Razi University Hospital, Rasht, Guilan. Fifty-six patients with a history of opium use were enrolled in the study who were treated symptomatically. Blood lead Llevels (BLL), Hemoglobin (Hb), Red Blood Cell (RBC), White Blood Cell (WBC), urea, creatinine, Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) were evaluated before and after treatment. The BLL more than 100μg/dl with clinical symptoms was considered as severe lead poisoning (n=34) who received 4 days of DMPS (2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate) injection. Other cases with BLL of 20-100μg/dl were considered as those with mild poisoning (n=22) that were treated with oral D-Penicillamine for 14 days.Results: The mean age of patients was 49.73±14.11 years. Data analysis indicated no significant differences between the groups at baseline regarding the demographic variables. A significant reduction was observed in BLL before and after the intervention using the D-Penicillamine from 75.88±26.22 to 44.3±17.51 μg/dl (P=0.0001). The BLL reduced from 105.5±34.04 to 24.51±24.08 μg/dl after treatment with DMSP (P=0.0001). The levels of ALT, AST, and WBC significantly decreased post-treatment following using D-penicillamine and DMPS (P<0.05). The D-Penicillamine-treated group showed an increase in Hb and RBC (P<0.05).Conclusion: According to the results, penicillamine improves low to moderate lead toxicity. Although DMSP decreases BLL significantly and reverses liver enzymes, further investigations on Hb and RBC, are needed

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Focus on Biomarkers for Screening

Oral cancer is a malignant neoplasia that can originate in the oral cavity or lips. It is a serious global health problem and one of the ten most common cancers worldwide. Over the years, changes in the trends of the oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers have been observed. The management of oral cancer is complicated due to the functional and cosmetic consequences of treating malignancies at these anatomical locations. The tumor and its treatment can affect a variety of functional activities, including smell, sight, speaking, respiration, taste, jaw function, and mastication, either temporarily or permanently. Based on the importance of this tumor, screening oral cancer for early detection and finding the best biomarkers for diagnosis is a crucial concern. In this review of literature, the etiology, risk factors, treatment, and diagnosis of oral cancer will be reviewed with a focus on the most important biomarkers

Systemic lupus erythematosus following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination; a review of literature

From March 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic challenged public health and healthcare systems worldwide. Viral infection is one of the environmental factors that has been associated with the development, relapse, or exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE patients are at an increased risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) because of immune system dysfunction related to their disease as well as immunosuppression medications. So far, the most effective way to reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced hospitalization and death is vaccination. On the other hand, SLE patients present distinct challenges related to the safety and effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. We have reviewed some reports on the onset or flare of SLE post-COVID-19 vaccination. Of note, the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are associated with increased SLE disease activity, more frequently than the other types of COVID-19 vaccines

Carbon dioxide/brine wettability of porous sandstone versus solid quartz: An experimental and theoretical investigation

Hypothesis: Wettability plays an important role in underground geological storage of carbon dioxide because the fluid flow and distribution mechanism within porous media is controlled by this phenomenon. CO 2 pressure, temperature, brine composition, and mineral type have significant effects on wettability. Despite past research on this subject, the factors that control the wettability variation for CO 2 /water/minerals, particularly the effects of pores in the porous substrate on the contact angle at different pressures, temperatures, and salinities, as well as the physical processes involved are not fully understood. Experiments: We measured the contact angle of deionised water and brine/CO 2 /porous sandstone samples at different pressures, temperatures, and salinities. Then, we compared the results with those of pure quartz. Finally, we developed a physical model to explain the observed phenomena. Findings: The measured contact angle of sandstone was systematically greater than that of pure quartz because of the pores present in sandstone. Moreover, the effect of pressure and temperature on the contact angle of sandstone was similar to that of pure quartz. The results showed that the contact angle increases with increase in temperature and pressure and decreases with increase in salinity

Dependence of quartz wettability on fluid density

Wettability is one of the most important parameters in multiphase flow through porous rocks. However, experimental measurements or theoretical predictions are difficult and open to large uncertainty. In this work we demonstrate that gas densities (which are much simpler to determine than wettability and typically well known) correlate remarkably well with wettability. This insight can significantly improve wettability predictions, thus derisking subsurface operations (e.g., CO2 geostorage or hydrocarbon recovery), and significantly enhance fundamental understanding of natural geological processes

Fabrication and Characterization of S-Benzyldithiocarbazate Schiff Base Microcrystals by a Reprecipitation Method for Enhanced Antibacterial Activity

In this study, the microcrystallization of the 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde Schiff base of S-benzyldithiocarbazate (i.e. benzyl (2E)-2-[(thiophen-2-yl)methylidene]hydrazine-1-carbodithioate [TASBnDTC]) was fabricated by a reprecipitation method in an organic solvent-water system using different crystallization parameters, including temperature and the concentration of the target compound. The size, anisotropy, crystalline phase, and surface morphology of the TASBnDTC microcrystals were characterized by dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy. The stability of the Schiff base microcrystals was also evaluated. Different sizes of surfactant-dispersed TASBnDTC microcrystals (1505, 2194, and 2447 nm) were fabricated from three different concentrations of the Schiff base (0.001 M, 0.002 M, and 0.003 M, respectively) in an acetone-water system. The TASBnDTC microcrystals were also evaluated by X-ray powder diffraction and were found to differ slightly in molecular form but were otherwise similar, irrespective of the different TASBnDTC concentrations. The synthesized Schiff bases and their microcrystals were also screened for their antibacterial activities against four different gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus) using the agar well diffusion method. The growth inhibition was enhanced by 8.0 to 10.75 mm against the four bacteria by TASBnDTC microcrystals compared to the bulk molecular form, which showed no inhibitory activity at all. However, the inhibition was less that that achieved with the standard streptomycin antibiotic, which gave zones of inhibition of 18.0 to 23.0 mm against the four bacterial strains. Overall, the Schiff base microcrystals show potential for use in various biological applications. They also have potential physical and optical applications due to their high surface-to-volume ratio and the molecular alignment on the surface of the microcrystals

The coming decade of digital brain research: a vision for neuroscience at the intersection of technology and computing

In recent years, brain research has indisputably entered a new epoch, driven by substantial methodological advances and digitally enabled data integration and modelling at multiple scales— from molecules to the whole brain. Major advances are emerging at the intersection of neuroscience with technology and computing. This new science of the brain combines high-quality research, data integration across multiple scales, a new culture of multidisciplinary large-scale collaboration and translation into applications. As pioneered in Europe’s Human Brain Project (HBP), a systematic approach will be essential for meeting the coming decade’s pressing medical and technological challenges. The aims of this paper are to: develop a concept for the coming decade of digital brain research, discuss this new concept with the research community at large, to identify points of convergence, and derive therefrom scientific common goals; provide a scientific framework for the current and future development of EBRAINS, a research infrastructure resulting from the HBP’s work; inform and engage stakeholders, funding organisations and research institutions regarding future digital brain research; identify and address the transformational potential of comprehensive brain models for artificial intelligence, including machine learning and deep learning; outline a collaborative approach that integrates reflection, dialogues and societal engagement on ethical and societal opportunities and challenges as part of future neuroscience research

Chemo-poroelastic analysis of pore pressure and stress distribution around a wellbore in swelling shale: effect of undrained response and horizontal permeability anisotropy

The aim of this paper is to study the effect of undrained response and horizontal permeability anisotropy on transient changes in pore pressure and stress state of surrounding area to wellbores drilled in swelling shales. For this purpose a finite element model of coupled chemo-hydro-mechanical processes is developed and used. Super convergent patch recovery method is employed to accurately evaluate time dependent stress tensor. From the results of this study it was found that at any time and radial position around the wellbore, change in pore pressure, thus effective stress, depends on horizontal permeability anisotropy, which influences three main contributing processes namely hydraulic flow, chemical effect and undrained response. It was also revealed that at a given time after shale is exposed to the mud, maximum change in pore pressure, thus in effective stress, can take place at different radial distances from the wellbore along different directions due to permeability anisotropy

Analysis of pore pressure distribution in shale formations under hydraulic, chemical, thermal and electrical interactions

Change in pore pressure in chemically active rocks such as shale is caused by several mechanisms and numerous studies have been carried out to investigate these mechanisms. However, some important coupling terms or driving forces have been neglected in these studies due to simplifying assumptions. In this study, a hydro-chemo-thermo-electrical model based on finite element method is presented to investigate the change in pore pressure in shale formations resulted from thermal, hydraulic, chemical and electric potential gradients. The change in pore pressure is induced by hydraulic conduction, chemical, electrical and thermal osmotic flow. In order to solve the problem of ion transfer under the influence of an electrical field, the Nernst-Planck equation is used. In addition, ion advection is considered to investigate its possible effect on ion transfer for the range of shale permeability. All equations are derived based on the thermodynamics of irreversible processes in a discontinuous system. The numerical results are compared against existing and derived uncoupled analytical solutions and good agreement is observed. The numerical results showed that the ion transfer and pore pressure are considerably affected by the electric field in the vicinity of the wellbore. It was also found that advection can play a remarkable role in ion transfer in shale formations. It was further shown that the change in pore pressure in shale formation is characterized by the combined effect of hydraulic, chemical, thermal and electro osmotic flow

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در مطالعۀ حاضر، علاوه بر مرور ادبیات مربوط به خصوصیسازی آموزش عالی، عملکرد آن با استفادهاز متون نظری و نیز پرسش از رؤسا و مدیران دانشگاهها و مؤسسات آموزش عالی دولتی و غیر دولتی غیر انتفاعی کشور بررسی شده است. نتایج بررسی نشان می دهد که به طور کلی روند خصوصی-سازی آموزش عالی در ایران بسیار شبیه سایر بخش هاست و دارای ویژگ یها ی زی ر است : بدونحضور بخش خصوصی واقعی در کنار نقش گسترده بخش دولتی و شبه دولتی در آن، بدون رقابت ،بدون آزادسازی بازار، بدون چارچوبهای نظارت و ارزیابی کیفیت، بدون حضور مؤسسات خارج ی،بدون حمایتهای مالی و قانونی از بخش خصوص ی واقع ی، بدون مبا نی نظر ی و نی ز استفاده ازخصوصیسازی به عنوان ابزار گسترش آموزش عالی تنها در جهت پاسخگویی به فشارها ی ناش ی ازتقاضای اجتماعی ورود به آموزش عالی. در پایان نیز پیشنهادهایی برای اجرای صحیح خصوصیسازیآموزش عالی در کشور ارائه شده است