Investigating Characterizations and Antifungal Effects of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) Loaded with Essential Oil of Citrus Aurantifolia on Isolated Malassezia Strains

Introduction: Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) were introduced as a different carrier system from emulsions, liposomes, and polymer nanoparticles. Physico-chemical characteristics and stability of drugs that are loaded on SLNs, depends on the properties of drugs and components used in it. Materials and Methods: In this study, qualitative assessment was performed by GS/MS and UV-VIS to identify compounds in the essential oil of Citrus Aurantifolia. In a part of the research, the type of lipid phase and surfactant that was used to prepare the formulations of nanoparticles containing essential oil. Also, particle size, PDI, Zeta potential, Entrapment efficiency were analyzed. The best formulation of Lim-SLNs was released based on the physicochemical properties and finally, the antifungal activity of Citrus Aurantifolia Skin Essential Oil (CASEO) loaded in SLN compared with Clotrimazole and CASEO was investigated using MIC test against Malassezia fungus. Results: The results of the GC/MS showed that the main component of CASEO included Limonene, α-Terpinene, Trenlene and α-Terpineal. Also, the best formulation of LIM-SLN14 with glycerol monostearate lipid phase had more release than the LIM-SLN10 formulation of stearic acid lipid phase. CASEO loaded in lipid lymphatic nanoparticles at 0.008% tuberosity of CASEO inhibited 90% of malassezia furfur. Our results confirmed that CASEO with a guide of SLNs has a good antifungal effect. Conclusion: These findings are important because frequent usage of antifungal drugs leads to adverse effects; therefore, the antifungal substances extracted from plants are new, more effective, and act as specific solutions for the development of anti-malassezia drugs

Roadside acoustic sensors to support vulnerable pedestrians via their smartphones

This paper proposes a smartphone-based warning system to evaluate the risk of a motor vehicle for vulnerable pedestrians (VP). The acoustic sensors are embedded in the roadside to receive vehicle sounds and they are classified into heavy vehicles, light vehicles with low speed, light vehicles with high speed, and no vehicle classes. For this aim, we extract new features by Mel-frequency Cepstrum Coefficients (MFCC) and Linear Predictive Coefficients (LPC) algorithms. We use different classification algorithms and show that MLP neural network achieves at least $96.77$% accuracy criterion. To install this system, directional microphones are embedded on the roadside and the risk is classified. Then, for every microphone, a danger area is defined and the warning alarms have been sent to every VPs’ smartphones covered in this danger area

Fe2+/Persulfate / Clinoptilolite, catalytic oxidative treatment, as a cost effective process for Isocyanate and Meta Toluene Diamine Petrochemical unit wastewater

Background: Petrochemical wastewater from isocyanate units contains aromatic and hazardous compounds such as Diaminotoluenes, Mononitrotoluene, Dinitro-toluene, Nitro-phenol, Nitro-cresol. Persulfate and ferrous sulfate can produce sulfate radicals with strong standard oxidation potential. Clinoptilolite, a natural adsorbent; plus sulfate radicals can result in catalytic oxidation of these chemicals. The objective of this study is to evaluate the catalytic oxidation efficiency Fe2+/Persulfate/ Clinoptilolite and cost effectiveness of this process for treatment of petrochemical wastewater containing aromatics.Materials and methods: The effect of study variables including persulfate and ferrous sulfate concentrations, zeolite dosages, pH and oxidation time were investigated. The type and amount of aromatic compounds as well as COD and TSS removal efficiencies were determined. All procedures in study were conducted ethicallyResults: The COD and TSS removal efficiencies using catalytic oxidative treatment processes by Fe,Persulfate, Clinoptilolite were 96% and 95%, respectively. The corresponding COD and TSS removal efficiencies using Fe and Persulfate, without zeolite were 85% and 80%, respectively.Conclusion: The catalytic processes utilizing Fe2+/Persulfate/ Clinoptilolite demonstrates an excellent COD and TSS removal efficiency. Due to its natural nature, low cost compared to chemical oxidants, as well as improvements in the efficiency of advanced oxidation processes, Zeolite can be considered as anefficient and cost-effective alternative to upgrade the catalytic oxidative treatment

Comparison between conventional pump and adsorption sampling method with passive solid phase microextraction ( SPME ) sampling to investigate changes in the concentration of benzene, toluene , and xylene ( BTX ) in urban ambient air

Background and Aims: Besides toxic effects on human, animals and plants, aromatic hydrocarbons may also be effective in the formation of photochemical smog. The measurement of these hydrocarbons, therefore, play aprominent part in evaluating their health and environmental impacts. The purpose of this study was to compare pump and adsorption sampling method with solid phase microextraction (SPME) to investigate changes in theconcentration of benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX).Materials and Methods: SPME samplers in sampling protective holders were placed in ambient air at a relatively high traffic routes for 5 days. Sampling was carried out in two seasons. Samples were analyzed at the end of sampling period. In addition, pump and adsorption sampling method was also used to measure the concentrations of benzene, toluene, and xylene. Ethical issues were all considered in conducting the study and citation.Results: The obtained results in solid phase microextraction sampling method were compared with those obtained using the conventional pump and adsorbent method. Correlation coefficients (R2) between these methods were 0.98, 0.9 and 0.95 for benzene, toluene, and xylene, respectively. The results obtained with pump and adsorption method showed a higher values in general.Conclusion: The comparison between obtained results with these methods indicates a relatively similar values. It may be concluded that SPME sampling method can also present reliable results for the measurement of benzene,toluene and xylene concentrations in the ambient air.Keywords: Passive sampling, SPME, Benzene, Toluene, XyleneFor downloading the full text please click here

Utility of blood as the clinical specimen for the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis using uracil DNA glycosylase-supplemented loop-mediated isothermal amplification and real-time polymerase chain reaction assays based on REP-529 sequence and B1 gene

Background: Ocular infection with Toxoplasma gondii is a major preventable cause of blindness, especially in young people. The aim of the present study was to assess detection rate of T. gondii DNA in blood samples of clinically diagnosed of ocular toxoplasmosis using uracil DNA glycosylase-supplemented loop-mediated isothermal amplification (UDG-LAMP) and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) based on REP-529 and B1. Methods: One hundred and seventeen patients with clinically diagnosed ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) were participated in the study as well as 200 control patients. Peripheral blood samples were assessed using UDG-LAMP and qPCR techniques targeting REP-529 and B1. Results: Detection limits of qPCR using REP-529 and B1 were estimated as 0.1 and 1 fg of T. gondii genomic DNA, respectively. The limits of detection for UDG-LAMP using REP-529 and B1 were 1 and 100 fg, respectively. In this study, 18 and 16 patients were positive in qPCR using REP-529 and B1, respectively. Based on the results of UDG-LAMP, 15 and 14 patients were positive using REP-529 and B1, respectively. Results of the study on patients with active ocular lesion showed that sensitivity of REP-529 and BI targets included 64 and 63%, respectively using qPCR. Sensitivity of 62 and 61%, were concluded from UDG-LAMP using REP-529 and B1 in the blood cases of active ocular lesion. qPCR was more sensitive than UDG-LAMP for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in peripheral blood samples of patients with clinically diagnosed toxoplasmic chorioretinitis. Furthermore, the REP-529 included a better detection rate for the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis in blood samples, compared to that the B1 gene did. Moreover, the qPCR and UDG-LAMP specificity assessments have demonstrated no amplifications of DNAs extracted from other microorganisms based on REP-529 and B1. Conclusions: Data from the current study suggest that qPCR and UDG-LAMP based on the REP-529 are promising diagnostic methods for the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis in blood samples of patients with active chorioretinal lesions

مقایسه نتایج درمان غیر جراحی شکستگی‎های پایدار خارج مفصلی دیستال رادیوس به دو روش بی‎حسی موضعی و بی‎هوشی عمومی

چکیدهمقدمه: شکستگی کالیس (Colles) یکی از شایع‎ترین شکستگی‎های اندام در افراد بالغ است، زمانی که این شکستگی با ثبات باشد، درمان استاندارد شامل جااندازی بسته تحت بی‎حسی موضعی و یا بی‎حسی موضعی و یا بی‎هوشی عمومی و سپس گچ‎گیری، می‎باشد. این مطالعه به منظور مقایسه نتایج درمان غیر جراحی شکستگی کالیس تحت بی‎حسی موضعی و بی‎هوشی عمومی انجام گرفت. مواد و روش‌ها: در این کارآزمایی بالینی که به روش مداخله‎ای تصادفی انجام پذیرفت، 100 بیمار با شکستگی کالیس پایدار از مهرماه 85 لغایت مهرماه87 در مرکز درمانی کاشانی شهرستان اصفهان وارد مطالعه شدند. بیماران به طور تصادفی ساده به دو گروه مساوی الف و ب تقسیم گردیدند. در گروه الف، بیماران تحت درمان بی‎حسی موضعی و در گروه ب تحت بی‎هوشی عمومی قرار گرفتند. در پایان اطلاعات مربوط به نوع شکستگی، عوارض جااندازی، هزینه درمان و نتایج درمان در هفته‎های اول، دوم و سوم بعد از شروع درمان و سپس انتهای درمان بررسی شد. آن گاه نتایج به دست آمده از این 2 روش قبل و بعد از درمان با یکدیگر مقایسه شدند. یافته‌ها: آنالیز داده‎ها هیچ تفاوت معنی‎داری را بین عوارض این دو روش درمانی نشان نداد. علاوه بر این، هیچ تفاوت معنی‎داری بین معیارهای جااندازی 2 گروه یافت نشد، بین جنس و شکستگی کالیس نیز ارتباط مشخصی به دست آمد. آنالیز داده‎ها نیز نشان داد که هزینه درمان در گروه ب، 3 الی 4 برابر بیشتر از گروه الف می‎باشد. بحث: درمان جااندازی به روش بی‎حسی موضعی با توجه به هزینه کمتر و جااندازی قابل قبول بدون عارضه مشخص، بهتر از جااندازی به روش بی‎هوشی عمومی بود. پژوهشگران این مطالعه، استفاده از بی‎حسی موضعی جهت جااندازی شکستگی کالیس را توصیه کردند. کلید واژه‌ها: شکستگی کالیس، جااندازی بسته، بی‎حسی موضعی