Electrochemical determination of ciprofloxacin using glassy carbon electrode modified with CoFe2o4-MWCNT

CoFe2O4 nanostructures composed of spherical-like were obtained by sol-gel method with glucose as template and combine with MWCNT and composed CoFe2O4-MWCNT heterostructure. The crystal Structure, phase composition, morphology and magnetic properties of CoFe2O4/MWCNT heterostructure were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and vibrating sample magnetometers (VSM), A pure phase of well crystallized CoFe2O4 nanostructures, with average size of 60 nm, could be readily synthesized at present glucose. The modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode with CoFe2O4-MWCNT heterostructure was used to determine the ciprofloxacin concentration. A cyclic voltammetric technique was used for comparison between the unmodified and modified electrodes. The fabricated modified electrode shows linear response for detection of ciprofloxacin at two linear range of 0.1-1 µM and 1-30 µM with a detection limit of 0.036 µM. © 2019 by CEE (Center of Excellence in Electrochemistry)

An improved cluster formation process in wireless sensor network to decrease energy consumption

Wireless sensor network has special features and many applications, which have attracted attention of many scientists. High energy consumption of these networks, as a drawback, can be reduced by a hierarchical routing algorithm. The proposed algorithm is based on the Low Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH) and Quadrant Cluster based LEACH (Q-LEACH) protocols. To reduce energy consumption and provide a more appropriate coverage, the network was divided into several regions and clusters were formed within each region. In selecting the cluster head (CH) in each round, the amount of residual energy and the distance from the center of each node were calculated by the base station (including the location and residual energy of each node) for all living nodes in each region. In this regard, the node with the largest value had the highest priority to be selected as the CH in each network region. The base station calculates the CH due to the lack of energy constraints and is also responsible for informing it throughout the network, which reduces the load consumption and tasks of nodes in the network. The information transfer steps in this protocol are similar to the LEACH protocol stages. To better evaluate the results, the proposed method was implemented with LEACH LEACH-SWDN, and Q-LEACH protocols using MATLAB software. The results showed better performance of the proposed method in network lifetime, first node death time, and the last node death time. © 2020, The Author(s)

High-dose �-3 fatty acid plus Vitamin D3 supplementation affects clinical symptoms and metabolic status of patients with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled clinical trial

Background: Combined omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin D supplementation may improve multiple sclerosis (MS) by correcting metabolic abnormalities and attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of �-3 fatty acid and vitamin D cosupplementation on the disability score and metabolic status of patients with MS. Methods: This was a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score and inflammation as primary outcomes and oxidative stress biomarkers and metabolic profile as secondary outcomes. Patients, aged 18-55 y, were matched for disease EDSS scores, gender, medications, BMI, and age (n = 53) and randomly received a combined 2 � 1000 mg/d �-3 fatty acid and 50,000 IU/biweekly cholecalciferol supplement or placebo for 12 wk. The placebos were matched in colour, shape, size, packaging, smell, and taste with supplements. Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and end of intervention to measure different outcomes. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess treatment effects on outcomes adjusting for confounding variables. Results: Patients taking �-3 fatty acid plus vitamin D supplements showed a significant improvement in EDSS (β �0.18; 95 CI: �0.33, �0.04; P = 0.01), compared with placebo. Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (β �1.70 mg/L; 95 CI: �2.49, �0.90 mg/L; P < 0.001), plasma total antioxidant capacity (β +55.4 mmol/L; 95 CI: 9.2, 101.6 mmol/L; P = 0.02), total glutathione (β +51.14 µmol/L; 95 CI: 14.42, 87.87 µmol/L; P = 0.007), and malondialdehyde concentrations (β �0.86 µmol/L; 95 CI: �1.10, �0.63 µmol/L; P < 0.001) were significantly improved in the supplemented group compared with the placebo group. In addition, �-3 fatty acid and vitamin D cosupplementation resulted in a significant reduction in serum insulin, insulin resistance, and total/HDL-cholesterol, and a significant increase in insulin sensitivity and serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations. Conclusion: Overall, taking �-3 fatty acid and vitamin D supplements for 12 wk by patients with MS had beneficial effects on EDSS and metabolic status. © 2018 American Society for Nutrition. All rights reserved

Preparation of Fe3O4/SiO2/TiO2/CeVO4 Nanocomposites: Investigation of Photocatalytic Effects on Organic Pollutants, Bacterial Environments, and New Potential Therapeutic Candidate Against Cancer Cells

The new nanocomposite with various molar ratios along with magnetic properties was fabricated via precipitation (assisted by ultrasonic) procedure. The photocatalytic effects of methylene blue (�90 degradation for optimized sample in 100 min) for finding the optimized sample performed under visible light irradiation. Moreover, the photo-antibacterial impacts of bacteria culture environments were found with an optimized sample that had effective destruction of bacteria in comparison to control group. The cytotoxicity properties of panc1 cells and magnetic behaviors of the obtained nanomaterials were evaluated and its IC50 was about 500 mg/L. As an initial step, the structural, morphological and magnetic characteristics of the fabricated nanocomposites were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and MAP, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) approaches. Based on SEM results, the size of nanoparticles in fabricated nanocomposite was nearly 50�70 nm for Fe3O4/SiO2/TiO2 and 80�100 nm for Fe3O4/SiO2/TiO2/CeVO4. XRD results showed that desired nanocomposites were truly synthesized without any impurities. © Copyright © 2020 Marsooli, Rahimi-Nasrabadi, Fasihi-Ramandi, Adib, Eghbali-Arani, Ahmadi, Sohouli, Sobhani nasab, Mirhosseini, Gangali, Ehrlich and Joseph

COVID-19 and cancer: A comparative case series

Background: Cancer patients, with an incidence of more than 18 million new cases per year, may constitute a significant portion of the COVID-19 infected population. In the pandemic situation, these patients are considered highly vulnerable to infectious complications due to their immunocompromised state. Material & Methods: In this retrospective case series, the documents of solid cancer patients infected by SARS-CoV-2, hospitalized in Shariati hospital between 20 February and 20 April 2020, were evaluated. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was based on laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and/or features of chest CT scan highly suggestive for SARS-CoV-2. Results: A total of 33 COVID-19-infected cancer patients were included. Mean age was 63.9 years, and 54.5 of the patients were male. LDH level was significantly higher (1487.5 ± 1392.8 vs. 932.3 ± 324.7 U/L, P-value=0.016) and also serum albumin was significantly lower in non-survivors (3.6 ± 0.5 vs. 2.9 ± 0.6 g/dL, p-value=0.03). Among 16 patients with stage IV cancer, thirteen patients died, which was significantly higher compared to stage I-III cancer patients (81.3 vs. 18.8 P-value= <0.001). In terms of developing complications, sepsis, invasive ventilation and mortality was significantly higher in patients who received cytotoxic chemotherapy within the last 14 days. Conclusion: In this study, we showed that the mortality rate among cancer patients affected by COVID-19 was higher than general population and this rate has a significant correlation with factors including the stage of the disease, the type of cancer, the activity of cancer and finally receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy within 14 days before diagnosis of COVID-19. © 202

Preparation of Fe3O4/SiO2/TiO2/CeVO4 Nanocomposites: Investigation of Photocatalytic Effects on Organic Pollutants, Bacterial Environments, and New Potential Therapeutic Candidate Against Cancer Cells

The new nanocomposite with various molar ratios along with magnetic properties was fabricated via precipitation (assisted by ultrasonic) procedure. The photocatalytic effects of methylene blue (�90 degradation for optimized sample in 100 min) for finding the optimized sample performed under visible light irradiation. Moreover, the photo-antibacterial impacts of bacteria culture environments were found with an optimized sample that had effective destruction of bacteria in comparison to control group. The cytotoxicity properties of panc1 cells and magnetic behaviors of the obtained nanomaterials were evaluated and its IC50 was about 500 mg/L. As an initial step, the structural, morphological and magnetic characteristics of the fabricated nanocomposites were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and MAP, UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) approaches. Based on SEM results, the size of nanoparticles in fabricated nanocomposite was nearly 50�70 nm for Fe3O4/SiO2/TiO2 and 80�100 nm for Fe3O4/SiO2/TiO2/CeVO4. XRD results showed that desired nanocomposites were truly synthesized without any impurities. © Copyright © 2020 Marsooli, Rahimi-Nasrabadi, Fasihi-Ramandi, Adib, Eghbali-Arani, Ahmadi, Sohouli, Sobhani nasab, Mirhosseini, Gangali, Ehrlich and Joseph

New insights on low vitamin D plasma concentration as a potential cardiovascular risk factor

The role of Vitamin D hormone in human health and disease is still debated. Recently, growing attention has been paid to its putative role in cardiovascular system homeostasis with several studies that suggested a correlation between low vitamin D levels and increased cardiovascular risk. Several mechanisms are involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases: systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, arterial hypertension and insulin resistance. In the present paper, we have revised the current literature supporting a role for vitamin D in the development of these pathogenetic processes. Finally, we have evaluated the current evidence linking vitamin D to atherosclerosis and its natural consequence, cardiovascular diseases