The Impact of Plasma Treatment of Cercon® Zirconia Ceramics on Adhesion to Resin Composite Cements and Surface Properties

Background: In recent years, the use of Ceramic base zirconia is considered because of chemical stability, biocompatibility, good compressive and flexural strength in dentistry for all ceramic restorations. However, due to its chemical stability, there is a challenge with dental bonding. Several studies have done to improving zirconia bonding but they are not reliable. Purpose of this research is a study of effect of plasma on bonding strength Zirconia.  Methods: In this research zirconia blocks' surfaces polished with 1200grit sandpaper. Samples were processed with plasma of oxygen, argon, air and oxygen-argon combination with 90-10 and 80-20 ratio.  Surface modifications were evaluated by contact angle, surface roughness, and topographical assessments. Cylindrical Panavia f2 resin-cement and Diafill were used for micro shear strength bond measurements. The data analysis was performed by SPSS 20.0 software and one-way analysis of variance. Results: The results showed that plasma can increase micro cutting bond strength, decrease surface roughness, increase surface activation energy. Maximum cutting bond strength by using Panavia f2 cement, is for air and argon plasma, and by using margin bond and Diafill composition cement, is for air and combination of oxygen and argon with 20-80 ratio.  Conclusion: According to this research plasmatic processing with dielectric barrier method in atmospheric pressure can increase Zirconia bonding strength

A study of the correlation between ventilator associated pneumonia and mortality rate of traumatic in patients in intensive care units

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common nosocomial infection among the traumatic in-patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Trauma is a risk factor for the incidence of VAP, yet, the association between VAP and outcome is not clear in traumatic in-patients in ICUs. This study investigated the correlation between ventilator-associated pneumonia and mortality rate of traumatic in-patients in ICUs in Be'that Hospital in Hamedan, western Iran.Methods: This observational prospective study was conducted in the ICU of Be'that Hospital, Hamedan, Iran, during 1 year (March 2013 until February 2014). The population under study included traumatic in-patients aged less than 18 year who were in need of invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 48 h with APACHE SCORE II of less than 25. They were studied for the incidence or lack of incidence of VAP.Results: Of 154 patients under study, 114 cases (74%) suffered from multiple traumata, 32 cases (20.8%) were affected with head trauma, 5 cases (3.2%) sustained spinal cord injury, and 3 cases (1.9%) suffered from thoracic trauma. Also, 47 cases (30.5%) were affected with VAP. Compared to the non-VAP group, the patients in VAP group had longer ICU stay (18.5±6.21 days vs. 9.21±2.91 days, P<0.001), longer intubation time (13.7±4.7 days vs. 6.06±2.05 days, P<0.001), longer mechanical ventilation time (12.9±5.1 days vs. 5.7±1.9 days, P<0.001), and more repeated intubations (1.2±0.50 vs. 1±0.0, P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to APACHE SCORE II (14.8±2.3 vs. 14.9±2.9). Additionally, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding mortality rate (10.6 vs. 5.6, P=0.215).Conclusions: VAP caused longer ICU stay, increased intubation time, increased mechanical ventilation time, and more repeated intubations in traumatic in-patients, yet, it did not increase mortality rate in these patients. Patients with spinal cord and thoracic traumata are at risk for affliction with VAP.

Experimental Investigation of Interfacial Tension Measurement and Oil Recovery by Carbonated Water Injection : A Case Study Using Core Samples from an Iranian Carbonate Oil Reservoir

The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge and appreciate the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marvdasht Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, 73711-13119, Iran, for the provision of the laboratory facilities necessary for completing this work.Peer reviewedPostprin

Dissection of the genetic basis of genotype-by-environment interactions for grain yield and main agronomic traits in Iranian bread wheat landraces and cultivars

Understanding the genetic basis of performance stability is essential to maintain productivity, especially under severe conditions. In the present study, 268 Iranian bread wheat landraces and cultivars were evaluated in four well-watered and two rain-fed conditions for different traits. According to breeding programs, cultivars were in a group with a high mean and stability in terms of GY, GN, and SW traits, while in terms of PH, they had a low mean and high stability. The stability of cultivars and landraces was related to dynamic and static stability, respectively. The highest number of marker pairs and lowest LD decay distance in both cultivars and landraces was observed on the B genome. Population structure differentiated indigenous cultivars and landraces, and the GWAS results for each were almost different despite the commonalities. Chromosomes 1B, 3B, 7B, 2A, and 4A had markers with pleiotropic effects on the stability of different traits. Due to two rain-fed environments, the Gene Ontology (GO) confirmed the accuracy of the results. The identified markers in this study can be helpful in breeding high-performance and stable genotypes and future breeding programs such as fine mapping and cloning

Comparison effects of olive leaf extract and oleuropein compounds on male reproductive function in cyclophosphamide exposed mice

Spermatogenesis is a complicated process in which sperm is susceptible to various chemotherapy drugs such as cyclophosphamide (CP). As olive leaf extract (OLE) and its active ingredient, oleuropein, have variousantioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory properties the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of OLE and oleuropein on male reproductive function focusing antioxidative effects and histological modifications in the testes of CP-exposed mice. In order to do this, 80 NMRI male mice were divided into eight groups including control group, group received CP, group received OLE, group received oleuropein, group received OLE following CP exposure, group received oleuropein following CP exposure, group received OLE plus oleuropein and group received OLE plus oleuropein following CP exposure. In all groups CP (single dose of 100 mg/kg (, OLE (100 mg/kg for consequence 28 days) and oleuropein (100 mg/kg for consequence 28 days) were injected intraperitoneally. Moreover, testis histology, sperm parameters and serum levels of LH, FSH, MDA and antioxidant capacity were investigated. Results showed that CP caused oxidative state and abnormal changes in sperms and testes. Besides, treatments with oleuropein and OLE led to mitigate the harmful effects of CP on the male reproductive system. In conclusion, our findings showed that olive's compounds can diminish the hazardous effects of CP on spermatogenesis in mice. Keywords: Spermatogenesis, Olive leaf extract, CyclophosphamideMice, Oleuropein, Cell biology, Plant biology, Pharmaceutical science, Pathophysiology, Laboratory medicin

Kimura's disease with eosinophilic panniculitis - treated with cyclosporine: a case report

Kimura's disease is a rare, benign, slow growing chronic inflammatory swelling with a predilection for the head and neck region and almost always with peripheral blood eosinophilia and elevated serum IgE levels. Here, we report a 25-year-old male patient with asthma, Reynaud phenomenon, eosinophilic panniculitis, bilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy and peripheral blood eosinophilia

Thrombocytopenia as a marker of outcome in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction: Thrombocytopenia (TP) is associated with poor outcome in patients who are critically ill with pneumonia, burns, and H1N1 influenza. To our knowledge, no similar study in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) has been conducted to date. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of platelet count on the outcome of patients with AECOPD. Material and methods: Patients admitted to our teaching hospital for AECOPD were divided into two cohorts, those with and without TP. The outcome of all patients was followed. Results: Of the 200 patients with AECOPD, 55 (27.5%) had TP. Of these, 14 (25.5%) died in the hospital, whereas of the 145 non-TP patents, 11 (7.5%) died (p-value = 0.001). There was a significantly higher transfer rate to the ICU and mechanical ventilation in TP patients. The mean platelet count was significantly lower in patients who died than those who were discharged (161,672 vs. 203,005 cell/μL; p-value = 0.017). There was negative correlation between duration of hospitalization and platelet count. Conclusion: TP was associated with poor outcome in AECOPD. TP could be considered as a marker for the assessment of inflammation and prognosis in AECOPD patients based on its cost-effective features

Kidney Stone Development among Older Adults in Iran

Aim: Incidence and prevalence of kidney stone development have been increased in the recent years. Present study aimed to determine prevalence and risk factors of kidney stone development among adults more than 65 years old. Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted in Kashani Hospital at Shahrekord, Iran. Data on all adults more than 65 years who were admitted to the lithotripsy unit of Kashani hospital in Shahrekord, were derived from medical records, in the period of January 2011 to December 2011. Results: Of 1170 admitted patients to the lithotripsy unit of the hospital, 181 (15.5%) patient were older than 65 years, with 95 female (52.5%) and 86 male (47.5%). Results of independent t test showed significant difference in stone development between male and female patients (p<0.05). The age of 73.5% (n=133) of patients were in between 65 to 74 years. Results of ANOVA showed significant difference in stone development between three age groups (p<0.05). Rate of patients admission in summer with 34.3% (n=62) was higher than other seasons. Results of ANOVA showed significant difference in stone development between four seasons of year (p<0.05). Conclusion: Results of present study showed that the risk of kidney stone development in older people (more than 65) is high. In addition, female sex, age group 65-74 years, region of residence and summer season might be considered as potential risk factors for increasing the risk of kidney stone development

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Iranian restaurant food samples: Panton-Valentine Leukocidin, SCCmec phenotypes and antimicrobial resistance

Purpose: To assess the distribution of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin, SCCmec types and antimicrobial resistance pattern of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from restaurant food.Methods: Five-hundred and eighty food samples were collected and directly transported to the laboratory. Samples were cultured and S. aureus strains were confirmed using biochemical tests. MRSA strains were determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based amplification of mecA and femA genes. MRSA strains were then subjected to disk diffusion methods.Results: One-hundred and nineteen out of 580 samples (20.51 %) were positive for S. aureus. Eightythree out of 119 S. aureus (69.74 %) were methicillin-resistant. Thirty-nine out of 83 MRSA samples (46.98 %) harbored PVL gene. Cooked chicken (37 %) had the highest prevalence of S. aureus. Marked seasonality was observed for the prevalence of bacteria. MRSA strains exhibited high resistance against penicillin G (100 %), tetracycline (92.77 %), oxacillin (83.13 %) and azithromycin (71.08 %). All MRSA bacteria were resistant to at least 2 antibiotics (100 %). TetK (80.72 %), linA (67.46 %), aadA1 (62.65 %), and msrA (55.42 %) were the most frequently identified resistance genes. SCCmec V (57.83%), SCCmec Iva (55.42 %) and SCCmec IVb (30.12 %) were the most frequent.Conclusion: Based on the high prevalence of resistant MRSA strains and also high consumption rate of restaurant foods in Iran, it is essential to exercise control over the hygienic conditions of restaurant foods to minimize MRSA strains.Keywords: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Antibiotic resistance, SCCmec types, Panton-Valentine Leukocidin, Restaurant foo