Thermodynamic study of PCB-153 passing into single walled carbon nanotube (8,8)

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) are high resistant pollutants which cause adverse health effects in recent years. The accumulation of these toxic compounds in the food chain lead to oxidative stress in various ecosystems. Detection, absorption, and elimination of them are an environmental priority. Passing of PCB-153 through the armchair single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) (8,8) were investigated by MNDO in semi-empirical quantum method. Calculated electrical and thermodynamic properties show a sudden change in the middle of the tube which may act as a trap for the studied pollutant. The results indicated the nanotube has considerable ability to interact with PCB-153 and cause its degradation. According to calculated thermodynamic parameters through the molecular modeling, it is expected that single wall carbon nanotube is a candidate in remediation of PCBs as well as in gas sensor devices for detection of them. The median tube is a place for trapping pollutants

Validity and Reliability of Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale Persian Version (ASRS-V1.1-Persian)

Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common mental disorder in adults. The objective of this study was to develop a valid Persian version of the 18-question ASRS-V1.1 according to WHO translation protocol and report its psychometric properties. Methods: In the first step, we translated the original 18-question ASRS-V1.1 version into Persian under the supervision of the WMH-CIDI advisory committee. The process of adaptation was consisting of forward-translation, expert panel evaluation, back translation, cross-cultural adaptation, pre-testing, and final adjustment. In the second step, we conducted a cross-sectional study with 734 students were studied in Shahroud in 2013. A sub-sample of subjects consists of 99 students were clinically interviewed according to DSM-IV-TR criteria by a well-trained physician. Results: The ASRS-V1.1-P had satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.85). Sensitivity and specificity for the first six questions of ASRS-V1.1-P were 50.0% (95% CI: 30.3-69.6) and 80.5% (95%CI: 70.7-88.3), respectively. Finally, 43 subjects (5.5%) were confirmed for adult ADHD. There was not sex predominance in the prevalence of ADHD. Conclusion: Totally, it may be concluded that adult ADHD is a common problem among students and prevention of this disorder is crucial to reduce the probable subsequent social, educational, and job problems in future. The 18-question ASRS-V1.1-P is a psychometrically reliable and valid measure for screening ADHD in adults.  Keywords:  Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Screening, Adult, Validity

The cell cycle arrest and the anti-invasive effects of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates are not mediated by DBF4 in breast cancer cells.

Recent work has shown that a DBF4 analog in yeast may be a target of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates. DBF4 is an essential protein kinase required for DNA replication from primary eukaryotes to humans and appears to play a critical role in the S-phase checkpoint. It is also required for cell migration and cell surface adhesion. The effects of Pamidronate, risedronate, or zoledronate on cell viability and DBF4 expression were measured via MTT assays and western blotting. In addition, FACS cell cycle analyses and invasion assays were conducted in cells in the presence of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates to identify any correlations between DBF4 expression and S-phase arrest or anti-invasive effects of the bisphosphonates. Zoledronate transiently down-regulated DBF4 expression in all three cell lines in the first 24 h of the experiment, but after 72 h, DBF4 expression returned to the control levels in all treated cells. Following treatment of the tumor cells with the bisphosphonates, the number of cells in S-phase was increased. Pamidronate and zoledronate showed anti-invasive effects in BT20 cells. The anti-invasive effects of pamidronate, risedronate and zoledronate appeared after 48 h of exposure. In MDA-MB231 cells a reduction of invasiveness was only observed after 72 h of the pamidronate exposure. We finally concluded that the anti-invasive and cell cycle arrest-inducing effects of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates are not DBF4 mediated, and other mediators are therefore needed to explain the observed complex behaviors

The effect of Mesalazine and Nortriptyline on Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea: A Randomized Clinical Trail

Background: The objective of this randomized trial was to compare the effects of mesalazine and nortriptyline on relief of abdominal pain, discomfort, abnormal bowel habits and quality of life in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Methods: In this triple blinded, randomized clinical trial, 44 patients with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea were randomly assigned to receive mesalazine (500 mg tablet orally, twice a day) or nortriptyline (10 mg tablet orally, once daily). IBS-D was diagnosed according to the Rome Ⅲ criteria. Before allocation, all patients completed the Beck questionnaire for screening for depression, and the informed consent form. Results: Change score for abdominal pain severity was significantly higher for mesalazine than for nortriptyline (208.5±80.9 V.s 146.8±105.6) and change score for days with pain was not significantly different between two arms (3.9±2.8 V.s 2.8±3.0). The results show that the change score of satisfaction with bowel habits (56.2±20.2 V.s 37.5±24.9) and quality of life (42.0±26.7 V.s 26.3±18.6) in the mesalazine-treated group is greater than in the nortriptyline group.Conclusions: This study showed that mesalazine, as an anti-inflammatory agent for treatment of IBS-D in patients without psychological disorders, is more effective than nortriptyline

Investigating the Relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Drug Abuse: a Case-Control Study

Background: Hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common psychiatric disorders that can lead to negative consequences such as addiction in adolescence. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between addiction and hyperactivity disorder in Shahroud city.  Methods: This is a case-control study with sample size 240. The case group included methadone-treated addicted drug users and the control group including patients admitted to the surgical wards of Imam HosseinShahroud Hospital who have no addiction to any drugs.We used the Conges(CAAR-S: OV) short-acting diagnostic questionnaire ofadolesent (CAARS) for collectting information. For analysisng the data SPSS version 21 was used and significant level was considered (0.05). Results: This study included 150 controls and 90 cases. The age avrege of cases and controls was 36.97 ± 10.40 and 31.57 ± 10.46 years, respectively. Although case and control were statistically different in restlessness-hyperactivity(P = 0.034), they do not statistically differ in the presence of Hyperactivity Disorder (P = 0.911). Conclutions:Since in the present study, only the subgroup of restlessness-hyperactivity in the two groups was significantly different (the value was greater for the control group), it can be argued that the modesty of addicted persons is partially reduced by opiate

The effect of Mesalazine and Nortriptyline on Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea: A Randomized Clinical Trail

Background: The objective of this randomized trial was to compare the effects of mesalazine and nortriptyline on relief of abdominal pain, discomfort, abnormal bowel habits and quality of life in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Methods: In this triple blinded, randomized clinical trial, 44 patients with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea were randomly assigned to receive mesalazine (500 mg tablet orally, twice a day) or nortriptyline (10 mg tablet orally, once daily). IBS-D was diagnosed according to the Rome Ⅲ criteria. Before allocation, all patients completed the Beck questionnaire for screening for depression, and the informed consent form. Results: Change score for abdominal pain severity was significantly higher for mesalazine than for nortriptyline (208.5±80.9 V.s 146.8±105.6) and change score for days with pain was not significantly different between two arms (3.9±2.8 V.s 2.8±3.0). The results show that the change score of satisfaction with bowel habits (56.2±20.2 V.s 37.5±24.9) and quality of life (42.0±26.7 V.s 26.3±18.6) in the mesalazine-treated group is greater than in the nortriptyline group.Conclusions: This study showed that mesalazine, as an anti-inflammatory agent for treatment of IBS-D in patients without psychological disorders, is more effective than nortriptyline

Investigating the Relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Drug Abuse: a Case-Control Study

Background: Hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common psychiatric disorders that can lead to negative consequences such as addiction in adolescence. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between addiction and hyperactivity disorder in Shahroud city.  Methods: This is a case-control study with sample size 240. The case group included methadone-treated addicted drug users and the control group including patients admitted to the surgical wards of Imam HosseinShahroud Hospital who have no addiction to any drugs.We used the Conges(CAAR-S: OV) short-acting diagnostic questionnaire ofadolesent (CAARS) for collectting information. For analysisng the data SPSS version 21 was used and significant level was considered (0.05). Results: This study included 150 controls and 90 cases. The age avrege of cases and controls was 36.97 ± 10.40 and 31.57 ± 10.46 years, respectively. Although case and control were statistically different in restlessness-hyperactivity(P = 0.034), they do not statistically differ in the presence of Hyperactivity Disorder (P = 0.911). Conclutions:Since in the present study, only the subgroup of restlessness-hyperactivity in the two groups was significantly different (the value was greater for the control group), it can be argued that the modesty of addicted persons is partially reduced by opiate

The Effectiveness of CBTAC Protocol on Burdens of Alzheimer’s Disease on Caregivers and their Sense of Coherence

Background: Alzheimer's disease is predicted to increase dramatically in the near future. Alzheimer caregiving brings about serious problems for caregivers. Considering corrosive consequences of Alzheimer’s disease on Alzheimer caregivers, finding an effective intervention is necessary. Thus, the present research was conducted by the aim of investigating the effectiveness of CBTAC protocol on burdens of Alzheimer’s disease on caregivers and their sense of coherence.Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental research with pretest-posttest control group design. The target population included all mild Alzheimer’s disease patients and their caregivers referred to neurology ward of the hospitals in Rasht during summer 2018. According to the medical records and results of screening, 40 mild Alzheimer’s disease patients and their caregivers were recruited by convenience sampling method. After sampling, research participants were randomly assigned into two experimental (n= 20) and wait list control (n= 20) groups. The Impact of Alzheimer’s Disease on Caregiver Questionnaire and Sense of Coherence Scale were used to measure burdens of Alzheimer’s disease on caregivers and caregivers’ sense of coherence. The CBTAC provided for the experimental group participants in 25 sessions of 90-minutes. In the end, the data analyze have done by multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and using SPSS24 software.Results: The findings indicated that the CBTAC had significant effect on burdens and sense of coherence of Alzheimer caregivers in experimental group (p <0.01). In other words, the CBTAC decrease burdens and increase sense of coherence of Alzheimer caregivers significantly (p <0.01).Conclusion: Based on research results, the CBTAC is an effective intervention in decreasing caregiving burden and increasing sense of coherence of Alzheimer caregivers. Therefore, the CBTAC is a multicomponent intervention that can be used to improve competency and mental health of Alzheimer’s caregivers

Experimental investigation of the effect of Vitagnus plant extract on enhanced oil recovery process using interfacial tension (IFT) reduction and wettability alteration mechanisms

© 2020, The Author(s). Surfactant flooding is a chemical enhanced oil recovery (cEOR) process wherein anionic, cationic, non-ionic, and amphoteric surfactants are injected into oil reservoirs to produce more hydrocarbon. These chemical and industrial agents might cause some economic and environmental challenges. Recently, injection of natural surfactants, as new environmentally friendly EOR agents, for improving oil recovery has been proposed by researchers. In this study, the extract of Vitagnus, a natural surfactant, was used to minimize the interfacial tension (IFT) and alter the rock wettability towards the strong water-wet system, thereby improving the oil recovery from the carbonate rock The conductivity, pH, and turbidity measurements were undertaken to identify the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant solutions prepared by mixing 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, and 7000 ppm of the Vitagnus extract and distilled water. The obtained experimental results reveal that the optimum CMC value of the used surfactant was 3000 ppm. At this CMC value, the IFT reduced from 29.5 to 5.28 mN/m, and the contact angle of the oil droplet on the surface of the carbonate rock decreased from 114° to 29°. Accordingly, during the tertiary process, oil recovery was improved from 44% to 54.6% OOIP (original oil in place) by injecting 2.25 PVs of the VIT3000 surfactant containing 3000 ppm of the plant extract

Comparing the Accuracy of Morphometric and Morphological Criteria of Hip Bone in Gender Determination

Background: A primary aim of forensic medicine is gender determination. Although hip is the optimal bone for this purpose, different determining criteria of this bone do not have the same accuracy. This is important in conditions that only parts of hip remain to determine gender. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of different hip criteria in gender determination. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated a total of 160 paired hips (80 males and 80 females) removed from the bodies for bone transplantation. Morphometric criteria were vertical and horizontal acetabular diameters and superior and inferior pubic ramus widths. Morphological criteria were a greater sciatic notch, obturator foramen, pubic body, preauricular sulcus, acetabular fossa position, and ischial tuberosity. The obtained data were analyzed using Cross Tab, t-test, and logistic regression analysis by SPSS. The significance level was set at P<0.05.Results: There was no significant difference in morphometric and morphological criteria between the studied left and right hip bones (P>0.05). In gender determination, acetabular diameter and greater sciatic notch had the highest accuracy (85%), and obturator foramen (67.5%) and superior and inferior pubic ramus widths (65%) had the lowest accuracy.Conclusion: Hip bone is not always completely available and preserved to determine gender. Moreover, sometimes not all anthropometric criteria of the bone are in favor of one gender. Therefore, investigating the accuracy of different criteria can be very important in interpreting the results. Thus, it has always been emphasized on the use of all available information in gender determination