Separation study of silver(I) ion through a bulk liquid membrane containing meloxicam

The uphill transport of Ag+ through a chloroform bulk liquid membrane containing meloxicam as an ion carrier was studied. Different experimental conditions for the increasing selectivity, sensitivity and kinetics of transport, e. g., the effect of meloxicam concentration in the chloroform membrane phase, pH of donors and acceptor phases, types and concentration of various stripping agents were examined. In the presence of thiocyanate as a suitable stripping agent in the acceptor phase, the amount of silver transported across the liquid membrane after 120 min was 97.8 ± 1.2%. The selectivity and efficiency of Ag+ transport from the aqueous solution containing other cations, such as: Co2+, Cr3+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Mn2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Zn2+ were investigated. Except Cr3+ and Pb2+ ions, none of the cations used interfere the silver transport, even at a Mn+/Ag+ molar ratio of 500. The interfering effect of the two mentioned cations was diminished in the presence of EDTA at pH 6

On the Pull-Out Behavior of Hooked-End Shape Memory Alloys Fibers Embedded in Ultra-High Performance Concrete

This study presents a three-dimensional non-linear finite element investigation on the pull-out behavior of straight and hooked-end Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) and steel fibers embedded in Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) using a single fiber pull-out model. A bilinear cohesive zone model is used to characterize the interfacial traction separation relationships. The Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP) model is used to simulate UHPC, and the mechanical behavior is obtained through experimental tests. Parametric studies are conducted to evaluate the effects of fiber materials, fiber diameters, and hook angles on the load-displacement behavior. A good agreement between the numerical and experimental results is obtained. It is found that the hooked-end fibers with a smaller diameter and a hook angle of 40° can be a better choice for structural application. Furthermore, it is observed that the use of SMA fibers significantly improves the pull-out performance between fibers and UHPC

A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials on saffron (Crocus sativus) effectiveness and safety on erectile dysfunction and semen parameters

Objective: We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis study to determine saffron (Crocus sativus) effectiveness and safety in male infertility problems. Materials and Methods: The databases PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Google Scholar, SID, IranMedex and Magiran until July 2016 and reference section of relevant articles, were searched to find both English and Persian clinical trials on male infertility issues that used saffron as medical treatment. Also, the quality of these trials was evaluated by Oxford Center for Evidence Based Medicine checklist. A total of six trials was ultimately included. All statistical analyses were done by Comprehensive Meta-analysis (CMA) Version 2. Results: Only in one study conducted on sperm parameters, the mean percentage of sperm with normal morphology (

Curcumin Nanocrystals: Production, Physicochemical Assessment, and In Vitro Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Effects against Bacterial Loading of the Implant Fixture

Background: This study aimed to prepare and study physicochemical properties as well as the antibacterial action of curcumin nanocrystals inside the implant fixture against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis). Methods: Curcumin nanocrystals were prepared via precipitation combined with the spray drying method. The produced curcumin nanocrystals were characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Moreover, the in vitro antimicrobial effect of curcumin nanocrystals inside the implant fixture was assessed against E. coli, S. aureus, and E. faecalis. All implant-abutment assemblies were immersed in bacterial suspensions and were incubated at 24, 48, and 72 h. The contents of each implant were cultured to count the colony of bacteria at 37 ◦C for 24 h. Results: The prepared curcumin nanocrystals with a mean particle size of 95 nm and spherical morphology exhibited a removal rate of 99.99% for all bacteria. In addition, the colony-forming unit (CFU) of bacteria in exposure to nanocrystals significantly was reduced (p < 0.010) by increasing the time. Conclusions: Curcumin nanocrystals can be used inside the implant fixture as an antimicrobial agent in order to more stabilization of the implant

INTESTINAL HELMINTHS FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF TRADITIONAL PERSIAN MEDICINE VERSUS MODERN MEDICINE

Background: Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) has a history of almost 10,000 years with practice and experience aspects. The existing information and experiences of physicians such as Avicenna clearly show the vast amount of knowledge in the classification and treatment of pathogenic worms. The aim of this paper was the description of the various types of helminths along with their treatment in medieval Persia and comparing them with new medical findings. Materials and Methods: We searched main Traditional Persian Medical and pharmacological texts about etiology, manifestation, diagnosis and treatment of worms in the human digestive system and the out come was compared with the data extracted from modern medical sources. A list of medicinal plants was also extracted from traditional pharmacological books and the anthelmintic properties of these plants were checked in Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed and Ulrich's databases. Results: The results show the existence of theories on pathogenicity, physiopathology, symptoms and the classification of worms in TPM. TPM philosophers have divided worms into four groups and there is not great difference between old Persian and Modern classification. The old Persian scholars have explained a treatment procedure using a list of 48 medicinal plants and the anthelmintic effect of 23 plants have been shown in modern medicine studies. Conclusion: This study shows a more in-depth and thorough classification of pathogenic worms, their pathogenicity, symptoms and treatments in Traditional Persian Medical compared to Greek Medicine so that old Persian classification may be the base of modern taxonomy. More clinical trials are suggested for the efficacy and safety of these plants

Suda çözünmeyen buğday lifinin, balık ürünlerinde kullanımı

Balık ürünlerine buğday lifi ilave edilmesi pek yaygın bir uygulama değildir. Bu araştırmanın amacı suda çözünmeyen lifin kullanılmasıyla, lif ile zenginleştirilmiş balık ürünleri elde etmek ve bu şekilde değişik fonksiyonlara sahip lif içeren ürünleri tüketime hazırlamaktır. Bu çalışmada mezgit (Merluccius capensis, Castelnau, 1861) balık filetosundan elde edilen balık eti parçalarını ve balık kıymalarını, miyofibril proteinlerin jel oluşturma özelliğine dayanarak, lif içeren ürünlerin elde edilmesinde kullanılmak üzere, değişik üretim yöntemleri (surimi jel sosisleri ve yeniden yapılandırılmış mezgit kıyması) araştırılmıştır. %3 buğday lifi içeren her iki tür ürünün (surimi ve mezgit kıymasından yapılmış ürünler) tekstür yapısı, kontrol ile çok benzerlik göstermiştir. Lif içeren ürünlerin pişirme kaybı, kontrola göre daha düşük olmuştur. Genel değerlendirme sonucu her iki buğday lifi türünün (Vitacel®-WF200 ve Vitacel® -WF600), ürünlerede belirgin şekilde farklı görünüş, renk (beyazlık vs.), tekstür , tat, aroma ve duyusal değerlere neden oldukları saptanmıştır. Buğday lifi içeren kıyma hale getirilmiş mezgit ürünleri daha kuru bir yapıda olmalarının yanısıra, ayrıca daha beyaz olmuştur. Tat ve aroma olarak duyusal özelliklerin skorları, % 3 diyet lif içeren tüm ürünlerde 5. aya kadar az bir düşüş gösterirken, 6. ayda bu özellikler tamamen benimsenmemiştir. Her iki lif türü etkisi sonucunda daha sert ve elastikliği düşük ürün üretilmiştir. Üretim sırasında nem seviyesi %74ʼe ayarlanmamış ürün dışında diğer ürünler panelistler tarafından kabul edilir seviyede olmuştur. Buğday liflerinin etkisi sonucunda, kontrol ürünlere göre daha iyi modifiye edilmiş ürünler elde edilmiştir