Effect of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles on pregnancy and testicular development of mice

this study, considering the high sensitivity of developing fetal organs, different doses of iron oxide nanoparticles coated with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) were injected intraperitoneally to pregnant mice. The magnetic and structural properties of DMSA-coated nanoparticles were examined by Alternating Gradient-Force Magnetometry, X-Ray Diffraction and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The histological studies of the fetal liver and placenta sections showed presence of  nanoparticles in these organ systems. Weight change and the number of pups born by pregnant mice in comparison with controls were not significantly different. But, a significant decrease was seen in infants growth from the mothers treated with doses higher than 50 mg/kg. The testicular histological studies of these infants showed decrease in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids and mature sperm significantly. Although, some studies revealed the nontoxic effect of iron oxide nanoparticles in adult mice, the present study indicated that, the doses higher than 50 mg/kg of DMSA-coated magnetic nanoparticles can disrupt embryo development.Key words: Magnetic nanoparticles, pregnancy, testicular development, toxicity

Supporting factors of constancy in quitting drugs: A qualitative study

Introduction: Inconstancy and failure to overcoming drug abuse are among the main concerns of planners, practitioners, and families of addicted individuals. Thus, the present study was undertaken with the aim to identify supporting factors in constancy in overcoming drug abuse. Method: This qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured individual interviews with 13 patients who had overcome addiction for over 2 years. Data obtained from the interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Results: Content analysis of the obtained data revealed five main themes. These themes consisted of changing the friendship atmosphere (including complete separation from friends who distribute or consume drugs, finding or recovery of non-addict friends, and reducing the number of friends and more contacts with family), family support and acceptance (including parents’ support, acceptance of and belief in the decision to overcome addiction, and frequent praise and encouragement from the family), introduction to successful experiences of overcoming addiction (including television programs (movies, series, or documentaries), and meeting individuals who have overcome addiction), participation in receptive groups and environments (distance from isolation and loneliness, withdrawal from labeling situations) and association with spirituality (including remembrance of Allah, and performing religious practices). Conclusion: The results of this study can help social planners, families, and addiction therapists have to successfully and permanently overcome addiction. Keywords: Addiction, Constancy in quitting, Qualitative research, Content analysi

Levosimendan exerts anticonvulsant properties against PTZ-induced seizures in mice through activation of nNOS/NO pathway: Role for K<inf>ATP</inf> channel

Aims Although approving new anticonvulsants was a major breakthrough in the field of epilepsy control, so far we have met limited success in almost one third of patients suffering from epilepsy and a definite and reliable method is yet to be found. Levosimendan demonstrated neuroprotective effects and reduced mortality in conditions in which seizure can be an etiology of death; however, the underlying neuroprotective mechanisms of levosimendan still eludes us. In the light of evidence suggesting levosimendan can be a KATP channel opener and nitrergic pathway activator, levosimendan may exert antiseizure effects through KATP channels and nitrergic pathway. Main methods In this study, the effects of levosimendan on seizure susceptibility was studied by PTZ-induced seizures model in mice. Key findings Administration of a single effective dose of levosimendan significantly increased seizures threshold and the nitrite level in the hippocampus and temporal cortex. Pretreatment with noneffective doses of glibenclamide (a KATP channel blocker) and L-NAME (a non-selective NOS inhibitor) neutralize the anticonvulsant and nitrite elevating effects of levosimendan. While 7-NI (a neural NOS inhibitor) blocked the anticonvulsant effect of levosimendan, Aminoguanidine (an inducible NOS inhibitor) failed to affect the anticonvulsant effects of levosimendan. Cromakalim (a KATP channel opener) or L-arginine (an NO precursor) augmented the anticonvulsant effects of a subeffective dose of levosimendan. Moreover, co-administration of noneffective doses of Glibenclamide and L-NAME demonstrated a synergistic effect in blocking the anticonvulsant effects of levosimendan. Significance Levosimendan has anticonvulsant effects possibly via KATP/nNOS/NO pathway activation in the hippocampus and temporal corte

Study of kidney and gill function in Salmo trutta caspius fingerlings after move to the Caspian Sea

Caspian trout (Salmo trutta caspius) is an anadromous and valuable fish species in the Caspian Sea. Electrolytes concentration (Mg2+ and Ca2+) and kidney and gill development trend were studied in different weight groups. Specimens in 4 weight groups 5, 10, 15 and 20g. Each trial was done in 3 replicates. The observation of kidney glomeruli in histological sections showed that the diameter of glomeruli in all weight groups in Caspian water decreased after 72h adaptation period (P0.05), although in other groups (10, 15 and 20g) a significant increase in chloride cell's number and size was detected. The number of chloride cells on gill's secondary lamellas varied between 3 to 7 (in two gills lamellas)

Photothermal conversion efficiency of nanofluids: An experimental and numerical study

This work investigated experimentally the photothermal conversion efficiency (PTE) of gold nanofluids in a cylindrical tube under natural solar irradiation conditions, which was also compared with a developed 3-D numerical model. The PTE of gold nanofluids was found to be much higher than that of pure water, and increased non-linearly with the nanoparticle concentration, reaching 76.0% at a concentration of 5.8 ppm. Significant non-uniform temperature distribution was identified both experimentally and numerically, and a large uncertainty can be produced in the PTE calculation by using only one-point temperature measurement. A mathematical model was also established to calculate the solar absorption efficiency without knowing the temperature field within the nanofluids, which can be used to predict the theoretical PTE for nanofluids based on their optical properties only

Photocatalytic and biomedical investigation of green synthesized NiONPs: Toxicities and degradation pathways of Congo red dye

In this study the biomedical and catalytic ability of green synthesized nickel Oxide nanoparticles (NiONPs) was investigated. The extract of medicinal plant Tribulus terrestris were used to synthesized NiONPs. The as-synthesized NiONPs were in nano scale and were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The synthesis of NiONPs was ensured with surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) at 425 nm and the strong EDX. The effect of different concentrations of plant extract on the size of NiONPs was evaluated. The HRTEM results showed particle size between 60 - 90 nm. The study showed that lesser the extract concentration, more spherical and small sized particles were obtained without aggregation. The biological applications of NiONPs were evaluated against different fungal species like Asper gillusflavus, Asper gillusfumigatus, Asper gillusniger and standard medicine Terbinafine. A. niger, A. flavus and A. fumigatus exhibited 57, 63 and 52 % inhibition compared with inhibition of the reference medicine which is 98, 100 and 100%. NiONPs have been shown to be more effective against gram-positive bacteria than gram-negative bacteria like E. Coli 9(±0.7) and S. aureus13 (±0.8). Moreover, antioxidant properties of the as-synthesized NiONPs were evaluated with 2, 2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) (DPPH). The catalytic ability of green synthesized of NiONP was investigated for the degradation of Congo red dye (CR) as a hazardous environmentally contaminations in water. The biosynthesized NiONPs were found to be active catalytic for the degradation toxic dyes like CR. the catalytic activity of NiONPs can be explained by its small size compared with balk material. Mechanisms for CR degradation have been proposed. The Ecotoxicity of CR and components derived from dye was investigated with Ecological Structure Activity Relationship (ECOSAR) program

ILSF, A THIRD GENERATION LIGHT SOURCE LABORATORY IN IRAN

Abstract The Iranian Light Source Facility (ILSF) project is a first large scale accelerator facility which is currently under planning in Iran. On the basis of the present design, circumference of the 3 GeV storage ring is 297.6 m. Beam current and natural beam emittance are 400 mA and 3.278 nm.rad respectively. The facility will be built on a land of 50 hectares area in the city of Qazvin, located 150 km West of Tehran. The city is surrounded by many universities, research centers and industrial companies. The design and construction of prototype items such as radio frequency solid state amplifier, dipole magnets, highly stable magnet power supplies and girders have already begun. Site selection studies, including geotechnical and seismological measurements are being performed. Conceptual Design Report, CDR, as the first milestone of the project was published in October 2012