Heavy Tetraquarks in the Diquark-Antidiquark Picture

The homogeneous Lippmann-Schwinger integral equation is solved in momentum space to calculate the masses of heavy tetraquarks with hidden charm and bottom. The tetraquark bound states are studied in the diquark-antidiquark picture as a two-body problem. A regularized form of the diquark-antidiquark potential is used to overcome the singularity of the confining potential at large distances or small momenta. Our numerical results indicate that the relativistic effect leads to a small reduction in the mass of heavy tetraquarks, which is less than $2\,\%$ for charm and less than $0.2\,\%$ for bottom tetraquarks. The calculated masses of heavy tetraquarks for $1s$, $1p$, $2s$, $1d$ and $2p$ states are in good agreement with other theoretical calculations and experimental data. Our numerical analysis predict the masses of heavy tetraquarks for $3s$, $2d$ and $3p$ states for the first time, and we are not aware of any other theoretical results or experimental data for these states

3,4,5-Trihydr­oxy-N′-[(1-methyl-1H-indol-2-yl)methyl­idene]benzohydrazide

The structure of the title compound, C17H15N3O4, displays inter­molecular O—H⋯N and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonding between adjacent mol­ecules. Intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds also occur. The molecule is essentially planar with a deviation of 0.090 (1) Å from the best plane running through the connected ring systems

The effect of family training and support on the quality of life and cost of hospital readmissions in congestive heart failure patients in Iran

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of family training and support on quality of life and cost of hospital readmissions in congestive heart failure patients. Methods: In this single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial, the participants were heart failure patients hospitalized in an Iranian hospital. Data were collected from available hospitalized patients. The participants were enrolled through randomized sampling and were divided randomly into two groups, an intervention group and a control group. The intervention group received extra training package for the disease. Training was provided at discharge and three months after. A standard questionnaire to assess the QoL was filled out by both groups at discharge and six months after. Results: Mean scores of QoL domains at the beginning of the study decreased in control group and increased in intervention in comparison with six months after (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Nursing care follow-up according to heart failure patients' needs promoted their QoL

A systematic review of the effects of satureja khuzestanica jamzad and zataria multiflora boiss against pseudomonas aeruginosa

Background: The use of antibiotics is common, but its excessive or improper use leads to antibiotic resistance. Consequently, scientists have been interested in exploring traditional medicine to identify a new source of anti-bacterial agents. The present study aimed to conduct a systematic review to determine the anti-bacterial activity of Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad (SKJ) and Zataria multiflora Boiss (ZM) essential oils against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro. Methods: A comprehensive literature search for studies published on SKJ and ZM was carried out. Various keywords (S. Khuzestanica, Marzeh-e-Khuzestani, Z. Multiflora, Z. Multiflora Boiss; avishan-e-shirazi, shirazi thyme, thymol, carvacrol; P. aeruginosa, Iran, antibacterial effect; traditional medicine, phytomedicine, herbal medicine) were used to search both international and Iranian databases (Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, MEDLINE; PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Academic Search; Journal Storage, Magiran, Irandoc, Scientific Information Database (SID), and IranMedex). The selected articles were published during 2000-2017 and were written in English or Persian. Results: Seventeen articles were included in the review. The main ingredients of SKJ and ZM plants were carvacrol and thymol. The potential anti-bacterial activity of essential oils from these plants was confirmed. The carvacrol content, as the major active ingredient of SKJ was between 38.33-97.89. The major ingredients of ZM were carvacrol (16.8-82.7) followed by thymol (25.70-64.87). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of SKJ and ZM essential oils against bacterial strains was in the range of 0.31-450 and 2-8,000 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: The present review study confirmed the antibacterial activity of SKJ and ZM, particularly against Pseudomonas in vitro. © 2020, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction after 12-month follow-up in hemodialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to detect echocardiographic abnormality in the beginning and after 12-month follow-up in the hemodialysis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a cross-sectional study, 60 hemodialysis patients older than 18 years and the dialysis duration longer than three months were enrolled. At the beginning of the study, echocardiography was done and after 12 months was repeated in all of the patients by the same cardiologist. At the end of the study, data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 19). RESULTS From the total of cases 37 were male and 23 female. At the beginning of the study, mitral regurgitation, tricuspid regurgitation and aortic insufficiency were found in 54, 47 and 11 patients respectively. After 12 months left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) decreased significantly, however there was no significant difference between other echocardiographic findings at the beginning and after 12 months. CONCLUSION Decrease in LVEF over time in hemodialysis patients may be due to negative effect of uremia on cardiac function, so it seems that periodical cardiac evaluation of these patients is essential and beneficial

Effect of exercise training on the quality of life and echocardiography parameter of systolic function in patients with chronic heart failure: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND Ejection fraction promotion in heart failure patients reduces mortalities and limitations. OBJECTIVES This study was to investigate the effect of exercise on ejection fraction of chronic heart failure patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS The present study was conducted on patients with chronic heart failure. 66 patients were divided randomly into two experimental and control groups of 33 each. The subjects were male and female. The patients in experimental group followed an exercise program three sessions per week for 24 weeks. Echocardiography and quality of life questionnaire were used to gather data. The data were analyzed by SPSS 18 through pair and independent t-test. RESULTS The results indicated a significant difference in left ventricular diameter (LV-ESD, LV-EDD) and ejection fraction at the end of exercise program in experimental group and 24 weeks after in control group. There was a significant difference in quality of life in physical performance, activity limitation following physical problems, energy and fatigue, social performance, physical pain, and public health (P < 0.05 for all) between two groups. CONCLUSIONS Exercise program increases ejection fraction and quality of life in chronic heart failure patients, associated with management of disease by health team

The properties of nanofiber scaffolds of polyurethane-Cinnamomum zeylanicum against pathogens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus

This study designed to investigate the properties of antibacterial nanofiber scaffolds of polyurethane-Cinnamomum zeylanicum against virulence gene expression inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus that are important in burn wounds. With attention to burn wound infections in hospitals and mortality increase in patients, it is necessary to design nanodressing. Clinical isolates were confirmed by biochemical and microbiological tests. DNA of isolates was extracted and PCR used to confirm the alp gene of P. aeruginosa and Pv gene of S. aureus. Polyurethane nanofiber and cinnamon polymers were used to prepare the scaffold under the electrospinning process. Infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and mechanical tensile tests were used to confirm the scaffolds. The susceptibility testing and minimum inhibitory concentration of polyurethane-cinnamon nanofiber scaffold were determined against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. For confirmation of polyurethane-cinnamon nanofiber scaffold were used the cytotoxicity test (MTT), FTIR, mechanical tensile test, and a scanning electron microscope. The expression of virulence genes was investigated using the real-time RT-PCR technique. The results of the susceptibility testing indicated that P. aeruginosa and S. aureus were susceptible to polyurethane-cinnamon nanofiber scaffold. The MTT, FTIR, mechanical tensile test, and SEM confirmed the different features of the polyurethane-cinnamon nanofiber scaffold. Results of real-time PCR demonstrated that the expression levels of p�v and alp genes after treatment decreased, respectively, 2.71- and 1.06-fold. Results indicated that the electrospun polyurethane-cinnamon nanofiber scaffold for the first time could inhibit both important pathogens of the hospital and the expression of the virulence genes. Considering the susceptibility of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus to and its inhibitory effect on an alp and p�v genes, this system could probably be a candidate in wound dressing for commercial purposes to burn healing and infection inhibition. © 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature

Aspergillus coinfection among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Asia and Africa countries; A systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies

Progress of the disease and prolonged treatment with antibiotics or immunosuppressive agents makes tuberculosis patients susceptible to fungal infections. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of pulmonary Aspergillus coinfection among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Asia and Africa. The present review of cross-sectional studies was conducted on the prevalence of pulmonary Aspergillus coinfection among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis according to the PRISMA Protocol. Literatures published online in English from January 2001 to March 2019 via key databases such as Web of Science, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library were searched. The used MeSH and non-MeSH keywords were; �pulmonary fungal�, �pulmonary coinfection�, OR �Pulmonary mycosis�, �pulmonary fungal infections/agents�, OR �Polymicrobial infection�, OR �Secondary infection�, OR �Mixed infections�, �pulmonary aspergillosis�, �fungi coinfection�, �Fungal co-colonization�, AND �pulmonary tuberculosis�, OR �pulmonary TB�, AND �Asia� AND �Africa�. Finally, data analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (CMA). The combined Aspergillus coinfection among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was 15.4 (95 CI: 11.4�20.5), Q = 105.8 and Z = 9.57 in Asia and Africa. The most frequency of Aspergillus spp. was related to A. fumigatus with a combined prevalence of 57.6. Most of the studies included in the present review showed a higher Aspergillus coinfection in the age group of 40 years and higher. Also, the existence of a correlation between increasing age and Aspergillus coinfection was reported (p < 0.05). The present review showed a high combined Aspergillus coinfection among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Asia and Africa. Also, amongst the Aspergillus spp., the most frequent was related to A. fumigatus. © 2020 Elsevier Lt