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Bee venom consists of more than 50 % melittin (MLT), which has anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Bee venom also contains toxic components such as phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and hyaluronidase (HYA), which cause allergic reactions, so the toxic components must be removed to use MLT. In previous studies, analytical methods were used to separate MLT. This study used micro-free flow electrophoresis (μFFE) for MLT separation. This separation was simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and molecular dynamics simulation (MD). The glass chip was fabricated using the wet etched method, and MLT separation was investigated experimentally. The CFD results demonstrated that MLT was separated from PLA2 and HYA in less than 3 min, and MLT and toxic components took different paths in the channel. The operating conditions, such as the sample flow rate, buffer flow rate, electric field strength, and channel dimensions, were optimized during the simulation. The MD results showed that MLT's conformation does not change the separation process. MD simulation with an atomistic resolution could give us more accurate results of molecular interactions. Also, MLT separation was performed on a glass chip, adding to the precision of the process. The channel outputs were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). MLT separation using μFFE was performed for the first time. The results indicated that melittin was purified 90 % in this separation, and PLA2 was rejected by 90 %. The results indicated that, for the first time, the separation of MLT from bee venom using μFFE could be achieved with a high recovery rate, thereby demonstrating its potential for biological applications. This separation in less than 3 min has higher yield and purity than analytical methods such as HPLC. [Display omitted] • Combination of computational fluid dynamics and molecular dynamics for simulation of free-flow electrophoresis. • Investigation of the conformational change of melittin at different pHs by applying MD simulation. • Fabrication of glass microchips with the help of bees wax and paper stickers through the wet etching process. • Introducing a simple and cost-effective method for the fabrication of glass microchips that does not need expensive apparatus. • Separation of melittin from bee venom using micro-free-flow electrophoresis with 93 % melittin recovery and 92 % PLA2 rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Simultaneous use of acoustic and centrifugal forces offers precise particle focusing • Particle trajectories affected by altering the microchannel position on the disc • Separation of bioparticles is possible by adjusting the parameters • Sized-based separation is applicable in BAW-assisted centrifugal microfluidics This study presents an integrated acoustic-aided centrifugal microfluidic system to focus and separate microparticles. A 3D numerical simulation was conducted to analyze microparticle movement by exploiting the simultaneous imposition of centrifugal forces and bulk acoustic waves (BAWs) on an electrified lab-on-a-disc device (eLOD). Accordingly, the movement of microparticles was analyzed in a radially positioned rectangular microchannel at various rotation speeds. The effect of physical parameters, including the distance of the microchannel to the center/radius, tilting angle (α), the oscillation amplitude of BAWs, the microchannel's dimension, and the particles' diameter on particle trajectories and focusing efficiency, was studied. It was found that properly adjusting the microchannel's placement at α = 30° made it possible to direct the focused stream of microparticles toward the desired outlet. Higher values of applied oscillation amplitude of BAWs (0.3 nm) led to perfect focusing of microparticles toward the middle outlet in a 200-µm width microchannel at 80 rad/s rotation. Furthermore, the system's ability to separate the circulating tumor cells (CTC) from white blood cells (WBC) was also simulated. The results showed that a successful size-based separation of these bioparticles is achievable by adequately adjusting the microchannel's position or tilting angle at 286 rpm. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare institutions including hospitals and clinics are increasingly using social media platforms, such as Twitter, to raise awareness in the community about health and wellness topics. In line with this trend, this study seeks to understand how three leading medical centers in the USA use Twitter to share educational content about medical conditions, treatments, preventive measures and other health-related topics. A sample of tweets posted by Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins Hospital and Mayo Clinic during a 6-month timeframe was collected and thematically analyzed. The first analysis, which focused on eight popular health topics, showed that diet and cancer were consistently the most and diabetes was the least frequently used topics in the tweets. The second analysis, which drew upon the health belief model to understand the educational themes embedded into the tweets, revealed that the three institutions mainly provided general health advice and information in their tweets and paid less attention to causes and consequences of diseases, preventive strategies and patient success stories. Accordingly, it is recommended that healthcare institutions adjust their tweeting activities and align them with society's health education needs. Such revised content strategies can help medical institutions achieve their health promotion goals more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Combining acoustophoresis and centrifugal forces improves manipulation efficiency. • Disk rotational speed regulates the width of particle focusing. • Acoustic eLOD can successfully classify CTC and WBC bioparticles. • The position of microchannels on the eLOD device alters particle trajectories. The process of microparticle manipulation using acoustic waves within microfluidic devices is called acoustophoresis. This research focuses on a new approach for concentrating and categorizing microparticles using an integrated acoustic centrifugal microfluidic system with standing surface acoustic waves (SSAWs) and centrifugal forces. The study employs a rectangular microchannel with multiple inlets and outlets placed on an electrified lab-on-a-disc (eLOD) device subjected to SSAWs, guiding microparticles radially. Various physical parameters such as distance from the center of rotation, lateral displacement, tilting angle, microchannel dimensions, microparticle size, disc rotation speed, and applied voltage to the piezoelectric were simulated to assess microparticle focusing. The results indicate that adjusting lateral displacement and tilting angle can direct microparticles toward desired outlets. Enhanced focusing is achievable at low rotation speeds with higher applied voltage and narrower microchannel widths. The system's potential for classifying circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and white blood cells (WBCs) based on volume and density differences was also demonstrated. This acoustic eLOD device offers an efficient means for manipulating micro- and bioparticles. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Separation, classification, and focusing of microparticles are essential issues in microfluidic devices that can be implemented in two categories: using labeling and label-free methods. Label-free methods differentiate microparticles based on their inherent properties, including size, density, shape, electrical conductivity/permittivity, and magnetic susceptibility. Dielectrophoresis is an advantageous label-free technique for this objective. Besides, centrifugal microfluidic devices exploit centrifugal forces to move liquid and particles. The simultaneous combination of dielectrophoretic and centrifugal forces exerted on microparticles still needs to be scrutinized more to predict their trajectories in such devices. An integrated system utilizing two categories in microfluidics is proposed: dielectrophoretic manipulation of microparticles and centrifugal-driven microfluidics, followed by a numerical analysis. In this regard, we assumed a rectangular microchannel with internal unilateral planar electrodes equipped with three equal-sized outlets placed radially on a centrifugal platform where microparticles flow toward the disc's outer edge. The effect of different coordinate-based parameters, including radial and lateral distances (X and Y offsets)/tilting angles toward the radius direction (α), on the particles' movement was investigated. Additionally, the effect of operational parameters, including applied voltage, the microchannel width, the number of enabled electrodes, the diameter of particles, and the configuration of electrodes, were analyzed, and the distributions of particles toward the outlets were monitored. It was found that enhanced particle focusing becomes possible at lower rotation speeds and higher electric field values. Furthermore, the proposed centrifugal-DEP system's efficiency for classifying red blood cells/platelets and Live/Dead yeast cells systems was evaluated. Our integrated system is introduced as a novel method for focusing and classifying various microparticles with no need for sheath flows, having the ability to conduct particles at desired routes and focusing width. Furthermore, the system effectively separates various bioparticles and offers ease of operation and high-efficiency throughput over conventional dielectrophoretic devices. [Display omitted] • A centrifugal-DEP device for various applications including biomedical engineering and diagnostics is proposed. • The proposed system can be prepared using regular methods, making it attractive for further experimental studies. • The proposed centrifugal-DEP device provides advantages over the conventional SpinDEP device. • Live and Dead yeast cells have been separated using a 1 MHz, 5 V electric field at a 70 rad/s rotating speed. • A mixture of RBCs and Platelets was successfully classified at 100 rad/s rotation speed and 15 V electrical potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rootstock GF677 is an interspecific hybrid with an important economic and horticultural value. In this research, the effect of indole butyric acid (IBA) in combination with putrescine (Put) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on rooting of GF677 semi-hardwood stem cuttings in three cutting seasons (July, March and October) was investigated. Treatments as IBA (0, 1000, 2000 and 3000 mg L-1), Put (0, 800, 1600 and 3200 mg L-1) and H2O2 (1.5, 3 and 6% w/v) were included. The results showed that in July cuttings, the highest levels of callogenesis were observed in IBA treated cuttings in both concentrations of 1000 and 2000 mg L-1. The rooting was very low in July cuttings, while the highest percentage of rooting (14%) was observed in the combination of 2000 mg L-1 IBA+ 3% H2O2. In March, the cuttings treated by 1000 mg L-1 IBA+800 mg L-1 Put and 1000 mg L-1 IBA+1600 mg L-1 Put revealed the highest percentages of callus formation 83.31 and 83.33%, respectively. In these cuttings, the highest percentage of rooting (63.88%) was gained at 2000 mg L-1 IBA+3200 mg L-1 Put. The application of 1000 mg L-1 IBA+800 mg L-1 Put increased root fresh weight. In cuttings prepared in October, only 800 mg L-1 Put caused callus formation in more than 55% of the cuttings. The rooting of cuttings at this time was as low as the July cuttings, whereas the highest rooting percentage was observed in cuttings treated with IBA at a concentration of 1000 mg L-1. Overall, the experiment showed that the season of the cutting and the treatments with IBA+Put or H2O2 could improve rooting properties of the rootstock GF677. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Adsorption of the drug doxorubicin (DOX) onto covalent functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as drug carriers was studied by employing molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. CNT was covalently functionalized by the chemical groups: amine, carboxyl and hydroxyl and the change in the electrostatic charge of CNT as a result of functionalization was investigated by quantum mechanics calculations. The drug adsorption onto the functionalized CNTs (f-CNT) was examined by analyzing the evaluated radial probability of the drug by MD simulation. Overall consideration of the results demonstrated that surface functionalization enhances the loading capacity of CNT for the drug encapsulation, also agglomeration of unprotonated drug molecules has increased encapsulation capacity. Analysis of the obtained results indicated that carboxyl and amine f-CNTs can act as a pH sensitive drug carrier where their protonation in acidic condition can decrease the electrostatic interactions of the loaded drug with the f-CNT and as a result can promote the drug release. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Covalent fuctionalization of carbon nanotubes with carboxyl, hydroxyl and amine chemical groups. • Investigation loading of protonated and unprotonated drug Doxorubicin on functionalized carbon nanotubes. • Evaluating effect of pH on dissociation of functional groups and drug release. • Agglomeration of nonpolar unprotonated drug molecules has increased encapsulation capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Placing dielectric pads adjacent to the imaging region is an effective method to increase the signal locally and also increase the radio frequency magnetic field homogeneity in magnetic resonance imaging. The use of local high permittivity pads is becoming more common, and this work focuses on the effect of larger dielectric pads on the transmit/receive performance of an array (e.g., coupling, efficiency and safety) having 8 channels, used to image a cylindrical phantom at 4.7 T (200 MHz). We investigate the effects of a dielectric liner surrounding the whole volume of interest both with and without an air gap. The simulations reveal that high permittivities are not recommended because they substantially degrade the longitudinal homogeneity, resulting in hot spots of specific absorption rate at the driven end of the array. Furthermore, high permittivities lead to dielectric resonances in the liner at frequencies close to the Larmor frequency, potentially degrading the performance of the array. Indeed, simulations and measurements confirm that a compromise must be made between improvements in field homogeneity and transmit performance, and that an optimal permittivity exists which is much lower than those commonly used in the literature. The optimal permittivity achieves minimal coupling (<− 23 dB) between array elements, exhibits an intrinsic electromagnetic impedance equal to the geometric mean of those of the coil former and phantom and can be realized with inexpensive materials. For this permittivity the performance with an air gap of thickness equal to that of the liner is equivalent to that without the air gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In high-field magnetic resonance imaging, transmit arrays and high-permittivity inserts are often used together to mitigate the effects of RF field inhomogeneities due to short wavelength. However, array performance is limited by mutual impedance between elements which must be closely spaced around the volume of interest. Mutual impedance plays a substantial role at high frequencies and is increased by the presence of dielectric pads which are used to increase the homogeneity of the RF magnetic field. This paper describes a decoupling strategy for an eight-channel transmit/receive array in the presence of a high permittivity dielectric liner. The elements are decoupled using capacitive bridges between adjacent elements. In spite of the higher mutual impedance due to the liner, both mutual resistance and reactance can be removed between adjacent elements (isolation better than 30 dB), and coupling between nonadjacent elements is maintained below 15 dB. The effects of decoupling on the transmit performance of the array in presence of high permittivity liners are investigated in terms of coupling, magnetic field intensity, SAR and transmit efficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Molecular investigation of doxorubicin (DOX) encapsulation on folic acid and carboxyl functionalized carbon nanotubes is being studied. • Folate receptor embedded bilayer was selected as a modelof cancer cell, and the morphology change of bilayer after drug release was investigated. • Comparison of drug release from carboxyl and folic acid-functionalized carbon nanotubes in the vicinity of cancer cells is carried out • Functionalization of carbon nanotubes with folic acid by two mechanisms sensitive to pH and ligand improves the drug release near cancer cells. Background and objective: Doxorubicin (DOX) is a known anticancer drug which is widely used in cancer therapy. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are among the most promising platforms for smart drug delivery applications. However, due to the toxicity and their low sulubility their application is limited and their functionalization with wide range of biomolecules are suggested. Therefore, the functionalized carbon nanotubes (f-CNT) with carboxyl (CNT-COO) and folic acid (CNT-COO-FA) were investigated as drug-carrier. Methods: Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation along with the Density Functional Theory (DFT) methods are being used to study the drug loading process on functionalized carbon nanotubes. Results: The results indicate that doxorubicin molecules interact more with CNT-COO-FA than CNT-COO. The embedded dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) lipid bilayer with a folate receptor was considered a cancerous cell's representative model. Then the drug release from the f-CNTs near the lipid bilayer was simulated. The results showed that CNT-COO-FA with a pH and ligand-sensitive mechanism strongly interacts with cancerous cells, which led to higher drug release, in agreement with the experimental results. The conformational changes of the lipid bilayer and folate receptor during drug release were evaluated. The analysis showed that drug release from CNT-COO-FA has significantly changed lipid bilayer and receptor conformations. The obtained results were interpreted and justified by considering the molecular mechanisms which control the drug delivery in the studied systems. Conclusions: Based on the obtained results, CNT-COO-FA has a better performance during the drug release compared to CNT-COO in delivering doxorubicin. Both pH and ligand sensitive mechanisms are found to be responsible for higher drug delivery efficiency of CNT-COO-FA. In contrast, CNT-COO can only enhance drug delivery efficiently with a pH-sensitive mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this systematic review is to establish the clinical impact of open (mesh and/or without mesh) and laparoscopic hernia repair (transabdominal pre-peritoneal (TAP) and/or totally extra-peritoneal (TEP)) on male fertility. The incidence of male infertility following various types of inguinal hernia repair is currently unknown. The lack of high-quality evidence has led to various speculations, suggestions and reliance on anecdotal experience in the clinical practice.Methods: An electronic search of the literature in Medline, Scopus, Embase and Cochrane library from 1966 to October 2015 according to PRISMA checklist was conducted. Quality assessment of articles was conducted using the Oxford Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) and their recommendation for practice was examined through National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). This resulted in ten studies (n = 10), comprising 35,740 patients.Results: Sperm motility could be affected following any type and/or technique of inguinal hernia repair but this is limited to the immediate postoperative period (≤48 h). Obstructive azoospermia was noted in 0.03% of open and 2.5% of bilateral laparoscopic (TAP) hernia repair with mesh. Male infertility was detected in 0.8% of the open hernia repair (mesh) with no correlation to the type of mesh (lightweight vs. heavyweight).Conclusion: Inguinal hernia repair without mesh has no impact on male fertility and obstructive azoospermia. However, the use of mesh in bilateral open and/or laparoscopic repair may require the inclusion of male infertility as the part of informed consent in individuals that have not completed their family or currently under investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is occasionally highly resistant to pentavalent antimonials, the gold standard in pharmacotherapy of CL. Since there is no effective vaccine, the discovery of natural antileishmanial products as complementary therapeutic agents could be used to improve the current regimens. Objective: In this study in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activities of osthole, a natural coumarin known to possess antibacterial and parasiticidal activities are evaluated. Materials and Methods: Leishmania major infected J774.A1 macrophages were treated with increasing concentrations of osthole. CL lesions of BALB/c mice were treated topically with 0.2% osthole. Results: Osthole exhibited dose-dependent leishmanicidal activity against intracellular amastigotes with IC50 value of 14.95 µg/ml. Treatment of CL lesions in BALB/c mice with osthole significantly declined lesion progression compared to untreated mice (P < 0.05), however did not result in recovery. Conclusion: Osthole demonstrated remarkable leishmanicidal activity in vitro. Higher concentrations of osthole may demonstrate the therapeutic property in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high sensitive upper critical solution temperature (UCST) copolymer was synthesized through free radical copolymerization with acrylamide (AAm) and vinyl acetate (VA). The UCST behavior is due to a combination of hydrogen bonds and electrostatic potentials between copolymer chains. Turbidimetry, dynamic light scattering, and rheology studies were used to determine the phase transition and aggregation behavior. It is indicated that copolymer with 80% AAm has a phase transition temperature between 38 and 38.2 ° C , which is suitable for releasing fever medicine. Also, the temperature gradient for the complete dissolution of the copolymer is 2 ° C. The molecular dynamics simulations at a molecular level confirmed the experimental results and indicated that aggregation of copolymer chains below UCST temperature had increased binding energy between polymer chains. The low cytotoxicity and its desirable UCST behavior make the copolymer promising for biomedical applications in the future. [Display omitted] • An upper critical solution temperature (UCST) copolymer based on acrylamide (AAm) and vinyl acetate (VA) was synthesized through free radical copolymerization, which has a tunable phase transition temperature. • The copolymer with 80% AAm has a phase transition temperature of 38.2 ° C with about 2 ° C temperature gradient for complete dissolution. • The presence of electrolytes (NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, and MgCl2) has decreased phase transition temperature by intervening hydrogen bonds between copolymer chains. • Decreasing the pH has increased the hydrogen bonds between the copolymer chains, resulting in increased phase transition temperature. • The molecular dynamics simulation indicated that the decrement of Lennard-Jones (LJ) and electrostatic potentials between copolymer chains have enhanced copolymer dissolution at a temperature higher than the phase transition temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This work describes the measurement of complex permittivity (or dielectric constant) of powders (water insoluble), solutions, and suspensions using a parallel-plate capacitor cell. An impedance analyzer measures the cell's impedance at radio frequencies used in nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance imaging (10-300 MHz) through an appropriate test fixture. The cell's impedance is fitted to an equivalent circuit using a M atlab script or other software, and the permittivity of the material is extracted after calibration with known materials. The permittivity of the solid material is obtained from that of the powder suspension using known mixing rules. Measurements for most materials tested are in agreement with those obtained using standard coaxial probes. Some discrepancies are observed for loose powders because of the difficulty of controlling the amount of packing. For high-permittivity materials or conductive solutions an enhanced equivalent circuit has been found that characterizes the cell's behavior over the full frequency range. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part B (Magn Reson Engineering) 46B: 19-24, 2016 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many advanced microfluidic Lab-on-disc (LOD) devices require an on-board power supply for powering active components. LODs with an on-board electrical power supply are called electrified-LODs (eLODs) and are the subject of the present review. This survey comprises two main parts. First, we discuss the different means of delivering electrical energy to a spinning disc including slip-ring, wireless power transmission, and on-board power supply. In the second part, we focus on utilizing electrical power on eLODs for three electrokinetic microfluidic processes: electrophoresis, electroosmotic flow, and dielectrophoresis. Electrokinetic phenomena enable propulsion, separation, and manipulation of different fluids and various types of microparticles/cells. We summarize the theoretical and experimental results for all three electrokinetic phenomena enacted on centrifugal platforms. While extensive numerical modeling and experimental research are available for electrokinetics on stationary platforms, there is a noticeable lack of development in this area when executed on rotating platforms. The review concludes by comparing the strengths and weaknesses of different electrokinetic techniques implemented on centrifugal platforms, and additionally, the most promising applications of electrokinetic-assisted eLOD devices are singled out. [Display omitted] • Different means of delivering electrical energy to a spinning disc are presented and compared. • Different applications of electrified LODs (eLOD) in previous studies are reviewed. • Principles and applications of the electrokinetic phenomena are explained and the application of electrokinetic phenomena on eLOD devices is investigated. • A comparison is presented to unveil the pros and cons of different electrokinetic techniques on eLODS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is a sensitive vibration spectroscopy method applied to analyze a variety of analytes, including toxins and pesticides. The SERS method is an accurate method for detecting significantly low concentrations of biomaterials and chemicals. In the present study, in order to detect atrazine pesticide, the glass fiber substrates coated with silver nanoparticles have been used as SERS plasmonic nanosensors. First, silver nanoparticles were prepared by applying a chemical approach named the Tollens' method, and the SERS plasmonic substrates (SPS) were fabricated by depositing the colloidal silver solution on a glass fiber substrate. The SERS plasmonic nanosensors were fabricated by self-assembling the silver nanoparticles and after functionalization of glass fiber substrate using 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES). For this purpose, silver nanoparticles were chemically prepared, and their size distribution was determined to be 140–150 nm using dynamic light scattering (DLS). Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy was applied for the optical characterization of colloids of silver nanoparticles and the prepared substrates. The results indicate the displacement of the plasmonic peak toward longer wavelengths after self-assembly of the nanoparticles. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images indicated the non-uniform distribution of silver nanoparticles on the surface of glass fiber substrates. Atrazine pesticide was employed as an analyte to investigate the performance of SERS plasmonic substrates (SPS). The detection limit of SPS for detecting atrazine pesticide was equal to 10−12 M, and the average relative standard deviation for ten repeated measurements was obtained to be 4.02%. With reducing the solution concentration to 10−12 M, the intensity of Raman modes decreased significantly so that only some peaks were clear. Moreover, the quantum mechanics calculation and molecular dynamics simulation were performed to clarify the molecular interactions between atrazine and silver nanoparticles. By increasing the concentration of atrazine, the Lennard-Jones potential was increased following the experimental results of Raman spectroscopy. • Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) deposited on glass fibers as SERS-active substrates significantly amplify electric fields under laser light emitted to their surface. • The quantum mechanics calculation and molecular dynamics simulation were performed to clarify the molecular interactions between atrazine and silver nanoparticles. • Fast and sensitive detection of Atrazine up to the concentration of 10−12 M due to the porous structure of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on glass fibers as SERS-active substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Since the introduction of Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy ( ETS ) by Kux in 1951, the procedure has been performed for treatment of primary hyperhidrosis (PH) of the upper limb. Despite its initial success and minimally invasive nature, the long-term results are yet to be established. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of patients after ETS with particular emphasis on patient satisfaction and its effectiveness over a 16-year period. Methods: A patient survey of fifty-one (n = 51) patients who had ETS for PH of palms from 1995 to 2011 was conducted. The data on age, sex, site of the PH, family history, trigger, hospital stay, relief from symptoms, complications, refractory sweating and overall satisfaction with the procedure was analysed with SAS software version 9.1.3. Conclusion: The mean follow-up was 77 months (range, 6-189 months) with equal gender distribution (n = 24 males Vs n = 27 females) and mean age of 19 (range, 13-64 years). The hereditary prevalence was 55%. Forty-six patients (90.2%) reported an immediate (≤24 h) and four patients (7.8%) reported a delay (>24 h) in relief of symptoms. To the best of our knowledge this is longest duration of follow-up reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The main problem in using photovoltaic (PV) systems is the low energy conversion efficiency of PV cells. The efficiency of PV cells will decrease significantly as the temperature of the cells exceed to a certain limit. In order to increase the efficiency, it is necessary to reduce the operating temperature of array. One of the ways for improving the system operation is cooling PV cells with a thin film of water. The aim of this research is to study the effects of nominal power of array and system head on the operation of system by using this method. For this purpose, a photovoltaic water pumping system is installed in Kerman city (Latitude: 30° 17′ and longitude: 57° 50′) and different methods examined to reduce PV cells temperature. The most effective way was chosen and used in set. This method is based on providing water for cooling cells by the pump itself. Experiments show that with decreasing of array nominal power and increasing in system head, the power generated by the array increases significantly. This increases the panel and total efficiency and therefore the pump flow rate. This method is ineffective as the array nominal power increases significantly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Gastric banding is a popular method for the treatment of morbid obesity. Amongst complications, gastric erosion remains uncommon but could prove fatal. Multiple techniques, from open surgery to endoscopic and standard laparoscopic technique for their removal, have been previously detailed in the literature. However, only a few reports have mentioned their total laparoscopic transgastric removal in the literature. Herein, we report a successful removal of an eroding gastric band with its technical suggestion in a 43-year-old female patient 22 months following its application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudoaneurysm of the posterior tibial artery (PTA) is uncommon, and they mainly occur following high-velocity trauma, open fractures and can be iatrogenic in nature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported and successfully treated case of PTA pseudoaneurysm identified as a consequence of tibia fracture nonunion in an otherwise healthy young individual 6 months following the original incident with a novel intraoperative technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium dioxide is an important material with a wide range of applications. Different methods and processes have been introduced and applied to produce pure TiO 2 from available titanium ores and mineral sources. This paper describes the production of nano-sized titanium dioxide (TiO 2) from ilmenite concentrate provided by the main Iranian Ilmenite processing complex. Ilmenite (FeTiO 3) concentrate was decomposed using (70% wt.) potassium hydroxide solution at 220 °C and under air at atmospheric conditions. The decomposed product was leached using hydrochloric acid solution, and Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was applied for chelating and separating iron impurity from the leach solution. Ammonia solution was used for precipitation, and the anatase TiO 2 nanoparticles were produced in the following filtration, drying, and calcination processes. The water content of the filtrate solution was evaporated, and it was dried to produce a powdery product. The crystal phases of ilmenite, decomposed ilmenite, and the TiO 2 product were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the chemical compositions of the ilmenite concentrate, products, and the filtrate were determined using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The morphological study of the decomposed ilmenite and synthesized-TiO 2 was performed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), respectively. The particle size measurement of the TiO 2 product was conducted using dynamic light scattering (DLS) method. The crystal system and lattice parameters were calculated by the Rietveld refinement method. The purity of the produced synthesized-TiO 2 was determined to be more than 90% with a mean particle size diameter of around 70 nm. The filtrate solution (as the main byproduct of the process) contained Fe-EDTA chelated complexes, sodium, potassium, and some other constituents that can be used in agricultural fertilizer production. • A modified process for producing anatase TiO 2 from ilmenite is proposed. • Major impurities were separated using Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). • The purity of the final product reached 90 wt%. • Particle size of the synthesized-TiO 2 placed in the range of 50 to 100 nm. • The main byproduct of the process had valuable constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focused on the assessment of the diphenhydramine hydrochloride (DPH) capabilities as an alternative to conventional and harmful industrial corrosion inhibitors, electrochemical techniques were employed. The optimum concentration of 1000 ppm was determined by molecular simulation and validated through electrochemical experiments. The results acquired from the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) study showed that DPH at a concentration of 1000 ppm has a corrosion efficiency of 91.43% after 6 h immersion. The DPH molecules' orientation on the surface was assessed based on EIS predicting horizontal adsorption on the surface. Molecular simulations were done to explore the adsorption mechanism of DPH. The DPH molecules' orientation on the surface was also assessed based on computational studies confirming the horizontal adsorption predicted by EIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrobronchial fistulae (GBF) following minimally invasive oesophagectomy (MIO) is a rare entity, with an estimated incidence of 0.3–1.5% according to the published literature. It could present with persistent cough (Ohno's sign), chest pain, haemoptysis and recurrent pneumonia. Barium swallow examination remains the most sensitive investigation in 78% of the cases; the main stay of management is surgical and in some cases endoscopic (stent insertion). We report a rare case of a GBF 1 month after two-stage MIO for cancer of the gastro-oesophageal junction, which was successfully treated for the first time with an over-the-scope-clip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the competency of the time domain ultra-wideband (UWB)-circular synthetic aperture radar (CSAR) to image the breast and detect tumors. The image reconstruction is performed using a time domain global back projection technique adapted to the circular trajectory data acquisition. This paper also proposes a sectional image reconstruction method to compensate for the group velocity changes in different layers of a multilayer medium. Experiments on an advanced breast phantom examines the suitability of this technique for breast tumor imaging. The advanced breast phantom is designed based on a MRI of a real patient, fabricated using 3D printing technology, and filled with liquids that emulate normal and cancerous tissues. The measurement results, compared with MRI imaging of the phantom, demonstrate the suitability of the UWB-CSAR method for breast tumor imaging. This method can be a tool for early diagnosis as well as for treatment monitoring during chemotherapy or radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response from the author of the article "Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for primary hyperhidrosis: a 16-year follow up in a single UK centre" in the 2014 issue is presented.

Purpose: Two-stage minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) has gained popularity in the surgical treatment of esophageal cancer. MIE's limitation is embedded in the construction of intrathoracic anastomosis. Various anastomotic techniques have been reported; however, the mechanical one remains the most commonly adopted. This pilot study aims to describe an efficient, safe, and reproducible way of performing a hand-sewn intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis in conjunction with short-term results using 2D and 3D thoracoscopic approaches. Methods: A total of n = 13 patients (mean age 67.4) underwent MIE for distal esophageal or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma between January and September 2016. Resection was performed in prone position, and the esophagogastric anastomosis was constructed in an end-to-side manner in two layers with barbed knotless suture. A 2D thoracoscopic approach was used in n = 10 patients (77%) and a 3D approach in n = 3 (23%). Results: n = 8 patients (61.5%) had neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and n = 5 (38.5%) had primary surgery. The mean operating time was 420 min, and the average length of stay was 10 days with no associated mortality. n = 1 (7.7%) developed a radiological leak that did not require an intervention. Thoracoscopic approach with the glasses-based 3D optical system using the angulating-tip 100° camera provided a far superior view for precise lymphadenectomy in combination to an efficient and safe construction of the anastomosis. Conclusion: The barbed knotless suturing technique in MIE is an efficient and safe method of constructing the esophagogastric anastomosis with promising short-term outcomes. A 3D thoracoscopic approach appears to be superior in performing the anastomosis to that of a 2D technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oxymetholone, an anabolic-androgenic steroid, has been used to treat some diseases. The abuse of this compound, especially for muscle growth, has severe oxidative side effects on the liver and kidneys. Oxidative stress and free radicals are responsible for the development of various diseases. Phytochemicals are sources of polyphenols, flavonoids, saponins, etc. and may act as scavengers of free radicals. Saffron (Crocus sativus) has considerable antioxidant properties, which may be useful in reversing or preventing these negative effects. Methods: To evaluate the effects of saffron on the liver and kidneys degenerative changes induced by oxymetholone, 24 male Wistar rats were used. The rats were randomly divided into four groups of six rats each as: a) sham (normal saline, 40 mg/kg/day), b) saffron control (40 mg/kg/day), c) oxymetholone (50 mg/rat), and d) treatment group [saffron (40 mg/kg/ day)+oxymetholone (50 mg/rat)]. The course of examination was 30 days. Results: After one month, the sham and saffron control groups had normal histological findings. The treatment group with saffron showed a significant reduction in the hepatic and renal degenerative changes induced by oxymetholone compared to those observed in group. Conclusion: Based on the histopathological results, the use of saffron produced protective effects against the degenerative changes in rats' liver and kidneys induced by oxymetholone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endothelial injury and microvascular/macrovascular thrombosis are common pathophysiological features of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). However, the optimal thromboprophylactic regimens remain unknown across the spectrum of illness severity of COVID-19. A variety of antithrombotic agents, doses, and durations of therapy are being assessed in ongoing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that focus on outpatients, hospitalized patients in medical wards, and patients critically ill with COVID-19. This paper provides a perspective of the ongoing or completed RCTs related to antithrombotic strategies used in COVID-19, the opportunities and challenges for the clinical trial enterprise, and areas of existing knowledge, as well as data gaps that may motivate the design of future RCTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Description This is a video of a hand-sewn 2-layer end-to-side intra-thoracic esophago-gastric anastomosis performed thoracoscopically during a totally minimally invasive 2-stage esophagectomy for cancer. The suture material used is the barbed V-Lock. We routine perform this anastomosis in all 2-stage minimally invasive esophagectomies in our Unit since 2016. We have performed about 50 consecutive esophagectomies with this anastomosis with < 3% leak rate. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Laparoscopic total gastrectomy for the treatment of gastric and esophago-gastric junction cancer is on the rise. The procedure's rate-limiting step is the construction of the esophago-jejunal anastomosis. Most surgeons are performing the anastomosis laparoscopically by utilizing an endoscopic linear or circular stapler; scarce evidence exists regarding laparoscopic hand-sewn esophago-jejunal anastomosis. Herein, we present our technique and results of laparoscopic manual esophago-jejunal anastomosis during totally laparoscopic total gastrectomy for gastric and esophago-gastric junction cancer. Anastomosis was performed in a two-layer fashion. Overall implementation provided excellent surgical outcomes in our cohort of patients; median anastomotic time was 55 min, while median operating time was 240 min. Intra-operative methylene blue leak test was negative in all cases. No anastomotic leak or anastomotic stricture were noted postoperatively. The 30-day and 90-day mortality rates were zero. Laparoscopic total gastrectomy is on the rise. One of the most technically demanding steps of the approach is the construction of esophago-jejunal anastomosis. Several laparoscopic anastomotic techniques have been described, like linear stapler side-to-side or circular stapler end-to-side anastomosis; limited data exist regarding hand-sewn esophago-jejunal anastomosis. The study took place between January 2018 and June 2021. Patients enrolled in this study were adults with proximal gastric or esophago-gastric junction Siewert type III tumors that underwent 3D-assisted laparoscopic total gastrectomy. A hand-sewn esophago-jejunal anastomosis was performed in all cases laparoscopically. Forty consecutive cases were performed during the study period. Median anastomotic suturing time was 55 min, with intra-operative methylene blue leak test being negative in all cases. Median operating time was 240 min, and there were no conversions to open. The anastomotic leak rate and postoperative stricture rate were zero. The 30- and 90-day mortality rates were zero. Laparoscopic manual esophago-jejunal anastomosis utilizing a 3D platform in total gastrectomy for cancer can be performed with excellent outcomes regarding anastomotic leak and stricture rate. This anastomotic approach, although technically challenging, is safe and reproducible, with prominent results that can be disseminated in the surgical community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]