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Hydrophobic and oleophilic Si-based cotton fabrics have recently gained a lot of attention in oil/water separation due to their high efficiency. In this study, we present the effect of O 2 plasma pre-treatment on the final properties of two Si-based cotton membranes obtained from dip coating and plasma polymerization, using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as starting polymeric precursor. The structural characterizations indicate the presence of Si bond on both the modified cotton surfaces, with an increase of the carbon bond, assuring the success in surface modification. On the other hand, employing O 2 plasma strongly changes the cotton morphology, inducing specific roughness and affecting the hydrophobicity durability and separation efficiency. In particular, the wettability has been retained after 20 laundry tests at 40 °C and 80 °C, and, for separation efficiency, even after 30 cycles, an improvement in the range of 10-15%, both at room temperature and at 90 °C can be observed. These results clearly demonstrate that O 2 plasma pre-treatment, an eco-friendly, non-toxic, solvent-free, and one-step method for inducing specific functionalities on surfaces, is very effective in enhancing the oil/water separation properties for Si-based cotton membranes, especially in combination with plasma polymerization procedure for Si-based deposition.

Background: This study was designed to investigate the effect of metformin and flutamide alone or in combination with anthropometric indices and laboratory tests of obese/overweight PCOS women under hypocaloric diet., Methods: This single blind clinical trial was performed on 120 PCOS women. At the beginning, hypocaloric diet was recommended for the patients. After one month while they were on the diet, the patients were randomly divided in 4 groups; metformin (500 mg, 3/day), flutamide (250 mg, 2/day), combined, metformin (500 mg, 3/day) with flutamide (250 mg, 2/day) and finally placebo group. The patients were treated for 6 months. Anthropometric indices and laboratory tests (fasting and glucose-stimulated insulin levels, lipid profile and androgens) were measured. A one-way ANOVA (Post Hoc) and paired t-test were performed to analyze data. A p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: After treatment, reduction in weight, BMI, hip circumference was significantly greater in the metformin group in comparison to other groups (p<0.05). In addition, the fasting insulin was significantly greater in metformin group and flutamide group in comparison to metformin+flutamide and placebo groups after treatment (p<0.05). Within groups, insulin level showed significant changes (before and after treatment) in metformin+flutamide group and LDL reduction was significant in flutamide group before and after treatment. Post hoc tukey and two-tailed with p≤0.05 were used to define statistical significance., Conclusion: Using combination of metformin and flutamide improves anthropometric indices and laboratory tests in obese/overweight PCOS women under hypocaloric diet.

Introduction: Delirium as a relatively common complication following cardiac surgery remains a contributory factor in postoperative mortality and an obstacle to early discharge of patients., Methods: In the present study 329 patients who underwent open heart surgery between 1st January 2008 to 1st January 2009 in Shahid Madani Heart Center, Tabriz, Iran were enrolled., Results: Overall 4.9% of patients developed delirium after cardiac surgery. We found atrial fibrillation (P = 0.005), lung diseases (P = 0.04) and hypertension (P = 0.02) to be more common in patients who develop delirium postoperatively. Furthermore, the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, and ventilation period were also significantly increased. Also a statistically meaningful relationship between the female gender and development of delirium was also noted (P = 0.02). On the other hand no meaningful relationship was detected between diabetes, history of cerebral vascular diseases, peripheral vascular diseases, myocardial infarction, development of pneumonia following surgery, and laboratory levels of sodium, potassium, glucose, and complete blood cell count (CBC) including white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets in the blood-hemoglobin and hematocrits. Also environmental factors like presence of other patients or companion with the patient, and objects like clock, window and calendar in the patient's room did not affect prevention of delirium., Conclusion: Based on this and other investigations, it can be suggested to use MMPI test to recognize pathologic elements to prevented delirium after surgery and complementary treatment for coping with delirium.

Background and Aim: The umbilicus plays an important role in the aesthetic appearance of the abdomen. So, its restoration during reconstructive surgeries, such as an abdominoplasty, is a challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate quantitative indices based on constant skeletal points in the anterior wall of abdomen in order to provide an appropriate site of a neo-umbilicus during an abdominoplasty., Materials and Methods: In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, we enrolled 65 young adult girls (20-25 years old) who were nulliparous, nulligravid, and without any history of surgery. Weight, height, distance from xiphoid to umbilicus (Xu), distance from the pubic symphysis to xiphosternum (Xp), and anterior superior iliac spine (interASIS) distance of the subjects were measured. Data were analysed by SPSS ver. 16 using descriptive statistics and multiple regression tests in order to present a formula (equation)., Results: Mean age was 22.74 ± 1.51 years, mean weight 54.98 ± 6.51 kg, mean height 160.91 ± 4.11 cm and body mass index (BMI) was calculated to be 21.25 ± 2.61 kg/m(2). Mean Xp distance was 32.26 ± 2.23 cm and mean Xu distance was 17.11 ± 1.64 cm. Xu/Xp ratio (ratio of umbilicoxiphoid distance to puboxiphoid distance) was 53.06 ± 3.9%. Data were analysed using multiple regression test and likelihood ratio. The formula used in determining the appropriate site of neo-umbilicus during abdominoplasty was suggested: Xu=-0.98 + 0.91Xp - 0.07H., Conclusion: By applying these quantitative methods, the natural site of neo-umbilicus could be determined. This may reduce practice errors and increase patient satisfaction. In addition, these findings provide plausible evidence to defend against possible legal complaints.