Biochemical,hematological, and pathological related healing effects of Elaeagnus angustifolia hydroalcoholic extract in 5-fluorouracil-induced oral mucositis in male golden hamster

Oral mucositis (OM) is one of the cancer chemotherapy-related side effects which can affect the quality of life of affected patients. This study was designed to investigate the healing effect of Elaeagnus angustifolia in 5-flurouracil (5-FU)-induced OM in golden hamster. Fifty-six adult male golden hamsters received three intraperitoneal injections of 5-FU at a dose of 60 mg/kg on days 0, 5, and 10. The cheek pouch mucosa was scratched superficially under local anesthesia. Then, two horizontal scratches were made across the everted cheek pouch on days 3 and 4. All treatments were started on day 12 for equal number of animals in control group with no treatments, gel base group that was treated with carboxy methyl cellulose as gel base which used in preparation of the topical gel, topical gel group that used gel containing 10% hydroalcoholic extract of E. angustifolia (HEEA) topically, and dietary group which was treated with 300 mg/kg HEEA. At 2 and 5 days after treatment, blood and pouch tissue sampling were done and analyzed for blood composition, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) level, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities plus histopathological evaluations. Both topically and orally HEEA-treated groups showed a significant relief in OM compared to the control and base gel groups. However, the systemic form had higher efficiency in some parts especially decreasing the MPO (0.27 ± 0.17 vs. 0.56 ± 0.17 IU/L) and increasing SOD (6.46 ± 0.15 vs. 5.36 ± 0.18 IU/L) activities in pouch tissue in comparison to topical form mostly at 5 days after treatment. It seems that hydroalcoholic extract of E. angustifolia can be used as an appropriate drug choice for the treatment of oral mucositis based on its healing stimulatory and anti-inflammatory properties.

     

Room temperature synthesis of 2H-1,4-benzoxazine derivatives using a recoverable ionic liquid medium

2H-1,4-Benzoxazines are major heterocyclic compounds with interesting biological and synthetic applications. Therefore, it would be very interesting to develop new efficient methods for their synthesis. Here, we synthesized 2H-1,4-benzoxazines in one pot using K₂CO₃/H₂O in the ionic liquid of choice, [omim][BF₄]. After reactions, products are extracted from [omim][BF₄] by Et₂O and the ionic liquid is recovered and successfully reused over several recycles. Results show that high yields of 3-aryl-2H-1,4-benzoxazine derivatives are obtained chemoselectively at room temperature from their corresponding o-aminophenols and phenacyl bromides. To our knowledge, our method represents the most efficient and straightforward route for the synthesis of 3-aryl-2H-1,4-benzoxazine derivatives in short times and under environmentally benign conditions.     

Impact of energy carriers’ price distortions on energy allocative efficiency: the case study of Iranian provinces

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Government control distorts energy prices which leads to loss of optimal factor combination and, as a result, affects efficiency. Previous researches...     

Association between Blastocystis sp. infection and immunocompromised patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The significance of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients and the enigmatic pathogenicity of Blastocystis directed us to conduct the...     

Ionic Liquids as Environmentally Friendly Solvents in Macromolecules Chemistry and Technology,Part I

With the increasing emphasis on the environment and the need to find environmentally friendly solvent systems, ionic liquids (IL)s have been emerging as promising green solvents to replace conventional solvents in recent years. They possess unique properties such as nonvolatility, low toxicity, ease of handling, nonflammability and high ionic conductivity; thus they have received much attention as green media for various chemistry processes. This report provides an extensive overview of use of ILs in polymers chemistry and technology.     

Ionic Liquids as Environmentally Friendly Solvents in Macromolecules Chemistry and Technology,Part II

With the increasing emphasis on the environment and the need to find environmentally friendly solvent systems, ionic liquids (IL)s have been emerging as promising green solvents to replace conventional solvents in recent years. They possess unique properties such as nonvolatility, low toxicity, ease of handling, nonflammability and high ionic coductivity; thus they have received much attention as green media for various chemistry processes. This report provides an extensive overview of use of ILs in polymers chemistry and technology.     

The relationship between daylight and happiness for women in residential districts of Isfahan,Iran

This study explores the relationship between daylight exposure in urban residential units and the mood/happiness of nonworking female residents (housewives) in Isfahan, Iran. A growing body of evidence points to the physiological and psychological benefits of daylight, yet few studies have focused on the relationship between residential daylight and women's mental health. A cross‐sectional study was conducted using two‐stage random cluster sampling of nonworking female occupants of buildings in four residential districts. Mood/happiness was determined using the Oxford Happiness Inventory and the Fordyce Happiness Inventory. Spearman's rank correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between the variables. A significant relationship was found between residents’ happiness and the amount of daylight in their residential units (Oxford Inventory, r = 0.68, P < 0.05; Fordyce Inventory, r = 0.53, P < 0.05). The findings suggest that features of physical residential environments, such as daylight, may be linked to the happiness of housewives. Persons belonging to various demographic groups who spend the majority of their time indoors (e.g., housewives, children, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities) are most dependent on architecture and environmental design for their well‐being, and therefore, are most affected by design decisions.     

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of a Fe3O4–AgCl nanocomposite against Escherichia coli

In this investigation, Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were prepared by the alkalinization of an aqueous medium containing ferrous sulfate and ferric chloride. In the next step, a Fe₃O₄–AgCl magnetic nanocomposite was fabricated by the drop-by-drop addition of silver nitrate solution into a NaCl solution containing Fe₃O₄ MNPs. All prepared nanoparticles were characterized by transition electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Both particle types varied in size from 2.5 to 20?nm, with an average size of 7.5?nm for Fe₃O₄ MNPs and 12.5?nm for Fe₃O₄–AgCl nanocomposites. The antibacterial effect of the Fe₃O₄ MNPs and fabricated Fe₃O₄–AgCl nanocomposites against Escherichia coli (ATCC 35218) were investigated by conventional serial agar dilution method using the Müller–Hinton Agar medium. The minimum inhibitory concentration was 4?mg?mL^?1 for Fe₃O₄ MNPs and 2?mg?mL^?1 for the Fe₃O₄–AgCl magnetic nanocomposites. Time-kill course assays showed that the Fe₃O₄–AgCl magnetic nanocomposites successfully killed all inoculated bacterial cells during an exposure time of 60?min. The antibacterial activity of recycled Fe₃O₄–AgCl magnetic nanocomposites over four 60?min cycles of antibacterial treatment was further tested against E. coli by the colony-forming unit (CFU) method. The antibacterial efficiency of the nanocomposites was constant over two cycles of antibacterial testing.     

Anti-implantation and anti-fertility potentials of Anethum graveolens L. extracts in rats

Ovarian hormones affected some enzymes in reproductive tissues. Previous studies revealed Anethum graveolens (dill) seed extract elevated ovarian hormones. In this study, we compared the effects of dill seed and leaf extracts on some enzymes activities and infertility potential. Female Wistar rats were divided into three groups of control, dill seed and dill leaf aqueous extracts treated groups. Experimental groups received 1 mL of 0.5 g kg^?1 of each extract orally for 25 days (five estrous cycles). Estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone concentrations were determined. Uterus and ovaries were removed and their glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase activities were measured. Female rats of three groups were mated with untreated males. Fetuses were extracted in the 20th gestational day and their weights and crown rump lengths were measured. Anti-fertility and anti-implantation activities and fertility indices were calculated. Glucose-6-phosphate activity of dill seed treated group increased 1.6 times in the endometrium and 1.7 times in the myometrium. Progesterone concentration and lactate dehydrogenase activity of serum increased in the dill seed treated group compared to the control and dill leaf treated group. A significant decrease was observed in weights and crown rump lengths of fetuses, weights of placenta, and fertility index of the dill seed treated group compared to the control and dill leaf treated group, but its anti-implantation and anti-fertility indices increased. We suggested that high level of glucose-6-phosphate could entail increased oxidative stress in uterus and ovary. High lactate dehydrogenase activity in serum may affect cell membranes. Higher secretion of progesterone caused hormonal imbalance and produced estrous cycle irregularity. It was concluded that dill seed but not dill leaf extract could induce infertility in an animal model.     

Characterization of ionic composition of TSP and PM10 during the Middle Eastern Dust (MED) storms in Ahvaz, Iran

Because of the recent frequent observations of major dust storms in southwestern cities in Iran such as Ahvaz, and the importance of the ionic composition of particulate matters regarding their health effects, source apportionment, etc., the present work was conducted aiming at characterizing the ionic composition of total suspended particles (TSP) and particles on the order of ～10?μm or less (PM(10)) during dust storms in Ahvaz in April-September 2010. TSP and PM(10) samples were collected and their ionic compositions were determined using an ion chromatography. Mean concentrations of TSP and PM(10) were 1,481.5 and 1,072.9?μg/m(3), respectively. Particle concentrations during the Middle Eastern Dust (MED) days were up to four times higher than those in normal days. Ionic components contributed to only 9.5% and 11.3% of the total mass of TSP and PM(10), respectively. Crustal ions were most abundant during dust days, while secondary ions were dominant during non-dust days. Ca(2+)/Na(+) and Cl(-)/Na(+) ratios can be considered as the indicators for identification of the MED occurrence. It was found that possible chemical forms of NaCl, (NH(4))(2)SO(4), KCl, K(2)SO(4), CaCl(2), Ca(NO(3))(2), and CaSO(4) may exist in TSP. Correlation between the anionic and cationic components suggests slight anion and cation deficiencies in TSP and PM(10) samples, though the deficiencies were negligible.