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Many areas of Iran are endemic regarding Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) as a parasitic disease transmitted by a female sand fly vector's bite. The present study investigated the distribution of sand flies in Harand and Egieh in Isfahan province, Central Iran. Overall, 408 out of 1260 collected sand flies were identified morphologically, among which 353 and 55 were isolated from Harand and Egieh, respectively. Also, 66.4% and 33.6% of the sand flies were female and male, respectively. The most prevalent sand fly species were Phlebotomus papatasi (52%), followed by Ph. caucasicus (40.4%), Sergentomyia sintoni (4.9%), and Ph. kazeruni (0.7%). Among 180 molecularly-analyzed sand flies, 14 (7.77%) were found infected with L. major, with 9 out of 103 (8.73%) Ph. papatasi and 5 out of 75 (6.66%) Ph. caucasicus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Persistent development of quick and accessible readout tools promises to remove one of the barriers to the adoption of gel dosimetry as an applicable method in treatment clinics. Research and development in the imaging of polymer gel dosimeters continues with a focus on imaging in three dimensions. Each technique comes with its own set of advantages and challenges. In gel dosimeter research, efforts have been made to identify and develop alternative imaging methods for polymer gel dosimeters. Gel dosimeters can obtain reliable and accurate three-dimensional dose distributions from the correlation of different polymerization stages caused by radiation. The irradiated samples are examined using magnetic resonance imaging, optical computed tomography, and X-ray computed tomography. This research describes the basic features of imaging devices and the readout of irradiated dose data. Costs, availability, portability, contrast and resolution, high-resolution image reconstruction algorithm, and image reconstruction time of radiation absorption dosimeters for imaging devices are investigated in this research. This review has been done to present the mentioned imaging features and review the research done in this field for the optimal use of different imaging methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fricke gel dosimeters obtained by modifications on standard Fricke dosimeter presents some advantages like easy preparation, tissue equivalence, good reproducibility and dose mapping. In this work, dose response characteristics of Gelatin Fricke gel dosimeters was investigated and compared with Fricke agarose gel dosimeters in terms of sesitivity. After prepration of three different formulation of Gelatin Fricke gel dosimeters and gamma irradiation of the samples, a spectrophotometer was applied to measure the optical absorbance of the samples. Results indicate a linear dose range response of 10 to 30 Gy, as well as increased gelatin concentrations cause the sensitivity of the dosimeter to detereorate with a 80% reduction of dose response for a change in gelatin concentration from 3 to 8 weight percent. Obtained coefficient variation verifies the good repeatability of the gel response. The gel dosimeter has no dose rate dependence. Comparison of the most sensitive Gelatin Fricke gel sample with the prepared Fricke agarose gel samples confirm that Fricke agarose dosimeter is more sensitive than Gelatin Fricke gel dosimeter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Metalloporphyrin-based contrast agents can improve probe functionality such as biocompatibility, prolonging presence in blood, and specific tumor accumulation. Herein, we report synthesis, structural characteristics, quality control, and nuclear imaging of new metalloporphyrin-based contrast agents. Methods: To combine photodynamic therapy (PDT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT), Gadolinium-proto porphyrin IX complex was synthesized via direct complexation method, then the metalloporphyrin (MP) was labeled with gallium-67 and gallium-68 in separated runs. In-vivo biodistribution studies were performed in mice bearing breast tumor (4T1 mouse mammary tumor cell line) and normal rats (for better visualization). Results: Adsorption of the labeled compound into the tumor (ID/g % up to 4.6%), despite the small size of the tumor, had an upward trend at all times, and high and fast (less than 45 min) uptake of radiotracer in cancerous tumors was observed. Conclusion: Fast and high tumor uptake revealed that this radiotracer could potentially be used as a theranostic agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of high-energy protons produced in the plasma focus device on molybdenum and copper metals were studied. Molybdenum and copper samples were simultaneously irradiated with 20 hydrogen ion shots after the initial preparation and polishing of their surface. Molybdenum and copper samples were analyzed before and after irradiation by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Lee code was used to characterize the ion beam generated in the plasma focus device. The XRD results showed that the size of crystals in molybdenum samples increased from 33.1 to 41.4 nm and for copper samples from 28 to 37.2 nm. Also, the location of peaks in molybdenum and copper samples was shifted to larger angles by 0.041 and 0.174, respectively. The SEM micrographs revealed that cracks and cavities were formed on the surface of molybdenum due to the radiation of high-energy protons, while dense blisters were formed on the surface of copper, and in some areas on the surface of copper, melting and physical sputtering occurred due to the collision of high-energy ions with copper surface atoms. Lee code results indicated that each shot of the plasma focus device emits 7.9 × 1014 ions from the plasma column. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atypical or refractory diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are still a major health problem. Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) by larva of Lucilia sericata is an ancient and a modern option for wound healing. It works by debridement, stimulation of wound healing, and disinfection. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of MDT for healing atypical and refractory DFUs. Patients with atypical DFUs were selected and further evaluated for some predefined differential diagnoses like atypical fungal, parasitic, or bacterial infections, malignancy, trauma, and so on. Multiple MDT sessions were carried out. Ulcer size was measured before every MDT session. Complete wound healing, time to heal, and adverse effects were recorded as well. Forty-two DFU patients (26 men, 16 women) with 42 nonhealing atypical ulcers participated in this study. Complete wound healing was achieved in 35 patients (83.3%) by MDT. Complete debridement and then healing of the wounds happened in less than 1.79 ± 0.8 months. Four ulcers persisted, and 3 (7.1%) were eventually amputated. MDT may be considered as an effective treatment for atypical DFUs, which are unresponsive to conventional therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the optical response dependence of the PAKAG polymer gel dosimeter on photon energy and dose rate. The produced gel dosimeters were irradiated using a Varian CL 21EX medical linear accelerator with delivered doses of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 Gy. To examine the response dependence on the delivered dose rate, dose rates of 50, 100, 200, and 350 cGy min -1 were investigated. Additionally, two incident beam qualities of 6 and 18 MV were examined to study the response dependence on the incident beam energy. The irradiated polymer gel dosimeters were readout using a UV-vis spectrophotometer in the 300 to 800 nm scan range. The results reveal that a wide variation in dose rate (50-350 cGy.min -1 ) influences the absorbance-dose response and the sensitivity of PAKAG gel. However, smaller variations did not show a significant effect on the response. Furthermore, the response changed insignificantly with beam quality for investigated energies. It was concluded that the optical reading response of the PAKAG polymer gel dosimeter is satisfactorily independent of external parameters, including dose rate and incident beam quality., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd. All rights, including for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies, are reserved.)