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Abstract A hydrogel-based wound dressing with desirable properties is necessary for achieving functional skin integrity post-injury. This study focuses on preparing a hydrogel using Alginate/Carboxymethyl cellulose (Alg/CMC) as a base material. To evaluate its regenerative effects on full-thickness wounds, diopside nanoparticles and Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) were incorporated into the hydrogel along with chorion membrane. The diopside nanoparticles (DNPs) act as a proangiogenic factor, promoting proliferation and regulating inflammation, while the chorion membrane facilitates these processes. Additionally, BTX-A prevents scar formation and aids in wound closure. The nanoparticles and hydrogel were characterized using various techniques, and their cytocompatibility was assessed. In vivo studies and quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that wound area reduction was significant after two weeks of treatment with the Alg/CMC/ChNPs/DNPs/BTX-A hydrogel. Overall, this scaffold demonstrated potential for promoting tissue regeneration and new epithelization formation, making it a promising candidate for enhancing skin restoration in wound treatments.

Background and purpose: Synthesis of homogeneous and equally important nanoparticles is very popular in various sciences. Preparation and use of gold nanoparticles is very important according to their applications in biotechnology. For synthesizing homogeneous gold nanoparticles many substrates and nanostructures have been used. This study aimed at synthesis of gold nanoparticles by apoferritin to be conjugated to antibody for detection of vibrio cholera. Materials and methods: In this study, gold nanoparticles were prepared in apoferritin and compared with apoferritin free gold nanoparticles. Data were characterized by UV-Vis, DLS, and FE-SEM spectroscopy. Results: Findings showed that the synthesized gold nanoparticles in apoferritin are more homogeneous. Conclusion: The distribution of synthesizing gold nanoparticle in presence of apoferritin was so homogenous. In the following step, gold nanoparticles were separated from apoferritin and conjugated to recombinant antibody for detecting vibrio cholera. By bacteria aatchment on gold nanoparticles, red shift ocured on wavelength, which was also visible to naked eyes. So, gold nanoparticles could be considered as a colored biosensor for detection of vibrio cholera.

Background: Many studies have discussed the relationship between COVID-19 and smoking, but they include many contradictory findings. This study evaluates the relationship between smoking and the incidence and severity of COVID-19 patients in Shahroud City, Iran. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study using COVID-19 data. All suspected cases were referred to the registered centers at Shahroud University of Medical Sciences from 21 January 2020 to 20 March 2021. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to evaluate the relationship between smoking and SARS-COV 2 confirmed cases, and its severity. Results: Overall, it was confirmed that 22.6% of smokers had positive COVID-19 PCR tests compared to 42.1% of non-smokers. COVID-19 is a public health problem, and the results showed that there was a relationship between smoking and COVID-19 confirmed cases and severity. The results showed that smoking, adjusting for other related factors, reduces the odds of COVID-19 by 58%, but increases the odds of severe disease by 89%. Conclusions: In this study, smoking was significantly associated with a low chance of developing COVID-19 disease but higher odds of severity. These significant results were reported even in the presence of under-reporting of smoking by patients, which underestimates the association. These results should not be ignored, and further studies are needed., Competing Interests: The others have no conflict of interest.