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Introduction: Parquet poisoning has been elaborated to be very common among developing countries, particularly in regions with agriculture economy. One of the most common presentations of paraquat poisoning is oropharyngeal burns. Herein, we report a patient from a dry and warm district in the geographic center of Iran where agriculture and, as a result, paraquat poisoning are not commonly reported. Case Presentation: A 25-year-old man presented to hospital subsequent to a suicide attempt by ingesting oral paraquat poison. He gradually developed odynophagia and trismus-like appearance that, after a psychiatric consultation, was misdiagnosed as a drug side effect in the form of dystonia. Upon further physical examination, oral ulcers on his tongue were revealed to be responsible for the symptom. Conclusion: Paraquat poisoning is very rare in regions with lower rates of agriculture activities. In any patient with poisoning, however, it is necessary to consider intraoral examination to rule out any other suspected diagnosis.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes histological alterations which in turn affects functional activity. Studies have demonstrated that dental pulp-derived stem cells conditioned medium has beneficial effects on the nervous system. Besides, collagen hydrogel acts as a drug releasing system in SCI investigations. This research aimed to evaluate effects of dental pulp-derived stem cells conditioned medium loaded in collagen hydrogel in SCI. After culturing of Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs), SHED-conditioned medium (SHED-CM) was harvested and concentrated. Collagen hydrogel containing SHED-CM was prepared. The rats were divided into five groups receiving laminectomy, compressive SCI with or without intraspinal injection of biomaterials (SHED-CM and collagen hydrogel with or without SHED-CM). After 6 weeks, histological parameters were estimated using stereological methods. The total volume of preserved white matter and gray matter (p0.05) as well as the total number of neurons and oligodendrocytes in the rats received SHED-CM loaded in collagen hydrogel were significantly higher, and also lesion volume and lesion length were significantly lower (p0.05) compared to those of the other injured groups. In conclusion, intraspinal administration of SHED-CM loaded in collagen hydrogel leads to neuroprotection, proposing a cell-free therapeutic approach in SCI.

Neurons like other living cells may have ultraweak photon emission (UPE) during neuronal activity. This study is aimed to evaluate UPE from neural stem cells (NSC) during their serial passaging and differentiation. We also investigate whether the addition of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) or enhancement of UPE (by AgNPs or mirror) affect the differentiation of NSC. In our method, neural stem and progenitor cells of subventricular zone (SVZ) are isolated and expanded using the neurosphere assay. The obtained dissociated cells allocated and cultivated into three groups: groups: I: cell (control), II: cell + mirror, and III: cell + AgNPs. After seven days, the primary neurospheres were counted and their mean number was obtained. Serial passages continuous up to sixth passages in the control group. Differentiation capacity of the resulting neurospheres were evaluated in vitro by immunocytochemistry techniques. Measurement of UPE was carried out by photomultiplier tube (PMT) in the following steps: at the end of primary culture, six serial cell passages of the control group, before and after of the differentiation for 5 minutes. The results show that neither mirror nor AgNPs affect on the neurosphere number. The UPE of the NSC in the sixth subculturing passage was significantly higher than in the primary passage (P < 0.05). AgNPs significantly increased the UPE of the NSC compared to the control group before and after the differentiation (P < 0.05). Also, the treatment with AgNPs increased 44% neuronal differentiation of the harvested NSCs. UPE of NSC after the differentiation was significantly lower than that before the differentiation in each groups, which is in appropriate to the cell numbers (P < 0.0001). The mirror did not significantly increase UPE, neither before nor after the differentiation of NSC. As a conclusion, NSC have UPE-properties and the intensity is increased by serial passaging that are significant in the sixth passage. The AgNPs increases the UPE intensity of NSC that pushes more differentiation of NSC to the neurons. The mirror was not effective in enhancement of UPE. As a result, UPE measurement may be suitable for assessing and studying the effects of nanoparticles in living cells and neurons. This work was supported by grant No. 94-01-01-10157 from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. This article was a part of the thesis written by Esmaeil Fereydoni, MSc. student of Anatomy.

High incidence of articular cartilage defects resulting from age-related degeneration or trauma injuries is a major problem worldwide. Limited self-regeneration ability of cartilage often leads to inappropriate biochemistry and structure of healed tissue. Considering Impairments of traditional treatments, cell-based therapies are promising. The rapid ex vivo expansion and chondrogenic differentiation capability make dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) a favorable cell type for therapeutic application, however strategies in order to efficient cartilage tissue-like production are imperative. In the present study the potential role of hypoxia mimicking agent, cobalt chloride (CoCl2), on chondrogenic differentiation of human DPSCs was surveyed. Cell viability assay used to obtain the optimum dose and exposure time of CoCl2. DPSCs were differentiated in pellet culture system after CoCl2 pretreatment. Chondrogenic differentiation efficiency was evaluated by histological and immunohistological analyses. The results showed that CoCl2 led to increased pellet size, integrity and matrix deposition with organizations more resembled typical cartilage lacuna structure. Furthermore, CoCl2 could improve differentiation by elevated chondrogenic markers, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and collagen II expression. CoCl2 pretreatment mitigated hypertrophy, as well, which was reflected in decreased collagen X expression. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) specific activity did not change significantly by CoCl2 preconditioning. Based on current study hypoxia mimicking agent, CoCl2, could be suggested to promote DPSCs chondrogenic differentiation.

Background: Diabetes is a chronic disease that can affect almost all of the body organs, including male and female reproductive systems. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the preventive effects of metformin on stereological and ultrastructure characteristics of the ovary in the streptozotocin-induced diabetes adult female rats. Materials and Methods: Seventy adult (8-10 wk) female Sprague-Dawley rats (180-200 gr) were equally divided, as follows: (n = 10/each) control; STZ-induced diabetes (single dose of 65 mg/kg STZ, IP); metformin-treated (50 mg/100 gr of body weight, orally); diabetic-metformin-treated; sham 1, (single dose of sodium citrate); sham 2, (0.5 ml of daily oral distilled water); and sham 3, (sodium citrate + distilled water treated). The body mass index, ovarian weight, blood sugar level, cholesterol, and triglyceride were measured. The stereological and ultrastructural features of ovary were assessed. Results: The blood sugar of induced-diabetic rats was increased (p < 0.01). The BMI (p < 0.01), number of granulosa cells (p = 0.04), primordial, primary and secondary follicles (p = 0.03), total volume of ovary (p < 0.01) and cortex, nucleus diameter ratio to the ooplasm were decreased. The number of atretic follicles in the diabetic and diabetic + metformin-treated rats were increased (p < 0.01). The ultrastructural characteristics of ovary were more damaged in diabetic rats. Conclusion: Diabetes has destructive effects on ovarian follicles and causes follicular atresia. Also, the size of oocytes, numbers of granulosa cells and ooplasmic organelles, which are involved in the folliculogenesis are affected by diabetes and metformin has no preventive effects.

An efficient, green and eco-friendly protocol has been developed for the synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted and 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted imidazoles via one-pot condensation reaction using Dendrimer-PWAn as catalyst under solvent-free conditions or ultrasonic irradiation in excellent yields. The reactions under conventional heating conditions were compared with the ultrasonic-assisted reactions. The operational simplicity, practicability and applicability of this protocol to various substrates make it an interesting alternative to previous procedures. The present methodology offers several advantages such as excellent yields, short reaction times, a cleaner reaction, and the absence of any tedious work-up or purification. The catalyst is easily separated from the products by filtration and also exhibits remarkable reusable activity. SEM, BET and DLS of the catalyst were also investigated after each reaction cycle.

Numerous bioactive growth factors and cytokines in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) have recently made it an attractive biomaterial for therapeutic purposes. These growth factors have the potential to regenerate the injured tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of PRP in hepatotoxic animal model. Hepatotoxicity was induced in rats by oral administration of 4 mL/kg/week of CCl4 diluted 1:1 in corn oil for 10 weeks. To confirm the hepatotoxicity, 24 h after the last CCl4 administration, blood samples were collected via cardiac puncture to assess the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, total protein, and total bilirubin. Twenty-four hours after blood collection, the experimental animals received a single injection of PRP (1 mL) via the anterior mesenteric vein. One week later, all biochemical tests were performed again, and the rats were scarified and their livers were removed, prepared histologically, and stained. The stereological analyses were performed to evaluate the effects of PRP on histopathological features of CCl4-treated livers. The results were compared statistically with the corresponding control and CCl4+normal saline (NS)-treated animals. A significant decrease in the number and volume of hepatocytes (p = 0.01), and also a reduction in the volume of sinusoids (p = 0.001) and connective tissue (p = 0.04), were observed in the PRP-treated animals compared with the CCl4+NS-treated ones. Our findings demonstrated that application of PRP had beneficial effects on CCl4-induced fibrosis; however, it had detrimental effects on the total number of hepatocytes and the volume of hepatocytes and sinusoidal spaces.

In this paper, we adopt a facile method to prepare a type of porous silica nanoparticles (n-SiO2) from tetraethyl orthosilicate as the source of silica. Then, dendritic polymer supported on nanosilica with surface amino groups was fabricated. Finally, H3PW12O40 nanoparticles (PWAn) were synthesized by the treatment of H3PW12O40 powder with n-Octane as solvent by a solvothermal method and then immobilized onto the dendrimer polymer functionalized nanosilica. The synthesized nanostructures were characterized by fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic light scattering (DLS), N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm analysis, UV–Vis and elemental analysis. The morphology of the catalyst was characterized using transmission electron microscopes (TEM). The acidity of the catalyst was determined by FTIR pyridine adsorption spectroscopy. Then, this catalytic system was used as an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of 2H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-triones via multi-component and one-pot reactions of various aldehydes, phthalic anhydride, hydrazinium hydroxide, and dimedone under thermal solvent-free conditions or ultrasound irradiation at room temperature. Also, the catalyst can be easily recovered and reused for six consecutive reaction cycles without significant loss of activity.

An efficient and environmentally benign procedure for the synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyran and 3,4-dihydropyrano[c]chromene derivatives has been developed by a one-pot three-component reaction of various aldehydes, malononitrile, and dimedone or hydroxycoumarin in the presence of Fe3O4@SiO2–imid–PMAn nanoparticles as magnetic catalysts under ultrasonic irradiation or reflux conditions in water. This new procedure has notable advantages such as operational simplicity, excellent yields, short reaction time, and absence of any tedious workup or purification. In addition, the excellent catalytic performance in a water medium and the easy preparation, thermal stability and separation of the catalyst make it a good heterogeneous system and a useful alternative to other heterogeneous catalysts. Also, the catalyst can be easily recovered by a magnetic field and reused for eight consecutive reaction cycles without significant loss of activity.

MWCNTs-C-PO3H2 has been used as an efficient, heterogeneous and reusable nanocatalyst for synthesis of acylals from aldehydes under solvent-free conditions at room temperature. A wide range of aldehydes was studied and corresponding products were obtained in good to excellent yields in short reaction times. Nanocatalyst can be easily recovered by centrifuge and reused for subsequent reactions for at least five times without deterioration in catalytic activity. The major advantages of the present method are high yields, short reaction time, recyclable catalyst and solvent-free reaction conditions at room temperature.

A facile, efficient and environmentally-friendly protocol for the synthesis of 14-aryl- or alkyl-14H-dibenzo[a,j]xanthenes and 1,8-dioxooctahydroxanthenes has been developed by one-pot condensation of various aldehydes with (i) β-naphthol and (ii) cyclic 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione, in the presence of Fe3O4@SiO2–imid–H3PMo12O40 nanoparticles as magnetic catalysts under various conditions. Different types of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes are used in the reaction and in all cases the products synthesized successfully. The present approach offers several advantages such as short reaction times, high yields, easy purification, a cleaner reaction and ease of recovery and reusability of the catalyst by a magnetic field. Also, the aforementioned nanocatalyst can be easily recovered by a magnetic field and reused for subsequent reactions at least 5 times without noticeable deterioration in catalytic activity.

A novel, efficient, heterogeneous, and reusable multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), functionalized with phosphonic acid (MWCNTs–C–PO3H2) has been synthesized. The synthesized CNTs were characterized using some electron microscopic techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), and also some thermal and spectroscopic methods such as thermogravimetry (TG). The nitrogen adsorption behavior of the MWCNTs–C–PO3H2 catalyst was evaluated using the TG instrumentation system at 25 °C. The catalyst was applied successfully for highly efficient and selective acetylation of alcohols, phenols, thiols and aromatic amines with acetic anhydride at room temperature under solvent-free conditions. The reusability of the catalyst was checked and the recovered catalyst was reused for five runs without significant loss in activity.

An efficient and general method has been developed for synthesis of 1- and 5-substituted 1H-tetrazoles from nitriles and amines using magnetite nanoparticles immobilized Salen Cu(II) as an efficient and recyclable catalyst. The structural and magnetic properties of functionalized magnetic silica are identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) instruments. NMR, FT-IR, elemental analysis and XRD were also used for identification of these structures. Nanocatalyst can be easily recovered by a magnetic field and reused for subsequent reactions for at least 7 times with less deterioration in catalytic activity.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a source of growth factors may induce tissue repairing and improve fibrosis. This study aimed to assess the effects of PRP on kidney regeneration and fibrosis in gentamicin (GM)-induced nephrotoxicity rat model by stereological study. Thirty-two male rats were selected. Nephrotoxicity was induced in animals by administration of GM (80 mg/kg/daily, intraperitoneally [IP], 8 day) and animals were treated by PRP (100 µL, intra-cortical injection using surgical microscopy, single dose). Blood samples were collected for determine blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) before and after PRP therapy. At the end of experiment, right kidneys were sectioned by Isotropic Uniform Random (IUR) method and stained with H & E and Masson’s Trichrome. The stereological methods were used for estimating the changes in different structures of kidney. PRP increased the number of epithelial cells in convoluted tubules, and decreased the volume of connective tissue, renal corpuscles and glomeruli in GM-treated animals (P < 0.05). Our findings indicate that PRP had beneficial effects on proliferation of epithelial cells in convoluted tubules and ameliorated GM-induced fibrosis., Graphical Abstract

Curcumin has protective effects on a variety of CNS injury models. Our purpose was to assess the effects of curcumin on the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and functional recovery in sciatic nerve crush (SNC) of rats.The fifth lumbar DRG was removed 28 days after SNC. Sciatic functional index (SFI) and also the DRG structure were evaluated, using stereological methods to assess the effects of curcumin.The volume and number of A- and B-cells were reduced in the SNC as compared with the sham-operated animals. In curcumin treated rats, the volume decreased but in a lesser extent and it was ∼10% and ∼15% higher on the average in comparison with the non-treated SNC (P0.04). In curcumin treated rats, the number of cells also decreased but in a lesser extent and it was ∼17% and ∼36% higher in comparison with the non-treated crushed animals (P0.02). The surface area of A- and B-cells reduced in the SNC and SNC plus curcumin in comparison with the sham-operated rats (P0.01). The number of satellite cells was reduced in the SNC as compared with the sham-operated animals. In curcumin treated rats, the number of satellite cells decreased but in a lesser extent and the number of satellite cells was ∼19% higher in comparison with the non-treated (P0.02). SFI test shows that the motor function of the rats treated with curcumin significantly improved at 21st days after sciatic nerve crush.The results demonstrate that curcumin promotes the functional recovery and has a neuroprotective effect on the DRG after sciatic nerve injury in the rats.

Talaei-Khozani, T., Monsefi, M., Vojdani, Z. and Dehghani, F. 2007. Histochemical study of the effects of noise on the cell surface and extracellular matrix glycoconjugates of the developing mouse cochlea. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 31: 209–212. To determine whether noise could change the glycoconjugate pattern of developing cochlea 42 pregnant mice (2–4 m) were exposed to 100 dB continual sound for 2.5 h daily. After parturition, the cochlea of the offspring in the first, seventh and fourteenth day after birth were removed, prepared histologically and stained with lectins, WGA (wheat germ agglutinin), PNA (peanut agglutinin), GSA (Griffonia simplicifolia) and DBA (Dolichos biflorus agglutinin). Exposure to noise led to decrease in the uptake of the PNA by spiral limbus and ligament in the seventh and fourteenth postnatal days. It is concluded that alternation in glycosilation of glycoconjugates in the noise exposed cochlea could be responsible for the structural and functional changes such as fetal no...

A facile, efficient and environmentally-friendly protocol for the synthesis of 14-aryl- or alkyl-14H-dibenzo[a,j]xanthenes and 1,8-dioxooctahydroxanthenes has been developed by one-pot condensation of various aldehydes with (i) β-naphthol and (ii) cyclic 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione, in the presence of Fe3O4@SiO2–imid–H3PMo12O40 nanoparticles as magnetic catalysts under various conditions. Different types of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes are used in the reaction and in all cases the products synthesized successfully. The present approach offers several advantages such as short reaction times, high yields, easy purification, a cleaner reaction and ease of recovery and reusability of the catalyst by a magnetic field. Also, the aforementioned nanocatalyst can be easily recovered by a magnetic field and reused for subsequent reactions at least 5 times without noticeable deterioration in catalytic activity.

An efficient and general method for the synthesis of 1- and 5-substituted 1H-tetrazoles using a salen Cu(II) complex supported on magnetite-silica nanoparticles as the catalyst is reported.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether prostaglandin E2 improves angiogenesis in full-thickness skin grafts. DESIGN Randomized study SUBJECTS 20 male rabbits, divided into 2 experimental and 2 control groups. METHODOLOGY Prostaglandin E2 (experimental groups) or prostaglandin E2 vehicle (control groups) was injected locally into experimental skin autografts once a day for up to 5 days. Five and 10 days after the surgery, the grafts were harvested and after processing, fractional and absolute volumes of the vessels were estimated in the grafted skin using stereologic methods. MAIN RESULTS Gross appearance of the control and experimental grafts were the same. Qualitative histologic examination of successful grafts in experimental and control groups showed areas of viable epidermis with a negligible inflammatory infiltrate and moderate fibrosis. Blood cells were frequently seen in the vessels under investigation. Histologic slides showed significantly higher mean fractional volume (percent) and absolute volume of the vessels (mm3) per unit volume (mm3) of the grafted skin in the experimental groups than in the control groups. CONCLUSION Fractional and absolute volume of the vessels were greater in prostaglandin E2-treated grafts than in the control grafts. Prostaglandin E2 appears to increase the volume of vessels in full-thickness skin grafts and can be explored as an agent to improve angiogenesis of the grafts.