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Objectives. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin E on the oxidative stress parameters and antioxidant defense enzymes in the heart and aorta of 6-n-propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroid rats. Methods. The animals were divided into 4 experimental groups: Group 1 (Euthyroid) received tap water, Group 2 (Hypothyroid) received 0.05 % of PTU in dissolved in their drinking water, Group 3 (PTU+Vit E) hypothyroid rats treated with vitamin E, and Group 4 (Euthyroid+Vit E). Vitamin E was injected daily (20 mg/kg) to groups 3 and 4 via daily gavage for 6 weeks. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, total thiol levels, and the activities of Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were evaluated in the aortic and cardiac tissues. Results. A significant decrease of thyroxine (T4) serum levels confirmed hypothyroidism in rats, which received PTU. The MDA level increased and total thiol level decreased in the hypothyroid group compared to control group (p

Background: The assessment of RBE quantity in the treatment of cancer tumors with proton beams in treatment planning systems (TPS) is of high significance. Given the significance of the issue and the studies conducted in the literature, this quantity is fixed and is taken as equal to 1.1. Objective: The main objective of this study was to assess RBE quantity of proton beams and their variations in different depths of the tumor. This dependency makes RBE values used in TPS no longer be fixed as they depend on the depth of the tumor and therefore this dependency causes some changes in the physical dose profile. Materials and Methods: The energy spectrum of protons was measured at various depths of the tumor using proton beam simulations and well as the complete simulation of a cell to a pair of DNA bases through Monte Carlo GEANT4. The resulting energy spectrum was used to estimate the number of double-strand breaks generated in cells. Finally, RBE values were calculated in terms of the penetration depth in the tumor. Results and Conclusion: The simulation results show that the RBE value not fixed terms of the depth of the tumor and it differs from the clinical value of 1.1 at the end of the dose profile and this will lead to a non-uniform absorbed dose profile. Therefore, to create a uniform impact dose area, deep-finishing systems need to be designed by taking into account deep RBE values.

Objective. We investigated the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Nigella sativa (NS) on renal tissue oxidative damage associated with propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroidism during neonatal and juvenile growth in rats.

Background: Airport workers are continuously exposed to different levels of radiofrequency microwave (RF/MW) radiation emitted by radar equipments. Radars are extensively used in military and aviation industries. Over the past several years, our lab has focused on the health effects of exposure to different sources of electromagnetic fields such as cellular phones, mobile base stations, mobile phone jammers, laptop computers, radars, dentistry cavitrons and MRI. The main goal of this study was to investigate if occupational exposure of Shahid Dastghieb international airport workers to radiofrequency radiation affects their short term memory and reaction time. Methods: Thirty two airport workers involved in duties at control and approach tower (21 males and 11 females), with the age range of 27-67 years old (mean age of 37.38), participated voluntary in this study. On the other hand, 29 workers (13 males, and 16 females) whose offices were in the city with no exposure history to radar systems were also participated in this study as the control group. The employees’ reaction time and short term memory were analyzed using a standard visual reaction time (VRT) test software and the modified Wechsler memory scale test, respectively. Results: The mean± SD values for the reaction times of the airport employees (N=32) and the control group (N=29) were 0.45±0.12 sec and 0.46±0.17 sec, respectively. Moreover, in the four subset tests; i.e. paired words, forward digit span, backward digit span and word recognition, the following points were obtained for the airport employees and the control group, respectively: (i) pair words test: 28.00±13.13 and 32.07±11.65, (ii) forward digit span: 8.38±1.40 and 9.03±1.32, (iii) backward digit span: 5.54±1.87 and 6.31±1.46, and (iv) word recognition: 5.73±2.36 and 6.50±1.93. These differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The occupational exposure of the employees to the RF radiation in Shahid Dastghieb international airport does not have any significant detrimental effect on their reaction time as well as short term memory.

AbstractBackground and Objectives: Since occupational hazards are prevalent in emergency wards’ personnel due to occupational stresses and nonstandard work facilities and equipment, and any negligence as to these personnel may reduce the quality of nosocomial services, to improve the quality of the hygienic and therapeutic services provided by this ward, the physical status of emergency wards’ personnel including physicians, nurses, workers and administrative personnel should be assessed as the first step. For this purpose, it was the goal of this project to assess the physical status of the personnel of the emergency wards of hospitals affiliated to Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, in Qazvin, Iran, and discover the relation it had with muscular-skeletal disorders. Methods: This study was a descriptive-analytical one. The participants included all personnel of the emergency wards of Shahid Rajaei Hospital and Bouali Hospital and were selected from the four educational hospitals affiliated to Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. The occupational-bodily status of the subjects was first assessed by Rapid Entire Body Assessment Method. To study the muscular-skeletal disorders, Nordic’s Standard Questionnaire was used. Finally, the obtained data were analyzed by SPSS/win 16 software, and statistical tests including Chi-Square and Coefficient Correlation Tests. Results: In this study, the maximum amount of prevalent pain was found to be 51%, occupational accidents (6.7%) and the longest period of pain was found to exist in the waist area. In most cases, “pain in the neck” was the factor limiting the work activities, and it was also the reason for most cases of absenteeism and referring to physician during the last year. The body status score of most personnel was in the range of 4 to 7 according to REBA method. The risk proved to be at an average level and a corrective action in this regard seemed to be essential (71%). Ultimately, the results revealed that no significant relation existed between REBA score of each member of the body and the pain felt in the same body part (P>0.05). The total REBA scores of each individual proved to have a significant reverse relation with the education level, while it had a significant direct relation with stress intensity (P

Background and purposeAcute leptomeningeal collateral flow is vital for maintaining perfusion to penumbral tissue in acute ischemic stroke caused by large-vessel occlusion. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinically available indicators of leptomeningeal collateral variability in embolic large-vessel occlusion.Materials and methodsAmong prospectively registered consecutive patients with acute embolic anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion treated with thrombectomy, we analyzed 108 patients admitted from January 2015 to December 2019 who underwent evaluation of leptomeningeal collateral status on pretreatment CTA. Clinical characteristics, extent of leukoaraiosis on MR imaging, embolic stroke subtype, time of imaging, occlusive thrombus characteristics, presenting stroke severity, and clinical outcome were collected. The clinical indicators of good collateral status (>50% collateral filling of the occluded territory) were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsGood collateral status was present in 67 patients (62%) and associated with independent functional outcomes at 3 months. Reduced leukoaraiosis (total Fazekas score, 0-2) was positively related to good collateral status (OR, 9.57; 95% CI, 2.49-47.75), while the cardioembolic stroke mechanism was inversely related to good collateral status (OR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.02-0.87). In 82 patients with cardioembolic stroke, shorter thrombus length (OR, 0.91 per millimeter increase; 95% CI, 0.82-0.99) and reduced leukoaraiosis (OR, 5.79; 95% CI, 1.40-29.61) were independently related to good collateral status.ConclusionsAmong patients with embolic large-vessel occlusion, reduced leukoaraiosis, noncardiac embolism mechanisms including embolisms of arterial or undetermined origin, and shorter thrombus length in cardioembolism are indicators of good collateral flow.

Purpose: Universities have recognized their rich endowments in research, academic skills and facilities, as uniquely suited to finding "green" solutions. Moreover, the campus setting itself presents as a microcosm of greater society through which to investigate and test innovations. Thus, the "living lab" was born, a means of coupling sufficient resources and active stakeholders in the pursuit of practical, sustainable solutions. Much of the work to date, however, remains piecemeal, small-scale and disparate. This study aims to propose that the work of such labs must ultimately be directed, coordinated and integrated under a "university sustainability office," if they are to be ultimately effective. Design/methodology/approach: The research approach is twofold. In the first instance, a literature review charting the history and progress of living labs is reported, with emphasis of the university context. Second, a case study appraisal of Deakin University's initiatives in adopting and promoting sustainability through the living lab framework is undertaken. Findings: A main finding of this paper is that current efforts remain piecemeal and peripheral. If the apparent ambiguity regarding commitment is to be overcome, Deakin University should adopt measures as adopted by peer leaders in the field. Specifically, the setting up of a centralizing sustainability function bestowed with the capacity to coordinate university-wide living lab efforts, and at such a scale that substantial benefits transferable to greater society is generated. Originality/value: This paper stands out among previous studies in the field through facilitating a transition to living lab for other universities, where findings facilitate that progress and consider how the lessons learnt might inform the further evolution of university living lab initiatives.

Objective(s): To develop a statistical model to differentiate between patients who need CT scan and those who did not. Methods: 320 consecutive minor head trauma victims admitted in two teaching hospitals were entered into the study. After completion of medical care, clinical information were collected by physicians. Brain CT Scan was taken from all patients and after clinical use, was filed to be reported by a single radiologist for this research purpose. Logistic Regression method was utilized to analyze results and develop the prediction model. Results: Using logistic regression, a model was developed which showed 100% sensitivity and 74% specificity to detect a positive finding on brain CT scan. Using this model negative finding prevalence in minor head trauma brain scans decreased by 66% while no cases were missed. Conclusion: The proposed statistical model reveals the need for brain CT scan in 70% of minor head trauma victims while preventing any positive findings being missed. This model would be considered as a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) in rural areas to refer minor head trauma victims for Brain CT Scan. However, more investigation of this model with more sample size is recommended.

Negar Hassani Besheli,1 Juul Verbakel,1 Maryam Hosseini,1 Lea Andrée,1 Ben Joosten,2 X Frank Walboomers,1 Alessandra Cambi,2 Fang Yang,1 Sander CG Leeuwenburgh1 1Department of Dentistry – Regenerative Biomaterials, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; 2Department of Cell Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The NetherlandsCorrespondence: Sander CG Leeuwenburgh, Tel +31 6 15 40 9006, Fax +31 2 43 61 4657, Email sander.leeuwenburgh@radboudumc.nlIntroduction: There has recently been a surge of interest in mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) as multi-functional nanocarriers for application in bone-reconstructive and -regenerative surgery. Their excellent control over their structural and physicochemical properties renders these nanoparticles suitable for the intracellular delivery of therapeutic agents to combat degenerative bone diseases, such as bone infection, or bone cancer. Generally, the therapeutic efficacy of nanocarriers strongly depends on the efficacy of their cellular uptake, which is determined by numerous factors including cellular features and the physicochemical characteristics of nanocarriers, particularly surface charge. In this study, we have systematically investigated the effect of the surface charge of MBGNs doped with copper as a model therapeutic agent on cellular uptake by both macrophages and pre-osteoblast cells involved in bone healing and bone infections to guide the future design of MBGN-based nanocarriers.Methods: Cu-MBGNs with negative, neutral, and positive surface charges were synthesized and their cellular uptake efficiency was assessed. Additionally, the intracellular fate of internalized nanoparticles along with their ability to deliver therapeutic cargo was studied in detail.Results: The results showed that both cell types internalized Cu-MBGNs regardless of their surface charge, indicating that cellular uptake of nanoparticles is a complex process influenced by multiple factors. This similarity in cellular uptake was attributed to the formation of a protein corona surrounding the nanoparticles when exposed to protein-rich biological media, which masks the original nanoparticle surface. Once internalized, the nanoparticles were found to mainly colocalize with lysosomes, exposing them to a more compartmentalized and acidic environment. Furthermore, we verified that Cu-MBGNs released their ionic components (Si, Ca, and Cu ions) in both acidic and neutral environments, leading to the delivery of these therapeutic cargos intracellularly.Conclusion: The effective internalization of Cu-MBGNs and their ability to deliver cargos intracellularly highlight their potential as intracellular delivery nanocarriers for bone-regenerative and -healing applications.Graphical Abstract: Keywords: intracellular delivery, nanocarrier, bioactive glass, copper, surface charge