Biological and structural properties of graphene oxide/curcumin nanocomposite incorporated chitosan as a scaffold for wound healing application.

Aims: The purpose of this research is to fabricate chitosan (CS)/graphene oxide (GO)/curcumin (Cur) 3D scaffolds through the freeze-drying method for wound dressing applications.

Main Methods: GO is produced by Hammer's method; then, it is characterized by X-ray diffraction and TEM analysis. Fabricated scaffolds are characterized by FTIR, FESEM, AFM, water vapor transmission rate, PBS absorption, contact angle, tensile strength, porosity measurement, biodegradability, and drug release methods.

Electrospun poly-caprolactone/graphene oxide/quercetin nanofibrous scaffold for wound dressing: Evaluation of biological and structural properties.

Aims: In this study, for the first time, the effect of quercetin (Q) on the characteristic properties, antimicrobial activity, and cell viability of polycaprolactone (PCL)/graphene oxide (GO) electrospun scaffold was investigated.

Main Methods: Quercetin loaded graphene oxide nanoparticles have been incorporated into the poly-caprolactone solution, and their mixture has been electrospun to be applied as a nanofibrous scaffold for wound dressing and tissue engineering applications. The properties of scaffolds, like their morphology, tensile strength, hydrophilicity, and in vitro biological performance, are investigated.

Are postgraduate students in distance medical education program ready for e-learning? A survey in Iran.

Introduction: Appropriate instructional design plays a crucial role in e-learning success, and analyzing learners is the cornerstone for instructional design process. Students' readiness for e-learning was assessed in the present study as an example of learner analysis for a distance course in medical education master program.

Materials And Methods: A census sample of 23 students applied for distance master program on medical education, completed the "Students' E-Learning Readiness Scale" developed by Watkins, via email.

Sustained ERK1/2 but not STAT1 or 3 activation is required for thanatophoric dysplasia phenotypes in PC12 cells.

Mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) cause the most common genetic form of short-limbed dwarfism, achondroplasia (ACH), as well as neonatal lethal forms, thanatophoric dysplasia (TD) I and II. The causative mutations induce graded levels of constitutive activation of the receptor that correspond to the severity of the disorder, resulting in premature entry into hypertrophic differentiation and reduced proliferation of chondrocytes in developing cartilage. Although FGFR3 promotes growth in most tissues, it is a negative regulator of endochondral bone growth.

Acidic beta-galactosidase in the developing mouse submandibular gland.

Acidic beta-galactosidase (beta-gal) is expressed at high concentrations in the salivary glands, where its function is unknown but probably related to lysosomal catabolism of glycolipids or glycoproteins such as mucin. Here, the developmental pattern of the enzyme activity in the submandibular gland of B10A/SGSNJ mice was investigated in relation to the expression of mucin. Biochemical studies indicated that the activity of acidic beta-gal increases significantly from birth to 3 weeks of age (P<0.