Optical sensors based on plasmonic nano-structures: A review.

Optical sensors are among the most significant optical devices that have found extensive applications for THz sensing. Surface plasmon-based sensors have attracted increasing attention more than other kinds of optical sensors such as photonic crystal, optical fiber, and graphene sensors, owing to their compact footprint, fast reaction, and high sensitivity value. Therefore, this work reviews plasmonic sensor structures divided into three general categories.

Resveratrol in the Treatment of Gynecological Cancer: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential.

Gynecological cancers, encompassing endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancer, pose significant challenges in clinical practice, often marked by high mortality rates and treatment resistance. Despite advances in standard therapies, including chemoradiation and surgery, tumor recurrence and metastasis remain formidable obstacles. In this context, there is a pressing need to explore novel therapeutic strategies that offer improved efficacy and reduced side effects.

Outcomes of primary repair of cleft palate using sommerled intravelar veloplasty associated with velocardiofacial syndrome.

Objectives: Velocardiofacial syndrome, a prevalent microdeletion syndrome occurring in 1 in 2000-4000 live births, is marked by speech and language disorders, notably velopharyngeal dysfunction. This study investigates speech outcomes, nasometric and videofluoroscopic results before and after primary repair of cleft palate using the Sommerlad intravelar veloplasty (SIVV) technique within the Isfahan cleft care team for patients with velocardiofacial syndrome.

Methods: Employing a quasi-experimental design, 19 participants with velocardiofacial syndrome, who underwent primary cleft palate repair by the Isfahan cleft care team, were included through convenience sampling.

Electrodiagnostic Evaluation of Prognostic Factors Influencing the Surgical Outcomes of Upper Extremity Nerve Injuries Caused by Penetrating Trauma: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Peripheral nerve damage is a major cause of disability, which can lead to serious limitations in daily and occupational activities. Although primary repair can restore the function of the damaged organ remarkably, factors predicting the prognosis of nerve repair are a topic of constant debate. We aimed to investigate the factors affecting the outcomes of primary nerve repair in patients afflicted by upper extremity nerve injuries following penetrating trauma.

Therapeutic Effects of Berberine against Urological Cancers: Biological Potentials Based on Cellular Mechanisms.

Background: Urological cancers, encompassing prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers, pose significant global health challenges. Current treatment modalities, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, individually or in combination, have limitations in efficacy and are associated with notable morbidity and mortality.

Methods: This review explores alternative therapeutic avenues, emphasizing the exploration of natural compounds, with a specific focus on berberine.

Synthesis of magnetic chitosan/hyaluronic acid/κ-carrageenan nanocarriers for drug delivery.

The magnetic nanocarriers containing chitosan/hyaluronic acid complexed with κ-carrageenan were synthesized by solution method, as the drug delivery system. Doxorubicin (DOX) was used as the model drug. Characterization assessments were performed to identify the functional groups, determine the structure and morphology, and magnetic properties of nanodelivery system.

pH-responsive magnetic biocompatible chitosan-based nanocomposite carrier for ciprofloxacin release.

The pH-sensitive and magnetic-triggered release ensures the effective delivery of drugs. Chitosan carries amine pendants that encourage the fabrication of pH-responsive carriers. Montmorillonite (MMt), an attractive nano-clay in drug delivery possessing high encapsulation properties, was magnetized through the co-precipitation of Fe/Fe ions.

The Association of Oral Microbiome Dysbiosis with Gastrointestinal Cancers and Its Diagnostic Efficacy.

Background: The second leading mortality cause in the world is cancer, making it a critical issue that impacts human health. As a result, scientists are looking for novel biomarkers for cancer detection. The oral microbiome, made up of approximately 700 species-level taxa, is a significant source for discovering novel biomarkers.

New magnetic nanocomposite FeO@Saponin/Cu(II) as an effective recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of aminoalkylnaphthols via Betti reaction.

In this research, a new magnetic nanocomposite FeO@Saponin/Cu(II) based on quillaja saponin was prepared and the catalyst structure was characterized thoroughly using FT-IR, EDS, TGA, XRD, VSM, HR-TEM, SEM, ICP, BET analyzes. The catalyst prepared in the three-component synthesis of several Betti bases, 1-(α-aminoalkyl)naphthols, under environmentally friendly conditions was used. The advantage of this reaction is the high efficiency of the products and the short reaction time.

Influenza vaccination coverage and obstacles in healthcare workers (HCWs) and the follow up of side effects: a multicenter investigation in Iran.

Introduction: Seasonal influenza is an annual common occurrence in cold seasons; but the COVID-19 pandemic is also currently ongoing. These two diseases can't be distinguished from their symptoms alone; therefore, the importance of preventing influenza by vaccination is more than ever. Due to the high exposure of hospital personnel, widespread influenza vaccination of these high-risk groups seems to be a necessity.

Protective Dressings, Injury, and Device Failure in Preterm Infants Receiving Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of a hydrocolloid nasal dressing on the incidence and severity of nasal injury and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) failure in preterm infants receiving nasal CPAP (N-CPAP).

Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted over 4 months in 2019 at level 3 neonatal ICUs in two hospitals affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Eighty eligible infants were born at 32 weeks of gestation or younger and/or with a birth weight of 1,500 g or less and had received between 4 and 72 hours of CPAP.

Ultrasensitive electrochemical molecularly imprinted sensor based on AuE/Ag-MOF@MC for determination of hemoglobin using response surface methodology.

Considering the importance of determining the levels of hemoglobin (Hb) as a vital protein in red blood cells, in this work a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor was developed based on a gold electrode (AuE) modified with Ag metal-organic framework mesoporous carbon (Ag-MOF@MC) and molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). To that end, the MIP layer was formed on the Ag-MOF@MC by implanting Hb as the pattern molecule during the polymerization. The modified electrode was designed using electrochemical approaches including differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV).

Predicting the quality of life based on pain dimensions and psychiatric symptoms in patients with Painful diabetic neuropathy: a cross-sectional prevalence study in Iranian patients.

Background: This study aimed to predict the quality of life (QOL) in patients with Painful Diabetic Neuropathy (PDN) based on pain severity, pain catastrophizing, pain acceptance, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance. Also, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms in Iranian patients with PDN.

Method: 1120 patients (mean age, 53.

Speech outcomes after palatal closure in 3-7-year-old children.

Introduction: One of the main goals of the team approach in management of oro-facial clefts is to help the children with cleft palate have adequate speech development.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of articulation and resonance disorders following palate closure in children who were visited for routine examination by the Isfahan Cleft Care Team between 2011 and 2015, and to study the impact of cleft type and age at the time of palatoplasty on speech outcomes.

Methods: Clinical records of 180 preschool children with repaired cleft palate were reviewed.

Effect of Laughter Therapy on Depression and Quality of Life of the Elderly Living in Nursing Homes.

Background: Mental disorders are common among the elderly with serious symptoms of depression and social isolation. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of laughter therapy (LT) on depression and quality of life (QOL) of the elderly living in Abadeh nursing homes.

Methods: This is a controlled semi-experimental study with a pre-test, post-test design.

Photoreduction and Removal of Cadmium Ions over Bentonite Clay-Supported Zinc Oxide Microcubes in an Aqueous Solution.

Cadmium ion is toxic to organisms and shows persistence because of its nondegradability. Photoreduction of the cadmium ion (Cd(II)) was studied using a bentonite-supported Zn oxide (ZnO/BT) photocatalyst in an aqueous medium under ultraviolet light. The prepared ZnO/BT photocatalyst was characterized by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller/Barrett-Joyner-Halenda analysis.

Ultrasensitive voltammetric and impedimetric aptasensor for diazinon pesticide detection by VS quantum dots-graphene nanoplatelets/carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes as a new group nanocomposite for signal enrichment.

Polluted water and groundwater resources contaminated by pesticides are among the most important environmental distresses. Therefore, a simple, ultrasensitive, and selective electrochemical aptasensor is proposed for diazinon (DZN) determination as an organophosphorus compound. The vanadium disulfide quantum dots (VSQDs) were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method and doped on the graphene nanoplatelets/carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (GNP/CMWCNTs) as a new group of nanocomposite.

Design a fluorometric aptasensor based on CoOOH nanosheets and carbon dots for simultaneous detection of lysozyme and adenosine triphosphate.

Simultaneous detection of biomarkers and biomolecules with great analytical performance still is challenging. A simple fluorometric dual-functional aptasensor was designed to detect Lysozyme (LYS) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as models of a protein and a small molecule simultaneously. The sensing principle of the aptasensor is based on the interactions between cobalt oxyhydroxide CoOOH nanosheets as fluorescence quencher and carbon dots (CDs) as fluorophores.

Therapeutic Effects of Minocycline Pretreatment in the Locomotor and Sensory Complications of Spinal Cord Injury in an Animal Model.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is known as a debilitating condition which usually occurs due to traumas to the spine. However, the injury could also occur during clinical interventions such as spinal deformity and thoracoabdominal aortic surgeries. Intraoperative cord compression and ischemia are considered the mechanisms of primary injury in this regard.

Levetiracetam in genetic generalized epilepsy: A prospective unblinded active-controlled trial.

Purpose: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam (LEV) versus valproate (VPA) monotherapy in adults with genetic generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone (GTCS) and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME).

Methods: This study was an open-label, active-controlled trial with a two-parallel-group design. Outcome measures including withdrawal rate and seizure freedom rate at 26th weeks and time to withdrawal, and time to first seizure were compared between LEV and VPA groups.

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Their Associated Factors in Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study in Iran.

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in nursing are regarded as an important factor for creating tension since they may often cause discontent, leave profession, and provide incorrect services to their clients. The present study aimed to determine WMSDs and their related factors among the nursing staff in university hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS).

Methods: In the present descriptive cross-sectional study, 300 nurses in SUMS were selected based on systematic random sampling.

Comparing Quality of Life of Elderly Menopause Living in Urban and Rural Areas.

Objectives: The present study aimed to compare the quality of life of elderly menopause living in urban/rural areas of Abadeh, Iran.

Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted on 312 urban and 68 rural elderly population using the two-stage (systematic random classification) and objective-based sampling methods. Data were collected by Leiden-Padua questionnaire for assessment of quality of life in elderly menopause.

Sexual Function and Factors Affecting Menopause: A Systematic Review.

The purpose of this review study is to evaluate sexual function and its effective factors in menopause. A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The key words of "menopause," "postmenopause," "postmenopausal," "premenopause," "pre-menopausal period," "sexual function," "sexual health," "sexuality," "sexual and gender disorders," "sexual development," "sexual dysfunction," "sexual disorders," "sexual behavior and "sexual activity" were used in combination with the Boolean operators OR and AND.