Synthesis methods for nanosized hydroxyapatite with diverse structures

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is the major mineral constituent of vertebrate bones and teeth. It has been well documented that HAp nanoparticles can significantly increase the biocompatibility and bioactivity of man-made biomaterials. Over the past decade, HAp nanoparticles have therefore increasingly been in demand, and extensive efforts have been devoted to develop many synthetic routes, involving both scientifically and economically new features. Several investigations have also been made to determine how critical properties of HAp can be effectively controlled by varying the processing parameters. With such a wide variety of methods for the preparation of HAp nanoparticles, choosing a specific procedure to synthesize a well-defined powder can be laborious; accordingly, in the present review, we have summarized all the available information on the preparation methodologies of HAp, and highlighted the inherent advantages and disadvantages involved in each method. This article is focused on nanosized HAp, although recent articles on microsized particles, especially those assembled from nanoparticles and/or nanocrystals, have also been reviewed for comparison. We have also provided several scientific figures and discussed a number of critical issues and challenges which require further research and development.     

Risk of mental disorders in children of parents with alcohol or heroin dependence: a controlled high-risk study

Aim: To assess the specific effect of alcohol dependence (AD) or heroin dependence (HD) in patients and their spouses on the risk of psychopathology in their 276 6.0- to 17.9- year-old children (mean 11.3 years). Methods: The sample included 101 offspring of patients with AD, 23 of patients with HD, and 152 of medical controls, as well as their 2 parents. Participants were assessed using semistructured diagnostic interviews and family history reports by psychologists blind to patient diagnoses. Results: Children of HD and AD patients had largely elevated rates of recurrent major depressive disorder. Children of HD patients were also at an increased risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and substance use disorders (SUD). There were interactions between SUD in the 2 parents to increase the risk of SUD in offspring. Conclusions: These results emphasize the need for prompt identification and treatment of these children and highlight the need to pay clinical attention not only to the patient, but also to the co-parent in order to optimize prevention in offspring.     

Long-term effects of mustard gas on respiratory system of Iranian veterans after Iraq-lran war： a review

To review long-term respiratory effects of mustard gas on Iranian veterans having undergone Iraq-Iran war. Electronic databases of Scopus, Medline, ISI, IranMedex, and Irandoc sites were searched. We accepted articles published in scientific journals as a quality criterion. The main pathogenic factors are free radical mediators. Prevalence of pulmonary involvement is approximately 42.5%. The most common complaints are cough and dyspnea. Major respiratory complications are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, and asthma. Spirometry results can reveal restrictive and obstructive pulmonary disease. Plain chest X-ray does not help in about 50% of lung diseases. High-resolution CT of the lung is the best modality for diagnostic assessment of parenchymal lung and bronchi. There is no definite curative treatment for mustard lung. The effective treatment regimens consist of oxygen administration, use of vaporized moist air, respiratory physiotherapy, administration of mucolytic agents, bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and long-acting beta-2 agonists, antioxidants, surfactant, magnesium ions, therapeutic bronchoscopy, laser therapy, placement of respiratory stents, early tracheostomy in laryngospasm, and ultimately lung transplantation. High-resolution CT of the lung is the most accurate modality for the evaluation of the lung parenchyma and bronchi. The treatment efficacy of patients exposed to mustard gas depends on patient conditions (acute or chronic, upper or lower respiratory tract involvement). There are various treatment protocols, but unfortunately none of them is definitely curable.     

Acetyl Salicylic Acid Locally Enhances Functional Recovery after Sciatic Nerve Transection in Rat

Local effect of acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) on peripheral nerve regeneration was studied using a rat sciatic nerve transection model. Forty-five male healthy White Wistar rats were divided into three experimental groups (n = 15), randomly: Sham-operation (SHAM), control (SIL), and ASA-treated (SIL/ASA) groups. In SHAM group after anesthesia left sciatic nerve was exposed through a gluteal muscle incision and after homeostasis the muscle was sutured. In SIL group the left sciatic nerve was exposed the same way and transected proximal to tibio-peroneal bifurcation leaving a 10-mm gap. Proximal and distal stumps were each inserted into a silicone tube and filled with 10 μl phosphate buffered solution. In SIL/ASA group defect was bridged using a silicone tube filled with 10 μl acetyl salisylic acid (0.1 mg/ml). Each group was subdivided into three subgroups of five animals each and were studied 4, 8, and 12 weeks after surgery. Data were analyzed statistically by factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Bonferroni test for pair-wise comparisons. Functional study confirmed faster and better recovery of regenerated axons in SIL/ASA than in SIL group (p < 0.05). Gastrocnemius muscle mass in SIL/ASA was significantly more than in SIL group. Morphometric indices of regenerated fibers showed that the number and diameter of the myelinated fibers in SIL/ASA were significantly higher than in control group. In immuohistochemistry, location of reactions to S-100 in SIL/ASA was clearly more positive than in SIL group. Response to local treatment of ASA demonstrates that it influences and improves functional recovery of peripheral nerve regeneration.     

Recent developments in conducting polymers: applications for electrochemistry

Scientists have categorized conductive polymers as materials having strongly reversible redox behavior and uncommon combined features of plastics and metal. Because of their multifunctional characteristics, e.g., simplistic synthesis, acceptable environmental stability, beneficial optical, electronic, and mechanical features, researchers have largely considered them for diverse applications. Therefore, their capability of catalyzing several electrode reactions has been introduced as one of their significant features. A thin layer of the conducting polymer deposited on the substrate electrode surface can augment the electrode process kinetics of several solution species. Such electrocatalytic procedures with modified conducting polymer electrodes can create beneficial utilization in diverse fields of applied electrochemistry. This review article explores typical recent applications of conductive polymers (2016–2020) as active electrode materials for energy storage applications, electrochemical sensing, and conversion fields such as electrochemical supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells, and solar cells.

Scientists have categorized conductive polymers as materials having strongly reversible redox behavior and uncommon combined features of plastics and metal.     

Psychometric Properties of the Obsessive Compulsive Inventory-Child Version in Iranian Clinical and Community Samples

Child Psychiatry & Human Development - This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory–Child Version (OCI-CV) in...