Design and application of metal organic frameworks for heavy metals adsorption in water: a review

The growing apprehension surrounding heavy metal pollution in both environmental and industrial contexts has spurred extensive research into adsorption materials aimed at efficient remediation. Among these materials, Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have risen as versatile and promising contenders due to their adjustable properties, expansive surface areas, and sustainable characteristics, compared to traditional options like activated carbon and zeolites. This exhaustive review delves into the synthesis techniques, structural diversity, and adsorption capabilities of MOFs for the effective removal of heavy metals. The article explores the evolution of MOF design and fabrication methods, highlighting pivotal parameters influencing their adsorption performance, such as pore size, surface area, and the presence of functional groups. In this perspective review, a thorough analysis of various MOFs is presented, emphasizing the crucial role of ligands and metal nodes in adapting MOF properties for heavy metal removal. Moreover, the review delves into recent advancements in MOF-based composites and hybrid materials, shedding light on their heightened adsorption capacities, recyclability, and potential for regeneration. Challenges for optimization, regeneration efficiency and minimizing costs for large-scale applications are discussed.

Social Accountability in Health System Governance: A Scoping Review

Background

Social accountability is an important element in health system governance, which is necessary for health system reform and reaching Universal Health Coverage. Understanding the social accountability mechanism and tools will help policymakers to design policies according to the context. We aimed to explore the extent of the application of social accountability in health system governance, its results, challenges, and tools.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review study, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for scoping review. An inclusive search in bibliographic databases and search engines was done to identify peer review articles and grey literatures, published in English in the range of 2010 to 2021. Search terms were (social accountability), (public accountability), AND (health system).

Results

Thirty-one records met inclusion criteria from 286 potentially relevant sources, which included 25 peer-review articles and 6 grey literatures. Maternal and child health was the main health subject for social accountability interventions. We identified some social accountability tools to apply at the health facility and community levels. Social accountability has some benefits for the health system and for the community and some challenges to the implementation of social accountability were listed.

Conclusion

Social accountability improves health system performance. It contains different tools and strategies applied at different levels of the health system. Successful social accountability initiatives that are strategic, multi-interventional, and context-specific can produce good results in health services and social domains.

Bismuth tungstate Bi2WO6: a review on structural, photophysical and photocatalytic properties

This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the recent trends in bismuth tungstate (Bi₂WO₆) research, covering its structural, electrical, photoluminescent, and photocatalytic properties. The structural characteristics of bismuth tungstate are explored in detail, including its different allotropic crystal structures with respect to its isotypic materials. The electrical properties of bismuth tungstate, such as its conductivity and electron mobility, are also discussed, along with its photoluminescent properties. The photocatalytic activity of bismuth tungstate is a particular focus, with recent advances in doping and co-doping strategies with metals, rare earth and other elements summarized. The limitations and challenges of using bismuth tungstate as a photocatalyst are also examined, such as its low quantum efficiency and susceptibility to photodegradation. Finally, recommendations for future research directions are provided, including the need for further studies on the underlying mechanisms of photocatalytic activity, the development of more efficient and stable bismuth tungstate-based photocatalysts, and the exploration of new applications in fields such as water treatment and energy conversion.

Low-temperature synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic properties of lanthanum vanadate LaVO4

In this study, we have successfully prepared tetragonal lanthanum vanadate LaVO₄ nanoparticles by a facile co-precipitation method at room temperature. The obtained materials were characterized using different structural and micro-structural techniques such as the characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectrum (DRS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectrometry. The obtained structure is crystallized in single tetragonal phase with pin-like nanostructure. A main optical transition with bandgap energy of 3.26 eV is evidenced, and the average lifetime of charges carriers was found to be 1 ns Furthermore, the photoluminescence occurs in the visible light range. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) with initial concentration of 10 mg L^-1. The result indicates that LaVO₄ particles showed a best photocatalytic activity of 98.2% degradation for methylene blue solution after irradiation of 90 min under visible light. Furthermore, the photocatalytic mechanism and reusability were studied.

Vitamin D status in preschool children in Algeria

It is well established today that an optimal vitamin D intake plays a crucial role in the constitution of optimal osseous mass during childhood, and hence in the prevention of the osteoporosis in adults. The prevalence of the vitamin D deficiency is increasing globally and Algeria is no exception in this regard. Our study is the first to be carried out with healthy children of preschool age in North Africa.

AIMS

The study aimed to evaluate the vitamin D status of a pediatric population, during all four seasons of the year, living in the north of Algeria, as well as to estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, identifying the potential risk factors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was an analytic and cross-sectional study carried out between March 2014 and March 2016 with healthy preschool infants from an urban environment in the town of Hussein Dey. A total of 1016 infants aged 9-72 months were included during this period. The consensual threshold value was 20ng/mL.

RESULTS

The sex ratio was of 1.47 (535 boys/481 girls) and the average age of the children was 36.5±1.79 months. The daily average calcium ratio was 395±23 mg/with food contributions in vitamin D at an estimated average of 164 UI/day (4.1μg/day). The average concentration of the total 25-OHD for all four seasons of the year was 18.6±10.4ng/mL with an average rate of parathyroid hormone (PTH) of 30.9±14.6pg/mL. There was a highly significant inverse correlation between the serum level of vitamin D and PTH (r=-0.57; P=0.0001), the point of inflection was situated at 34.1ng/mL. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency follows a seasonal variation that is statistically significant (P=0.0001), and the prevalence is higher during the autumn-winter period. The risk factors identified by multiple logistic regression were autumn-winter season (OR: 7; 95% CI: 3-11; P=0.001), age less than 24 months (OR: 3.8; 95% CI: 3.4-4.4; P=0.0001), high body mass index (OR: 2; 95% CI: 1.2-3.2; P=0.3), darker skin pigmentation (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 2.2-5.2; P=0.001), duration of sunlight exposure less than 15min (OR: 6.1; 95% CI: 3.6-10.2; P=0.0001), low socioeconomic status (OR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.5-4.3; P=0.01), calcium intake lower than 500 mg/day (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.8-6; P=0.001), and a weekly dietary intake of vitamin D lower than 200 UI (OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.6-4.2; P=0.02).

DISCUSSION

No studies have been conducted in north Africa or Algeria concerning healthy preschool children; however, this population has a rapid growth rate and deserves special attention. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the children of this study was higher than that reported in studies of children of the same age living in Europe or America, despite the fact that Algeria is closer to the equator (36° latitude north).

CONCLUSION

The changes experienced by Algerian society and the shorter exposure of the population to the sun call for more efforts regarding the detection and treatment of vitamin D deficiency, as well as an update of the vitamin D supplementation schedule.

Sociodemographic and behavioural determinants of early childhood caries knowledge among expectant mothers in Kuwait

PURPOSE

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a highly prevalent disease in Kuwait. It poses health, economic, and social implications affecting patients, their families and communities. ECC awareness campaigns targeting expectant mothers hold a promising potential as primary prevention tools. Understanding the baseline of ECC knowledge (ECC-K) is an important foundational step in planning such interventions. The aim of this study was to assess the level of ECC-K in a sample of expectant mothers, and to identify the sociodemographic and behavioural determinants of that knowledge.

METHODS

A multiple-choice questionnaire was distributed to 430 expectant women from one maternity hospital in Kuwait. The questionnaire gathered information on the demographics, ECC-K, and the oral health behaviours of the participants. Bivariate analysis assessed the relationship between ECC-K scores and the different socio-demographic variables and oral health practices of the participants. A multiple linear regression model was developed to identify the predictors of ECC-K scores RESULTS: The response rate was 94% (n = 405). The mean ECC-K score was 6.4 [standard deviation (SD) = 2.5] out of a maximum score of 14. Age, education, number of children, frequency of dental visits, and flossing frequency were significantly associated with ECC-K levels (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

ECC-K among this cohort of expectant mothers was inadequate. Educational interventions are needed to foster better ECC preventive practices.

Fragmented QRS complex is an independent predictor of plaque burden in patients at intermediate risk of coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the relationship between fragmented QRS complex and plaque burden in patients presented with typical chest pain and deemed to have intermediate pretest probability of CAD using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

METHODS

We studied electrocardiograms (ECGs) obtained from 172 subjects (47.5 ± 9.5 years, 125 were men) presented with chest pain and had intermediate pretest probability for CAD. The presence was found and evaluation of CAD was performed with CCTA.

RESULTS

Seventy four (43%) of the study cohort had CCTA-documented CAD. Meanwhile the frequency of fQRS in our cohort was (57%). 70 (71.4%) patients with fQRS had CAD compared with only 4 (5.4%) patients without fQRS (p < 0.001). The number of leads with fQRs was correlated with the calcium score (p < 0.005), segment stenosis score, segment involvement score, total plaque score (TPS), and E/e ratio (p < 0.001, for all). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that fQRS was a strong independent predictor for CAD (or = 2.15, p < 0.001). ROC analysis showed that the number of leads ≥3 was the optimal number for predicting CAD (AUC = 0.89, sensitivity 88%, and specificity 83%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Fragmented QRS was seen more often in patients with high plaque burden. We suggest that fQRS might provide a useful noninvasive prognosticator for subjects with intermediate pretest probability of CAD for further investigation.

Leadership challenges in health care organizations: The case of Iranian hospitals

Background: Effective leadership is a vital component of health care systems and has an extensive range of functions in improving organizational effectiveness and efficiency. This study aimed at exploring leadership challenges encountered by leaders in Iranian hospitals. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted on a purposeful sample of 27 members of hospital management team in Tehran using face-to-face semi-structured interviews and in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyze and report the data. Results: In this study, 5 main themes emerged upon the challenges of leadership in health care organizations as follow: organizational structure (complexity, centralization, and bureaucracy); human resources (the number and distribution of human resources, staff empowerment, and education, motivational mechanisms, and staff diversity); work nature (sensitivity, stress and tension, customer diversity, and team- oriented); leaders (knowledge and skills, appointment, superiors and colleagues, and time); and context (regulations and programs, cultural issues, social issues, and economic issues). Conclusion: The results of this study shed some light on the leadership challenges in a culturally specific developing country. The results also proved the importance of using educated leaders who are capable of understanding, analyzing, and dealing with such complex challenges.

The Effect of Catastrophic Health Expenditure on Work After Retirement

Several factors can force retirees to go to paid work. Catastrophic health-care expenditure (CHCE) is one of the driving forces for retirees to go to paid work. This cross-sectional study was based on 6,307 Iran retirees’ data. Xu method was used to calculate CHCE, and a logit model was estimated to show the association between CHCE and bridge employment. Other control variables were added to the model. The findings showed that there was positive relationship between CHCE and bridge employment. Retirement pension had negative relationship with work after retirement. Prevalence of work after retirement was higher in people who lived in rural region and increased due to increase in household size. The financial constraint was the main pushing factor for the retiree to go to paid work. Thus, covering retirees with health insurances and identifying and listing diseases that may face the retirees with CHCE are some possible efforts to decrease CHCE.

A facile one step route to synthesize WO3 nanoplatelets for CO oxidation and photodegradation of RhB: microstructural, optical and electrical studies

Two-dimensional nanoplatelets of WO₃ were synthesized at room temperature. The large exposed (020) facets of the nanoplatelets show a high catalytic activities, for CO conversion and for photodegradation of organic pollutant.

Structural, vibrational study and UV photoluminescence properties of the system Bi(2−x)Lu(x)WO6 (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 1)

This study on bismuth lutetium tungstates presents, for the first time, correlations between structure, vibrational and photoluminescence properties in the case of solid solutions Bi_2−xLuxWO₆. The origin of luminescence signals under UV excitation is discussed.

The impact of rural health system reform on hospitalization rates in the Islamic Republic of Iran: an interrupted time series

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects on hospital utilization rates of a major health system reform - a family physician programme and a social protection scheme - undertaken in rural areas of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2005.

METHODS

A "tracer" province that was not a patient referral hub was selected for the collection of monthly hospitalization data over a period of about 10 years, beginning two years before the rural health system reform (the "intervention") began. An interrupted time series analysis was conducted and segmented regression analysis was used to assess the immediate and gradual effects of the intervention on hospitalization rates in an intervention group composed of rural residents and a comparison group composed of urban residents primarily.

FINDINGS

Before the intervention, the hospitalization rate in the rural population was significantly lower than in the comparison group. Although there was no significant increase or decline in hospitalization rates in the intervention or comparison group before the intervention, after the intervention a significant increase in the hospitalization rate - of 4.6 hospitalizations per 100 000 insured persons per month on average - was noted in the intervention group (P < 0.001). The monthly increase in the hospitalization rate continued for over a year and stabilized thereafter. No increase in the hospitalization rate was observed in the comparison group.

CONCLUSION

The primary health-care programme instituted as part of the health system reform process has increased access to hospital care in a population that formerly underutilized hospital services. It has not reduced hospitalizations or hospitalization-related expenditure.

Quality of working life on residents working in hospitals

BACKGROUND

Residents play an important role in the delivery of hospital care. They regularly work overnight, in emergency situations and with workload and stress which can affect their performance and quality of working life (QWL). This study explores the QWL and its contributory factors in residents working at hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran.

METHODS

Medline was searched to identify questionnaires for measuring QWL in healthcare professionals and these questionnaires were used to design a comprehensive questionnaire for measuring residents QWL. Face and content validity of the questionnaire were examined by 7 experts. The questionnaire then was completed twice with one-week interval by 14 residents to assess the intera-rater reliability. Then 310 questionnaires were distributed among residents working at different specialties in 7 hospitals affiliated to TUMS including a large general hospital, two medium general hospitals and four small single specialty hospitals. Statistical analyses were performed by SPSS.

RESULTS

Totally, 263 residents (84%) completed the questionnaire. The quality of working life was very well in 18%, well in 32%, moderate in 31%, low in 14% and very low in 5% of residents. Pediatric residents had the highest and urology and internal medicine residents had the lowest quality of working life.

CONCLUSION

The QWL is high in the majority of residents, but the QWL is still not desirable in a significant proportion of them. The questionnaire used in this study is reliable and valid. The residents' QWL still need improvement.

The Effect of Service Quality on Patient loyalty: a Study of Private Hospitals in Tehran, Iran

BACKGROUND

Service quality is perceived as an important factor for developing patient's loyalty. The aim of this study was to determine the hospital service quality from the patients' viewpoints and the relative importance of quality dimensions in predicting the patient's loyalty.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2010. The study sample was composed of 943 patients selected from eight private general hospitals in Tehran. The survey instrument was a questionnaire included 24 items about the service quality and 3 items about the patient's loyalty. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to extracting the dimensions of service quality. Also, regression analysis was performed to determining the relative importance of the service quality dimensions in predicting the patient's loyalty.

RESULT

The mean score of service quality and patient's loyalty was 3.99 and 4.16 out of 5, respectively. About 29% of the loyalty variance was explained by the service quality dimensions. Four quality dimensions (Costing, Process Quality, Interaction Quality and Environment Quality) were found to be key determinants of the patient's loyalty in the private hospitals of Tehran.

CONCLUSION

The patients' experience in relation to the private hospitals' services has strong impact on the outcome variables like willingness to return to the same hospital and reuse its services or recommend them to others. The relationship between the service quality and patient's loyalty proves the strategic importance of improving the service quality for dragging and retaining patients and expanding the market share.

The Psychometric Properties of the Farsi Version of "Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture" In Iran's Hospitals

BACKGROUND

If you want to start a long journey towards patient safety, you should create a good culture of patient safety among employees alongside structural interventions. The first step in doing so is the assessment of current culture in the organization using different tools. One of the most commonly used instruments of measuring patient safety culture is Hospital Survey of Patient Safety culture (HSOPS). The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of Farsi version of this questionnaire for the first time in Iran's hospitals.

METHODS

We purposefully selected four hospitals out of seven general Tehran University of Medical Sciences affiliated hospitals. Then a 420 sample of staff of these hospitals were taken randomly. Staff was asked to complete the questionnaire. Confirmative factor analysis, correlation coefficient, Cronbach's alpha were employed in statistical analyses.

RESULTS

Factor loadings for almost all questions were acceptable. Factors jointly explained 77.8% of the variance in the responses. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was between 0.57 and 0.8. The study revealed that over 70% of employees were working at their hospitals more than 40 hours a week and also more than half of the employees were not reporting errors.

CONCLUSION

Farsi version of HSOPS with 12 dimensions and 42 questions is a valid and reliable questionnaire to measure patient safety culture for the first time in Iran hospitals. This tool will be helpful in tracking improvements and in heightening awareness on patient safety culture in Iran.

Primary anaplastic large cell lymphoma of trachea with subcutaneous emphysema and progressive dyspnea

Primary anaplastic large cell lymphoma of the trachea is a rare tumor. Common complaints are dyspnea and cough that could mimic a partially refractory asthma in some cases. We report a 16-year-old female with an anaplastic large cell lymphoma (null cell type) in which tracheal involvement was presented with life-threatening airway obstruction and subcutaneous emphysema. After debulking the tumor by endobronchial curettage, the patient was treated with chemotherapy followed by local radiotherapy. She had no evidence of local or distant recurrence after 25 months. Primary anaplastic large cell lymphoma of the trachea is a rare life-threatening disease. Nevertheless, this condition has a good prognosis if diagnosed immediately and treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Patients' length of stay in women hospital and its associated clinical and non-clinical factors, tehran, iran

BACKGROUND

Length of Stay (LOS) is an appropriate hospital indicator to evaluate hospital resource utilization rate, efficiency, and quality of services delivered. In this survey, we aimed to study hospital LOS and determine its association with clinical and non-clinical factors in Women Hospital in Tehran.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we reviewed all 3421 charts of patients admitted in Oncology, Surgery and Obstetrics units in 2008. We used a data collection sheet and conducted interviews to collect the following data: distance from living area, medical insurance coverage types, admission and discharge months, days and times, inpatient units, final diagnoses and the number of diagnostic tests.

RESULTS

The overall median of the LOS in the studied hospital was 50.8 hours. The medians were 48.5, 54.4, and 94.2 hours in the Obstetrics, Surgical and Oncology units, respectively. Results showed that the associated factors with the LOS were patient admissions on Thursdays, admitting by residents, the number of performed diagnostic tests (p<0.001), suffering from neoplastic diseases (p=0.005) and spouse jobs.

CONCLUSION

Among the associated factors, policy makers and managers can only change the admission days and the number of diagnostic tests to decrease the LOS. Further researches are needed to find other factors associated with LOS.

Comparison of the results of Cox proportional hazards model and parametric models in the study of length of stay in a tertiary teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran

Survival analysis is a set of methods used for analysis of the data which exist until the occurrence of an event. This study aimed to compare the results of the use of the semi-parametric Cox model with parametric models to determine the factors influencing the length of stay of patients in the inpatient units of Women Hospital in Tehran, Iran. In this historical cohort study all 3421 charts of the patients admitted to Obstetrics, Surgery and Oncology units in 2008 were reviewed and the required patient data such as medical insurance coverage types, admission months, days and times, inpatient units, final diagnoses, the number of diagnostic tests, admission types were collected. The patient length of stay in hospital 'leading to recovery' was considered as a survival variable. To compare the semi-parametric Cox model and parametric (including exponential, Weibull, Gompertz, log-normal, log-logistic and gamma) models and find the best model fitted to studied data, Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) and Cox-Snell residual were used. P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. AIC and Cox-Snell residual graph showed that the gamma model had the lowest AIC (4288.598) and the closest graph to the bisector. The results of the gamma model showed that factors affecting the patient length of stay were admission day, inpatient unit, related physician specialty, emergent admission, final diagnosis and the number of laboratory tests, radiographies and sonographies (P<0.05). The results showed that the gamma model provided a better fit to the studied data than the Cox proportional hazards model. Therefore, it is better for researchers of healthcare field to consider this model in their researches about the patient length of stay (LOS) if the assumption of proportional hazards is not fulfilled.

Incidence rate of ovarian cancer in Iran in comparison with developed countries

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecologic malignancies. The present study was designed to compare age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) of ovarian cancer in Iran with that in Australia and some other developed countries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from the Cancer Registry Program of Iran, as a base, were compared with the cancer registry reports of surveillance, epidemiology and end results program in the USA, considering the population of the USA in the year 2000 as the standard population.

RESULTS

In all the age groups, ASR of ovarian cancer was much lower in Iran. Overall rates of ovarian cancer in Iran and the USA were 3.9 and 16.2 per 100,000, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Age-standardized ovarian cancer rate in Iran was much lower in comparison with high incidence areas in the world. Encouraging oral contraceptive use and reduction in fat intake may be effective in decreasing the rate of ovarian cancer or keeping its rate constant in Iran.

Eight years of lung transplantation: experience of the National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases

BACKGROUND

Lung transplantation has evolved from an experimental procedure to a viable therapeutic option in many countries. In Iran, the first single-lung transplantation was performed in the year 2000, more than 3 decades after the first successful procedure in the world, and the first double-lung transplantation was performed in the year 2006.

OBJECTIVE

To describe our 8-year experience in lung transplantation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

During 8 years, we performed 24 lung transplantation procedures. Underlying lung diseases were pulmonary fibrosis in 16 patients (66.6%); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 2 (8.3%); bronchiectasis in 5, including 2 patients with cystic fibrosis (20.8%), and alveolar microlithiasis in 1 (4.16%). Data for all patients were collected and analyzed. Procedures were carried out using standardized methods. The induction suppression regimen consisted of cyclosporine and methylprednisolone. Maintenance immunosuppression drugs were cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil, and tapering dosage of prednisolone. Patients were followed up with physical examinations, 3 times a week, as well as and cycle ergometry 3 times a week and spirometry and laboratory tests once a week and chest radiography per needed for up to 3 months posttransplantation.

RESULTS

The longest survival time was 7.2 years, in a 60-year-old patient with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Fourteen patients died, 8 as a result of hemodynamic instability and/or hemorrhage, 1 as a result of bone and fat emboli, 3 after cessation of drug and 2 of them after infection.

CONCLUSION

Although lung transplantation is a complex procedure it can be performed in developing countries such as Iran.

Comparison between Intravenous and Intramuscular Administration of Prostaglandin E2 on Management of Missed Abortion

BACKGROUND

To compare the efficacy of two routes of prostaglandin E2 administration (Intravenous and Intramuscular) for treatment of missed abortion this study was conducted. Regarding the pilot cases of missed abortion admitted for termination of pregnancy intravenous administration of PGE2 that had higher efficacy compare to intramuscular route, investigators designed this study.

METHODS

In a randomized clinical trail, 50 women with confirmed missed abortion received 250-500 μg prostaglandins E2 either intravenously or intramuscularly. Evacuation time set from drug injection to complete empting of uterus. Complete uterine evacuation was defined as empting of uterus from pregnancy materials without the need for surgical intervention and partial evacuation defined as incomplete empting of uterus that need further surgical management. Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 13. All the data extracted with a checklist and compare by descriptive statistics and X2 and t-tests.

RESULTS

There was no statistically difference between the results of two administration routes. The mean of evacuation time in intravenous administration routes was significantly lower in compare to intramuscular administration routes (P< 0.5). There was no statistically significant difference in the demographic data in two groups.

CONCLUSION

There was no preference between two administration routes except for evacuation time that occurred more rapidly in intravenous administration of PG E2.

Nondestructive room-temperature adsorption of 2,4,6-tri(2'-thienyl)-1,3,5-triazine on a Si-B interface: high-resolution STM imaging and molecular modeling

Organic nanostructures on semiconductors are currently investigated but the surfaces are known to interact strongly with molecules. To reduce the molecule-surface interaction, we used the Si(111)-B square root 3 x square root 3R30 degrees . Deposition of isolated 2,4,6-tri(2'-thienyl)-1,3,5-triazine, was achieved at room temperature without modification of their pi skeleton. This fascinating arrangement, observed by STM, has been validated by full density functional theory computations onto the entire system. The theoretical results give a clear explanation for the specific adsorption sites of molecules on the substrate.

Characterization of single wall carbon nanotubes by means of rare gas adsorption

Based on the formalisms of Langmuir and Fowler, theoretical adsorption isotherms are calculated for different bundle geometries of single wall carbon nanotubes in a triangular lattice. The authors show the dependence of the adsorption properties on the nanotube diameter and on the specific morphology of the bundles they constitute. The authors demonstrate how isotherm curve analysis can help to experimentally determine what kinds of tubes form a given bundle and the ratio of open to closed tubes in a sample having undergone a complete or incomplete opening protocol. In spite of the model's simplicity, quite satisfactory agreement is observed between experiments and the authors' calculations.

[The biochemical diagnosis of Gaucher disease]

Gaucher disease is a disease of overload lyosomale which we often met since a score of years. Since 1980 we had to answer several requests for diagnosis of this metabolic disease. Requests emanating primarily from paediatric services. Twelve cases were confirmed within sight of measurement of the intra-leucocytic activity of the beta-glucocerebrosidase, enzyme intervening in the catabolism of the sphingolipides. We report here our experiment in the biochemical diagnosis of Gaucher disease by showing mainly the variability and the extreme heterogeneity of the activity of the beta-glucosidasic during practised measurements. In addition, we expose the problems of diagnosis etiologic which certain patients raise in front of the discordances between the measured enzymatic activity and clinical signs of the disease of left-handed person. In addition, we develop the biological parameters useful to proportion for the monitoring of the treatment which is finally available in our country.

Influence of molecular adsorption on the dielectric properties of a single wall nanotube: A model sensor

Recent measurements of the resonance frequency of a copper disk covered with carbon nanotube bundles have shown characteristic resonance shifts during exposure with various gas molecules. The shifts were interpreted as the change of the dielectric permittivity of the system forming the sensor due to the electric properties of the adsorbed molecules. Starting from a simplified sensor model formed by one single wall nanotube, we develop a self-consistent approach to describe the variation of the linear dielectric susceptibility of the tube at the atomic scale when molecules are adsorbed at its external surface. The sensitivity of this model sensor is tested as a function of the apolar or polar nature of the admolecules, their adsorption geometry, their concentration, and the characteristics of the tube (length, diameter,...). The comparison with data on dielectric constant changes vs adsorption, coming from measurements of the resonance frequency shifts, displays striking agreement for most of the molecular species considered.

EMA-EP regimen, as firstline multiple agent chemotherapy in high-risk GTT patients (stage II-IV)

Multiple agent chemotherapy in high-risk metastatic gestational trophoblastic tumor patients is a problem for any medical team. In this study, EMA-EP chemotherapy (etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin, and cisplatinum) was evaluated as firstline chemotherapy to manage high-risk GTT metastatic patients. Seventeen high-risk metastatic patients, including 14 without and 3 with brain metastasis, who were candidates to firstline multiple agent chemotherapy between April 2000 and March 2003 in Vali-e-Asr hospital took part in a prospective study under EMA-EP regimen. EMA-EP was prescribed in two periods: EMA in two consecutive days in week 1 and EP in 1 day in the following week with a week interval between these two (each cycle was repeated every 2 weeks). In brain metastasis group, patients got high-dose medication (methotrexate) together with brain radiotherapy. Remission, toxicity, full dose tolerance, and recurrences of patients were evaluated. Median age of patients was 30 (15-49), and they received 100 courses of chemotherapy including 75 low-dose courses and 25 high-dose courses. 71% of courses were done in full dosage (83% in low dose and 36% in high dose). The most common cause for dosage reduction was leukopenia. Two patients did not complete the regimen, one due to hypersensitivity and the other due to fever and leukopenia leading to death. All others, who received complete courses, achieved remission. In the group without brain metastasis, one case of recurrence was observed. Grade 3 anemia, grade 3 and 4 leukopenia, and grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia were observed in 3, 12, and 3% of patients, respectively. In current study, EMA-EP regimen in patients with high-risk metastatic GTN patients (with or without brain metastasis) lead to remission in all patients who completed the treatment courses.

[Surgery for diaphragmatic palsy]

Diaphragmatic palsy leads to a permanent ascension of one or both hemi-diaphragms with highly variable functional impact. The underlying mechanisms can be divided into two main categories: neurological or muscular disorder leading to peripheral dysfunction; defective or non-transmitted central command causing central dysfunction. A complete morphological and functional work-up is required to determine the circumstances leading to diaphragmatic palsy and the uni- or bilateral nature of the paralysis. The entire phreno-diaphragmatic transmission chain from the cranium to the diaphragmatic muscle must be analyzed to search for a local cause. Function tests are used to examine central command and transmission, function of the phrenic nerve, and the capacity of the diaphragmatic muscle to generate sufficient pressure for efficacious ventilation. Once indirect causes of diaphragmatic ascension (independent of the phreno-diaphragmatic system) have been ruled out, surgery may be proposed for symptomatic, permanent and irreversible diaphragmatic paralysis. A tension procedure may be sufficient in the event of eventration with or without phrenic palsy. For well-selected patients with central paralysis due to supraspinal lesions with intact nerves and muscles, implantation of a phrenic pacemaker may be helpful to eliminate positive pressure mechanical ventilation and restore more physiological respiration.

EMA-EP regimen, as firstline multiple agent chemotherapy in high-risk GTT patients (stage II–IV)

Multiple agent chemotherapy in high-risk metastatic gestational trophoblastic tumor patients is a problem for any medical team. In this study, EMA-EP chemotherapy (etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin, and cisplatinum) was evaluated as firstline chemotherapy to manage high-risk GTT metastatic patients. Seventeen high-risk metastatic patients, including 14 without and 3 with brain metastasis, who were candidates to firstline multiple agent chemotherapy between April 2000 and March 2003 in Vali-e-Asr hospital took part in a prospective study under EMA-EP regimen. EMA-EP was prescribed in two periods: EMA in two consecutive days in week 1 and EP in 1 day in the following week with a week interval between these two (each cycle was repeated every 2 weeks). In brain metastasis group, patients got high-dose medication (methotrexate) together with brain radiotherapy. Remission, toxicity, full dose tolerance, and recurrences of patients were evaluated. Median age of patients was 30 (15–49), and they received 100 courses of chemotherapy including 75 low-dose courses and 25 high-dose courses. 71% of courses were done in full dosage (83% in low dose and 36% in high dose). The most common cause for dosage reduction was leukopenia. Two patients did not complete the regimen, one due to hypersensitivity and the other due to fever and leukopenia leading to death. All others, who received complete courses, achieved remission. In the group without brain metastasis, one case of recurrence was observed. Grade 3 anemia, grade 3 and 4 leukopenia, and grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia were observed in 3, 12, and 3% of patients, respectively. In current study, EMA-EP regimen in patients with high-risk metastatic GTN patients (with or without brain metastasis) lead to remission in all patients who completed the treatment courses.

Cloning and characterization of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) somatolactin cDNA and its expression in pituitary and nonpituitary tissues

A cDNA clone encoding rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) somatolactin (rtSL) has been isolated from a rainbow trout pituitary cDNA library. This 2329-bp cDNA clone includes a very short 7-bp 5'-untranslated region, a coding region of 702 bp, and a long 3'-untranslated region of 1620 bp. The deduced amino acid sequence of rtSL shows a polypeptide of 233 amino acid residues which consists of a 24-amino-acid putative signal peptide followed by a 209-amino-acid mature polypeptide. This mature polypeptide has a molecular weight of 24 kDa. The rtSL shares 99% amino acid identity with chum salmon SL (csSL) and approximately 53-77% amino acid identity with SLs in other fishes, including the 7 conserved cysteine residues. Although a glycosylation site has been identified in SL of other fish species, none is observed in rtSL polypeptide. The level of rtSL mRNA in a single pituitary gland was determined by RNA blot hybridization. Results showed that levels of SL mRNA in pituitary glands of 2-year-old fish were 4- to 7-fold higher than those of 1-year-old fish. The tissue distribution of SL gene expression in adult fish was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and DNA blot hybridization. In addition to the pituitary gland, SL mRNA was detected in all tissues examined including brain, gill, heart, kidney, liver, skeleton muscle, spleen, ovary, testis, and immature oocytes. The extrapituitary expression of the SL gene was also detected in embryos and fry. The PCR products which contained the region coding for mature SL from heart and kidney were cloned and characterized. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that the SL mRNAs in heart and kidney were identical to that in the pituitary gland. These results suggest that, although the pituitary gland is the predominant tissue for producing SL, it is not the only tissue that SL gene is expressed in, and the extrapituitary expression of rtSL gene starts from very early developmental stages.