Abstract ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) production is a usual plant reaction to environmental stresses such as allelopathy. Plants possess antioxidant enzymes to scavenge cells and resist against the ROS. This study was conducted to evaluate changes in antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GPX, APX) in radish seedlings in response to allelopathic effect of safflower root and shoot residues grown under normal irrigation and drought stress. Safflower allelopathic effect led to an increase in antioxidant enzymes activities. GPX activity increased more than CAT and APX. Radish seedlings exposed to safflower residue grown under drought stress showed more antioxidant enzymes activities. Root residues enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes greater than shoot. Seedlings exposed to root residues grown under drought stress had the highest level of antioxidant enzymes activities. Reactive Species allelopathy CAT, (CAT APX

In this study, a novel multiple-pollutant waste load allocation (WLA) model for a river system is presented based on the National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSFWQI). This study aims to determine the value of the quality index as the objective function integrated into the fuzzy set theory so that it could decrease the uncertainties associated with water quality goals as well as specify the river's water quality status rapidly. The simulation-optimization (S-O) approach is used for solving the proposed model. The QUAL2K model is used for simulating water quality in different parts of the river system and ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm is applied as an optimizer of the model. The model performance was examined on a hypothetical river system with a length of 30 km and 17 checkpoints. The results show that for a given number of both the simulator model runs and the artificial ants, the maximum objective function will be obtained when the regulatory parameter of the ACO algorithm (i.e., q0) is considered equal to 0.6 and 0.7 (instead of 0.8 and 0.9). Also, the results do not depend on the exponent of the membership function (i.e., y). Furthermore, the proposed methodology can find optimum solutions in a shorter time.

ABSTRACT In the present study, to enhance removal of quinoline contaminants using natural active component, vanillin was loaded onto the MCM-41 (Mobile Component Material) nanoparticles in a simple way. The product was divided into two parts, which were improved by Copper(I) and Copper(II) salts. Promoted synthetic nanocatalysts (Cu(I)/Van./MCM-41, and Cu(II)/Van./MCM-41) were characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Mapping, Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and BET/BJH (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and Barret-Joyner-Halenda (BJH)) techniques. To reach optimal conditions, experimental design was performed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The experiments were done with the aid of nanocomposites, in presence of ultraviolet radiation without any auxiliary oxidants. Degradation percentages were measured by an Ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometer. The products were identified using Gas Chromatography–Mass (GC-Mass) technique, and some mechanisms for quinoline removal were proposed. The results indicated that Cu (I) showed better performance in enhanced removal of quinoline than Cu(II).

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effect of high-dose vitamin C on cardiac reperfusion injury and plasma levels of creatine kinase-muscle/brain (CK-MB), troponin I, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: This is a double-blind randomized clinical trial study. Fifty patients (50-80 years old) who had CABG surgery were selected. The intervention group received 5 g of intravenous vitamin C before anesthesia induction and 5 g of vitamin C in cardioplegic solution. The control group received the same amount of placebo (normal saline). Arterial blood samples were taken to determine the serum levels of CK-MB, troponin I, and LDH enzymes. Left ventricular ejection fraction was measured and hemodynamic parameters were recorded at intervals. Results: High doses of vitamin C in the treatment group led to improvement of ventricular function (ejection fraction [EF]) and low Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay. The cardiac enzymes level in the vitamin C group was lower than in the control group. These changes were not significant between the groups in different time intervals (anesthesia induction, end of bypass, 6 h after surgery, and 24 h after surgery) for CK-MB, LDH, and troponin I. Hemodynamic parameters, hematocrit, potassium, urinary output, blood transfusion, arrhythmia, and inotropic support showed no significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: Vitamin C has significantly improved the patients’ ventricular function (EF) 72 h after surgery and reduced the length of ICU stay. No significant changes in cardiac biomarkers, including CK-MB, troponin I, and LDH, were seen over time in each group. IRCT code: IRCT2016053019470N33

Abstract Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor representing with poor prognosis, therapy resistance and high metastasis rate. Increased expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2, a member of matrix metalloproteinase family proteins, has been reported in many cancers including glioblastoma. Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression has resulted in reduced aggression of glioblastoma tumors in several reports. In the present study, we evaluated effect of bee venom on expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 as well as potential toxicity and apoptogenic properties of bee venom on glioblastoma cells. Human A172 glioblastoma cells were treated with increasing concentrations of bee venom. Then, cell viability, apoptosis, matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity were measured using MMT assay, propidium iodide staining, real time-PCR, and zymography, respectively. The IC50 value of bee venom was 28.5 µg/ml in which it leads to decrease of cell viability and induction of apoptosis. Incubation with bee venom also decreased the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in this cell line (p < 0.05). In zymography, there was a reverse correlation between bee venom concentration and total matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity. Induction of apoptosis as well as inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity and expression can be suggested as molecular mechanisms involved in cytotoxic and antimetastatic effects of bee venom against glioblastoma cells.

Abstract Aims The aim of the study was to determine the effect of hydrogen peroxide (HP) mouthwash on the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods This was a randomized clinical trial conducted on 68 patients. The intervention group used 3% HP as mouthwash and the control group used mouthwashes with 0.9% normal saline (NS) twice a day. Data were collected using a questionnaire and the Modified Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score (MCPIS). MCPIS includes five items, body temperature: white blood cell count, pulmonary secretions, the ratio of pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) to fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2), and the chest X-ray. Each of these items scored 0–2. Scores ≥6 were considered as VAP signs. The SPSS-20 software was employed to analyze the data. Results In total, 14.7% patients of the HP group and 38.2% patients of the NS group contracted VAP. The risk of VAP in the NS group was 2.60 times greater than that in the HP group (RR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.04–6.49, p = 0.0279). The mean ± SD MCPIS was calculated as 3.91 ± 1.35 in the HP group and 4.65 ± 1.55 in the NS group, a difference statistically significant (p = 0.042). There were no significant differences in the risk factors for VAP between the two groups. Conclusion HP mouthwash was found more effective than NS in reducing VAP. HP mouthwash can therefore be used in routine nursing care for reducing VAP.

O trabalho mostra a atuação de nanopartículas de nitreto de alumínio em presença da água agindo como a fonte geradora de amônia, empregada na preparação de 1,4-diidropiridinas e bis-(1,4-diidropiridinas). Um procedimento eficiente e simples, "one-pot", é apresentado para síntese de 1,4-diidropiridina e dos derivados de bis-(1,4-diidropiridina), obtidos pela reação do acetoacetato de metila ou acetoacetato de etila com os aldeídos ou dialdeídos e nitreto de alumínio em água a 80 ºC, com elevada pureza e com bons rendimentos

Nano aluminium nitride in the presence of water acts as solid source of ammonia, which is used for the preparation of 1,4-dihydropyridines and bis-(1,4-dihydropyridines). An efficient and simple procedure for the one-pot synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridine and bis-(1,4-dihydropyridine) derivatives was achieved by combination of methyl acetoacetate or ethyl acetoacetate with aldehydes or dialdehydes and aluminium nitride at 80 ºC in water in high purity and good yields

A oxidação catalítica geral e sem o uso de metais, de sulfetos alifáticos e aromáticos aos seus sulfóxidos correspondentes via combinação de nitrato de amônio (NH4NO3), hidrogenossulfato de amônio suportado em sílica gel (NH4HSO4-SiO2) e uma quantidade catalítica de brometo de amônio (NH4Br) na presença de SiO2 aquoso (50%, m/m) foi investigada. As reações ocorreram em meio heterogêneo e seletivamente em curtos tempos de reação, em CH2Cl2 a temperatura ambiente. Este procedimento é simples e eficiente comparado a outros métodos relatados.

A general and metal-free catalytic oxidation of aliphatic and aromatic sulfides to their corresponding sulfoxides via combination of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), supported ammonium hydrogen sulfate on silica gel (NH4HSO4-SiO2) and a catalytic amount of ammonium bromide (NH4Br) in the presence of wet SiO2 (50%, w/w) has been investigated. The reactions were carried out heterogeneously and selectively in short reaction times in CH2Cl2 at room temperature. This protocol is mild and efficient compared to other reported methods.

A simple, rapid and efficient microwave-assisted procedure for the formylation of aniline derivatives and alcohols, using a heterogeneous (HCOOH/SiO2) system under solvent-free conditions is reported. The method is applied to a set of amines, alcohols and thiols and short reaction times (<10 min) with high yields are reported. This protocol introduces a practical and viable green technology of solvent-free and catalyst-free reactions.