Novel ZIF-8/CNC Nanohybrid with an Interconnected Structure: Toward a Sustainable Adsorbent for Efficient Removal of Cd(II) Ions.

Water pollution, especially by heavy metals, continues to pose significant challenges, emphasizing the urgency to develop sustainable processes to remove pollutants while developing sustainable materials derived from renewable sources. In the present research, a nanoscale adsorbent was prepared to remove cadmium (Cd(II)) ions from wastewater by hybridizing zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) with a cellulose nanocrystal (CNC). The prepared nanohybrid exhibited an interconnected structure in which the ZIF-8 particles were connected to each other via CNC nanoneedles. The hybridization of ZIF-8 with CNC caused a significant enhancement in the adsorption performance of the fabricated nanohybrid compared to pure ZIF-8, increasing its adsorption capacity by nearly 36%. The adsorption of ZIF/CNC followed the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudo-second-order kinetics models, remarking homogeneous adsorption onto the surface of ZIF/CNC, where chemisorption controlled the rate of adsorption. The thermodynamic study uncovered that the adsorption is spontaneous, endothermic, and entropy-governed as the randomness was increased at the solid-liquid interface. Additionally, the influence of operating variables, such as temperature, adsorbent dosage, pH, and ionic strength, was studied to mimic the adsorption capabilities of the adsorbent in real conditions. Accordingly, the optimum conditions were found to be at 45 °C and pH = 7 with a dosage of 0.4 g/L for the adsorbent. Moreover, the adsorption in a multimetal solution showed that the ZIF/CNC nanohybrid can remove various heavy metals, including Cd(II), Fe(III), Cu(II), and Pb(II) ions simultaneously. Finally, the regeneration study confirmed the great potential of the ZIF/CNC nanohybrid, which retained 94% of its initial adsorption capacity after 5 consecutive adsorption/desorption cycles.

Green Synthesis of Cerium-Based Metal-Organic Framework (Ce-UiO-66 MOF) for Wastewater Treatment.

Green synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in aqueous solutions under ambient conditions with reduced production costs and environmental effects is an efficient technique to transfer lab-scale production to industrial large scale. Hence, this work proposes a green, low-cost, sustainable, rapid, and innovative synthetic strategy to produce cerium-based (Ce-UiO-66) MOFs under ambient conditions in the presence of water as a green solvent. This synthetic strategy exhibits great potential compared to conventional solvothermal synthetic techniques, and it does not need external activation energy and organic solvents, which can achieve the standards of green chemistry. Ce-UiO-66 MOF was synthesized successfully and utilized as a green adsorbent to efficiently eliminate anionic Congo Red (CR) dye from dye-containing wastewater. The experimental adsorption results were well matched to the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models, in which the maximum CR adsorption capacity was measured to be about 285.71 mg/g. To evidence the applicability of Ce-UiO-66 MOFs in CR adsorption, the CR adsorption reaction was performed in the presence of interfering pollutants [e.g., salts (NaCl, KCl, and MgCl2) and cationic organic dyes (Malachite Green (MG) and Methylene Blue (MB)], where the results prove the promising adsorption performances of Ce-UiO-66 MOFs toward CR dye. Interestingly, the synthesized adsorbent exhibited high structural stability during repeated adsorption-desorption cycles, where the surface area of MOFs decreased from 555 to 376 m2/g after three cycles, while its CR adsorption capacity decreased by only 10% compared to that of the fresh adsorbent. All these outstanding properties indicate that the Ce-UiO-66 MOFs will be an effective adsorbent for water and wastewater treatment applications.

Efficient removal of organic dyes using electrospun nanofibers with Ce-based UiO-66 MOFs.

Cerium-based UiO-66 (Ce-UiO-66) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were synthesized via a facile solvothermal method and fully characterized using FTIR, XRD, BET, SEM, EDX, and zeta potential techniques. The synthesized Ce-UiO-66 particles were embedded into an electrospun cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/chitosan (CTS) nanofiber (EPCNF), and then employed to remove organic dyes from water. The adsorption results demonstrated that the adsorption capacities of both anionic (Congo Red (CR), Methyl Orange (MO) and Methyl Red (MR)) and cationic (Methylene Blue (MB)) dyes over the fabricated electrospun nanofibers (ENFs) increased with increasing the loadings of Ce-UiO-66 MOFs. Accordingly, the adsorption performance of EPCNF-10 (containing 10 wt% of Ce-UiO-66 MOFs) adsorbent toward these organic dyes is in the order of CR (102.04 mg/g) > MO (87.71 mg/g) > MR (65.35 mg/g) > MB (34.24 mg/g). Moreover, it was found that the Freundlich isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model were appropriate for describing the adsorption behaviors of EPCNF-10 adsorbent toward both anionic and cationic dyes. Thus, it can be proposed that the fabricated EPCNF-10 adsorbent would be effective adsorbent materials for the removal of anionic and cationic dyes from water due to its excellent adsorption performance, facile preparation, good regeneration, and simple separation from aqueous solutions.

Magnetic Nitrogen-Rich UiO-66 Metal-Organic Framework: An Efficient Adsorbent for Water Treatment.

The postsynthetic modification of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has opened up a promising area to widen their water treatment application. However, their polycrystalline powdery state still restricts their widespread industrial-scale applications. Herein, the magnetization of UiO-66-NH2 is reported as a promising approach to facilitate the separation of the used MOFs after water treatment. A two-step postmodification procedure employing 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine (TCT) and 5-phenyl-1H-tetrazole (PTZ) agents was introduced to level up the adsorption performance of the magnetic nanocomposite. Despite a decrement in porosity and specific surface area of the designed MOFs (m-UiO-66-TCT) compared to neat UiO-66-NH2, it outweighs in adsorption capacity. It was observed that m-UiO-66-TCT has an adsorption capacity of ≈298 mg/g for methyl orange (MO) with facile MOF separation using an external magnet. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm models suitably interpret the experimental data. Thermodynamic studies showed that MO removal using m-UiO-66-TCT is spontaneous and thermodynamically favorable at higher temperatures. The m-UiO-66-TCT composite exhibited easy separation, high adsorption capacity, and good recyclability, rendering it an attractive candidate for the adsorptive removal of MO dye from aqueous environments.

Metal-organic frameworks: A promising option for the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Beta-amyloid (Aß) peptide is one of the main characteristic biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous clinical investigations have proposed that unusual concentrations of this biomarker in cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and brain tissue are closely associated with the AD progression. Therefore, the critical point of early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of AD is to monitor the levels of Aß. In view of the potential of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for diagnosing and treating the AD, much attention has been focused in recent years. This review discusses the latest advances in the applications of MOFs for the early diagnosis of AD via fluorescence and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection of AD biomarkers, fluorescence detection of the main metal ions in the brain (Zn2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Fe3+, and Al3+) in addition to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the Aß plaques. The current challenges and future strategies for translating the in vitro applications of MOFs into in vivo diagnosis of the AD are discussed.

Efficient removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous media by unmodified and modified nanodiamonds.

This article deals with the adsorption performances of the unmodified nanodiamond (ND) and thermally oxidized nanodiamond (Ox-ND) for the removal of different heavy metal ions such as Fe (III), Cu (II), Cr (VI), and Cd (II) from wastewater. The adsorption capacities of the ions onto adsorbents are higher and follow the order: Ox-ND-3 > Ox-ND-1.5 > ND, which is consistent with their surface areas, zeta potentials, and the presence of carboxyl groups, suggesting that electrostatic attractions between the positive metal ions and the negatively charged adsorbents are the predominant adsorption mechanisms. Adsorption capacities of these adsorbents were found to be 26.8, 31.3, and 45.7 mg/g for Fe (III), 25.2, 30.5, and 44.5 mg/g for Cu (II), 33.6, 44.1, and 55.9 mg/g for Cr (VI), and 40.9, 52.9, and 67.9 mg/g for Cd (II) over ND, Ox-ND-1.5, and Ox-ND-3, respectively. The impact of various operating parameters such as agitation time, initial metal ion concentration, temperature, pH solution, adsorbent dosage, and coexistence of the metal ions on the adsorption performance of Ox-ND-3 towards Cd (II) ions along with the batch adsorption experiments were performed. The equilibrium was reached in 120 min and adsorption data were fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic as well as the Freundlich isotherm models. Adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic, while the maximum removal efficiency of Cd (II) ions occurred at pH of 6.9 and at 4 g/L dosage. These findings demonstrated that thermally oxidized nanodiamond (Ox-ND) can be a versatile adsorbent to remove the Cd (II) ions from wastewater.

Fe3O4@PAA@UiO-66-NH2 magnetic nanocomposite for selective adsorption of Quercetin.

In the present study, a magnetic core-shell metal-organic framework (Fe3O4@PAA@UiO-66-NH2) nanocomposite was synthesized by a facile step-by-step self-assembly technique and used for selective adsorption of the anti-cancer Quercetin (QCT) drug. The synthesized nanocomposite was well characterized using FTIR, XRD, BET, FESEM, and TEM techniques. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms of the magnetic nanocomposites for QCT were investigated in detail at different initial concentrations and temperatures. It was found that the experimental adsorption kinetic and isotherm data were precisely explained by the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. Moreover, the selective adsorption ability of the synthesized nanocomposite against various drugs in the single, binary, and ternary solutions containing QCT, Curcumin (CUR), and Methotrexate (MTX) drugs was also studied. The synthesized adsorbent showed good adsorption selectivity for QCT against CUR and MTX. The adsorption mechanism of QCT on the nanocomposite might be related to the hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic-hydrophobic interactions via π-π stacking interactions between the benzene ring skeleton of QCT and the aromatic structure of the adsorbent nanoparticles. The regeneration and reusability studies demonstrated that the developed adsorbent sustained good structural stability and adequate adsorption capacity for QCT after ten consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles.

Aluminum-based metal-organic frameworks for adsorptive removal of anti-cancer (methotrexate) drug from aqueous solutions.

A series of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) based on aluminum-benzene dicarboxylates (MIL-53, NH2-MIL-53, and NH2-MIL-101) at different ratios have been synthesized, and their adsorption performances for methotrexate (MTX), an anti-cancer drug, have been investigated in terms of adsorption kinetics, isotherms, solution pH, thermodynamics, mechanism, and recyclability. Maximum adsorption values of 374.97, 387.82, and 457.69 mg/g were observed for MIL-53, NH2-MIL-53, and NH2-MIL-101 , respectively. Our study shows that adsorption capacity of MTX depends not only on surface area and pore volume but also on the zeta potential and the presence of suitable functional groups. Higher adsorption of NH2-MIL-101 observed for MTX than the other synthesized MOFs may be attributed to its large surface area, large total pore volume, high positive zeta potential, and polar amino functional groups located on its surface, which are responsible for its increased interactions with MTX molecules. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics of MTX onto NH2-MIL-101 followed the Langmuir and pseudo-second-order kinetic equations. Thermodynamic data suggest that adsorption of MTX onto NH2-MIL-101 is spontaneous and exothermic, while the adsorption mechanism is governed by electrostatic interactions, π-π stacking interactions, and H-bonding. Regeneration and recyclability of NH2-MIL-101 were also investigated by washing with ethanol to observe its decreased adsorption performance towards MTX. It was slightly decreased after seven adsorption-desorption cycles, indicating excellent regeneration and good structural stability under the chosen experimental conditions.

Ethylenediamine-functionalized Zr-based MOF for efficient removal of heavy metal ions from water.

Ethylenediamine-functionalized Zr-based metal-organic framework (MOF, UiO-66-EDA) was prepared via Michael addition reaction to investigate its potential for adsorption of heavy metal ions from water. Specifically, the influence of agitation time, solution pH, the dosage of the adsorbent, initial metal ion concentration, temperature, and coexistence of other metal ions was investigated on the removal efficiency of UiO-66-EDA towards Pb(II), Cd(II), and Cu(II) metal ions. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model governed the adsorption of these ions onto the UiO-66-EDA. Langmuir isotherm model matched the experimental isotherm of adsorption with a maximum adsorption capacity of 243.90, 217.39, and 208.33 mg/g for Pb, Cd, and Cu ions, respectively. The adsorption of Pb, Cd, and Cu ions onto UiO-66-EDA was dependent on electron exchange, electron sharing, electrostatic and covalent interactions between the metal ions as well as the abundant functional groups on UiO-66-EDA surface. Thermodynamic parameters such as free energy changes (ΔG), standard enthalpy changes (ΔH), and standard entropy changes (ΔS) were calculated, which revealed spontaneous and endothermic nature of the adsorption process. The UiO-66-EDA was stable and recyclable during adsorption studies of Pb, Cd, and Cu ions, suggesting its potentiality as an adsorbent for heavy metals recovery.

Impact of scale, activation solvents, and aged conditions on gas adsorption properties of UiO-66.

This work reports on the potential application of UiO-66 in gas sweetening and its structural stability against water, air, dimethylformamide (DMF), and chloroform. The UiO-66 nanoparticles were solvothermally synthesized at different scales and activated via solvent exchange technique using chloroform, methanol, and ethanol. Thus prepared and aged MOFs were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis. The chloroform-activated MOF showed the largest surface area among all activation solvents, and presented high uptakes of 8.8 and 4.3 mmol/g for CO2 and CH4, respectively, at 298 K and 30 bar. This might be due to removing all unreacted organic ligands and DMF molecules from the pores of the framework. The UiO-66 nanoparticles are stable at the experimental conditions with no significant loss in crystalline structure and gas adsorption ability even after aging under different conditions for one year. The UiO-66 could be easily regenerated at 373 K with no observed significant reduction in gas uptakes even after five consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles. The present findings suggest the excellent potential of the UiO-66-derived MOFs as the promising materials for CO2/CH4 separation at low pressures and results can be applied in practical natural gas sweetening.

Ultrafast and simultaneous removal of anionic and cationic dyes by nanodiamond/UiO-66 hybrid nanocomposite.

In this research, UiO-66 and its composite nanoparticles with thermally oxidized nanodiamond (OND) were synthesized via a simple solvothermal method and utilized as solid adsorbent for the removal of anionic methyl red (MR) dye and cationic malachite green (MG) dye from contaminated water. The synthesized adsorbents were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), N2 adsorption-desorption, and zeta potential analyzer. The influences of various factors such as initial concentrations of the dyes, adsorption process time, solution pH, solution temperature and ionic strength on adsorption behavior of MR dye onto OND-UiO hybrid nanoparticle were investigated. The adsorption of MR onto OND-UiO hybrid nanoparticle could be well described by Langmuir isotherm model. Meanwhile, pseudo-second order kinetic model was found to be suitable for illustration of adsorption kinetics of MR onto OND-UiO. Thermodynamic investigation suggested that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic, and controlled by an entropy change instead of enthalpy effect. The experimental adsorption results indicated that OND-UiO hybrid nanoparticle could simultaneously adsorb 59% of MR and 43% of MG from the mixture of both dyes in only 2 min showing synergistic effect compared with single UiO-66 and OND nanoparticles in terms of adsorption rate and removal capacity of anionic dyes. The appropriate removal efficiency, rapid adsorption kinetic, high water stability, and good reusability make OND-UiO hybrid nanoparticle attractive candidate for simultaneously removal of both anionic MR and cationic MG dyes from wastewater.

Amino-silane-grafted NH2-MIL-53(Al)/polyethersulfone mixed matrix membranes for CO2/CH4 separation.

Mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) are promising candidates for carbon dioxide separation. However, their application is limited due to improper dispersion of fillers within the polymer matrix, poor interaction of fillers with polymer chains, and formation of defects and micro-voids at the interface of both phases, which all result in the decline of the gas separation performance of MMMs. In this work, we present a new method to overcome these challenges. To this end, a series of MMMs based on polyethersulfone (PES) as the continuous polymer matrix and MIL-53-derived MOFs as the dispersed filler were prepared. FTIR-ATR, XRD, TGA, FESEM, and N2 adsorption/desorption analyses were employed to characterize the structural properties of the synthesized nanoparticles. The obtained results indicated that 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) molecules were successfully attached onto the surface of NH2-MIL-53(Al). Morphological characterization by FESEM and energy dispersive X-ray mapping (EDX) showed that desirable distribution within the whole membrane thickness, suitable nanoscale dispersion, and excellent interface were achieved by using amino-silane-grafted NH2-MIL-53(Al) (A-MIL-53(Al)) nanoparticles. The permeation results indicated that the permeability of two gases and the ideal CO2/CH4 selectivity enhanced by increasing the concentration of MOFs. In particular, comparing the experimental gas separation results of A-MMM-10 with those of pure PES membrane showed an 84% increase in the CO2 permeability and a 70% increase in CO2/CH4 selectivity. These results suggest that post-synthetic modification of MOF nanoparticles and strong interfacial adhesion between functionalized nanoparticles and polymer matrix could be a useful method to eliminate interfacial voids and improve gas separation efficiency.

Mixed-Matrix Composite Membranes Based on UiO-66-Derived MOFs for CO2 Separation.

We demonstrated a novel mixed-matrix composite membrane (MMCM) based on acrylated polyurethane (APU) and UiO-66 nanoparticles to separate CO2/N2 mixture. UiO-66 and functionalized UiO-66 including NH2-UiO-66 and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)-UiO-66 were loaded into APU/2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (APUH) matrix at variable concentrations between 3 and 30 wt %. APUH/GMA-UiO-66 MMCMs exhibited strong adhesion with a support layer of polyester/polysulfone, which was not deteriorated after immersion in water for a long time (20 days). Incorporation of UiO-66 and its functionalized forms increased simultaneously permeability and CO2/N2 selectivity, which were indeed superior in comparison with those of MMCMs reported previously. GMA-UiO-66-filled MMCM displayed a CO2 permeance of 14.5 Barrer and a CO2/N2 selectivity of 53 at a critical concentration (25 wt %). This attractive separation performance of APUH/UiO-66 offered an exciting platform for the development of composite membranes for sustainable CO2 separations.

Prevalence of Chronic Constipation and Its Associated Factors in Pars Cohort Study: A Study of 9000 Adults in Southern Iran.

BACKGROUND Chronic constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders. It has negative effects on the patients' quality of life, and their productivity, and results in a high economic burden on the healthcare services. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic constipation and its associated factors in pars cohort study (PCS). METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on the baseline data of the PCS. Data gathering was done by structured questionnaire and physical examination. A total of 9264 subjects aged between 40 and 75 years were enrolled in the PCS. Diagnosis of chronic constipation was done using Rome IV criteria. Multivariable binary logistic regression was applied for data analysis. RESULTS A total of 752 (8.1%) participants were diagnosed as having chronic constipation (9.3% of female and 6.7% of male participants). Older age (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.31-1.83), physical activity (OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.46-0.68), opium consumption (OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.63-2.60) , anxiety (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.15-1.65), depression (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01-1.48), back pain or arthralgia (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.14-1.67), insomnia (OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.36-1.93) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.28-1.78) were associated with the prevalence of constipation in the multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION Chronic constipation was a common problem in the PCS population. Decreasing modifiable risk factors associated with constipation such as opium consumption and physical inactivity can reduce its prevalence and decrease burden of the disease.

Rapid and tunable selective adsorption of dyes using thermally oxidized nanodiamond.

In the present study, capability of nanodiamond (ND) for the adsorption of anionic (methyl orange, MO) and cationic (methylene blue, MB) dyes from aqueous solution was investigated. Employing fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Boehm titration method and zeta potential, it was found that the simple thermal oxidation of ND at 425 °C, increased the content of carboxylic acid of ND and accordingly the zeta potential of ND decreased considerably. Therefore, a series of oxidized NDs (OND) at various oxidation times and as-received untreated ND (UND) was used as adsorbents of MO and MB. The adsorption experiments exhibited that UND had large adsorption capacity, very fast adsorption kinetics and excellent selectivity for MO over MB. These results suggested that the adsorption tendency of UND toward anionic MO dye followed not only by electrostatic interactions but also via the chemical interaction caused by the strong hydrogen bond between the sulfonate groups of MO and the oxygen containing groups on the surface of UND. In contrast, ONDs exhibited higher adsorption capacity for cationic MB whose tendency toward MB increased by increasing the thermal oxidation time due to the promotion of the negative charge on the surface of OND leading to the higher electrostatic attraction. The adsorption rate of MB on ONDs was also very high. Kinetics data was well fitted with the pseudo- second-order model for most of the adsorbents. The adsorption selectivity analysis revealed that ONDs displayed more adsorption capacity for MB compared with MO which was also attributed to high electrostatic interactions of cationic dye with negative charges of ONDs. Finally, the release behavior of NDs was also demonstrated after soaking in ethanol and acetone.

Efficacy of life skills training on subjective well-being of students: a report from rafsanjan, iran.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the efficacy of life skills training on subjective well-being (SWB) among high school females. METHODS: The population study comprised all female high school of Rafsanjan, Iran, in 2008-2009. Thirty students with the lowest scores according to the Molavi's SWB questionnaire were considered eligible. At the next stage, the required sample of 30 students were selected randomly and divided into two groups of experimental (15 subjects) and control (15 subjects). Then, life skills training sessions were started for the experimental group (eight sessions in a 4-week period). Control group did not receive any intervention. The method of data processing at a descriptive level was through using central tendency indicators, dispersion, frequency, and percentage. Student's t-test was used for analysis of independent variables. RESULTS: The greatest R(2) (0.48) was observed for SWB. The R(2) coefficients for neurosis, stress-depression, vitality, and life determination were 0.27, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.09, respectively. CONCLUSION: Life skills training showed the greatest effect regarding SWB of the students.

Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the screen for child anxiety-related emotional disorders (SCARED).

The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Persian translation of the Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders-child version (SCARED-C) in a community sample of 557 children, aged 9-13 years, in the city of Isfahan, Iran. In addition to the SCARED-C, all the participants completed the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS) and the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). The SCARED-C demonstrated moderate to high internal consistency (alpha=0.59-0.80) and good convergent and divergent validity. The one-factor and the five-factor model of the SCARED-C fitted the data moderately. However, the five-factor model had a significantly better fit than the one-factor model (Δχ(2)=287.346, df=10, P<.001). These findings showed that SCARED-C can be used as a reliable and valid measure of anxiety symptoms among children in Iran.

Metacognitive therapy for body dysmorphic disorder patients in Iran: acceptability and proof of concept.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of metacognitive therapy (MCT) on symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and on symptoms of thought-fusion, by means of a wait-list controlled clinical trial. Participants were referred from dermatology and cosmetic surgery clinics in the city of Isfahan, Iran, and 20 patients were selected on the basis of DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for BDD. They were randomly assigned to either the experimental or the wait-list control group. The Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale Modified for Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD-YBOCS) and the Thought-Fusion Inventory (TFI) were used as the outcome measures. The experimental group received 8 weekly metacognitive intervention sessions. The control group was in the waiting-list until the end of the follow-up. Measures were taken at pre-test, post-test (after 2 months) and follow-up (after 6-months). The results of analysis of variance showed that MCT significantly reduced the symptoms of BDD and of thought-fusion, compared to the wait-list. Effects on both outcome measures were maintained at 6-months follow-up.

Personality dimensions and type D personality in female patients with ulcerative colitis.

AIM: Psychological factors such as personality traits may affect the adjustment capacity and Quality of Life (QOL) in Ulcerative Colitis (UC) patients. Type D personality has some similarities with general personality traits of UC patients. The aims of this study were to compare NEO personality profile and type D personality between healthy normal group and UC patients; and to determine the possible relationship between type D personality and QOL in UC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample of study comprised of 58 UC patients and 59 healthy control subjects (from their family members). All participants were requested to fill out NEO-FFI, Type D personality (Ds14) Scale and WHO-Quality of Life Questionnaire. RESULTS: The findings indicated that UC patients scored higher in neuroticism (P<0/01); lower in extraversion (P<0/01) and openness (P<0/05) than healthy controls but their differentiation were not significant in agreeableness and conscientiousness. The findings showed that 59% of UC patients and 33% of the control subjects had type D personality; and the differences in frequency of type D between the two groups were significant (P<0/05). The mean QOL scores of type D personality in UC patients was significantly lower than patients without type D personality (F= 7/55, P<0/01). Type D personality could better predict QOL of UC patients than NEO dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: Differences were observed between UC patients and their healthy family members, in terms of personality factors. Type D personality may be regarded as an important factor that may bring about some adverse effects in QOL among UC patients.

Cognitive impairments in patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment associated with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) has been recognized in multiple studies. We designed this study to find a specific cognitive profile in patients with TLE who were candidates for epilepsy surgery. We also sought to find if neuropsychological assessment could differentiate left TLE, right TLE and normal subjects. METHODS: The sample of this study consisted of 29 patients with right TLE, 31 with left TLE, and 32 subjects without history of seizure as the control group. For all recruited patients and controls, demographic questionnaire, Wechsler Memory Scale-III (WMS-III) and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-R (WAIS-R) were administered. Multivariate analysis of variance was carried out to reveal differences in memory and intelligence performance between the three groups. RESULTS: All of the mean scores of the WMS-III indexes were significantly higher in the control group in comparison with the right or the left TLE groups (p < 0.001). There were not any significant differences between mean scores of WMS-III indexes of the right and the left. The WAIS-R also showed significantly better mean scores of full scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) and performance intelligence quotient (PIQ) in the control groups than both of the right and left TLE patients (p < 0.001). Although the verbal intelligence quotient (VIQ) mean scores were significantly different between the left TLE and the control group (p = 0.037), there were not any significant differences between the right TLE patients and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicated that WMS-III and WAIS-R can differentiate patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy from normal subjects. However, the obtained cognitive profile could not differentiate between the right and the left TLE.