Surface Energy and Wetting Behavior of Dolomite in the Presence of Carboxylic Acid-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents.

This study endeavors to apply experimental and theoretical analyses to assess the viability of wettability alteration for two carboxylic acid-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs). To prepare these chemicals, oxalic acid and citric acid were used as hydrogen bond donors mixed with choline chloride as the hydrogen bond acceptor in an equimolar ratio. In the theoretical part, dolomite and crude oil were characterized using a three-phase setup. Then, the adhesion propensity of brines/crude oil toward dolomite was evaluated by calculating the work of adhesion. Contact angle and interfacial tension measurements were conducted in the experimental part to investigate the impact of chemicals on brine-crude oil and brine-rock interactions. Results revealed that the oxalic acid-based DES outperformed the citric acid-based DES in terms of interfacial tension reduction. In addition, choline chloride/oxalic acid (1:1) could effectively restore the wettability of the dolomite sample to its original state with a wettability alteration index of 82%. Theoretical calculations also confirmed the wettability alteration potential of DESs. Finally, a correlation was proposed to predict the contact angle of brine on the dolomite surface in the presence of crude oil using surface-energy components of brine, crude oil, and dolomite.

Laser angioplasty of restenosed coronary stents: results of a multicenter surveillance trial. The Laser Angioplasty of Restenosed Stents (LARS) Investigators.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated safety and efficacy of excimer laser angioplasty for treatment of restenosed or occluded coronary stents. BACKGROUND: Balloon angioplasty of in-stent restenosis is limited by a high recurrence rate. Debulking by laser angioplasty is a novel concept to treat in-stent restenosis. METHODS: A total of 440 patients with restenoses or occlusions in 527 stents were enrolled for treatment with concentric or eccentric laser catheters and adjunctive balloon angioplasty. RESULTS: Laser angioplasty success (< or =50% diameter stenosis after laser treatment or successful passage with a 2.0-mm or 1.7-mm eccentric laser catheter) was achieved in 92% of patients. Adjunctive balloon angioplasty was performed in 99%. Procedural success (laser angioplasty success followed by < or =30% stenosis with or without balloon angioplasty) was 91%. There was neither a significant difference in success with respect to lesion length, nor were there differences between small and large vessels or native vessels and vein grafts. Success was higher and residual stenosis lower using large or eccentric catheters. Serious adverse events included death (1.6%, not directly laser catheter related), Q-wave myocardial infarction (0.5%), non-Q-wave infarction (2.7%), cardiac tamponade (0.5%) and stent damage (0.5%). Perforations after laser treatment occurred in 0.9% of patients and after balloon angioplasty in 0.2%. Dissections were visible in 4.8% of patients after laser treatment and in 9.3% after balloon angioplasty. Reinterventions during hospitalization were necessary in 0.9% of patients; bypass surgery was performed in 0.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Excimer laser angioplasty with adjunctive balloon angioplasty is a safe and efficient technology to treat in-stent restenoses. These data justify a randomized comparison with balloon angioplasty.

Analyzing the therapeutic effects of short wrist splint in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) under ibuprofen treatment from an EMG-NCV perspective.

Objective: Carpal tunnel symptoms are typical outside nerve involvement and a significant reason of inability. This syndrome often causes weakness and pain in the affected hand. Therefore, the researchers decided to perform a study that aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Wrist Splint (short wrist splint) in patients admitted to the neurology clinic of Vali Asr Hospital of Birjand with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) under ibuprofen treatment from an EMG-NCV perspective. Methods: This clinical trial was performed on patients admitted to the neurology clinic of Vali Asr Hospital during the spring and summer of 2013. The participants of the study were classified into two teams. The initial team of cases went under medical treatment with ibuprofen (800 mg BID for 4-6 weeks) and the second group of patients went under medical care with ibuprofen (800 mg BID for 4-6 weeks) with a short wrist splint. Results: 40 cases participated in the research. The mean age of participants was 32/ 75 ± 4/ 33 years (range 20 to 48 years), respectively. Most of the participants were females (n = 30, 75% respectively). The mean score, latency and velocity between the two groups were mainly distinct (respectively p = 0.05, 0.001, and 0.003). There were significant differences between amplitude before the start of the study (p = 0.000) among the participants. Discussion: The results showed that patients treated with ibuprofen and wrist splint along the para-clinics presented a better response to treatment.

Evaluation of the effect of a single dose of tinidazole (Fasigyn) in giardiasis.

The effect of tinidazole in a single dose in the treatment of giardiasis has been evaluated in 165 cases, found in 5 villages in Kazeroon, Southern Iran. A reduction of 94.5 per cent in the positive stool tests in treated cases was obtained, while this reduction was only 10 per cent in 30 control cases. No side-effect has been observed in 87 per cent of treated cases and side reactions in the remaining cases were mild and transient.

Enhanced susceptibility to oxidation and diminished vitamin E content of LDL from patients with stable coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Convincing evidence points to oxidative modification of LDL as an important trigger in a complex chain of events leading to atherosclerosis. We investigated the occurrence of enhanced susceptibility of LDL to oxidation and decreased vitamin E concentration in LDL as additional risk factors promoting atherosclerosis among patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: We examined 132 patients with angiographically confirmed CAD and compared them with 111 healthy control individuals. We measured conjugated diene production to assess susceptibility of LDL to copper-mediated oxidation. Vitamin E content of LDL was measured by HPLC. RESULTS: The mean lag time of LDL oxidation and LDL alpha-tocopherol/LDL-cholesterol ratio were lower in the patients with CAD (55 +/- 14 min and 2.4 +/- 1.0 mmol/mmol) than in the controls (63 +/- 13 min and 2.9 +/- 1.1 mmol/mmol; P <0.0001 and <0.001, respectively). Multiple stepwise regression analysis demonstrated the lag time (odds ratio, 1.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-2.87; P <0.0001) and concentration of vitamin E in LDL (odds ratio, 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-2.33; P <0.005) as independent determinants of CAD. Significant inverse Spearman rank correlations were found between lag time (r = -0.285; P <0.001) or concentration of vitamin E in LDL (r = -0.197; P <0.002) and severity of CAD. Lag times were not significantly correlated with serum C-reactive protein or ferritin. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that a short LDL oxidation lag time and a low concentration of vitamin E in LDL might be independent coronary risk factors for stable CAD in Iranian people.

Circulating ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, P-selectin, and TNFalphaRII in patients with coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between the serum concentration of TNFalphaRII and some adhesion molecules (including ICAM-1, VCAM-1, P-selectin and E-selectin) and coronary artery stenosis. DESIGN AND SETTING: Observational (cross-sectional) study in a university heart hospital in Tehran, Iran. PATIENTS: 81 patients with angiographically proven coronary artery disease were compared with 75 individuals who had undergone coronary angiography with no significant evidence of stenosis (control subjects). METHODS: Soluble adhesion molecules and TNFalphaRII were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. sICAM-1 and sP-selectin values were significantly higher in patients with coronary artery disease than in control subjects (146 +/- 38 vs. 132 +/- 48 p < 0.04 and 275 +/- 107 vs. 241 +/- 104 ng/ml p < 0.04 respectively). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed sICAM-1 as an independent discriminating risk factor for coronary artery disease (p < 0.03). Prediction models that incorporated sICAM-1 in addition to other established coronary risk factors were significantly better at predicting risk than the models based on the other risk factors alone. Multiple regression analysis indicated that sP-selectin levels were greater in patients with single-vessel disease than in the respective normal (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that sICAM-1 has an association with stable coronary artery disease and the evaluation of this marker may improve the coronary risk assessment in Iranian patients.

Circulating ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, P-selectin, and TNFRII in patients with coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between the serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFRII) and some adhesion molecules [including intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), P-Selectin, and E-Selectin] and coronary artery stenosis. DESIGN AND SETTING: Observational (cross-sectional) study in a University Heart Hospital in Tehran, Iran. PATIENTS: 75 patients with angiographically proven coronary artery disease were compared with 81 individuals who had undergone coronary angiography with no significant evidence of stenosis (control subjects). METHODS: Soluble adhesion molecules and TNFRII were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. sICAM-1 and sP-selectin values were significantly higher in patients with coronary artery disease than in control subjects [146(38) vs. 132(48) p < 0.04 and 275(107) vs. 241(104) ng/ml p < 0.04 respectively]. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed sICAM-1 an independent discriminating risk factor for coronary artery disease (p < 0.03). Prediction models that incorporated sICAM-1 in addition to other established coronary risk factors were significantly better at predicting risk than the models based on the other risk factors alone. Multiple regression analysis indicated that sP-selectin levels were greater in patients with single-vessel disease than in the respective normal (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that sICAM-1 has an association with s1 coronary artery disease as such; the evaluation of this marker may improve the coronary risk assessment in Iranian patients.

Association of increased ferritin with premature coronary stenosis in men.

BACKGROUND: Body iron status has been implicated in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The main hypothesis is that high iron status is associated with increased oxidation of LDL. We investigated the potential role of ferritin as an additional risk factor promoting atherosclerosis among a young population with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Four hundred consecutive patients (218 males, 182 females) referred for diagnostic coronary angiography were examined, and risk factors for CAD, lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP), and ferritin concentrations were recorded for all participants. RESULTS: Ferritin was higher in the male patients with CAD (121 microg/L; range, 56-258 microg/L) than in the men without significant CAD (73 microg/L; range, 32-138 microg/L; P <0.002). Multiple logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for the established coronary risk factors, showed ferritin as an independent discriminating risk factor for CAD (P <0.01). Men in the highest quartile of ferritin had an odds ratio (OR) of 1.62 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.12-2.42; P <0.01] compared with men in the lowest quartile of ferritin. The association between ferritin and CAD was more pronounced in male patients < or =50 years (OR = 2.65; 95% CI, 1.35-5.51; P <0.003). Ferritin was significantly higher in diabetic male patients in comparison with nondiabetic male patients [168 microg/L (range, 74-406 microg/L) vs 106 microg/L (range, 44-221 microg/L), respectively; P <0.002]. No association was observed between ferritin and CAD among the female patients. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that increased ferritin might be an independent predictor of premature CAD in male Iranian patients.

Search for a mass chemotherapeutic drug for cholera control. A study of Vibrio excretion following single and multiple dose treatment.

In a study designed to seek a suitable drug for mass chemotherapy during a cholera epidemic, four drugs were administered in single doses to patients with cholera in Iran. Streptomycin was administered orally; penicillin, parenterally; and chloramphenicol and a long-acting sulfa drug, both orally and parenterally. No drug consistently eliminated vibrios from the intestinal tract. Chloramphenicol was also administered in multiple doses for three days; this also failed to eliminate vibrios in one-third of 25 patients studied. The major problem with these drugs administered orally seems to be rapid elimination and poor absorption by patients with diarrhoea. The authors do not recommend any of these drugs for single-dose mass chemotherapy and consider that chloramphenicol cannot be recommended for multiple-dose mass chemotherapy.