Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of toxic contaminants using Dy2O3-SiO2 ceramic nanostructured materials fabricated by a new, simple and rapid sonochemical approach.

The present study is on the fabrication of new photocatalytic nanocomposites (Dy2O3-SiO2) employing a basic agent, tetraethylenepentamine (Tetrene), through a simple, efficient and, quick sonochemical approach. The features of the fabricated photocatalytic nanocomposite were examined employing a variety of microscopic and spectroscopic methods such as XRD, EDS, TEM, FTIR, DRS, and FESEM. The outcomes of morphological studies demonstrated that by proper tuning of sonication time and ultrasonic power (10 min and 400 W), a porous nanocomposite composed of sphere-shaped nanoparticles with a particle size in the range of 20 to 60 nm could be fabricated. The energy gap for the binary Dy2O3-SiO2 nanophotocatalyst was determined to be 3.41 eV, making these nanocomposite favorable for removing contaminants. The photocatalytic performance of the optimal nanocomposite sample was tested for photodecomposition of several contaminants including erythrosine, thymol blue, eriochrome black T, Acid Red 14, methyl orange, malachite green, and Rhodamine B. The binary Dy2O3-SiO2 nanophotocatalyst exhibited superior efficiency toward the decomposition of the studied contaminants. It was able to degrade the erythrosine pollutant more effectively (92.9%). Optimization studies for the photocatalytic decomposition of each contaminant demonstrated that the best performance could be achieved at a specific amount of contaminant and nanocatalyst. Trapping experiments illustrated that hydroxyl radicals were more effectively involved in the decomposition of contaminant molecules by Dy2O3-SiO2 nanophotocatalyst.

The prevalence and prognostic role of vitamin D deficiency in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a single centre study in South-West of Iran.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were estimating the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with acute coronary syndrome comparing with normal people and evaluating the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and short-term mortality in these patients. METHODS: We considered 106 patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction and high-risk unstable angina and 110 patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction as group A. The control group (group B) consisted of 120 individuals without any known cardiovascular diseases or systemic disease. We measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in all cases and classified them according to their serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Sufficient vitamin D level was considered ≥30 ng/ml. We followed the patients for 30 days after index admission. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in group A was much higher than group B. In group A, 72% of patients had serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of 20 ng/ml or less. This percentage was only 27.4% in control group. We did not find any significant relationship between vitamin D deficiency and short-term mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that vitamin D deficiency was present in most of patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome in Ahvaz.

Chest pain units: A necessity or only a name to encourage patients.

BACKGROUND: Acute chest pain is a common symptom among patients presenting to emergency wards. Identification and admission of patients with real acute coronary syndrome and preventing the hospitalization of people with false diagnosis of coronary syndrome are the most important tasks in emergency wards. The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of designing a special chest pain unit in emergency department of Imam Khomeini Hospital (Ahvaz, Iran). METHODS: The patients with markers of ongoing cardiac ischemia underwent selective coronary angiography. The chest pain unit protocol was applied to selected patients with no definite evidence of acute coronary syndrome or alternative pathology. The protocol consisted of twelve hours of observation and serial 12-lead electrocardiography, transthoracic echocardiography, and biochemical testing followed by an exercise treadmill test. We compared the number of patients who were discharged after work up, discharged themselves against medical advice, admitted at coronary care unit (CCU), underwent invasive procedures or died between 2007 and 2010. RESULTS: During 2010, 43% of patients were discharged after evaluation in the chest pain unit. In 2007 however, 26% were discharged following traditional assessments. The admission rate increased from 23% in 2007 to 36% in 2010. The percentage of patients who discharged themselves against medical advice decreased from 37% in 2007 to 14% in 2010. There was not a statistically significant difference between mortality rates in 2007 and 2010. CONCLUSION: Providing a special chest pain unit in emergency ward in our condition is helpful. It reduces unnecessary admissions and improves patient satisfaction.