Selecting iron and zinc nano-fertilizers for rice traits in drought by statistical analysis.

Optimum use of fertilizer plays an important role in increasing the performance of traits in rice and other agricultural products. The use of nano-fertilizers can be very important in the optimal use of fertilizer and in increasing the quantity and quality of agricultural products. To investigate the effect of iron and zinc nano-fertilizers on the physiological and morphological characteristics of rice plants (Tarom Hashemi variety) under drought stress conditions, a split plot experiment was carried out in the form of a randomized complete block design in three replications in Mazandaran region. The results of the combined analysis indicated that the effect of iron nano-fertilizer and zinc nano-fertilizer has a significant difference at the level of 0.01 and 0.05 in terms of all the evaluated traits. In the means comparison, it was concluded that normal humidity conditions can have a positive effect on the performance of the traits, but in the S1 stress conditions (drought stress at the rate of 50% of normal irrigation), the traits showed a good performance trend. Furthermore, increasing the amount of iron nano-fertilizer at the F2 level (Iron sulphate 100 kg/ha + 1 foliar spraying of iron chelate 2%) can be very effective in the growth of yield and the desirability of traits. In examining the amount of zinc nano-fertilizer consumption on the traits, showed the most positive performance on the traits at the level of Z2 (Use of 5 mg of zinc nano-fertilizer per kg of experiment soil), but with the increase to the level of Z3 (Use 7.5 mg of zinc nano-fertilizer per kg of experiment soil), this favorability was greatly reduced. The result of the correlation coefficients between the traits and the correlation diagram also showed a positive and significant correlation between the traits. In the graphical analysis, treatments tr33, tr8, tr19, tr24, tr7, tr6, and tr2 were selected as desirable treatments from the polygon graph. Treatments tr19, tr9 and tr6 were recognized as favourable treatments in terms of the treatment ranking diagram in terms of all traits. Based on the treatment selection diagram based on ideal treatment, tr19, tr9 and tr6 treatments were identified as desirable treatments. In general, it is possible to use tr19 (S1×F1×Z2), tr6 (N×F1×Z1) and tr9 (N×F2×Z0) treatments as treatments with high efficiency and power to increase the performance of traits and optimal use of nano-fertilizers in rice cultivation.

Using amplicon sequencing of rpoB for identification of inoculant rhizobia from peanut nodules.

To improve the nitrogen fixation, legume crops are often inoculated with selected effective rhizobia. However, there is large variation in how well the inoculant strains compete with the indigenous microflora in soil. To assess the success of the inoculant, it is necessary to distinguish it from other, closely related strains. Methods used until now have generally been based either on fingerprinting methods or on the use of reporter genes. Nevertheless, these methods have their shortcomings, either because they do not provide sufficiently specific information on the identity of the inoculant strain, or because they use genetically modified organisms that need prior authorization to be applied in the field or other uncontained environments. Another possibility is to target a gene that is naturally present in the bacterial genomes. Here we have developed a method that is based on amplicon sequencing of the bacterial housekeeping gene rpoB, encoding the beta-subunit of the RNA polymerase, which has been proposed as an alternative to the 16S rRNA gene to study the diversity of rhizobial populations in soils. We evaluated the method under laboratory and field conditions. Peanut seeds were inoculated with various Bradyrhizobium strains. After nodule development, DNA was extracted from selected nodules and the nodulating rhizobia were analysed by amplicon sequencing of the rpoB gene. The analyses of the sequence data showed that the method reliably identified bradyrhizobial strains in nodules, at least at the species level, and could be used to assess the competitiveness of the inoculant compared to other bradyrhizobia.

Modification of porous polyetherimide hollow fiber membrane by dip-coating of Zonyl® BA for membrane distillation of dyeing wastewater.

Wetting and fouling have significantly affected the application of membrane distillation (MD). In this work, a dip-coating method was used for improving surface hydrophobicity of the polyetherimide (PEI) hollow fiber membrane. An air gap membrane distillation (AGMD) process was applied for treatment of the methylene blue (MB) solution. The porous PEI membrane was fabricated by a dry-wet spinning process and the hydrophobic 2-(Perfluoroalkyl) ethanol (Zonyl® BA) was used as the coating material. From FESEM, the modified PEI-Zonyl membrane showed an open structure with large finger-like cavities. The modified membrane displayed a narrow pore size distribution with mean pore size of 0.028 µm. The outer surface contact angle of the PEI-Zonyl membrane increased from 81.3° to 100.4° due to the formation of an ultra-thin coated layer. The pure water flux of the PEI-Zonyl membrane was slightly reduced compared to the pristine PEI membrane. A permeate flux of 6.5 kg/m2 h and MB rejection of 98% were found for the PEI-Zonyl membrane during 76 h of the AGMD operation. Adsorption of MB on the membrane surface was confirmed based on the Langmuir isotherm evaluation, AFM and FESEM analysis. The modified PEI-Zonyl membrane can be a favorable alternative for AGMD of dyeing wastewaters.

Occupational exposure of health care personnel to SARS-CoV-2 particles in the intensive care unit of Tehran hospital.

The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has attracted much attention to study its possible presence and airborne transmission. The possibility of COVID-19 airborne transmission in indoor environments is debatable. The present study examined the concentration of viral RNA-containing particles produced directly or indirectly by breathing or coughing of confirmed COVID-19 patients or by carriers without symptoms. Some studies do not accept this method of transmission (COVID-19 airborne transmission). The present study aimed to measure the possible exposure of health care personnel to SARS-CoV-2 particles that may have been suspended in the air to respond to the hypothesis of COVID-19 airborne transmission. Airborne particle sampling was performed using impingement method based on NIOSH (chapter BA) and ASHRAE. Selection of sampling sections was in line with the WHO guidelines. The samples were analyzed using RT-PCR technique. Based on the given results, airborne particles of COVID-19 may present in the air and affect the health of hospital personnel. In fact, the analysis of gene expression in ambient conditions and thereby aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through air is possible and may lead to occupational exposure of health care personnel. Furthermore, it was found that airborne emission of COVID-19 through the breathing zone of patients, particularly in ICU wards with confirmed cases of COVID-19, may be higher than in other ICU wards. Also, the demonstrated results showed that there is a possibility of reaerosolization (reintroduction) of previously airborne SARS-CoV-2 particles into the atmosphere due to health care personnel frequently walking between different wards and stations of ICU.

Alteration of gene expression profile in mouse embryonic stem cells and neural differentiation deficits by ethephon.

Ethephon, a member of the organophosphorus compounds, is one of the most widely used plant growth regulators for artificial ripening. Although million pounds of this chemical is being used annually, the knowledge regarding its molecular toxicity is yet not sufficient. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential developmental toxicity of ethephon using embryonic stem cell model. The mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were exposed to various concentrations of ethephon and the viability, cell cycle alteration and changes in the gene expression profile were evaluated using high-throughput RNA sequencing. Further, the effect of ethephon on neural differentiation potential was examined. The results showed that ethephon at noncytotoxic doses induced cell cycle arrest in mESCs. Gene ontology enrichment analysis showed that terms related to cell fate and organismal development, including neuron fate commitment, embryo development and cardiac cell differentiation, were markedly enriched in ethephon-treated cells. Neural induction of mESCs in the presence of ethephon was inhibited and the expression of neural genes was decreased in differentiated cells. Results obtained from this work clearly demonstrate that ethephon affects the gene expression profile of undifferentiated mESCs and prevents neural differentiation. Therefore, more caution against the frequent application of ethephon is advised.

Effect of magnesium sulphate added to lidocaine on inferior alveolar nerve block success in patients with symptoms of irreversible pulpitis: a prospective, randomized clinical trial.

AIM: To investigate the effect of magnesium sulphate used as an adjuvant to lidocaine with epinephrine local anaesthetic on the success of inferior alveolar nerve blocks (IANB) in patients with symptoms of irreversible pulpitis undergoing root canal treatment. METHODOLOGY: In a double-blind clinical trial, following power calculation, 124 patients with symptoms of irreversible pulpitis in mandibular molar teeth were selected, and initial pain data were collected using a Heft-Parker (Pain, 19, 1984 and 153) visual analogue scale. The first group (control) received IANB with 1.8 mL of a local anaesthetic solution containing 1.8% lidocaine with 1 : 88 000 epinephrine while the second group (test) received IANB with 1.8 mL of an anaesthetic solution containing 1% magnesium sulphate, and 1.8% lidocaine with 1 : 88 000 epinephrine. Pain data were collected after access cavity and penetration of files in the canals using a Heft-Parker visual analogue scale. Two patients were not included in the study as they did not consent, and a further 54 patients were excluded as they did not report lip numbness within 15 min after IANB administration; thus, the data presented in this study are related to 68 patients. The data were analysed using chi-square and t-test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The success of pulpal anaesthesia with IANB was 82% for the magnesium sulphate group and 53% for the control group. There was a significant difference in the effectiveness of the IANB between the two groups (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the magnesium sulphate and control groups regarding gender (P = 0.598) or age (P = 0.208) or initial pain scores (P = 0.431). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of 1% magnesium sulphate to 1.8% lidocaine with 1 : 88 000 epinephrine resulted in a positive impact for the success of IANB in patients with a diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis related to mandibular molar teeth undergoing root canal treatment. Thus magnesium sulphate may be used as adjuvant for achieving profound pulpal anaesthesia in challenging cases. However, more studies with larger sample size and different concentration doses must be carried out to establish an appropriate conclusion before its routine clinical use.

Sonication-assisted synthesis of a new cationic zinc nitrate complex with a tetradentate Schiff base ligand: Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and investigation of different parameters influence on morphological properties.

A nanostructured cationic zinc nitrate complex with a formula of [ZnLNO3]NO3 (where L = (N2E,N2'E)-N1,N1'-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis(N2-((E)-3-phenylallylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine)) was prepared by sonochemical process and characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The X-ray analysis demonstrates the formation of a cationic complex that metal center is five-coordinated by four nitrogen atom from Schiff base ligand and one oxygen atom from nitrate group. The crystal packing analysis demonstrates the essential role of the nitrate groups in the organization of supramolecular structure. The morphology and size of ultrasound-assisted synthesized zinc nitrate complex have been investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) by changing parameters such as the concentration of initial reactants, the sonication power and reaction temperature. In addition the calcination of zinc nitrate complex in air atmosphere led to production of zinc oxide nanoparticles.

The association between interval from acceptance to first-time donation, missed first appointment and future donation behaviour.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We examined the association of the interval between the date an individual is accepted for blood donation and the date of first donation (IFD-interval, index-to-first-time donation interval) and missed first appointment with future donation behaviour among new donors. These two variables have not been analysed in previous studies of donation behaviour among new donors. METHODS: Categories were generated for age (18-29 vs 30-65 years), missed-appointment status (no-show vs same-day cancellation) and the IFD-interval [short (≤median time) vs long (>median time)]. Accepted donors (n = 807) were followed for 19 months. Outcome measures were first-appointment attendance rates, return rates among first-time donors and the proportion of experienced donors, defined as those who gave ≥5 donations. RESULTS: In logistic regression analyses, high no-show rates were significantly associated with decreased likelihood of first-time donation. Long IFD-intervals were significantly associated with decreased likelihood of returning for a second donation among first-time donors. Experienced donors, compared to novice donors, were more likely to be male than female, older than younger and with shorter vs longer IFD-intervals. CONCLUSIONS: No-show and long IFD-intervals may be behavioural markers of low levels of motivation for making the first donation and for returning for a second donation, respectively.

The impact of motivational interviewing on participation in childbirth preparation classes and having a natural delivery: a randomised trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of motivational interviewing on women's participation in childbirth classes and their subsequent natural vaginal delivery. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Prenatal clinic of the Shohada Women's Hospital, Behshahr, Mazandaran, Iran. POPULATION: This study was conducted with 230 nulliparous women. Participants were randomised into three groups, including 76 women in the motivational interviewing group, and 77 women in both the lecture and the control groups. METHODS: Participants were assessed at three time points, including at baseline (16-19 weeks of gestation) and then following the intervention (at 21 and 37 weeks of gestation). The motivational interviewing group received two focus interviews and two telephone follow-up sessions (at 3 and 6 weeks after the last session of motivational interviewing). The lecture group received a speech session. The control group received routine care service. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency of participation in childbirth preparation classes and mode of delivery. RESULTS: Over 90% of women in the motivational interviewing group participated in childbirth preparation classes, whereas the rate of participation in the lecture and the control groups was 59.7 and 27.3%, respectively. The probability of maternal participation in childbirth classes in the motivational interviewing and in the lecture groups was 3.3 (95% CI 2.1-4.5) and 2.2 (95% CI 1.4-3.0) times the probability of maternal participation in the control group, respectively. Moreover, the intervention groups had 1.4 (95% CI 1.1-1.8) and 1.1 (95% CI 0.9-1.4) times the probability of natural delivery, compared with the control group. The frequency of natural delivery in motivational interviewing, lecture, and control groups was 68.4, 54.5, and 48.1%, respectively. The results showed a statistically significant difference between the mean scores for the awareness and attitude scores between the three groups in different time periods. CONCLUSION: We found that motivational interviewing can be a useful tool for encouraging pregnant women to attend childbirth preparation classes. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Motivational interviewing with nulliparous women is strongly associated with their attendance in childbirth preparation classes.

The role of transforming growth factor beta 1 in communicating and non-communicating hydrocele.

PURPOSE: Repair of inguinal hernia and hydrocele are one of the most common operations performed by surgeons. However, the exact biological mechanism responsible for the closure of processus vaginalis (PV) is not completely understood. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1) is a potent fibrogenic agent and probably stimulate fibrosis and disappearing of PV. METHODS: From September 2012 to December 2014, all boys from 1 to 5 years who were referred for surgery of hydrocele were divided into two groups of communicating (HC) or non-communicating hydrocele (HNC). During surgery, the fluid in the sac was aspirated and sent for biochemical evaluation including calcium, phosphorus, total protein, and TGF-ß1. Finally, a biopsy of the sac was sent to the pathology. The results obtained were considered statistically significant (P < 0.05). RESULTS: The patients were categorized into two groups of non-communicating hydrocele, including 43 patients and communicating, including 33. The patients studied were aged 1-5 years (mean 33.6 months). Biochemical tests on hydrocele fluid showed no significant difference in the levels of calcium, phosphorus, total protein, and bilirubin between two groups. However, mean TGF-ß1 in NHC was found to be 53.45-114.28 pg/ml in HC group. A statistically significant difference (P = 0.04) was obtained. Furthermore, the study showed higher amounts of muscles in NHC (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The amount of TGF-ß1 was higher in HC fluid than in non-communicating. To investigate the role of cytokine in the closure of PV, further studies will be required.

Association between Helicobacter pylori hopQI genotypes and human gastric cancer risk.

The Helicobacter pylori use a number of mechanisms to survive in the stomach lumen and can lead to gastritis and reduction in stomach acid secretion. It has been found that the risk of developing gastric carcinoma is associated to heterogeneity of H. pylori virulence factors such as HopQ. The HopQ is one of the outer membrane proteins involved in bacterial adherence to gastric mucosa and has been suggested to also main role in the virulence of H. pylori. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the association between different H. pylori virulence hopQI (types I) genotyping and patients with gastroduodenal disorders. For this purpose 58 stomach biopsies of the patients with gastric cancer and 100 saliva samples from healthy and H. pylori infected individuals were collected and studied. Then genomic DNA was purified and PCR was done for desired gene via specific primers. The H. pylori infections were diagnosed using PCR for GlmM gene. Then frequencies of hopQI+ and hopQI- genotypes were determined in H. pylori infected cases. Statistical analysis showed that there were not significant differences between healthy and diseased ones for genotypes hopQI+ and hopQI-. Then the hopQI+ cannot be as a risk factor genotype for gastric cancer.

Mechanisms of resistance to fluconazole in Candida albicans clinical isolates from Iranian HIV-infected patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis.

OBJECTIVES: The opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans is the major agent of oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) in HIV/AIDS patients. The increased use of fluconazole can lead to the emergence of azole-resistant strains and treatment failures in PLWH (people living with HIV) receiving long-term therapy for OPC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate CDR1, CDR2, MDR1, and ERG11 gene expression in C. albicans clinically isolated from HIV-infected patients in Iran. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, we evaluated the molecular mechanisms of azole resistance in 20 fluconazole-resistant C. albicans isolates obtained from Iranian HIV-infected patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis by Real-Time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The overexpression of drug efflux pump CDR1 gene was found to be the major resistance mechanism observed in these isolates. The overexpression of the CDR1 gene correlated strongly with increasing resistance to fluconazole (P<0.05). Additionally, an increased level of mRNA in ERG11 was not observed in any of the tested isolates. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that the CDR1 gene expression to fluconazole resistance in C. albicans is greater than other known genes.

Association between Manganese Superoxide Dismutase (MnSOD Val-9Ala) genotypes with the risk of generalized aggressive periodontitis disease.

Generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAP) is a subtype of periodontal diseases that characterized by rapid destruction of periodontal supporting tissues. The MnSOD Val-9Ala mutation of manganese superoxide dismutase gene (MnSOD Val-9Ala) and its correlation with periodontal diseases has been studied in different populations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible association of MnSODVal-9Ala polymorphism with periodontitis disease in sample of GAP patients in Iran for the first time. Following a GAP examination, 50 GAP patients and 100 healthy individuals were recruited. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes and the MnSODVal-9Ala polymorphismwas detected using PCR-RFLP method. The frequency of Ala/Ala, Ala/Val and Val/Val genotypes in healthy individuals were 25, 66 and 9%, respectively. In periodontitis patients, frequencies were as Ala/Ala (12%), Ala/Val (50%) and Val/Val (38%) genotypes. There was a significant positive association between distribution of MnSOD Val-9Ala genotypes and the risk of periodontitis disease (p<0.05). Our results indicated that MnSOD Val-9Ala gene polymorphism has a positive association with the risk of periodontitis disease.

Antifungal activity of terrestrial Streptomyces rochei strain HF391 against clinical azole -resistant Aspergillus fumigatus.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Actinomycetes have been discovered as source of antifungal compounds that are currently in clinical use. Invasive aspergillosis (IA) due to Aspergillus fumigatus has been identified as individual drug-resistant Aspergillus spp. to be an emerging pathogen opportunities a global scale. This paper described the antifungal activity of one terrestrial actinomycete against the clinically isolated azole-resistant A. fumigatus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Soil samples were collected from various locations of Kerman, Iran. Thereafter, the actinomycetes were isolated using starch-casein-nitrate-agar medium and the most efficient actinomycetes (capable of inhibiting A. fumigatus) were screened using agar block method. In the next step, the selected actinomycete was cultivated in starch-casein- broth medium and the inhibitory activity of the obtained culture broth was evaluated using agar well diffusion method. RESULTS: The selected actinomycete, identified as Streptomyces rochei strain HF391, could suppress the growth of A. fumigatus isolates which was isolated from the clinical samples of patients treated with azoles. This strain showed higher inhibition zones on agar diffusion assay which was more than 15 mm. CONCLUSION: The obtained results of the present study introduced Streptomyces rochei strain HF391 as terrestrial actinomycete that can inhibit the growth of clinically isolated A. fumigatus.

In vitro antifungal activities of Actinomyces species isolated from soil samples against Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cutaneous infections arise from a homogeneous group of keratinophilic fungi, known as dermatophytes. Since these pathogenic dermatophytes are eukaryotes in nature, use of chemical antifungal agents for treatment may affect the host tissue cells. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of Actinomyces species against Trichophyton mentagrophytes (abbreviated as T. mentagrophytes). The isolates were obtained from soil samples and identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In total, 100 strains of Actinomyces species were isolated from soil samples in order to determine their antagonistic activities against T. mentagrophytes in Kerman, Iran. The electron microscopic study of these isolates was performed, based on the physiological properties of these antagonists (e.g., lipase, amylase, protease and chitinase), using relevant protocols. The isolates were identified using gene 16S rDNA via PCR technique. RESULTS: Streptomyces flavogriseus, Streptomyces zaomyceticus strain xsd08149 and Streptomyces rochei were isolated and exhibited the most significant antagonistic activities against T. mentagrophytes. Images were obtained by an electron microscope and some spores, mycelia and morphology of spore chains were identified. Molecular, morphological and biochemical characteristics of these isolates were studied, using the internal 16S rDNA gene. Active isolates of Streptomyces sequence were compared to GenBank sequences. According to nucleotide analysis, isolate D5 had maximum similarity to Streptomyces flavogriseus (99%). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study showed that Streptomyces isolates from soil samples could exert antifungal effects on T. mentagrophytes.

Aspergillus colonization in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been recognized as a risk factor for invasive aspergillosis. Airway colonization by Aspergillus species is a common feature of chronic pulmonary diseases. Nowadays, the incidence of COPD has increased in critically ill patients. The aim of the present study was to isolate and identify Aspergillus colonies in the respiratory tract of COPD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was performed on 50 COPD patients, who were aged above 18 years, and were in intensive care units of three hospitals in Sari, Iran, for at least six days. All the samples obtained from sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, and tracheal aspirates were cultured for fungi each week. According to the conventional techniques, Aspergillus isolates were initially based on growth and standard morphological characteristics. To confirm the identification of grown Aspergillus, the partial beta-tubulin gene was sequenced using specific primers. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients, who met our inclusion criteria, were enrolled in the study during 2012-14. The results showed that 27 (54%) and 23 (46%) of the participants were male and female, respectively. The majority of the patients developed dyspnea followed by hemoptysis, chest pain, and high fever. Corticosteroids and broad-spectrum antibacterial agents were administered to 75% and 80% of the patients, respectively. Based on the conventional and molecular approaches, A. fumigatus (seven cases; 43.7%), A. flavus (five cases; 31.2%), A. niger (one case; 6.2%), A. terreus (one case; 6.2%), A. orezea (one case; 6.2%), and A. tubingensis (one case; 6.2%) were recovered. CONCLUSION: Recovery of Aspergillus species from the respiratory tract of COPD patients with pneumonia indicates two possibilities: either colonization or invasive aspergillosis.

Evaluation of antifungal activities of the essential oil and various extracts of Nigella sativa and its main component, thymoquinone against pathogenic dermatophyte strains.

OBJECTIVE: Plant extracts and plant-derived compounds are valuable sources as folk medicine for the treatment and prevention of a wide range of diseases including infectious diseases. In the present study, the antifungal activities of the essential oil and various extracts Nigella sativa and its active principle, thymoquinone against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis and Microsporum gypseum as pathogenic dermatophyte strains have been evaluated. In addition, the cytotoxic effects of N. sativa against murine macrophage cells were determined. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the antifungal activity was studied by disk diffusion method and assessment of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of extracts using broth macrodilution method. In addition, the cytotoxic activity of N. sativa was evaluated by colorimetric assay (MTT). The components of the N. sativa essential oil were also identified by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that the essential oil and various extracts of N. sativa particularly thymoquinone have potent antifungal effects on T. mentagrophytes, M. canis and M. gypseum as pathogenic dermatophyte strains. In the assessment of the cytotoxicity activity, it could be observed that N. sativa had no significant cytotoxicity in the murine macrophages at low concentrations. While, thymoquinone in comparison with essential oil and various extracts of N. sativa showed higher cytotoxicity on murine macrophage cells. In the GC/MS analysis, thymoquinone (42.4%), p-cymene (14.1%), carvacrol (10.3%) and longifolene (6.1%) were found to be the major components of N. sativa essential oil. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest a first step in the search of new antidermatophytic drugs and aid the use of N. sativa seeds in the traditional medicine for dermatophytic infections.

Poor appointment-keeping behaviour among repeat blood donors and its relationship to the intent to donate again.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anecdotal evidence suggests that missed donation appointments among repeat whole-blood donors are associated with decreased likelihood of future blood donation. This study sought to examine the relationship between missed donation appointments and intention to donate again among repeat whole-blood donors and to examine whether demographic variables are related to appointment-keeping behaviour. METHODS: During the period February-June 2013, telephone interviews were conducted with repeat donors who either did not show up for or cancelled their donation appointments on the day of the appointment. We asked them whether or not they wanted to schedule appointments for subsequent donations. RESULTS: Rates of missed donation appointments varied by age, but not gender. Although a statistically significant difference between male and female donors was not found with regard to willingness to donate again, female donors were more likely than male donors to call and cancel their appointment. Finally, compared with repeat donors who called and cancelled their appointment, no-show donors were 2.5 times less likely to schedule appointments for subsequent donations (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that poor appointment-keeping behaviour, and in particular no-show behaviour, is significantly associated with decreased likelihood of future blood donation among repeat whole-blood donors.

Flow-injection chemiluminescence determination of gentamicin: optimization by central composite design.

A simple and sensitive flow-injection chemiluminescence (CL) method has been developed for the determination of gentamicin sulfate. The method is based on the inhibitory effect of gentamicin on the CL emission accompanying oxidation of luminol by H2 O2 in an alkaline medium in the presence of Cu(II) as a catalyst. Inhibition was caused by the formation of a strong complex between analyte and the catalyst. Experimental variables, including the concentrations of luminol (µmol/L), H2 O2 (mol/L), Cu(II) (mol/L) and NaOH (mol/L), were optimized using a central composite design. Under optimum conditions, the plot of CL intensity versus gentamicin concentration was found to have two linear ranges. One range was at low concentrations from 1.0 to 10.0 mg/L and the other was from 10.0 to 30.0 mg/L. Precision was calculated by analyzing samples containing 5.0 mg/L gentamicin (n = 11) and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 1.7%. Also, a high injection throughput of 120 samples/h was achieved. This method was successfully applied to the determination of gentamicin sulfate in pharmaceutical formulations and water samples.