The therapeutic effect of a novel parenteral formulation of dihydroxyacetone in aluminum phosphide-intoxicated patients.

Background and objectives: Aluminum phosphide (AlP), known as "rice tablet," is widely used as an effective pesticide. However, AlP poisoning is a common cause of mortality in many countries, such as Iran. Unfortunately, there is no specific antidote for AlP toxicity to date. AlP releases phosphine gas when it is exposed to moisture or acid. Phosphine is a potent mitochondrial toxin that could significantly inhibit cellular energy metabolism. AlP poisoning is an emergency condition that needs instant and effective intervention. Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is a simple saccharide used for several pharmacological as well as cosmetic purposes. Previously, we found that DHA could significantly prevent mitochondrial impairment induced by toxic agents such as cyanide and phosphine in various in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Methods: Hospitalized patients (n = 111) were evaluated for eligibility criteria. Among these patients, n = 35 cases were excluded due to incomplete data (n = 11) and suspicion of poisoning with poisons other than AlP (n = 24). Meanwhile, n = 76 cases with confirmed AlP poisoning were included in the study. AlP-poisoned patients who did not receive DHA (n = 18) were used as the control group.Patients (n = 58) received at least one dose of DHA (500 ml of 5 % DHA solution w/v, i.v.) as an adjuvant therapy in addition to the routine treatment of AlP poisoning. Arterial blood gas (ABG), blood pH, bicarbonate levels, and other vital signs and biochemical measurements were monitored. Moreover, the mortality rate and hospitalization time were evaluated in DHA-treated and AlP-poisoned patients without DHA administration. Several biomarkers were assessed before (upon hospitalization) and after DHA treatment. The routine tests for AlP-poisoned patients in this study were the measurement of electrolytes (K+ and Na+), WBC, RBC, hemoglobin, INR, carbonate (HCO3), blood pH, PaCO2, and PaO2 and SGPT, SGOT, BUN, Cr. Results: Upon patients' admission, significant decreases in blood pH (acidosis), blood PaO2, and HCO3 levels were the hallmarks of AlP poisoning. It was found that DHA significantly alleviated biomarkers of AlP poisoning and tremendously enhanced patients' survival rate (65.52 % in DHA-treated vs 33.34 % in the control group) compared to patients treated based on hospital routine AlP poisoning protocols (no DHA). No significant adverse effects were evident in DHA-treated patients in the current study. Interpretation and conclusions: These data suggest that parenteral DHA is a novel and effective antidote against AlP poisoning to be used as an adjuvant in addition to routine supportive treatment. Trial registration: IR.SUMS.REC.1394.102.

Over 65% Sunlight Absorption in a 1 µm Si Slab with Hyperuniform Texture.

Thin, flexible, and invisible solar cells will be a ubiquitous technology in the near future. Ultrathin crystalline silicon (c-Si) cells capitalize on the success of bulk silicon cells while being lightweight and mechanically flexible, but suffer from poor absorption and efficiency. Here we present a new family of surface texturing, based on correlated disordered hyperuniform patterns, capable of efficiently coupling the incident spectrum into the silicon slab optical modes. We experimentally demonstrate 66.5% solar light absorption in free-standing 1 µm c-Si layers by hyperuniform nanostructuring for the spectral range of 400 to 1050 nm. The absorption equivalent photocurrent derived from our measurements is 26.3 mA/cm2, which is far above the highest found in literature for Si of similar thickness. Considering state-of-the-art Si PV technologies, we estimate that the enhanced light trapping can result in a cell efficiency above 15%. The light absorption can potentially be increased up to 33.8 mA/cm2 by incorporating a back-reflector and improved antireflection, for which we estimate a photovoltaic efficiency above 21% for 1 µm thick Si cells.

Uncommon manifestation of poisoning with a mixture of pesticides.

The ingestion of pesticides for suicide commitment purposes is common in developing countries. We present a case of suicide with ingestion of mixed pesticides. The autopsy findings showed the presence of diazinon, chlorpyrifos, trifluralin, fenpropathrin, pyriproxyfen, and cypermethrin in his body. Clinicians managing poisoning cases need to be aware of poisoning with mixture of pesticides as a rare but highly fatal outcome.

Combining 1D and 2D waveguiding in an ultrathin GaAs NW/Si tandem solar cell.

As an effective means to surpass the Shockley-Queisser efficiency limit, tandem solar cells have been successfully designed and used for years. However, there are still economical and design set-backs hampering the terrestrial implementation of tandem solar cells. Introducing high efficiency, thin Si-based tandem cells that are flexible in design (shape and curvature) will be the next major step towards integrating highly efficient solar cells into fashionable designs of today's buildings and technologies. In this work we present an optically coupled tandem cell that consists of a GaAs nanowire array on a 2µm-thick Si film as the top and bottom cells, respectively. By performing FDTD simulations, we show that coupling the incident light to guided modes of the 1D wires not only boosts the absorption in the wires, but also efficiently transfers the below bandgap photons to the Si bottom cell. Due to diffraction by the nanowire array the momentum of the transmitted light is matched to that of guided modes of the 2D Si thin film. Consequently, infrared light is up to four times more efficiently trapped in the Si bottom cell compared to when the film is not covered by the nanowires.

Smartphone and Universal Goniometer for Measurement of Elbow Joint Motions: A Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: Universal goniometer (UG) is commonly used as a standard method to evaluate range of motion (ROM) as part of joint motions. It has some restrictions, such as involvement of both hands of the physician, leads to instability of hands and error. Nowadays smartphones usage has been increasing due to its easy application. OBJECTIVES: The study was designed to compare the smartphone inclinometer-based app and UG in evaluation of ROM of elbow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The maximum ROM of elbow in position of flexion and pronation and supination of forearm were examined in 60 healthy volunteers with UG and smartphone. Data were analyzed using SPSS (ver. 16) software and appropriate statistical tests were applied, such as paired t-test, ICC and Bland Altman curves. RESULTS: The results of this study showed high reliability and validity of smartphone in regarding UG with ICC > 0.95. The highest reliability for both methods was in elbow supination and the lowest was in the elbow flexion (0.84). CONCLUSIONS: Smartphones due to ease of access and usage for the physician and the patient, may be good alternatives for UG.

Interferon-γ deficiency reduces neointimal formation in a model of endoluminal endothelial injury combined with atherogenic diet.

Interferon (IFN)-γ has been implicated in restenosis, however its precise role in the pathophysiology of neointimal formation following angioplasty is unclear, as it has been shown to both promote and inhibit neointimal formation. Dietary-induced hypercholesterolemia enhances injury-mediated neointimal formation, associated with increased systemic inflammation and serum IFN-γ. This study examined the effect of IFN-γ gene deficiency ((-/-)) on neointimal formation in a mouse model of endothelial injury combined with an atherogenic diet. Neointimal formation was induced via endoluminal endothelial injury of the common iliac arteries of IFN-γ(-/-) and wild-type (WT) C57Bl/6 mice. Histopathological analysis of the arteries was performed at 3 and 6 weeks post-surgery. IFN-γ(-/-) mice demonstrated a significant reduction in neointimal formation at the 3-week time point, compared to their WT counterpart. No significant differences in plasma lipid profile and the extent of re-endothelialization were detected between IFN-γ(-/-) and WT mice, suggesting that the effect of IFN-γ on neointimal formation is due to injury-mediated vessel neointimal responses. In support of the histopathological findings, immunohistochemical analysis revealed a significant reduction in vessel infiltrating macrophages, and neointimal PDGF-B expression, vascular smooth muscle cell composition and cellular proliferation in the IFN-γ(-/-) mice, in comparison to their corresponding WT group at the 3-week time point. In conclusion, the IFN-γ-mediated pathway plays an important role in inflammatory responses and proliferative effects following injury, suggesting that modulation of the IFN-γ pathway would be beneficial in controlling neointimal formation and restenosis.

Forkhead box protein 3: essential immune regulatory role.

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells play a crucial role in maintaining self-tolerance and preventing autoimmune disease. The transcription factor forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3) has been identified as a molecular marker for Treg cells. Foxp3 is highly expressed in lymphoid tissue and several signalling pathways influence its expression. It plays an essential role in the development and function of Treg cells. Mutations in Foxp3 are responsible for the scurfy (sf) mutant mouse, and for autoimmune human diseases including the X-linked fatal "immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked" (IPEX), autoimmune colitis and rheumatoid arthritis. Recent studies have also revealed an important and novel anti-atherogenic role for Treg cells and consequently for Foxp3. These data open up potential novel therapeutic avenues for the management of atherosclerosis.