Spatial modeling of land-use change in a rapidly urbanizing landscape in central Iran: integration of remote sensing, CA-Markov, and landscape metrics.

In the present paper, land use/land cover (LULC) change was predicted in the Greater Isfahan area (GIA), central Iran. The GIA has been growing rapidly in recent years, and attempts to simulate its spatial expansion would be essential to make appropriate decisions in LULC management plans and achieve sustainable development. Several modeling tools were employed to outline sustainable scenarios for future dynamics of LULCs in the region. Specifically, we explored past LULC changes in the study area from 1996 to 2018 and predicted its future changes for 2030 and 2050. For this purpose, we performed object-oriented and decision tree techniques on Landsat and Sentinel-2 satellite images. The CA-Markov hybrid model was utilized to analyze past trends and predict future LULC changes. LULC changes were quantitatively measured using landscape metrics. According to the results, the majority of changes were related to increasing residential areas and decreasing irrigated lands. The results indicated that residential lands would grow from 27,886.87 ha to 67,093.62 ha over1996-2050 while irrigated lands decrease from 99,799.4 ha to 50,082.16 ha during the same period of time. The confusion matrix of the 2018 LULC map was built using a total of 525 ground truth points and yielded a Kappa coefficient and overall accuracy of 78% and 82%, respectively. Moreover, the confusion matrix constructed base on the Sentinel-2 map, as a reference, to judge the predicted 2018 LULC map with a Kappa coefficient of 88%. The results of this study provide useful insights for sustainable land management. The results of this research also proved the promising capability of remote sensing algorithms, CA-Markov model and landscape metrics future LULC planning in the study area.

Ultrasensitive and Rapid Determination of Folic Acid Using Ag Nanoparticles Enhanced 1, 10-Phenantroline-Terbium (III) Sensitized Fluorescence.

A novel spectrofluorimetric probe based on Ag nanoparticle (AgNPs)-enhanced terbium (III) (Tb) fluorescence was introduced for the sensitive determination of folic acid (FA). The effect of gold and silver nanoparticles in different size was investigated on the well-known Tb sensitized fluorescence emission of 1, 10-phenantroline (Phen). The greatest fluorescence intensity was observed in the presence of AgNPs with a diameter of ~6 nm maybe due to their highest surface area. Furthermore, it's discovered that FA can form Tb-Phen -FA ternary complexes and cause a notable diminution in this enhanced fluorescence system. Based on this finding, a high sensitive and selective method was developed for the determination of FA. Effects of various parameters like Ag NPs, Phen and Tb(3+) concentration and pH of media were investigated. In the optimum circumstances, the fluorescence emission of AgNPs-Phen-Tb collection was declined linearly by increasing the concentration of FA in the range of 0.5 to 110 nmol L(-1). Limits of detection and quantification were achieved to be 0.21 and 0.62 nmol  L(-1), respectively. The method has good linearity, recovery, reproducibility and sensitivity, and was adequately exploited to follow FA content in pharmaceutical, fortified flour and human urine samples.

Determination of fluoxetine in pharmaceutical and biological samples based on the silver nanoparticle enhanced fluorescence of fluoxetine-terbium complex.

In this study, a simple and sensitive spectrofluorimetric method is presented for the determination of fluoxetine based on the enhancing effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the terbium-fluoxetine fluorescence emission. The AgNPs were prepared by a simple reduction method and characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. It was indicated that these AgNPs have a remarkable amplifying effect on the terbium-sensitized fluorescence of fluoxetine. The effects of various parameters such as AgNP and Tb3+ concentration and the pH of the media were investigated. Under obtained optimal conditions, the fluorescence intensity of the terbium-fluoxetine-AgNP system was enhanced linearly by increasing the concentration of fluoxetine in the range of 0.008 to 19 mg/L. The limit of detection (b + 3s) was 8.3 × 10-4 mg/L. The interference effects of common species found in real samples were also studied. The method had good linearity, recovery, reproducibility and sensitivity, and was satisfactorily applied for the determination of fluoxetine in tablet formulations, human urine and plasma samples. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Assessment of 120 maxillofacial aneurysmal bone cysts: a nationwide quest to understand this enigma.

PURPOSE: Compared with other maxillofacial lesions, oral and maxillofacial (OM) aneurysmal bone cysts (ABCs) are rare, and most studies have been case reports. Because the features or radiographic findings of 1 case could not be representative of the whole, conclusions cannot be drawn and data analyses will not be feasible. Our aim was to assess and describe the clinical and histopathologic characteristics of a large sample of subjects with ABCs. To our knowledge, the present case series of OM ABCs is the largest ever reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To address our research purpose, we designed and implemented a retrospective case series. A multicenter retrospective cohort study of patient charts dated from 1967 to 2013 (46 years) at 10 major universities in 8 cities was undertaken to assess OM ABCs nationwide. Subjects were included if they had documented chart data and definitive histopathologic slides confirming the diagnosis and treatment of ABC. They were excluded if their histopathologic slides did not confirm the diagnosis of an ABC. Data were collected, and special forms were completed. Variables such as age, gender, site (ie, maxilla, mandible, anterior, posterior), histologic type (ie, solid, mixed, vascular), signs, symptoms, radiographic features (ie, radiolucency, unicystic or multilocular), and outcomes (ie, treatment modal, recurrence, complications) of the lesion were evaluated and documented by OM surgeons and confirmed by OM pathologists for assurance. Data analyses were performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 20, software (SPSS, Chicago, IL) (P < .05). RESULTS: We assessed the medical records and histopathologic slides of 120 patients diagnosed and treated for OM ABCs nationwide. Of these patients, 69 were male (57.5%) and 51 were female (42.5%), with no predilection found. The key findings were as follows. The mean age of occurrence was 20.7 ± 2.5 years (range 4 to 78), and occurrence was significantly greater in the first 2 decades of life (P < .001). The incidence was 2.6 cases/year. ABCs were significantly more common in the mandible (P < .05) and posterior areas (P < .05). The most common histopathologic type was the mixed type (P < .05). Firm swelling was the most common clinical presentation (P < .05); all cases were radiolucent and commonly unilateral (P < .05). Most were treated by excision and curettage. Recurrence was reported in 11 patients (9.2%) during the follow-up period (1 to 45 years). CONCLUSIONS: The present retrospective cohort found ABCs with a variable presentation, disease course, and histopathologic type, with no gender predilection. ABCs were significantly more common in childhood and adolescence and in the mandible and posterior areas of the jaws. Of the cases reviewed, 90% were treated by excision and curettage. ABCs had a relatively low recurrence rate (<10%), precluding the need to perform aggressive surgery primarily.

Oral Granular Cell Tumor: A Case Report with Emphasis on Pseudoepitheliomatous Hyperplasia in Oral Lesions.

A granular cell tumor (GCT) is an unusual benign mesenchymal neoplasm with Schwann cells origin. The most common site is the dorsum of the tongue. It has a striking tendency to occur in females and is more frequent in adult patients. GCT typically shows an asymptomatic, slow-growing, single nodule. Histopathologically, it reveals a proliferation of polygonal cells with granular cytoplasm penetrating the adjacent muscles. In some cases, the overlying epithelium demonstrates pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia (PEH), which can complicate its precise diagnosis and may mimic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This paper presents a 58-year-old woman with a chief complaint of painless mass on the dorsal of the tongue for two years. The lesion was pink and circumscribed with firm consistency measuring 1×1cm. The surface of the lesion was intact. Microscopic examination demonstrated unencapsulated sheets of large, polygonal cells with abundant eosinophilic, granular cytoplasm, and vesicular nuclei. The overlying epithelium showed florid PEH and keratin pearl formation. S100 protein was positive diffusely. The diagnosis of oral GCT was made. Though GCT is a non-aggressive lesion, it may be confused with SCC due to florid PEH and keratin pearl formation. Although PEH is a neglected topic among oral pathologists, it is of great importance in the field of research. Diagnosis can sometimes be problematic because they mimic other lesions. The pathogenesis of PEH is still uncertain. Therefore, familiarity with these characteristics and determining the cause of the PEH leads to correct treatment. This article intends to raise the insight of oral pathologists about PEH in oral lesions.

Salivary Secretory Carcinoma in a Patient with Immature Ovary Teratoma.

Introduction: Secretory carcinoma, previously known as mammary analog secretory carcinoma, is a rare malignancy of salivary glands. It has a diversity of microscopic patterns and is similar to other salivary gland tumors. Case Report: This report presents the case of a 32-year-old female patient with a painless swelling of the upper lip and a history of recent surgery for an immature ovarian teratoma. The microscopic sections revealed a circumscribed neoplasm composed of macrocystic, papillary-cystic, and microcystic patterns with bland vesicular nuclei and vacuolated cytoplasm. Tumoral cells were strongly positive for mammaglobin, SOX10, GATA3, S-100, and vimentin. The diagnosis of salivary gland secretory carcinoma was made. After 22 months, there has been no recurrence. Conclusions: As secretory carcinoma is a relatively new entity, it is necessary to understand its characteristics. Although the overall incidence of second primary cancer in patients with salivary gland cancers is low, the possibility of its presence in such patients should be considered.

Sniffing out safety: canine detection and identification of SARS-CoV-2 infection from armpit sweat.

Detection dogs were trained to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection based on armpit sweat odor. Sweat samples were collected using cotton pads under the armpits of negative and positive human patients, confirmed by qPCR, for periods of 15-30 min. Multiple hospitals and organizations throughout Belgium participated in this study. The sweat samples were stored at -20°C prior to being used for training purposes. Six dogs were trained under controlled atmosphere conditions for 2-3 months. After training, a 7-day validation period was conducted to assess the dogs' performances. The detection dogs exhibited an overall sensitivity of 81%, specificity of 98%, and an accuracy of 95%. After validation, training continued for 3 months, during which the dogs' performances remained the same. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis revealed a unique sweat scent associated with SARS-CoV-2 positive sweat samples. This scent consisted of a wide variety of volatiles, including breakdown compounds of antiviral fatty acids, skin proteins and neurotransmitters/hormones. An acceptability survey conducted in Belgium demonstrated an overall high acceptability and enthusiasm toward the use of detection dogs for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Compared to qPCR and previous canine studies, the detection dogs have good performances in detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans, using frozen sweat samples from the armpits. As a result, they can be used as an accurate pre-screening tool in various field settings alongside the PCR test.

Oral Metastatic Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma: A Case Report.

Introduction: Oral metastases are rare; nevertheless, they must be considered in the differential diagnosis of lesions in patients with a previous history of malignancy or older adults. The clinical signs of oral metastasis typically comprise pain, dysphagia, ulceration, bleeding, and paresthesia. Soft tissue sarcomas tend to affect the extremities and retroperitoneum. The most common metastases in the oral cavity are carcinomas, and sarcomas rarely metastasize to this area. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is a mesenchymal malignancy that infrequently affects the head and neck site. It shows a male predilection and occurs in all age groups. The lung is the most common area of distant metastasis in undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Case Report: This report presents a 61-year-old female patient with a painful bluish-purple mass of the posterior right mandibular alveolar mucosa. She had a history of thigh UPS about four years ago. An incisional biopsy was performed, and the specimen was stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Immunohistochemical antibodies for CK, S100, desmin, myogenin, MDM2, SOX10, and caldesmon were negative and focally positive for CD68. Ki-67 index was about 70%. Conclusions: This report aimed to increase awareness of a rare lesion by describing the clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical findings of metastatic undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma of the oral cavity.

Medication Adherence and Drug Attitude Amongst Male Patients with the Methamphetamine-Induced Psychotic Disorder After Discharge: A Three Months Follow Up Study.

Medication adherence and attitudes toward psychiatric medication affect treatment outcome. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect and interaction of psychotic symptoms, sociodemographic factors, and attitudes concerning medication use with a three-month follow-up among methamphetamine-induced psychotic male patients. In this prospective, descriptive study, 42 male patients diagnosed with a methamphetamine-induced psychotic disorder were selected on the last day of their admission period in Iran Psychiatry Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Each patient was evaluated using the Persian version of the Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10), Medication Possession Ratio (MPR), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), as well as a sociodemographic questionnaire immediately, one month and three months after discharge. There was a significant difference in MPR between the first and third months. Moreover, the frequency of patients with a positive attitude toward their medications increased over time. Indeed, all participants stated a positive attitude at the last follow-up based on the DAI-10 cutoff. Based on our findings, medication adherence of male patients with methamphetamine-induced psychotic disorder should be an essential aspect of treatment after discharge from psychiatry inpatient wards, more specifically, through the first months.

Clinicoradiographic Features and Histopathologic Variations of Intraosseous Lipoma: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature.

Intraosseous lipoma is a very rare lesion, and the jaw is its least common bone location. Fibrolipoma is a microscopic variant of lipoma which is characterized by a significant fibrous component intermixed with lobules of fat cells. Intraosseous fibrolipoma of the jaw is a rare lesion, and to the best of our knowledge, only two cases have been reported from 1948 in English literature. This paper presents a 39-year-old man with a chief complaint of tooth displacement in the anterior region of the mandible. Radiographic evaluation revealed a unilocular radiolucent lesion with sclerotic borders located between the left lateral incisor and canine. Histopathologic evaluation after an excisional biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of intraosseous fibrolipoma. We also reviewed the literature on this rare lesion.

Verruciform Xanthoma of the Ventral Surface of the Tongue: A Rare Case Report and Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: Verruciform xanthoma (VX) is an uncommon benign lesion with the subepithelial accumulation of foamy histiocytes and superficial papillary proliferations with a bright orange hue. This lesion exhibits an oral region predilection. Its clinical differential diagnosis includes verrucous leukoplakia, verrucous carcinoma, squamous papilloma, verruca vulgaris, condyloma accuminatum, squamous cell carcinoma, and fibroepithelial polyp. CASE REPORT: This report presents a case of VX of the ventral surface of the tongue afflicting a 33-year-old otherwise healthy male. CONCLUSION: This case report can be valuable as a consequence of VX rarity and the similarity of its clinical features to papillary lesions. A biopsy is required for its definite diagnosis particularly when it occurs at sites with a high-risk of squamous cell carcinoma development, such as the lateral border and ventral surface of the tongue.

The HexMaze: A Previous Knowledge Task on Map Learning for Mice.

New information is rarely learned in isolation; instead, most of what we experience can be incorporated into or uses previous knowledge networks in some form. Previous knowledge in form of a cognitive map can facilitate knowledge acquisition and will influence how we learn new spatial information. Here, we developed a new spatial navigation task where food locations are learned in a large, gangway maze to test how mice learn a large spatial map over a longer time period-the HexMaze. Analyzing performance across sessions as well as on specific trials, we can show simple memory effects as well as multiple effects of previous knowledge of the map accelerating both online learning and performance increases over offline periods when incorporating new information. We could identify the following three main phases: (1) learning the initial goal location; (2) faster learning after 2 weeks when learning a new goal location; and then (3) the ability to express one-session learning, leading to long-term memory effect after 12 weeks. Importantly, we are the first to show that buildup of a spatial map is dependent on how much time passes, not how often the animal is trained.

Melanotic Neuroectodermal Tumor of Infancy, a Rapidly Growing Maxillary Alveolar Mass: A Case Report.

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy is a rare, rapidly growing, painless, pigmented neoplasm with neural crest derivation. It usually occurs during the first year of life and there is a prominent predilection for the maxilla. The purpose of the present report is to describe additional case of melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy of maxilla in a 6-month-old infant male. The treatment included surgical excision with safe margins. No attempt was made for immediate grafting of the surgery site due to high proliferation rate of tissues and self-renewal during infancy. The facial growth was normal and the surgical cleft was tightly closed. Due to the rarity of tumor, essential knowledge on characteristics of this lesion would contribute to a proper diagnosis and benefit treatment planning.

Assessment and comparison of the antioxidant defense system in patients with type 2 diabetes, diabetic nephropathy and healthy people: A case-control study.

INTRODUCTION: Findings of previous studies in the field of antioxidant defense system in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), diabetic nephropathy (DM) are limited and conflicting. Therefore, we evaluated the antioxidant defense system status in type 2 diabetes patients, diabetic nephropathy and healthy subjects in Iranian population. METHODS: This population-based case-control study was conducted in 2019 and included 30 individuals with T2DM and 30 patients with DN, as the case groups and 30 healthy subjects for the control group. Individuals entered to the study for case group were diagnosed as T2DM patients based on fast glucose blood tests (FGB) (≥126 mg/dL) and HbA1 (≥6.5%). DN was defined based on these tests and macroalbuminuria (>300 mg/day). Serum was carefully separated and antioxidant defense system status was estimated. Dietary intakes were evaluated by using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). RESULTS: Energy intake in control group was higher than case groups; BMI was higher in the DN group compared to the other groups. Significantly higher levels of MDA were observed in T2DM patients compared to control group in crude model (1.255 vs. 1.079 nmol/L; P = 0.006). The same results were shown after adjustment for potential confounders (1.256 vs. 1.085 nmol/L; P = 0.022). Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was less in case groups compared with control group; level of catalase (CTL) and superoxide dismutase enzymes comparisons showed that DN patients had higher level than control group, but these associations were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: We found that MDA levels were significantly higher in T2DM patients compared to control group. Level of TAC was less in case groups in comparison to controls. SOD and CTL levels were higher in DN compared to controls; these associations were not significant.

Oral cyst-like nodule caused by a long standing unusual embedded foreign object: Report of a case.

Traumatic implantation of foreign material in the oral mucosa is unusual and may occur. In this article, we report the presence of an unusual foreign object associated with a cyst-like inflammatory response in a 50-year-old male. The patient presented with a painless recurrent soft tissue swelling in the anterior vestibule of maxilla of at least 2-year duration. The lesion was surgically excised and a retained shrapnel-like object within a cyst-like and thick-walled structure was obtained. Histopathologically, the cyst-like structure exhibited a lymphohistiocytic infiltrate in the wall and a luminal synovial metaplasia-like change, predominantly composed of histiocytes. Immunohistochemical stain of CD163 highlighted the histiocytes. The patient stated a history of traumatic implantation of shrapnel fragments in the area that occurred 30 years ago due to an explosion in the Iran-Iraq war.

Supernumerary nostril together with esophageal atresia, imperforate anus and patent ductus arteriosus: a case report and review of the literature.

Supernumerary nostril is an extremely rare congenital entity which results from aberrant embryological development. The review of the literature reveals that only 30 cases of supernumerary nostril have been reported. We report a rare case of supernumerary nostril in association with esophageal atresia, imperforate anus, and patent ductus arteriosus. To our knowledge, this is the first case of supernumerary nostril which has been accompanied by three other congenital anomalies. In addition to the presented case, we review all the literature cases of supernumerary nostril.

Bilateral squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa in a young adult man: A case presentation with review of literature.

The control of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is difficult even after treatment because it has a tendency to multiple primary carcinomas. The incidence of second primary neoplasm in the head and neck region cannot be forecasted reliably. The purpose of this report is to describe the clinicopathological characteristics of a unique case of bilateral buccal mucosal SCC in a 35-year-old male and to determine whether any associated risk factors are present.

Sialadenoma papilliferum of the hard palate: A rare case report.

Sialadenoma papilliferum (SP) is a rare benign salivary gland tumor with unclear cell origin. This report presents a new case of SP of the hard palate occurring in a 50-year-old female. The lesion was completely excised, and the microscopic features were consistent with SP. The knowledge of this rare entity contributes to proper diagnosis and prevents unnecessary radical surgery and treatment.

Relative frequency of dentigerous cyst in Iranian population: A 20-year retrospective study.

PURPOSE: Dentigerous cyst (DC) is the most common type of developmental odontogenic cysts which apparently develops via accumulation of fluid between the reduced enamel epithelium and crown of the tooth. The aim of this study is to analyze the frequency of DC in Iranian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The files of oral pathology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, served as the source of the materials from 1992 to 2012 for this study. All lesions diagnosed as DCs were subjected to microscopic reevaluation. Patient's age, sex, location, and microscopic characteristics were recorded. Based on these data, a descriptive statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 19 software (IBM SPSS Statistics 19, New York, United States) and the results with P < 0.05 were considered as significant. RESULTS: DC accounted for 34.37% of all odontogenic cysts of the jaws during the 20-year period. The mean age of patients was 24.72 years and most cases are diagnosed in the second and third decades of life. The male-to-female ratio was 1.52. About 73.89% of all lesions had occurred in the mandible and 26.11% in maxilla. DCs showed Vickers and Gorlin (ameloblastomatous) changes in 2.36% of cases. The mean age was significantly lower in the premolar area (P = 0.00). CONCLUSION: Age, sex, and location of DCs in Iranian population are similar to previous studies. In addition, the age of occurrence for this lesion in the premolar region was relatively lower than at other sites. Although the risk of ameloblastic change is low, it should be considered as an important issue.

The relationship between dietary antioxidant intake and physical activity rate with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): A case - Control study.

INTRODUCTION: Although dietary intakes, especially micronutrients, can be associated with the severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), investigations on the amount of vitamins and antioxidants consumption and their relationship with NAFLD are very limited and incomplete. Therefore, we decided to investigate the relationship between antioxidant compounds intake and physical activity rate with NAFLD. METHODS: In this study, 200 patients with NAFLD for the case group and 400 healthy subjects for the control group were selected. Patients were diagnosed as NAFLD after giving blood tests and performing Ultrasonography by a radiology specialist. Dietary intakes were evaluated through a validated 168-items semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Physical activity rate was estimated by a validated short form of International Physical Activity Questionnaire (Short IPAQ). RESULTS: The study population was between 20 and 60 years old and 46% of them were women. Weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, WHR, and BMI in the cases were higher than the controls. Physical activity comparisons showed that controls had higher physical activity rate than cases. Mean consumption of vitamins C, A, D and alpha-tocopherol in case group was less than the other group. After adjustment for all potential confounder, subjects who were in highest tertile of vitamin A intake -in comparison to those in the lowest tertile of intake-decreased risk of NAFLD (OR = 0.40, 95%CI: 0.30-0.55). The same finding was obtained for vitamin D; [Top category vs. bottom category of vitamin D of intake (OR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.20-0.61)]. CONCLUSIONS: We found that more intakes of vitamins A and D are related to lower risk of NAFLD in this group of Iranian adults. Physical activity rate in cases was less than the controls. Further prospective studies are required to confirm causal association between antioxidant compounds intake and NAFLD.