Green synthesis of nanomaterials by using plant extracts as reducing and capping agents.

An alternative method to conventional synthesis is examined in this review by the use of plant extracts as reducing and capping agents. The use of plant extracts represents an economically viable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional synthesis. In contrast to previous reviews, this review focuses on the synthesis of nano-compounds utilizing plant extracts, which lack comprehensive reports. In order to synthesize diverse nanostructures, researchers have discovered a sustainable and cost-effective method of harnessing functional groups in plant extracts. Each plant extract is discussed in detail, along with its potential applications, demonstrating the remarkable morphological diversity achieved by using these green synthesis approaches. A reduction and capping agent made from plant extracts is aligned with the principles of green chemistry and offers economic advantages as well as paving the way for industrial applications. In this review, it is discussed the significance of using plant extracts to synthesize nano-compounds, emphasizing their potential to shape the future of nanomaterials in a sustainable and ecologically friendly manner.

CdAl4O7/CdO nanocomposites: green tea extract-mediated sol-gel auto-combustion synthesis, characterization, and study as a potential hydrogen storage material.

In this article, we present the synthesis of binary CdAl4O7/CdO nanocomposites using green tea extracts and green chemistry methods for high-performance hydrogen storage. The green tea extract contains bioactive compounds (polyphenols) that act as reducing agents, which facilitate the reaction between metal ions and water. By examining the structural and morphological characteristics of the obtained substrates using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), it was demonstrated that the nanocomposites were successfully synthesized. We evaluated the electrochemical performance of the synthesized CdAl4O7/CdO nanocomposites using a three-electrode chronopotentiometry system. According to the results, the synthesized nanocomposites are capable of storing 1750 mAh/g of hydrogen at a constant current of 1 Amp. By using green tea extract as a natural structure-directing agent, the CdAl4O7/CdO nanocomposite can be developed more sustainably as high-performance hydrogen storage materials. Ultimately, this work contributes to the advancement of sustainable energy storage through the synthesis of a promising new material.

Novel combination therapy for respiratory diseases of small ruminants: Field studies of over 10 years.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate a new drug combination for small ruminant respiratory diseases to find a better treatment protocol for the potential replacement of older methods. Materials and Methods: A total of 6,886 animals received common respiratory disease therapies out of 15,845 animals that had respiratory disorders. The new combination therapy technique treated the remaining animals (8,968). The animals were given an oral suspension of triclabendazole or levamisole at an initial dosage of 0.2 ml/kg body weight (BW). The following day, 0.2 mg/kg of 1% ivermectin was subcutaneously administered. Then, on the third and fifth days of treatment, a subcutaneous injection of 30 mg/kg BW of florfenicol (30%) was administered. The survival and recovery rates for both groups were tracked throughout a 6-month period of observation. Postmortem and histopathological signs were also assessed. Results: In the group of the novel combination therapy, group A, clinical, postmortem, and histopathological signs were significantly reduced compared to group B. Clinical signs and mortality in group A were 90% and 93% lower than in group B, respectively. Animals that received the new combination therapy were healed of their disease and stayed immune for 6 months. Conclusion: This novel therapy demonstrated significant efficacy against respiratory diseases in a 10-year field study. The paper proved that the protocol introduced could be a new therapeutic approach.

Home schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial of online exercise and ergonomics advice protocols on upper body symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Understanding of students' musculoskeletal health under home-schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic is limited. OBJECTIVES: (1) To investigate the prevalence and severity of musculoskeletal symptoms in home-schooled adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) To evaluate the effect of an online exercise + ergonomics advice protocol on symptoms, compared with ergonomics advice alone. DESIGN: Cross-sectional symptom survey identifying eligible participants, followed by a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Online classes. PARTICIPANTS: Survey: 354 students (mean 16.6 years). TRIAL: 188 students with upper body musculoskeletal symptoms. INTERVENTIONS: Randomization to three groups (physical therapy exercises + ergonomics postural advice, ergonomics postural advice alone, nonintervention control) stratified by the site of symptoms (neck, shoulder, upper back). Interventions were orally delivered online (via WhatsApp) supplemented with written/illustrative material. Follow-up occurred at 8 weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES: Survey: prevalence of symptoms (Nordic Questionnaire). TRIAL: primary outcome = change in intensity of upper body symptoms (visual analogue scale); secondary outcome = number of participants reporting improvement in upper body symptoms. RESULTS: The 12-month prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the survey was 38% neck, 28% shoulder, and 35% upper back, with mean pain intensity of 3.6, 3.9, and 3.8, respectively, on 0-10 visual analogue scale: Two-thirds reported symptoms in multiple anatomical regions. In the trial, there was no statistically significant difference between the exercise + ergonomics group and ergonomics alone group on the primary outcome, yet both groups showed reduced symptom intensity compared with control (p < .001). More participants in the exercise + ergonomics group reported improvement than in the ergonomics advice alone group (p < .02). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was relatively high in home-schooled adolescents. Symptoms can be reduced by ergonomics advice with or without exercises, but the effect is enhanced by the addition of physical therapy exercises. The latter approach may be considered for improving schoolchildren's musculoskeletal health in the usual classroom setting.

An application of a series of theory-based educational intervention based on the health belief model on skin cancer prevention behaviors in female high school students.

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death globally and the second cause of death in developed countries. Having a rising incidence, skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer in Iran. Long-term UV radiations, particularly during childhood and adolescence, is a major cause of skin cancers. The Theory of Planned Behavior as the most precise indicator of behavior, contains motivational factors affecting behavior. This theory has been successful in predicting factors related to chronic diseases, especially cancer. As this model was successful in assessing sun-protective behaviors in previous studies, this study was designed to figure out how a theory-based educational intervention can affect the skin cancer prevention practices of Iranian female high school students. Methods: This experimental investigation was carried out 2019-2020 using multistage cluster sampling method on 400 female high school students in Fasa, Fars, Iran. A questionnaire consisting of demographic data and a questionnaire including the components of the Theory of Planned Behavior was used to assess skin cancer preventative behaviors of both the trial and control groups of the study. An educational program based on the Theory of Planned Behavior was held for the experimental group for eight weeks regarding skin cancer preventive behaviors. The two groups completed questionnaires three months following the intervention for a second time. Results: The study's findings revealed that prior to the intervention, there was no considerable distinction between the two study groups with regard to knowledge, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intentions, and skin cancer prevention behaviors; yet, three months later, the experimental group demonstrated increases in each of the mentioned variables with a significant difference. In contrast, the control group showed no discernible difference. Conclusions: The findings of this investigation highlighted the success of the Theory of Planned Behavior for designing educational interventions aimed at encouraging skin cancer prevention in a population of female high school students.

Effect of educational intervention based on health belief model on accident prevention behaviours in mothers of children under 5-years.

BACKGROUND: As the public health problems, accidents are the most important causes of child mortality. The present study aimed to determine the effect of educational intervention based on health belief model on accident prevention behaviors in mothers of children under 5-years of age. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 200 mothers in Fasa city who were purposefully selected and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. Data collection tools were demographic characteristics and health belief model questionnaire. Questionnaires were completed twice before and 3 months after the intervention. After the pre-test, the educational intervention was performed through 6 sessions of 30-35 min in a WhatsApp group. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 through Chi-square test, independent t-test and paired t-test (p = 0.05). RESULTS: The mean age of mothers in the experimental and control groups was 30.14 ± 4.35 and 31.08 ± 4.31 years. Mean score of awareness, perceived sensitivity, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived self-efficacy, cues to action, and accident prevention behaviors significantly increased 3 months after the intervention. CONCLUSION: This study showed the effectiveness of educational intervention based on health belief model on accident prevention behaviors in mothers of children under 5-years of age.

Interleukin-23 Receptor Gene Variants in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Their Relation to Prognostic Factors.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-23 has an important role in tumor immune regulation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible association of interleukin-23 receptor (IL23R) gene variants rs1884444, rs10889677 and rs11209026 with development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: The IL23R variants were studied in 164 ALL patients and compared to 175 healthy controls by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The relationship between these variants and clinical and laboratory features of the patients and response to therapy were evaluated. RESULTS: No significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies existed between patients and controls. The rs1884444TG genotype was significantly lower in patients who relapsed (24.2%) compared to those without relapse (55.9%, p=0.006). Fewer patients who relapsed had evidence of the G allele (p=0.034). The TG genotype was associated with a longer complete remission at 1804±116 days compared to other genotypes (<1217 days, p=0.028), however, this result was not significant in multivariate analysis. The rs10889677 AA genotype and A allele were associated with age (p<0.041) and platelet number (p=0.03) in precursor-B cell ALL (B-ALL) patients. Both occurred more frequently in patients aged 2-10 years (63.6% and 66%, respectively) and in those with platelets >100×10ˆ3 µL (68.4% and 52.4%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our findings showed a lack of association of the studied polymorphisms with the risk of ALL. The influence of the rs1884444 polymorphism on relapse rate and association of rs10889677 AA genotype with favorable prognostic factors suggest the effect of the studied polymorphisms on ALL response to therapy and prognosis.

Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on serum levels of T-helper cytokines in children with asthma.

BACKGROUND: There has been a considerable interest in the potential therapeutic value of dietary supplementation with ω-3 fatty acids in patients with asthma. OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study was designed to identify the effect of ω-3 fatty acids on symptom score, pulmonary function and serum T-helper cytokine concentrations in children with mild to moderate persistent asthma. METHODS: A total of 39 patients among 50 volunteers completed this 3-month study. They took a soft gel capsule containing 180mg EPA and 120mg DHA daily. Pulmonary function was evaluated in 28 eligible patients by spirometry, and serum levels of Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17 and Th22 cytokines were measured by multiplex cytometric bead assay before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment with ω-3, symptom score improved in 28 (72%) patients. The results of spirometry showed remarkable improvement in FEV1/FVC (P=0.044) and PEF (P<0.0001) after treatment, but considering a cut-off of 80%, real improvement was observed in 32% of patients with PEF<80% which raised above the cut-off after ω-3 treatment (P=0.004) whereas, FEV1/FVC changes were above the cut-off value in 89% of the patients. After treatment, IL-17A and TNF-α levels decreased significantly (both P=0.049). CONCLUSION: Oral administration of natural anti-inflammatory products such as ω-3 is a promising complementary approach to managing asthma.

The role of burnout syndrome as a mediator for the effect of psychosocial risk factors on the intensity of musculoskeletal disorders: a structural equation modeling approach.

This study examined the hypothesis that burnout syndrome mediates effects of psychosocial risk factors and intensity of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among hospital nurses. The sample was composed of 415 nurses from various wards across five hospitals of Iran's Hamedan University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected through three questionnaires: job content questionnaire, Maslach burnout inventory and visual analogue scale. Results of structural equation modeling with a mediating effect showed that psychosocial risk factors were significantly related to changes in burnout, which in turn affects intensity of MSDs.

Hyaluronic acid compared with corticosteroid injections for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized control trail.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic condition of the joints that takes place when the cartilage or a low friction surface between joints breaks down which leads to pain, stiffness and swelling. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) in comparison to corticosteroids (CS) for knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: 140 patients with knee osteoarthritis, who were followed for 3 months, were randomized to receive intra-articular injection of either hyaluronic acid or corticosteroid. By receiving one injection of drug during the enrollment in the study, the patients were treated. With the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and the visual analog pain scale, an independent, blinded evaluator assessed the patients three times. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients in the corticosteroid group were 57 ± 1.9 years and in Hyaluronic acid group were 58.5 ± 8.3 years. WOMAC score represented that pain and stiffness did not improve in neither groups at any time points after intervention (P > 0.05). KOOS score suggested that symptoms improved after 3 months in both CS and HA groups. Besides, daily activity improved in both groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As a conclusion, it is argued that the most important difference between the two intervention groups is the duration of effectiveness. HA is suggested to be superior in the duration of pain relief when compared to CS. We can propose that HA can be administered every 3 months intra-articular for knee joint OA. Therefore, when CS has to be injected every 2 months, it will be more convenient to use HA.