Key components, formation pathways, affecting factors, and emerging analytical strategies for edible mushrooms aroma: A review

Aroma is one of the decisive factors affecting the quality and consumer acceptance of edible mushrooms. This review summarized the key components and formation pathways of edible mushroom aroma. It also elaborated on the affecting factors and emerging analytical strategies of edible mushroom aroma. A total of 1308 volatile organic compounds identified in edible mushrooms, 61 were key components. The formation of these compounds is closely related to fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, lentinic acid metabolism, and terpenoid metabolism. The aroma profiles of edible mushrooms were affected by genetic background, preharvest factors, and preservation methods. Molecular sensory science and omics techniques are emerging analytical strategies to reveal aroma information of edible mushrooms. This review would provide valuable data and insights for future research on edible mushroom aroma.

Investigation of pre-discharge learning needs and affecting factors in individuals with burns

BACKGROUND

In discharge phase process, supporting patients to develop their own self-care strategies will increase their self-management skills and reduce complications and other health problems that may arise.

AIM

The aim of the study is to examine the learning needs of individuals with burns regarding pre-discharge care and treatment and the factors affecting them.

METHOD

Data from this cross-sectional study was collected with the "Descriptive Characteristics Form" and "Patient Learning Needs Scale (PLNS)". The study population consisted of patients hospitalized in the adult burn unit of a university hospital in eastern Turkey between May and October 2021.

RESULTS

In the present study, it was observed that the pre-discharge learning needs of the patients were at a high level according to the mean score of the general score of the PLNS. Education level, marital status, companion experience and body mass index effected PLNS.

CONCLUSIONS

In light of the results, it is recommended that discharge training be planned individually and determined according to the individual's learning needs and affecting factors.

Effects of soil properties and land use patterns on the distribution of microplastics: A case study in southwest China

Microplastic pollution in the soil environment is of great concern. However, the current research on microplastics (MPs) in Southwest China mainly focuses on their distribution characteristics and sources in soil, making the understanding of the soil properties and land use patterns influencing soil MPs insufficient. In this study, the abundance and distribution characteristics of MPs in the soil of different land use patterns in Guizhou Province were determined. The results revealed that the average abundance of MPs in soils was 2936 items/kg, ranging from 780 to 9420 items/kg. The MPs were mainly small particle size (0-0.5 mm), granular, and black, accounting for 87.5%, 36.6%, and 82.2%, respectively. The most common polymer types of MPs were polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyethylene, which accounted for 20.4%, 16.8%, and 16.4%, respectively. As soil bulk density increased, microplastic abundance and small particle size decreased. Soil microplastic abundance slightly decreased with increasing soil porosity. The abundance of MPs increased with the increase in soil pH, but no significant correlation was observed between soil organic matter content and microplastic abundance. pH was the major factor that affected the microplastic distribution, which accounted for 32.5%. This study provides insight into the distribution and influencing factors of soil MPs and also provides a theoretical basis for subsequent research on soil microplastic pollution.

Affecting factors and mechanism of removing antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes by nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) and modified nZVI: A critical review

Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genetic pollution have become a global environmental and health concern recently, with frequent detection in various environmental media. Therefore, finding ways to control antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is urgently needed. Nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) has shown a positive effect on antibiotics degradation and restraining ARGs, making it a promising solution for controlling antibiotics and ARGs. However, given the current increasingly fragmented research focus and results, a comprehensive review is still lacking. In this work, we first introduce the origin and transmission of antibiotics and ARGs in various environmental media, and then discuss the affecting factors during the degradation of antibiotics and the control of ARGs by nZVI and modified nZVI, including pH, nZVI dose, and oxidant concentration, etc. Then, the mechanisms of antibiotic and ARGs removal promoted by nZVI are also summarized. In general, the mechanism of antibiotic degradation by nZVI mainly includes adsorption and reduction, while promoting the biodegradation of antibiotics by affecting the microbial community. nZVI can also be combined with persulfates to degrade antibiotics through advanced oxidation processes. For the control of ARGs, nZVI not only changes the microbial community structure, but also affects the proliferation of ARGs through affecting the fate of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Finally, some new ideas on the application of nZVI in the treatment of antibiotic resistance are proposed. This paper provides a reference for research and application in this field.

Ultrasound characteristics of normal parathyroid glands and analysis of the factors affecting their display

BACKGROUND

Parathyroid glands are important endocrine glands, and the identification of normal parathyroid glands is crucial for their protection. The aim of this study is to explore the sonographic characteristics of normal parathyroid glands and analyze the factors affecting their display.

METHODS

Seven hundred three subjects who underwent physical examination at our hospital were included. The number, location, size, morphology, echogenicity and blood flow distribution of parathyroid glands were recorded. The ultrasound characteristics and display rate were also summarized. Meanwhile, shear wave elastography was performed in 50 cases to provide the stiffness measurements, and 26 cases received contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for the assessment of microcirculatory perfusion. Furthermore, we analyzed the factors affecting parathyroid display, including basic information of the subjects and ultrasound features of the thyroid.

RESULTS

① A total of 1038 parathyroid glands were detected, among which, 79.29% were hyperechoic, 20.71% were isoechoic, 88.15% were oval-shaped, and 86.71% had blood flow of grade 0-I. ② 81.79% of the subjects had at least one parathyroid gland detected. ③ The Emean, Emax, PI and AUC of the parathyroid glands were significantly lower than those of the adjacent thyroid tissue (P < 0.05). ④ The display of normal parathyroid glands was related to BMI, thyroid echogenicity and thyroid volume of the subjects (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Normal parathyroid glands tend to appear as oval-shaped hyperechoic nodules with blood flow of grade 0-I. BMI, thyroid echogenicity and thyroid volume are independent factors affecting the display of parathyroid glands.

Transfer of antibiotic resistance genes from soil to wheat: Role of host bacteria, impact on seed-derived bacteria, and affecting factors

The transfer of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from soils to plants is poorly understood, especially the role of host bacteria in soils and its impact on seed-derived bacteria. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was thus used to fill the gap by conducting pot experiments, with target ARGs and bacterial community analyzed. Results showed that the relative abundances of target ARGs gradually decreased during transfer of ARGs from the rhizosphere soil to root and shoot. Host bacteria in the rhizosphere soil were the primary source of ARGs in wheat. The 38, 21, and 19 potential host bacterial genera of target ARGs and intI1 in the rhizosphere soil, root, and shoot were identified, respectively, and they mainly belonged to phylum Proteobacteria. The abundance of ARGs carried by pathogenic Corynebacterium was reduced in sequence. During transfer of ARGs from the rhizosphere soil to root and shoot, some seed-derived bacteria and pathogenic Acinetobacter obtained ARGs through horizontal gene transfer and became potential host bacteria. Furthermore, total organic carbon, available nitrogen of the rhizosphere soil, water use efficiency, vapor pressure deficit, and superoxide dismutase of plants were identified as the key factors affecting potential host bacteria transfer in soils to wheat. This work provides important insights into transfer of ARGs and deepens our understanding of potential health risks of ARGs from soils to plants.

Determining the factors affecting chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in children with cancer

PURPOSE

We evaluated the factors affecting chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in children with cancer.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted with 62 children aged 9 to 18 years old with a solid tumor who received chemotherapy for the first time, and their parents. Data were collected using a data collection form, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Baxter Retching Faces Scale. Data were analyzed using Spearman's correlation and logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Risk factors related to the child, treatment, and parent were examined. Child-related factors were determined as diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] = 5.5), time since diagnosis (OR = 1.9, OR = 4.7), pretreatment anxiety of the child (r = 0.439, r = 0.422), and past experience of nausea and vomiting before treatment (OR = 1.2). Treatment-related factors involved anti-emetic prophylaxis (OR = 4.9, OR = 9.2). Parent-related factors included pretreatment anxiety of the parent (r = 0.271, r = 0.287), accommodation (OR = 5.5), not eating (OR = 1.2, OR = 1.3), and bad smell (OR = 1.2), which were described amongst parents' as factors that trigger CINV.

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence of CINV is significantly affected by child-, treatment-, and parent-related risk factors.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Pediatric nurses should create an environment for children and their parents to reduce their anxiety and provide basic knowledge and skills about the management of CINV.

Fertility intention and its affecting factors in China: A national cross-sectional survey

Introduction

Low fertility rate has become an inevitable problem globally. Although current policies have a certain effect on promoting fertility and raising the birth rate, the overall effect is not obvious to meet the need. Therefore, the exploration of fertility intention and its affecting factors is extremely significant.

Methods

This study collected demographic data and the intention of respondents to have a second children, which focused on the factors that could affect fertility issues. 11,031 respondents were divided into non-fertile group (n = 5062) and fertile group (n = 5969) according to whether they had children or not, and the fertility group (n = 5969) were divided into group with 1-2 children (n = 5293) and group with ≥3 children (n = 676) according to the number of children. Non-fertility respondents aged 26-40 (n = 1369) were divided to explore the factors affecting the second-children intention. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the affecting factors.

Results

It was revealed that gender [Male: OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.54-0.68], age [26-40: OR: 16.0, 95% CI: 13.4-19.1; 41-60: OR: 233.8, 95% CI: 186.7-292.6; >60: OR: 105.6, 95% CI: 77.1-144.6], political status [Partisans: OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.42-0.54], highest educational level [Middle school: OR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.17-0.26; College degree or above: OR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.08-0.11], whether having chronic disease [Yes: OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.60-2.38] and depression [Mild depression: OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.56-0.72; Moderate depression: OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.36-0.53; Moderate to severe depression: OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.35-0.57; Severe depression: OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.33-0.74] were important factors affecting fertility intention. We found that age [26-40: OR: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.08-0.15; 41-60: OR: 0.15, 95% CI: 0.12-0.18; >60: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.66-0.99], region [Central China: OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.20-1.86; Western China: OR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.41-2.18], resident place [Urban: OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.49-0.72], per capita monthly household income [6001-12000: OR: 0.63, 95% CI:0.46-0.83; ≥12,000: OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.20-2.80], political status [Non-partisans: OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.09-0.69], highest educational level [Middle school: OR: 0.36, 95%CI: 0.27-0.46; College degree or above: OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.17-0.30] and anxiety [Moderate anxiety: OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.04-1.88; Severe anxiety: OR: 2.19, 95% CI: 1.26-3.80] were the main affecting factors for choosing the number of children. Furthermore, the second-children intention investigation in respondents aged 26-40 showed that gender [Male: OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.67-2.53], resident place [Urban: OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.49-0.72], per capita monthly household income [≥12,000: OR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.23-2.82] and pressure [Severe pressure: OR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.34-0.85] were the important factors.

Conclusion

Region, educational level, psychological factors, income, political status and medical insurance were the important factors affecting the intention of fertility and the number of children. The government should take these factors into account when optimizing the existing policy.

Mechanism analysis of influencing factors on financing efficiency of strategic emerging industries under the "dual carbon" background: evidence from China

In order to deal with severe problems such as environmental pollution and climate change, the Chinese government has proposed the goal of carbon neutrality in 2030 and carbon peak in 2060. Strategic emerging industries have become key areas of high-quality growth of green economy. In order to solve the practical problems of insufficient funds and financing constraints, this paper empirically measures the financing efficiency of strategic emerging industries. Based on the Super Slack-Based Measure model, this paper selects the data analysis of listed companies in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei from 2011 to 2020. At the same time, this paper systematically combs the index system that affects financing efficiency based on grounded theory. Based on the binary relation and structural level of adjacent matrix and reachable matrix, the explanatory analysis is carried out. On this basis, a systematic GMM model is established to explore the significance of different factors influencing financing efficiency. The research shows that the strategic emerging industry is still in the initial stage, the financing efficiency is not high and the financing output is insufficient. The factors affecting financing efficiency can be divided into 6 dimensions, 20 indicators in total and 5 multipole hierarchical levels. Credit financing, equity financing, financing constraints, technological innovation and government support are the important factors affecting financing efficiency.

Anxiety during the pregnancy and affecting factors: a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

Studies have shown that anxiety in the perinatal period leads to preterm birth and negatively affects mother and fetus. Understanding prenatal anxiety and associated factors may help develop screening strategies to identify high-risk women needing intervention during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to determine the pregnancy-related, state, and trait anxiety in the prenatal period and affecting factors.

METHODS

This descriptive study was conducted with 203 pregnant women between May 20 and November 30, 2019. Data were collected using socio-demographic and obstetrics characteristics data collection form, Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire-Revised-2 (PRAQ-R2), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-I and II (STAI-I and STAI-II).

RESULTS

We found statistically significant correlations between age, employment, and parity with fear of giving birth subscale of PRAQ-R2. Pregnant women's mean scale scores were 35.42 ± 9.11 for STAI-I, 42.21 ± 8.21 for STAI-II, and 25.63 ± 8.58 for PRAQ-R2. We found a positive correlation between PRAQ-R2 scale scores and STAI-I, STAI-II scale scores of pregnant women.

CONCLUSIONS

Age, parity, income, planning status of the pregnancy, and employment status affected the anxiety levels of pregnant women. Assessing the anxiety with multiple validated tools helps clarify the cause of the anxiety and allows to plan appropriate interventions.

Structure, mechanism, and toxicity in antibiotics metal complexation: Recent advances and perspectives

Antibiotic-metal complexes (AMCs) formed by antibiotics and metal ions have attracted considerable attentions in recent years. Although different removal methods for AMCs have been reported in the literature, very few investigations have focused on the mechanisms and toxic effects of antibiotic-metal coordination. This review briefly describes the structural characteristics of various commonly used antibiotics and the coordination mechanisms with metal ions. Considering the complexity of the real environment, various environmental factors affecting AMC formation are highlighted. The effects of AMCs on microbial community structure and the role of metal ions in influencing resistant genes from the molecular perspective are of interest within this work. The toxicities and mechanisms of AMCs on different species of biota are also discussed. These findings underline the need for more targeted detection and analysis methods and more suitable toxicity markers to verify the combination of antibiotics with metal ions and reveal environmental toxicities in future. This review presents an innovative idea that antibiotics combined with metal ions will change the toxicity and environmental behavior of antibiotics.

Biological and Intracellular Fates of Drug Nanocrystals through Different Delivery Routes: Recent Development Enabled by Bioimaging and PK Modeling

Nanocrystals have contributed to exciting improvements in the delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs. The biological and intracellular fates of nanocrystals are currently under debate. Due to the remarkable commercial success in enhancing oral bioavailability, nanocrystals have originally been regarded as a simple formulation approach to enhance dissolution. However, the latest findings from novel bioimaging tools lead to an expanded view. Intact nanocrystals may offer long-term durability in the body and offer drug delivery capabilities like those of other nano-carriers. This review renews the understanding of the biological fates of nanocrystals administered via oral, intravenous, and parenteral (e.g., dermal, ocular, and pulmonary) routes. The intracellular pathways and dissolution kinetics of nanocrystals are explored. Additionally, the future trends for in vitro and in vivo quantification of nanocrystals, as well as factors impacting the biological and intracellular fates of nanocrystals are discussed. In conclusion, nanocrystals present a promising and underexplored therapeutic opportunity with immense potential.

A review on water intake in dairy cattle: associated factors, management practices, and corresponding effects

In this changing climate scenario, the availability of potable water has become scarce for both humans and animals in many parts of the world. Continuous supply of water is crucial for animals' life as well as different body and sanitary maintenance needs. Water availability has a direct and indirect role in clenching thirst, feeding, cleaning of animals and their environment, and other dairy operations. Water intake by dairy animals is affected by several factors including body weight of animals, genetic makeup, dry matter intake, mineral content of feed offered, milk productivity, environmental conditions, and water temperature. Behavioral patterns of dairy animals are adversely affected by restriction of water supply to them. Researchers have recommended that ad libitum water supply should be assured to the farm animals to avoid any negative effect on their health and performances. In the recent years, there is growing interest in quantifying the effects of restricted water supply to dairy animals. Many studies have demonstrated that the availability of potable water for animals will be a great challenge soon. Therefore, the present review paper has been formulated to gain better understanding of the factors affecting water intake in dairy animals and management strategies to ensure availability of water resources essential for their health, production, and well-being.

Spatiotemporal variation and sources of soil heavy metals along the lower reaches of Yangtze River, China

Excessive accumulation of soil heavy metals (HMs) result in the deterioration of soil quality and reduction of agricultural productivity and safety. The accumulation status, temporal change, and sources of soil HMs were determined by large-scale field surveys in 2014 and 2019 in rapid urbanization and industrialization area along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China. Eighty-two surface soil samples were collected in 2014 and ninety-five surface soil samples and seven soil profiles (0-100 cm) were collected in 2019. The mean concentrations (in, mg kg^-1) of As (10.17), Cd (0.33), Cr (86.38), Cu (38.22), Hg (0.11), Ni (37.67), Pb (43.95), and Zn (113.15) were greater than the corresponding background values. The concentrations of these 8 HMs significantly varied with site-specific distributions depending on nearby landscape patterns with decreasing order: agricultural soil around industrial > agricultural soil > fallow soil. Cd and Hg were found to be priority pollutants due to their greater accumulations in this study area. Combined analyses of principal component analysis and positive matrix factorization model addressed source apportionment of soil HMs. Industrial activities, parent materials, and agricultural and traffic activities were three major sources and their contributions were 35.56%, 35.20%, and 29.23%, respectively. The concentrations of soil As, Cd, Cr and Pb increased with time. This study elucidates how changes in land uses and time affect soil HMs and provides reasonable suggestions for the effective reduction of HM contamination in economically and industrially developed areas of China, and elsewhere.

A review on rice yellowing: Physicochemical properties, affecting factors, and mechanism

Yellowing is a critical issue that reduces quality and commodity value of rice. This article presents an overview on rice yellowing and the mechanism of rice yellowing was addressed as the emphasis. The change of physicochemical and nutritive properties in yellowed rice depends on the exposure temperature and time, as well as rice cultivar. The temperature and moisture on rice yellowing were dominant. There is no consensus on the relationship between microorganisms and rice yellowing. The occurrence of yellowing is mainly associated with heat stress induced by heaping heat or respiration of grain, and the yellowing is the collective result of primary and secondary metabolism. The upregulation of flavonoids is the direct cause of rice yellowing, which can be used as metabolic markers of rice yellowing. The Maillard reaction also contributes to yellowing during storage. Aeration and cooling are recommended to lessen the occurring of rice yellowing during commercial storage.

Occurrence, distribution and affecting factors of microplastics in agricultural soils along the lower reaches of Yangtze River, China

Microplastics become one of the serious persistent pollutants in terrestrial environments, and thus may represent a threat to the quality of soil and inhabiting organisms. It is imperative to understand occurrence and distribution of microplastics in soils. In this study, a large-scale field survey encompassing 85 locations along the lower reaches of Yangtze River and estuary was performed to investigate the microplastics abundance in agricultural soils. Microplastics were isolated from all the samples and all depths (0-80 cm). The microplastics abundance in soils ranged from 4.94 items/kg to 252.70 items/kg, with an average of 37.32 items/kg. The most common microplastic type detected was Polypropylene (PP) occurring as white fragments with sizes ranging from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. Abiotic parameters such as soil pH and texture were the general factors being associated with microplastic abundance. Meantime, traffic was indicated as one important factor to affect the microplastic abundance. Overall, the road input seems to be the main source of microplastic pollution in agricultural areas along the Yangtze River and estuary. Further studies should elucidate the original of the plastic fragments in order to establish a baseline for regulative initiatives securing environmental protection.

Formation and influence factors of halonitromethanes in chlorination of nitro-aromatic compounds

Halonitromethanes (HNMs), typical nitrogenous disinfection byproducts generated during disinfection of chlorination and chloramination, are widely detected in drinking water. This study investigated the formation of two dominant HNMs, trichloronitromethane (TCNM) and dichloronitromethane (DCNM) during chlorination/chloramination of ten nitro-aromatic compounds (NACs), including six aromatic mono-nitro compounds, three aromatic di-nitro compounds and one aromatic tri-nitro compound. The results showed that 2-nitrophenol and 3-nitrophenol could be the main precursors of TCNM and DCNM, and the yields of TCNM were one order of magnitude higher than that of DCNM. HNMs formation in chlorination was much higher than that in chloramination. However, HNMs were hardly produced during chlorination and chloramination of the other eight NACs. In chlorination of 2-nitrophenol, a pH range of 5.0-7.0 facilitated the TCNM formation. Besides, the concentration of ferric and manganese ions had different influences on TCNM formation. While the concentration ranges were 0-2 mg/L, ferric ion significantly decreased TCNM formation but manganese ion had not any influence on TCNM formation. Contrary to a previous finding, nitrite significantly reduced TCNM formation, which implied that nitrite has different effects on TCNM formation from various precursors. Moreover, dissolved organic matter (DOM, 0-5 mg/L as C) significantly influenced the formation of TCNM in chlorination of 2-nitrophenol despite the low TCNM formation in chlorination of DOM. Several chlorinated intermediates were detected and identified as mono/di/tri-chloro-2-nitrophenol during chlorination of 2-nitrophenol. It is effectively to reduce the production of TCNM and DCNM formation from chlorination of 2-nitrophenol by controlling disinfection conditions in drinking water.

Seasonal concentration variation and potential influencing factors of organophosphorus flame retardants in a wastewater treatment plant

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in both of water and sludge phase of influent and effluent of the STP were investigated in Beijing of China in five seasons. Total OPFRs concentrations in water phase of influent in five seasons were between 600 and 838 ng/L, where total OPFRs concentration was the lowest in summer of 2018. In water phase of influent and effluent, two chlorinated OPFRs (TCEP and TCPP) were major. Alkyl OPFRs decreased the most in water phase from influent to effluent. In sludge phase, the OPFRs amounts in winter were the lowest. The main OPFRs in sludge phase were TEHP and EHDP, which can be explained by the two OPFRs properties (log K_ow and log K_oc). Higher the values of the log K_ow and log K_oc of OPFRs, more amounts in sludge phase. The mass flow of OPFRs in influent were analysed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA), indicating that the influent amounts of TCEP, TDCP, TCPP and DCP were main OPFRs in four seasons to influence the characteristics of influent. Compared to OPFRs reduction in some STPs in other countries, alkyl and aryl OPFRs reduction rates were higher than chlorinated OPFRs. TBEP, TEHP and TPHP can always be effectively removed in different seasons and different STPs. The analysis methods of Pearson correlation and linear correlation were processed to check the possible factors affecting OPFRs reduction in STP. OPFRs reduction was related to some STP working parameters. Significant correlation also was found between OPFRs properties and reduction.

Long-Term Prognosis of Tinnitus Associated with Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the factors affecting the long-term prognosis of tinnitus accompanied by unilateral idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).

METHODS

A total of 161 patients with sudden hearing loss (HL) accompanied by tinnitus were enrolled. All patients had two separate telephone follow-ups and were asked about changes in tinnitus. The severity of tinnitus at admission and the outcome at discharge were assessed in terms of the patients' sex, age, level of HL, type of audiogram, etc. Results: The prognosis of tinnitus after SSNHL had no relationship with grades of HL or hearing recovery. Initial tinnitus level was remarkably associated with tinnitus improvement at discharge and was an independent risk factor for the long-term prognosis of residual tinnitus after SSNHL (odds ratio 0.722, 95% confidence interval 0.550-0.949, p = 0.019), and the median recovery time was 23.00 ± 3.80 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Residual tinnitus after SSNHL has a tendency of self-recovery. The short-term prognosis of tinnitus may be related to psychological changes caused by hearing recovery, while the long-term prognosis of residual tinnitus after SSNHL is related only to the initial tinnitus level, with a median recovery time of approximately 2 years.

Enhanced visible light photoelectrocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride by I and P co-doped TiO2 photoelectrode

Elimination of antibiotics such as tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) from wastewater is of great significance, but still faces challenges. Herein, for the first time, I and P co-doped TiO₂ catalysts were prepared via a hydrolysis method. We also reported a simple method to prepare I and P co-doped TiO₂ photoelectrodes, which exhibited preeminent photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) performance for the decomposition of TC. The synergistic effect of I and P co-doping could significantly improve the charge separation rate and enhance the light absorption capacity of TiO₂, leading to an enhancement of PEC activity. The main factors affecting the PEC performance were investigated, and the highest degradation rate constant (4.20 × 10^-2 min^-1) was achieved when the doping content of P was 4 at% (ITP-4 photoelectrode) at pH 11.02 under visible light. The Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model and active species trapping experiments were selected to investigate the degradation mechanism of TC. The results suggest that the hydroxyl radicals and photogenerated holes were the main active species that were responsible for the decomposition of TC. Moreover, the degradation pathways of TC based on the intermediates also demonstrated that the hydroxyl radicals and holes showed a principal role in degrading TC.

Volumetric changes of transferred free anterolateral thigh flaps in head and neck lesions

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to clarify sequential volumetric changes of anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps transferred to head and neck lesions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed volumetric changes in fat and muscle of 22 ALT flaps. We assessed "true" flap volume using the water-displacement method intraoperatively. Postoperative flap volume was assessed using three-dimensional volume-calculating software.

RESULTS

The average duration until the entire flap volume decreased to its minimal size was 8.7 months. After 8.7 months, entire flap volume decreased to 47.4% of its initial intraoperative volume. The fat volume decreased to 62.5%, and the muscle volume decreased to 30.2%. The rate of muscle volume decrease was significantly larger than that of fat volume decrease (p<0.005). The only significant factor which affected entire flap volume decrease was the recipient site where the ALT flap was transferred (oral and pharyngeal lesions) (p=0.001), and the factor that affected fat volume decrease was postoperative body-weight loss (p=0.046).

CONCLUSION

To minimize the influence of postoperative ALT flap volume decrease, an ALT flap should mainly comprise fatty tissue, and its size should be 1.6-times larger (100/62.5) than the ideal volume intraoperatively. Maintaining the body weight is crucial to avoid ALT flap volume decrease.

Perceived mental health, wellbeing and associated factors among Nepali male migrant and non-migrant workers: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Poor mental health and illness among the working population have serious socioeconomic and public health consequences for both the individual and society/country. With a dramatic increase in work migration over the past decades, there is recent concern about the health and wellbeing of migrant workers and their accessibility to healthcare services in destination countries. This study aimed to explore the mental health and wellbeing experiences of Nepali male returnee-migrants and non-migrant workers, and their perceptions about risk factors for poor health and health service accessibility.

METHODS

This qualitative study was conducted among Nepali migrant and non-migrant workers in February 2020. Four focus group discussions comprising 25 men and a total of 15 in-depth interviews were conducted with male non-migrant and returnee migrant workers from Gulf countries and Malaysia. The discussions and interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated into English and analysed thematically.

RESULT

Migrant workers reported a higher risk of developing adverse mental health conditions than non-migrant workers. In addition, fever, upper respiratory infection, abdominal pain, ulcer, and occupational injuries were common health problems among both migrant and non-migrant workers. Other major illnesses reported by the migrant workers were heat burns and rashes, snake-bites, dengue, malaria, gallstone, kidney failure, and sexually transmitted diseases, while non-migrants reported hypertension, diabetes, and heart diseases. Adverse living and working conditions including exploitation and abuse by employers, lack of privacy and congested accommodation, language barriers, long hours' hard physical work without breaks, and unhealthy lifestyles were the contributing factors to migrant workers' poor mental and physical health. Both migrant and non-migrants reported poor compliance of job conditions and labor protection by their employers such as application of safety measures at work, provision of insurance and healthcare facilities that affected for their wellbeing negatively. Family problems compounded by constant financial burdens and unmet expectations were the most important factors linked with migrant workers' poor mental health.

CONCLUSION

Both migrant and non-migrant workers experienced poor mental and physical health, largely affected by their adverse living and working conditions, unmet familial and financial needs and unhealthy life styles. Greater compliance is needed by employers of work agreements and the promotion of labor rights for worker's health and safety. In addition, policy interventions to raise awareness about occupational health risks and effective safety training for all workers (migrant and non-migrant) are recommended.

Transmission routes of human immunodeficiency virus and affecting factors

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first reported more than 30 years ago among homosexuals in the United States. The epidemiology of this disease indicates that there are three modes of transmission: Blood, mother-to-child, and sexual contact transmission. The pathogen of AIDS is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), primarily HIV-1. HIV-1 could not break through the structurally and functionally integral skin, and primarily invades the human body through the mucosa irrespective of their integrity. Therefore, the mucosae are the natural transmission routes for HIV-1. The mucosae involved in HIV-1 transmission include the mucosae of the gastrointestinal tract and the urogenital tract. The risks of HIV-1 transmission vary significantly between mucosal sites and individuals, and are associated with mucosal integrity, abundance of target cells, immune status of the host, commensal microbes, and host genetic background. Many factors are closely related to the barrier function of the mucosa, and studies on their roles in HIV-1 invasion could promote the prevention and control of mucosal transmission of HIV-1.

Aflatoxin M1 prevalence in breast milk in Morocco: Associated factors and health risk assessment of newborns "CONTAMILK study"

The aim of this study was to assess the contamination of breast milk by aflatoxin M1 among nursing mothers from Rabat, Morocco, and to explore its association with several maternal parameters and dietary habits. In addition, the health risk assessment of the newborns by the estimation of the daily intake. A competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay method was used for the analysis of aflatoxin M1 in breast milk samples. Analytical results indicate that out of 82 total samples, 43 samples (52.4%) of milk were positive. Aflatoxin M1 levels ranged from undetectable to 13.33 ng/L, while the mean level was 5.75 ± 3.44 ng/L. Besides, several factors and foodstuffs seem to increase the level of AFM1 in breast milk. As regards the estimated daily intake of aflatoxin M1, it varies between immeasurable and a maximum of 1.16 ng/kg.bw. The degree of exposure to AFB1 and the levels of its metabolite AFM1 in breast milk were low, compared to some studies from other countries. Further investigations and periodic monitoring programs are recommended in large samples and in many cities of morocco to assess the level of exposure of the Moroccan population.

Serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels and affecting factors among preconception fertile women

Background

Recent study found that vitamin D before conception was considered as a potential additional determinant for achieving pregnancy and live births. The study aimed to evaluate the serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and its affecting factors among preconception fertile women.

Methods

This cross-sectional study enrolled 410 women aged 22–44 years who attended a preconception genetic counseling clinic from January 2018 to May 2019. Sociodemographic characteristics and reproductive history of women were collected, and height and weight were measured. Serum 25(OH)D concentration was assayed with chemiluminescence immunoassay. Descriptive statistics were used to examine serum 25(OH)D concentration, and socio-demographic characteristics and reproductive history among preconception women. Determinants of vitamin D deficiency and its affecting factors were assessed using χ2 test and logistic regression.

Results

Findings showed 84.4% of women had serum 25(OH)D concentration below 20 ng/mL. Women working indoors as well as without a history of childbirth had significantly lower 25(OH)D levels compared with those non-working individuals and having delivered a previous child (both P < 0.05). The 25(OH)D levels were the lowest in winter among that in spring, summer, and autumn (all P < 0.001). Women in winter have significantly elevated OR of 5.00 (95%CI 1.75–14.25) to develop vitamin D deficiency. Seasonal variation in serum 25(OH)D levels was not present in non-working individuals and women aged 31–44 years.

Conclusions

Vitamin D deficiency is common among preconception women especially nulliparous women and working women, which propose to screen serum 25(OH)D on preconception evaluation and emphasize need vitamin D supplements and get sunshine exposure.

Inhibition of fruit softening by cold plasma treatments: affecting factors and applications

Softening is a common phenomenon of texture changes associated with plant cell walls, inducing a decrease in the quality of fruit. Inhibiting the softening is effective to extend the shelf life of fruit. Cold plasma (CP), as a novel nonthermal technology, has been applied to keep the freshness of the fruit. This review centers on applying cold plasma treatments to the inhibition of fruit softening. Different pathways for inhibiting fruit softening by CP treatments, including maintenance of fruit firmness, reduction in the activities of enzymes, inactivation of fungal pathogens and lowering of respiration rates, are discussed. The biochemistry of fruit softening and the fundamental of cold plasma are also presented. In general, among all postharvest technologies, cold plasma is a promising method with many advantages, showing great potential in maintaining the quality and inhibiting the softening of the fruit. Future work should focus on process optimization to achieve better results in maintaining fruit freshness, and commercial applications of cold plasma technology should also be explored.

[Quality of life of 22 patients with type 1 Gaucher disease after enzyme replacement therapy]

Objective: To investigate the living status and quality of life (QOL) in type1 Gaucher disease (GD1) patients who underwent long-term enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) and identify possible relevant factors affecting QOL. Methods: Clinical data and SF-36 questionnaires were recorded in 22 adult GD1 patients under regular ERT at Peking Union Medical Colleague Hospital (PUMCH) from January 1995 to June 2017. Results: 13 males and 9 females were included in this study. The current median age, age at diagnosis and initial time of ERT were 41 (24-52) , 6 (1-38) and 26 (6-41) years respectively. Of these patients, 68.2% was living in less-developed regions, 86.4% were under college education, and 77.3% had personal annual income less than ¥30 000 RMB. Though after a median 16 (7-22) years of ERT, the QOL of GD1 patients was still significantly worse (P<0.05) compared with normal Chinese population based on SF-36 questionnaires. History of splenectomy was a negative factor of QOL, mainly in physical health (P<0.05) . Patients could get benefit from early start of ERT in both physical and mental health (P<0.05) . Mental health was not affected by history of splenectomy and related bone diseases. Conclusion: Most adult GD1 patients at PUMCH reside in less-developed regions and have low levels of education and annual income. History of splenectomy and time to start ERT are two important factors affecting QOL. Chinese adult GD1 patients are associated with reduced QOL, even after long-term ERT.

Determinants of quality of life among pregnant women in the city centre of the Central Anatolia region of Turkey

Background

To evaluate the quality of life in pregnancy is very important because of the changes in the female body during pregnancy. Quality of life should be evaluated in terms of health protection during pregnancy, prevention of health problems and treatment.

Aims

The aim of this study is to determine the quality of life and the affecting factors by trimesters of pregnancy.

Methods

The population of this cross-sectional study consisted of pregnant women in a city center of the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. The study included 12 districts across a range of socioeconomic structures. Every district was selected by a simple random sampling method. The study was conducted by the researchers in the home of pregnant women by face to face interview method. The data were collected using "Personal Information Form" and "Quality of Life Scale". The total sample consisted of 1010 pregnant women, 192 of which were in first trimester, 277 of which were in second trimester and 541 of which were in third trimester. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).

Results

There was no statistically significant difference between trimesters in physical domain (P = 0.96), mental domain (P = 0.94) and social domain (P = 0.47) of quality of life scale and there was a difference only in environmental domain (P = 0.02). The lowest quality of life in all three trimesters was found to be in physical domain.

Conclusion

There was no statistically significant difference between trimesters in physical, mental and social domains of quality of life scale and there was a difference only in environmental domain. The lowest quality of life scores in all three trimesters were in the physical domain. The quality of life of pregnant women differed according to the trimesters and some sub-dimensions of quality of life of pregnant women were negatively affected in all three timester.

Removal of As (V) from the aqueous solution by a modified granular ferric hydroxide adsorbent

A novel adsorbent was prepared in granular form from iron (III) hydroxide and other additives to remove arsenate (As (V)) from aqueous solution. Adsorption of As (V) onto the adsorbent in batch experiments was analyzed to understand the adsorption mechanism, affecting factors, and adsorption isotherms. The optimal working conditions for the developed adsorbent were at pH 3, 30 °C and 50 g/L. The adsorption of arsenate onto the adsorbent occurred rapidly in the first 10 min and reached equilibrium in 2 h. The Langmuir isotherm was found to be best fitted the adsorption. The pre- and post-adsorption adsorbents were characterized by SEM, BET, FTIR, XRD, and Zeta potential techniques. Experimental results clearly demonstrated the potential impact of elemental composition, crystallinity, surface morphology, and other physico-chemical properties of the adsorbent on the adsorption performance variety. The experimental results with the pilot scale treatment system revealed that the adsorbent can be applied successfully and lead to a very efficient drinking water treatment system, at a competitive cost compared to the water market in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Systematic Review of the Literature of Factors Affecting the Exposure and the Levels of Lead in Human Breast Milk

Human milk may sometimes contain chemical contaminants, which could have adverse effects on neonates or nursing infants. Lead (Pb) is of considerable interest due to its toxicity and occurrence. Furthermore, it has been suggested that human milk is a significant potential source of lead exposure to nursing infants. A systematic literature search in PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases was performed to identify relevant studies, published in English until 2017, that investigated and explored common factors affecting the level of lead in human milk among lactating women around the world. Forty-nine papers were rated and explored the effect of one or several factors on the level of lead in human milk from 28 countries and carried out over a wide time frame from 1983 to 2017 and through Europe, Asia, America, and Africa, reviewing more than 5,000 subjects. Place of residence, maternal age, stage of lactation, smoking habits, maternal dietary intakes, and parity were the mostly assessed factors among the studies and considered as the main factors affecting Pb levels in BM. Other factors were not studied well enough and considered minor because few surveys evaluated their impacts. However, the literature findings are very controversial.

Factors affecting pain in patients undergoing bilateral cataract surgery

PURPOSE

To compare the perceived pain and estimated operative duration among patients undergoing bilateral cataract surgery and to demonstrate correlations with the surgical interval and the demographic and medical characteristics of the patients.

METHODS

A total of 466 patients with cataract who underwent ocular surgery were included. The patients estimated the perceived operative duration and pain they felt during the operation at two times, immediately after surgery and on the first postoperative day; pain was scored using a visual analog scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (unbearable pain). Patients undergoing bilateral surgeries were divided into four subgroups based on the interval between the two operations (1, 2, 4, or 6 weeks). The perceived pain score and the estimated operative duration were the primary outcomes.

RESULTS

The pain scores were higher for the second surgery than for the first surgery both immediately after surgery (P = 0.043) and on the first postoperative day (P = 0.002). The estimated operative duration was longer for the second surgery (P = 0.001). Only patients who underwent the second surgery at an interval of 2 weeks perceived more pain both immediately and 1 day postoperatively (P = 0.002, P = 0.022) and a longer operative duration (P < 0.001). Gender, age, and education level might also influence the pain score.

CONCLUSIONS

Female patients, patients with a younger age, and patients with higher education level are likely to report more pain. Patients who require bilateral cataract surgery should not undergo the second surgery before an interval of 2 weeks.

Organophosphate flame retardants in total suspended particulates from an urban area of zhengzhou, China: Temporal variations, potential affecting factors, and health risk assessment

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are widely used as flame retardants and plasticizers in industry and daily life, but the partition of OPEs to particles is still unclear because of the wide range of their physicochemical properties. In this study, six target OPEs with different vapor pressures (log P_L) were measured from 30 total suspended particulate (TSP) samples collected from an urban area of Zhengzhou from June to November in 2018. The total concentration of OPEs ranged from 0.30 to 3.46 ng/m³, with average concentration of 1.04 ng/m³. Tris (chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCPP), and tributyl phosphate (TnBP) were most abundant in TSP, accounting for approximately 86.0% to the total OPEs. The temporal variations showed a specific trend that OPE concentrations in TSP were much higher in autumn than those of summer. Significant positive correlations were observed between TSP concentration in air and the total concentration of OPEs in TSP, with r up to 0.596. Particle concentrations caused major changes on OPE concentrations in TSP with octanol-air partition coefficient (log K_OA) between 7.7 and 10 but had no significant influence on the OPEs with log K_OA higher than 12. Temperature had significant influence on the total and individual OPEs with high vapor pressures (log P_L > -4.0), indicating that log K_OA and log P_L had significant influence on the OPE concentrations in TSP and may be one of the key factors on their temporal variations. Temperature had significant influence on OPE concentrations in TSP due to the strong temperature dependency of log K_OA and log P_L. No significant relationships were found between the wind speed and OPE concentrations in TSP, suggesting that OPEs detected in TSP might be emitted from the local sources. The hazards quotient (HQ) values were 6-8 orders of magnitude lower than 1, indicating that there was a low risk to local residents from the exposure to OPEs in TSP. This study preliminarily illuminates the potential affecting factors on the temporal variations of OPEs in TSP. It would be helpful for investigating the gas-particle partitioning behaviors and human health risks of OPEs in air.

Fate of pharmaceuticals during membrane bioreactor treatment: Status and perspectives

Pharmaceuticals in surface waters and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as emerging pollutants have become a major concern. In comparison with other wastewater treatments, removal of pharmaceuticals in MBR has received much attention. This review presents the source and occurrence of pharmaceuticals in WWTPs influents. Experimental studies related to the removal of pharmaceuticals during MBR treatment, key affecting factors (including the different stages of MBR process configuration and the process parameters), and the underlying mechanisms proposed to explain the biodegradation and adsorption behaviors, have been comprehensively discussed. Several transformation products of pharmaceuticals are also reviewed in this paper. Furthermore, further research is needed to gain more information about the multiple influence factors of the pharmaceuticals elimination, appropriate methods for promoting pharmaceuticals elimination, more essential removal pathways, effect of pharmaceuticals on membrane fouling, and the detection and analysis of transformation products.

[Current status of job burnout in clinical nurses in a grade A tertiary hospital and related influencing factors]

Objective: To investigate the current status of job burnout in clinical nurses in a grade A tertiary hospitalin Shaoxing,China and related influencing factors. Methods: In October 2016, the Nursing Burnout Scale (NBS)was used for the investigation of 304 clinical nurses in a grade A tertiary hospital.The contents of the investigation included general data(including age,education background,working years,marital status, frequency of night shifts,professional title, and way of employment), characteristics of working environment,burnout, personality characteristics,coping strategy,and psychosomatic symptoms.SPSS 18.0 was used to conduct Pearson correlation analysis of the scores of each dimension of NBS. A multivariate regression analysis was performed with the demographic features of clinical nurses as the independent variable and the scores of each dimension of NBS as the dependent variable. Results: Among the clinical nurses in this grade A tertiary hospital, the incidence rate of severe burnout was 74%.The Pearson correlation analysis showed that burnout,pessimistic personality,negative coping,and psychosomatic symptoms were positively correlated with working environment(r=0.530,0.316,0.116,and 0.502); pessimistic personality and psychosomatic symptoms were positively correlated with burnout(r=0.618 and 0.675); psychosomatic symptoms were positively correlated withpessimistic personality(r=0.540); negative coping was negatively correlated with pessimistic personality(r=-0.145).The multivariate linear regression analysis showed that department(Department of Internal Medicine or Department of Surgery,B=-0.364 and -0.428)and frequency of night shifts(<6 times/month and 6-10 times/month,B=0.199 and 0.256)were influencing factors for the score of working environment; department(Department of Internal Medicine or Department of Surgery, B=-0.350 and -0.360)was an influencing factor for the score of burnout; 1-3 working years(B=-0.238)was an influencing factor for the score of pessimistic personality; married state,1-3 working years,and department (Department of Internal Medicine or Department of Surgery)were influencing factors for the score of psychosomatic symptoms(B=0.263,-0.301,-0.322,and -0.391). Conclusion: There is a high incidence rate of job burnout among clinical nurses in this grade A tertiary hospital,which is associated with burnout,working environment, pessimistic personality,and psychosomatic symptoms.Marital status,working years,department,and frequency of night shifts are major influencing factors for job burnout.

Domestic violence against women in Turkey

OBJECTIVE

To identify the prevalence of domestic violence and the factors that influence domestic violence.

METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive research design was used with data from 1481 women over 18 years of age who were married at least once. Demographics and the Scale for Domestic Violence against Women (SDVAW) were used to collect the data.

RESULTS

The results showed that 41.3% of the women experienced domestic violence, and the majority (89.2%) had been subjected to violence by their spouses. There was a significant relationship between the mean SDVAW score and educational status, income status, spouse's age, spouse's education level, marriage age, family type and subjection to violence (p<.05).

CONCLUSION

Low social status in Turkey was connected to the level of domestic violence. Efforts should be made to improve women's social status. Changing the country's patriarchal system, and educating women and their spouses can be useful in preventing domestic violence.

Affecting Factors on the Performance of Community Health Workers in Iran's Rural Areas: A Review Article

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to use a mixed-method approach to investigate affecting factors on the performance of Community Health Workers (CHW) in Iran's villages.

METHODS

This study was conducted during 2014-2015 with a mixed method in three phases of literature review, Delphi technique and developing a rich picture. Overall, in order to finalize the affecting factors and their relationships between qualitative content analysis, Delphi technique, AHP technique and Focus Group Discussion were used, respectively.

RESULTS

Affecting factors on CHW performance were divided into four main categories, 10 sub-themes and 35 contents. Increase in the level of people's awareness, disease patterns, demographic structure and lifestyle were placed in four priorities respectively on the basis of importance.

CONCLUSION

To the most extent CHW cannot face current needs of rural communities. It challenges equitable access to healthcare services and also conflicts with the primary philosophy of CHW presence in rural areas. CHW can be used in two forms; either as an assistant to rural family physicians or with the same previous functions.

Spatiotemporal variations and factors affecting soil nitrogen in the purple hilly area of Southwest China during the 1980s and the 2010s

Determination of soil nitrogen distributions and the factors affecting them is critical for nitrogen fertilizer management and prevention of nitrogen pollution. In this paper, the spatiotemporal variations of soil nitrogen and the relative importance of their affecting factors were analysed at a county scale in the purple hilly area of the mid-Sichuan Basin in Southwest China based on soil data collected in 1981 and 2012. Statistical results showed that soil total nitrogen (TN) increased from 0.88 g kg(-1) in 1981 to 1.12 g kg(-1) in 2012, whereas available nitrogen (AN) decreased from 84.22 mg kg(-1) to 74.35 mg kg(-1). In particular, AN showed a significant decrease in agricultural ecosystems but remained stable in woodland and grassland. Correspondingly, most of the study area exhibited increased TN content and decreased AN content in space. The nugget/sill ratios of TN and AN increased from 0.419 to 0.608 and from 0.733 to 0.790, whereas spatial correlation distances decreased from 12.00 km to 9.50 km and from 9.50 km to 9.00 km, respectively, suggesting that the spatial dependence of soil nitrogen became weaker and that the extrinsic factors played increasingly important roles in affecting the soil nitrogen distribution. Soil group and land use type were the two dominant factors in 1981, followed by topographic factors, vegetation coverage and parent material, whereas land use type became the most important factor in 2012, and the relative contribution of topographic factors declined markedly. The results suggested that land use related to cultivation management and fertilizer application was the decisive factor for soil nitrogen change. The increase in TN content and the decrease in AN content over the study period also suggested improper use of nitrogen fertilizer, which can result in nitrogen loss through increasing nitrification rates. Thus, effective measures should be taken to increase the uptake rate of nitrogen and prevent nitrogen pollution.

An investigation into the parameters affecting preparation of polybutyl cyanoacrylate nanoparticles by emulsion polymerization

Emulsion polymerization was used to synthesize poly butyl cyanoacrylate nanoparticles in presence of steric stabilizer dextran 70. Nanoparticles were characterized by particle size analysis, scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Polymerization factors affecting particle size and distribution such as dextran 70, polysorbate 80 (PS 80) and H(+) concentration, polymerization time and temperature, and sonication were studied. Distinct concentrations of stabilizer were needed to produce proper nanoparticles. In this case, the appropriate value was 2 % of total volume. At pH 4 significant decrease in production efficiency demonstrated the substantial effect of H(+) concentration on nanoparticles. Furthermore significant increases in particle size and distribution was observed at 50 °C compared to room temperature. 0.001 % (v/v) PS 80 represented notable influence on size and distribution. In addition, shaped nanoparticles were obtained by altering polymerization time from 5.5 h to 18 h. Finally, nanoparticle features were influenced by different factors. Appropriate manipulating of such factors can lead to obtaining desirable nanoparticles.

The correlation of factors affecting the endometrial thickness with pregnancy outcome in the IUI cycles

BACKGROUND

Many studies have been carried out to understand the effect of endometrial thickness on the reproductive outcome while the factors affecting the pattern itself are still unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the factors such as age and the number of follicles that could affect the endometrial thickness Materials and Methods: This study was conducted as a retrospective study on 680 infertile women considered for intrauterine insemination (IUI). IUI protocol was sequential regimen of clomid and gonadotropin. Endometrial thickness measurement was done on the day of HCG administration. Correlation between endometrial thickness and factors such as age, total follicle numbers, dominant follicle numbers, gonadotropine ampule numbers and pregnancy rate were assessed.

RESULTS

The mean endometrial thickness was 7.2±1.8 mm. The endometrium was thinner in older patients compared with younger ones. But in all age ranges pregnancy rate was higher in endometrial thickness 6< ET≤10 mm (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

We did not find any correlation between age, number of follicles and gonadotropine ampoules with endometrial thickness but in all age ranges, there is a possibility of higher chance of pregnancy in endometrial thickness 6 < ET≤10 mm.