The Characteristics of Nitinol in Spinal Implant Manufacturing

: Due to the increasing number of diseases related to the spine, we expect to see more research on the implants used in this area. These implants should have features such as strength, fatigue resistance, chemical stability and biocompatibility, which fortunately are seen in an alloy called nitinol. In this study, six lumbar vertebral implants were made of nitinol and these samples been studied by some experiments such as: X-ray diffraction and biocompatibility (evaluation of cytotoxicity by MTT assay). Finally, we came to the conclusion that the mentioned alloy with suitable microstructure is appropriate for medical applications specially as an orthopedic implant. According to the X-ray diffraction pattern, the samples have austenitic structures in the room temperature and the predominant phase of the porous sample is B2-NiTi. Since the sample should be biocompatible after placement in the body and should not cause an immune system reaction, this test was also examined and the samples were tested in vitro with an MTT kit and the biocompatibility was assessed. The results of biocompatibility tests also indicate the suitability of the implant in terms of cellular characteristics. These properties have made this alloy superior to other alloys in orthopedic implant utilization, especially in areas under continuous loading. It is hoped that the construction of this type of implant will pave the way for facilitating the treatment of spinal abnormalities.

Assessment of the Awareness of Radiology Residents About Ionizing Radiations and Their Risks of Educational Hospitals, Kermanshah, Iran

Background: Although many radiological examinations are requested daily to aid clinical diagnosis by the referring physician, it should be kept in mind that ionizing radiation has adverse biological effects on the life of living organisms, which may vary in individuals depending on the dose and duration of exposure. Therefore, radiologists and their assistants should have comprehensive information about ionizing radiation. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all the radiology residents (41) were included in the study. The questionnaire consisted of two parts, the first part including of demographic information and part 2 includes 21 questions about the effective dose created by a chest X-ray, the approximate effective dose from various imaging examines, as well as the awareness of the risks of brain, abdominal CT scans. Results: The results showed that out of 41 residents, 56.1% were male. Based on these results, 19.5% were aware of the approximate effective dose received by a patient on PA chest X-ray. Also, knowledge of some X-ray absorptiometry parameters based on chest X-ray in PA position are: 12.2% abdominal CT scan, 17.1% and 2.4% brain and chest CT scan respectively. In this study the radiology resident’s awareness about dangers of ionizing radiation and the likelihood of cancer were evaluated in 31% and 48.8% of brain and abdominal CT scan, respectively. Conclusions: According to the findings, awareness of radiology residents in Kermanshah university of medical sciences is at an inappropriate level. Therefore, training is needed to raise the awareness of radiology residents by conducting several workshops.

Effect of Topical Cooling with Ice and Cold Spray on Knee Joint Position Sense of Athletes with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Background: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is one of the most common knee injuries in athletes and non-athletes. Due to the pain and muscle inhibition, it is possible that the disorder has negative effects on joint position sense. Cryotherapy is one of the most common methods applied in sports injuries. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical cooling with ice and cold spray on knee joint position sense of athletes with PFPS. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 30 athletes with PFSP were divided into two groups of cold spray and crushed ice application. The effect of cooling on joint position sense was measured by the target reconstruction method (30° of knee flexion) while standing. In order to analyze the data, SPSS 23 and statistical tests of Shapiro-Wilk, paired t-test, and independent t-tests were used. The absolute error of 30° knee flexion angle reconstruction immediately after cryotherapy was significantly higher than before it in various cooling methods. Nevertheless, crushed ice application had a greater impact on the accuracy of joint position sense than spraying. Results: The results of this study indicate the negative effects of cryotherapy on the accuracy of the knee joint position sense (P < 0.05). However, cryotherapy with crushed ice application has a greater effect on reducing the accuracy of joint position sense (P < 0.001) than cold spray (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Decreased accuracy of position sense is likely to cause mechanical instability and increase the rate of injury. Therefore, it is recommended to use crushed ice application rather than topical cooling to reduce the knee joint position sense.

Antibiotic Resistance Pattern and Prevalence of blaOXA-51, blaNDM, blaVIM, blaPER, blaVEB, blaCTX, tetA and tetB Genes in Acinetobacter baumannii Isolated from Clinical Specimens of Hospitals in Tabriz city, Iran

Background: Nowadays, the resistance of pathogenic bacteria to antibiotics has become a global problem. Acinetobacter baumannii is an important opportunistic nosocomial pathogen. Acinetobacter baumannii plays a significant role in antibiotic resistance. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the blaOXA-51, blaNDM, blaVIM, blaPER, blaVEB, blaCTX-M, tetA and tetB genes and antibiotic resistance pattern of A. baumannii isolated from hospitals in Tabriz city, Iran. Methods: This study was descriptive cross-sectional research, performed on 129 isolates of Acinetobacter from different clinical specimens. The Isolates were identified using standard laboratory methods and culture in selective mediums. The antibiotic resistance pattern of isolates was also determined by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility test. Phenotypic and genotypic detection of blaOXA-51, blaNDM, blaVIM, blaPER, blaVEB, blaCTX-M, tetA and tetB genes in the isolates was carried out by a combined disk test (CDT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively. Results: The highest resistance of isolates was determined to cefotaxime (100%) and ceftazidime (100%). The results of CDT showed that 14 (12.96%) isolates could produce extended-spectrum Beta-lactamases (ESBLs). However, the PCR results blaOXA-51, blaNDM, blaVIM, blaPER, blaVEB, blaCTX-M, tetA and tetB genes showed that these genes were in 100%, 18.51%, 16.66%, 32.40%, 16.66%, 31.48%, 32.40% and 21.29% of isolates, respectively. Conclusions: Due to the high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in strains, rapid and timely detection of antibiotic-resistant A. baumannii strains is necessary for the selection of an appropriate therapeutic approach and prevention of their prevalence.

Thin TiO2 Nanocoating of Porous Titanium through Radio Frequency Magnetron Sputtering to Improve the Biological Response of Orthopedic Implants

: The present study applied a TiO2 nanocoating on a titanium foam substrate produced by powder metallurgy through magnetron sputtering. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to investigate the surface morphologies of the porous specimens and pre- and post-coating phases, respectively. Also, the growth and proliferation of MG-63 cells (osteoblasts) and their attachment and proliferation on the coated porous titanium specimen (relative to the uncoated specimens) were studied using in vitro and methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) cytotoxicity tests. Considering the porous macrostructure of the coated titanium specimen and the nanostructure of the TiO2 coating on the porous surface and macro-pore walls, the coated specimen was found to be effective in the biocompatibility improvement of dental and orthopedic implants.

Molecular Analysis of Pathogenic Genes (lasB and exoA) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains Isolated from Animal and Human Samples and Determination of Their Resistance Pattern

: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) has a wide range of virulence factors. These factors have the potential to increase bacterial pathogenicity and serious infection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the virulence profiles and antibiotic susceptibility of isolates of P. aeruginosa originated from animal and human samples. The samples were cultured on selective media before being extracted for DNA and subjected to a PCR technique to detect virulence genes. There was a significant difference in the isolation of P. areuginosa isolated from human and animal sources. Where, in humans, the percentage of P. areuginosa was 52 (68.42%) while in animals the percentage of P.aeruginosa was 24 (31.57%). In humans, the percentage of P. aeruginosa in blood was 26.92% (14 isolates), in urine it was 25% (13 isolates), in wound it was 40.38%21 isolates), and in sputum it was 7.69% (4 isolates). We used a PCR technique that produced highly specific and accurate results for detecting virulence factor genes in P. aeruginosa isolates that cause disease in humans and animals. The percentage of exoA genes was (83.33%) and (81.66%) in the animal and human, and that of lasB was (58.33%) and (92.30%) in animal and human samples respectively. Furthermore, both the exoA and lasB genes are found in 26.31% of animal strains and 17.10% of human strains. The disc diffusion method was used to determine antimicrobial susceptibility. In both animal and human isolates, P. aeruginosa showed the highest resistance to amikacin and the lowest resistance to ciprofloxacin. These findings could aid in the understanding of pathogenicity processes, treatment direction, and the development of strategies to control the spread of epidemic P. aeruginosa strains.

Fabrication of Graphene Oxide Aerogel to Repair Neural Tissue

: The neural tissue engineering has been designed as a subset of tissue engineering for treating congenital malformations and accident injuries, particularly for individuals requiring tissue grafting. Such transplants, usually performed as autografting, can often not meet the requirements of an effective scaffold used in nerve tissue engineering. A novel neural tissue scaffold was introduced here to solve the problem concerning the reduced graphene oxide. The three-dimensional graphene oxide in the neural canal restricts the formation of fibroglandular tissues and facilities neural stem cell proliferation and growth. In these techniques, graphene oxide aerogel was initially made. Then, the freeze-drying process was used to fix the geometry of reduced graphene oxide hydrogels prepared using graphene oxide dispersion and ethylenediamine and gain aerogels. The X-ray diffraction patterns, FTIR and morphological related to samples were examined, followed by conducting in-vitro micropropagation and 4, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindol (DAPI) staining in fibroblast and P19 cultures. The results from immunofluorescence staining demonstrated the neural differentiation of P19 cells. It can be concluded that most cells attached to and differentiated on the scaffold surface and axons can penetrate randomly through them. Finally, the three-dimensional graphene oxide was proposed as an ideal alternative to be used in neural tissue engineering.

Causal Model of Overcoming Death Anxiety by Cognitive Regulation of Emotion and Spirituality and the Mediation Role of Resilience in Patients Diagnosed With Cancer: Provide Suggestions to Improve Psychiatric Nursing Services

Objectives: Personality and spiritual factors play an important role in the death anxiety of incurable patients. This research was performed to investigate the mediating role of resilience in the relationship between emotional regulation and spirituality, with death anxiety in cancer patients. Methods: Number of 290 cancer patients referring to the chemotherapy section of Imam Reza Hospital were selected using available sampling methods. The questionnaires that were considered to collect information were: (1) Demographic Information Questionnaire; (2) Parsian and Dunning Spirituality Questionnaire; (3) Garnefski Emotion Regulation Questionnaire; (4) Connor & Davidson Resilience Questionnaire; and (5) Templer Death Anxiety Questionnaire; all the data from these questionnaires after completion and analysis of the data collected, structural equations were carried out using Smart Pls. Results: The results showed that the direct effect of cognitive regulation of emotion, spirituality and resilience on death anxiety is significant (P ≤ 0.01). Also, the direct effect of cognitive regulation of emotion and spirituality on resilience is significant (P ≤ 0.01). Furthermore the indirect cognitive regulation of emotion and spirituality on death anxiety mediated by resilience is significant (P ≤ 0.01). Conclusions: The results of this study show the importance of personality and spiritual factors in psychological problems of cancer patients and have implications in the field of psychotherapy.

Effect of Magnesium Sulfate Addition to Intrathecal Marcaine on Pain Management After Cesarean Section

Background: The cesarean section plays an important role in reducing mortality rates and postpartum complications in the mother and fetus in certain deliveries. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of magnesium sulfate supplementation on intrathecal marcain on pain control after cesarean section. Methods: This randomized clinical trial study was performed on 42 women candidates for cesarean section in Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Birjand in 2018. In each group, vital signs and pain score were assessed every 15 minutes using the Visual Intensity Pain Scale (VAS) 1,2,3,4,8,12 hours after surgery. Data were collected and analyzed using the Friedman test, t-test for independent groups, Mann-Whitney, and chi-square by SPSS software. Results: The mean age of women candidates for cesarean section was 29.11 ± 5.42 years. The mean VAS score in both groups at different times was statistically significant. At 1 and two hours after surgery, the mean VAS score in magnesium sulfate and marcaine groups was significantly higher than marcaine group and in three hours after the surgery, it was significantly less than the Marcain group but there was no significant difference in other times. Changes in pain intensity in the magnesium sulfate and marcaine groups were significantly greater than the marcaine group. Conclusions: Addition of magnesium sulfate to intrathecal marcaine has a significant effect on pain management after cesarean section.

Evaluation of Demographic, Clinical and Laboratory Features

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a worldwide autoimmune disease. The disease has different etiologies, clinical and laboratory symptoms between different geographical and racial groups, and sufficient knowledge of the type of symptoms in each region can play a proper role in diagnosis and treatment. Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate demographic, clinical and laboratory features of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in Kermanshah. Methods: This study is descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional. The files of 150 patients with lupus during 2016 - 2018 in Imam Reza hospital in Kermanshah were reviewed. Results: Data analysis showed that patients at the time of referral were with musculoskeletal symptoms 37.3% (56 individuals), cutaneous-mucosal 32% (48 individuals), constitutional 51.3% (77 individuals), renal 62% (93 individuals), cardiac 6.7% (10 individuals), neurological manifestations 17.3% (26 individuals), pulmonary involvement 37.3% (56 individuals), and Hematological 71.3% (107 individuals). The anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) in 60% (90 individuals), anti-double strand DNA Antibody (anti-ds DNA) in 35.4% (53 individuals), C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in 44.6% (67 individuals), lower level of normal C3 and C4 in 33.3% (50 individuals) and 11.3% (17 individuals), respectively, lupus anticoagulant in 13.3% (20 individuals), antibody citrullinated peptide anti-cyclic (anti-CCP) in 14.9% (22 individuals), anticardiolipin IgM and IgG, in 6% (9 individuals) and 9.3% (14 individuals) of patients respectively were observed. Also, anemia was observed in 34% (51 individuals), leukopenia in 22% (33 individuals), and thrombocytopenia in 30.7% (46 individuals). Abnormal ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) was seen in 59.3% (89 individuals) of patients. Leukopenia in men and positive CRP in women were more common (P = 0.014, P = 0.004). Conclusions: Despite the diverse clinical and laboratory manifestations of SLE in different racial and geographical groups, paying attention to these differences in each region can effectively diagnose the disease. As in this study, hematological manifestations had a higher percentage in the population of lupus patients in Kermanshah.