A new magnetic nanocomposite with a statistical star polymer structure was designed and synthesized. Nanocomposite fabrication is based on the polymerization of aromatic polyamide chains on the surface of functionalized magnetic copper ferrite nanoparticles (CuFe2O4 MNPs). This magnetic nanostructure was characterized by several analysis methods. All the analytical methods used, for instance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric, vibrating-sample magnetometer, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confirmed the formation of polyamide chains. The obtained images from SEM imaging showed a unique nanoflower morphology which was the proper orientation results of synthesized nanoplates. Finally, the magnetic nanostructure showed a good potential for hyperthermia applications, with a maximum specific absorption rate of 7 W/g for 1 mg/mL of the sample under a magnetic field in different frequencies (100, 200, 300, and 400 MHz) and 5 to 20 min time intervals.

There is a clear clinical need for efficient cartilage healing strategies for treating cartilage defects which burdens millions of patients physically and financially. Different strategies including microfracture technique, osteochondral transfer, and scaffold-based treatments have been suggested for curing cartilage injuries. Although some improvements have been achieved in several facets, current treatments are still less than satisfactory. Recently, different hydrogel-based biomaterials have been suggested as a therapeutic candidate for cartilage tissue regeneration due to their biocompatibility, high water content, and tunability. Specifically, magnetic hydrogels are becoming more attractive due to their smart response to magnetic fields remotely. We seek to outline the context-specific regenerative potential of magnetic hydrogels for cartilage tissue repair. In this review, first, we explained conventional techniques for cartilage repair and then compared them with new scaffold-based approaches. We illustrated various hydrogels used for cartilage regeneration by highlighting the magnetic hydrogels. Also, we gathered in vitro and in vivo studies of how magnetic hydrogels promote chondrogenesis as well as studied the biological mechanism which is responsible for cartilage repair due to the application of magnetic hydrogel.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases worldwide and various autoimmune comorbidities are reported with MS. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of the autoimmune diseases’ comorbidity in patients with MS. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we investigated a group of patients with MS in terms of age, gender, duration of MS, presence of simultaneous autoimmune diseases, such as Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM), and systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). Results: This study included 1215 patients with MS, of which 70.8% were women. The mean age of participants was 33.70 ± 27.63 years. 55 patients (4.5%) had at least one autoimmune disease. The most common comorbidity was for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (30 patients). The frequency of simultaneous autoimmune disease was higher in women. Mean age (P = 0.01), mean duration of MS (P = 0.03), and mean age on MS diagnosis (P = 0.02) were significantly higher in simultaneous MS and other autoimmune diseases. Conclusion: Our study revealed that the probability of autoimmune diseases co-occurrence in patients with MS could be higher in older patients, in longer duration of disease, and also in patients with higher age at time of MS diagnosis.

Background: Vitamin D has an essential role in bone growth and metabolism. Currently, its role has been investigated in different diseases. It is high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the world, particularly in developing countries. Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children of 1 -6 years old and its relation with their age, sex and body mass index. Methods: This study was conducted in pediatric clinic of Javaheri Hospital in Tehran, from 2016 to 2017. The study population was children of 1 -6 years old presenting to the pediatric clinic for routine examination or treatment. The collected data included age, gender, height, weight, and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level. Results: Of the total population of 288 children, 47.2% were female and 52.8% were male. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 51%, while 4.51% had severe deficiency (level of vitamin D < 10 ng/mL). The relation between the level of vitamin D and variables of gender, height, weight, and body mass index was not statistically significant. Nonetheless, the level of vitamin D had a statistically significant relation with age such that, serum level of 25(OH) vitamin D reduced by 3.47 ng/mL for every one year of age (P < 0.001). Conclusions:The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is increasing with increasing age. Therefore, adoption of preventive and therapeutic measures is necessary to reduce its prevalence and side effects.One billion people worldwide suffer from vitamin D deficiency, with a high prevalence in the Middle East countries such as Iran, especially in children under 12, with a prevalence range of 25 to 85% (1,2,8,12,13,(17)(18)(19)(20).Since Iran has adopted the policy to prevent vitamin D

Introduction: Coronavirus Disease (COVID‐19) has become the most important global health issue, and chest computed tomography (CT) scan can help determine the severity of the infection. Objectives: This study aimed to provide an emergency scoring tool for predicting 30-day adverse outcomes in non-critical new-onset COVID-19 patients.  Methods: This derivation study was conducted on new-onset COVID-19 patients presenting to the emergency department of an urban teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran, between 20 February and 20 March 2020. The total lobe severity score (TSS), age, history of comorbidities, and 30-day adverse outcomes (death, ICU admission or intubation) were taken into account to produce three prediction models. Results: Overall, 137 patients were included in the study. Their mean age was 59.9±16.8 years and 62% were male. The ground glass nodule, patch B/punctate ground-glass opacity, fibrous stripes, and air bronchogram sign with perihilar distribution, bilateral and ≥ 2 affected lobes were the most common findings. The mean TSS (model 1) was significantly higher in patients with an adverse outcome (9.4±3.2) compared to the discharged patients (7.2±3.3) (p<0.001, AUC: 0.703, sensitivity: 64.4% and specificity: 74.1%). The optimal cut-off point of model 2 (TSS and age) had the following parameters: AUC: 0.721, sensitivity: 71.2% and specificity: 67.2%. The optimal cut-off point of model 3 (TSS, age, comorbidities) had: AUC: 0.755, sensitivity: 79.7% and specificity: 65.5%. The discrimination achieved with model 3 based on Bonferroni’s test was significantly better than that achieved with TSS (p<0.001). Conclusion: TSS combined with age and history of at least one comorbidity had a better predictive value for adverse outcomes with a cut-off point above 8.

Many materials traditionally used for polymeric membrane fabrication incur significant environmental impacts and limit sustainability of the process; therefore, more eco‐friendly materials are needed in membrane fabrication. In this study, recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) and a solvent blend of Rhodiasolv® PolarClean (PolarClean) and gamma‐valerolactone (GVL) were used as eco‐friendly materials to fabricate polysulfone (PSf) ultrafiltration membranes. The calculated Hansen solubility parameter affinity and relative energy difference values for PET and PolarClean‐GVL of 6.94 and 0.86, respectively, indicate favorable dissolution to create the preceding dope solution. At a baseline evaporation time of 30 s, the resulting rPET‐PSf/PolarClean‐GVL membranes outperformed the filtration capabilities of PSf/NMP membranes with 3.5% higher permeability (23.4 LMH/bar) and 53.2% greater rejection (84.9%) of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Increasing the evaporation time to 60 s resulted in a 32.4 LMH/bar decrease in permeability and 0.8% increase in BSA rejection, whereas decreasing the evaporation time to 0 s generally led to a 235.8 LMH/bar increase in permeability and 4% increase in BSA rejection. The findings indicate the potential for eco‐friendly materials to serve as alternatives for traditional materials in polymeric membranes.

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