abstract:Objectives: This study aimed to examine the correlation between carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and luminal diameter (LD) with body mass index (BMI) and other cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study took place between June 2013 and March 2014 in the Radiology Department of Rizgary Teaching Hospital in Erbil, Iraq. Non-randomly selected subjects ≥20 years old (n = 140) were divided into BMI groups and evaluated for the following cardiovascular risk factors: gender, age, hypertension (HTN), diabetes (DM), smoking, alcohol consumption, blood pressure, serum total cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels. IMT and LD of the extracranial carotid arteries were measured by B-mode ultrasonography. Results: The mean IMT was 0.8 ± 0.3 mm, ranging from a total mean of 0.7 mm in the normal BMI group to 1.0 mm in the extremely obese group. A significant correlation was found between IMT and BMI (P = 0.04), but not between BMI and LD (P = 0.3). No significant difference in mean IMT or LD was seen between genders. Significant correlations were found between IMT and age, HTN, DM, high serum cholesterol and TG levels (P <0.001). An increase of one BMI unit caused a 0.009 mm increase in IMT and an increase of one year in age caused a 0.011 mm increase in IMT. Conclusion: Age, obesity, HTN, DM, high serum cholesterol and TG levels were found to have an impact on carotid IMT, which is a strong marker for the early development of atherosclerosis.

For the first time, stable ZnO@CuO@iron ore nanocomposites (NCs) were green synthesized using magnetic iron ore as a natural substrate through an eco-friendly, simple and cost-effective method.

A new ursane-type triterpene acid, named azarolic acid (1), along with four known phenolic compounds and four known triterpene acids, was isolated from the crude EtOAc extract of the leaves of Crataegus azarolus var. aronia L. The structure of 1 was determined from 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. Euscaphic acid showed high anti-vasoconstriction effects on aortic rings, supporting the use of this medicinal plant in cardiovascular disease.

During this study, a rapid and simple method is presented for the green synthesis of the Ag/bentonite nanocomposite using Euphorbia larica extract as a stabilizing and reducing agent. The average size of biosynthesized Ag nanoparticles (NPs) was estimated less than 32 nm. The catalytic activity of Ag/bentonite nanocomposite was investigated in the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) and some organic dyes including Congo red (CR), Methylene blue (MB) and Rhodamine B (RhB). According to the catalytic results, the biosynthesized Ag/bentonite nanocomposite can be used as an appropriate catalyst for an efficient, simple and economic strategy to degrade various organic dyes from wastewaters. Recyclability tests demonstrated catalyst stability and its capability in practical applications.

For the first time, through a fast, eco-friendly and economic method, the aqueous extract of the leaf of Euphorbia corollate was used to the green synthesis of the highly stable CuO@Magnetite@Hen Bone nanocomposites (NCs) as a potent antioxidant and antibacterial agent against Pseudomonas aureus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae pathogenic bacteria. The biosynthesised NCs were identified using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, elemental mapping, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy and UV-vis analytical techniques. Also, the radical scavenging activity using (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method was used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the NCs. The stability of nanocatalyst was monitored using the XRD and SEM analyses after 30 days from its synthesis. Furthermore, its excellent catalytic activity, recycling stability, and high substrate applicability were demonstrated to the adsorption of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of the light crude oil from Shiwashok oil fields and destruction of methylene blue and methyl orange as harmful organic dyes at ambient temperature using UV-vis spectroscopy. Moreover, the green CuO@Magnetite@Hen Bone NCs were recovered and reused several times without considerable loss of its catalytic activity.