Determinants of Bone Mineral Density in Iranian Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Background: Whether the endocrine aberrations caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) might influence bone density in women of reproductive age is controversial.

Objectives: The present study aimed to compare PCOS women to a control group matched in terms of age and body mass index (BMI) regarding bone indices and to clarify the potential relationship between their hormonal changes and bone density.

Methods: This case-control study consisted of 61 PCOS patients, and 35 women with normal ovulatory function served as controls.

Prospects and challenges of synergistic effect of fluorescent carbon dots, liposomes and nanoliposomes for theragnostic applications.

The future of molecular-level therapy, efficient medical diagnosis, and drug delivery relies on the effective theragnostic function which can be achieved by the synergistic effect of fluorescent carbon dots (FCDs) liposomes (L) and nanoliposomes. FCDs act as the excipient navigation agent while liposomes play the role of the problem-solving agent, thus the term "theragnostic" would describe the effect of LFCDs properly. Liposomes and FCDs share some excellent at-tributes such as being nontoxic and biodegradable and they can represent a potent delivery system for pharmaceutical compounds.

Hepatoprotective effects of Portulaca oleracea extract against CCl4-induced damage in rats.

Context: Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L., Portulacaceae) has been traditionally used in folk medicine to afford protection against liver injury, although its actual efficacy remains uncertain.

Objective: To evaluate purslane as a hepatoprotective agent, we investigated the protective effect of its ethanol extract against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic toxicity in rats.