University of Tabriz

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms that substantially affect quality of life (QoL). While dopaminergic dysfunction is central to PD pathology, the cross-sectional relationship between striatal dopaminergic activity and clinical outcomes remains incompletely understood. This study investigated associations between dopaminergic activity, measured via DATSCAN imaging, and clinical outcomes including cognitive performance, mobility, and QoL.

In this cross-sectional observational study, PD patients (n = 146; age 37.9-85.6 years) and healthy controls (n = 37; age 32.2-86.7 years) were evaluated. Cognitive and communication-related QoL were assessed using Neuro-QoL, motor and non-motor symptoms were quantified with MDS-UPDRS, and cognitive performance was measured using COGSTATE and derived indices (COGDECLN, COGCHG). DATSCAN imaging quantified striatal dopaminergic activity in the caudate and putamen. Correlations between DATSCAN metrics and clinical outcomes were analyzed, accounting for multiple comparisons.

DATSCAN metrics showed no significant associations with cognitive performance or QoL, and only modest correlations with mobility measures. Sensitivity analyses confirmed robustness of these findings. The limited predictive value of DATSCAN underscores the complexity of PD, including contributions of non-dopaminergic mechanisms.

Although DATSCAN is valuable for confirming PD diagnosis, its ability to predict clinical outcomes such as cognition, QoL, or motor complications is limited. These results highlight the multifactorial nature of PD and the need to integrate dopaminergic imaging with comprehensive clinical assessments for personalized patient care.

Chitosan, a bio-derived polymer obtained from chitin, has emerged as one of the most versatile materials for water treatment, yet its transition from laboratory innovation to scalable technology remains constrained by persistent challenges. Despite its natural abundance, biodegradability, and high affinity toward diverse pollutants, the design of robust, high-performance chitosan-based systems continues to demand innovative solutions. This review critically examines signature contributions and developments from the past five years in unmodified, crosslinked, composite, membrane, and bead forms of chitosan, highlighting not only their promise in adsorption, separation, and catalytic processes but also the fundamental gaps in understanding structure-function relationships. Particular attention is devoted to mechanistic insights into contaminant interactions, the roles of physicochemical parameters, and their consequences for performance stability under realistic conditions. Importantly, this review underscores the pressing limitations often overlooked in the literature, including poor mechanical strength, limited chemical durability, regeneration inefficiencies, and the economic and environmental barriers to scale-up. Looking forward, progress will depend on deeper mechanistic mapping, integration of multifunctionality, and adoption of green synthesis and crosslinking strategies that reconcile performance with sustainability. By situating chitosan within the broader context of emerging complementary treatment technologies, this review positions chitosan not as a mature solution but as a critical and evolving platform, one whose future hinges on addressing the complex balance between efficiency, resilience, and real-world applicability.

This study developed a paper-based analytical device with a chemiluminescence detection method (PAD-CL) to determine lead cations (Pb²⁺) in a gasoline sample. The paper substrate was modified with NiO hollow microspheres (NiO HMs) to catalyze the luminol-O₂ CL reaction. The developed PAD-CL was embedded in a homemade holder to facilitate CL reaction monitoring using a luminometer. The Pb²⁺ suppresses the CL reaction, and this signal was used to draw a calibration curve. The effective parameters on the CL performance, such as drying time for NiO and Pb²⁺ solutions, drop volume of solutions, and concentrations of NaOH, luminol, and NiO HMs, were investigated. At the optimum conditions, the calibration curve for Pb²⁺ was linear in the range of 8.00 × 10^-9 to 8.00 × 10^-7 mol L^-1 (R² = 0.99). A limit of detection (3S) of 1.29 × 10^-9 mol L^-1 was obtained. The acceptable relative standard deviation (RSD) was obtained for the proposed CL method (7.01 %, n = 5) for a 2.00 × 10^-8 mol L^-1 Pb²⁺ solution. Application to gasoline samples demonstrated satisfactory selectivity and accuracy. The study also examined the CL reaction mechanism. This novel PAD-CL approach for Pb²⁺ measurement in gasoline is environmentally significant. Its advantages include minimal reagent use and the absence of external oxidants. The paper substrate enhances ease of use, storage, and transport, as samples and reagents flow through the paper via capillary action and gravity. Additionally, paper's availability, affordability, renewability, and environmental benefits, such as disposability by incineration, support mass production and sustainability.