One of the challenges in emulsion polymerization over the past two decades has been how to increase the solid content of polymer latex. Compared to conventional latex, high solid content latex (HSC) has a large volume fraction of the monomer dispersed phase, even more than 70% by weight. Increasing the concentration of polymer in latex, has important advantages such as increasing the space-time efficiency of the reactor, reducing the film formation and drying time, as well as reducing its storage and transportation costs. Conventional emulsion polymerization, mini-emulsion polymerization, self-emulsification polymerization, and concentrated emulsion polymerization have all been used to prepare HSC latexes, and good results have been reported in recent years. Production of HSC latexes in a reproducible manner requires precise control of the particle size distribution. To obtain a solid content above 60% or 70% by weight, the particle size distribution must be quite broad or multimodal. In addition, viscosity of HSC latex is highly sensitive to particle size distribution. In this study, the advances of the last few years, which are mainly in the preparation processes of such latexes and their applications are briefly reviewed.

Introduction & Allergic reactions to natural rubber latex have increased during past 10 years especially among health care workers and patients with high exposure to latex allergens. Allergic reaction to latex is related to many diseases like occupational asthma. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of allergy to natural rubber latex and potential cross reacting food in operation room staff in Shiraz hospitals. In this cross-sectional descriptive study five hundred eighty operation room staff of ten private and state hospitals in Shiraz completed latex allergy questionnaire. They were questioned about personal history and previous history of latex sensitivity, symptoms of latex reactivity and about other allergies particularly to foods that may cross react with latex. Informed consent was obtained and skin prick testing was performed with natural rubber latex. Skin prick tests were done with three potentially cross reacting food (banana, Kiwi, and potato). The obtained data were analyzed with SPSS software and Chi-square test. Among the 580 operation room workers 104 (17.9 %) of participants were positive to latex skin test. We found a significant association between positive skin test to latex in operation room staff and atopy, urticaria and food allergy. Positive skin test to latex related to positive kiwi skin test (p<0.05). The prevalence did not vary by sex, age, education, surgical and non surgical glove users, history of contact dermatitis or smoking status. Latex allergy has a high prevalence in personnel of operation room. Evaluation of present symptom and prediction of future disease necessitate screening test in individuals at risk.

As regards, about 80% of all latex allergy caused by latex gloves and the use of steroidsto treat this allergyis associated with local and systemic complications, therefore the research be necessary for treatment with fewer side effects. This study examined the impact of Alcea Althea on latex allergy in operating room personnel in hospitals of Arak city. This study was a double-blind clinical trial. Among operating staffs with allergies, samples were selected by simple random sampling. Then randomly divided into two: (intervention=33, control=33) groups. The intervention consisted of 5 mL topical solution from8%ofaqueous extract of Alcea Althea before and after the use of latex gloves for 30 days. Before and after intervention, samples were examined by a dermatologist. Samples completed self-assessment questionnaire of “Symptom Severity of Natural latex allergy”. The data were analyzed by SPSS 20 using Chi-square, Independent t-test, paired t-test and Analysis of Covariance. In this study, the mean age of staff was 32.45±6.69 in group control and 29.68±7.15 in intervention group. There was no significant different between groups in term of demographic. Results of this study showed that before intervention, severity of latex allergy symptoms between two groups didnt have any significant difference (P = 0.34), but after the intervention was seen significant difference (P= 0.013). Also before and after the intervention in control group, was not significantly difference in scores of symptoms severity of natural latex allergy (P= 0.11), however, for the control group was significantly difference (P= 0.008). According to Aqueous Extract of Alcea Althea reduce the symptoms of latex allergy, thus can be used as an effective herbal supplement helping to reduce the side effects of latex allergy.

The main of this paper is to determine the tensile properties of natural flexible composites. In order to fabricate the composites, the cotton fibers and the latex were used as the reinforcement and matrix, respectively. At the first step, the latex samples were manufactured and tested under tensile loading. In the next step, using the cotton fiber the latex was reinforced and then tested under tensile loading. In addition, the NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) wire was used to improve the tensile properties of the pure latex and the cotton/latex laminated composites. Therefore, one, two or three NiTi wires were used in the pure latex and cotton/epoxy composites samples. The results of experimental study displayed that in the presence of cotton fiber, the ultimate tensile strength of pure latex was increased from 0.93 to 13.51 MPa. Moreover, it was observed that due to adding one, two or three NiTi wires, the ultimate strength of the pure latex was enhanced almost 70, 500 and 800%, respectively. However, the ultimate tensile strength of the cotton/epoxy laminated composites in the presence of one, two and three NiTi wires was increased almost 2, 20 and 40%, respectively. In addition, comparison of the current research results with the other researchers’ investigations manifests that the cotton/epoxy composites reinforced by NiTi wire, the tensile strength of this flexible material is greater than the tensile strength of natural and artificial leathers.

The sipomer Pam 100(sp100) monomer is introduced by Rodia company as adhesion promoter of lattices. In this research, an acrylic- styrene latex is synthesized. Sp100 was included in the range of 1-10% by the weight of the monomers. The other monomers were styrene methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethyl acrylate(EA) and acrylic acid(AA). Optimum contenet of sp100 was obtained at 10%. In the next step the effect of Tg on corrosion and adhesion in the absence of sp 100 was investigated using Fox equation. The best result of adhesion was obtained at Tg 30°C; and the least corrosion occurred at -10°C.In the third step of this research the synthesized lattices were neutralizeaed with different bases: NaOH, amonia and monoethanolamine then they compared with their acid form.The best adhesion and corrosion resistance was obtained by the sample which neutralized by NaoH and Ammonia respectively. Adhesion evaluated by cross cut test and corrosion was studied by salt spray under the standards ASTM D3359 and ASTM D714 respectively. J. Color Sci. Tech. 7(2013), 53-59© Institute for Color Science and Technology.

Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (Lep.: Pyrallidae) is one of the most important pests of pomegranate fruits in Iran. Depending on the type of the egg laying of female insects on the stamina located in the crown of flowers and fruits, the best way to reduce pest damage is to prevent fruit contamination. For this purpose, during a four-year study (2016-2020) in Shahreza county, the efficiency of covering pomegranate fruits crown with latex to reduce the damage of carob moth was investigated. The results showed that in all four years of study, latex coating of fruits significantly reduced the infestation of E. ceratoniae compared to the control. So that in 2016, a 98% reduction in the damage of this pest was observed in latex injection in fruits crown with dry stamens. In this research, the mean of weight and cracking percentage of pomegranate fruits treated with latex were not significantly different from the control. Finally, latex as a safe substance is recommended in fruit crown coating method for managing  pomegranate carob moth.

Early diagnosis of pregnancy is very important to prevent fetal damage due to specific drug consumption and high-risk behaviors. The objective of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of quantitative agglutination pregnancy tests in urine and rapid β hCG immunoenzymatic assay test in serum as a gold standard. This cross-sectional study was performed among 390 women who referred to healthcare centers where their urine samples were tested with latex agglutination (direct agglutination and agglutination inhibition) and the results were compared with rapid β hCG immunoenzymatic assay test in serum as a gold standard. The sensitivity of direct agglutination (82. 05 %) was more than that of agglutination inhibition (81. 2 %)، but the specificity of the tests were equal (99. 27 %). The agreement coefficients between direct agglutination and agglutination inhibition on the one hand and rapid β HCG immunoenzymatic assay on the other were 0. 859 and 0. 853، respectively. The possibility of negative results in direct agglutination is more than that of agglutination inhibition، but the specificity of both qualitative tests is equal. Besides، both tests may have an equal possibility of false positive results. Since the occurrence of false negative results in qualitative tests is higher than that in serum gold standard، the negative results of such tests should be confirmed with more sensitive methods such as rapid β hCG immunoenzymatic assay.

Dicrocoeliasis caused by the small liver fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum which live in the bile ducts and gall bladder of wild and domesticated mammals, particularly ruminant. Immunodiagnostic methods are useful for early diagnosis.
The purpose of this study was evaluation of agglutination latex (LAT) and indirect haemagglutination (IHA) tests for diagnosis of Dicrocoelium dendriticum infection in sheep.
Adult worms were collected from infected livers of sheep at a local abattoir. The excretory-secretory and somatic antigens were prepared through homogenization and sonication. Infected sheep with Dicrocoelium dendriticum and non-infected lambs were bleeded to providing positive and negative serum. Somatic and excretory-secretory antigens were added and blended to latex particles. All samples of positive and negative serum were added to latex and considered according to agglutination reaction. In IHA, the sensitive RBC and somatic and ES antigens were added and blended and haemagglutination was evaluated .
The sensitivity and specificity of LAT by excretory secretory antigen were 84% and 97/6% and by somatic antigen were 96% and 97/6%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of IHA by excretory secretory antigen were 60% and 92/9%, and bysomatic antigen were 92% and 66/7%, respectively.
According to present study, the LAT test by excretory secretory antigen and somatic has high sensitivity and specificity, and it is a quick test and without need to special tools for diagnosis of dicrocoeliosis.

In this research, Styrene/Butyl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid terpolymer was synthesized by emulsion polymerization. Controlling effective parameters such as monomer composition and chain transfer agent, terpolymers with different molecular weight, glass transition temperatures and mean particle size diameter were synthesized. Experimental results showed latex with high molecular weight has a mean particle size diameter from 100-200 nm. For latex with low molecular weight, mean particle size diameter was 1000-1500 nm. The morphology of coated HMX particle was characterized by SEM technique. Experimental results showed that latex with low glass transition temperature has a higher surface and homogenous coating with respect to high glass transition temperature. Tensile measurement of particulate composites based on coated and uncoated HMX with HTPB showed that coated HMX with latex with 100-200 nm mean particle size diameter and glass transition temperature of 37 C have better mechanical properties with respect to uncoated HMX/HTPP particulate composite.