Distribution and hydrogeochemical behavior of arsenic enriched groundwater in the sedimentary aquifer comparison between Datong Basin (China) and Kushtia District (Bangladesh)

Abstract

A prompt growth in research on arsenic occurrence and behavior in the environment has occurred over the last decade or so. High arsenic (As) in groundwater has become a major global concern due to its widespread occurrence. A comparative hydrogeochemical study was performed on the occurrence of high As groundwater in Datong Basin, China, and Kushtia District, Bangladesh. A total of 132 groundwater samples (83 from Datong Basin and 49 from Kushtia District) were collected to analyze the major hydrogeochemical components and trace elements in groundwater of both areas. Factor analysis (FA) was applied on the hydrochemical data to identify the major hydrogeochemical processes in sedimentary aquifers. High As groundwater was observed in the low-lying central parts of Datong Basin, which are composed of the Holocene alluvial and lacustrine aquifers. The elevated As concentrations ranged from 0.31 to 452 μg/L and distributed in depths between 20 and 45 m. As-enriched groundwater is mainly Na-HCO₃ type water and characterized by higher pH value, high Na⁺, low Ca²⁺, SO₄²⁻, and NO₃⁻ along with moderate TDS. The alkaline and reducing subsurface environment facilitate the leaching of As in sedimentary aquifers. The release and distribution of As in aquifers are resulted from the reduction of As-carrying crystalline iron (Fe) oxide/hydroxides and oxidation of organic matter. The aquifers of Kushtia District, Bangladesh, are unconsolidated, alluvial in nature, and developed from Holocene floodplain and Pleistocene deposits. High As (6.04–590.7 μg/L) groundwater occurs mainly in shallow aquifers. The Ca-HCO₃ type groundwater is distinguished by circum-neutral pH, medium-high EC, high HCO₃⁻, and low content of NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, K⁺, and Cl⁻. The reductive suspension of MnOOH increases the dissolved As loads and redox responsive elements such as SO₄²⁻ and pyrite oxidation act as the main mechanisms for As release in groundwater. As is mobilized by anaerobic leakage from the brown-clay and gray-sand into the sediment. Infiltration from irrigation return and surface wash water are the potential factors that remobilize As. The weak loading of Fe suggests that the release of Fe and As is decoupled in sedimentary aquifers of Kushtia District.

https://ift.tt/2pEy9Jo

Screening of groundwater remedial alternatives for brownfield sites: a comprehensive method integrated MCDA with numerical simulation

Abstract

Brownfield sites pollution and remediation is an urgent environmental issue worldwide. The screening and assessment of remedial alternatives is especially complex owing to its multiple criteria that involves technique, economy, and policy. To help the decision-makers selecting the remedial alternatives efficiently, the criteria framework conducted by the U.S. EPA is improved and a comprehensive method that integrates multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) with numerical simulation is conducted in this paper. The criteria framework is modified and classified into three categories: qualitative, semi-quantitative, and quantitative criteria, MCDA method, AHP-PROMETHEE (analytical hierarchy process-preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluation) is used to determine the priority ranking of the remedial alternatives and the solute transport simulation is conducted to assess the remedial efficiency. A case study was present to demonstrate the screening method in a brownfield site in Cangzhou, northern China. The results show that the systematic method provides a reliable way to quantify the priority of the remedial alternatives.

https://ift.tt/2upW5Vw

Occurrence and toxicological assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in marine sediments under mussel farming influence

Abstract

The use of marine resources for mussel culture has become increasingly important, particularly on the European Atlantic coast and notably in the Galician Rías in the northwest of Spain. Despite its importance, there is a lack of research and analysis in this area and of the potential problems that it could cause to the environment. This paper details the findings of a study that aimed to find the probable environmental impact of mussel culture activities and to evaluate the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content derived from this activity. The Ría de Arousa, where you can find over 70% of all installed rafts in Galicia, was selected for the present study, and nearly 40 marine sediment samples were collected there. The sediments were extracted by ASE (accelerated solvent extraction) procedure, and the quantification of PAHs was performed using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS), with the aid of deuterated PAH internal standards. The total concentration of parental PAHs ranged from 11.66 to 30,272-ng g⁻¹ dry weight (d.w.), with a mean value of 3907-ng g⁻¹ d.w.; the concentration of alkyl PAHs varied from 3.72 to 1187-ng g⁻¹ d.w., with a mean value of 205.1-ng g⁻¹ d.w. Compositional patterns, principal component analysis (PCA) and hieratical cluster association (HCA) yielded a sediment classification where the mussel raft impact is pointed out. PAH ratios indicated a predominance of combustion sources, except in two samples, located in small harbors. Only one station showed total potential carcinogenic PAH values in the range that would frequently cause negative biological effects, and the toxic equivalent concentrations based on BaP equivalents identified another ten positions where biological effects would occur occasionally.

https://ift.tt/2pFSpdC

Effects of exogenous sulfur on growth and Cd uptake in Chinese cabbage ( Brassica campestris spp. pekinensis ) in Cd-contaminated soil

Abstract

Soil pollution with heavy metals has many adverse effects on ecosystem health as well as food security. A pot experiment was performed to investigate the effects of different valence states of exogenous sulfur (S) on the uptake of cadmium (Cd) in Chinese cabbage in Cd-contaminated soil. The results showed that S significantly promoted plant growth in Chinese cabbage, with the following order of magnitude for the different S treatments: sodium sulfite (Na₂SO₃) > sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄) > powdered sulfur (S₀). Additionally, enzyme activity and the content of reductive substances in the leaves markedly increased, while malondialdehyde content significantly decreased; hence, S observably enhanced the ability of Chinese cabbage to tolerate Cd stress. S₀ significantly reduced soil pH, thus increasing the mobility and bioavailability of Cd in the soil, while Na₂SO₃ increased soil pH, and Na₂SO₄ had no effect on soil pH. The acid-soluble and oxidizable fractions of Cd in soil increased with the S₀ treatment. The applied Na₂SO₃ and Na₂SO₄ both increased the residual fraction of Cd in the soil, but they reduced the amount of the acid-extractable, reducible, and oxidizable Cd. The results showed that compared with S₀, the Na₂SO₃ and Na₂SO₄ treatments decreased the acid-extractable Cd concentrations by 6.3 and 4%, respectively, in the most contaminated soil. In conclusion, the influence of S on the bioavailability and speciation of Cd varied not only with the soil Cd content but also with the application rate and S valence state.

https://ift.tt/2DWgUHK

Assessment of the effects of different tree species on urban microclimate

Abstract

Trees in urban areas are important for their ecological functions in addition to their esthetic characteristics. Trees provide positive effects on urban microclimate by canopy, reflection, and transpiration activities; therefore, they help to decline formation of heat island. The objective of this study was to determine thermal effects of 15 different tree types: 4 coniferous and 11 deciduous species commonly found in the city of Erzurum located at the northeastern part of Turkey. The relationships between sky view factor and surface temperature regarding the differences in leaf density and tree species. In August 2016, the surface temperature of trees was measured using a thermal camera at 10:00 am and 4:00 pm hours. Sky view factor (SVF) was obtained by fisheye photos and physiologically characteristics of trees were determined. In all trees while the surface temperature was 20.1 °C at 10:00 am, it was 23.4 °C at 4:00 pm. Among the deciduous tree species, Betula verrucosa Ehrh. and Robinia pseudoacacia "Umbracuifera" had the lowest surface temperature; however, Abies concolor (Gord. & Glen.) had the lowest surface temperature among the coniferous tree species. The results indicated that the surface temperatures of different tree species varied considerably, and the SVF value had a significant effect on tree surface temperatures. However, it was obtained that the leaf types had no statistically significant effect on tree surface temperature.

https://ift.tt/2pG2pDF

Editorial Board

Publication date: April 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 4





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APIC Masthead

Publication date: April 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 4





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Information for Readers

Publication date: April 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 4





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Information for Authors

Publication date: April 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 4





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True to form—APIC 2018 will deliver!

Publication date: April 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 4





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Table of Contents

Publication date: April 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 4





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Antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention—leveraging the synergy: A position paper update

Publication date: April 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 4
Author(s): Mary Lou Manning, Edward J. Septimus, Elizabeth S. Dodds Ashley, Sara E. Cosgrove, Mohamad G. Fakih, Steve J. Schweon, Frank E. Myers, Julia A. Moody




https://ift.tt/2GaXG34

Patient compliance with antimicrobial drugs: A Chinese survey

Publication date: April 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 4
Author(s): Shuangmei Tong, Jiaqian Pan, Shan Lu, Jing Tang
BackgroundAntimicrobial therapy is among the mainstream treatment modalities employed in clinical settings. Antimicrobial sensitivity of the pathogen and patient compliance are key determinants of the efficacy of antimicrobial therapy.ObjectiveIn this study, we sought to investigate the factors that affect patient compliance to antimicrobial therapy in a Chinese teaching hospital to enhance patient compliance and to prevent abuse and misuse of antibiotics by patients.MethodsA questionnaire survey was conducted among patients willing to answer all the questions who were prescribed antimicrobial drugs orally, and for whom at least half of the duration of therapy was not under the supervision of a doctor or nurse. Data analyses were performed using Kruskal-Wallis test and multivariate logistic regression.ResultsA total of 720 patients participated in the survey; of these, 714 patients provided complete data and were included in the analysis. Up to 86.97% of patients showed noncompliance to antimicrobial therapy (total compliance score < 8), whereas 13.03% of patients showed good compliance (total compliance score = 8). On multivariate analyses, understanding of the treatment was an important factor associated with compliance.ConclusionsA range of factors were associated with compliance to antimicrobial therapy, including understanding of the treatment, gender, age, home address, education level, and family income.



https://ift.tt/2Gb7EW4

Survey to explore understanding of the principles of aseptic technique: Qualitative content analysis with descriptive analysis of confidence and training

Publication date: April 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 4
Author(s): Dinah J. Gould, Jane Chudleigh, Edward Purssell, Clare Hawker, Sarah Gaze, Deborah James, Mary Lynch, Nicola Pope, Nicholas Drey
BackgroundIn many countries, aseptic procedures are undertaken by nurses in the general ward setting, but variation in practice has been reported, and evidence indicates that the principles underpinning aseptic technique are not well understood.MethodsA survey was conducted, employing a brief, purpose-designed, self-reported questionnaire.ResultsThe response rate was 72%. Of those responding, 65% of nurses described aseptic technique in terms of the procedure used to undertake it, and 46% understood the principles of asepsis. The related concepts of cleanliness and sterilization were frequently confused with one another. Additionally, 72% reported that they not had received training for at least 5 years; 92% were confident of their ability to apply aseptic technique; and 90% reported that they had not been reassessed since their initial training. Qualitative analysis confirmed a lack of clarity about the meaning of aseptic technique.ConclusionNurses' understanding of aseptic technique and the concepts of sterility and cleanliness is inadequate, a finding in line with results of previous studies. This knowledge gap potentially places patients at risk. Nurses' understanding of the principles of asepsis could be improved. Further studies should establish the generalizability of the study findings. Possible improvements include renewed emphasis during initial nurse education, greater opportunity for updating knowledge and skills post-qualification, and audit of practice.



https://ift.tt/2G9MTpT

Prevalence and predictive factors of urinary tract infection among patients with stroke: A meta-analysis

Publication date: April 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 4
Author(s): Tianyuan Yan, Chenxia Liu, Yingxia Li, Wei Xiao, Yating Li, Shuhui Wang
BackgroundUrinary tract infection (UTI) is thought to be a common complication of stroke and is regarded as a potential risk factor for poor stroke outcomes. However, there is a controversy among predictive factors of stroke-associated UTIs. We aim to estimate the prevalence and predisposing factors of UTIs among patients with stroke.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, and Elsevier Science Direct were searched by 2 independent researchers. Sixteen studies with a total of 13,513 patients were included to evaluate the prevalence and predictive factors of stroke-associated UTIs published from the earliest records to March 10, 2017. Pooled effect sizes were calculated using the fixed effect model or random effect model according to I² and P values.ResultsThe pooled prevalence of UTI was 19.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 15%-22%; P < .01). The predisposing factors for UTIs include female sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.93; 95% CI, 1.55-2.41), older age (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.09-1.50), higher modified Rankin Scale score (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.43-2.53), and postvoid residual volume >100 mL (OR, 3.69; 95% CI, 2.09-6.52).ConclusionsApproximately one-fifth of patients with stroke contracted at least 1 UTI after cerebral apoplexy. Female sex, older age, higher modified Rankin Scale score, and postvoid residual volume >100 mL were associated with higher risk of UTI.



https://ift.tt/2G77lM0

Cleaning and disinfection in home care: A comparison of 2 commercial products with potentially different consequences for respiratory health

Publication date: April 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 4
Author(s): Nancy Goodyear, Pia Markkanen, Christian Beato-Melendez, Hagir Mohamed, Rebecca Gore, Catherine Galligan, Susan Sama, Margaret Quinn
BackgroundHome care aides perform personal care and homemaking services in client homes, including cleaning and disinfection (C&D). Although C&D are performed to remove soil and dust, they are increasingly performed for infection prevention. Many C&D products contain respiratory irritants. The objective of this study was to evaluate 2 commercial products for C&D effectiveness on common household surfaces in seniors' homes.MethodsTwo C&D visits were conducted in 46 seniors' homes. One visit applied a bleach-containing cleaning product and the other applied an environmentally preferable product. Before and after C&D, the study team performed organic soil bioluminometer measurements on surfaces and collected cotton swab and wipe samples for total bacteria count, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium difficile identification.ResultsBoth products removed microorganisms from tested surfaces. S aureus was found in 7 households, 1 strain of which was methicillin-resistant. Both products removed S aureus from all surfaces. Bleach-containing products removed somewhat more soil than environmentally preferable products, although results were statistically significant for only 1 surface.ConclusionsThe study showed similar, not identical, C&D performance for 2 cleaning products with potentially different consequences for respiratory health. Additional research is needed to develop robust recommendations for safe, effective C&D in home care.



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Decreased mortality in patients prescribed vancomycin after implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship program

Publication date: April 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 4
Author(s): Erin Conway, John Sellick, Kari Mergenhagen




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The efficacy of self-disinfecting bedrail covers in an intensive care unit

Publication date: April 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 4
Author(s): Lisa M. Esolen, Lokendra Thakur, Abraham J. Layon, Thomas A. Fuller, Deni-Jo Harrington, Kunal Jha, Subhashinie Kariyawasam
BackgroundHospital surfaces are considered important vectors in the spread of nosocomial pathogens. This study evaluated microbial counts on novel antimicrobial bedrail covers over a 2-week period in a critical care environment.MethodsDisposable bedrail covers (Aionx Inc, Hershey, PA) made of a copper and silver polymer and capable of conducting an imperceptible surface potential, were installed in a case-control manner on a series of occupied intensive care unit beds. Seventeen bedrails were covered with the study bedrail surface, and 17 were left uncovered. Two hundred seventy-two microbial surface cultures were obtained from both study and control bedrails and analyzed for microbial growth by bacterial enumeration and speciation.ResultsThe bedrails covered with the study surface demonstrated >80% average decrease in colony forming units across the study period of 15 days.ConclusionsThese novel, detachable bedrail covers successfully demonstrated significant bacterial count reduction in an intensive care unit setting. This may have implications for acquisition of hospital-acquired infections.



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A Middle East respiratory syndrome screening clinic for health care personnel during the 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak in South Korea: A single-center experience

Publication date: April 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 4
Author(s): Ji Yeon Lee, Gayeon Kim, Dong-Gyun Lim, Hyeon-Gun Jee, Yunyoung Jang, Joon-Sung Joh, Ina Jeong, Yeonjae Kim, Eunhee Kim, Bum Sik Chin
BackgroundTransmission of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) to health care personnel (HCP) is a major concern. This study aimed to review cases of MERS-related events, such as development of MERS-like symptoms or exposure to patients.MethodsA MERS screening clinic (MSC) for HCP was setup in the National Medical Center during the MERS outbreak in 2015. Clinical and laboratory data from HCP who visited the MSC were retrospectively reviewed. Additionally, these data were compared with the results of postoutbreak questionnaire surveys and interviews about MERS-related symptoms and risk-related events.ResultsOf the 333 HCP who participated in MERS patient care, 35 HCP (10.5%) visited the MSC for MERS-like symptoms. No one was infected with MERS, and the most common symptom was fever (68.6%) followed by cough (34.3%). However, 106 of 285 postoutbreak survey participants experienced at least 1 MERS-related symptom and 26 reported exposure to patients without appropriate personal protective equipment, whereas only 4 HCP visited the MSC to report exposure events.ConclusionsAlthough a considerable number of HCP experienced MERS-related symptoms or unprotected exposure during MERS patient care, some did not take appropriate action. These findings imply that for infection control strategy to be properly performed, education should be strengthened so that HCP can accurately recognize the risk situation and properly notify the infection control officer.



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Screening for Clostridium difficile colonization on admission to a hematopoietic stem cell transplant unit may reduce hospital-acquired C difficile infection

Publication date: April 2018
Source:American Journal of Infection Control, Volume 46, Issue 4
Author(s): Janice Cho, Maria Teresa Seville, Sahil Khanna, Darrell S. Pardi, Priya Sampathkumar, Purna C. Kashyap
Clostridium difficile infection rates are higher in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplants. In our study, patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplants or chemotherapy were screened for C difficile colonization at admission and placed on contact precautions if they were positive. Patient's colonized with C difficile contribute to the overall burden of C difficile infection in hospitals.



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Trabecular structural changes in the mandibular condyle caused by degenerative osteoarthritis: a comparative study by cone-beam computed tomography imaging

Abstract

Objectives

Temporomandibular osteoarthritis causes pain and loss of function. In advanced cases, it may also result in destruction of joint cartilage surfaces and bone structure.

Methods

This study was performed to examine the potential changes in the condylar trabecular bone structure in patients with temporomandibular osteoarthritis. Condylar trabecular structures were compared between 35 healthy patients and 35 patients with temporomandibular osteoarthritis by a box-counting method using fractal dimensional analysis on cone-beam computed tomography images.

Results

The average fractal dimensions of patients with temporomandibular osteoarthritis and healthy patients were 1.18 and 1.23, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05).

Conclusions

Our results add to the existing preliminary knowledge regarding the osteoporotic changes that occur in the trabecular structure under the subchondral bone, which is normally not seen on radiographic images, as well as the destruction and remodeling that occur on the condyle surface, which is visible on radiographic images.

https://ift.tt/2GdPsqQ

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as a possible biomarker in non-prostatic cancer: A review

Publication date: June 2018
Source:Cancer Epidemiology, Volume 54
Author(s): Diana Cristina Pérez-Ibave, Carlos Horacio Burciaga-Flores, Miguel-Ángel Elizondo-Riojas
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a serine protease produced by epithelial prostatic cells and its main function is to liquefy seminal coagulum. Currently, PSA is a biomarker for the diagnosis and screening of prostate cancer and it was the first cancer biomarker approved by the FDA. The quantity and serum isoforms of male PSA, allows distinguishing between carcinoma and benign inflammatory disease of the prostate. Initially, it was thought that PSA was produced only by the prostate, and thus, a protein that was expressed exclusively in men. However, several authors report that PSA is a protein that is expressed by multiple non-prostatic tissues not only in men but also in women. Some authors also report that in women, the expression of this protein is highly related to breast and colon cancer and therefore can act as a possible biomarker for early detection, diagnosis and prognosis of these cancers in women. In this review, we will focus on the characteristics of the PSA at a molecular level, its current clinical implications, the expression of this protein in non-prostatic tissues, and its relationship with cancer, especially in women.



https://ift.tt/2Gbklwb

Fibromyalgia as a glymphatic overload syndrome

Publication date: Available online 26 March 2018
Source:Medical Hypotheses
Author(s): Peter Wostyn, Debby Van Dam, Kurt Audenaert, Peter Paul De Deyn




https://ift.tt/2ITNkGO

Is the glass half empty or half full? A novel “philosophical” approach to the “mystery” of the so-called ferrule effect.

Publication date: Available online 26 March 2018
Source:Medical Hypotheses
Author(s): Minos Stavridakis, Yiannis Brokos, Ivo Krejci
The prognosis of endodontically treated teeth has traditionally been associated with the presence of the so-called ferrule effect that is generally related with the presence of a minimum of 1 to 2 mm of sound tooth structure at the cervical area of parallel axial walls that totally encircle the tooth. Even though all of these factors are well desired, one should question if their absence should condemn a tooth and compel extraction as the only logical treatment plan option.For this reason an hypothesis is being formed that associates the aforementioned factors not with the presence of the so-called ferrule effect, but rather with the resistance form of the preparation that is being provided by the sound tooth structure at the cervical area of the tooth. When the desired resistance form is provided by sound tooth structure of endodontically treated teeth, then less lateral forces are being transferred to the post & core and subsequently to the root of the teeth, thus minimizing the chances of decementation of the post & core or worst fracture of the root.Even more important, if this hypothesis may be further entertained, then even when the so-called ferrule effect is not present, the teeth may not be extracted, but alternative strategies for post & core restorations may be investigated, such a more flexible carbon- or glass- fiber posts & core build ups made from flowable resin composite that may accommodate for the increased lateral forced exerted to the post & core complex during function.



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Trends in female and male drunken driving prevalence over thirty years: Triangulating diverse sources of evidence (1985–2015)

Publication date: September 2018
Source:Addictive Behaviors, Volume 84
Author(s): Jennifer Schwartz, Lindsey Beltz
IntroductionWomen have lower rates of drunken driving than men, but their share of arrests has been climbing since 1985. These trends may stem from changes in women's lives that lead to more drinking and driving, or to greater reductions in male drinking and driving. Alternatively, changes in policy and enforcement that focus on less intoxicated offenders may inadvertently target female-typical offending patterns. This paper tracked male and female drunken driving rates and the DUI sex ratio in the United States from 1985 to 2015 across three data sources.MethodsThe sex ratio and prevalence estimates were derived from official arrest statistics from Uniform Crime Reports, self-reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and traffic fatality data from the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration. Rates were assessed for four age groups (18–20, 21–34, 35–49, and 50–64), and drunken driving trends tested using Augmented Dickey-Fuller time-series methods.ResultsDecreases in DUI rates stagnated over the first decade of 2000, but have again begun to decline, according to self-reports and traffic fatality data, for all sex-by-age groups. Still, the gender gap in DUI arrests continues to narrow. From 1990 to the early 2000s, changes in social control that made female DUI more visible narrowed the gender gap in arrests. In more recent years, narrowing of the gap is due primarily to male rates declining more steeply than female rates.ConclusionResults indicate that we need more research to understand why female declines have not kept pace with male declines and perhaps more targeted prevention efforts aimed at women.



https://ift.tt/2ukRxQf

Using carbonized low-cost materials for removal of chemicals of environmental concern from water

Abstract

Adsorption on low-cost biochars would increase the affordability and availability of water treatment in, for example, developing countries. The aim of this study was to identify the precursor materials and hydrochar surface properties that yield efficient removal of compounds of environmental concern (CEC). We determined the adsorption kinetics of a mixture containing ten CECs (octhilinone, triclosan, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxasole, ciprofloxacin, diclofenac, paracetamol, diphenhydramine, fluconazole, and bisphenol A) to hydrochars prepared from agricultural waste (including tomato- and olive-press wastes, rice husks, and horse manure). The surface characteristics of the hydrochars were evaluated via diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and N₂-adsorption. Kinetic adsorption tests revealed that removal efficiencies varied substantially among different materials. Similarly, surface analysis revealed differences among the studied hydrochars and the degree of changes that the materials undergo during carbonization. According to the DRIFTS data, compared with the least efficient adsorbent materials, the most efficient hydrochars underwent more substantial changes during carbonization.

https://ift.tt/2pFBgkb

Protective effect of grape or apple juices in bone tissue of rats exposed to cadmium: role of RUNX-2 and RANK/L expression

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate if grape or apple juices are able to protect bone tissue of rats exposed to cadmium. For this purpose, histopathological analysis and immunohistochemistry for RUNX-2 and RANK-L were investigated in this setting. A total of 20 adult Wistar rats were distributed into four groups (n = 5), as follows: control group, cadmium group, cadmium and grape juice group, and Cadmium and apple juice group. Control group received a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) water injection. Cadmium group received a single i.p. injection of cadmium chloride (1.2 mg/kg body weight) diluted in water. Cadmium and grape juice and cadmium and apple juice groups received a single i.p. injection of cadmium chloride (1.2 mg/kg body), and after 15 days, the rats were treated with grape or apple juices for 15 days, by gavage. All animals were euthanized 30 days after the beginning of experiment. Histopathological analysis in rat femur revealed extensive bone loss in rats intoxicated with cadmium. Grape or apple juices were able to increase bone formation. Cadmium inhibited RUNX-2 immunoexpression whereas cadmium increased RANK-L immunoexpression in rat bone cells. Grape or apple juices increased RUNX-2 and decreased RANK-L immunoexpression after cadmium intoxication. Taken together, our results demonstrate that grape or apple juices are able to exert therapeutic activity following cadmium intoxication in rat bone tissue as result of stimulatory effect of bone formation by RUNX-2 upregulation and RANK-L downregulation.

https://ift.tt/2DUh1Un

Simultaneous profiling of activity patterns in multiple neuronal subclasses

Publication date: Available online 26 March 2018
Source:Journal of Neuroscience Methods
Author(s): R. Ryley Parrish, John Grady, Neela K. Codadu, Andrew J. Trevelyan, Claudia Racca
BackgroundNeuronal networks typically comprise heterogeneous populations of neurons. A core objective when seeking to understand such networks, therefore, is to identify what roles these different neuronal classes play. Acquiring single cell electrophysiology data for multiple cell classes can prove to be a large and daunting task. Alternatively, Ca²⁺ network imaging provides activity profiles of large numbers of neurons simultaneously, but without distinguishing between cell classes.New MethodWe therefore developed a strategy for combining cellular electrophysiology, Ca²⁺ network imaging and immunohistochemistry to provide activity profiles for multiple cell classes at once. This involves cross-referencing easily identifiable landmarks between imaging of the live and fixed tissue, and then using custom MATLAB functions to realign the two imaging data sets, to correct for distortions of the tissue introduced by the fixation or immunohistochemical processing.ResultsWe illustrate the methodology for analyses of activity profiles during epileptiform events recorded in mouse brain slices. We further demonstrate the activity profile of a population of parvalbumin-positive interneurons prior, during, and following a seizure-like event.Comparison with Existing MethodsCurrent approaches to Ca²⁺ network imaging analyses are severely limited in their ability to subclassify neurons, and often rely on transgenic approaches to identify cell classes. In contrast, our methodology is a generic, affordable, and flexible technique to characterize neuronal behaviour with respect to classification based on morphological and neurochemical identity.ConclusionsWe present a new approach for analysing Ca²⁺ network imaging datasets, and use this to explore the parvalbumin-positive interneuron activity during epileptiform events.



https://ift.tt/2DT0oYZ

Neurophysiological and cognitive effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in three girls with Rett Syndrome with chronic language impairments

Publication date: May 2018
Source:Research in Developmental Disabilities, Volume 76
Author(s): Rosa Angela Fabio, Antonio Gangemi, Tindara Capri, Sarojini Budden, Alessandra Falzone
Backgroundthis study was based on both neurophysiological decelerated activity and communication deficits in Rett Syndrome (RTT).Aimsthe aim was to examine the neurophysiological and cognitive effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in three girls with RTT with chronic language impairments.Methods and procedureswe proposed an integrated intervention: tDCS and cognitive empowerment applied to language in order to enhance speech production (new functional sounds and new words). Because maximal gains usually are achieved when tDCS is coupled with behavioral training, we applied tDCS stimulation on Broca's area together with linguistic training.Outcomes and resultsthe results indicated a general enhancement in language abilities (an increase in the number of vowel/consonant sounds and words and the production and comprehension through discrimination), motor coordination (functional movements), and neurophysiological parameters (an increase in the frequency and power of alpha, beta and theta bands).Conclusion and implicationswe assume that tDCS stimulation combined with the cognitive empowerment applied to language can significantly influence a chronic impairment even in genetic syndromes. Our results provide data that support the role of tDCS in fostering brain plasticity and in particular in empowering speech production and comprehension in girls with RTT.



https://ift.tt/2pIp2GJ

TSH evaluation in hypothyroid patients assuming liquid levothyroxine at breakfast or 30 min before breakfast

Abstract

Purpose

To compare TSH levels of hypothyroid patients treated with liquid LT4 at breakfast or 30 min before breakfast.

Patients and methods

Subjects, aged 18–75 years old, were eligible if they presented hypothyroidism, due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis or after thyroidectomy for proven benign goiter. Seven hundred ninety-eight patients were recruited and enrolled in the study. Thirty-seven subjects withdrew from the trial. A total of 761 patients (mean age 46.2 ± 10.8 years) completed the study. The starting dose of LT4 was determined through clinical judgment, taking into account TSH levels, estimated residual thyroid function, age, body weight and comorbidities. All patients underwent TSH, fT4, and fT3 evaluation to verify achievement of euthyroidism with their initial fasting state assumption of LT4 after 8 weeks of therapy. If euthyroidism was not achieved, an appropriately adjusted LT4 dose was administered for 8 weeks, after which thyroid function parameters were checked again. If euthyroidism was achieved, the patients were asked to take LT4 at breakfast and hormone levels were checked again after 6 months.

Results

At the end of the study period, no significant differences in serum TSH level were observed whether LT4 was ingested at breakfast or 30 min prior in a fasting state: 2.61 ± 1.79 vs. 2.54 ± 1.86 mIU/L, respectively (p = 0.455).

Conclusions

This study confirms in a large set of patients that a liquid LT4 formulation can be taken directly at breakfast and potentially improve therapeutic compliance.

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Scholar : These new articles for Archives and Manuscripts are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Archives and Manuscripts and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Comments Advocacy for the independence of the State Records Office of Western Australia Pauline Joseph, Marita Keenan & Mark Brogan Pages: 1-10 | DOI: 10.1080/01576895.2018.1441727 To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. Unsubscribe from new content alerts for this journal (both new issue and latest article notifications) with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Caffeine levels as a predictor of Human mastadenovirus presence in surface waters—a case study in the Sinos River basin—Brazil

Abstract

The presence of caffeine in environmental water samples is almost entirely human-related, given that there are virtually no industrial or agricultural releases. Caffeine has already been proposed as an anthropogenic marker for wastewater contamination of surface waters. The aim of this study was to evaluate if caffeine concentrations in water can be a predictor of virological and bacteriological contamination. Water samples were taken at three sampling sites from urban water streams from the hydrographic basin of the Sinos River (Brazil) monthly in the period of May 9th, 2016 to April 11th, 2017 (n = 36). Concentrations of Human mastadenovirus (HAdV-F and HAdV-C), fecal coliforms, and caffeine were measured in all collected samples. Concentrations of caffeine in water were strongly correlated with HAdV-F (r_s = 0.704, p = 0.000). This study, for the first time, characterized caffeine concentrations in water as predictors of virus presence, with cut-off values presenting 92.9% specificity and 95.5% sensitivity for HAdV-F and 66.7% specificity and 80% sensitivity for HAdV-C. Considering its marked chemical stability and ease of quantification, caffeine concentrations can be used as a comprehensive marker of human contamination of water resources, also being predictive of bacteriological and virological concentrations.

https://ift.tt/2DVttTL

Remediation of cadmium contaminated water and soil using vinegar residue biochar

Abstract

This study investigated a new biochar produced from vinegar residue that could be used to remediate cadmium (Cd)-contaminated water and soil. Aqueous solution adsorption and soil incubation experiments were performed to investigate whether a biochar prepared at 700 °C from vinegar residue could efficiently adsorb and/or stabilize Cd in water and soil. In the aqueous solution adsorption experiment, the Cd adsorption process was best fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Freundlich isotherm models. If the optimum parameters were used, i.e., pH 5 or higher, a biochar dosage of 12 g L⁻¹, a 10 mg L⁻¹ Cd initial concentration, and 15-min equilibrium time, at 25 °C, then Cd removal could reach about 100%. The soil incubation experiment evaluated the biochar effects at four different application rates (1, 2, 5, and 10% w/w) and three Cd contamination rates (0.5, 1, and 2.5 mg kg⁻¹) on soil properties and Cd fractionation. Soil pH and organic matter increased after adding biochar, especially at the 10% application rate. At Cd pollution levels of 1.0 or 2.5 mg kg⁻¹, a 10% biochar application rate was most effective. At 0.5 mg Cd kg⁻¹ soil, a 5% biochar application rate was most efficient at transforming the acid extractable and easily reducible Cd fractions to oxidizable and residual Cd. The results from this study demonstrated that biochar made from vinegar residue could be a new and promising alternative biomass-derived material for Cd remediation in water and soil.

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Assessment of biotoxicity of Cu nanoparticles with respect to probiotic strains of microorganisms and representatives of the normal flora of the intestine of broiler chickens

Abstract

Copper nanoparticle Cu (d = 55 ± 15 nm) and CuO nanoparticles (d = 90 ± 10 nm) were used in the studies (OOO Platina, Russia). Using the method of pure cultures, we extracted Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Enterobacterium from the intestines of broilers. Additionally, strains of Bacillus subtilis 10641 and Bifidobacterium were involved in probiotic strains. The data obtained in the course of the study testify to the insignificant biotoxicity of copper nanoparticles with respect to representatives of the genera Lactobacillus (30 to 15 μg/ml) and Bifidobacterium (30 μg/ml), with the most sensitive bacteria being the genus Lactobacillus, for which a concentration of 7.5 μg/ml was subinhibitory. The second stage was the study using method of agar wells. In the course of the experiment, we obtained results confirming the data of the research by the serial dilution method. In this case, as in the first case, the data indicate the insignificant biotoxicity of copper nanoparticles in relation to representatives of the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. We have studied the bioaccumulating ability of microorganisms of the studied metals. In all the studies carried out, as in the first series of experiments, representatives of the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium with the lowest bioaccumulative ability were the most sensitive to copper nanoparticles and were 3.1 and 8.2%, respectively. The use of nanoparticles as a component of the fodder additive in small concentrations does not adversely affect not only the probiotic strains, but also the main representatives of the normoflora (Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Enterobacterium) of the poultry, the positive effect of the copper nanoparticles being directly related to low level of dissociation of nanoparticles, since biologically active ions will be released much more slowly, thereby creating a prolonged effect of exposure.

https://ift.tt/2Go9ORN

Morphological analysis and three-dimensional reconstruction of the SMAS surrounding the nasolabial fold

Publication date: Available online 26 March 2018
Source:Annals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger
Author(s): T. Sandulescu, L. Spilker, D. Rauscher, E.A. Naumova, W.H. Arnold
Backgroundthe superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), a structure that has been discussed with some controversy, has a complex morphological architecture.Material and methods histological analysis was performed on tissue blocks of the nasolabial fold (NLF) collected postmortem from formalin-fixed bodies of one male and one female donor. Serial histological sections were made, stained and digitized. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the histological structures were performed. Specimen- and location-specific differences were determined. SEM analysis of the NLF tissue block was performed.Resultsthe NLF SMAS is a fibro-muscular, three-dimensional meshwork bolstered with fat cells. Two SMAS structure types were identified adjacent to the NLF. The cheek SMAS structure showed a regular, vertical and parallel alignment of the fibrous septa, building a three-dimensional meshwork of intercommunicating compartments. It changed its morphology, condensing while transiting the NLF and passing over to form an irregular structure in the upper lip region. SEM analysis demonstrated the connection between the fibrous meshwork and the fat cells. SMAS blood circulation expanded subcutaneously without perforating the fibro-muscular septa.ConclusionsThe NLF has a recognizable condensed cheek SMAS structure and represents the transition zone between the two SMAS types. Specimen-specific morphological differences necessitate individual planning and area-specific surgical procedures.



https://ift.tt/2G44cfY

Field Cancerization Therapies for Management of Actinic Keratosis: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Actinic keratoses (AKs) are atypical, precancerous proliferations of keratinocytes that develop because of chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Treatment of AK can be lesion-directed or field-directed. Field cancerization theory postulates that the skin surrounding AK is also at increased risk for possible malignant transformation since it has been exposed to the same chronic UV light. Field-directed therapies thus have the potential to address subclinical damage, reduce AK recurrence rates, and potentially reduce the risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) development. Published clinical studies have found lesion clearance rates ranging from 81 to 91% for photodynamic therapy (PDT) with either aminolevulinic acid (ALA) or methylaminolevulinate (MAL). Clinical studies have also been published on various topical treatments. Complete clinical clearance (CCC) was significantly higher in patients treated with a combination of 5-fluorouracil and salicylic acid (5-FU–SA) than in the vehicle group across multiple studies, and CCC ranged between 46 and 48% following treatment with imiquimod. Additionally, treatment with diclofenac sodium (DFS) found reduction in lesion sizes to range from 67 to 75%. Reported results have been similar for another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), piroxicam, which has more cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 activity than DFS. Active treatments with ingenol mebutate were also significantly more effective than vehicle at clearing AK lesions. All treatments resulted in mild, localized skin reactions. PDT using conventional light sources was associated with increased severity of pain and/or discomfort, while PDT using daylight as the light source was associated with less pain and occasionally no pain at all. Though no widely accepted algorithm for the treatment of AKs exists, field-directed therapy can be particularly useful for treating photo-exposed areas containing multiple AKs. Additional research with more direct comparisons between these field-directed therapies will help clinicians determine the best therapeutic approach. Here, we provide a balanced and comprehensive narrative review of the literature, considering both light-based and topical therapies with a focus on their field-therapy aspects, and propose a therapeutic algorithm for selecting an appropriate treatment in the clinical setting.

https://ift.tt/2G9Q1Sx

Eine engmaschige internetbasierte Patientennachsorge verbessert das Gesamtüberleben von Patienten mit Bronchialkarzinom

https://ift.tt/2G6aJH6

The iron pro-chelator BHAPI attenuates glutamate-induced oxidative stress via Wnt-β/Catenin Pathway in HT22 cells

Publication date: Available online 26 March 2018
Source:Brain Research Bulletin
Author(s): Fei Gao, Bao Wang, Tao Chang, Min Li, Wei Fang, Zhi-hong Li, Li Gao
Disturbances in intracellular iron homeostasis are associated with brain damage under various neuropathological conditions. However, exposure of neuronal cells to classical iron chelators could interfere with physiological iron functions in the brain. Thus, iron pro-chelators represent a more advanced approach to exert strong free-iron binding capacity only under oxidative stress conditions. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of an iron pro-chelator BHAPI [(E)-N'-(1-(2-((4- (4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,2,3-dioxoborolan-2-yl)benzyl)oxy)phenyl)ethylidene) isonicotino hydrazide] against glutamate-induced toxicity in neuronal HT22 cells. The results showed that BHAPI significantly increased cell viability, decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, inhibited apoptotic cell death and reduced the activation of caspase-3 after glutamate treatment. This protection was accompanied by the preservation of mitochondrial function, as evidenced by reduced mitochondrial oxidative stress, attenuated lipid peroxidation and enhanced ATP generation. In addition, BHAPI promoted Wnt/β-catenin signaling, which was related to destabilization of β-catenin destruction complex. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitor JW74, but not IWP2, partially prevented the protective effects of BHAPI. In conclusion, our data suggested that BHAPI acted as a neuroprotective agent against glutamate-induced toxicity, and this protection might be mediated by preservation of mitochondrial function and regulation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway.



https://ift.tt/2I3heqB

Scholar : These new articles for Aphasiology are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Aphasiology and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Original Articles Mobile technology to support lexical retrieval during activity retell in primary progressive aphasia Aimee Mooney, Steven Bedrick, Glory Noethe, Scott Spaulding & Melanie Fried-Oken Pages: 1-27 | DOI: 10.1080/02687038.2018.1447640 2018 Future Directions Forum JOIN US at the 2018 Future Directions Forum for Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology - June 15-16, 2018 To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. Unsubscribe from new content alerts for this journal (both new issue and latest article notifications) with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Scholar : These new articles for New Political Science are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for New Political Science and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Symposium The Making of Mexican Illegality: Immigration Exclusions Based on Race, Class Status, and Gender Marla Andrea Ramírez Pages: 1-19 | DOI: 10.1080/07393148.2018.1449067 To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. Unsubscribe from new content alerts for this journal (both new issue and latest article notifications) with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Gabriella Morreale de Escobar (1930–2017)

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Scholar : New articles have been published for Journal of Natural History, Volume 52, Issue 11-12

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content The following articles have been newly published in the issue Journal of Natural History, Volume 52, Issue 11-12 on Taylor & Francis Online: Original Articles A specimen of Tirumala hamata hamata (Macleay, 1826) (Lepidoptera: Danainae) from Captain Cook's first voyage Jeanne Robinson, Richard I. Vane-Wright Pages: 687-712 | DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2018.1444211 The issue is in progress. To view all articles already published in this issue, please visit: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/tnah20/52/11-12 Hoping to have your article read by anyone, anywhere and at any time? Find out more about publishing open access with Ecosystem Health and Sustainability. To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. You can also unsubscribe from this alert with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Automated quantitative image analysis for ex vivo metastasis assays reveals differing lung composition requirements for metastasis suppression by KISS1

Abstract

Imaging is broadly used in biomedical research, but signal variation complicates automated analysis. Using the Pulmonary Metastasis Assay (PuMA) to study metastatic colonization by the metastasis suppressor KISS1, we cultured GFP-expressing melanoma cells in living mouse lung ex vivo for 3 weeks. Epifluorescence images of cells were used to measure growth, creating large datasets which were time consuming and challenging to quantify manually due to scattering of light from outside the focal plane. To address these challenges, we developed an automated workflow to standardize the measurement of disseminated cancer cell growth by applying statistical quality control to remove unanalyzable images followed and a filtering algorithm to quantify only in-focus cells. Using this tool, we demonstrate that expression of the metastasis suppressor KISS1 does not suppress growth of melanoma cells in the PuMA, in contrast to the robust suppression of lung metastasis observed in vivo. This result may suggest that a factor required for metastasis suppression is present in vivo but absent in the PuMA, or that KISS1 suppresses lung metastasis at a step in the metastatic cascade not tested by the PuMA. Together, these data provide a new tool for quantification of metastasis assays and further insight into the mechanism of KISS1 mediated metastasis suppression in the lung.

https://ift.tt/2IS22hp

Progress toward a reduced phage genetic code

Publication date: Available online 26 March 2018
Source:Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
Author(s): Anzhi Yao, Sean A.Reed, Minseob Koh, Chenguang Yu, Xiaozhou Luo, Angad P. Mehta, Peter G. Schultz
All known living organisms use at least 20 amino acids as the basic building blocks of life. Efforts to reduce the number of building blocks in a replicating system to below the 20 canonical amino acids have not been successful to date. In this work, we use filamentous phage as a model system to investigate the feasibility of removing methionine (Met) from the proteome. We show that all 24 elongation Met sites in the M13 phage genome can be replaced by other canonical amino acids. Most of these changes involve substitution of methionine by leucine (Leu), but in some cases additional compensatory mutations are required. Combining Met substituted sites in the proteome generally led to lower viability/infectivity of the mutant phages, which remains the major challenge in eliminating all methionines from the phage proteome. To date a total of 15 (out of all 24) elongation Mets have been simultaneously deleted from the M13 proteome, providing a useful foundation for future efforts to minimize the genetic code.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2IQ2Lj2

Medium Throughput Cage State Stability Screen of Conditions for the Generation of Gold Nanoparticles Encapsulated Within A Mini-Ferritin

Publication date: Available online 26 March 2018
Source:Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
Author(s): T.A. Cornell, B.P. Orner
Methods for the generation of nanoparticles encapsulated within cage proteins, such as ferritins, provide particles with low polydispersities due to size constraint by the cage. The proteins can provide enhanced water solubility to enable biological applications and affinity and identification tags to facilitate delivery or the assembly of advanced materials. Many effective methods have been developed, however, they are often impeded by cage protein instability in the presence of reagents or conditions for formation of the nanoparticles. Although the stability of ferritin cage quaternary structure can be enhanced, application of ferritins to materials science remains limited by unpredictable behaviour. Recently, we reported a medium throughput technique to directly detect the ferritin cage state. Herein, we expand this strategy to screen conditions commonly used for the formation of gold nanoparticles. Not only do we report nanoparticle formation conditions that permit ferritin stability, we establish a general screening strategy based on protein cage stability that could be applied to other protein cages or for the generation of other types of particles.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2I0YqIH

Hydrodeoxygenation of phenol over zirconia supported Pd bimetallic catalysts. The effect of second metal on catalyst performance

Publication date: 15 September 2018
Source:Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, Volume 232
Author(s): Karen A. Resende, Camila A. Teles, Gary Jacobs, Burtron H. Davis, Donald C. Cronauer, A. Jeremy Kropf, Christopher L. Marshall, Carla E. Hori, Fabio B. Noronha
This work investigated the effect of the addition of a second metal (Cu, Ag, Zn, Sn) on the performance of Pd/ZrO2 catalyst for HDO of phenol at 573 K in the gas phase. The incorporation of dopants resulted in the formation of Pd–X (Cu, Ag, Zn) alloys, which reduced the reaction rate for HDO and increased the selectivity to hydrogenation products (cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol). For PdSn/ZrO2, alloying was also observed but tin oxide was still present on the surface after reduction at 773 K. For Pd/ZrO2 and PdSn/ZrO2, the oxophilic sites represented by Zr and Sn cations promotes the hydrogenation of the carbonyl group of the keto-tautomer intermediate formed, producing benzene as the main product. All catalysts significantly deactivated during the reaction but the deactivation degree depended on the type of the metal. Pd/ZrO2 and PdZn/ZrO2 and PdAg/ZrO2 exhibited approximately the same deactivation degree. However, the loss of activity was less pronounced for PdSn/ZrO2 catalyst. Pd dispersion significantly decreased during the reaction, indicating that the sintering of Pd particles is one of the causes for catalyst deactivation.

Graphical abstract

https://ift.tt/2pGBqXP

Protoporphyrinogen oxidase is involved in the fluorescence intensity of 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated laser-based photodynamic endoscopic diagnosis for early gastric cancer

Publication date: June 2018
Source:Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy, Volume 22
Author(s): Hiroki Kurumi, Tsutomu Kanda, Koichiro Kawaguchi, Kazuo Yashima, Hiroki Koda, Kumi Ogihara, Kayoko Matsushima, Kazuhiko Nakao, Hiroaki Saito, Yoshiyuki Fujiwara, Mitsuhiko Osaki, Futoshi Okada, Hajime Isomoto
Background/AimLaser-based photodynamic endoscopic diagnosis (LPDED) is a type of endoscopic diagnosis that uses the fluorescence caused by the photochemical reaction that occurs when a fluorescent substance is irradiated by a light of a specific wavelength. Although 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) can detect early gastric cancer (EGC) during LPDED, there is an unresolved issue of the differences in fluorescence intensity among histopathological types of gastric cancer. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess whether protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPOX), involved in the activation of protoporphyrin IX, can affect the fluorescence intensity in EGC.MethodsThirty-three gastric tumor lesions in 30 patients were assessed by LPDED using a prototype endoscope equipped with a blue laser ray to cause excitation following oral 5-ALA administration. The tumors were then resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection or laparoscopic surgery. PPOX expression was examined immunohistochemically in the excised specimens. To explore the mechanisms of histopathological diversity in PPOX and coproporphyrinogen oxidase (CPOX) expression of EGC, immunohistochemical analysis was performed using 75 surgically resected specimens of diverse EGCs.ResultsAmong the 33 lesions, 26 tumors were detectable by LPDED, whereas seven were undetectable. Between the LPDED-positive and negative groups, there was a significant difference in histopathology. The expression of PPOX was higher in tubular adenocarcinoma (tub) than in signet-ring cell carcinoma (sig). There were significant differences in PPOX and CPOX expression scores of the surgically resected specimens among tub, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (por), and sig.ConclusionPPOX protein expression could be involved in the fluorescence intensity of LPDED in EGC, possibly reflecting histopathological features.



https://ift.tt/2DUJQA6

A Review of Nanoparticle Photosensitizer Drug Delivery Uptake Systems for Photodynamic Treatment of Lung Cancer

Publication date: Available online 26 March 2018
Source:Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy
Author(s): Mokwena Mpho Gift, Kruger Cherie Ann, Mfouo-Tynga Ivan, Abrahamse Heidi
Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide and so current research is focused on trying to improve treatment modalities, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT has 3 fundamental factors, namely a photosensitizer (PS) drug, light and oxygen. When a PS drug is administered to a patient, it can either passively or actively accumulate within a tumour site and once exposed to a specific wavelength of light, it is stimulated to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in tumour destruction. However, the efficacy of ROS generation for tumour destruction is highly dependent on the accumulation of the PS in tumour cells. Thus PS selective / targeted uptake and delivery in tumour cells is a crucial factor in PDT cancer drug absorption studies. Generally, within non-targeted drug delivery mechanisms, only small amounts of PS is able to passively accumulates in tumour sites due to the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and the remainder distributes into healthy tissues, causing side effects. Thus to improve the efficacy of PDT, research is currently focused on the development of specific receptor based photosynthetic nanocarrier drugs, which promotes the active uptake and absorption of PS drugs in tumour sites only, avoiding unwanted side effects. The aim of this review is to focus on current non-targeted passive versus specifically active targeted PS nanoparticle drug delivery systems, that have been investigated for the PDT treatment of lung cancer and so to deduce its efficacy and recent advancements.



https://ift.tt/2IRZVKg

Effect of bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy at different sequences in the gastric-cancer-bearing nude mice

Yalei Lv, Lina Song, Liang Chang, Xiaolin Zhang, Yan Liu, Wei Liu

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2018 14(8):190-196

Objective: To observe changes in the growth of fluorescence-labelled tumour cells in nude mice using small animal in vivo imaging technology and to compare the anti-tumour effects of the administration of bevacizumab monoclonal antibodies combined with chemotherapy at different time sequences. Materials and Methods: Different time sequences of administration of bevacizumab monoclonal antibodies combined with the 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin (FP) chemotherapy regimen were used for intervention treatment of tumour growth in a subcutaneous xenograft model of human gastric cancer in nude mice. Tumour growth, that is, tumour volume, was evaluated with the changes in fluorescence signal strength and the inhibition rate. Results: Compared with the control group (normal saline), experimental groups had a certain inhibition rate, while the tumour inhibition rate in the group with a bevacizumab treatment for 24 h followed by the FP chemotherapy regimen was the highest (68.42%). Moreover, the fluorescence signal strength changed significantly in all of the experimental groups. At the 3rd week of bevacizumab administration, the fluorescence signal value in the group with a bevacizumab treatment for 24 h followed by the FP chemotherapy regimen was the lowest, indicating this is the best treatment out of five groups. Conclusion: Bevacizumab monoclonal antibodies combined with chemotherapy had synergistic effects. The small animal in vivo imaging system could dynamically obtain long and short diameters of tumours and their fluorescence signal values; compared with traditional methods that calculate tumour inhibition rates by weighing tumours, this method was more sensitive and more objective for drug evaluation.

https://ift.tt/2GcdaUw

Learning from Clostridium novyi-NT: How to defeat cancer

Li Wang, Qing Wang, Xiaochao Tian, Xinli Shi

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2018 14(8):1-6

Side effects associated with conventional anticancer therapies have prompted the new idea of solid tumor treatment strategy. One of them is using bacteria explored as potential antitumor agents over more than one century. Notably, the ideal therapy is a specifical target to tumors with limited toxicity. Here, we take "Clostridium novyi" for the search keyword in the PubMed from 2000 to 2015 and describe that C. novyi-NT spores act as "Trojan horse" for bacteriolytic therapy. This therapy is based on the fact that the live and attenuated obligate anaerobic bacteria are capable of binary fission selectively in anoxic areas of solid tumors and direct tumoricidal effects. Our succinct review mainly concentrates on the potential mechanisms of combination bacteriolytic therapy, an effective and safe tumor therapy with the help of C. novyi-NT. Importantly, C. novyi-NT spores were shown to induce solid tumor regression and exhibit the property to initiate an immune response. Therefore, C. novyi-NT spores should be an effective and safe tumor therapy.

https://ift.tt/2pHq4n6

The relationship of indoor coal use and environmental tobacco smoke exposure with lung cancer in China: A meta-analysis

Meina Li, Xiaodong Liu, Lulu Zhang

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2018 14(8):7-13

Objective: To assess the association between long-term exposures to smoky coal, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and lung cancer incidence in China. Methods: A meta-analysis was performed on literature searched through Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Weipu, and Wanfang databases. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was used to assess the strength of association between air pollution and lung cancer in China. Results: Twenty-eight studies were included in the meta-analysis. Stratification by ETS exposure source, amount, and gender found a variation in effect. The pooled OR (95% CI) for exposure to spousal, parents, and work ETS was 1.153 (1.000–1.329), 2.117 (1.626–2.755), and 1.454 (1.307–1.618), respectively. The OR (95% CI) values related to childhood exposure was 1.297 (1.142–1.473), adulthood exposure 1.102 (0.937–1.296), exposure lower than 20 cigarette/day 1.088 (0.809–1.464), higher than 20 cigarette/day 1.776 (1.392–2.267), male 1.555 (1.304–1.855), female 1.487 (1.265–1.748), and coal use 1.490 (1.330–1.669). Conclusion: The meta-analysis provided evidence that indoor coal use and ETS were significantly associated with lung cancer in China.

https://ift.tt/2GccWwE

Effect of lenalidomide on the human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901/vincristine Notch signaling

Wanjun Ding, Tao Zeng, Weiping Tao, Wei Ge, Junjian Deng, Hongbo Lei, Yong Xiao, Fei Liao

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2018 14(8):237-242

Aim of Study: To examine the function of lenalidomide (LEN) on the human multidrug resistance (MDR)-type gastric cancer line SGC7901/vincristine (VCR) via regulating Notch signaling. Materials and Methods: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used for checking the genes of Notch, DNA methyltransferase (DNMT), RBP-J, Hes1/5, Deltex1, MDR/multidrug resistant protein (MRP); the cell proliferation and cell death were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) staining, Ki-67 expression, and propidium-iodide staining, and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation assay (MeDIP) was used for checking the 5 mC enrichment, indicating the DNA methylation of the Notch2 gene loci. Results: LEN reduced the mRNA expression of Notch2 (P < 0.01) and increased the expression of the DNMT3A (P < 0.001) in SGC7901/VCR cell, suggesting the involvement of epigenetic regulation by DNMT3A on Notch2 gene expression. Consistently, Notch2 gene expression showed no obvious change between the LEN treatment and the control when the DNMT3A was knockdown using the interference of shRNA. The modulation of DNA methylation process on gene expression was then confirmed by 5 mC enrichment on Notch2 gene loci after LEN treatment. Furthermore, LEN could suppress the downstream genes in Notch2 signaling including RBP-J (P < 0.05), Hes1 (P < 0.001), and Deltex1 (P < 0.01). Due to the changes of gene expression pattern in Notch pathway, LEN showed a phenotype of cell proliferation suppression using CCK8 staining. Meanwhile, the expression of the genes associated with MDR and MRP was also significantly decreased (MDR, P < 0.01; MRP, P < 0.001) after LEN treatment. Therefore, inhibition of cell proliferation by LEN via Notch2 signaling combined with the MDR/MRP expression modulation contributes to the efficacy of LEN on the gastric cancer cell line SGC7901/VCR. Conclusion: The data implicate that LEN would be an effective chemical for the therapy of drug-resistant human gastric cancer cell and the gastric cancer patients.

https://ift.tt/2pHpYfe

Transdermal fentanyl for cancer pain: Trial sequential analysis of 3406 patients from 35 randomized controlled trials

Dong-Dong Wang, Ting-Ting Ma, Hua-Dong Zhu, Cong-Bin Peng

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2018 14(8):14-21

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of transdermal fentanyl for the treatment of moderate or severe cancer-related pain. Materials and Methods: Electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and Chongqing Weipu and Wanfang Database were searched for relevant studies published prior to January 2015. Only randomized controlled trials on the use of the transdermal fentanyl patch for the treatment of cancer pain were selected. Two reviewers independently screened the studies and extracted data. The quality assessment of the studies included was based on the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (version 5.1.0). RevMan 5 (version 5.3) and Trial Sequential Analysis software (TSA, version 2.1, provided by Copenhagen Trial Unit, Denmark) were used for data analyses. Results: A total of 35 studies involving 3406 participants met the inclusion criteria for this meta-analysis. There was no statistically significant difference with regard to the effectiveness of management for cancer pain between the use of transdermal fentanyl patch and oral morphine (risk ratio = 1.00, 95% confidence interval, 0.97–1.03, P > 0.05). TSA results demonstrated that the cumulative Z-score crossed its monitoring boundaries, and therefore, reliable conclusions had been drawn. Moreover compared with oral morphine, the use of transdermal fentanyl patch resulted in statistically significantly decreased incidence of constipation, nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, and urinary retention. There was a significantly greater incidence of skin irritation in patients who used a transdermal fentanyl patch (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings from this study demonstrate that use of transdermal fentanyl for the management of moderate or severe cancer pain had more advantages compared to oral morphine.

https://ift.tt/2GcclLq

Short-term outcomes after transition from Sweet to thoracoscopic esophagectomy: Our experience and cost analysis

Fei Yao, Ju Yao, Fang Rong Hang, Shiqi Cao, Jun Ling Qian, Jian Wang

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2018 14(8):167-172

Objective: Thoracoscopic esophagectomy (TSE), as a minimally invasive technique, has obtained wide acceptance for treating esophageal cancer. In this study, we report our experience of the transfer from open sweet esophagectomy (OSE) to TSE and compare cost associated with the two approaches for esophageal cancer. Patients and Methods: Data were taken through a retrospective review of operative outcomes, complications and cost of 91 patients who underwent OSE or TSE for esophageal cancer from January 2012 to June 2014. Results: Among 91 patients, 48 patients underwent TSE, and 43 patients underwent OSE. Patients dealt with TSE had significantly less blood loss (152 ml vs. 204 ml, P = 0.004), shorter chest drainage time (3.3 days vs. 4.5 days, P < 0.001), less patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit after surgery (6.3% vs. 30.2%, P = 0.003), and lower incidence of respiratory complications (16.7% vs. 37.2%, P = 0.026). However, the operative time was statistically longer in TSE group (276.0 min vs. 207.4 min, P < 0.001). The total cost (¥61,817 vs. ¥48,712, P < 0.001) and the day of surgery cost (¥29,701 vs. ¥19,446, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the TSE group. Conclusion: This study shows that TSE is a safe and acceptable alternative to OSE. TSE will be more competitive if its cost can be reduced.

https://ift.tt/2pHpTIs

Identifying key genes in retinoblastoma by comparing classifications of several kinds of significant genes

Li Han, Mei-Hong Cheng, Min Zhang, Kai Cheng

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2018 14(8):22-27

Objective: The objective of this paper was to investigate key genes in retinoblastoma using a novel method which is mainly based on five kinds of genes, differentially expressed genes (DEGs), differential pathway genes (DPGs), seed genes (common genes between DEGs and DPGs), hub genes and informative genes (common genes of hub genes and DEGs), and support vector machines (SVM) model. Materials and Methods: In the proposed method, the first step was to identify five types of significant genes. DEGs were identified using linear models for microarray data (Limma) package (The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia). DPGs were originated from differential pathways based on attract method. Hub genes of mutual information network which is constructed by the context likelihood of relatedness algorithm were obtained according to topological degree centrality analysis. For the second step, SVM model was implemented to assess the classification performance of DEGs, DPGs, seed genes, hub genes, and informative genes, depending on its induces the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), true negative rate (TNR), true positive rate (TPR) and the Matthews coefficient correlation classification (MCC). Results: We detected 479 DEGs, 747 DPGs, 29 seed genes, 34 hub genes, and 7 informative genes in total for retinoblastoma. The classification performance of informative genes was the best of all with AUC = 1.00, TNR = 1.00, TPR = 1.00, and MCC = 1.00, hence they were considered to key genes which included EPARS1, FN1, HLA-DPA1, HLA-DPB1, HLA-DRA, CFI, and transforming growth factor, beta receptor II. Conclusions: We have successfully identified seven key genes, which might be potential biomarkers for detection and therapy of retinoblastoma for current and future study.

https://ift.tt/2pGpiWR

Applications of nerve stimulator-guided thoracic paravertebral nerve block plus general anesthesia in small-incision lung cancer surgery

Pengfei Lei, Shan Gao, Peishan Wang, Jiefang Fan, Xiting Ai

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2018 14(8):213-217

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the application of nerve stimulator-guided thoracic paravertebral nerve block (TPVB) plus general anesthesia (GA) in small-incision lung cancer surgery. Methods: Forty patients scheduled for small-incision lung cancer surgery, the American Society of Anesthesiologists Grade I-II, were randomized into a TPVB-GA group (Group P) and a GA group (Group G), with 20 cases in each group. The dosage of general anesthetic, mean arterial pressure (MAP) at each time point, and heart rate (HR) of the two groups were recorded. The postoperative respiration recovery time, extubation time, incidence of adverse reactions, and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) scores of the two groups were also observed. Results: Group P showed stable hemodynamics, and lower MAP and HR at each time point than Group G (P < 0.05). The intraoperative dosage of general anesthetic in Group P was lower than that in Group G (P < 0.05). The respiration recovery time and extubation time in Group P were significantly shorter than those in Group G (P < 0.05); the incidence of agitation was significantly lower than that in Group G (P < 0.05). The VAS scores of Group P under quiet and cough status were also better than Group G (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Nerve stimulator-guided TPVB-GA is suitable for small-incision lung cancer surgery.

https://ift.tt/2pC47WQ

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, epidermal growth factor receptor, and c-MET overexpression and survival in biliary tract cancer: A meta-analysis

Wei Zhou, Congqing Jiang, Nan Zhan, Xiaoguang Lv, Lifang Fan, Maskey Ninu

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2018 14(8):28-35

Background: Tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors (TKGFRs) play an important role in the progression of cancer. A variety of studies have investigated the clinicopathologic correlation of these receptors and their influences on patient survival in different types of cancer. As the members of TKGFRs, the biomarkers c-MET, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) have been extensively investigated in biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, their prognostic value is still controversial. Our study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of the three markers in BTC patients based on the published studies. The correlation between high expression of these markers and clinical parameters or overall survival (OS) has been assumed in this paper. Materials and Methods: Including PubMed, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Springer, a comprehensive search for the related literature published in Chinese and English has been done. Finally, 31 studies were selected in our research. Results: Surprisingly, the meta-analysis indicated that HER-2 high expression was not correlated with age, gender, primary tumor, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, lymph node status, and differentiation. We also found that EGFR high expression was not associated with the parameters, such as age, gender, TNM stage, differentiation, or lymph node status. c-MET high-expression was not associated with age, differentiation, gender, TNM stage, or lymph node status. In addition, our study showed that HER-2, EGFR, and c-MET high expression had an adverse influence on OS in BTC, the pooled hazard ratio for HER-2, EGFR, and c-MET was statistically significant. Conclusion: The present meta-analysis indicated that EGFR and HER-2 high expression have little impact on OS in patients with BTC while c-MET high expression influenced OS in patients with BTC to a large extent. However, c-MET, EGFR, and HER-2 expression did not show any correlation with those clinical parameters. c-MET may be a potential therapeutic target for BTC.

https://ift.tt/2pHLOP9

Uterine metastases originating from a pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor

Jun Zhang, Yuehong Li, Lei Lou

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2018 14(8):257-259

Pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare mesenchymal tumor, and is considered an inflammatory pseudotumor. Here, we report of a 37-year-old woman with severe cough and stridor who was diagnosed with primary IMT of the lungs, with adenocarcinoma in situ based on the pathology in December 2012. A year later, transabdominal ultrasonography demonstrated a solid mass in the uterine wall that was initially diagnosed as a leiomyoma. However, postoperative histological examination and immunohistochemical staining revealed it as a uterine metastasis of the lung IMT. One year thereafter, the patient died of the lung tumor.

https://ift.tt/2pHpNk4

Comparison of the efficacy of strontium-89 chloride in treating bone metastasis of lung, breast, and prostate cancers

Xiaojuan Ye, Da Sun, Cen Lou

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics 2018 14(8):36-40

Objective: The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the efficacy of strontium-89 chloride (89 SrCl2) in treating bone metastasis-associated pain in patients with lung, breast, or prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: The 126 patients with lung cancer included 88, 16, 15, 4, and 3 patients with adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, nonsmall cell carcinoma, mixed carcinoma, and small cell carcinoma, respectively, and the control group consisted of patients with breast (71 patients) or prostate cancer (49 patients) who underwent 89 SrCl2 treatment during the same period. The treatment dose of 89 SrCl2 was 2.22 MBq/kg. Results: The efficacy rate of treatment in the lung cancer group was 75.4%, compared to 95.0% in the control group. Approximately 67% of patients with lung cancer and bone metastases and 47% of control patients exhibited mild-to-moderate reductions of leukocyte and platelet counts 4 weeks after 89 SrCl2 treatment. Conclusions: 89 SrCl2 can safely and effectively relieve bone pain caused by bone metastasis from lung cancer. However, its efficacy was lower in patients with lung cancer with bone metastasis than in those with breast or prostate cancer with bone metastasis, and its effects on the peripheral hemogram were also significantly stronger in the lung cancer group.

https://ift.tt/2pGpipP