Παρασκευή 7 Σεπτεμβρίου 2018
Reply to: Letter to the editor: Evaluation of anatomical and round breast implant aesthetics and preferences in Dutch young lay and plastic surgeon cohort
We would like to thank Dr. Cheng and Dr. Cen for reading our article and for submitting their interesting points.1 All patients included in our study underwent primary aesthetic breast augmentation with either anatomical or round breast implants.2 Dr. Cheng and Dr. Cen correctly mention that a history of breast disease or surgery would have an impact on breast aesthetics due to skin compliance and breast parenchyma. For this reason, we excluded patients that underwent prior breast surgery as it may have possibly lead to malformation, which could be a reason for revision surgery.
https://ift.tt/2wQp83k
Nutritional Modulation of Innate Immunity: The Fat–Bile–Gut Connection
Publication date: Available online 6 September 2018
Source: Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism
Author(s): Raphael Chevre, Carlos Silvestre-Roig, Oliver Soehnlein
Altered nutritional behavior in Western societies has unleashed numerous metabolic disorders, intimately linked to profound disruptions of the immune system. Here we summarize how nutrition modulates innate immunity. We outline recent findings regarding nutrient signaling and we particularly focus on the collateral impact of nutrition on the microbiome and on the bile acid (BA) pool. We discuss how the integration of postprandial signals by the gut microbiota, along with the absorption routes of metabolites, differentially affects immune niches to orchestrate immune responses. Finally, we discuss the potential consequences of these signals in the light of trained immunity. A better understanding of nutrition signaling will permit the optimization of therapeutic and dietary strategies against the arising immune disorders.
https://ift.tt/2wNwG6i
Scholar : Museum Management and Curatorship, Volume 33, Issue 4, August 2018 is now available online on Taylor & Francis Online
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Scholar : The Law Teacher, Volume 52, Issue 3, September 2018 is now available online on Taylor & Francis Online
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Photodegradation of clothianidin and thiamethoxam in agricultural soils
Abstract
Presented in this paper is a study on the photodegradation of two widely used neonicotinoid insecticides clothianidin and thiamethoxam in three soils and in solid phase. The effects of light with differing wavelengths were examined using the natural sunlight and single ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light sources. The results indicated that UVB played a key role in the photodegradation of clothianidin and thiamethoxam while the effects of visible and UVA lights were negligible. The degradations of clothianidin and thiamethoxam under all the light sources followed the first-order kinetics, and the half-lives of clothianidin and thiamethoxam in the three soils under the sunlight ranged from 97 to 112 h and 88 to 103 h, respectively. When clothianidin and thiamethoxam were directly exposed to the sunlight without soil, the degradation rates were remarkably higher with half-lives being 13 and 10 h, respectively. Therefore, the insecticides fallen on the surface of soils would be degraded under sunlight much faster than those that enter the soils. The examination of the degradation products revealed four compounds from the photodegradation of clothianidin and three from thiamethoxam, and clothianidin was one of the photodegradation products of thiamethoxam.
https://ift.tt/2Q9iVYF
The potential adsorption mechanism of the biochars with different modification processes to Cr(VI)
Abstract
Modified biochar has attracted wide attention due to its advantageous adsorption performance. However, the influence of modification process of biochar on adsorption capacity was seldom studied. In this study, biochar derived from corn stalks was modified through two kinds of modification processes: pre-pyrolysis (MBCpre) and post-pyrolysis (MBCpost) modification with citric acid, sodium hydroxide, ferric chloride, respectively. The results showed that the biochar modified by ferric chloride (MBC) provided better adsorption capacity for Cr(VI), and the pre-pyrolysis offered more favorable adsorption capacity for biochar than post-pyrolysis. By means of instrumental analysis, it was found that MBCpre owned highly dispersed Fe3O4 particles and larger surface area, which could be the critical role for enhancing the adsorption capacity of MBCpre. Meanwhile, MBCpost appeared more protonated oxygen-rich functional groups(C=O, –OH, etc.) and adsorbed Cr(VI) by electrostatic attraction and complexation. This study will offer a novel idea for the treatment of chromium-containing wastewater by selecting the modification processes of biochar.
Graphical abstract
https://ift.tt/2Cwjwkk
Spatio-temporal variability and source identification for metal contamination in the river sediment of Indian Sundarbans, a world heritage site
Abstract
Metal pollution is a subject of growing concern as it affects the whole food chain of an ecosystem by bioaccumulation. Growing industrialization and anthropogenic intervention have put tremendous pressure on self-sustaining ecosystems worldwide. Sundarbans mangrove estuary, being a UNESCO World Heritage site, suffers severely from anthropogenic stress, urbanization, ecotourism, overexploitation of natural resources and discharges of industrial as well as municipal waste products. Our study unfolds the extent of metal pollution in the sediment of this estuarine mangrove ecosystem and also investigates the source and distribution of these metals. Extensive samplings were performed during three major seasons, namely pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon for two consecutive years at ten sampling stations along the major river networks of the mangrove estuary. Seasonal variations of these metals, physicochemical properties, and soil texture studies were performed to explore the sediment quality of the study area. Positive correlation was observed between the pollutants and siltation. Several environmental indices were investigated to explore the degree of metal pollution which revealed contamination of Cd, Cr, and Pb to cross the permitted safe index in the study area. Pollution load index indicates the spatial as well as seasonal variation of eco toxic metal load along the course of the rivers. Statistical analyses such as principal component analysis and correlation matrix identified different sources for metal contamination. Almost 700 tannery industries are located in the upstream region of the rivers, and several small- and large-scale battery industries seem to be the main possible source for Cd, Cr, and Pb pollution. Analysis of the results indicates the alarming condition of this heritage site. The metal concentrations beyond toxicity thresholds are responsible for gradual deterioration of this estuarine mangrove which may only be protected by developing sustainable management planning.
https://ift.tt/2Qcd9Fu
Scholar : Dance Chronicle, Volume 41, Issue 2, May-August 2018 is now available online on Taylor & Francis Online
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Scholar : Atlantic Journal of Communication, Volume 26, Issue 4, September-October 2018 is now available online on Taylor & Francis Online
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Microbial explanations for field-aged biochar mitigating greenhouse gas emissions during a rice-growing season
Abstract
Knowledge about the impacts of fresh and field-aged biochar amendments on greenhouse gas (CH4, N2O) emissions is limited. A field experiment was initiated in 2012 to study the effects of fresh and field-aged biochar additions on CH4 and N2O emissions and the associated microbial activity during the entire rice-growing season in typical rice-wheat rotation system in Southeast China. CH4 and N2O fluxes were monitored, and the abundance of methanogen (mcrA), methanotrophy (pmoA), ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), nitrite reductase (nirS, nirK), N2O reductase (nosZ), and potential soil enzyme activities related to CH4 and N2O were simultaneously measured throughout different rice developmental stages. There were three treatments: control (urea without biochar), fresh BC (urea with fresh biochar added in 2015), and aged BC (urea with 3-year field-aged biochar added in 2012). Results showed that field-aged biochar significantly decreased seasonal CH4 emissions by 16.8% in relation to the fresh biochar, though no significant differences were detected between biochars and control treatment. The structural equation model indicated that soil pH, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), pmoA, and mcrA were the main factors directly influenced by fresh and aged biochar amendments; aged biochar showed a negative effect while fresh biochar showed positive effects on CH4 fluxes. Both fresh and field-aged biochar obviously increased AOA and AOB abundances and reduced the (nirS+nirK)/nosZ ratio during the entire rice-growing season, although no significant effects were observed on seasonal N2O emissions. Therefore, biochar amendment produced long-term effects on total CH4 and N2O emissions through observed influences of soil pH and functional gene abundance.
The figure shows how fresh and field-aged biochar differentially affected CH4 production and oxidation and N2O production and reduction through related functional gene abundances. Blue arrows indicate suppressing while pink arrows indicate promoting effect.
https://ift.tt/2wSD10m
Biofilter with mixture of pine bark and expanded clay as packing material for methane treatment in lab-scale experiment and field-scale implementation
Abstract
Low methane (CH4) emission reduction efficiency (< 25%) has been prevalent due to inefficient biological exhaust gas treatment facilities in mechanic biological waste treatment plants (MBTs) in Germany. This study aimed to quantify the improved capacity of biofilters composed of a mixture of organic (pine bark) and inorganic (expanded clay) packing materials in reducing CH4 emissions in both a lab-scale experiment and field-scale implementation. CH4 removal performance was evaluated using lab-scale biofilter columns under varied inflow CH4 concentrations (70, 130, and 200 g m−3) and corresponding loading rates of 8.2, 4.76, and 3.81 g m−3 h−1, respectively. The laboratory CH4 removal rates (1.2–2.2 g m−3 h−1) showed positive correlation with the inflow CH4 loading rates (4–8.2 g m−3 h−1), indicating high potential for field-scale implementation. Three field-scale biofilter systems with the proposed mixture packing materials were constructed in an MBT in Neumünster, northern Germany. A relatively stable CH4 removal efficiency of 38–50% was observed under varied inflow CH4 concentrations of 28–39 g m−3 (loading rates of 1120–2340 g m−3 h−1) over a 24-h period. The CH4 removal rate was approximately 500–700 g m−3 h−1, which was significantly higher than relevant previously reported field-scale biofilter systems (16–50 g m−3 h−1). The present study provides a promising configuration of biofilter systems composed of a mixture of organic (pine bark) and inorganic (expanded clay) packing materials to achieve high CH4 emission reduction.
Graphic abstract
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https://ift.tt/2oNPMpb
Blood Sample Collection to Evaluate Biomarkers in Subjects With Untreated Solid Tumors
Conditions: Breast Cancer; Lung Cancer; Colorectal Cancer; Prostate Cancer; Bladder Cancer; Uterine Cancer; Kidney Cancer; Renal Pelvis Cancer; Pancreatic Cancer; Liver Cancer; Stomach Cancer; Ovarian Cancer; Esophageal Cancer
Intervention: Other: Blood Sample Collection
Sponsor: Exact Sciences Corporation
Recruiting
https://ift.tt/2CvEi3r
Intervention: Other: Blood Sample Collection
Sponsor: Exact Sciences Corporation
Recruiting
https://ift.tt/2CvEi3r
Effect of Guided Imagery for Radiotherapy-Related Distress in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer
Condition: Head and Neck Cancer
Interventions: Behavioral: Guided Imagery; Other: Treatment as Usual
Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver
Not yet recruiting
https://ift.tt/2Q9PHIV
Interventions: Behavioral: Guided Imagery; Other: Treatment as Usual
Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver
Not yet recruiting
https://ift.tt/2Q9PHIV
Mycobacterium Ulcerans soft tissue defects: reconstructive challenges
Abstract
Background
Mycobacterium ulcerans (M. ulcerans) infection is a growing concern in Australia, with several disease hotspots in south-eastern Victoria (Guest 2016). Cases at our institution, located within one such endemic area, increasingly require reconstruction of substantial mycobacterial soft tissue deficits. This article comprises a focused literature review of flap reconstruction outcomes in significant M. ulcerans defects and the impact of antibiotic choice, duration of antimycobacterial therapy and time to reconstruction in this context, as well as a short case series.
Methods
A keyword search of Medline, Google Scholar and PubMed was conducted. In addition, four M. ulcerans flap reconstructions performed at our institution had case notes retrospectively reviewed for reconstruction indication, complications, outcomes and antibiotic therapy.
Results
Sixteen articles met inclusion criteria, of which 11 referenced flap reconstruction of M. ulcerans soft tissue defects in some manner. Antibiotic regimens, peri-operative details and flap outcomes were either only briefly mentioned or not at all and were not the focus of any of the articles. We present four cases of dorsal hand M. ulcerans defect, which were reconstructed with fasciocutaneous anterolateral thigh flaps due to extensive soft tissue loss with extensor tendon exposure. Antibiotic regimens varied. Each procedure was undertaken with minimal complication and excellent functional outcomes.
Conclusions
This review has identified the necessity of defining optimal reconstructive pathways in M. ulcerans soft tissue defects. Our cases demonstrate the successful use of fasciocutaneous flaps in refractory cases needing complex reconstruction. This paper presents the first review and case series on microvascular flap reconstruction of M. ulcerans defects. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic study.
https://ift.tt/2wS1bbk
Effects of particulate matter (PM2.5) and associated acidity on ecosystem functioning: response of leaf litter breakdown
Abstract
Particulate matter (PM2.5 with the diameter ≤ 2.5 μm) as one of the most harmful and complex pollutants can reduce environment quality and affect human health. Through acidification by wet deposition, PM2.5 can cause acid rain to impact aquatic ecosystems. However, our understanding of PM2.5 effect on ecosystem functioning is highly limited. This study investigated the relationship between PM2.5 concentration, associated acidity, and leaf litter breakdown of three tree species in laboratory experimental mesocosms, which are weeping willow (Salix babylonica), camphor tree(Cinnamomum camphora), and the south magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). We found that leaf litter breakdown was significant affected by PM2.5 and associated acidity. With the increase of acidity, the leaf breakdown rate of all three tree species decreased. With the increase of PM2.5 concentration, the leaf breakdown rates of those leaves slowed down. When considering the influence of leaf toughness, willow leaves with lower toughness had a higher breakdown rate than that of camphor tree and the south magnolia. Our study suggests that PM2.5 has significant impact on the aquatic ecosystem functioning through increasing acidification in aquatic environment. Hence, along with ecological restoration of local aquatic habitats, further freshwater ecosystem management should include reducing air pollution through regional efforts of best ecosystem management.
https://ift.tt/2CwsLRu
Financial development, globalization, and CO 2 emission in the presence of EKC: evidence from BRICS countries
Abstract
This study examines the impact of energy consumption, financial development, globalization, economic growth, and urbanization on carbon dioxide emissions in the presence of Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) model for BRICS economies, by using a family of econometric techniques robust to heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence. Results from LM test, CIPS and CADF unit root test, Westerlund Cointegration test, the Dynamic seemingly unrelated regression (DSUR), and Dumitrescu-Hurlin Granger causality test show that (i) the data is cross sectionally dependent and heterogeneous; (ii) carbon dioxide emissions, energy consumption, financial development, globalization, economic growth, square of GDP and urbanization have integration of order one; (iii) the examined variables are co-integrated; (iv) energy consumption and financial development contribute to the carbon dioxide emissions whereas globalization and urbanization have negative but insignificant relationship with carbon dioxide emissions; (v) supports the EKC hypothesis in BRICS economies; (vi) bidirectional causality exists among energy consumption, financial development, economic growth and square of GDP with carbon dioxide emissions whereas globalization and urbanization have unidirectional relationship with carbon dioxide emissions. Since these panel techniques account for heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependence in their estimation procedure, the empirical results are robust and reliable for policy recommendations. Furthermore, this study also uses time series tests (ADF, P-P, and FMOLS) to find the empirical results for each of the country and finds mixed results. Empirical findings directed towards some important policy implications.
https://ift.tt/2oOaJjO
Usefulness of TSH receptor antibodies as biomarkers for Graves’ ophthalmopathy: a systematic review
Abstract
Purpose
Over the past several decades, many papers have been published about the usefulness of thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TRAbs) as biomarkers of Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). However, results have been inconsistent. The purpose of this analysis is to determine a possible cause of these discrepancies and to examine the usefulness of TRAbs as biomarkers for GO, especially 'thyrotropin-binding inhibiting immunoglobulin (TBII)' and 'thyroid-stimulating antibody (TSAb)'.
Method
26 articles discussing the association between TRAbs and GO were selected which were then divided into three groups based on the study method and whether or not the patients had been treated for hyperthyroidism. From the results of the papers reviewed, a provisional conclusion was made and a theoretical model on the TBII–TSAb coordinate plane was developed to confirm that conclusion.
Results
TSAb is reported to be significantly or strongly associated with GO in the studies of pre- and post-treated patients for hyperthyroidism. TBII is positively correlated, negatively correlated or uncorrelated with GO in studies of pre-treated patients. However, it is generally agreed upon that TBII and GO are closely correlated in studies of post-treated patients.
Conclusion
We conclude that the level of TBII may not be a reliable indicator of the current state of GO in pre-treated patients. Whereas, in post-treated patients, due to changes in the correlation between TBII and TSAb due to the effect of hyperthyroidism treatment, the level of TBII can be a more reliable indicator of GO. Furthermore, the current level of TBII is closely associated with the onset and severity of GO in the future and it can be a valid predictor of GO. However, the TSAb level appears to be more reliable.
https://ift.tt/2M544uN
Giant Prolactinoma of Young Onset: A Clue to Diagnosis of MEN-1 Syndrome.
| Related Articles |
Giant Prolactinoma of Young Onset: A Clue to Diagnosis of MEN-1 Syndrome.
Case Rep Endocrinol. 2018;2018:2875074
Authors: Subasinghe CJ, Somasundaram N, Sivatharshya P, Ranasinghe LD, Korbonits M
Abstract
Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 1 syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by germline mutations in MEN1 gene, characterized by tumours in endocrine and nonendocrine organs. Giant prolactinoma is defined as tumours larger than 40mm with very high prolactin secretion. We report two unrelated Sri Lankan patients (8-year-old boy and a 20-year-old female) who presented with giant prolactinomas with mass effects of the tumours. The female patient showed complete response to medical therapy, while the boy developed recurrent resistant prolactinoma needing surgery and radiotherapy. During follow-up, both developed pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. Genetic analysis revealed that one was heterozygous for a nonsense mutation and other for missense mutation in MEN1 gene. Screening confirmed familial MEN-1 syndrome in their families. High clinical suspicion upon unusual clinical presentation prompted genetic evaluation in these patients and detection of MEN1 gene mutation. Pituitary adenomas in children with MEN-1 syndrome are larger tumours with higher rates of treatment resistance. This report emphasizes importance of screening young patients with giant prolactinoma for MEN-1 syndrome and arranging long-term follow-up for them expecting variable treatment outcomes. Sri Lanka requires further studies to describe the genotypic-phenotypic variability of MEN-1 syndrome in this population.
PMID: 30186640 [PubMed]
https://ift.tt/2Q9RduJ
Scalar diffusion-MRI measures invariant to acquisition parameters: A first step towards imaging biomarkers
Publication date: December 2018
Source: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Volume 54
Author(s): Santiago Aja-Fernández, Tomasz Pieciak, Antonio Tristán-Vega, Gonzalo Vegas-Sánchez-Ferrero, Vicente Molina, Rodrigo de Luis-García
Abstract
An imaging biomarker is a biologic feature in an image that is relevant to a patient's diagnosis or prognosis. In order to qualify as a biomarker, a measure must be robust and reproducible. However, the usual scalar measures derived from diffusion tensor imaging are known to be highly dependent on the variation of the acquisition parameters, which prevents their possible use as biomarkers. In this work, we propose a new set of quantitative measures based on diffusion magnetic resonance imaging from single-shell acquisitions that are designed to be robust to the variations of several acquisition parameters (number of gradient directions, b-value and SNR) while keeping a high discrimination power on differences in the diffusion characteristics of the tissue.
These new scalar measures are analytically obtained from a generic diffusion function that does not require the calculation of a diffusion tensor. This way, on one hand, we avoid the use of a specific diffusion model and, on the other hand, we make easier the statistical characterization of the measures. Accordingly, the analysis of the measures bias is carried out and it is used to minimize their dependency with respect to the acquisition noise for different SNRs. The robustness and discrimination power of the measures are tested for different number of gradients, b-values and SNRs using a realistic phantom and three real datasets: (1) 13 control subjects and different acquisition parameters; (2) a public data set from a single subject acquired using multiple shells and (3) 32 schizophrenia patients and 32 age and sex-matched healthy controls with a varying number of gradient directions.
The proposed quantitative measures exhibit low variability to the changes of the acquisition parameters, while at the same time they preserve a discrimination power that is able to detect significant changes in the anisotropy of the diffusion.
https://ift.tt/2wSDpwN
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Publication date: September 2017 Source: Free Radical Biology and Medicine, Volume 110 Author(s): Lucía Fernández-del-Río, Anish Nag, Elen...
