Effects of soil properties and aging process on the acute toxicity of cadmium to earthworm Eisenia fetida

Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of soil properties and aging process on the acute toxicity of cadmium (Cd) to Eisenia fetida (E. fetida) in 18 Cd-spiked soils. Results showed that the Cd toxicity to E. fetida differed in the 18 soils with different characteristics, and median lethal concentration (LC50) values varied from 440.7 to 1520.4 mg/kg in freshly spiked soils. Soil pH and organic matter (OM) content were the two major factors associated with Cd toxicity. The increase in LC50 values and decreases in both exchangeable Cd in soils and tissue Cd concentrations in earthworm whole body indicated that aging (180 and 360 days) could reduce the acute toxicity and bioavailability of Cd to E. fetida. Cadmium concentrations in E. fetida were positively correlated with exchangeable Cd content in soils, and soil pH and OM were the key factors controlling the distribution and transformation of the exchangeable Cd. The results will provide useful reference information for the risk assessment of Cd in the terrestrial environment.

http://ift.tt/2hV1G10

Assessment of oral and lung bioaccessibility of Cd and Pb from smelter-impacted dust

Abstract

Soil and dust contamination by metals engenders significant environmental and health problems in northern France where a lead smelter was in activity for more than a century. This study aims to examine the long-term effects of the smelter, 10 years after its closedown, on the presence of metal in sidewalk dust for a better assessment of the local population's exposure to Cd and Pb. The investigation included: (i) the metal distribution in different dust particle sizes and (ii) the assessment of metal bioaccessibility via ingestion and inhalation of dust. Seventy-two sidewalk dust samples were collected using a dust-sampling vacuum. The samples were sieved to collect different particle sizes from 0.3 to 1000 μm. The unified bioaccessibility method (UBM) was employed to evaluate the oral bioaccessibility of metals in the different particle sizes. The pulmonary bioaccessible fraction of Cd and Pb via the finest particles was extracted with lung-simulating solution (artificial lysosomal fluid). Ten years after the smelter closedown, (i) a strong relationship was observed between the concentrations of metals in dust and the distance to the former smelter, whatever the particle size; (ii) both total and oral bioaccessible concentrations of metals were high in the finest fraction (0.3–5 μm) and decreased when the particle size increased; (iii) a higher oral bioaccessibility of Cd and Pb was measured in the gastric phase (on average 43% for both metals for all particle sizes) and compared to the gastrointestinal phase (on average 16% for both metals for all particle sizes); and (iv) metal bioaccessibility via inhalation of dust was relatively high (on average 74 and 69%, for Cd and Pb, respectively). The results of the present study suggest that this environmental compartment may be a sensitive and effective indicator of anthropogenic metal contamination and the human exposure in urban areas.

http://ift.tt/2jMWQDs

Adsorption of cadmium ions using the bioadsorbent of Pichia kudriavzevii YB5 immobilized by polyurethane foam and alginate gels

Abstract

Pichia kudriavzevii YB5, mutated from Pichia kudriavzevii A16 with a strong ability to remove cadmium ions, was immobilized by polyurethane foam and alginate gels in this work. The immobilization conditions were optimized as follows: sodium alginate concentration of 2% (w/v), calcium chloride concentration of 2% (w/v), biomass dose of 1 × 10⁹ cell/mL, and cross-linking time for 4 h. Then, the results of batch adsorption experiments showed that the removal capacity of prepared bioadsorbent was significantly affected by the pH of media, contact time, and the initial Cd(II) concentration, and a suitable adsorption conditions of Cd(II) could be achieved with a pH value of 6.0 at 20 °C for 90 min. Kinetic and isothermal results indicated the behavior of Cd(II) adsorption onto immobilized P. kudriavzevii YB5 fitted to the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation and the Langmuir adsorption model. Thermodynamic results showed that the Cd(II) adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous in nature. Besides, the Cd(II) removing capacity of the prepared bioadsorbent was also tested in the oyster hydrolysates, showing an average removal rate of 54.35%. Thus, the immobilized P. kudriavzevii YB5 adsorbent had great potential for application in aquatic products to ensure the food safety.

http://ift.tt/2hVdxf9

Visible light-induced photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Blue-19 over highly efficient polyaniline-TiO 2 nanocomposite: a comparative study with solar and UV photocatalysis

Abstract

Polyaniline-TiO₂ (PANI-TiO₂) nanocomposite was prepared by in situ polymerisation method. X-ray diffractogram (XRD) showed the formation of PANI-TiO₂ nanocomposite with the average crystallite size of 46 nm containing anatase TiO₂. The PANI-TiO₂ nanocomposite consisted of short-chained fibrous structure of PANI with spherical TiO₂ nanoparticles dispersed at the tips and edge of the fibres. The average hydrodynamic diameter of the nanocomposite was 99.5 nm. The band gap energy was 2.1 eV which showed its ability to absorb light in the visible range. The nanocomposite exhibited better visible light-mediated photocatalytic activity than TiO₂ (Degussa P25) in terms of degradation of Reactive Blue (RB-19) dye. The photocatalysis was favoured under initial acidic pH, and complete degradation of 50 mg/L dye could be achieved at optimum catalyst loading of 1 g/L. The kinetics of degradation followed the Langmuir-Hinshelhood model. PANI-TiO₂ nanocomposite showed almost similar photocatalytic activity under UV and visible light as well as in the solar light which comprises of radiation in both UV and visible light range. Chemical oxygen demand removal of 86% could also be achieved under visible light, confirming that simultaneous mineralization of the dye occurred during photocatalysis. PANI-TiO₂ nanocomposites are promising photocatalysts for the treatment of industrial wastewater containing RB-19 dye.

http://ift.tt/2jQbucR

Short Takes

Publication date: Available online 22 November 2017
Source:Pediatric Neurology
Author(s): Steven G. Pavlakis




http://ift.tt/2mT28hV

Hours worked and patient visits provided by dentists in Australia

Abstract

Objectives

To examine numbers of hours worked and patient visits provided by age and sex of dentist in Australia, and compare with previous estimates to describe trends.

Methods

Data were collected by mailed survey from a random sample (n=2,961) of Australian dentists. Private sector dentists working in clinical practise were included in the analysis. Data were weighted to the age and sex distribution of Australian practising dentists.

Results

The adjusted response rate was 49% (n=1,345 dentists). Hours per year worked and number of patient visits per year were lower for dentists aged 65+ years than younger dentists, and were higher for male compared with female dentists aged 35-45 to 55-64 years. Hours per year worked were lower in 2013-14 than reported in 2009-10, but the number of patient visits in 2013-14 was similar to the previously reported estimate from 2009-10.

Conclusions

Hours worked and visits provided were only lower among older dentists aged 65 years or more. Male dentists tend to work more hours per year and provide more patient visits per year than female dentists. Over the last decade, Australian dentists maintained a stable output of visits per year despite a trend towards fewer hours worked per year.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

http://ift.tt/2iHR8PD

Thyroid High-Impact Articles

FREE ACCESS through December 5, 2017.
Read now:

Latest Impact Factor: 5.515
The Official Journal of: American Thyroid Association

Reintroducing the Sodium-Iodide Symporter to Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma
Kathrin A. Schmohl, Patrick Dolp, Christina Schug, Kerstin Knoop, Kathrin Klutz, Nathalie Schwenk, Peter Bartenstein, Peter J. Nelson, Manfred Ogris, Ernst Wagner, Christine Spitzweg  

Pathologic Reporting of Tall-Cell Variant of Papillary Thyroid Cancer: Have We Reached a Consensus?
Juan C. Hernandez-Prera, Rosalie A. Machado, Sylvia L. Asa, Zubair Baloch, William C. Faquin, Ronald Ghossein, Virginia A. LiVolsi, Ricardo V. Lloyd, Ozgur Mete, Yuri E. Nikiforov, Raja R. Seethala, Saul Suster, Lester D. Thompson, Andrew T. Turk, Peter M. Sadow, Mark L. Urken, Bruce M. Wenig  

Risk Stratification of Thyroid Nodules on Ultrasonography: Current Status and Perspectives
Eun Ju Ha, Jung Hwan Baek, Dong Gyu Na  

Founder Effect of the RETC^611Y Mutation in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 2A in Denmark: A Nationwide Study
Jes Sloth Mathiesen, Jens Peter Kroustrup, Peter Vestergaard, Kirstine Stochholm, Per Løgstrup Poulsen, Åse Krogh Rasmussen, Ulla Feldt-Rasmussen, Mette Gaustadnes, Torben Falck Ørntoft, Maria Rossing, Finn Cilius Nielsen, Anders Albrechtsen, Kim Brixen, Christian Godballe, Anja Lisbeth Frederiksen  

 

The post <i>Thyroid</i> High-Impact Articles appeared first on American Thyroid Association.

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A Prospective Study of Apatinib Plus Concurrent Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Siewert II ，III of Locally Advanced HER-2 Negative Adenocarcinoma at Gastroesophageal Junction

Condition:   Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma
Intervention:   Combination Product: apatinib XELOX radiotherapy
Sponsor:   Hebei Medical University
Not yet recruiting

http://ift.tt/2zsRxjH

Efficacy of rTMS and VCT on Upper Limb Function in Patients With Stroke

Condition:   Cerebral Vascular Accident
Interventions:   Device: intermittent theta burst stimulation;   Device: continuous theta burst stimulation;   Device: iTBS+cTBS group;   Device: sham theta burst stimulation;   Device: VCT;   Device: VCT+optimal rTMS group
Sponsors:   Chang Gung Memorial Hospital;   Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan
Recruiting

http://ift.tt/2mTSnzS

Prior Cancer Among Persons Newly Diagnosed With Cancer

This analysis of data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program of cancer registries examines prevalence of prior cancer among individuals newly diagnosed with cancer.

http://ift.tt/2iGT0IF

Primary Tumor Location and RAS and BRAF Mutations in Colon Cancer

This post hoc analysis investigates the prognostic and predictive role of primary tumor location according to BRAF, RAS, and microsatellite instability status in patients with colon cancer.

http://ift.tt/2B17XMn

Overall Survival vs Disease-Specific Survival

To the Editor Mailankody and Prasad, in their Viewpoint, discussed some of the age-related problems associated with the use of overall survival as an outcome in cancer drug trials. They suggested that overall survival in drug trials should be treated as a surrogate end point for overall survival in the real world. Some of the issues that the authors raise related to overall survival are due to the fact that the overall survival benefit decreases with age due to competing risks. It is not clear why the authors did not discuss disease-specific survival as a true outcome.

http://ift.tt/2iHZEOC

Open Access Information Added

In the Original Article titled "Association of 70-Gene Signature Assay Findings With Physicians' Treatment Guidance for Patients With Early Breast Cancer Classified as Intermediate Risk by the 21-Gene Assay," published online October 26, 2017, information about the Open Access status was added to the acknowledgments. This article has been corrected online.

http://ift.tt/2B3ztbX

The MACRA Quality Payment Program and Oncology Clinicians

This study surveys oncologists, hematologists, and practice administrators to gain an understanding of their perceptions of, and readiness to participate in, the MACRA Quality Payment Program.

http://ift.tt/2iHZqae

Incident Cancer in Cancer Survivors

Thanks to improvements in public health and more effective treatments for infectious diseases and cardiovascular disease, life expectancy in the United States has measurably improved. With increasing age comes an increase in cancer incidence. Over the past 4 decades improvements in cancer screening and treatment mean that about two-thirds of individuals in the United States diagnosed with cancer today will live at least 5 years. Thus, the need for evidence-based measures to optimize medical care for cancer survivors has emerged.

http://ift.tt/2B3VZSh

Overall Survival vs Disease-Specific Survival—Reply

In Reply Dr Burke asks why we focused on overall survival and not disease-specific survival in our Viewpoint, particularly among the elderly who face competing risks. We made the case that a marginal improvement in overall survival in an ideal population may be lost when that therapy is extrapolated to a real-world population. It is likely the case that a marginal benefit to disease-specific survival is also diluted or lost in the world because the mechanism of the loss is due to an increase in toxicity, frequent dose reductions, and discontinuations, leading to a tipping of the benefit/harm balance.

http://ift.tt/2iHZc2S

Lymphatic Mapping and Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Breast Cancer

http://ift.tt/2B336uf

Editorial Board

Publication date: November 2017
Source:Radiotherapy and Oncology, Volume 125, Issue 2





http://ift.tt/2zZ6J7f

Contents

Publication date: November 2017
Source:Radiotherapy and Oncology, Volume 125, Issue 2





http://ift.tt/2AmiF3T

Global impact of radiotherapy in oncology: Saving one million lives by 2035

Publication date: November 2017
Source:Radiotherapy and Oncology, Volume 125, Issue 2
Author(s): Yolande Lievens, Mary Gospodarowicz, Surbhi Grover, David Jaffray, Danielle Rodin, Julie Torode, Mei Ling Yap, Eduardo Zubizarreta




http://ift.tt/2zZ6ngV