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Sedimentation sludge water (SSW), a prominent constituent of wastewater from drinking water treatment plants, has received limited attention in terms of its treatment and utilization likely due to the perceived difficulties associated with managing SSW sludge. This study comprehensively evaluated the water quality of SSW by comparing it to a well-documented wastewater (filter backwash water (FBW)). Furthermore, it investigated the pollutant variations in the SSW during pre-sedimentation process, probed the underlying reaction mechanism, and explored the feasibility of employing a pilot-scale coagulation-sedimentation process for SSW treatment. The levels of most water quality parameters were generally comparable between SSW and FBW. During the pre-sedimentation of SSW, significant removal of turbidity, bacterial counts, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) was observed. The characterization of DOM components, molecular weight distributions, and optical properties revealed that the macromolecular proteinaceous biopolymers and humic acids were preferentially removed. The characterization of particulates indicated that high surface energy, zeta potential, and bridging/adsorption/sedimentation/coagulation capacities in aluminum residuals of SSW, underscoring its potential as a coagulant and promoting the generation and sedimentation of inorganic-organic complexes. The coagulation-sedimentation process could effectively remove pollutants from low-turbidity SSW ([turbidity]0 < 15 NTU). These findings provide valuable insights into the water quality dynamics of SSW during the pre-sedimentation process, facilitating the development of SSW quality management and enhancing its reuse rate.
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Aguas del Alcantarillado , Eliminación de Residuos Líquidos , Eliminación de Residuos Líquidos/métodos , Aguas del Alcantarillado/química , Material Particulado/análisis , Aguas Residuales/química , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , Purificación del Agua/métodos , Sustancias Húmicas/análisis , Calidad del AguaRESUMEN
Sedimentation solid-state NMR is a novel method for sample preparation in solid-state NMR (ssNMR) studies. It involves the sedimentation of soluble macromolecules such as large protein complexes. By utilizing ultra-high centrifugal forces, the molecules in solution are driven into a high-concentrated hydrogel, resulting in a sample suitable for solid-state NMR. This technique has the advantage of avoiding the need for chemical treatment, thus minimizing the loss of sample biological activity. Sediment ssNMR has been successfully applied to a variety of non-crystalline protein solids, significantly expanding the scope of solid-state NMR research. In theory, using this method, any biological macromolecule in solution can be transferred into a sedimented solute appropriate for solid-state NMR analysis. However, specialized equipment and careful handling are essential for effectively collecting and loading the sedimented solids to solid-state NMR rotors. To improve efficiency, we have designed a series of loading tools to achieve the loading process from the solution to the rotor in one step. In this paper, we illustrate the sample preparation process of sediment NMR using the H1.4-NCP167 complex, which consists of linker histone H1.4 and nucleosome core particle, as an example.
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Soil erosion and sediment buildup are the factors that speed up the decline in capacity and function of reservoirs, agricultural products, and water resources. In order to simulate sediment and runoff and map high sediment-yielding sub-basins in the Gibe Gojeb catchment in southwest Ethiopia, this study used the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. Using data on sediment and river flow, calibration and validation were carried out. Between 2003 and 2016, the catchment produced an average annual sediment loading of 62.5 tons ha-1 yr-1, with loading fluctuations ranging from 0.2 to 108.4 tons ha-1 yr-1. The acceptable sediment yield threshold value ranges from 12.3 to 108.4 tons ha-1 yr-1 for 56 sub-basins, and from 0.2 to 10 tons ha-1 yr-1 for 5 sub-basins. The most significant sub-basins with very high to extremely severe sediment yields were sub-basins 1 to 30, 32 to 44, 47, 48, 50, 51, and 53 to 61. After thirteen years of operation, the yearly amount of 58,802 tons of sediment transferred from the catchment and deposited into Gibe One reservoir has decreased the capacity by 5.7 %. The accumulation of sediment in a reservoir has an impact on its functionality, power production, and capacity, affecting the safety of dams and the environment. The study's findings enhanced our comprehension of sediment accumulation in reservoirs and furnished us with the necessary information regarding reservoir safety, integrated soil, and water management.
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Coal mines are one of the largest sources of energy supply and generate significant volumes of wastewater. Chemical coagulation is one of the most effective methods for wastewater treatment. In this research, ferric and aluminum-based coagulants, along with polyacrylamide flocculants with positive, negative, and neutral charges, were utilized in chemical coagulation. After applying the Plackett-Burman screening method, it was found that ferric chloride coagulant, neutral flocculant, and slow mixing duration had the greatest impact. The chemical coagulation process was modeled and optimized by examining these factors using the Box-Behnken statistical design as input parameters and sedimentation velocity as the output. Under optimal conditions, the values for ferric chloride coagulant, neutral flocculant, mixing time in slow mode, and sedimentation velocity were determined to be 106.3 mg/L, 3.98 mg/L, 29.6 min, and 1.10 cm/min, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the removal percentages of pollutants, including TSS, turbidity, TDS, COD, and BOD, were obtained at 100%, 100%, 87%, 93%, and 81%, respectively. The experimental data were fitted using the BBD and ANN methods. Both models demonstrated very high agreement, but the ANN method performed better with an AAD% of 0.66, an MSE of 0.0001, and an R2 value of 0.99. All results were calculated with a confidence level above 98%, indicating that both models had very high reliability in modeling and prediction.
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Freshwater ecosystems are being degraded by a wide range of stressors resulting from human activities. Various structural and functional metrics or indices are used to assess the 'health' or condition of riverine ecosystems. It is uncertain if structural or functional metrics or indices respond to different stressors and whether some are more responsive to stressors in general. Here we conducted a multi-study synthesis, similar to a meta-analysis, across four independent outdoor mesocosm experiments involving the manipulation of various chemical stressors - two types of salinity (synthetic marine salts (SMS) and sodium bicarbonate), two insecticides (malathion and sulfoxaflor), increased nutrients (N and P), increased sedimentation and two combinations of stressors (1: malathion, nutrients and sedimentation, 2: sulfoxaflor, nutrients and sedimentation). We compare the effects of these singular or multiple stressors on stream macroinvertebrate community structure, and Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaf litter breakdown rates by microbes and total (microbes and invertebrates). Macroinvertebrate communities were adversely affected by the two sets of multiple stressors, SMS, and both insecticides yet, and in contrast to several published studies, both microbial and total leaf litter was unaffected. Nutrients and sodium bicarbonate, increased breakdown rates or had a unimodal 'Õ' shaped response, with maxima at intermediate levels. Sedimentation by fine sand, however, decreased total leaf litter breakdown, while not affecting microbial leaf litter breakdown. Divergent responses between the effects of stressors on leaf litter breakdown rates that we observed and those in the literature may be caused by multiple mechanisms, including differences between communities, functional redundancy and differences in stressor magnitude and interactions with other (unknown) variables.
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Wastewater from the food industry is considered harmful to human health and aquatic life, as well as polluting water and soil. This research is centered around finding an affordable and easy physicochemical method for dealing with waste generated by the food industry. To accomplish this goal, a new bio-based flocculant called 4-benzyl-4-(2-oleamidoethylamino-2-oxoethyl) morpholin-4-ium chloride was created using sustainable sources, specifically crude olive pomace oil. Its chemical structure was confirmed using various spectroscopic techniques such as FTIR, 1H-NMR, mass spectra, and 13C-NMR. This new bio-based cationic flocculant was combined with alum to act as a coagulant in the waste treatment process. Also, a study was conducted to determine the optimal conditions for the coagulation-flocculation process parameters, namely, pH and alum dosage, on COD and removal efficiency. The results showed that the optimal conditions for flocculation were achieved at pH 5.8, with 680 mg/L alum and 10 mg/L of commercial flocculant dose compared to only 5 mg/L of a new bio-based cationic flocculant. A comparison was made between the new bio-cationic flocculant and a commercial CTAB one for treating wastewater in the food industry. The study found that the new bio-based cationic flocculant was more effective in reducing the chemical oxygen demand, achieving a reduction of 61.3% compared to 54.6% for using a commercial cationic flocculant. Furthermore, using a new bio-based cationic flocculant costs only 0.49 $/g, which is less than the present cationic flocculant, which costs 0.93 $/g. The adoption of this new flocculant provides a sustainable alternative to existing industrial wastewater treatment processes.
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Cationes , Floculación , Industria de Alimentos , Aguas Residuales , Aguas Residuales/química , Cationes/química , Purificación del Agua/métodos , Compuestos de Alumbre/química , Eliminación de Residuos Líquidos/métodos , Residuos Industriales , Concentración de Iones de HidrógenoRESUMEN
Introduction: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a widely used screening test in clinical practice as an indicator of inflammatory and degenerative malignant diseases. The Westergren method, renowned as the gold standard, is valued for its accuracy and cost-effectiveness but demands considerable time and blood volume. Emerging automated methods offer quicker and more convenient alternatives, aiming to replace manual techniques. Nonetheless, validating these automated methods against the reference Westergren method is essential to ensure reliability. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate ESR measurement results obtained from both the reference Westergren method and the automated (SFRI ESR 3000) method. Methods: A Hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at Jigjiga University Sheik Hassen Yabare Referral Hospital from July 15 to September 16, 2023. Following the acquisition of informed consent, blood samples were obtained from 158 participants, five milliliters of blood from each participant. These samples were then subjected to ESR estimation using both the Westergren (reference) method and the automated (SFRI ESR 3000) method. Subsequently, the collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and MedCalc version 12.3.0.0 statistical Softwares. Statistical analyses such as Paired t-tests, Pearson correlation, linear regression, and the Bland and Altman plot were employed. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The paired sample t-test analysis revealed no significant difference between the use of the reference Westergren method and the automated method for ESR determination, with a mean difference (MD) of 0.7 ± 9.2 mm/h (P = 0.36). Additionally, a significant correlation was observed between the two methods, with a remarkable correlation coefficient (r = 0.94, p < 0.001). The Bland-Altman data analysis indicated no evidence of systematic bias and demonstrated good agreement of ESR values between the two methods, with a limit of agreement of -17.3 to +18.7. Moreover, within-run imprecision analysis for the automated method across a range of ESR values showed coefficient of variation of 27.08, 12.65, and 10.32% for low, medium, and high ESR levels, respectively. Conclusions: The SFRI ESR 300 automated method demonstrates the potential for interchangeable use with the Westergren method for determining ESR, given the strong correlation and good agreement. Additionally, the same reference range could be applied during interpretation.
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A 60-year-old diabetic patient presented with acute pain and swelling localized to the left acromioclavicular joint. Laboratory and radiological investigations revealed the presence of pus in the left acromioclavicular joint along with bony erosion of the lateral end of the left clavicle. She was treated with open arthrotomy, debridement, and appropriate antibiotics for the causative methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. Prompt diagnosis and timely intervention can reduce the morbidity and mortality due to septic arthritis. We conducted a review of the literature on patients treated for isolated septic arthritis of the acromioclavicular joint.
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Wetlands produce key ecosystem services to mitigate the impacts of peak flows caused by pluvial or fluvial floods or storm surges. Sediment floods were characterized by a peak flow flowing over a simulated wetland, populated with two natural species. Floods have been drawn as flows of height H, into waters of height h, where H > h. Peak flow along the flume passed through: peak flow adjustment; peak flow; drag-dominated peak flow; and gravity current regimes. For high inundation wetland levels, settling rates of coarse and fine sediment were similar during the peak flow regime. At larger distances, sedimentation decreased monotonically, with higher sedimentation of fine particles. For low inundation levels, the sedimentation rate during the drag-dominated peak flow regime was higher for coarse particles. Vegetation decreased the inundation level needed for enhancing sedimentation. Our study then adds practical knowledge at considering that the synergies between the vegetation and the inundation level may enhance wetland services such as the mitigation of pluvial, fluvial or coastal floodings.
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Inundaciones , Sedimentos Geológicos , Humedales , Plantas , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Movimientos del Agua , EcosistemaRESUMEN
In experiments considering cell handling in microchannels, cell sedimentation in the storage container is a key problem because it affects the reproducibility of the experiments. Here, a simple and low-cost cell mixing device (CMD) is presented; the device is designed to prevent the sedimentation of cells in a syringe during their injection into a microfluidic channel. The CMD is based on a slider crank device made of 3D-printed parts that, combined with a permanent magnet, actuate a stir bar placed into the syringe containing the cells. By using A549 cell lines, the device is characterized in terms of cell viability (higher than 95%) in different mixing conditions, by varying the oscillation frequency and the overall mixing time. Then, a dedicated microfluidic experiment is designed to evaluate the injection frequency of the cells within a microfluidic chip. In the presence of the CMD, a higher number of cells are injected into the microfluidic chip with respect to the static conditions (2.5 times), proving that it contrasts cell sedimentation and allows accurate cell handling. For these reasons, the CMD can be useful in microfluidic experiments involving single-cell analysis.
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Dispositivos Laboratorio en un Chip , Humanos , Células A549 , Supervivencia Celular , Técnicas Analíticas Microfluídicas/instrumentación , Magnetismo/instrumentación , Separación Celular/instrumentación , Diseño de Equipo , Análisis de la Célula Individual/instrumentaciónRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Standard treatments for locally advanced rectal cancer include neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and total mesorectal excision (TME), which are associated with significant morbidity. After neoadjuvant therapy, one-third of patients achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) and are eligible for a watch-and-wait approach without TME. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential predictors of pCR before surgery. METHODS: The demographic, clinical, and endoscopic data of 119 patients with primary locally advanced rectal cancer without distant metastasis who underwent restaging endoscopy and TME 6-8 weeks after the end of neoadjuvant therapy were collected. The absence of tumor cells in the histological examination of the TME specimen after neoadjuvant therapy was considered pCR. Binary logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curves were utilized for analysis. RESULTS: According to the multivariate logistic regression analysis, flattening of marginal tumor swelling (p value < 0.001, odds ratio = 100.605) emerged as an independent predictor of pCR in rectal cancer patients. Additionally, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that lower preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels predict pCR, with cutoffs of 2.15 ng/ml and 19.0 mm/h, respectively. CONCLUSION: Carcinoembryonic antigen and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, along with the presence of flattening of marginal tumor swelling, can predict pCR after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with primary rectal cancer. These factors offer a potential method for selecting candidates for conservative treatment based on endoscopic and laboratory findings.
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Quimioradioterapia , Terapia Neoadyuvante , Curva ROC , Neoplasias del Recto , Humanos , Neoplasias del Recto/terapia , Neoplasias del Recto/patología , Neoplasias del Recto/diagnóstico por imagen , Masculino , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Retrospectivos , Anciano , Resultado del Tratamiento , Proctoscopía , Adulto , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Estadificación de Neoplasias , Antígeno Carcinoembrionario/sangre , Análisis Multivariante , Modelos LogísticosRESUMEN
Background: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disease characterized by localized and self-limited angioedema (AE) attacks. A local increase of bradykinin (BK) mediates AE attacks in HAE, however the role of inflammation in HAE has been poorly explored We aim to analyze the role of inflammatory mediators in HAE patients during AE attacks. Methods: Patients with a confirmed HAE diagnosis due to C1 inhibitor deficiency (HAE-C1INH) or patients F12 gene mutations (HAE-FXII) attending to our outpatient clinic between November-2019 and May-2022 were included. Demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed. Blood samples were collected both during symptom-free periods (baseline) and during HAE attacks, and acute phase reactants (APR), such as serum amyloid A (SAA), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), D-Dimer and white blood cells were measured. Results: Seventy-eight patients were enrolled in the study, with a predominant representation of women (76%, n=59), and a mean age of 47.8 years (range 6-88). Among them, 67% (n=52) of patients had HAE-C1INH (46 classified as type 1 and 6 as type 2) while 33% (n=26) had HAE-FXII. During attack-free periods, the majority of patients exhibited normal levels of SAA, ESR, D-dimer, ACE and WCC. However, in a subset of patients (16% for SAA, 18% for ESR, and 14.5% for D-dimer), elevations were noted at baseline. Importantly, during HAE attacks, significant increases were observed in SAA in 88% of patients (p< 0.0001 vs. baseline), in ESR in 65% (p= 0.003 vs. baseline) and D-dimer in 71% (p=0.001 vs. baseline) of the patients. A comparison between baseline and acute attack levels in 17 patients revealed significant differences in SAA AA (p<0. 0001), ESR (p<0.0001) and D-dimer (p= 0.004). No significant differences were observed in CRP (p=0.7), ACE (p=0.67) and WCC (p=0.54). These findings remained consistent regardless of HAE type, disease activity or location of angioedema. Conclusion: The systemic increase in APR observed during HAE attacks suggests that inflammation extends beyond the localized edematous area. This finding underscores the potential involvement of inflammatory pathways in HAE and highlights the need for further investigation into their role in the pathophysiology of HAE.
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Angioedemas Hereditarios , Biomarcadores , Inflamación , Humanos , Femenino , Masculino , Adulto , Angioedemas Hereditarios/sangre , Angioedemas Hereditarios/diagnóstico , Persona de Mediana Edad , Biomarcadores/sangre , Anciano , Inflamación/sangre , Adolescente , Niño , Adulto Joven , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Proteína Inhibidora del Complemento C1/genética , Proteína Inhibidora del Complemento C1/metabolismo , Proteína Amiloide A Sérica/metabolismo , Factor XII/genética , Factor XII/metabolismo , Sedimentación Sanguínea , Mediadores de Inflamación/sangre , Productos de Degradación de Fibrina-Fibrinógeno/metabolismo , Productos de Degradación de Fibrina-Fibrinógeno/análisisRESUMEN
Data are presented demonstrating that absorbance detection can be used during high-speed sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation (hs-SV-AUC) experiments to characterize the size distribution of adeno-associated virus (AAV) drug products accurately. Advantages and limitations of being able to use this detector in this specific type of SV-AUC experiment are discussed.
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Dependovirus , Ultracentrifugación , Dependovirus/genética , Dependovirus/aislamiento & purificación , Ultracentrifugación/métodos , HumanosRESUMEN
Though their small size, ponds play a disproportionately crucial role in eliminating nitrogen (N) transporting to downstream freshwaters. As significant water infrastructures, ponds are non-sustainable due to loss of storage capacity resulting from sedimentation. However, the effects of pond sedimentation on N removal is widely neglected in landscape N processing. The NUFER (Nutrient flows in Food chains, Environment and Resources use) model was employed to estimate N runoff from 1960 to 2018. We reconstructed the dynamic of number and storing capacity of about 14 million ponds due to construction and sedimentation from 1960 to 2018, projecting these trends into the year 2060. Our approach incorporated first-order kinetic reactions, including water residence time (HRT), to estimate N removal of ponds, utilizing data 6 monitoring ponds and 81 ponds from literature studies. Our analysis reveals a fourteen-fold increase in N runoff over the past six decades, rising from 0.8 Mt N in 1960 to 11.4 Mt N in 2018. Due to the initial rapid expansion of ponds, N removal by ponds increased from 6.4 % in 1960 to 13.6 % in 1990. Sedimentation is prevalent in ponds, particularly in small ponds with a sedimentation accumulation rate of 2.96 cm yr-1. Pond sedimentation, which reduces HRT, resulted in a decrease in pond N removal percentage to 11.2 % in 2018 and a projected 7.4 % by the year 2060, assuming similar sediment accumulation rates persist in the future. Overall, our findings underscore the non-negligible role of ponds as landscape nodes in N cycling. Urgent mitigation measures are needed to extend the lifetime of existing ponds and sustain their critical role in water quality management.
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Nitrógeno , Estanques , Sedimentos Geológicos/químicaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: In endemic areas, Leishmania infantum and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) co-infection occurs in cats, and may favour a progressive course of feline leishmaniosis. Abnormalities in serum protein fractions have been reported, but inflammation markers have scarcely been studied. Erythrocyte sediment rate (ESR) is a marker of inflammation that is poorly used in veterinary medicine, but it has been evaluated in EDTA blood using a recently introduced automatic device. We studied ESR and a pool of feline markers of inflammation (MoI) in cats L. infantum (Li+) and/or FIV antibody-positive (Li+FIV+/FIV+) with the aims (a) to evaluate ESR as MoI in cats with the infectious and clinical conditions considered and (b) to provide data about a pool of MoI never investigated in the feline infections studied and in other cat diseases before. METHODS: This prospective controlled study included 35 study group cats (Li+, n = 20; FIV +, n = 8; Li+FIV+, n = 7) and ten healthy antibody-negative control cats. Clinical findings at physical examination and selected clinical pathological abnormalities related to inflammation were statistically analysed in relation to the infectious status and ESR values. RESULTS: ESR values were higher in Li+, FIV+, and Li+FIV+ cats compared with control cats, and 40% of the study group cats had ESR values above the reference interval (RI). ESR positively correlated with some positive MoI and negatively with some negative MoI studied. Additionally, a higher prevalence of ESR values above the RI has been detected in cats with hypoalbuminemia or hypergammaglobulinemia and higher ESR values were measured in cats with serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) fraction abnormalities. Correlations were also found with erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit and some erythrocyte indices. FIV+ and Li+FIV+ cats had a higher prevalence of increased ESR values, and almost all had SPE abnormalities and more severe clinical presentations compared with Li+ cats. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal levels of MoI were found in almost all parameters studied, particularly in FIV+ and Li+FIV+ cats. Also, ESR can be used as a marker of inflammation in cats with L. infantum and/or FIV infection.
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Biomarcadores , Sedimentación Sanguínea , Enfermedades de los Gatos , Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Felina , Inflamación , Leishmania infantum , Leishmaniasis Visceral , Gatos , Animales , Leishmania infantum/inmunología , Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Felina/inmunología , Enfermedades de los Gatos/sangre , Enfermedades de los Gatos/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Gatos/inmunología , Inflamación/veterinaria , Inflamación/sangre , Biomarcadores/sangre , Leishmaniasis Visceral/veterinaria , Leishmaniasis Visceral/sangre , Leishmaniasis Visceral/inmunología , Leishmaniasis Visceral/parasitología , Masculino , Estudios Prospectivos , Anticuerpos Antivirales/sangre , Femenino , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida del Felino/sangre , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida del Felino/inmunología , Coinfección/veterinaria , Coinfección/parasitología , Coinfección/virología , Anticuerpos Antiprotozoarios/sangreRESUMEN
Ethiopian wolves (EWs), Canis simensis, are the rarest canids in the world and Africa's most endangered carnivore, found in only six isolated habitat fragments in the highlands of Ethiopia. Previous reports on the prevalence of parasites in the EW in Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP) are limited, with little information on their helminth fauna. This study seeks to understand the prevalence of helminth parasites in the EW in BMNP, Ethiopia. In this study, fecal samples were collected from 43 EWs in Web Valley (WV), BMNP, from June to October 2020, and the presence of helminth eggs was assessed using fecal sedimentation and centrifugal floatation methods with microscopy. Forty-two out of 43 fecal samples from wolves (98%) contained eggs from two taxonomic groups of helminths. Eggs from Capillaria spp. and Trichuris vulpis were found most frequently, followed by Toxocara canis, Diphyllobothrium spp., Toxascaris leonina, and Capillaria aerophila. One EW (2%) was recorded for harboring the cestode Moniezia expansa. About 9 of the 43 EWs (21%) presented monospecific infection: 9 EWs (21%) harbored 2 parasite species, 9 EWs (21%) hosted 3 parasite species, 11 EWs (26%) had infection involving 4 parasite species, 2 EWs (5%) were infected with 5 parasite species, 1 EW (2%) presented 6 parasite species, 1 EW (2%) harbored 7 parasite species, and 1 EW (2%) was diagnosed without parasite species. Concurrent helminth infection was highly associated with female EW. Megeti 3 was associated with a low level of concurrent helminth infection. The prevalence of helminth parasites found in wolves in the study area suggests that the environment is highly contaminated with intestinal parasites. Regular control of parasite transmission in EW, domestic dogs, and humans in and around BMNP, public education, and further parasite epidemiological studies must be conducted.
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Aim of the Study: This study aims to assess the effect of apical foraminal enlargement on inflammatory markers and pain in patients with asymptomatic single-rooted mandibular teeth with apical periodontitis. Materials and Methods: The study included 60 patients based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Before beginning root canal treatment (RCT), a blood sample was obtained from the antecubital fossa to evaluate the inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Access opening was done and initial irrigation was done. Working length (WL) was determined with an electronic apex locator and verified with a radiograph. In the control group, the determined WL was maintained, while in the experimental group, the WL was set till the apical foramen. Biomechanical preparation was done in both groups till F2 or F3 based on the initial apical file, followed by final irrigation and obturation based on the master apical file size. Patients were given a Visual Analog Scale to record pain sensations at 24, 48, and 72 h postoperative. After 72 h, patients were recalled for follow-up appointments, and blood was taken from the antecubital fossa again to evaluate inflammatory markers. Statistical Analysis: The resultant findings for the reduction in inflammatory markers before and after RCT with or without foraminal enlargement were statistically analyzed using the Student's t-test. The pain was statistically examined with one-way "analysis of variance" and Tukey's post hoc test for inter-group comparison of pain. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. The statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 23 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). As pain in the control groups is zero before and after RCT, statistical analysis is not required as the overall pain score is zero. Results: The P values of the CRP and ESR of the control group were 0.02 and 0.03, respectively, which indicates it is significant whereas the P values of the ESR and CRP of the experimental group were 0.0002 and 0.0008 which indicates it is highly significant. Results indicate that the experimental group is more effective compared to the control group in reducing inflammatory markers. Pain in the control group after RCT was zero at the end of 24, 48, and 72 h. In the experimental group, where RCT was done with apical foraminal enlargement, mild pain was present at the end of 24 h which gradually decreased at the end of 48 h and no pain was reported at the end of 72 h. Conclusion: Reduction in inflammatory markers was more effective in RCT with apical enlargement than without apical enlargement. RCT with apical enlargement caused mild pain in the patients immediately after treatment which gradually decreased over time.
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The robust characterization of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) encapsulating therapeutics or vaccines is an important and multifaceted translational problem. Sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation (SV-AUC) has proven to be a powerful approach in the characterization of size-distribution, interactions, and composition of various types of nanoparticles across a large size range, including metal nanoparticles (NPs), polymeric NPs, and also nucleic acid loaded viral capsids. Similar potential of SV-AUC can be expected for the characterization of LNPs, but is hindered by the flotation of LNPs being incompatible with common sedimentation analysis models. To address this gap, we developed a high-resolution, diffusion-deconvoluted sedimentation/flotation distribution analysis approach analogous to the most widely used sedimentation analysis model c(s). The approach takes advantage of independent measurements of the average particle size or diffusion coefficient, which can be conveniently determined, for example, by dynamic light scattering (DLS). We demonstrate the application to an experimental model of extruded liposomes as well as a commercial LNP product and discuss experimental potential and limitations of SV-AUC. The method is implemented analogously to the sedimentation models in the free, widely used SEDFIT software.
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Nanopartículas , Tamaño de la Partícula , Ultracentrifugación , Ultracentrifugación/métodos , Nanopartículas/química , Lípidos/química , Liposomas/químicaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Renal stones ranging 20-40 mm are very common in China. Although no large-sample clinical studies have confirmed the clinical efficacy and safety of this method, there is also a lack of comparative data with traditional treatment. AIM: To investigate the clinical efficacy of flexible ureteroscopy (FURS) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) by postoperative stone clearance and changes in soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1) and kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) levels in patients with large kidney stones (> 2 cm in diameter). METHODS: This single-center observational study was performed at a Chinese hospital between January 1, 2021, and October 30, 2023. All 250 enrolled patients were diagnosed with large kidney stones (> 2 cm) and divided into a FURS group (n = 145) and a PCNL group (n = 105) by the surgical method. The FURS group was treated with flexible ureteroscopy and the PCNL group was treated with percutaneous nephrolithotomy. The operation time, time to palinesthesia, intraoperative blood loss, drop in hemoglobin, length of hospital stay, stone clearance rate, and complications were recorded in the two groups. Preoperative and postoperative serum sVCAM-1 levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), urine KIM-1 levels, preoperative and postoperative pain visual analog scale (VAS) and Wisconsin Stone Quality of Life Questionnaire (WISQOL) scores were also documented. RESULTS: All 250 eligible patients completed the follow-up. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the two groups (P > 0.05). The operation time in the FURS group was significantly greater than that in the PCNL group. The time to ambulation, intraoperative blood loss, decrease in hemoglobin, and length of hospital stay were significantly lower in the FURS group than in the PCNL group. The FURS group also had a significantly higher stone clearance rate and a lower incidence of postoperative complications. There was no significant difference in antibiotic use between the groups. Postoperative serum sVCAM-1 levels, urine KIM-1 levels, and VAS scores were lower in the FURS group than in the PCNL group, but postoperative ESR and WISQOL scores were greater in the FURS group than in the PCNL group. CONCLUSION: FURS demonstrated superior clinical efficacy in treating large kidney stones (> 2 cm in diameter) compared PCNL. It not only improved the postoperative stone clearance rate and reduced complications and recovery time but also positively affected serum SCM-1, ESR, and urine KIM-1 levels, subsequent improvement of patient quality of life.
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Microalgae are a valuable source of lipids, proteins, and pigments, but there are challenges in large-scale production, especially in harvesting. Existing methods lack proven efficacy and cost-effectiveness. However, flocculation, an energy-efficient technique, is emerging as a promising solution. Integrating surfactants enhances microalgal harvesting and disruption simultaneously, reducing processing costs. This study investigated cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) for harvesting Tetraselmis sp. strains (75LG and 46NLG). CTAB exhibits superior results, with 88% harvesting efficiency at 1500 and 2000 mg L-1 for 75LG and 46NLG, respectively, for 60 min of sedimentation-thus being able to reduce the operating time. Beyond evaluating harvesting efficiency, our study explored the kinetics of the process; the modified Gompertz model led to the best fit. Furthermore, the largest kinetic constants were observed with CTAB, thus highlighting its efficacy in optimising the microalgal harvesting process. With the incorporation of the suggested enhancements, which should be addressed in future work, CTAB could hold the potential to optimise microalgal harvesting for cost-effective and sustainable large-scale production, eventually unlocking the commercial potential of microalgae for biodiesel production.