The existence of an intrinsic electrical platform responsible for the formation and transmission of impulses is essential, especially in cardiac tissue. However, most cardiac tissue made from ...biodegradable polymeric materials lacks conductive characteristics; this delays regional conduction, potentially causing arrhythmias. This study proposes a conductive polyethylene oxide (PEO)/silk fibroin (SF)-based material conjugated with conductive nanoparticles as a cardiac patch to fix any infarcted heart part. A new composite of PEO/15 wt%SF/0.2 wt%BaTiO3 was prepared and characterized in vitro. The obtained patches were characterized by conventional Bragg-platinum-conductive action (XRD), FTIR spectroscopy, Raman spectra, and thermogravimetric analysis. A PiezoTester device was used to evaluate the piezoelectric properties. The produced samples of 500 μm thickness were assessed in tapping mode. The applied load was selected to be as low as possible, and the frequencies were adjusted to simulate the heartbeats, ranging from 10 to 100 Hz. The results showed that a maximum of around 1100 mV was obtained at a load of 20 N. A maximum of about 80 mV was received at an applied force of 1 N and a frequency of 100 Hz, which matches the electricity generated by the human heart. The cytotoxicity effect of prepared films was tested against AC16 cells using microculture tetrazolium assay (MTT). The pristine PEO cell viability either was not affected by adding SF or slightly decreased. However, the cell viability dramatically increased by adding BaTiO3 to the PEO/SF composites. The confocal microscope images proved that the cells showed a spread morphology. The cells adhered to the PEO membranes and demonstrated a well-spread morphology. Overall, our study suggests that the PEO/SF/BaTiO3 composite can be a promising cardiac patch material for repairing infarcted heart tissue, as it is conductive, has good mechanical properties, and is biocompatible.
► Field experiment with 2
3 factorial design to quantify 3 factors and their interaction. ► Integrated straw and N can mitigate N
2O emissions without decrease in rice production. ► Obvious water, N, ...and straw effects and interactive effect of straw and N on N
2O flux. ► N
2O efflux promoted by the transient period from upland crop to flooded rice season.
The comprehensive impacts of agricultural management on nitrous oxide (N
2O) emissions are not well documented. Field experiments with 2
3 factorial designs were conducted to investigate the influence of water regimes, nitrogen fertilizer, and straw incorporation on N
2O emissions from rice paddies in Nanjing, China. In addition to the main factorial design, three single factor designs were included: water regime, N rate, and mid-season drainage duration, each with three levels. The results demonstrate that there were significant differences in the responses of soil N
2O emissions to water regime, nitrogen fertilizer, and straw amendment as well as interaction between straw and nitrogen fertilizer. The cumulative seasonal N
2O emissions from the treatments with mid-season drainage averaged 0.41
kg
N
ha
−1, ranging from 0.20 to 0.73
kg
N
ha
−1. These emissions were higher than those from continuously flooded treatments, which averaged 0.28
kg
N
ha
−1 and ranged from 0.13 to 0.55
kg
N
ha
−1. The integrated application of straw and nitrogen fertilizer mitigated N
2O emissions by approximately 50% under both water regimes. N
2O emissions were mainly promoted by the transition period from the upland crop season to the flooded rice season, by nitrogen application, and by depression with straw amendment. Three groups were formed according to a polynomial relationship between seasonal N
2O emissions and rice production. The results of this study suggest that the integrated application of straw and nitrogen fertilizer can mitigate N
2O emissions from rice agriculture without a decrease in rice production.
The CAnadian REgistry for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CARE-PF) is a multi-center, prospective registry designed to study the natural history of fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD) in adults. The aim of ...this cross-sectional sub-study was to describe the baseline characteristics, risk factors, and comorbidities of patients enrolled in CARE-PF to date.
Patients completed study questionnaires and clinical measurements at enrollment and each follow-up visit. Environmental exposures were assessed by patient self-report and comorbidities by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Baseline characteristics, exposures, and comorbidities were described for the overall study population and for incident cases, and were compared across ILD subtypes.
The full cohort included 1285 patients with ILD (961 incident cases (74.8%)). Diagnoses included connective tissue disease-associated ILD (33.3%), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (24.7%), unclassifiable ILD (22.3%), chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) (7.5%), sarcoidosis (3.2%), non-IPF idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (3.0%, including idiopathic nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) in 0.9%), and other ILDs (6.0%). Patient-reported exposures were most frequent amongst chronic HP, but common across all ILD subtypes. The CCI was ≤2 in 81% of patients, with a narrow distribution and range of values.
CTD-ILD, IPF, and unclassifiable ILD made up 80% of ILD diagnoses at ILD referral centers in Canada, while idiopathic NSIP was rare when adhering to recommended diagnostic criteria. CCI had a very narrow distribution across our cohort suggesting it may be a poor discriminator in assessing the impact of comorbidities on patients with ILD.
Brain and CNS cancers (collectively referred to as CNS cancers) are a source of mortality and morbidity for which diagnosis and treatment require extensive resource allocation and sophisticated ...diagnostic and therapeutic technology. Previous epidemiological studies are limited to specific geographical regions or time periods, making them difficult to compare on a global scale. In this analysis, we aimed to provide a comparable and comprehensive estimation of the global burden of brain cancer between 1990 and 2016.
We report means and 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) estimates for CNS cancers (according to the International Classification of Diseases tenth revision: malignant neoplasm of meninges, malignant neoplasm of brain, and malignant neoplasm of spinal cord, cranial nerves, and other parts of CNS) from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016. Data sources include vital registration and cancer registry data. Mortality was modelled using an ensemble model approach. Incidence was estimated by dividing the final mortality estimates by mortality to incidence ratios. DALYs were estimated by summing years of life lost and years lived with disability. Locations were grouped into quintiles based on the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a summary indicator of income per capita, years of schooling, and total fertility rate.
In 2016, there were 330 000 (95% UI 299 000 to 349 000) incident cases of CNS cancer and 227 000 (205 000 to 241 000) deaths globally, and age-standardised incidence rates of CNS cancer increased globally by 17·3% (95% UI 11·4 to 26·9) between 1990 and 2016 (2016 age-standardised incidence rate 4·63 per 100 000 person-years 4·17 to 4·90). The highest age-standardised incidence rate was in the highest quintile of SDI (6·91 5·71 to 7·53). Age-standardised incidence rates increased with each SDI quintile. East Asia was the region with the most incident cases of CNS cancer for both sexes in 2016 (108 000 95% UI 98 000 to 122 000), followed by western Europe (49 000 37 000 to 54 000), and south Asia (31 000 29 000 to 37 000). The top three countries with the highest number of incident cases were China, the USA, and India. CNS cancer was responsible for 7·7 million (95% UI 6·9 to 8·3) DALYs globally, a non-significant change in age-standardised DALY rate of −10·0% (−16·4 to 2·6) between 1990 and 2016. The age-standardised DALY rate decreased in the high SDI quintile (−10·0% –27·1 to −0·1) and high-middle SDI quintile (−10·5% –18·4 to −1·4) over time but increased in the low SDI quintile (22·5% 11·2 to 50·5).
CNS cancer is responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide, and incidence increased between 1990 and 2016. Significant geographical and regional variation in the incidence of CNS cancer might be reflective of differences in diagnoses and reporting practices or unknown environmental and genetic risk factors. Future efforts are needed to analyse CNS cancer burden by subtype.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Abstract The study was aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Zizyphus oxyphyla leaves methanolic (ZOX-LME), on serum liver, kidney and hematology along with other serum parameters in Carbon ...tetrachloride (CCl4) intoxicated rabbits. Experimental animals were divided into five groups, six rabbits in each. These were: group NC (normal control), group, TC (toxic control) and group ST i.e. silymarine administered group at dose rate (50) mg/kg body weight (BW). Group ET1 and group ET2 treated with (ZOX-LME) at dose 200 mg/kg BW and 400 mg/kg BW. CCl4 administration caused significant (P> 0.05) impairment in serum liver enzymes, blood factors and other serum indices. Treatment with (ZOX-LME) significantly (P<0.05) reduced and normalized the levels of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and hematological indices. Also significant (P< 0.05) reduction was observed in creatinine, urea, uric acid, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and albumin and glucose concentrations. The altered levels of lipid profile and serum electrolytes (Ca, Mg, Cl, Na, K, and P) were significantly (P<0.05) change toward normal levels with (ZOX-LME) feeding. In addition (ZOX-LME) ingestion caused significant improvement in GSH, GST and CAT levels, while reducing the TBARS levels, exhibited antioxidant capacity. Also (ZOX-LME) showed increase inhibition against percent scavenging of 2, 2-diphenile-1-picrylehydrazyle (DPPH) free radical. Significant (P<0.05) normalizing effects were observed with high dose 400 mg/kg BW of (ZOX-LME and were equivalent to silymarine administered groups. The histological study of liver supported the hepatoprotective and renal curative activity of (ZOX-LME).
Resumo O estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos terapêuticos das folhas metanólicas de Zizyphus oxyphyla (ZOX-LME) no fígado, rim e hematologia séricos, juntamente com outros parâmetros séricos em coelhos intoxicados com tetracloreto de carbono (CCl4). Os animais experimentais foram divididos em cinco grupos, seis coelhos em cada. Estes foram: grupo NC (controle normal), grupo TC (controle tóxico) e grupo ST, isto é, grupo administrado com silimarina na taxa de dose (50) mg / kg de peso corporal (PC). Grupo ET1 e grupo ET2 tratado com (ZOX-LME) na dose de 200 mg / kg de peso corporal e 400 mg / kg de peso corporal. A administração de CCl4 causou prejuízo significativo (P > 0,05) nas enzimas hepáticas séricas, fatores sanguíneos e outros índices séricos. O tratamento com (ZOX-LME) reduziu significativamente (P < 0,05) e normalizou os níveis de alanina transaminase (ALT), aspartato transaminase (AST) e fosfatase alcalina (ALP) e os índices hematológicos. Também foi observada redução significativa (P < 0,05) nas concentrações de creatinina, ureia, ácido úrico, nitrogênio ureico no sangue (BUN), albumina e glicose. Os níveis alterados de perfil lipídico e eletrólitos séricos (Ca, Mg, Cl, Na, K e P) foram significativamente (P < 0,05) mudando em direção aos níveis normais com a alimentação (ZOX-LME). Além disso, a ingestão de (ZOX-LME) causou melhora significativa nos níveis de GSH, GST e CAT, enquanto reduzia os níveis de TBARS, exibindo capacidade antioxidante. Também (ZOX-LME) mostrou inibição aumentada contra a eliminação percentual do radical livre 2, 2-difenila-1-picrilehidrazila (DPPH). Efeitos de normalização significativos (P < 0,05) foram observados com altas doses de 400 mg / kg de peso corporal de (ZOX-LME) e foram equivalentes aos grupos administrados com silimarina. O estudo histológico do fígado confirmou a atividade hepatoprotetora e curativa renal de (ZOX-LME).
Tramadol is a unique analgesic medication, available in variety of formulations, with both monoaminergic reuptake inhibitory and opioid receptor agonist activity increasingly prescribed worldwide as ...an alternative for high-affinity opioid medication in the treatment of acute and chronic pain. It is a prodrug that is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 to its more potent opioid analgesic metabolites, particularly the O-demethylation product M1. The opioid analgesic potency of a given dose of tramadol is influenced by an individual’s CYP genetics, with poor metabolizers experiencing little conversion to the active M1 opioid metabolite and individuals with a high metabolic profile, or ultra-metabolizers, experiencing the greatest opioid analgesic effects. The importance of the CYP metabolism has led to the adoption of computer clinical decision support with pharmacogenomics tools guiding tramadol treatment in major medical centers. Tramadol’s simultaneous opioid agonist action and serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitory effects result in a unique side effect profile and important drug interactions that must be considered. Abrupt cessation of tramadol increases the risk for both opioid and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor withdrawal syndromes. This review provides updated important information on the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, CYP genetic polymorphisms, drug interactions, toxicity, withdrawal, and illicit use of tramadol.
To quantitatively assess the effects of agricultural practices on methane (CH
4
) emissions from rice fields, a two-year (2005/2006) field experiment with 2
3
factorial designs was conducted to ...assess the effects of three driving factors on CH
4
emissions in South China: continuously flooded (W0) and mid-season and final drainages (W2), straw (S1) and nitrogen fertilizer (N1) applications and their controls (S0, N0). Results showed that averaged across all the treatments about 75 % of the seasonal total CH
4
occurred between the rice transplanting and booting stage, while constituted only 33 % of the seasonal total rice biomass during the same period. Averaged across the treatments in 2006, CH
4
emissions were substantially decreased by mid-season drainage up to 60 % (15.6 vs. 39.0 g m
−2
). The decreased CH
4
emissions represented almost all of the decrease in the total global warming potentials. Without straw incorporation CH
4
emissions substantially decreased up to 59 % (15.9 vs. 38.7 g m
−2
). The stimulating effects of straw were significantly greater for W0 than W2 treatment, being also greater in the 2005 than in the 2006 season. A significant inter-annual difference in CH
4
emissions was found when averaged across straw incorporation and N fertilizer applications for the W2 treatment (42.8 and 15.4 g m
−2
in 2005 and 2006, respectively). Moreover, N fertilization has no significant effect on CH
4
emissions in this study. Our results demonstrate that although straw effects varied greatly with specific management, both straw managements and water regimes are equally important driving factors and thus being the most promising measures attenuating CH
4
emissions while achieving sustainable rice production.
Air quality in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia Khalil, M.A.K.; Butenhoff, Christopher L.; Porter, William C. ...
Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association,
04/2016, Letnik:
66, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Yanbu, on the Red Sea, is an affluent Saudi Arabian industrial city of modest size. Substantial effort has been spent to balance environmental quality, especially air pollution, and industrial ...development. We have analyzed six years of observations of criteria pollutants O
3
, SO
2
, particles (PM
2.5
and PM
10
) and the known ozone precursors-volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NO
x
). The results suggest frequent VOC-limited conditions in which ozone concentrations increase with decreasing NO
x
and with increasing VOCs when NO
x
is plentiful. For the remaining circumstances ozone has a complex non-linear relationship with the VOCs. The interactions between these factors at Yanbu cause measurable impacts on air pollution including the weekend effect in which ozone concentrations stay the same or even increase despite significantly lower emissions of the precursors on the weekends. Air pollution was lower during the Eids (al-Fitr and al-Adha), Ramadan and the Hajj periods. During Ramadan, there were substantial night time emissions as the cycle everyday living is almost reversed between night and day. The exceedances of air pollution standards were evaluated using criteria from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), World Health Organization (WHO), the Saudi Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) and the Royal Commission Environmental Regulations (RCER). The latter are stricter standards set just for Yanbu and Jubail. For the fine particles (PM
2.5
), an analysis of the winds showed a major impact from desert dust. This effect had to be taken into account but still left many occasions when standards were exceeded. Fewer exceedances were found for SO
2
, and fewer still for ozone. The paper presents a comprehensive view of air quality at this isolated desert urban environment.
Implications: Frequent VOC-limited conditions are found at Yanbu in Saudi Arabia that increase ozone pollution if NO
x
is are reduced. In this desert environment, increased nightlife produces the highest levels of VOCs and NO
x
at night rather than the day. The effects increase during Ramadan. Fine particles peak twice a day-the morning peak is caused by traffic and increases with decreasing wind, potentially representing health concerns, but the larger afternoon peak is caused by the wind, and it increases with increasing wind speeds. These features suggest that exposure to pollutants must be redefined for such an environment.
The interest in biodiesel production from oil-bearing seeds rather than soybean necessitates the scientific validation of other good quality protein sources that could substitute soybean meal in ...animal diets, particularly, broiler chickens where soybean meal constitutes a large portion of their diet. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of sun-dried Azolla leaf meal (ALM) as an unconventional dietary protein source in broiler chicken diet on growth performance, meat quality, skeletal muscle cell growth and protein synthesis through regulation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6 kinase α). A total of 120 male Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments. Each treatment had four cages (i.e. replicates) with 10 birds/cage. The control group was fed with a corn-soy-based diet, the AZ5 group was supplemented with 5% ALM and the AZ10 group was supplemented with 10% ALM for 37 days. A 5-day trial was also conducted to measure the apparent nutrient digestibility. Growth performance parameters were measured weekly. At the end of the experiment, 12 birds from each group (3/cage) were euthanized and used for samplings. Inclusion of ALM tended to improve BW gain (P = 0.06) and increased feed intake (P < 0.01). Additionally, ALM decreased the percentage of breast meat cooking loss linearly (P < 0.01). In addition, ALM at a dose of 5% increased the production of propionate in the cecum (P = 0.01). Activation of breast muscle p70S6 kinase was higher when ALM was included in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01). The inclusion of ALM increased breast meat redness (P < 0.01); however, the lightness was within the normal range in all groups. Findings from our study suggest that ALM could be included in a broiler chicken diet up to 5% without any major negative effect on meat quality or performance, and it regulates muscle protein synthesis through activation of mammalian target of rapamycin/6S kinase signaling.
For the first time, using ICP-MS/MS, the
234
U,
235
U,
236
U, and
238
U in the sediment samples from coastal region, Bangladesh, were measured as 5.13–5.48, 0.234–0.252, (2.70–4.59) × 10
–5
, and ...4.92–5.31 Bq kg
−1
, and the
236
U/
238
U atom ratios were (2.87–4.57) × 10
–8
, indicating the predominate influence of global fallout on
236
U. For the rock samples from hilly area, the corresponding concentrations were much higher as 18.7–4023, 0.902–173, 9.58 × 10
–5
–1.29 × 10
–2
, and 18.8–2279 Bq kg
−1
, but the
236
U/
238
U atom ratios were in the same range of (1.52–3.04) × 10
–8
, indicating the
236
U was primarily due to the natural nuclear reactions.
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