This article discusses the feasibility of using dendrimer enhanced ultrafiltration (DEUF) to recover Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. Building upon the results of fundamental investigations of Cu(II) ...binding to PAMAM dendrimers with ethylenediamine (EDA) core and terminal NH2 groups, we combine (i) dead-end ultrafiltration (UF) experiments with (ii) atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterization of membrane fouling to assess the feasibility of using DEUF to recover Cu(II) from aqueous solutions. On a mass basis, the Cu(II) binding capacities of the EDA core PAMAM dendrimers are much larger and more sensitive to solution pH than those of linear polymers with amine groups. The dendrimer−Cu(II) complexes can be efficiently separated from aqueous solutions by ultrafiltration. The metal ion laden dendrimers can be regenerated by decreasing the solution pH to 4.0; thus enabling the recovery of the bound Cu(II) ions and recycling of the dendrimers. The UF measurements and AFM characterization studies show that EDA core PAMAM dendrimers with terminal NH2 groups have very low tendency to foul the commercially available regenerated cellulose (RC) membranes evaluated in this study. The overall results of these experiments suggest that DEUF is a promising process for recovering metal ions such as Cu(II) from aqueous solutions.
Snakebite envenomation can cause serious damage. Here, we report the case of a six-year-old male child bitten by a snake.
The child presented a gingivorrhagia, abdominal pain, bloody vomiting and ...severe headache from a snakebite. Neurological examination showed paralysis of the III cranial nerve associated with bilateral blindness and mydriasis, unreactive on the right. The brain scan revealed a left frontal hematoma. The course on antivenom was marked by the disappearance of clinical signs except blindness which remained 18 months after discharge.
The hemorrhagic syndrome evoked viper bite. Blindness is rarely seen as a result of viperine envenomation. In our case, the presence of intracranial hypertension, absence of ocular lesions and scanner were in favor of compression of the optic nerves which resulted in permanent blindness.
: The objective of the study was to assess compliance of the WHO and UNICEF estimates of national immunization coverage (WUENIC) against the 18 criteria of the Guidelines for Accurate and Transparent ...Health Estimates Reporting (GATHER) that define and promote good practice in reporting of global health estimates.
: We conducted a desk review of the WUENIC estimation and reporting process vis-à-vis each of the 18 GATHER criteria to complete a self-assessment of compliance with GATHER.
: Overall, WUENIC estimates are fully compliant with 17 of the GATHER criteria and partially compliant with one criterion-criterion 11, which is related to candidate model evaluation and final model selection.
: The GATHER criteria provide a useful framework for documenting WUENIC's compliance with contemporary reporting requirements. Given the role of vaccination coverage estimates in global monitoring and guiding disease control efforts, WHO and UNICEF strive to produce and publish robust estimates of vaccination coverage through a transparent process that emphasizes country involvement.
The temperature dependence of the dynamics of water inside microporous activated carbon fibers (ACF) is investigated by means of incoherent elastic and quasielastic neutron-scattering techniques. The ...aim is to evaluate the effect of increasing pore size on the water dynamics in these primarily hydrophobic slit-shaped channels. Using two different micropore sizes (∼12 and 18 Å, denoted, respectively, ACF-10 and ACF-20), a clear suppression of the mobility of the water molecules is observed as the pore gap or temperature decreases. This suppression is accompanied by a systematic dependence of the average translational diffusion coefficient D(r) and relaxation time 〈τ(0)〉 of the restricted water on pore size and temperature. The observed D(r) values are tested against a proposed scaling law, in which the translational diffusion coefficient D(r) of water within a porous matrix was found to depend solely on two single parameters, a temperature-independent translational diffusion coefficient D(c) associated with the water bound to the pore walls and the ratio θ of this strictly confined water to the total water inside the pore, yielding unique characteristic parameters for water transport in these carbon channels across the investigated temperature range.
Inelastic neutron scattering measurements of the magnetic excitations in CaFe2As2 indicate that the spin wave velocity in the Fe layers is exceptionally large and similar in magnitude to the ...cuprates. However, the spin wave velocity perpendicular to the layers is at least half as large that in the layer, so that the magnetism is more appropriately categorized as anisotropic three-dimensional, in contrast to the two-dimensional cuprates. Exchange constants derived from band structure calculations predict spin wave velocities that are consistent with the experimental data.
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) increases worldwide, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. In Mali, the prevalence in the adult population is estimated at 1.8%, but tuberculosis (TB) patients are not ...systematically screened. The goal of our study was to determine the prevalence of DM among newly diagnosed TB patients.
We conducted a cross sectional study and a pilot prospective cohort study in four health centers in Bamako. All patients underwent fasting capillary-blood glucose (FCBG) test at Day 0, and repeated after one-week of TB treatment. Venous FBG test was performed for discrepancies between the two FCBG results. Thereafter, FCBG was performed for pilot study at month-2 (M2) and M5 of TB treatment.
Two hundred and one patients were enrolled in this study. Impaired fasting blood glucose was identified in 17 (8.5%), of whom 11 (5.5%) had DM (VFBG >7 mmol/L). Among patients with DM, seven (63.6%) had successful TB treatment outcome, versus 142 (74.7%) of those without DM (p = 0.64), and (OR: 1.69, 95%CI 0.47–6.02).
The prevalence of DM among TB patients in Bamako exceeds that of the general population and screening at TB diagnosis suffices to identify those with DM. Systematic screening of both diseases will allow better treatment.
Abstract
Background
Longitudinal analyses are needed to better understand long-term Ebola virus disease (EVD) sequelae. We aimed to estimate the prevalence, incidence, and duration of sequelae and to ...identify risk factors associated with symptom occurrence among EVD survivors in Guinea.
Methods
We followed 802 EVD survivors over 48 months and recorded clinical symptoms with their start/end dates. Prevalence, incidence, and duration of sequelae were calculated. Risk factors associated with symptom occurrence were assessed using an extended Cox model for recurrent events.
Results
Overall, the prevalence and incidence of all symptoms decreased significantly over time, but sequelae remained present 48 months after Ebola treatment center discharge with a prevalence of 30.68% (95% confidence interval CI 21.40–39.96) for abdominal, 30.55% (95% CI 20.68–40.41) for neurologic, 5.80% (95% CI 1.96–9.65) for musculoskeletal, and 4.24% (95% CI 2.26–6.23) for ocular sequelae. Half of all patients (50.70%; 95% CI 47.26–54.14) complained of general symptoms 2 years’ postdischarge and 25.35% (95% CI 23.63–27.07) 4 years’ post-discharge. Hemorrhage (hazard ratio HR, 2.70; P = .007), neurologic (HR 2.63; P = .021), and general symptoms (HR 0.34; P = .003) in the EVD acute phase were significantly associated with the further occurrence of ocular sequelae, whereas hemorrhage (HR 1.91; P = .046) and abdominal (HR 2.21; P = .033) symptoms were significantly associated with musculoskeletal sequelae.
Conclusions
Our findings provide new insight into the long-term clinical complications of EVD and their significant association with symptoms in the acute phase, thus reinforcing the importance of regular, long-term follow-up for EVD survivors.
Prevalence of all sequelae of Ebola virus disease survivors decreased over time, but remained present 48 months after Ebola treatment center discharge. Sequelae were related to symptoms present during the acute phase of the disease.
This study describes the preparation, characterization and evaluation of new composite membranes with embedded dendrimer hosts and Fe/Ni nanoparticles. These new reactive membranes consist of films ...of cyclodextrin–poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers (β-CD–PPI) that are deposited onto commercial polysulfone microporous supports and crosslinked with trimesoyl chloride (TMC). The membranes were subsequently loaded with Fe/Ni nanoparticles and evaluated as separation/reactive media in aqueous solutions using 2,4,6-trichlorophenol as model pollutant. The morphology and physicochemical properties of the composite membranes were characterised using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), atomic force microscopy and measurements of contact angle, water intake, porosity and water permeability. The sorption capacity and catalytic activity of the membranes were evaluated using ion chromatography, atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation-mass spectrometry and UV–Vis spectroscopy (UV–Vis). The sizes of the embedded Fe/Ni nanoparticles in the membranes ranged from 40 to 66 nm as confirmed by HR-TEM. The reaction rates for the dechlorination of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol ranged from 0.00148 to 0.00250 min
−1
. In all cases, we found that the reaction by-products consisted of chloride ions and mixtures of compounds including phenol (
m
/
z
= 93), 2,4-dichlorophenol (
m
/
z
= 163) and 4-chlorophenol (
m
/
z
= 128). The overall results of this study suggest that β-CD–PPI dendrimers are promising building blocks for the synthesis of composite and reactive membranes for the efficient removal of chlorinated organic pollutants from water.
In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), stroke is a major public health problem and the etiological aspects are poorly studied and documented because of under-medicalization; the syphilitic etiology is rarely ...mentioned.
We performed a retrospective study of 472 patients hospitalized for ischemic stroke between 2016 and 2021 in the Neurology Department of the University Hospital of Conakry, confirmed by neuroradiological explorations (brain CT, MRI-Angio) and a biological workup including VDRL-TPHA serological reactions in blood and CSF.
Syphilitic etiology was retained for six (6) patients (4 men and 2 women) with a mean age of 43 years (extremes 36 and 49 years). The clinical picture was dominated by carotid syndromes: superficial and deep sylvian syndrome, anterior cerebral artery syndrome and vertebro-basilar syndromes and one case of lacunar syndrome.
The diagnosis was based on the positivity of serological reactions (VDRL-TPHA) in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the presence of a predominantly lymphocytic hypercellularity and a hyperproteinorachy in the CSF in the absence of any other etiology.
These neurological vascular syndromes consecutive to a cerebral treponematous attack are often the result of a still poorly conducted management of primary and secondary syphilis in our country.
•Stroke is a major public health problem, and the etiological aspects are poorly studied and documented because of under-medicalization.•The syphilitic etiology was confirmed in six (6) patients with a mean age of 43 years (extremes 36 and 49 years).•The clinical picture was dominated by carotid syndromes: superficial and deep sylvian syndrome, anterior cerebral artery syndrome and vertebro-basilar syndromes and one case of lacunar syndrome.•The diagnosis was based on the positivity of serological reactions (VDRL-TPHA) in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the presence of hypercellularity with predominantly lymphocytic pleiocytosis and hyperproteinorachy in the CSF in the absence of any other etiologies.
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