Recently infectious diseases and increasing microbial drug-resistant have caused many humorless health problems. To fill knowledge gaps and guide strategies at all levels for antimicrobials which ...represent a challenge and an urgent need. For these reasons, our target is developing a new effective antimicrobial drug with extended action time, multi-antimicrobial agents, low toxicity, and safe strategies. Metal–organic frameworks are promising materials for antimicrobial agents. Herein, a novel affordable Fe(III)-MOF was simply prepared via a reflux method. FE-SEM images showed an octahedral structure with sharp edges with high crystallinity and purity of Fe(III)-MOF. Under optimum conditions, the Fe(III)-MOF showed excellent antimicrobial efficiency against ± bacteria, fungus, and yeast with an inhibition zone ranging between 40–46 and 22–24 mm at a concentration of 50 and 25 μg/mL Fe(III)-MOF, respectively. As well, the mechanism of interaction is also well studied. The results open the door for the use of prepared materials as an effective and efficient antimicrobial agent.
Graphical abstract
Background
There is a paucity of evidence regarding incidence and predictors of survival in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) ≤2 cm in size.
Methods
Patients having undergone resection for ...nonfunctioning PNETs were selected from the SEER database (1988–2009) and an institutional pathology database (1996–2012). PNETs ≤2 cm were compared with PNETs >2 cm. Data were analyzed with
χ
2
tests, ANOVA, the Kaplan–Meier method, log rank tests, and Cox proportional hazard, and binary logistic regression.
Results
The incidence of PNETs ≤2 cm in the United States has increased by 710.4 % over the last 22 years. Rates of extrapancreatic extension, nodal metastasis, and distant metastasis in PNETs ≤2 cm in the SEER database were 17.9, 27.3, and 9.1 %, respectively. The rate of nodal metastasis in our institutional series was 5.7 %. Disease-specific survival at 5, 10, and 15 years for PNETs ≤2 cm was 91.5, 84.0, and 76.8 %. Decreased disease-specific survival was not associated with nodal metastasis, but rather with high grade moderately differentiated, hazard ratio (HR) 37.2, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.7–518.8; poorly differentiated, HR 94.2, 95 % CI 4.9–1,794.4; reference, well differentiated, and minority race (Asian, HR 30.2, 95 % CI 3.1–291.7; Black, HR 60.1, 95 % CI 2.1–1,027.9; reference, White).
Conclusions
Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors ≤2 cm are increasingly common, and the most significant predictors of disease-specific survival are grade and race. The SEER database excludes PNETs considered to be benign, and rates of extrapancreatic extension, nodal metastasis, and distant metastasis are overestimated. Small size, however, does not preclude malignant behavior.
This study aims to fully exploit the natural compound; bee venom (BV) as a substance that can kill and inhibit the growth of microbes and viruses. For this target, BV was loaded onto a safe, natural, ...and economically inexpensive polymer; chitosan (Ch) in its nano-size form prepared using ionic gelation method in the presence of chemical crosslinking agent (sodium tripolyphosphate; TPP). The findings illustrated that chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) were prepared thru this method and exhibited spherical shape and average hydrodynamic size of 202 nm with a polydispersity index (PDI = 0.44). However, the size was increased to 221 nm with PDI (0.37) when chitosan nanoparticles were loaded with BV (ChNC). In addition, the particles of BV appeared as a core and chitosan nanoparticles as a shell implying the successful preparation of nanocomposite (ChNC). Encapsulation of BV into ChNPs with significantly small size distribution and good stability that protect these formed nanocomposites from agglomeration. The cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibition assay was used to identify potential antivirals for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The response of the dose study was designed to influence the range of effectiveness for the chosen antiviral, i.e., the 50 % inhibitory concentration (IC50), as well as the range of cytotoxicity (CC50). However, our results indicated that crude BV had mild anti-MERS-COV with selective index (SI = 4.6), followed by ChNPs that exhibited moderate anti-MERS-COV with SI = 8.6. Meanwhile. The nanocomposite of ChNC displayed a promising anti-MERS-COV with SI = 12.1. Additionally, the synthesized nanocomposite (ChNC) had greater antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria when compared with ChNPs, BV or the utilized model drug.
•Bee venom (BV) loaded chitosan nanoparticles (ChNPs) were prepared and fully characterized.•The findings illustrated that BV appeared as a core and ChNPs as a shell.•BV loaded ChNPs (ChNC) displayed anti-MERS-COV with SI = 12.1.•ChNC exhibited greater antimicrobial activity against different pathogenic species.
•The operational principles of a double slope single basin-solar still are outlined.•Sponge density and thickness dramatically affect the solar still performance.•Saline water depth in the basin is ...inversely proportional to the freshwater yield.•An augmentation of freshwater production of 58.1% is achieved.•The proposed technique reduced the cost of one-liter freshwater by 35%.
This work experimentally examines the influence of integrating a floating sponge layer on the performance of a solar still distillation unit (SSDU). Several densities (16 to 35 kg/m3) and thicknesses (0 to 40 mm) of the sponge are tested at different depths (10 to 40 mm) of saline water in the SSDU basin. The results report that integrating the sponge in the SSDU changes its operational principles, temperatures profiles, and performance. Besides, integrating a sponge of 16 kg/m3 density supplies freshwater productivity and thermal efficiency higher than that of the conventional unit, and their increases are reduced by increasing the sponge density. Moreover, these productivity and efficiency are augmented by increasing the sponge thickness from 10 to 30 mm and then decrease at 40 mm sponge thickness, and they are also reduced by increasing the saltwater depth in the basin. Finally, the maximum daily freshwater yield and thermal efficiency are recorded as 4.9 L/m2·day and 37%, respectively, by applying a sponge of 16 kg/m3 density and 30 mm thickness at 10 mm saline water depth, with corresponding increases of 58.1% and 55.3%, respectively. Besides, the cost of one-liter freshwater is reduced by 35% compared to that of the conventional unit.
Metal-based bioceramics are developed to imitate the natural bones to be used as bone substitutes. Different nanocomposites are synthesized using hydroxyapatite (HAP), Li
2
O and GO to fabricate HAP, ...Li
2
O, HAP/Li
2
O, HAP/GO and HAP/Li
2
O/GO. XRD shows the change in crystal structure upon adding the three nanocomposites to each other. Besides, FTIR and XPS explain the functional groups of the compositions and analyze their surface composition. The TEM explains the morphological changes for particles dimensions of HAP/Li
2
O/GO showing a length of 20 nm for HAP and a size of 6 nm for Li
2
O sphere. In addition, SEM graphs explained the enhancement of HAP/Li
2
O/GO porosity showing a particle size of 0.3–0.4 µm and length of 0.8 µm. Further, roughness parameters are improved upon adding HAP and Li
2
O to GO, showing a roughness average value of 57.80 nm. Moreover, the cell viability of HAP/Li
2
O/GO is examined and shows a maximum value of 97.4 ± 1.2%. In addition, the antibacterial activity exhibited by HAP/Li
2
O/GO against (
Escherichia coli
=
E. coli
) and (
Staphylococcus aureus
=
S. aureus
) showed an inhibition zone of 13.4 ± 1.2 mm 12.3 ± 1.3 mm. Adding HAP presents an improvement in surface roughness as well as cell viability and antibacterial activity. Besides, the microhardness has been improved from 2.6 ± 0.1 GPa to 3.1 ± 0.2 for pure HAP and HAP/Li
2
O/GO, respectively. Therefore, combining HAP, GO and Li
2
O results in a nanocomposite of enhanced biocompatibility and can be suggested for bone biomedical applications.
Chemoembolization and other ablative therapies are routinely utilized in downstaging from United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) T3 to T2, thus potentially making patients transplant candidates ...under the UNOS model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) upgrade for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study was undertaken to compare the downstaging efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) versus transarterial radioembolization. Eighty‐six patients were treated with either TACE (n = 43) or transarterial radioembolization with Yttrium‐90 microspheres (TARE‐Y90; n = 43). Median tumor size was similar (TACE: 5.7 cm, TARE‐Y90: 5.6 cm). Partial response rates favored TARE‐Y90 versus TACE (61% vs. 37%). Downstaging to UNOS T2 was achieved in 31% of TACE and 58% of TARE‐Y90 patients. Time to progression according to UNOS criteria was similar for both groups (18.2 months for TACE vs. 33.3 months for TARE‐Y90, p = 0.098). Event‐free survival was significantly greater for TARE‐Y90 than TACE (17.7 vs. 7.1 months, p = 0.0017). Overall survival favored TARE‐Y90 compared to TACE (censored 35.7/18.7 months; p = 0.18; uncensored 41.6/19.2 months; p = 0.008). In conclusion, TARE‐Y90 appears to outperform TACE for downstaging HCC from UNOS T3 to T2.
In this single institution study, radioembolization (TARE‐Y90) demonstrated a higher rate of event free survival after downstaging when compared to the commonly used transarterial embolization (TACE). See Editorial by Lee et al on page 1703–1704.
Background: The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is an important cancer biomarker that is commonly utilized in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. The development of a PSA determination technique that ...is rapid, simple, and inexpensive, in addition to highly accurate, sensitive, and selective, remains a formidable obstacle. Methods: In this study, we developed a practical biosensor based on Zn(II) metal–organic framework nanoparticles (Zn-MOFs-NPs). Many spectroscopic and microanalytical tools are used to determine the structure, morphology, and physicochemical properties of the prepared MOF. Results: According to the results, Zn-MOFs-NPs are sensitive to PSA, selective to an extremely greater extent, and stable in terms of chemical composition. Furthermore, the Zn-MOFs-NPs did not exhibit any interferences from other common analytes that might cause interference. The detection limit for PSA was calculated and was 0.145 fg/mL throughout a wide linear concentration range (0.1 fg/mL–20 pg/mL). Conclusions: Zn-MOFs-NPs were successfully used as a growing biosensor for the monitoring and measurement of PSA in biological real samples.
In this work, a novel and promising organic nano linker (NL) was prepared
via
refluxing 5-aminoisophthalic acid and 1,2-phenylenediamine at 80 °C for 48 h. After that, this linker was reacted with ...manganese chloride to afford a novel manganese metal-organic framework (Mn-MOF). The produced materials were characterized using 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, UV, IR, FE-SEM, EDX, TEM, and thermal study. In addition to X-ray diffraction, XPS, magnetic properties and photoluminescence investigation for Mn-MOF. The study was extended to apply Mn-MOF as electroactive material for the preparation of a novel cardiac troponin I (cTn) potentiometric membrane biosensor. The biosensor, based on Mn-MOF with an optimized membrane composition, exhibits a fast, stable and linear-Nernstian response to cTn in the concentration range between 0.01 and 30.0 ng mL
−1
with a pH range between 5.6 and 10.1 and a fast response time of 20 ± 5 s. The detection and quantification limits are 0.055 and, 0.168 ng mL
−1
, respectively. The lifetime of the electrode is between 3-12 week without a significant change in the membrane compositions and the performance characteristics based on the storage conditions. The electrode shows high selectivity towards cTn with respect to common interfering analytes. This approach of Mn-MOF-electrode could be addressed, facilitated and helped an emergency departments (EDs) decision-making in patients with chest pain and early myocardial infarction diagnosis. The future vision is converting the present approach to a small device with satisfactory results which will be used in term of point-of-care testing (POCT) for measuring the most important cardiac blood biomarkers.
A novel organic nano linker (NL) and manganese metal-organic framework (Mn-MOF) were synthesized and fully characterized. A promising cardiac troponin-I potentiometric biosensor based on Mn-MOF could be used for early myocardial infarction diagnosis.
Many human papillomavirus (HPV) strains induce cancer in the cervix and the oral cavity. Although high-risk strains including HPV16 and HPV18 are commonly known, additional high-risk strains ...including HPV31, HPV33, and HPV35 may also induce carcinogenesis, and much less is known about their prevalence. Using an approved protocol, samples from a salivary biorepository were screened to find pediatric and adult samples from a multi-ethnic, university-based patient clinic population. A total of N = 86 samples from the saliva biorepository met the quality and concentration standards and were screened for high-risk HPV. qPCR screening of adult samples revealed n = 10/45 or 22% were HPV31- or HPV33-positive. In addition, a total of n = 9/41 or 21.9% of pediatric samples were either HPV31- or HPV33-positive (or both). No samples harbored HPV35. Most samples were derived from patients within the recommended vaccination or catch-up age range (age 9–45 years). These results demonstrated that a significant percentage of patients harbor additional high-risk HPV strains within the oral cavity, including HPV31 and HPV33. These data support oral healthcare provider recommendations for the newer nine-valent vaccine, which includes both HPV31 and HPV33.
Past evaluation of particle contamination on packaged implants has typically been conducted using US Pharmacopeia (USP) 788, a 1970s pharmaceutical guideline created to evaluate contaminant particles ...in injectable fluids and syringes. Our objective was to reestablish relevant acceptance criteria for residual orthopedic and other implant debris, including smaller particles (i.e., <10 μm in diameter). Packaged total hip arthroplasty (THA) titanium (Ti6Al4V)-alloy femoral stems were used (hydroxyapatite HA-coated and non-coated stems). Short-term ultrasonication and longer-term 24-hour soak/agitation methods were used to elute surface-bound contaminant particles, and released particles were analyzed via scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray analysis, image analysis, and particle characterization. For HA-coated THA-stems, >99% of eluted particles were calcium phosphate. For plain non-coated THA-stems, >99% of eluted particles were titanium-alloy-based. The number-based median size of particles in both groups was approximately 1.5 μm in diameter despite being composed of different materials. The total volume of particulate removed from HA-coated stems was 0.037 mm
(671 × 10
particles total), which was approximately >50-fold more volume than that on plain non-coated stems at 0.0006 mm
(89 × 10
particles total). Only non-coated THA stems passed reestablished USP788 acceptance criteria, compared by using equivalent total volumes of contaminant particulate within new and legacy guideline ranges of >10 and >25 μm ECD, that is, <1.0 × 10
particles for <1 μm diameter in size, <600,000 for <1-10 μm, <6000 for 10-25 μm and <600 for >25 μm. These results fill a knowledge gap on how much residual debris can be expected to exist on packaged implants and can be used as a basis for updating acceptance criteria (i.e., termed USP788-Implant USP788-I). Residual implant particulate assessment is critical given the increasing implant complexity and new manufacturing techniques (e.g., additive manufacturing).
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