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Waste Management & Research : the... Sep 2023The Brazilian Northeast region has considerable agricultural potential for corn and cashew nuts production. Residues from these cultures can be densified into pellets...
The Brazilian Northeast region has considerable agricultural potential for corn and cashew nuts production. Residues from these cultures can be densified into pellets and used as heat generators in industries and homes. In this study, corn straw pellets (CSP) and cashew nut shells pellets (CNSP) were handmade, together with a variation using glycerol as a binder (CSGP and CNSGP). All pellets were subjected to chemical, thermal and exhaust gas analyses of their combustion. All analyses were based on two different scenarios: (i) the use of CSP and CSGP for energy supply in residential use and (ii) the use of CNSP and CNSGP for energy supply in industrial use. All pellets were subjected to chemical, thermal and exhaust gas analyses of their combustion. Chemical analysis involved the study of various fuel properties, comprehending moisture content (%), bulk density (kg m), volatile materials (%), ash content (%) and fixed carbon (%FC), and all evaluated pellets met two or more international trading standards. The combustion process analyses in the residential scenario showed higher average temperatures and lower carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxide (NO) concentrations obtained during CSP combustion than those of CSGP, and in the industrial scenario showed average similar temperatures and lower CO and NO concentrations obtained during CNSP combustion than those of CNSGP. Ours results demonstrate the great potential of corn straw and cashew nut shells as crops to be integrated into the biomass supply chain for energy generation and agro-ecological development.
Topics: Zea mays; Anacardium; Nuts; Temperature; Nitrogen Oxides; Nitric Oxide; Biomass
PubMed: 37293743
DOI: 10.1177/0734242X221135518 -
Polymers Nov 2023In recent years, 3D printing (3DP) has advanced traditional medical treatments. This review explores the fusion of reverse engineering and 3D printing of medical... (Review)
Review
In recent years, 3D printing (3DP) has advanced traditional medical treatments. This review explores the fusion of reverse engineering and 3D printing of medical implants, with a specific focus on drug delivery applications. The potential for 3D printing technology to create patient-specific implants and intricate anatomical models is discussed, along with its ability to address challenges in medical treatment. The article summarizes the current landscape, challenges, benefits, and emerging trends of using 3D-printed formulations for medical implantation and drug delivery purposes.
PubMed: 37959986
DOI: 10.3390/polym15214306 -
Dental and Medical Problems 2023Oral mucosal diseases are a group of conditions that affect the oral mucosa with variable severity and include recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), oral lichen planus... (Review)
Review
Oral mucosal diseases are a group of conditions that affect the oral mucosa with variable severity and include recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS), oral lichen planus (OLP), pemphigus vulgaris (PV), mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These may manifest clinically as painful oral ulcerations, reticulations and/or erosions, with differences between each. Management protocols often include initial topical and/or systemic corticosteroid (CS) therapy to control the patient's acute symptoms, followed by CS-sparing agents for long-term maintenance therapy. Patients with oral mucosal diseases often require dental implants to replace missing teeth. However, data on potential complications and success rates for these cases is still lacking. Considering the steady increase in the incidence of immune-related systemic conditions in the general population globally, dentists are expected to have the needed knowledge and ability to safely place dental implants in this group of patients. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the underlying pathogeneses of common oral mucosal diseases, clinical presentations, best practice approaches, and recommendations for the placement of dental implants in patients with similar conditions.
Topics: Humans; Dental Implants; Mouth Diseases; Stomatitis, Aphthous; Lichen Planus, Oral; Mouth Mucosa
PubMed: 38133992
DOI: 10.17219/dmp/142871 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Jul 2023The ability of () to survive in bovine milk has emerged as a serious public health concern. The first objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of...
The ability of () to survive in bovine milk has emerged as a serious public health concern. The first objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of IS1081-targeted real-time PCR for the detection of DNA in different fractions of bovine milk. In a model study, bovine milk samples were spiked with serially diluted BCG to investigate the detection limit of DNA in whole milk and milk fractions (cream, pellet, and pellet + cream combined) using IS1081 real-time PCR. The assay was then used to detect DNA in whole milk and milk fractions from naturally infected animals. The results showed that the IS1081 real-time PCR was more sensitive when detecting DNA in the cream layer alone and cream + pellet combined compared to whole milk or the pellet alone. While PCR-based diagnostic assays for the detection of in milk samples provide a quicker diagnostic tool for bovine tuberculosis, safe processing, and handling of -infected milk samples remain a challenge and pose a human health risk. PrimeStore Molecular Transport Medium (MTM) has been shown to rapidly inactivate infected specimens while preserving nucleic acid for subsequent Molecular analysis. Therefore, the secondary objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of MTM to inactivate BCG in spiked milk samples as well as its ability to preserve BCG DNA for the PCR assay. The results showed that MTM can successfully inactivate BCG alone or in spiked milk samples while preserving DNA for the PCR assay. The CT values of BCG alone and spiked milk samples aliquoted in MTM and without MTM were similar at various dilutions. Taken together, our results indicate that using DNA extracted from the milk cream fraction alone or combined milk cream and pellet improved the recovery rate of DNA in bovine milk samples. MTM has the potential to provide a safe and rapid sample processing tool for inactivation in milk samples and preserve DNA for molecular diagnostics.
PubMed: 37623932
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12080972 -
BMC Oral Health Jan 2024Dental implantology has revolutionized oral rehabilitation, offering a sophisticated solution for restoring missing teeth. Despite advancements, issues like infection,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND AIM
Dental implantology has revolutionized oral rehabilitation, offering a sophisticated solution for restoring missing teeth. Despite advancements, issues like infection, inflammation, and osseointegration persist. Nano and biomaterials, with their unique properties, present promising opportunities for enhancing dental implant therapies by improving drug delivery systems. This review discussed the current applications of nano and biomaterials in drug delivery for dental implants.
METHOD
A literature review examined recent studies and advancements in nano and biomaterials for drug delivery in dental implantology. Various materials, including nanoparticles, biocompatible polymers, and bioactive coatings, were reviewed for their efficacy in controlled drug release, antimicrobial properties, and promotion of osseointegration.
RESULTS
Nano and biomaterials exhibit considerable potential in improving drug delivery for dental implants. Nanostructured drug carriers demonstrate enhanced therapeutic efficacy, sustained release profiles, and improved biocompatibility. Furthermore, bioactive coatings contribute to better osseointegration and reduced risks of infections.
CONCLUSION
Integrating current nano and biomaterials in drug delivery for dental implants holds promise for advancing clinical outcomes. Enhanced drug delivery systems can mitigate complications associated with dental implant procedures, offering improved infection control, reduced inflammation, and optimized osseointegration.
Topics: Humans; Anodontia; Biocompatible Materials; Dental Implants; Drug Delivery Systems; Inflammation
PubMed: 38267933
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-03911-9 -
Environmental Science & Technology Aug 2023Microplastics (MPs) overlap in size with phytoplankton and can be ingested by zooplankton, transferring them to higher trophic levels. Copepods are the most abundant...
Microplastics (MPs) overlap in size with phytoplankton and can be ingested by zooplankton, transferring them to higher trophic levels. Copepods are the most abundant metazoans among zooplankton and the main link between primary producers and higher trophic levels. Ingestion of MPs has been investigated in the laboratory, but we still know little about the ingestion of MPs by zooplankton in the natural environment. In this study, we determined the concentration and characteristics of MPs down to 10 μm in zooplankton samples, sorted calanoid copepods, and fecal pellets collected in the Kattegat/Skagerrak Sea (Denmark). We found a median concentration of 1.7 × 10 MPs ind in the zooplankton samples, 2.9 × 10 MPs ind in the sorted-copepods, and 3 × 10 MPs per fecal pellet. Most MPs in the zooplankton samples and fecal pellets were fragments smaller than 100 μm, whereas fibers dominated in the sorted copepods. Based on the collected data, we estimated a MP budget for the surface layer (0-18 m), where copepods contained only 3% of the MPs in the water, while 5% of the MPs were packed in fecal pellets. However, the number of MPs exported daily to the pycnocline via fecal pellets was estimated to be 1.4% of the total MPs in the surface layer. Our results indicate that zooplankton are an entry point of small MPs in the food web, but the number of MPs in zooplankton and their fecal pellets was low compared with the number of MPs found in the water column and the occurrence and/or ingestion of MPs reported for nekton. This suggests a low risk of MP transferring to higher trophic levels through zooplankton and a quantitatively low, but ecologically relevant, contribution of fecal pellets to the vertical exportation of MPs in the ocean.
Topics: Animals; Copepoda; Environmental Monitoring; Food Chain; Microplastics; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Zooplankton; Denmark; Feces
PubMed: 37497822
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c02575 -
International Journal of Pharmaceutics Mar 2024Multiple-unit dosage forms prepared by compacting pellets offer important manufacturing and compliance advantages over pellet-filled capsules. However, compaction may...
Multiple-unit dosage forms prepared by compacting pellets offer important manufacturing and compliance advantages over pellet-filled capsules. However, compaction may negatively affect the release control mechanism of pellets, and subunits may not be readily available after intake. Application of a cushioning layer to the starting units is here proposed as a strategy to obtain tablets with satisfactory mechanical strength, rapid disintegration and maintenance of the expected release profile of individual subunits while avoiding the use of mixtures of pellets and excipients to promote compaction and limit the impact of the forces involved. Cushion-coating with PEG1500, a soft and soluble material, was proved feasible provided that the processing temperature was adequately controlled. Cushioned gastro-resistant pellets were shown to consolidate under relatively low compaction pressures, which preserved their inherent release performance after tablet disintegration. Adhesion problems associated with the use of PEG1500 were overcome by applying an outer Kollicoat® IR film. Through design of experiment (DoE), robustness of the proposed approach was demonstrated, and the formulation as well as tableting conditions were optimized. The tableted cushion-coated pellet systems manufactured would allow a relatively high load of modified-release units to be conveyed, thus setting out a versatile and scalable approach to oral administration of multiple-unit dosage forms.
Topics: Excipients; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Implants; Tablets; Administration, Oral
PubMed: 38316318
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.123874 -
Neurogastroenterology and Motility Apr 2024In preclinical studies whole gut transit (WGT) in mice is a gold-standard "leading-edge" approach that measures the time between orogastric gavage of carmine red and...
BACKGROUND
In preclinical studies whole gut transit (WGT) in mice is a gold-standard "leading-edge" approach that measures the time between orogastric gavage of carmine red and defecation of the first carmine red pellet. Transit studies in humans are performed during the active day because GI motility and transit are suppressed during the night. Since mice are nocturnal, WGT studies traditionally done during the day occur during their rest phase. How circadian rhythm affects WGT in mice is not known.
METHODS
We used an automated approach for high temporal resolution uninterrupted testing of mouse WGT and activity. We housed wild-type Bl6/C57 mice under the standard 12 h light-dark cycles. At 8 weeks, we performed carmine red orogastric gavage and assessed WGT during Light (rest) conditions. Then, we exposed mice to a reverse 12 h light-dark cycle for 2 weeks and tested them in the Dark (active) under red light conditions. Timelapse videos were analyzed to quantify activity and to timestamp all pellets, and multiple parameters were analyzed.
KEY RESULT
When complementary light cycle reversal experiments were performed, we found a significant increase in mouse activity when mice were tested during their Dark (active) phase, compared to their Light (rest) phase. In mice tested in the Active phase compared to the Rest phase, we found a significant acceleration in WGT, increased rate and total number of pellets produced, and more pellet clustering. These data show that the mice tested in the Active phase have important differences in activity that correlate with multiple alterations in gastrointestinal transit.
CONCLUSION & INFERENCES
During the Active phase mice have faster WGT, produce more pellets, and cluster their output compared to testing in the Rest phase. Like in humans, circadian rhythm is an important consideration for transit studies in mice, and a simple reverse light cycle approach facilitates further studies on the role of circadian rhythm in GI motility.
Topics: Humans; Mice; Animals; Carmine; Circadian Rhythm; Photoperiod; Gastrointestinal Transit; Rest
PubMed: 38396340
DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14771 -
International Journal of Surgery Case... Dec 2023Traumatic embolization of pellets into the cerebral circulation is a rare complication following gunshot wounds to the neck, chest and abdomen. Foreign bodies enter the...
Air rifle wound to the chest and pellet embolism to the intracranial internal carotid artery with a middle cerebral artery territory infarct: A case report and review of literature.
INTRODUCTION
Traumatic embolization of pellets into the cerebral circulation is a rare complication following gunshot wounds to the neck, chest and abdomen. Foreign bodies enter the circulation from early direct puncture or delayed erosion of an artery or vein or directly through the heart.
PRESENTATION OF CASE
A previously well 13-year-old Sri Lankan boy who presented 2 h following an air rifle injury to the lower sternum with chest pain, developed seizures and left hemiparesis. Contrast CT angiogram showed the pellet at the base of the skull at the right carotid canal, with a middle cerebral artery (MCA) thrombus and evidence of MCA infarction. Decompressive craniectomy was performed. Cerebral angiography confirmed complete occlusion of the intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) by the pellet, without cross circulation from the left ICA. Attempts at endovascular pellet retrieval failed. Open pellet embolectomy was not performed and the patient was managed conservatively.
DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION
Air rifle injury to the chest causing pellet embolism from the left ventricle to the right intracranial ICA with associated right MCA thrombus is a rare phenomenon. Missile embolism must be suspected when neurological findings are not in concordance with the site of injury especially in the absence of an exit wound and an inability to locate the pellet in the vicinity of the entry wound. Radiographs, CT and cerebral angiography are indicated to locate the pellet and associated injuries. The decision on surgical embolectomy, endovascular retrieval or expectant management is an individualized decision dependent on many factors.
PubMed: 37992670
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.109076 -
Safety and effectiveness of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in patients with ocular toxocariasis.The British Journal of Ophthalmology Jan 2024To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) implant in patients with active uveitis due to ocular toxocariasis (OT).
AIMS
To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) implant in patients with active uveitis due to ocular toxocariasis (OT).
METHODS
Seventy-eight patients with OT were recruited in this retrospective study, including 51 patients in DEX group treated with intravitreal DEX implant and 27 patients in control group without intervention. The reduction of vitreous haze scores (VHS), the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) changes, intraocular pressure (IOP) and cataract progression and formation were recorded at baseline (V0), 1 (V1), 3 (V3) and 6 months (V6) after treatment in DEX group, and V0 and V6 in control group.
RESULTS
There was no change in VHS and BCVA in control group between V0 and V6. Better VHS (p=0.001) and BCVA (p=0.022) was achieved in DEX group; the rate of VHS=0 was 0%, 67.4%, 42.9% and 44.9% at V0, V1, V3 and V6, respectively (p<0.001), and the mean BCVA was improved from logMAR 1.5±0.9 to 1.2±0.9 at V1, 1.4±1.0 at V3 and 1.4±1.2 at V6. A favourable BCVA at V1 was associated with older age (p=0.038) and uninvolved macula (p=0.000) in DEX group. No significant difference in IOP elevation ≥10 mm Hg, cataract progression and formation between groups. More eyes needed retinal surgery in control group (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
This was the first study to investigate use of intravitreal DEX implant in OT patients, which can efficiently reduce ocular inflammation and improve BCVA in macular uninvolved patients.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Dexamethasone; Glucocorticoids; Retrospective Studies; Nijmegen Breakage Syndrome; Toxocariasis; Macular Edema; Treatment Outcome; Retinal Vein Occlusion; Cataract; Intravitreal Injections; Drug Implants
PubMed: 36596664
DOI: 10.1136/bjo-2022-322244