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Marine Pollution Bulletin Jun 2024Coastal ecosystems have ecological importance worldwide and require control and prevention measures to mitigate human pollution. The objective of this study was to...
Coastal ecosystems have ecological importance worldwide and require control and prevention measures to mitigate human pollution. The objective of this study was to perform a systematic review to provide a comprehensive overview of the global issue of coastal plastic pollution. 689 articles were eligible for qualitative synthesis and 31 were considered for quantitative analysis. There was an exponential increase in articles addressing coastal plastic pollution over the past 50 years. Studies were mainly carried out on beaches, and plastic bottles were the most found item, followed by cigarette butts. Polyethylene was the predominant plastic polymer, and white microplastic fragments stood out. China published most articles on the topic and Brazil had the highest number of sites sampled. Meta-analysis had significant effect sizes based on the reported data. These findings carry significant implications for environmental policies, waste management practices, and targeted awareness campaigns aimed at mitigating plastic pollution.
Topics: Brazil; China; Ecosystem; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollution; Plastics; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 38735173
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116478 -
The Journal of Evidence-based Dental... Sep 2019The aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate if epoxy resin-based root canal sealers present superior push-out bond strength compared to calcium... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVES
The aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate if epoxy resin-based root canal sealers present superior push-out bond strength compared to calcium silicate-based root canal sealers.
METHODS
The inclusion criteria consisted of in vitro studies that compared the push-out bond strength of epoxy resin-based and calcium silicate-based sealers. A systematic search was performed in the following databases for articles published until February 2018: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and OpenGrey. The quality assessment and data extraction of the selected articles were performed. A meta-analysis of the pooled data and the subgroups according to the root thirds was carried out using the RevMan software (P < .05).
RESULTS
The search resulted in 2292 studies. After the duplicate studies were removed and the title and abstract were read, 20 studies were selected and 17 were considered as having a low risk of bias. The pooled meta-analysis comparing epoxy resin-based (n = 467) and paste-to-paste calcium silicate-based root canal sealers (n = 467) demonstrated higher mean push-out bond strength values (P < .001) for the epoxy resin-based root canal sealers; the heterogeneity among studies was 85% (I). The comparisons between epoxy resin-based (n = 358) and premixed ready-to-use calcium silicate-based root canal sealers (n = 358) also demonstrated a significant difference between the sealers (P < .05), with an I of 95%. The subgroup analysis showed that only in the middle third, were increased bond strength values for epoxy resin-based sealer observed (P < .001), with an I of 94%.
CONCLUSIONS
The epoxy resin-based sealer demonstratedhigher push-out bond strength than paste-to-paste calcium silicate-based root canal sealer regardless of the root third assessed. In addition, the epoxy resin-based sealer exhibited increased push-out bond strength in comparison with premixed ready-to-use calcium silicate-based root canal sealer when evaluating the middle third.
Topics: Calcium Compounds; Dental Bonding; Dentin; Epoxy Resins; Humans; Materials Testing; Root Canal Filling Materials
PubMed: 31732099
DOI: 10.1016/j.jebdp.2019.04.004 -
Current Environmental Health Reports Jun 2023Despite increasing awareness of the ubiquity of microplastics (MPs) in our environments, little is known about their risk of developmental toxicity. Even less is known... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Despite increasing awareness of the ubiquity of microplastics (MPs) in our environments, little is known about their risk of developmental toxicity. Even less is known about the environmental distribution and associated toxicity of nanoplastics (NPs). Here, we review the current literature on the capacity for MPs and NPs to be transported across the placental barrier and the potential to exert toxicity on the developing fetus.
RECENT FINDINGS
This review includes 11 research articles covering in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo models, and observational studies. The current literature confirms the placental translocation of MPs and NPs, depending on physicochemical properties such as size, charge, and chemical modification as well as protein corona formation. Specific transport mechanisms for translocation remain unclear. There is emerging evidence of placental and fetal toxicity due to plastic particles based on animal and in vitro studies. Nine out of eleven studies examined in this review found that plastic particles were capable of placental translocation. In the future, more studies are needed to confirm and quantify the existence of MPs and NPs in human placentas. Additionally, translocation of different plastic particle types and heterogenous mixtures across the placenta, exposure at different periods of gestation, and associations with adverse birth and other developmental outcomes should also be investigated.
Topics: Animals; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Placenta; Plastics; Microplastics; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 36848019
DOI: 10.1007/s40572-023-00391-x -
Biomolecules Aug 2023Following previously published systematic reviews on the diagnostic use of nanoparticles (NPs), in this manuscript, we report published methods for radiolabeling... (Review)
Review
Following previously published systematic reviews on the diagnostic use of nanoparticles (NPs), in this manuscript, we report published methods for radiolabeling nanoparticles with therapeutic alpha-emitting, beta-emitting, or Auger's electron-emitting isotopes. After analyzing 234 papers, we found that different methods were used with the same isotope and the same type of nanoparticle. The most common type of nanoparticles used are the PLGA and PAMAM nanoparticles, and the most commonly used therapeutic isotope is Lu. Regarding labeling methods, the direct encapsulation of the isotope resulted in the most reliable and reproducible technique. Radiolabeled nanoparticles show promising results in metastatic breast and lung cancer, although this field of research needs more clinical studies, mainly on the comparison of nanoparticles with chemotherapy.
Topics: Dendrimers; Isotope Labeling; Nanomedicine; Nanoparticles; Radioisotopes
PubMed: 37627307
DOI: 10.3390/biom13081241 -
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry : PPB Nov 2023Microplastics (MPx) and nanoplastics (NPx) are increasingly accumulating in terrestrial ecosystems, heightening concerns about their potential adverse effects on human... (Review)
Review
Microplastics (MPx) and nanoplastics (NPx) are increasingly accumulating in terrestrial ecosystems, heightening concerns about their potential adverse effects on human health via the food chain. Techniques aimed at recovering the most challenging colloidal fractions of MPx and NPx, especially for analytical purposes, are limited. This systematic review emphasises the absence of a universal, efficient, and cost-effective analytical method as the primary hindrance to studying MPx and NPx in soil and plant samples. The study reveals that several methods, including density separation, organic matter removal, and filtration, are utilized to detect MPx or NPx in soil through vibrational spectroscopy and visual identification. Instruments such as Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (Py-GCMS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, and fluorescence microscopy are employed to identify MPx and NPx in plant tissue. In extraction procedures, organic solvents and sonication are used to isolate NPx from plant tissues, while Pyrolysis GC-MS quantifies the plastics. SEM and TEM serve to observe and characterize NPx within plant tissues. Additionally, FTIR and fluorescence microscopy are utilized to identify polymers of MPx and NPx based on their spectral characteristics and fluorescence signals. The findings from this review clarify the identification and quantification methods for MPx and NPx in soil and plant systems and provide a comprehensive methodology for assessing MPx/NPx in the environment.
Topics: Humans; Microplastics; Plastics; Soil; Ecosystem; Polymers; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 37918078
DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.108132 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Dec 2022The dispersion of microplastics (MPs) in coastal and marine environments and their potential harmful effects on organisms and ecosystems makes MPs pollution an emerging... (Review)
Review
The dispersion of microplastics (MPs) in coastal and marine environments and their potential harmful effects on organisms and ecosystems makes MPs pollution an emerging problem that has gained increasing attention from the scientific community. Despite the recent increase in the number of studies on MPs presence in different marine environments, investigations in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are still relatively limited. This review presents the spatial distribution (where) and the methods applied (how) in assessing MPs contamination on LAC sandy beaches, identifying the challenges to be faced in advancing the understanding of this emerging contaminant. Most of the 39 papers reviewed were published between 2020 and 2021 (51%) and conducted on Brazilian beaches (43%). The LAC investigations apply spot sampling (69%) on shoreline stretches between 10 and 1000 km (59%). These works used inconsistent sampling methods, incomparable techniques for MPs extraction from sediments, and different measurement units to report their data. The MPs presence on LAC beaches is not negligible, as it varies significantly in its distribution and concentration (0-2457 MP/dw kg and 0-5458 MP/m). Its highest accumulation is on ocean island beaches; however, there are still large stretches of coastline (Cuba, Venezuela, Argentina) with no data on MPs presence and a small number of studies exploring these contaminants' temporal variability. The lack of standardization in the studies' methodologies, particularly their measurement units, hinders their quantitative comparison and our ability to establish baseline values regarding MPs abundance on LAC beaches. In this sense, future works should direct efforts towards the spatial and temporal expansion of their sampling, as well as protocol standardization to facilitate result comparability on MPs on LAC sandy beaches.
Topics: Microplastics; Plastics; Ecosystem; Latin America; Environmental Monitoring; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Caribbean Region; Geologic Sediments
PubMed: 36152712
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120231 -
The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry Aug 2022Which surface treatment provides the optimal bond strength (BS) for the repair of resin nanoceramics (RNCs) and polymer-infiltrated ceramics (PICs) is unclear. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Which surface treatment provides the optimal bond strength (BS) for the repair of resin nanoceramics (RNCs) and polymer-infiltrated ceramics (PICs) is unclear.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro studies was to determine the best surface treatment protocols for the repair of PICs and RNCs.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases were searched to select in vitro studies in English up to March 2020. Studies with fewer than 5 specimens, those that did not evaluate the BS of PICs or RNCs, and those with aging for fewer than 30 days and 5000 cycles were excluded. Data sets were extracted, and the mean differences were analyzed by using a systematic review software program.
RESULTS
Among 284 potentially eligible studies, 21 were selected for full-text analysis, and 9 were included in the systematic review, of which 6 were used in the meta-analysis. The meta-analyses were performed for each treatment surface versus their respective control group and their combinations according to material: RNCs and PICs. For RNCs, airborne-particle abrasion with aluminum oxide (AlO) treatment was statistically higher than tribochemical silica airborne-particle abrasion (CoJet) (P=.02, I=90%) and that in the hydrofluoric acid (HF) (P<.001, I=0%) groups and was statistically similar to diamond rotary instrument grinding (P=.40, I=54%). For PICs, the treatment with hydrofluoric acid (HF) was statistically significantly higher than with CoJet (P=.03, I=62%) and airborne-particle abrasion with AlO (P<.001, I=98%).
CONCLUSIONS
The best surface treatment protocol for repair varied according to the restorative material. HF followed by silanization is suggested for PICs, and airborne-particle abrasion with AlO or preparation with a diamond rotary instrument for RNCs.
Topics: Aluminum Oxide; Ceramics; Dental Bonding; Diamond; Hydrofluoric Acid; Materials Testing; Polymers; Resin Cements; Silanes; Surface Properties; Zirconium
PubMed: 33573835
DOI: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2020.06.009 -
Journal of Infection and Public Health Sep 2021To systematically investigate the relationship between cardiac biomarkers and COVID-19 severity and mortality. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To systematically investigate the relationship between cardiac biomarkers and COVID-19 severity and mortality.
METHODS
We performed a literature search using PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were applied to estimate the combined results of 67 studies. A meta-analysis of cardiac biomarkers was used to evaluate disease mortality and severity in COVID-19 patients.
RESULTS
A meta-analysis of 7812 patients revealed that patients with high levels of cardiac troponin I (SMD = 0.81 U/L, 95% CI = 0.14-1.48, P = 0.017), cardiac troponin T (SMD = 0.78 U/L, 95% CI = 0.07-1.49, P = 0.032), high-sensitive cardiac troponin I (SMD = 0.66 pg/mL, 95% CI = 0.51-0.81, P < 0.001), high-sensitive cardiac troponin T (SMD = 0.93 U/L, 95% CI = 0.21-1.65, P = 0.012), creatine kinase-MB (SMD = 0.54 U/L, 95% CI = 0.39-0.69, P < 0.001), and myoglobin (SMD = 0.80 U/L, 95% CI = 0.57-1.03, P < 0.001) were associated with prominent disease severity in COVID-19 infection. Moreover, 9532 patients with a higher serum level of cardiac troponin I (SMD = 0.51 U/L, 95% CI = 0.37-0.64, P < 0.001), high-sensitive cardiac troponin (SMD = 0.51 ng/L, 95% CI = 0.29-0.73, P < 0.001), high-sensitive cardiac troponin I (SMD = 0.51 pg/mL, 95% CI = 0.38-0.63, P < 0.001), high-sensitive cardiac troponin T (SMD = 0.85 U/L, 95% CI = 0.63-1.07, P < 0.001), creatine kinase-MB (SMD = 0.48 U/L, 95% CI = 0.32-0.65, P < 0.001), and myoglobin (SMD = 0.55 U/L, 95% CI = 0.45-0.65, P < 0.001) exhibited a prominent level of mortality from COVID-19 infection.
CONCLUSION
Cardiac biomarkers (cardiac troponin I, cardiac troponin T, high-sensitive cardiac troponin, high-sensitive cardiac troponin I, high-sensitive cardiac troponin T, creatine kinase-MB, and myoglobin) should be more frequently applied in identifying high-risk COVID-19 patients so that timely treatment can be implemented to reduce severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Topics: Biomarkers; COVID-19; Creatine Kinase, MB Form; Humans; Myoglobin; Severity of Illness Index; Troponin I; Troponin T
PubMed: 34416596
DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2021.07.016 -
International Journal of Biological... Apr 2023Levan is a homopolysaccharide of fructose that has both scientific and industrial importance, with various applications in health, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food... (Review)
Review
Levan is a homopolysaccharide of fructose that has both scientific and industrial importance, with various applications in health, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. Despite its broad spectrum of uses, there are only a limited number of commercial levan sources due to the high costs related to its production. To make production economically viable, efforts have been concentrated on the selection of levan-producing microorganisms, the genetic manipulation of new strains, and the use of inexpensive agro-industrial byproducts as substrates. Another efficient strategy involves the concomitant synthesis of other products with high market value and as such, the successful co-production of levan was demonstrated with fructooligosaccharides, ethanol, sorbitol, poly-ε-lysine, poly-γ-glutamic acid and polyhydroxyalkanoates. This paper offers a systematic review of important aspects regarding recent strategies involving the simultaneous synthesis of levan and other bioproducts of aggregate value reported to date and discusses the challenges and opportunities for its large-scale production and applications.
Topics: Polyhydroxyalkanoates; Ethanol; Fructose; Fructans; Food Industry
PubMed: 36828085
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123800 -
Journal of Neurosurgery. Spine Oct 2023By minimizing imaging artifact and particle scatter, carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CF-PEEK) spinal implants are hypothesized to enhance radiotherapy (RT)...
OBJECTIVE
By minimizing imaging artifact and particle scatter, carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CF-PEEK) spinal implants are hypothesized to enhance radiotherapy (RT) planning/dosing and improve oncological outcomes. However, robust clinical studies comparing tumor surgery outcomes between CF-PEEK and traditional metallic implants are lacking. In this paper, the authors performed a systematic review of the literature with the aim to describe clinical outcomes in patients with spine tumors who received CF-PEEK implants, focusing on implant-related complications and oncological outcomes.
METHODS
A systematic review of the literature published between database inception and May 2022 was performed in accordance with the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The PubMed database was queried using the terms "carbon fiber" and "spine" or "spinal." The inclusion criteria were articles that described patients with CF-PEEK pedicle screw fixation and had a minimum of 5 patients. Case reports and phantom studies were excluded.
RESULTS
This review included 11 articles with 326 patients (237 with CF-PEEK-based implants and 89 with titanium-based implants). The mean follow-up period was 13.5 months, and most tumors were metastatic (67.1%). The rates of implant-related complications in the CF-PEEK and titanium groups were 7.8% and 4.7%, respectively. The rate of pedicle screw fracture was 1.7% in the CF-PEEK group and 2.4% in the titanium group. The rates of reoperation were 5.7% (with 60.0% because of implant failure or junctional kyphosis) and 4.8% (all because of implant failure or junctional kyphosis) in the CF-PEEK and titanium groups, respectively. When reported, 72.5% of patients received postoperative RT (41.0% stereotactic body RT, 30.8% fractionated RT, 25.6% proton, 2.6% carbon ion). Four articles suggested that implant artifact was reduced in the CF-PEEK group. Local recurrence occurred in 14.4% of CF-PEEK and 10.7% of titanium-implanted patients.
CONCLUSIONS
While CF-PEEK harbors similar implant failure rates to traditional metallic implants with reduced imaging artifact, it remains unclear whether CF-PEEK implants improve oncological outcomes. This study highlights the need for prospective, direct comparative clinical studies.
Topics: Humans; Carbon Fiber; Titanium; Prospective Studies; Polyethylene Glycols; Ketones; Carbon; Pedicle Screws; Postoperative Complications; Neoplasms; Kyphosis
PubMed: 37382293
DOI: 10.3171/2023.5.SPINE23106