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European Journal of Obstetrics,... Oct 2022Evaluate the effect of ozone therapy alone or in combination with estradiol in management of Asherman syndrome in a rat model.
BACKGROUND/AIMS
Evaluate the effect of ozone therapy alone or in combination with estradiol in management of Asherman syndrome in a rat model.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
48 rats were used and divided into eight groups. In all the groups right uterine horn was used for the experiment while the left horns received no action. Groups A underwent two operations, and groups B three times each. Group 1A and 1B were determined as the sham group. Ozone gas was given to Group 2 alone; estradiol orally was given to Group 3 alone; estradiol and ozone gas together was given to Group 4.
RESULTS
In ozone therapy group; the diameter of the uterus, the uterine lumen and the uterine glands were increased, the endometrial epithelium was thicker in the group that received double ozone application, and the number and diameter of the endometrial gland increased in the combined use of ozone and estradiol. In the rats who underwent two surgeries, the maximum number of pregnancies and advanced pregnancies were observed in the left uterine horn. The minimum number of pregnancies were achieved in estradiol alone group. In the group receiving combined treatment with ozone and estradiol, pregnancies were observed at a higher gestational age.
CONCLUSION
Ozone had a positive effect on the treatment of Asherman syndrome and has a significant impact on achieving pregnancy.
Topics: Animals; Endometrium; Estradiol; Female; Gynatresia; Humans; Ozone; Pregnancy; Rats; Uterus
PubMed: 36055047
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.08.014 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Apr 2021The greatest challenge the world is facing today is to win the battle against COVID-19 pandemic as soon as possible. Until a vaccine is available, personal protection,... (Review)
Review
The greatest challenge the world is facing today is to win the battle against COVID-19 pandemic as soon as possible. Until a vaccine is available, personal protection, social distancing, and disinfection are the main tools against SARS-CoV-2. Although it is quite infectious, the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself is an enveloped virus that is relatively fragile because its protective fatty layer is sensitive to heat, ultraviolet radiation, and certain chemicals. However, heat and liquid treatments can damage some materials, and ultraviolet light is not efficient in shaded areas, so other disinfection alternatives are required to allow safe re-utilization of materials and spaces. As of this writing, evidences are still accumulating for the use of ozone gas as a disinfectant for sanitary materials and ambient disinfection in indoor areas. This paper reviews the most relevant results of virus disinfection by the application of gaseous ozone. The review covers disinfection treatments of both air and surfaces carried out in different volumes, which varies from small boxes and controlled chambers to larger rooms, as a base to develop future ozone protocols against COVID-19. Published papers have been critically analyzed to evaluate trends in the required ozone dosages, as a function of relative humidity (RH), contact time, and viral strains. The data have been classified depending on the disinfection objective and the volume and type of the experimental set-up. Based on these data, conservative dosages and times to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 are estimated. In small chambers, 10-20 mg ozone/m over 10 to 50 min can be sufficient to significantly reduce the virus load of personal protection equipment. In large rooms, 30 to 50 mg ozone/m would be required for treatments of 20-30 min. Maximum antiviral activity of ozone is achieved at high humidity, while the same ozone concentrations under low RH could result inefficient. At these ozone levels, safety protocols must be strictly followed. These data can be used for reducing significantly the viral load although for assuring a safe disinfection, the effective dosages under different conditions need to be confirmed with experimental data.
Topics: COVID-19; Disinfection; Humans; Ozone; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2; Ultraviolet Rays
PubMed: 33389580
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-12036-9 -
Forensic Science International Apr 2022While good laboratory practice in a forensic lab minimises the chance of infection of laboratory personnel, in certain cases, possible contamination of pieces of...
While good laboratory practice in a forensic lab minimises the chance of infection of laboratory personnel, in certain cases, possible contamination of pieces of evidence with highly contagious pathogens might call for additional precautions. The number of potential disinfection methods that might be suitable for forensic genetics are surprisingly limited. First and foremost, the ideal technique should not inhibit DNA amplification, it should be effective against a host of pathogens, and it should be applicable on porous surfaces. We examined ozone treatment on extracted DNA samples and mock casework samples. Ozone-treated and control specimens were amplified with Qiagen Investigator ESSplex SE QS kit. Detected allele counts were compared between the treated and untreated sample groups. Following disinfection, concentration of ozone-treated DNA was about half of the control samples, but full STR profiles were recovered. In the case of mock casework samples (disposable surgical masks), there was no significant difference (p = 0.513) between the detected allele counts of control and ozone-treated samples. Sampling location of surgical masks (earloop, nosepiece) showed a statistically significant difference (p = 0.011), though. Comparing the effect of contributors on STR profiling, a significant difference (p = 0.001) was observed, which could be explained with the differences between individuals including shedding capacity, head size or shape. According to our pilot study, ozone treatment does not encumber the routine forensic DNA analysis, the sampling position or the contributor affected the allele counts more than the ozone treatment.
Topics: DNA Fingerprinting; Disinfection; Humans; Microsatellite Repeats; Ozone; Pilot Projects
PubMed: 35131730
DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111212 -
Environmental Science & Technology Sep 2023With the increase of algal blooms worldwide, drinking water resources are threatened by the release of various algal toxins, which can be hepatotoxic, cytotoxic, or... (Review)
Review
With the increase of algal blooms worldwide, drinking water resources are threatened by the release of various algal toxins, which can be hepatotoxic, cytotoxic, or neurotoxic. Because of their ubiquitous occurrence in global waters and incomplete removal in conventional drinking water treatment, oxidation/disinfection processes have become promising alternative treatment options to destroy both the structures and toxicity of algal toxins. This Review first summarizes the occurrence and regulation of algal toxins in source water and drinking water. Then, the transformation kinetics, disinfection byproducts (DBPs)/transformation products (TPs), pathways, and toxicity of algal toxins in water oxidation/disinfection processes, including treatment by ozonation, chlorination, chloramination, ultraviolet-based advanced oxidation process, and permanganate, are reviewed. For most algal toxins, hydroxyl radicals (HO) exhibit the highest oxidation rate, followed by ozone and free chlorine. Under practical applications, ozone and chlorine can degrade most algal toxins to meet water quality standards. However, the transformation of the parent structures of algal toxins by oxidation/disinfection processes does not guarantee a reduction in toxicity, and the formation of toxic TPs should also be considered, especially during chlorination. Notably, the toxicity variation of algal toxins is associated with the chemical moiety responsible for toxicity (e.g., Adda moiety in microcystin-LR and uracil moiety in cylindrospermopsin). Moreover, the formation of known halogenated DBPs after chlorination indicates that toxicity in drinking water may shift from toxicity contributed by algal toxins to toxicity contributed by DBPs. To achieve the simultaneous toxicity reduction of algal toxins and their TPs, optimized oxidation/disinfection processes are warranted in future research, not only for meeting water quality standards but also for effective reduction of toxicity of algal toxins.
Topics: Drinking Water; Chlorine; Disinfection; Oxidation-Reduction; Halogenation; Chlorides
PubMed: 37603687
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01912 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2021In recent years, consumers have become increasingly aware of the nutritional benefits brought by the regular consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, which reduces... (Review)
Review
In recent years, consumers have become increasingly aware of the nutritional benefits brought by the regular consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, which reduces the risk of health problems and disease. High-quality raw materials are essential since minimally processed produce is highly perishable and susceptible to quality deterioration. The cutting, peeling, cleaning and packaging processes as well as the biochemical, sensorial and microbial changes that occur on plant tissue surfaces may accelerate produce deterioration. In this regard, biological contamination can be primary, which occurs when the infectious organisms directly contaminate raw materials, and/or by cross-contamination, which occurs during food preparation processes such as washing. Among the many technologies available to extend the shelf life of fresh-cut products, ozone technology has proven to be a highly effective sterilization technique. In this paper, we examine the main studies that have focused on the effects of gaseous ozone and ozonated water treatments on microbial growth and quality retention of fresh-cut fruit and vegetables. The purpose of this scientific literature review is to broaden our knowledge of eco-friendly technologies, such as ozone technology, which extends the shelf life and maintains the quality of fresh produce without emitting hazardous chemicals that negatively affect plant material and the environment.
PubMed: 33915979
DOI: 10.3390/foods10040748 -
Journal of Food Science Oct 2023Ongoing challenges with reproducible human norovirus cultivable assays necessitate the use of surrogates, such as feline calicivirus (FCV-F9) and Tulane virus (TV),...
Ongoing challenges with reproducible human norovirus cultivable assays necessitate the use of surrogates, such as feline calicivirus (FCV-F9) and Tulane virus (TV), during inactivation studies. Chlorine alternates used as control strategies include aqueous and gaseous ozone. This study aimed at determining the inactivation of FCV-F9 and TV by a portable ozone-generating device. FCV-F9 (∼8 log PFU/mL) or TV (∼6 log PFU/mL) in sterile-low-organic matter-containing-water was treated for 0-5 min, or in sterile-water containing newborn calf serum (high-organic matter/protein) for 0-38 min with ∼1 ppm ozone (pH 7-6). Infectivity was determined from triplicate treatments using plaque assays. FCV-F9 titers significantly decreased by 6.07 log PFU/mL after 5 min in ozonated low-organic-matter-containing-water and was non-detectable (≤2 log PFU/mL) after 36 min treatments in high-organic-matter-containing water (p < 0.05). TV titers decreased by 4.18 log PFU/mL after 4 min in ozonated low-organic-matter water (non-detectable after 4.5 min) and were non-detectable after 22.5 min treatments of high-organic-matter-containing water (p < 0.05). Overall, ∼1 ppm aqueous ozone significantly decreased FCV-F9 by >6 log PFU/mL after 5 min, TV to non-detectable levels (≤2 log PFU/mL) after 4.5 min and required longer treatments (>32 and >20 min, respectively) for ≥4 log reduction in high-organic-matter-containing water (p < 0.05). For ozone treatment of both viruses, the linear and Weibull models were similar for low-organic-load water, though the Weibull model was better for the high-organic load water. Prior filtration or organic load removal is recommended before ozonation for increased viral inactivation with decreased treatment-time.
PubMed: 37680092
DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.16755 -
Genes Dec 2022Pathogenic bacteria and viruses in medical environments can lead to treatment complications and hospital-acquired infections. Current disinfection protocols do not...
Pathogenic bacteria and viruses in medical environments can lead to treatment complications and hospital-acquired infections. Current disinfection protocols do not address hard-to-access areas or may be beyond line-of-sight treatment, such as with ultraviolet radiation. The COVID-19 pandemic further underscores the demand for reliable and effective disinfection methods to sterilize a wide array of surfaces and to keep up with the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). We tested the efficacy of Sani Sport ozone devices to treat hospital equipment and surfaces for killing , , , and by assessing Colony Forming Units (CFUs) after 30 min, 1 h, and 2 h of ozone treatment. Further gene expression analysis was conducted on live immediately post treatment to understand the oxidative damage stress response transcriptome profile. Ozone treatment was also used to degrade synthetic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA as assessed by qPCR CT values. We observed significant and rapid killing of medically relevant and environmental bacteria across four surfaces (blankets, catheter, remotes, and syringes) within 30 min, and up to a 99% reduction in viable bacteria at the end of 2 h treatment cycles. RNA-seq analysis of revealed 447 differentially expressed genes in response to ozone treatment and an enrichment for oxidative stress response and related pathways. RNA degradation of synthetic SARS-CoV-2 RNA was seen an hour into ozone treatment as compared to non-treated controls, and a non-replicative form of the virus was shown to have significant RNA degradation at 30 min. These results show the strong promise of ozone treatment of surfaces for reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections and as a method for degradation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; RNA, Viral; Disinfection; Ozone; Escherichia coli; Pandemics; Ultraviolet Rays; Bacteria; Cross Infection
PubMed: 36672826
DOI: 10.3390/genes14010085 -
ACS Omega Nov 2022With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a global incentive for applying environmentally sustainable and rapid sterilization methods, such as...
With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a global incentive for applying environmentally sustainable and rapid sterilization methods, such as ultraviolet-C radiation (UVC) and ozonation. Material sterilization is a requirement for a variety of industries, including food, water treatment, clothing, healthcare, medical equipment, and pharmaceuticals. It becomes inevitable when devices and items like protective equipment are to be reused on/by different persons. This study presents novel findings on the performance of these sterilization methods using four microorganisms ( and ) and six material substrates (stainless steel, polymethyl methacrylate, copper, surgical facemask, denim, and a cotton-polyester fabric). The combination of both ozone and UVC generally yields improved performance compared to their respective applications for the range of materials and microorganisms considered. Furthermore, the effectiveness of both UVC and ozone was higher when the fungi utilized were smeared onto the nonabsorbent materials than when 10 μL droplets were placed on the material surfaces. This dependence on the contaminating liquid surface area was not exhibited by the bacteria. This study highlights the necessity of adequate UVC and ozone dosage control as well as their synergistic and multifunctional attributes when sterilizing different materials contaminated with a wide range of microorganisms.
PubMed: 36467929
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c05264 -
Journal of Hazardous Materials Oct 2021Effective control of fungal contamination in water is vital to provide healthy and safe drinking water for human beings. Although ozone was highly effective in...
Effective control of fungal contamination in water is vital to provide healthy and safe drinking water for human beings. Although ozone was highly effective in inactivating fungi in water, it was limited by a lack of continuous disinfection ability in water supply system. In present study, the inactivation of fungal spores by combining ozone and chlorine was investigated. The synergistic effects of Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma harzianum spores reached 0.47- and 0.55-log within 10 min, respectively. The inactivation efficiency and the synergistic effect would be affected by disinfectant concentration, pH, and temperature. The combined inactivation caused more violent oxidative stimulation and more severe damage to the fungal spores than the individual inactivation based on the flow cytometry analysis and the scanning electron microscopy observation. The synergistic effect during the combined inactivation process was attributed to the generation of hydroxyl radicals by the reaction between ozone and chlorine and the promotion of chlorine penetration by the destruction of cell wall by ozone. The combined inactivation efficiency in natural water samples was reduced by 26.4-43.8% compared with that in PBS. The results of this study provided an efficient and feasible disinfection method for the control of fungi in drinking water.
Topics: Chlorine; Disinfectants; Disinfection; Hypocreales; Ozone; Spores, Fungal; Water Purification
PubMed: 34271445
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126610 -
Journal of Hazardous Materials May 2023Micro-nanoplastics (M-NPs) have become an emerging critical issue in the environment because they migrate easily, can bioaccumulate with toxic effects, and are difficult... (Review)
Review
Micro-nanoplastics (M-NPs) have become an emerging critical issue in the environment because they migrate easily, can bioaccumulate with toxic effects, and are difficult to degrade. Unfortunately, the current technologies for removing or degrading M-NPs in drinking water are insufficient to eliminate them completely, and residual M-NPs in drinking water may pose a threat to human health by impairing human immunity and metabolism. In addition to their intrinsic toxic effects, M-NPs may be even more harmful after drinking water disinfection than before disinfection. Herein, this paper comprehensively summarizes the negative impacts of several commonly used disinfection processes (ozone, chlorine, and UV) on M-NPs. Moreover, the potential leaching of dissolved organics from M-NPs and the production of disinfection byproducts during the disinfection process are discussed in detail. Moreover, due to the diversity and complexity of M-NPs, their adverse effects may exceed those of conventional organics (e.g., antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, and algae) after the disinfection process. Finally, we propose enhanced conventional drinking water treatment processes (e.g., enhanced coagulation, air flotation, advanced adsorbents, and membrane technologies), detection of residual M-NPs, and biotoxicological assessment as promising and ecofriendly candidates to efficiently remove M-NPs and avoid the release of secondary hazards.
Topics: Humans; Drinking Water; Microplastics; Disinfection; Water Purification; Chlorine; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 36870096
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131089