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Drug Delivery and Translational Research Mar 2023This study is aimed to fabricate tetanus toxoid laden microneedle patches by using a polymeric blend comprising of polyvinyl pyrrolidone and sodium carboxymethyl...
This study is aimed to fabricate tetanus toxoid laden microneedle patches by using a polymeric blend comprising of polyvinyl pyrrolidone and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as base materials and sorbitol as a plasticizer. The tetanus toxoid was mixed with polymeric blend and patches were prepared by using vacuum micromolding technique. Microneedle patches were evaluated for physical attributes such as uniformity of thickness, folding endurance, and swelling profile. Morphological features were assessed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. In vitro performance of fabricated patches was studied by using bicinchoninic acid assay (BCA). Insertion ability of microstructures was studied in vitro on model skin parafilm and in vivo in albino rat. In vivo immunogenic activity of the formulation was assessed by recording immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels, interferon gamma (IFN-γ) levels, and T-cell (CD4 and CD8) count following the application of dosage forms. Prepared patches, displaying sharp-tipped and smooth-surfaced microstructures, remained intact after 350 ± 36 foldings. Optimized microneedle patch formulation showed ~ 74% swelling and ~ 85.6% vaccine release within an hour. The microneedles successfully pierced parafilm. Histological examination of microneedle-treated rat skin confirmed disruption of epidermis without damaging the underneath vasculature. A significant increase in IgG levels (~ 21%), IFN-γ levels (~ 30%), CD4 (~ 41.5%), and CD8 (~ 48.5%) cell count was observed in tetanus vaccine-loaded microneedle patches treated albino rats with respect to control (untreated) group at 42nd day of immunization. In conclusion, tetanus toxoid-loaded microneedle patches can be considered as an efficient choice for transdermal delivery of vaccine without inducing pain commonly experienced with hypodermic needles.
Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Drug Delivery Systems; Immunoglobulin G; Needles; Paraffin; Polymers; Tetanus Toxoid; Transdermal Patch; Animals; Rats
PubMed: 36253518
DOI: 10.1007/s13346-022-01249-9 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Feb 2021In the past decades, the environmental presence and ecological risks of chlorinated paraffins (CPs), an emerging class of organic halogen compounds, have been receiving... (Review)
Review
In the past decades, the environmental presence and ecological risks of chlorinated paraffins (CPs), an emerging class of organic halogen compounds, have been receiving increasing attention worldwide. Short-chain CPs (SCCPs) and medium-chain CPs (MCCPs) constitute the important CPs of considerable concern. In this review article, the state-of-the-art research status on the environmental transformation of CPs, including thermal decomposition, photolytic and photocatalytic degradation, biological metabolism, and atmospheric transformation, was summarized and integrated in detail. The degradation efficiency and transformation products of CPs in these environmental processes were evaluated, in which dechlorination was considered as the major reaction pathway. Notably, waste incineration of CPs has been demonstrated to generate a variety of persistent chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons such as polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated naphthalenes, which have more significant environmental impacts. Additionally, photodegradation and photocatalysis are suggested as the feasible techniques for efficient removal of SCCPs from water matrices. Overall, the current transformation studies of CPs could facilitate the comprehensive understanding of their environmental behaviors and fate as well as the development of promising remediation strategies for pollution control.
Topics: China; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollution; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Paraffin; Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PubMed: 33475920
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12469-w -
Environmental Science & Technology Jun 2022Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), "famous" as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), have been managed nationally since the 1970s and globally under the Stockholm...
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), "famous" as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), have been managed nationally since the 1970s and globally under the Stockholm Convention on POPs since 2004, requiring environmentally sound management (ESM) of PCBs by 2028. At most, 30% of countries are on track to achieve ESM by 2028. Globally over 10 million tonnes of PCB-containing materials remain, mostly in countries lacking the ability to manage PCB waste. Canada (Ontario) and Czechia, both parties to the Stockholm Convention, are close to achieving the 2028 goal, having reduced their stocks of pure PCBs by 99% in the past 10 years. In contrast, the USA, not a party to the Stockholm Convention, continues to have a substantial but poorly inventoried stock of PCBs and only ∼3% decrease in mass of PCBs since 2006. PCB management, which depends on Stockholm Convention support and national compliance, portends major challenges for POP management. The failure to manage global PCB stocks >30 years after the end of production highlights the urgent need to prioritize reducing production and use of newer, more widely distributed POPs such as chlorinated paraffins and per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, as these management challenges are unlikely to be resolved in the coming decades.
Topics: Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants; Ontario; Paraffin; Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PubMed: 35647669
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01204 -
European Review For Medical and... Apr 2023Nasal polyps are non-cancerous, soft painless growth of nasal mucosa. In this study, our aim was to investigate the Ki-67 expression level in nasal polyps by...
OBJECTIVE
Nasal polyps are non-cancerous, soft painless growth of nasal mucosa. In this study, our aim was to investigate the Ki-67 expression level in nasal polyps by immunohistochemical method.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
30 patients with nasal polyps were included in this study. Nasal polyps were processed for paraffin wax embedding protocol. Samples were fixed and embedded in paraffin blocks. 5 µm sections were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin dye and immune stained with Ki-67 antibody. Sections were analyzed under light microscope.
RESULTS
Blood parameters showed that white blood cells, hematocrit and platelet were higher than normal range. In sections of hematoxylin-eosin staining, elevated basal cells, thin basement membrane, leukocyte infiltration, collagen fibers degeneration were observed. Masson trichrome staining revealed that degenerative epithelial cells, detached basement membrane and edema were observed. Ki-67 expression was observed in mucosal epithelial cells, vascular endothelial cells and plasma cells in immune staining.
CONCLUSIONS
Epithelial degeneration in nasal polyps and leukocyte infiltration induce nasal adenoma. Ki-67 expression may be a diagnostic tool for epithelial leukocyte formation.
Topics: Humans; Nasal Polyps; Ki-67 Antigen; Endothelial Cells; Eosine Yellowish-(YS); Hematoxylin; Paraffin; Nasal Mucosa
PubMed: 37070875
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202304_31904 -
The Science of the Total Environment Aug 2023Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) belong to an emerging class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) widely detected in environmental matrices and human samples. The... (Review)
Review
Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) belong to an emerging class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) widely detected in environmental matrices and human samples. The potential health risks of CPs on humans have initiated intense concerns but there have been few studies focusing on the said topic. Addressing the gap, we make a scoping review on the current global body of evidence from epidemiological and toxicological studies. Furthermore, the management strategies and regulations related to CPs are presented and discussed. There were 70 articles among 11,280 records, including four epidemiological studies, one case report, another twenty-nine studies reporting human body burden, and thirty-six toxicological studies, finally included in this review. Additionally, twenty-three management regulation relevant documents/websites were included. CPs exist in human blood, breast milk, placenta, and other tissues. Population-based and laboratory studies suggest that CPs may cause liver and kidney toxicity, developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disorder, immune dysfunction, and reproductive toxicity. CPs with shorter carbon chains and higher chlorine content may be more harmful. In particular, the combined effect of CPs with other pollutants is of great concern. Population-based studies are far from sufficient at present, and most of them are conducted in China or developed countries. Besides, the toxicity assessment studies of CPs are inadequate. In addition, most studies focus on short-chain CPs (SCCPs) while few studies explored the effect of long-chain CPs (LCCPs). Thus, conducting more epidemiological studies in larger populations and toxicological studies combined with new technology methods are of great significance for better understanding the adverse health effects of CPs, which may promote CPs management regulations.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Paraffin; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants; China
PubMed: 37164081
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163953 -
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science Nov 2023Adhesion of liquid foods on their packaging materials has caused significant food wastes and environment pollution, which has attracted great attention. Food grade...
Adhesion of liquid foods on their packaging materials has caused significant food wastes and environment pollution, which has attracted great attention. Food grade superhydrophobic coatings are very promising to solve the issue but suffer from low mechanical stability and complex preparation methods. Herein, a food grade superhydrophobic coating for anti-adhesion of liquid foods was prepared by combining edible paraffin wax, polydimethylsiloxane-modified attapulgite natural nanorods and a food grade silicone adhesive. The concentration of polydimethylsiloxane-modified attapulgite, ultrasonication time and the volume ratio of the paraffin wax/attapulgite suspension to the silicone adhesive solution have great influences on wettability and morphology of the coatings. The coatings exhibit good static and dynamic superhydrophobicity due to their hierarchical micro-/nanostructure and low surface energy of the polydimethylsiloxane-modified attapulgite and paraffin wax. Moreover, the coatings exhibit good mechanical and chemical stability. The coatings are also highly repellent towards various liquid foods including the hot ones. Furthermore, the coatings are applicable onto various frequently used flexible and hard food packing materials including polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, aluminium alloy and paper, etc. Thus, the superhydrophobic coatings have great application potential in the food packing industry for anti-adhesion of liquid foods.
Topics: Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Paraffin; Dimethylpolysiloxanes; Silicones
PubMed: 37450975
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.07.042 -
Carcinogenesis Dec 2023This research aimed to construct a prediction model for stages II and III cardia carcinoma (CC), and provide an effective preoperative evaluation tool for clinicians.
OBJECTIVES
This research aimed to construct a prediction model for stages II and III cardia carcinoma (CC), and provide an effective preoperative evaluation tool for clinicians.
METHODS
CC mRNA expression matrix was obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases. Non-negative matrix factorization was used to cluster data to obtain subgroup information, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used to uncover key modules linked to different subgroups. Gene-set enrichment analysis analyzed biological pathways of different subgroups. The related pathways of multiple modules were scrutinized with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. Key modules were manually annotated to screen CC-related genes. Subsequently, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assessed CC-related gene expression in fresh tissues and paraffin samples, and Pearson correlation analysis was performed. A classification model was constructed and the predictive ability was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve.
RESULTS
CC patients had four subgroups that were associated with brown, turquoise, red, and black modules, respectively. The CC-related modules were mainly associated with abnormal cell metabolism and inflammatory immune pathways. Then, 76 CC-elated genes were identified. Pearson correlation analysis presented that THBS4, COL14A1, DPYSL3, FGF7, and SVIL levels were relatively stable in fresh and paraffin tissues. The area under the curve of 5-gene combined prediction for staging was 0.8571, indicating good prediction ability.
CONCLUSIONS
The staging classifier for CC based on THBS4, COL14A1, DPYSL3, FGF7, and SVIL has a good predictive effect, which may provide effective guidance for whether CC patients need emergency surgery.
Topics: Humans; Cardia; Paraffin; Stomach Neoplasms; Algorithms; Carcinoma
PubMed: 37624090
DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgad059 -
International Journal of Biometeorology Oct 2023Although peloid, paraffin, and exercise treatments are effective in patients with plantar fasciitis, there had been no comprehensive and comparative studies of these... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Although peloid, paraffin, and exercise treatments are effective in patients with plantar fasciitis, there had been no comprehensive and comparative studies of these treatments for plantar fasciitis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of peloid, paraffin, and exercise treatments on pain, functional status, and quality of life in patients with plantar fasciitis. A total of 104 patients, aged 18 years and over, who applied to our clinic with heel pain and were diagnosed with plantar fasciitis according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Clinical Consensus Statement: Diagnosis and Treatment of Adult Acquired Infracalcaneal Heel Pain guideline, with pain at the level of 3 and more severe according to the visual analog scale were randomly divided into three groups: the peloid group (peloid therapy and home exercise), the paraffin group (paraffin therapy and home exercise), and the control group (home exercise). Peloid and paraffin applications were applied 5 days a week, a total of 15 sessions in 3 weeks. Participants were evaluated with the visual analog scale, heel tenderness index, and the foot and ankle outcome score before treatment, after treatment, and at the first month after treatment. Compared to pre-treatment evaluation, significant improvements were observed in all parameters after treatment and at the first month controls in all 3 groups (p < 0.05). In the peloidotherapy and paraffin therapy added groups, pain reduction and quality of life increase were higher than the exercise group (p < 0.05). Adding peloidotherapy or paraffin therapy to the home exercise program in the treatment of plantar fasciitis can further reduce pain and improve quality of life.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Adolescent; Fasciitis, Plantar; Paraffin; Quality of Life; Pain; Exercise Therapy; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37526763
DOI: 10.1007/s00484-023-02530-3 -
European Journal of Obstetrics,... Aug 2022This study evaluated the effectiveness of Paraffin oil versus Mineral oil for day-5 embryo culture in couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART).
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the effectiveness of Paraffin oil versus Mineral oil for day-5 embryo culture in couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART).
METHODS
We performed a multi-centre, retrospective cohort study at IVFMD (My Duc Hospital) and IVFMD Phu Nhuan (My Duc Phu Nhuan Hospital) from January 2019 to September 2019. We studied couples treated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), using fresh, ejaculated semen and undergoing day-5 embryo transfer. Couples who underwent in vitro maturation (IVM) or oocyte donation cycles or couples where the woman had uterine abnormalities were excluded. From January 2019 to May 2019, we used Mineral oil (LiteOil, LifeGlobal) while Paraffin oil (Liquid Paraffin, Origio) was used from June 2019 to September 2019. The primary outcome was live birth rate after the first transfer, either from a fresh transfer or frozen embryo transfer.
RESULTS
Between 1st January 2019 to 30th September 2019, there were 2,312 couples undergoing ART in both centres, of which 762 (377 in the Paraffin group and 385 in the Mineral group) eligible couples were included in the study. Baseline characteristics of couples were comparable between the two groups, with mean female age 31.5 ± 4.3 versus 31.9 ± 4.7 in the Paraffin and Mineral group. Live birth after the first transfer occurred in 153 (40.6%) couples in the Paraffin group, compared to 152 (39.5%) couples in the Mineral group (risk ratio 1.02, 95% confidence interval 0.91 - 1.14). Other secondary outcomes were comparable between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
In day-5 embryo culture, Paraffin and Mineral oil resulted in a comparable live birth rate.
Topics: Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Humans; Live Birth; Male; Mineral Oil; Oils; Paraffin; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; Retrospective Studies; Semen
PubMed: 35749967
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.06.014 -
Lasers in Medical Science Jul 2022In this research, we developed a novel method of quantitative analysis to increase the detection potential for screening and classification of skin cancer (melanoma). We...
In this research, we developed a novel method of quantitative analysis to increase the detection potential for screening and classification of skin cancer (melanoma). We fused two distinct optical approaches, an atomic spectroscopic detection technique laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and a vibrational molecular spectroscopic technique known as Raman spectroscopy. Melanoma is a kind of skin cancer, also known as malignant melanoma, that developed in melanocytes cells, which produced melanin. Classification of melanoma cancerous tissues is a fundamental problem in biomedicine. For early melanoma cancer diagnosis and treatment, precise and accurate categorizing is critically essential. Laser-based spectroscopic approaches can be used as an operating instrument for simultaneous tissue ablation and ablated tissue elemental and molecular analysis. For this purpose, melanoma and normal paraffin-embedded tissues are used as a sample for LIBS and Raman measurement. We studied the data provided by laser-based spectroscopic methods using different machine learning classification techniques of extreme learning machine (ELM), partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and K nearest neighbors (kNN). For visualization of melanoma and normal data, principal component analysis (PCA) is also used. Three different ways are used to process the data, LIBS measurement, Raman measurement, and combine data measurement (merged/fused data), and then compared the results. ELM classification model achieved the highest accuracy (100%) for combined data as well as for Raman and LIBS data, respectively. According to the experimental results, we can assume that Raman spectroscopy and LIBS combine can significantly improve the identification and classification accuracy of melanoma and normal specimens.
Topics: Formaldehyde; Humans; Melanoma; Paraffin; Skin Neoplasms; Spectrum Analysis, Raman
PubMed: 35098374
DOI: 10.1007/s10103-022-03513-3