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Scientific Reports Jun 2024The increasing water contamination by toxic heavy metals, particularly hexavalent chromium, has become a significant environmental concern. This study explores the...
The increasing water contamination by toxic heavy metals, particularly hexavalent chromium, has become a significant environmental concern. This study explores the pyrolysis of termite-processed biomass, specifically Pinus elliottii particleboard and its termite droppings (TDs), to produce biochar and its application for chromium (VI) adsorption. Termite droppings, rich in lignin, and particleboard, rich in cellulose, were pyrolyzed at various temperatures to assess the effect of biomass composition on biochar properties. The study found that lignin-rich termite droppings produced biochar with higher fixed carbon content and specific surface area than cellulose-rich particleboard biochar. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy revealed significant molecular structure changes during pyrolysis, which influenced the adsorption capabilities of the biochar. Adsorption experiments demonstrated that TD biochar exhibited significantly higher chromium (VI) adsorption capacity, attributed to its distinct chemical composition and enhanced surface properties due to higher lignin content. These findings underscore the crucial role of lignin in producing efficient biochar for heavy metal adsorption, highlighting the practical applicability of termite-processed biomass in water purification technologies.
Topics: Charcoal; Lignin; Chromium; Animals; Cellulose; Biomass; Adsorption; Isoptera; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Pyrolysis; Pinus; Water Purification; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
PubMed: 38942919
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65959-5 -
Genetics Jun 2024Interspecific F1 hybrids between Asian (Oryza sativa) and African rice (Oryza glaberrima) exhibit severe sterility caused by the accumulation of hybrid sterility...
Interspecific F1 hybrids between Asian (Oryza sativa) and African rice (Oryza glaberrima) exhibit severe sterility caused by the accumulation of hybrid sterility genes/loci at 15 or more loci. The mechanisms underlying the hybrid sterility genes are largely unknown; however, a few genes associated with the killer-protector system, which is the system most frequently associated with hybrid sterility genes, have been identified. We previously produced fertile plants as tetraploids derived from diploid interspecific F1 hybrids through anther culture; therefore, it was suggested that hybrid sterility could be overcome following tetraploidization. We investigated whether tetraploid interspecific plants produced by crossing are fertile and tested the involvement of hybrid sterility genes in the process. Fertile tetraploid interspecific F1 hybrid plants were obtained by crossing two tetraploids of Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima. To elucidate the relationships between pollen fertility and the hybrid sterility loci in the tetraploid F1 microspores, we performed genetic analyses of the tetraploid F2 hybrids and diploid plants obtained from the microspores of tetraploid interspecific hybrids by anther culture. The result suggested that the tetraploid interspecific hybrids overcame pollen and seed infertility based on the proportion of loci with the killer-protector system present in the tetraploids. The heterozygous hybrid sterility loci with the killer-protector system in the tetraploid segregate the homozygous killed allele (16.7-21.4%), with more than three-quarters of the gametes surviving. We theoretically and experimentally demonstrated that fertile rice progenies can be grown from tetraploid interspecific hybrids.
PubMed: 38941481
DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyae104 -
Clinical and Experimental Medicine Jun 2024Both atezolizumab (a PD-L1 inhibitor) plus bevacizumab (A+B) and sintilimab (a PD-1 inhibitor) plus bevacizumab (S+B) are recommended as the first-line regimen for... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
Both atezolizumab (a PD-L1 inhibitor) plus bevacizumab (A+B) and sintilimab (a PD-1 inhibitor) plus bevacizumab (S+B) are recommended as the first-line regimen for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China. Different efficacy between the two regimens combined with transvascular intervention for unresectable HCC (uHCC) remain unknown. We retrospectively analyzed uHCC patients treated in three centers by simultaneous combination of A+B or S+B with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and FOLFOX-based hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). Objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were compared. Totally 188 patients were included, with 92 and 96 administered A+B+TACE-HAIC (ABTH) and S+B+TACE-HAIC (SBTH), respectively. ORRs (62.0 vs. 70.8%, respectively; P = 0.257) and disease control rates (88.0 vs. 93.8%, P = 0.267) were similar between groups by the mRECIST criteria. ABTH showed no survival advantage over SBTH, with median PFS times of 11.7 months and 13.0 months, respectively (HR = 0.81, 95% CI, 0.52-1.26, P = 0.35) and similar OS times (HR = 1.19, 95% CI, 0.32-4.39, P = 0.8). No significant differences were observed in grade 3-4 TRAEs between groups. Either PD-L1 or PD-1 inhibitor plus bevacizumab combined with TACE-HAIC have similarly excellent therapeutic efficacy with manageable adverse events, representing promising treatment options for uHCC.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Male; Bevacizumab; Middle Aged; Female; Liver Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Treatment Outcome; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; China; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; B7-H1 Antigen; Fluorouracil; Leucovorin
PubMed: 38940944
DOI: 10.1007/s10238-024-01415-y -
Hemodialysis International.... Jun 2024Phosphide metal poisoning results in tens of thousands of fatalities per year worldwide. The mortality in critically ill patients often exceeds 50%. The available...
BACKGROUND
Phosphide metal poisoning results in tens of thousands of fatalities per year worldwide. The mortality in critically ill patients often exceeds 50%. The available treatment is supportive and there is no antidote. Dialysis is recommended to treat advanced complications but has not been prescribed early in the process. In this study we report our experience in using dialysis in the early hours of presentation of the patients and suggest it can favorably improve the prognosis. We also draw attention to the risk of suicide under conditions of chronic conflict such as those in northwestern Syria, and to the lack of necessary mental health support for patients after suicide attempts.
METHODS
Retrospective review of records of patients poisoned with aluminum phosphide and admitted to critical care facilities in northwestern Syria between July 2022 and June 2023.
RESULTS
During the observation period 16 cases were encountered. Suicide was the reason of the poisoning in 15 patients, the median patient age was 18 years and over two thirds of the patients were female. Early dialysis was used in 11 patients who were critically ill and their mortality rate was 18%.
CONCLUSIONS
Phosphide metal poisoning is common in the disasters stricken area of northwestern Syria. Most cases are suicidal and impact young females. Early dialytic interventions may favorably impact the outcomes.
PubMed: 38937150
DOI: 10.1111/hdi.13168 -
Molecular Biology and Evolution Jun 2024Segregation distorters (SDs) are genetic elements that distort the Mendelian segregation ratio to favor their own transmission and are able to spread even when they...
Segregation distorters (SDs) are genetic elements that distort the Mendelian segregation ratio to favor their own transmission and are able to spread even when they incur fitness costs on organisms carrying them. Depending on the biology of the host organisms and the genetic architecture of the SDs, the population dynamics of SDs can be highly variable. Inbreeding is considered an effective mechanism for inhibiting the spread of SDs in populations, and can evolve as a defense mechanism against SDs in some systems. However, we show that inbreeding in the form of selfing, in fact promotes the spread of SDs acting as pollen killers in a toxin-antidote system in hermaphroditic plants by two mechanisms: (1) By reducing the effective recombination rate between killer and antidote loci in two-locus systems and (2) by increasing the proportion of SD alleles in individual flowers, rather than in the general gene-pool. We also show that in rice (Oryza sativa L.), a typical hermaphroditic plant, all molecularly characterized SDs associated with pollen killing were involved in population hybridization and have introgressed across different species. Paradoxically, these loci, which are associated with hybrid incompatibility and can be thought of as Bateson-Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibility loci expected to reduce gene-flow between species, in fact cross species boundaries more frequently than random loci and may act as important drivers of introgression.
PubMed: 38935581
DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae132 -
Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening... Jun 2024Acute intoxication is a common chief complaint in emergency medicine, but there is a lack of up-to-date studies from the emergency departments in Norway on the incidence...
BACKGROUND
Acute intoxication is a common chief complaint in emergency medicine, but there is a lack of up-to-date studies from the emergency departments in Norway on the incidence and prevalence of various toxic substances. The aim of this study was to survey acute intoxications at the emergency department of St Olav's Hospital, Trondheim.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
In this review of patient records, we used data from the emergency department at St Olav's Hospital in Trondheim in the period 1 January 2019-31 December 2020. All cases with 'acute intoxication' as the reason for the emergency department visit were included.
RESULTS
In a patient population of 836 unique patients, there were a total of 1423 intoxications, of which 168/836 patients (20.0 %) had more than one intoxication episode in the period. The median age was 31 years (interquartile range 22-47), and 395/836 (47.2 %) of the patients were women. Combined drug intoxication constituted 666/1423 (46.8 %) of the cases, and the most frequent intoxications were from ethanol: 802/1423 (56.4 %); benzodiazepines 314/1423 (24.0 %); and opioids 243/1423 (17.1 %). Altogether, 1146/1423 (80.5 %) incidents resulted in hospital admission. There were no deaths during their hospital stay.
INTERPRETATION
Emergency departments must be prepared to manage patients who have taken various poisoning agents. The antidotes must be available, and it must be possible to perform interventions.
Topics: Humans; Norway; Emergency Service, Hospital; Adult; Female; Male; Hospitals, University; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Poisoning; Benzodiazepines; Alcoholic Intoxication; Retrospective Studies; Incidence; Adolescent; Drug Overdose
PubMed: 38934322
DOI: 10.4045/tidsskr.23.0417 -
Heliyon Jun 2024The botulinum toxin is an extremely potent substance that impacts the nervous system. There has been a rise in cases of medical poisoning associated with it,...
BACKGROUND
The botulinum toxin is an extremely potent substance that impacts the nervous system. There has been a rise in cases of medical poisoning associated with it, particularly in the field of plastic and aesthetic procedures, in recent years.
CASE DESCRIPTION
A 51-year-old woman underwent a facial wrinkle reduction procedure with an unauthorized injection of 100 U of botulinum toxin at an unlicensed medical facility six days prior to hospitalization. Over time, her toxicity symptoms intensified, impacting her respiratory muscles, and she did not receive antitoxin treatment. She was concurrently diagnosed with a COVID-19 infection during this period. Nonetheless, she experienced a full recovery 86 days after the injection.
CONCLUSION
Currently, there is no effective antidote for botulism. Nevertheless, the timely administration of antitoxin can contribute to reducing the duration of the illness, alleviating symptoms, and preventing its recurrence. It is essential to recognize that individual responses may vary, and in this instance, the absence of antitoxin treatment did not significantly prolong the course of the disease. Accurate diagnosis of medical poisoning can be based on injection history and clinical symptoms. Early indications like fatigue and dry mouth warrant particular attention, emphasizing the importance of immediate medical intervention. To address emergencies, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) should maintain an accessible supply of antitoxin. Patients with severe poisoning should be hospitalized until their respiratory muscle strength is fully restored.
PubMed: 38933984
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32237 -
Pharmaceutics Jun 2024Combinations of different drugs are formulated in autoinjectors for parenteral administration against neurotoxic war agents. In this work, the effects on the chemical...
Combinations of different drugs are formulated in autoinjectors for parenteral administration against neurotoxic war agents. In this work, the effects on the chemical stability of the following three variables were studied: (i) type of drug combination (pralidoxime, atropine, and midazolam versus obidoxime, atropine, and midazolam); (ii) pH (3 versus 4); and (iii) type of elastomeric sealing material (PH 701/50 C BLACK versus 4023/50 GRAY). Syringes were stored at three different temperatures: 4, 25, and 40 °C. Samples were assayed at different time points to study the physical appearance, drug sorption on the sealing elastomeric materials, and drug content in solution. Midazolam was unstable in all tested experimental conditions. Drug adsorption was observed in both types of sealing elastomeric materials and was significantly ( < 0.01) dependent on the lipophilicity of the drug. The most stable formulation was the combination of pralidoxime and atropine at pH 4 with the elastomeric sealing material 4023/50 GRAY.
PubMed: 38931941
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16060820 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024This study prepared sulfonated shell biochar using shell agricultural waste as a carbon source, and evaluated its performance as a catalyst for preparing biodiesel....
This study prepared sulfonated shell biochar using shell agricultural waste as a carbon source, and evaluated its performance as a catalyst for preparing biodiesel. The biochar obtained from carbonizing shells at 500 °C for 2 h serves as the carbon skeleton, and then the biochar is sulfonated with chlorosulfonic acid. The sulfonic acid groups are mainly grafted onto the surface of shell biochar through covalent bonding to obtain sulfonic acid type biochar catalysts. The catalysts were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Nitrogen adsorption-desorption Brunel-Emmett-Taylor Theory (BET), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The acid density of the sulfonated fruit shell biochar catalyst is 2.86 mmol/g, and the specific surface area is 2.67 m/g, indicating high catalytic activity. The optimal reaction conditions are 4 wt% catalyst with a 6:1 alcohol to oil ratio. After esterification at 70 °C for 2 h, the yield of biodiesel was 91.4%. Under the optimal reaction conditions, after four repeated uses of the catalyst, the yield of biodiesel still reached 90%. Therefore, sulfonated shell biochar is a low-cost, green, non-homogeneous catalyst with great potential for biodiesel production by esterification reaction in future development.
Topics: Camellia; Charcoal; Biofuels; Catalysis; Sulfonic Acids; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Esterification; X-Ray Diffraction
PubMed: 38930818
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122752 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jun 2024Colorectal cancer is a major global health concern, with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality rates associated with metastatic stages. This study...
Influence of Biomarkers on Mortality among Patients with Hepatic Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer Treated with FOLFOX/CAPOX and FOLFIRI/CAPIRI, Including Anti-EGFR and Anti-VEGF Therapies.
Colorectal cancer is a major global health concern, with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality rates associated with metastatic stages. This study investigates the prognostic significance of various clinical and laboratory parameters in patients with metastatic CRC. A retrospective cohort of 188 CRC patients with hepatic metastasis from the OncoHelp Association in Timisoara was analyzed from January 2016 to March 2023. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, and biomarkers, such as lymphocyte counts, as well as various inflammation indices, were examined. Statistical analyses included univariate and multivariate logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and ROC curve assessments. Our findings indicate significant associations between survival outcomes and several biomarkers. Higher BMI and lymphocyte counts were linked with better survival rates, while higher values of Neutrophil-Hemoglobin-Lymphocyte (NHL) score, Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) were predictors of poorer outcomes. Notably, the presence of hepatic metastasis at diagnosis was a critical factor, significantly reducing overall survival. The study has expanded the current understanding of prognostic factors in CRC, advocating for a multi-dimensional approach to prognostic evaluations. This approach should consider not only the traditional metrics such as tumor stage and histological grading but also incorporate a broader spectrum of biomarkers. Future studies should aim to validate these findings and explore the integration of these biomarkers into routine clinical practice, enhancing the precision of prognostic assessments and ultimately guiding more personalized treatment strategies for CRC patients.
Topics: Humans; Colorectal Neoplasms; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Liver Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Fluorouracil; Leucovorin; Organoplatinum Compounds; Camptothecin; Adult; Biomarkers, Tumor; Prognosis; ErbB Receptors; Kaplan-Meier Estimate
PubMed: 38929620
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60061003