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Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024In this study, molecules of propyl gallate (PG) and polyethylene glycol methacrylate (PEGMA) were covalently bonded via a transesterification reaction and subsequently...
In this study, molecules of propyl gallate (PG) and polyethylene glycol methacrylate (PEGMA) were covalently bonded via a transesterification reaction and subsequently grafted onto polyvinylidene fluoride substrates using a homogeneous radiation grafting technique. The enhancement of the membranes' hydrophilicity with the increment of the grafting rate was corroborated by scanning electron microscopy imaging and measurements of the water contact angle. At a grafting degree of 10.1% and after a duration of 4 min, the water contact angle could decrease to as low as 40.1°. Cyclic flux testing demonstrated that the membranes modified in this manner consistently achieved a flux recovery rate exceeding 90% across varying degrees of grafting, indicating robust anti-fouling capabilities. Furthermore, these modified membranes exhibited significant antioxidant ability while maintaining antifouling performance over 30 days. The ability of the modified membranes to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) free radicals remained nearly unchanged after being stored in pure water for 30 days, and the flux recovery rate remained above 95% after immersion in sodium hypochlorite solution for 30 days. Among the tested membranes, the PVDF-g-PEGMAG modified membrane with a grafting degree of 7.2% showed the best antioxidant effect.
PubMed: 38673223
DOI: 10.3390/ma17081867 -
Membranes Apr 2024Modern society and industrial development rely heavily on the availability of freshwater and minerals. Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) has been widely adopted for...
Modern society and industrial development rely heavily on the availability of freshwater and minerals. Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) has been widely adopted for freshwater supply, although many questions have arisen about its environmental sustainability owing to the disposal of hypersaline rejected solutions (brine). This scenario has accelerated significant developments towards the hybridization of SWRO with membrane distillation-crystallization (MD-MCr), which can extract water and minerals from spent brine. Nevertheless, the substantial specific energy consumption associated with MD-MCr remains a significant limitation. In this work, energy harvesting was secured from renewables by hotspots embodied in the membranes, implementing the revolutionary approach of brine mining via photothermal membrane crystallization (PhMCr). This method employs self-heating nanostructured interfaces under solar radiation to enhance water evaporation, creating a carefully controlled supersaturated environment responsible for the extraction of minerals. Photothermal mixed matrix photothermal membranes (MMMs) were developed by incorporating graphene oxide (GO) or carbon black (CB) into polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) solubilized in an eco-friendly solvent (i.e., triethyl phosphate (TEP)). MMMs were prepared using non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS). The effect of GO or GB on the morphology of MMMs and the photothermal behavior was examined. Light-to-heat conversion was used in PhMCr experiments to facilitate the evaporation of water from the SWRO brine to supersaturation, leading to sodium chloride (NaCl) nucleation and crystallization. Overall, the results indicate exciting perspectives of PhMCr in brine valorization for a sustainable desalination industry.
PubMed: 38668115
DOI: 10.3390/membranes14040087 -
Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and... Jun 2024Vascular calcification causes significant morbidity and occurs frequently in diseases of calcium/phosphate imbalance. Radiolabeled sodium fluoride positron emission...
BACKGROUND
Vascular calcification causes significant morbidity and occurs frequently in diseases of calcium/phosphate imbalance. Radiolabeled sodium fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography has emerged as a sensitive and specific method for detecting and quantifying active microcalcifications. We developed a novel technique to quantify and map total vasculature microcalcification to a common space, allowing simultaneous assessment of global disease burden and precise tracking of site-specific microcalcifications across time and individuals.
METHODS
To develop this technique, 4 patients with hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis, a monogenic disorder of FGF23 (fibroblast growth factor-23) deficiency with a high prevalence of vascular calcification, underwent radiolabeled sodium fluoride positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging. One patient received serial imaging 1 year after treatment with an IL-1 (interleukin-1) antagonist. A radiolabeled sodium fluoride-based microcalcification score, as well as calcification volume, was computed at all perpendicular slices, which were then mapped onto a standardized vascular atlas. Segment-wise mCS and mCS were computed to compare microcalcification score levels at predefined vascular segments within subjects.
RESULTS
Patients with hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis had notable peaks in microcalcification score near the aortic bifurcation and distal femoral arteries, compared with a control subject who had uniform distribution of vascular radiolabeled sodium fluoride uptake. This technique also identified microcalcification in a 17-year-old patient, who had no computed tomography-defined calcification. This technique could not only detect a decrease in microcalcification score throughout the patient treated with an IL-1 antagonist but it also identified anatomic areas that had increased responsiveness while there was no change in computed tomography-defined macrocalcification after treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
This technique affords the ability to visualize spatial patterns of the active microcalcification process in the peripheral vasculature. Further, this technique affords the ability to track microcalcifications at precise locations not only across time but also across subjects. This technique is readily adaptable to other diseases of vascular calcification and may represent a significant advance in the field of vascular biology.
Topics: Humans; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography; Sodium Fluoride; Hyperphosphatemia; Fluorine Radioisotopes; Male; Female; Fibroblast Growth Factor-23; Radiopharmaceuticals; Vascular Calcification; Adult; Predictive Value of Tests; Middle Aged; Adolescent; Young Adult; Calcinosis; Hyperostosis, Cortical, Congenital
PubMed: 38660800
DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.123.320455 -
BMC Oral Health Apr 2024Root caries are prevalent issues that affect dental health, particularly among elderly individuals with exposed root surfaces. Fluoride therapy has shown effectiveness...
BACKGROUND
Root caries are prevalent issues that affect dental health, particularly among elderly individuals with exposed root surfaces. Fluoride therapy has shown effectiveness in preventing root caries, but limited studies have addressed its cost-effectiveness in elderly persons population. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a fluoride treatment program for preventing root caries in elderly persons within the context of Chinese public healthcare.
METHODS
A Markov simulation model was adopted for the cost-effectiveness analysis in a hypothetical scenario from a healthcare system perspective. A 60-year-old subject with 23 teeth was simulated for 20 years. A 5% sodium fluoride varnish treatment was compared with no preventive intervention in terms of effectiveness and cost. Tooth years free of root caries were set as the effect. Transition probabilities were estimated from the data of a community-based cohort and published studies, and costs were based on documents published by the government. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated to evaluate cost-effectiveness. Univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the influence of data uncertainty.
RESULTS
Fluoride treatment was more effective (with a difference of 10.20 root caries-free tooth years) but also more costly (with a difference of ¥1636.22). The ICER was ¥160.35 per root caries-free tooth year gained. One-way sensitivity analysis showed that the risk ratio of root caries in the fluoride treatment group influenced the result most. In the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, fluoride treatment was cost-effective in 70.5% of the simulated cases.
CONCLUSIONS
Regular 5% sodium fluoride varnish application was cost-effective for preventing root caries in the elderly persons in most scenarios with the consideration of data uncertainty, but to a limited extent. Improved public dental health awareness may reduce the incremental cost and make the intervention more cost-effective. Overall, the study shed light on the economic viability and impact of such preventive interventions, providing a scientific basis for dental care policies and healthcare resource allocation.
Topics: Aged; Humans; Middle Aged; Cariostatic Agents; China; Cost-Effectiveness Analysis; Fluorides, Topical; Markov Chains; Root Caries; Sodium Fluoride
PubMed: 38649858
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04226-5 -
Bioresources and Bioprocessing Nov 2023Microorganisms have long captivated researchers for their potential to produce enzymes with diverse industrial applications. Efficient production of proteases from new...
Microorganisms have long captivated researchers for their potential to produce enzymes with diverse industrial applications. Efficient production of proteases from new strains is crucial as these enzymes play a vital role in breaking down protein bonds, enabling their use in industrial applications. Therefore, a novel Exiguobacterium indicum 1.2.3 was isolated (Istanbul, Turkiye) and characterized in this study. This strain produced alkaline serine protease, which works in lower temperatures (20-40 °C) with casein as a specific substrate. The protease was utterly stable for 3 h at 30 °C. The enzyme was also highly stable in the pH range of 8-11. The optimum activity was obtained at pH 10. The crude enzyme activity was enhanced by various metal ions and retained 147%, 125%, 124%, and 117% of its activity within 1 mM Ca, Mn, Cu, and Mg, respectively. The crude enzyme was inactive with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, indicating a serine residue on the active side. The enzyme exhibited a significant proteolytic effect in the presence of surfactants and oxidizing agents. The addition of Tween 80, Triton X-100, and sodium perborate improved enzymatic activity up to 135%, 109%, and 105%, respectively. According to the washing results, the crude enzyme effectively removed the blood on different types of standard pre-stained textiles at 30 °C. In conclusion, Exiguobacterium indicum 1.2.3 is a promising candidate for protease production, with its diverse applications spanning various industrial sectors, particularly detergents.
PubMed: 38647920
DOI: 10.1186/s40643-023-00701-z -
Practical Laboratory Medicine Mar 2024Objectives: The objectives were to evaluate blood additives that combined lithium heparin (LH)-salt with glyceraldehyde (GLY) or d-mannose (MAN) for preserving glucose...
UNLABELLED
Objectives: The objectives were to evaluate blood additives that combined lithium heparin (LH)-salt with glyceraldehyde (GLY) or d-mannose (MAN) for preserving glucose levels in plasma samples and to simultaneously determine the compatibility of these additives with 14 other biochemical tests.
METHODS
Blood samples from 40 subjects, equally divided into healthy and diabetic groups, were collected using five different additives. The three most effective additives, LH/GLY, LH/MAN, and LH/GLY/MAN, were selected for ensuring the best preservation of glucose levels and compatibility with 14 biochemical tests. One-way analysis of variance was used to analyze the mean paired differences of glucose level and biochemical tests. Simultaneously, the clinical criteria from Johns Hopkins Hospital were used to guide the interpretation and set acceptable thresholds for measurements that exceeded the standards.
RESULTS
The combination of 160 mmol/L GLY, 8.4 mmol/L MAN, and LH, maintained glucose levels at approximately 93.4-93.7 % for healthy subjects and 91.3-92.8% for subjects with diabetes mellitus over 8 h. The mean paired differences of glucose levels in preservation were statistically insignificant. The biases in 14 biochemical tests for LH/GLY/MAN and LH/MAN remained within the acceptable clinical criteria during the 8 h.
CONCLUSIONS
Combining 160 mmol/L GLY, 8.4 mmol/L MAN, and LH, proved more effective in maintaining glucose levels than individual additives or the conventional sodium fluoride preservative. It did not yield clinical discrepancies in the 14 biochemical tests during 8 h at room temperature.
PubMed: 38623088
DOI: 10.1016/j.plabm.2024.e00388 -
Therapeutic Advances in Urology 2024Oral testosterone undecanoate (TU) formulations may provide effective, safe, and easily titratable testosterone replacement therapy.
BACKGROUND
Oral testosterone undecanoate (TU) formulations may provide effective, safe, and easily titratable testosterone replacement therapy.
OBJECTIVE
Demonstrate efficacy and safety of a novel oral TU formulation.
DESIGN
An open-label, single-arm, multi-center trial treated 155 hypogonadal men for 180 days. Treatment began at 200 mg TU twice daily with meals; doses were titrated over two 28-day cycles to between 100 and 800 mg TU daily, measuring average testosterone (T C) after 90 days. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) occurred at baseline, 120, and 180 days.
METHODS
Titrations used a randomized blood sample taken 3-, 4-, or 5-h post-morning dose. Outcomes used sodium fluoride/ethylenediaminetetraacetate plasma testosterone (T) values; serum results were also reported. Blood pressure (ABPM and in-clinic) was evaluated for change from baseline.
RESULTS
After titration, 87.8% of KYZATREX™ treated participants (worse-case scenario) and 96.1% of 90-day completers achieved eugonadal mean plasma T values. Serum T C was 452 ng/dL and maximum T concentrations (T C) met all FDA criteria. Participant eugonadal percentages were comparable across subgroups for age, weight, and body mass index. Diet had no effect on participant eugonadal percentages. KYZATREX was well tolerated, with no drug-related serious adverse events (SAE) and one adverse drug reaction (hypertension) observed in 2% or more of participants. Systolic ambulatory blood pressure increased 1.7 mmHg (95% confidence interval: 0.3-3.1). At baseline, 36% of 155 participants were receiving anti-hypertensive medication and 22% were diabetic. No dose increases occurred in existing anti-hypertensive medication; five participants (3.2%) started anti-hypertensive medication.
CONCLUSION
KYZATREX provided safe and effective testosterone levels within the normal range in hypogonadal male study participants.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ unique identifier NCT04467697, conducted under NCT03198728. Post-completion, clinicaltrials.gov requested creation of the separate NCT04467697 identifier. All subjects were recruited under NCT03198728.
PubMed: 38606384
DOI: 10.1177/17562872241241864 -
Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism Apr 2024Although F-sodium fluoride (F-NaF) uptake is frequently observed in extraosseous metastases of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) with calcification, itcan also occur in...
OBJECTIVE
Although F-sodium fluoride (F-NaF) uptake is frequently observed in extraosseous metastases of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) with calcification, itcan also occur in metastatic sites without visible calcium deposition, leading to the hypothesis that visually undetectable calcium accumulation may be responsible for this uptake. The aim of this study was to indirectly support this hypothesis by analyzing the correlation between the degree of F-NaF uptake and radiodensity in extraosseous MTC metastases, since calcium deposition can increase attenuation even when not visually detectable.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Extraosseous metastatic lesions of 15 patients with MTC were evaluated using F-NaF positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT)and segmented by levels of standardized uptake value (SUV). The correlation between mean SUV and mean Hounsfield unit (HU) values was assessed for the entire group of segments and for two subgroups with different mean HU values.
RESULTS
Very high correlations were observed between mean SUV and mean HU values for both the entire group of segments and the subgroup with a mean HU value greater than 130 (p = 0.92 and p = 0.95, respectively; p < 0.01). High correlation (p = 0.71) was also observed in the subgroup with mean HU values ranging from 20 to 130 (p < 0.01).
CONCLUSION
The findings of the present study suggest that there is an association between F-NaF uptake and calcium deposition in extraosseous metastasesof MTC, supporting the hypothesis that visually undetectable calcium accumulation may be responsible for F-NaF uptake in regions without visible calcium deposition.
Topics: Humans; Calcium; Sodium Fluoride; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; Thyroid Neoplasms
PubMed: 38602746
DOI: 10.20945/2359-4292-2023-0152 -
Journal of Clinical and Experimental... Mar 2024In cases of tooth avulsion, in which the neurovascular bundle responsible for nourishing the dental pulp is break, endodontic treatment is necessary before proceeding...
BACKGROUND
In cases of tooth avulsion, in which the neurovascular bundle responsible for nourishing the dental pulp is break, endodontic treatment is necessary before proceeding with tooth replantation. In this process, various substances have been tested in combination with calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 in an attempt to improve its effectiveness. This study aimed to examine the effects of using a mixture of Ca(OH)2 and 10% propolis, with subsequent application of ultrasonic treatment, on the delayed replantation of teeth in rats.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Twenty-four rats underwent a surgical procedure to extract the upper right incisor, leaving it on a surface to dry for one hour. The pulp and periodontal ligament were removed and the teeth were submerged in a 2% sodium fluoride acidulated phosphate solution. The canals were dehydrated using paper cones and the teeth were divided into four groups, according to the type of intracanal dressing: Ca(OH)2 group, Ca(OH)2 group with ultrasonic agitation, Ca(OH)2 and propolis group, Ca(OH)2 and propolis group with ultrasonic agitation. The root canals were irrigated with saline solution and the teeth were reimplanted. Sixty days after reimplantation, the animals were euthanized.
RESULTS
With regard to the presence of acute and chronic inflammatory infiltrate in the periodontal ligament, there was no statistically significant difference among some of the groups. Root resorption was identified in all groups, and there was no significant difference between them.
CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that the application of intracanal dressing containing Ca(OH)2 associated with 10% propolis, followed by ultrasonic agitation, did not prove to be more effective than the use of Ca(OH)2 alone in the repair process in the delayed replantation of rat teeth. Tooth replantation, Calcium hydroxide, Propolis, Ultrasound, Intracanal dressing.
PubMed: 38600932
DOI: 10.4317/jced.61036 -
Journal of Clinical and Experimental... Mar 2024To evaluate the effectiveness of Er:YAG and Nd:YAG laser on dentin hypersensitivity prevention, associated or not to acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) after erosive...
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the effectiveness of Er:YAG and Nd:YAG laser on dentin hypersensitivity prevention, associated or not to acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) after erosive challenge.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
104 specimens were obtained from bovine dentine and divided into groups (n=13): G1: Er:YAG; G2: Er:YAG followed by application of APF; G3: application of APF followed by Er:YAG, simultaneously; G4: Nd:YAG; G5: Nd:YAG followed by application of APF; G6: application of APF followed by Nd:YAG, simultaneously; G7:application of APF; G8: untreated. The parameters for Er:YAG were:10s, distance of 4mm, water cooling flow of 2mL/min, 2Hz, 3.92J/cm2. For the Nd:YAG: 10s, distance of 1mm, without cooling, 10Hz, 70.7J/cm2. The erosive drink was a cola at 4°C, 3×/day for 1 minute, for 5 days. Roughness and wear analysis were done in confocal laser microscope. Data were statistically analyzed (α=0.05).
RESULTS
As regards roughness, there was no statistically difference among the groups. The groups irradiated with Er:YAG had a volume loss lower. G6 showed higher values than the groups irradiated with Er:YAG and lower than the other groups. The other groups irradiated with Nd:YAG showed similar wear results to the control.
CONCLUSIONS
The Er:YAG laser showed the lowest volume loss from wear analysis, suggesting the increased the acid resistance of dentin. Dentine sensitivity, Lasers, Sodium fluoride.
PubMed: 38600924
DOI: 10.4317/jced.60945