Search Results (3,000)

Background: Osteoporosis is common in transplant recipients, and fracture risk is high. Standard treatment is with anti-resorptive medications. Despite high fracture rates, there are limited data on the use of anabolic bone therapies in transplant recipients. Aim: To evaluate skeletal outcomes after treatment with romosozumab for 12 months in heart and lung transplant recipients. Methods: Retrospective analysis of transplant recipients who completed 12 months of romosozumab treatment at a single centre. Results: Six transplant recipients completed 12 months of romosozumab treatment, commenced after a median of 3 years post transplant (range 2–20). Four patients (66%) were still receiving prednisolone treatment at the time of starting romosozumab. All patients had a history of fracture and had previously received anti-resorptive therapy (4 with zoledronate, 2 with denosumab for >2 years). Following completion of romosozumab treatment, all patients were consolidated with zoledronate or denosumab. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured prior to and after completion of romosozumab treatment. The median baseline lumbar spine (LS) T-score was −2.3 SD (range −3.1 to +0.9) and total femur T-score was −2.2 SD (range −2.9 to −1.6). Most (5/6) patients experienced an increase in BMD at the LS (median change +7.1%). Most (5/6) patients did not experience clinically significant change in total femur BMD, apart from one patient who experienced a 9% gain. Three patients (50%) experienced subsequent fractures during (1/3) or after completing (2/3) romosozumab treatment. Conclusions: These cases demonstrate severe osteoporosis in transplant recipients. Most patients in our case series had improvement in LS BMD following romosozumab treatment, yet new fractures still occurred during follow-up. The appropriate use of romosozumab in heart and lung transplant patients with osteoporosis requires further study. Full article

Background: This investigation focused on the influence of collagen on the integrity of the Schneiderian membrane during maxillary sinus augmentation in a rabbit model. The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between membrane integrity and bone regeneration in augmented maxillary sinuses using collagenated and non-collagenated grafts, through detailed histological and histomorphometric analyses. Methods: In this forward-looking, randomized, split-mouth design, bilateral maxillary sinus augmentation was conducted on 12 rabbits. One sinus was filled with deproteinized bovine bone material (DBBM) as the grafting material (non-collagenated; control), while a combination of DBBM particles integrated with 10% porcine-derived type I collagen was used in the contralateral sinus (collagenated; test). Histological analyses were carried out following healing periods of 2 and 12 weeks. Results: At the 2-week time point, six sites of thinned mucosa (<40 µm) and no perforations were observed in the collagenated group, while twenty-one thinned mucosa sites (p = 0.027 between test and control) and two perforations (p = 0.175 between test and control) were found in the non-collagenated group. After 12 weeks of healing, the number of sites with thinned mucosa was 20 in the collagenated group and 19 in the non-collagenated group, with four perforations observed in each group. These perforations were distributed across three sinuses in the collagenated group and two sinuses in the non-collagenated group. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups. Conclusions: The addition of 10% collagen to deproteinized bovine bone mineral initially provided protection against mucosal thinning and perforation after 2 weeks of healing. However, by week 12, this protective effect diminished, resulting in similar rates of mucosal thinning and perforations in both groups. Full article

A new and efficient low-temperature chlorination-roasting–acid-leaching uranium process was proposed to solve the problems of low leaching efficiency, since the leaching residue does not meet the discharge standard in the traditional nitric acid leaching-uranium tailings process, compared with conventional chlorination roasting. XRD, SEM, particle size analysis, and other analytical methods were used to characterize and analyze the phase transformation and structural changes in the roasting process of uranium-containing tailings. An investigation was conducted to elucidate the influence of roasting temperature, NaCl addition, and roasting time on the leaching efficiency of uranium. Compared with conventional chlorination roasting, microwave chlorination roasting can effectively destroy the gangue mineral structure of dissolved slag; the surface cracks of uranium tailings increase, and the particle size is smaller, so that the uranium element is fully exposed, thereby improving the leaching effect. Because microwave heating has the characteristics of selective heating and rapid heating, when the microwave-roasting power is 2000 W, the sample only needs 12 min to be heated to optimal roasting temperature, which is 8 min shorter than the conventional heating time, and the leaching rate of uranium is further improved. In the microwave roasting experiment, the roasting temperature is set to 250 °C, roasting time is 90 min, and addition amount of NaCl is 25 wt % of the tailings mass. Under the optimal roasting conditions, the leaching rate of uranium is 94.84%. Full article

Climate warming affects the carbon cycle in terrestrial environments. However, the effects of warming on the change rate of soil organic carbon (SOC) content in forest soils are unclear. Here, we extracted 276 data points from 98 published papers to examine the effects of warming on the change rate of SOC content in the soil mineral profile (0–20 or 0–30 cm), focusing on the regulatory effects of warming magnitude and duration and the humidity index. Warming promoted an increase in SOC content from 67.47 to 69.90 g kg⁻¹ in forest soils, with a change rate of SOC content of 0.85 g kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹ on a global scale. The change rate of SOC content decreased from 1.22 to 0.11 g kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹ at a warming magnitude of 0–2 and >2 °C, respectively, and it changed from 0.96 to −0.81 to −0.51 g kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹ at warming durations of 0–5, 5–10, and >10 years, respectively. The change rate of SOC content was higher at a humidity index value of 30–50 than at 0–30 and >50. Although climate warming increases the SOC content, the change rate of SOC content decreases with increased magnitude and duration of warming but increases with an increased humidity index. These findings help elucidate SOC accumulation in the context of climate change. Full article

To address the problems of low leaching efficiency and the fact that the uranium content in leaching residue is higher than the emission standard in the traditional nitric acid leaching uranium tailing and uranium extraction process, the experimental study of low-temperature chlorination roasting and nitric acid leaching was carried out. The effects of roasting temperature, NaCl addition, and roasting time on uranium leaching rate were investigated, and the morphological structure change and phase transformation of roasted minerals were analyzed. After the low-temperature roasting of sodium chloride, the mineral structure was obviously destroyed, the structure became loose, the voids and microcracks increased, and the size of tailing particles decreased. This is mainly due to the reaction of NaCl with metal compounds in minerals. However, when the sodium chloride is excessive, the formation of hydrogen chloride will promote the formation of new compounds, such as Na₂Pb₂O₇ and Zr₇O₉F₁₀, and form a secondary coating of uranium, resulting in a decrease in the leaching rate. The optimum process conditions of chlorination roasting are as follows: a roasting temperature 250 °C, a 20% addition of NaCl to the tailing mass, a roasting time of 120 min, and a uranium leaching rate of 93.38%. Compared with traditional nitric acid leaching, the leaching rate of uranium increased by 16.64%. Full article

In this investigation, metronidazole was degraded in an aqueous solution through electro-oxidation. A DiaClean^® cell was used to accommodate a stainless-steel electrode as a cathode and a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode as anode. This setup provides several electrochemical advantages, including low currents, a high operational potential, and, frequently, low adsorption compared to conventional carbon materials. The physicochemical parameters were estimated after 180 min of treatment, applying different current densities. The concentration of metronidazole was monitored by HPLC to assess degradation, resulting in 30.67% for 30 mA cm⁻², 79.4% for 50 mA cm⁻², and 100% for 100 mA cm⁻². The TOC mineralization percentages were 12.71% for 30 mA cm⁻², 14.8% for 50 mA cm⁻², and 29.9% for 100 mA cm⁻². Also, biodegradability indices of 0.70 for 30 mA cm⁻², 0.81 for 50 mA cm⁻², and 0.93 for 100 mA cm⁻² were obtained. The byproducts found were formic acid and acetic acid. A pseudo-first order kinetic model was thus obtained due to the quasi-stable concentration achieved through hydroxyl radicals, given that they do not accumulate in the medium, due to their high rate of destruction and short lifespan. Full article

With the implementation of bone substitute materials, regeneration strategies have inevitably evolved over the years. Histomorphometry is the optimal means of quantitative evaluation of bone structure and morphology. This systematic review focuses on determining study models, staining methods and histomorphometric parameters used for bone regeneration research on non-decalcified plastic-embedded specimens over the last 10 years. After being subjected to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 118 studies were included in this review. The results establish the most commonly selected animal model is rat, followed by rabbit, sheep and dog. Strong preference for staining samples with toluidine blue was noted. With regard to histomorphometric parameters, terms related to bone were most frequently assessed, amounting to almost half of recorded parameters. New bone formation was the main descriptor of this category. Residual bone graft and non-bone tissue parameters were also often evaluated. With regard to dynamic histomorphometry, mineral apposition rate (MAR) was the parameter of choice for most researchers, with calcein green being the preferred dye for fluorochrome labelling. An overview of the contemporary literature, as well as weaknesses in the current research protocols have been discussed. Full article

This research examines the possibility of the washing process as a supplementary operation after extensive extended physical separation sequences for processed incinerator bottom ash (pr.IBA), which is the mineral fraction resulting from conventional separation operation of municipal solid waste (MSW) incinerator bottom ash (IBA) in Germany. Citric acid is employed as the only primary treatment agent in several variations of parameter combinations. It includes the type of solvent, washing duration, acid concentration, liquid-to-solid ratio, and introduction of external agitation (stirring and heating). The analysis results revealed that the concentration of copper, zinc, and manganese in the mineral phase of pr.IBA can be reduced by the citric acid washing process. The most significant change is observed in the zinc content, where a reduction of up to 50% is successfully achieved. In contrast, the silicon concentration is relatively unaffected during citric acid washing, but a concentration decrease is detected for calcium. The aluminum and iron contents in the studied fraction of pr.IBA are also soluble in citric acid solution, although the rates are expected to be exceptionally slow. In this instance, stirring and heating over a prolonged washing duration are necessary before a decrease in their concentration can eventually occur. Full article

Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae), is one of the most devastating pests in citrus orchards due to its role in transmitting Huanglongbing (HLB). Currently, chemical control remains the most effective strategy for ACP management. Mineral oils are commonly used as insecticides or adjuvants in integrated pest management (IPM) practices. To extend the product life of synthetic pesticides, we evaluated the toxicity of chlorpyrifos (CPF), thiamethoxam (THX), or pyriproxyfen (PPF) mixed with mineral oil Lvying (LY) against ACP nymphs under different weather conditions. Individual application of CPF, THX, and PPF effectively controlled against ACP nymphs under no rain conditions, with mortality rates varying from 20 to 100% during 1–5 d after treatment. The addition of LY at 1.0% or 0.5% rates to CPF, THX, and PPF significantly enhanced their control efficacy, achieving sustained mortality rates from 60 to 100% during the same period. Light rain had less impact on the control efficacy of these insecticide mixtures compared to individual insecticides. However, cumulative rainfall above 20 mm significantly reduced the control efficacy of individual insecticides and their mixtures. The addition of LY decreased both surface tension and contact angle of THX solution on citrus leaves, thereby enhancing the solution’s wetting and increasing THX deposition. Moreover, the rainfastness of THX was improved after adding LY, leading to a greater retention on the leaves. LY at a rate of 1.0% exhibited excellent efficacy against ACP nymphs, and observations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that LY altered ACP mouthpart morphology and blocked spiracles, likely contributing to its insecticidal effects. This study revealed that mineral oils can serve as both insecticides to combine with synthetic pesticides for enhancing toxicity against ACP and as adjuvants to facilitate the deposition and rainfastness of synthetic pesticides on leaves, which could be recommended for sustainable ACP management in citrus orchards. Full article

Cyanobacteria, ubiquitous phototrophic prokaryotes, can enhance soil fertility and crop productivity by promoting biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate dissolution, and mineral release. In this study, five nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria were isolated and purified from paddy soil in Jilin Province. The effects of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria on soil fertility and rice seedling growth were examined through a pot experiment to clarify their growth and nitrogen-fixing characteristics. The results showed that the application of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria led to a significant increase in soil nitrogen content. GD2 and GD8 have the highest nitrogenase activity, at 75.33 U·mg⁻¹ and 50.34 U·mg⁻¹, respectively. It also enhanced the activities of urease, sucrase, phosphatase, and catalase in rice soil. In addition, it significantly promoted root development and plant height in rice plants. The total number of microorganisms in rice soil increased by 133–366%. Remarkably, the Desmonostoc muscorum GD2 strain was found to exhibit higher growth state indicators, including the growth curve, chlorophyll content, carbon and nitrogen content, and biomass accumulation, compared to other algae strains. The total nitrogen content of rice leaves treated with GD2 increased by 48.73%, and the soluble protein content increased by 52.89%. GD2 has great potential as an excellent nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria inoculant for rice, suitable for agricultural production. In conclusion, the application of these nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria significantly increased soil nitrogen levels and activated key enzyme activities involved in plant nitrogen metabolism. Moreover, it improved nitrogen utilization rates and promoted plant growth. Full article

The aim of this review is to analyze natural substances exhibiting antibacterial and antifungal activity against skin pathogens, along with their exemplary applications in cosmetic products. Growing concerns related to increasing infection rates and pathogen resistance have prompted the search for alternative therapeutic methods. This article discusses various natural products, derived from plants, animals, and minerals, with antimicrobial potential. Special attention is given to the antimicrobial efficacy of natural substances derived from Allium L., Salvia L., Lavandula L., Origanum L., Melaleuca alternifolia., Aloe vera, Black Cumin, and Trigonella L. in improving treatment outcomes, either alone or in combination with conventional medications. In addition, the presented natural products, such as propolis, honey, cosmetic mud, and clays, can serve as viable alternatives or complementary treatments for mild skin infections and may help prevent recurrence. The promising potential of these natural products encourages further research into discovering new antimicrobial agents. However, the lack of standardization of natural preparations can result in inconsistent therapeutic effects and unforeseen side effects. This review significantly contributes to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries by emphasizing the potential of natural products and highlighting the need for further research and regulatory measures to ensure their safe and effective integration with existing therapies. Full article

The presented study investigated the possibility of using the Acinetobacter johnsonii MC5 strain, isolated from raw sewage by the enrichment culture method, in the bioremediation of soil contaminated with selected NSAIDs, i.e., ibuprofen (IBF), diclofenac (DCF), and naproxen (NPX), using the bioaugmentation technique. The degradation potential of A. johnsonii MC5 was first evaluated using a mineral salt medium containing drugs as the only sources of carbon and energy. The results show that the strain MC5 was capable of utilizing the tested compounds in medium, indicating that the drugs might be metabolically degraded. IBF and NPX were degraded with a similar rate and DT50 values were determined to be approximately 5 days, while the degradation process for DCF was slower, and the DT50 value was about 5 times higher (22.7 days) compared to those calculated for IBF and NPX. Bioaugmentation of non-sterile soil with A. johnsonii MC5 increased the rate of disappearance of the tested drugs, and DT50 values decreased 5.4-, 3.6-, or 6.5-fold for IBF, DCF, or NPX, respectively, in comparison with the values obtained for the soil with indigenous microorganisms only. The obtained results suggest that A. johnsonii MC5 may have potential for use in bioremediation of NSAID-contaminated soils; however, detailed studies are needed before using this strain in such process on a larger scale. Full article

With increasingly severe cyanobacterial blooms, the overflow of off-flavor compounds represented by geosmin (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) is becoming a global water quality issue. The UV photo-electrochemical process is considered an environmentally friendly technology for GSM and 2-MIB degradation. In this study, a kinetics model using the pseudo-first-rate constants for the elimination of GSM and 2-MIB was developed in the UV photo-electrochemical process. The model can be applied successfully to predict the degradation of GSM and 2-MIB under different electrolyte concentrations, initial pH values of the solutions, and current densities. The GSM and 2-MIB degradation rates improved with increases in the electrolyte concentration. With an increase in the pH value from 5 to 11, the rate constants for the degradation of GSM and 2-MIB were reduced by 52.9% and 69.5%, respectively. The degradation of GSM and 2-MIB showed positive correlations with the current density in the kinetic model. Furthermore, the significant roles of HO• and Cl• were evaluated by scavenging experiments and kinetics modeling. HO• was the dominant radical for GSM degradation, and Cl• played a crucial role in 2-MIB elimination. The results demonstrate that the UV photo-electrochemical process could be an efficient way for the mineralization of off-flavor compounds. Full article

One of the main strategies for improving the efficiency of agricultural production is the use of fertilisers with slow or controlled release of nutrients, in which the granules of mineral fertilisers are covered with polymeric shells. The composition of the polymer coatings of mineral fertiliser granules with slow or controlled release of two widespread manufacturers and their ability to adsorb some heavy metal ions on their surface were examined in this study. It was found that the base polymers used to encapsulate the fertilisers studied are the co-polymer polyethylene–polyacrylic acid in the Brand A, and polyacrylamide, polyacrylic acid, and its esters in the Brand B fertiliser coating. The maximum adsorption rate of heavy metal ions on the surface of the polymer coatings with the rest of the mineral filler of Brand A and Brand B fertilisers was 54.64 and 28.90 mg/g for Cd(II) ions, 30.77 and 14.03 mg/g for Pb(II) ions, respectively. Therefore, the solution to the problem of increasing the efficiency of agricultural production through the use of fertilisers with slow or controlled release of nutrients leads to environmental pollution by microplastics remaining in the soil after fertiliser application, which are also capable of adsorbing from the soil various toxic pollutants. Full article

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), including ionizing radiation treatment, are increasingly recognized as an effective method for the degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Nabumetone (NAB), a widely used NSAID prodrug, poses an environmental risk due to its persistence in aquatic ecosystems and its potential toxicity to non-target organisms. In this study, the radiolytic degradation of NAB was investigated under different experimental conditions (dose rate, radical scavenging, pH, matrix effect), and the toxicity of its degradation products was evaluated. NAB was rapidly degraded at 300 Gy with prolonged irradiation. Mineralization of about 88% of NAB solutions was observed based on the evaluation of total organic carbon (TOC). The most efficient degradation of NAB occurred under N₂O conditions, while it was retarded in the presence of thiourea. The water matrix components had a significant influence on the efficiency of degradation. In addition, the main degradation products were identified by LC-HRMS. Toxicity studies on different bacteria showed no significant impact of the NAB degradation products, while in silico predictive methods revealed their slightly increased toxicity compared to the parent compound, but considerably lower toxicity in comparison to its main active form 6-methoxy-2-naphthylacetic acid (MNA). Additionally, significantly lower toxicities are predicted for degradation products in N₂O saturated solution. These results underline the importance of optimizing irradiation parameters for effective degradation and minimizing the formation of harmful by-products. Understanding all aspects of the AOP processes and the toxicological effects of the degradation products ensures effective mitigation of potential environmental and health risks of water treatment processes. Full article