Influence of steel slag content on the mechanical and hydraulic properties of compacted silt-bentonite mixtures.

The reuse of by-products has become increasingly important as a means of minimising the consumption of natural resources and reducing waste disposal. This study examines the potential reuse of steel slag for soil stabilisation, with benefits such as conserving natural resources and mitigating the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of conventional stabilising agents. It focuses on evaluating the effect of pozzolanic reactions on the strength and stiffness of both loess silt and silt-bentonite mixtures.

Metformin exposure during pregnancy and lactation affects offspring's long-term body weight and adipose tissue mass independent of the maternal metabolic state.

The increasing prevalence of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and gestational diabetes (GDM) among pregnant women has risen dramatically worldwide. The antihyperglycemic drug metformin is the most common drug for T2DM treatment in non-pregnant individuals; nevertheless, it is increasingly being used for diabetes-complicated pregnancies. Studies on the long-term metabolic effects of this drug in offspring remain scarce.

12-month substance use disorders among first-year university students in Kenya.

Objectives: The period of entry into university represents one of vulnerability to substance use for university students. The goal of this study is to document the 12-month prevalence of substance use disorders among first year university students in Kenya, and to test whether there is an association between substance use disorders and mental disorders.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional online survey conducted in 2019 and 2020 as part of the World Health Organization's World Mental Health International College Student (WMH-ICS) survey initiative.

Neuronal progenitors of the dentate gyrus express the SARS-CoV-2 cell receptor during migration in the developing human hippocampus.

The COVID-19 pandemic spread around the world is due to the enormous capacity of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus to be transmitted between humans, causing a threat to global public health. It has been shown that the entry of this virus into cells is highly facilitated by the presence of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in the cell membrane. Currently, we have no precise knowledge of how this receptor expresses in the brain of human fetus and, as a consequence, we do not know how susceptible the neural cells in the developing brain are to being infected through the vertical transmission of this virus, from mother to fetus.

Probiotics for children with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition (PruSAM study): A randomized controlled trial in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) contributes to nearly 1 million deaths annually worldwide, with diarrhea and pneumonia being the common morbidity associated with mortality.

Objectives: To assess the effect of probiotics on diarrhea, pneumonia, and nutritional recovery in children with uncomplicated SAM.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted involving 400 children with uncomplicated SAM randomly assigned to ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) either with (n = 200) or without (n = 200) probiotics.

PIPs from Fragaria vesca: A structural analysis of native and mutated protein.

Aquaporins are an ancient family of membrane channel proteins present in all eukaryotes and most prokaryotes, and apart from water, allow the transport of neutral solutes and organic compounds through the pore. These proteins are essential role differentially expressed during ripening in Fragaria vesca fruits. Fv PIP2-1a is intensively expressed in fruits, inclusive several other proteins member are differentially expressed in fruit but also in other plant tissues.

Handling of New Drug Safety Information in the Dutch Hospital Setting: A Mixed Methods Approach.

Introduction: The implementation of new drug safety information and Direct Healthcare Professional Communications (DHPCs) in hospitals is important for patient safety.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to gain insight into which procedures and practices are in place to handle new drug safety information and particularly DHPCs in the Dutch hospital setting.

Methods: We first conducted focus groups including medical specialists and hospital pharmacists, focusing on handling of drug safety information at the individual and organisational level.

Overview of the European post-authorisation study register post-authorization studies performed in Europe from September 2010 to December 2018.

Background: The European post-authorisation study (EU PAS) register is a repository launched in 2010 by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). All EMA-requested PAS, commonly observational studies, must be recorded in this register. Multi-database studies (MDS) leveraging secondary data have become an important strategy to conduct PAS in recent years, as reflected by the type of studies registered in the EU PAS register.

Combination of platelet-rich plasma and stromal vascular fraction on the level of transforming growth factor-β in rat subjects experiencing deep dermal burn injury.

Introduction: The combination of stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is effective at increasing the concentration of growth factors including transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). The increase in this growth factor is expected to accelerate the healing of burns. This study aims to determine the effect of giving a combination of SVFs and PRP on TGF-β levels in the healing process of deep dermal burns.

Introduction or Discontinuation of Additional Risk Minimisation Measures During the Life Cycle of Medicines in Europe.

Introduction: Additional risk minimisation measures (aRMMs) may be required to minimise important risks of medicines. aRMMs may be required at the time of authorisation, but may also be introduced or discontinued during the product life cycle as new safety information arises. The aim of this study is to describe post-authorisation introductions of new aRMMs and discontinuations of existing aRMMs for medicines authorised in the European Union (EU).

Bladder stones associated with vesicovaginal fistula: A case report.

Introduction: The presentation of bladder stones is the most common manifestation of a lower urinary tract stone. In severe cases, it can cause pressure necrosis and lead to vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF). This case reports a female patient diagnosed with a bladder stone accompanied by VVF.

Environmental application of basic oxygen furnace slag for the removal of heavy metals from leachates.

Industrial waste is a major environmental concern nowadays, stimulating the thorough study of the minimization and recycling of solid wastes and of the containment and treatment of liquid contaminants. Basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag, a solid waste from the steel industry, has been found to be effective in the removal of heavy metals. However, this has not been applied so far in low permeability barriers, such as those used as bottom liners in landfills.

Cysticidal activity of praziquantel-mebendazole combination: In vitro and in vivo studies.

The current pharmacological treatment of neurocysticercosis is based on two drugs, praziquantel (PZQ) and albendazole; however, suboptimal efficacy has been documented. Previous studies, have documented the activity of mebendazole (MBZ) against Taenia sp, and its capability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Considering this information and in an effort to search other options for neurocysticercosis treatment, the present study was designed to assess the in vitro and in vivo activity of the PZQ-MBZ combination against Taenia crassiceps metacestodes.

Description of the Risk Management of Medication Errors for Centrally Authorised Products in the European Union.

Introduction: Medication errors can have serious consequences for patients. To prevent the occurrence of medication errors in clinical practice, safety concerns may be included in the risk management plan and subsequently be addressed with routine and/or additional risk minimisation measures.

Objective: This study aims to describe safety concerns around medication errors and the risk minimisation measures for centrally authorised products in the European Union.

EU postmarket surveillance plans for medical devices.

Purpose: Recent public health safety issues involving medical devices have led to a growing demand to improve the current passive-reactive postmarket surveillance (PMS) system. Various European Union (EU) national competent authorities have started to focus on strengthening the postmarket risk evaluation. As a consequence, the new EU medical device regulation was published; it includes the concept of a PMS Plan.

Measuring the impact of the 2012 European pharmacovigilance legislation on additional risk minimization measures.

Aims: Additional risk minimization measures (aRMMs) may be needed to ensure that the benefits continue to outweigh the risks for medicines associated with serious risks. Prior research showed an increasing trend in medicines with aRMMs. We assessed whether the European pharmacovigilance legislation may have impacted the number and type of aRMMs.

Design and validation of a tool for the evaluation of the quality of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: SIEVCA-CPR 2.0®.

Introduction: Currently, no system completely evaluates the quality of cardio pulmonary resusciation.

Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective, longitudinal study using Delphi methodology was performed in three phases: preparatory, consultation and consensus. The validation was made by a prospective longitudinal study using the tool in the evaluation of 11 videos to determine the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and the intra-subject (ICC-Initial), the latter repeated at four weeks (ICC-Final).

Feasibility of electronic nose technology for discriminating between head and neck, bladder, and colon carcinomas.

Electronic nose (e-nose) technology has the potential to detect cancer at an early stage and can differentiate between cancer origins. Our objective was to compare patients who had head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with patients who had colon or bladder cancer to determine the distinctive diagnostic characteristics of the e-nose. Feasibility study An e-nose device was used to collect samples of exhaled breath from patients who had HNSCC and those who had bladder or colon cancer, after which the samples were analyzed and compared.

Technical and economic evaluation of biogas capture and treatment for the Piedras Blancas landfill in Córdoba, Argentina.

Unlabelled: Landfill gas (LFG) management is one of the most important tasks for landfill operation and closure because of its impact in potential global warming. The aim of this work is to present a case history evaluating an LFG capture and treatment system for the present landfill facility in Córdoba, Argentina. The results may be relevant for many developing countries around the world where landfill gas is not being properly managed.

Phytotherapy management: a new intervention for nursing intervention classification.

Unlabelled: We present a new nurse intervention: "Phytotherapy Management," which has been accepted by the editorial board of the Nursing Interventions Classification for inclusion in the 7th edition of the Nursing Intervention Classification. This could have implications for nursing practice and research.

Methodology: Content analysis, extensive search in the literature.

Cu(II) and Zn(II) adsorption capacity of three different clay liner materials.

Sorption of Cu(II) and Zn(II) on three natural clays meeting the international requirements for use as liners was evaluated by means of batch tests. The purpose of this research was to determine the retention capacities of the clays for metal cations commonly present in urban solid waste leachates. The pH and ionic strength conditions were set at values frequently found in real leachates.

Hydraulic conductivity of compacted soils controlled by microbial activity.

The hydraulic conductivity defines the displacement of liquids inside porous media and affects the fate and transport of contaminants in the environment. In this research the influence of microbial growth and decay inside soil pores on hydraulic conductivity is analysed. Long-term tests performed in silt-bentonite mixtures permeated with distilled water and a nutrients solution demonstrated that hydraulic conductivity of compacted silt-bentonite samples decreases with time of permeation as a bioclogging mechanism develops.

Potential use of calcareous mudstones in low hydraulic conductivity earthen barriers for environmental applications.

Earthen layers play a significant role in isolating contaminants in the subsurface, controlling the migration of contaminant plumes, and as landfill liners and covers. The physical, chemical and mineralogical properties of three calcareous mudstones from the Jagüel and Roca formations in North Patagonia, Argentina, are evaluated to determine their potential for the construction of liners. These mudstones were deposited in a marine environment in the Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene.

Unexpected long-term survival in a BRCA2 patient with metastatic carcinosarcoma associated with tamoxifen.

► This report concerns a long survival of a BRCA2 patient with a relapsing uterine carcinosarcoma. ► Rarity of long survivorship in relapsing carcinosarcoma is confirmed by literature review. ► BRCA2 status plus platinum-hypersensitivity as contributors for the favorable outcome, even if carcinosarcoma doesn't belong to the BRCA1/2 phenotype.