Despite their potential risks to human health and the environment at ng/L to μg/L concentrations, there has been relatively little effort to measure trace organic compounds (TOrCs) in surface waters of Central America. The concentrations of eighteen TOrCs detected at eleven surface water sites in the Lempa River basin of El Salvador and four sources of drinking water for the cities of San Salvador, Antiguo Cuscatlán, Soyapango, and Santa Tecla are reported here. All samples were analyzed via liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe inadequate osseointegration of titanium implants remains a significant challenge in orthopedics, limiting the long-term efficacy of prostheses and medical devices. It has been determined that biological aging of the titanium surface compromises the implant-bone tissue interaction due to increased hydrophobicity and accumulation of organic molecules. To address this issue, an innovative strategy has been proposed: the biofunctionalization of Ti6Al4V surfaces utilizing biomass derived from UTEX 1230 and sp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGastrointestinal motility disturbances are a hallmark of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, their mechanisms remain unclear. This study used a dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mouse model, deficient in mature B and T lymphocytes, to assess intestinal motility and the role of the adaptive immune system in health and IBD. In healthy mice, the absence of adaptive lymphocytes reduced acetylcholine (ACh) sensitivity in the ileum.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCarboxymethylated derivatives of pullulan (PU) were synthesized and evaluated as coating for the postharvest preservation of blueberries. Carboxymethylpullulan was obtained by etherification reaction with the substitution degrees of 0.52, 0.
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