Chemical analysis of wetland plants to evaluate the bioaccumulation and metabolism of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH).

Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH) belong to the banned pesticides with short-time production and use during the last century. However, the consequences of this short period are still present as persistent environmental contamination. This study represents the large lab-scale experiment focused on the HCH accumulation and metabolism in selected wetland plants (Juncus effuses, Typha latifolia, Phragmites australis) and trees (Alnus glutinosa) after the exposure to the technical mix of HCH isomers (t-HCH) or δ-HCH at three different concentration.

Assessing HCH isomer uptake in Alnus glutinosa: implications for phytoremediation and microbial response.

Although the pesticide hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and its isomers have long been banned, their presence in the environment is still reported worldwide. In this study, we investigated the bioaccumulation potential of α, β, and δ hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers in black alder saplings (Alnus glutinosa) to assess their environmental impact. Each isomer, at a concentration of 50 mg/kg, was individually mixed with soil, and triplicate setups, including a control without HCH, were monitored for three months with access to water.

Biodiversity in wetland+ system: a passive solution for HCH dump effluents.

The hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCH) are long-banned pesticides. Even though their use has been prohibited for decades, their presence in the environment is still reported worldwide. Wetland + is a registered trademark of the remedial treatment technology consisting of an aerobic sedimentary tank, a permeable reactive barrier, a biosorption system, and an aerobic wetland.

Levels of retinol and retinoic acid in pancreatic cancer, type-2 diabetes and chronic pancreatitis.

Aims: Retinoids participate in multiple key processes in the human body e.g., vision, cell differentiation and embryonic development.

Influence of delta-hexachlorocyclohexane (δ-HCH) to Phytophthora ×alni resistant Alnus glutinosa genotypes - Evaluation of physiological parameters and remediation potential.

Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) are persistent organochlorine pesticides with the adverse effects on human health and the environment. The effect of delta-isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane (δ-HCH) on germination, growth parameters and physiological parameters was studied in different Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.

Early stage biofilm formation on bio-based microplastics in a freshwater reservoir.

Bio-based plastics (BP) produced from renewable biomass resources, such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polylactic acid (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), is currently increasing in terms of both products and applications. However, their biodegradability and environmental fate are not yet fully understood, especially in freshwaters. Here, we present the results of an in-situ study in a freshwater reservoir, where we submerged HDPE, PLA and PHBV microscale BP (mBP) in dialysis bags to enable exchange of small organic and inorganic molecules, including nutrients, with the surrounding water.

Pancreatic stellate cells - rising stars in pancreatic pathologies.

Pluripotent pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) receive growing interest in past decades. Two types of PSCs are recognized -vitamin A accumulating quiescent PSCs and activated PSCs- the main producents of extracellular matrix in pancreatic tissue. PSCs plays important role in pathogenesis of pancreatic fibrosis in pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.

Novel biochemical markers for non-invasive detection of pancreatic cancer.

To identify non-invasive biomarkers of non-metastatic pancreatic cancer (PC), the blood from 186 patients (PC n=28; DM-diabetes mellitus n=60; ChP-chronic pancreatitis n=47; healthy controls n=51) was analyzed for 58 candidate biomarkers. Their effectiveness to identify PC was compared with CA19-9. Panel defined by Random-forest (RF) analysis (CA19-9, AAT, IGFBP2, albumin, ALP, Reg3A, HSP27) outperforms CA19-9 in discrimination of PC from DM (AUC 0.

The Application of Active Biomonitoring with the Use of Mosses to Identify Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in an Atmospheric Aerosol.

The use of biological indicators of environmental quality is an alternative method of monitoring ecosystem pollution. Various groups of contaminants, including organic ones, can be measured in environmental samples. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have not yet been determined by the moss bag technique.

Fecal Microbial Transplantation versus Mesalamine Enema for Treatment of Active Left-Sided Ulcerative Colitis-Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background And Aims: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease. Fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) is a promising alternative treatment.

Methods: This multicenter, open-label, noninferiority trial randomized patients with active left-sided UC (Mayo score 4-10) equally to FMT or 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) enemas.

Discovering the potential of an nZVI-biochar composite as a material for the nanobioremediation of chlorinated solvents in groundwater: Degradation efficiency and effect on resident microorganisms.

Abiotic and biotic remediation of chlorinated ethenes (CEs) in groundwater from a real contaminated site was studied using biochar-based composites containing nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI/BC) and natural resident microbes/specific CE degraders supported by a whey addition. The material represented by the biochar matrix decorated by isolated iron nanoparticles or their aggregates, along with the added whey, was capable of a stepwise dechlorination of CEs. The tested materials (nZVI/BC and BC) were able to decrease the original TCE concentration by 99% in 30 days.

CT colonography has low sensitivity but high specificity in the detection of internal hemorrhoids.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of computed tomography colonography (CTC) in the detection of internal hemorrhoids.

Methods: Three gastroenterologists systematically reported on the presence of internal hemorrhoids in patients with incomplete colonoscopy, for whom they considered a subsequent CTC. For 44 patients with internal hemorrhoids revealed by optical colonoscopy, an age- and gender-matched cohort of 66 patients with normal findings in the rectum was selected.

[Rare manifestation of CMV infection - circular stenosis of the stomach].

This article reports a case of a female patient who presented with epigastric pain. Further investigations confirmed CMV infection as a cause of stenosing gastric ulcer. In this case treatment with a proton pump inhibitor and antivirotic treatment led to a full recovery.

Microbiota, Microbial Metabolites, and Barrier Function in A Patient with Anorexia Nervosa after Fecal Microbiota Transplantation.

The change in the gut microbiome and microbial metabolites in a patient suffering from severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (AN) and diagnosed with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome (SIBO) was investigated. Microbial gut dysbiosis is associated with both AN and SIBO, and therefore gut microbiome changes by serial fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a possible therapeutic modality. This study assessed the effects of FMT on gut barrier function, microbiota composition, and the levels of bacterial metabolic products.

Chemical oxidation and reduction of hexachlorocyclohexanes: A review.

Lindane (γ-hexachlorocyclohexane) and its isomers (HCH) are some of the most common and most easily detected organochlorine pesticides in the environment. The widespread distribution of lindane is due to its use as an insecticide, accompanied by its persistence and bioaccumulation, whereas HCH were disposed of as waste in unmanaged landfills. Unfortunately, certain HCH (especially the most reactive ones: γ- and α-HCH) are harmful to the central nervous system and to reproductive and endocrine systems, therefore development of suitable remediation methods is needed to remove them from contaminated soil and water.

Do multiple body modifications alter pain threshold?

In recent years, epidemiological data has shown an increasing number of young people who deliberately self-injure. There have also been parallel increases in the number of people with tattoos and those who voluntarily undergo painful procedures associated with piercing, scarification, and tattooing. People with self-injury behaviors often say that they do not feel the pain.

Accumulation and toxicity of organochlorines in green microalgae.

Toxicity of mine dump effluent containing five hexachlorocyclohexane (α, β, γ, δ and ε-HCH, sum 159.4 μg/L) and two trichlorobenzene (TCB, sum 65.2 μg/L) isomers to two microalgae (Scenedesmus quadricauda and Coccomyxa subellipsoidea) was studied over 24 h exposure and also with 2- and 10-fold diluted stock solution (i.

A study of the reaction of ferrate with pentachlorophenol - kinetics and degradation products.

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a persistent pollutant which has been widely used as a pesticide and a wood preservative. As PCP is toxic and is present in significant quantities in the environment, there is considerable interest in elimination of PCP from waters. One of the promising methods is the application of ferrate.

Osteopontin as a discriminating marker for pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.

Introduction: We analyzed concentrations of osteopontin (OPN) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in order to determine firstly whether it is useful to distinguish between PDAC patients and those with chronic non-hereditary pancreatitis (CP) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and secondly whether OPN concentrations depend on the PDAC stage.

Methods: Groups consisting of 64 patients with PDAC, 71 with CP, 67 with T2DM and 48 healthy controls (CON) were enrolled in the study. Controls were compared with regard to levels of OPN, oxidative stress markers, conventional tumor markers and other biochemical parameters.

Chronic pancreatitis and the composition of plasma phosphatidylcholine fatty acids.

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is an irreversible inflammatory disorder characterized by the destruction of both exocrine and endocrine tissue. There is growing evidence that dysregulation of fatty acid (FA) metabolism is connected with many diseases; however, there are few data concerning FA composition in CP. Therefore, we analyzed FA profiles in plasma phosphatidylcholines in 96 patients with CP and in 108 control subjects (CON).

[The evolution of knowledge about the inflammatory bowel diseases].

Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis has affected people for many centuries however its incidence most likely used to be very low. The knowledge of the idiopathic intestinal inflammation at that time was also very limited - an interest about the disease has emerged since the second half of 19th century. Despite all the progress in medicine its etiology still remains unclear.

Degradability of chlorophenols using ferrate(VI) in contaminated groundwater.

The production and use of chlorophenolic compounds in industry has led to the introduction of many xenobiotics, among them chlorophenols (CPs), into the environment. Five CPs are listed in the priority pollutant list of the U.S.

Remediation of hexachlorocyclohexanes by electrochemically activated persulfates.

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers represent a family of formerly widely utilized pesticides that are persistent, capable of undergoing long-range transport and tend to bioaccumulate in human and animal tissue. Their widespread global utilization coupled with a propensity to adversely impact human health and the environment translates into an urgent need to develop feasible methodologies by which to treat HCH-impacted groundwater and soil. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of two persulfate-based oxidants: peroxydisulfate (S2O8 (2-), PDS) and peroxymonosulfate (HSO5 (-), PMS) activated by electrochemical processes (EC) to treat HCH-impacted environmental media.

Degradability of hexachlorocyclohexanes in water using ferrate (VI).

Regarding environmental pollution, the greatest public and scientific concern is aimed at the pollutants listed under the Stockholm Convention. These pollutants are not only persistent but also highly toxic with a high bioaccumulation potential. One of these pollutants, γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH), has been widely used in agriculture, which has resulted in wide dispersion in the environment.