Structural Effects of Aluminum and Iron Occupancy in Minerals of the Jarosite-Alunite Solid Solution.

The alunite supergroup of minerals contains several hydroxysulfate mineral phases that commonly occur in acidic natural and engineered environments. The main division of the mineral supergroup defines two minerals, jarosite and alunite, based on the relative structural occupancy by Al or Fe, respectively. However, intermediate members of the jarosite-alunite solid solution have not been extensively characterized, especially in the environment.

Microplastics attenuation from surface water to drinking water: Impact of treatment and managed aquifer recharge - and identification uncertainties.

River water can be used to recharge aquifers exploited for drinking water production. Several recent studies reported microplastics (MPs) in river water, and therefore, the potential contamination of groundwater by MPs is a growing concern among stakeholders and citizens. In this research, we investigate the fate of MPs (> 20 μm) along six different stages of a major Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR)-water supply system in Switzerland.

Co-design of a cancer nutrition care pathway by patients, carers, and health professionals: the CanEAT pathway.

Purpose: Limited practical resources exist to guide optimal nutrition care for patients, carers, and health professionals (HPs). This study aimed to co-design a cancer nutrition care pathway to guide and improve the provision of consistent, evidence-based care with consumers and HPs.

Methods: This study utilised an experienced-based co-design (EBCD) approach over five stages.

Ingested nano- and microsized polystyrene particles surpass the intestinal barrier and accumulate in the body.

Plastic pollution is a major global challenge of our times, baring a potential threat for the environment and the human health. The increasing abundance of nanoplastic (NP) and microplastic (MP) particles in the human diet might negatively affect human health since they - particularly in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) - might surpass the intestinal barrier. To investigate whether ingested plastic particles cross the intestinal epithelium and promote bowel inflammation, mice were supplemented with NP or MP polystyrene (PS) particles for 24 or 12 weeks before inducing acute or chronic dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) colitis with continuous plastic administration.

Systematic Review of Safety and Efficacy of Second- and Third-Generation CD20-Targeting Biologics in Treating Immune-Mediated Disorders.

Background: B cells can contribute to immune-mediated disorders. Targeting CD20 has proved to be efficacious in several B cell-mediated immunopathologies, as illustrated by the use of rituximab, the first anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Following rituximab, second- and third-generation anti-CD20 mAbs have been developed and tried in immune-mediated diseases, including obinutuzumab, ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, ublituximab, and veltuzumab.

Testing the bioaccumulation potential of manufactured nanomaterials in the freshwater amphipod Hyalella azteca.

Standardized experimental approaches for the quantification of the bioaccumulation potential of nanomaterials in general and in (benthic) invertebrates in particular are currently lacking. We examined the suitability of the benthic freshwater amphipod Hyalella azteca for the examination of the bioaccumulation potential of nanomaterials. A flow-through test system that allows the generation of bioconcentration and biomagnification factors was applied.

Systematic Review of Safety and Efficacy of Atacicept in Treating Immune-Mediated Disorders.

Biological agents (also termed biologics or biologicals) play a growingly central role in the treatment of immunological diseases. However, the numerous studies published on biologics complicate the decision on the most appropriate biologic for a given disease. We aim to address this problem by publishing a series of systematic reviews evaluating the safety and efficacy of B cell-targeting biologics for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases.

Systematic Review of Safety and Efficacy of Rituximab in Treating Immune-Mediated Disorders.

During the past years biologic agents (also termed biologicals or biologics) have become a crucial treatment option in immunological diseases. Numerous articles have been published on biologicals, which complicates the decision making process on the use of the most appropriate biologic for a given immune-mediated disease. This systematic review is the first of a series of articles assessing the safety and efficacy of B cell-targeting biologics for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases.

Clinical and radiographic course of early undifferentiated arthritis under treatment is not dependent on the number of joints with erosions at diagnosis: results from the Swiss prospective observational cohort.

Objective: To analyse whether early arthritis patients who do not fulfil the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) 2010 classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a different course of the disease dependent on whether they can or cannot be classified as RA because of radiographic disease (EULAR task force) at diagnosis.

Methods: For this observational study within the Swiss RA cohort SCQM, we included patients with early undifferentiated arthritis (disease duration ≤1 year), who had not received any previous disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria negative patients were separated into two groups (radiographic vs non-radiographic arthritis) depending on whether or not they had radiographic changes defined as erosive disease by a EULAR task force (≥3 joints with erosions).

Risks, Release and Concentrations of Engineered Nanomaterial in the Environment.

For frequently used engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) CeO-, SiO-, and Ag, past, current, and future use and environmental release are investigated. Considering an extended period (1950 to 2050), we assess ENMs released through commercial activity as well as found in natural and technical settings. Temporal dynamics, including shifts in release due to ENM product application, stock (delayed use), and subsequent end-of-life product treatment were taken into account.

Does addition of glucocorticoids to the initial therapy influence the later course of the disease in patients with early RA? Results from the Swiss prospective observational registry (SCQM).

The main goal of this study was to analyse whether initial addition of glucocorticoid to DMARD therapy influences the long-term course of the disease in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. All patients from the Swiss RA cohort SCQM with recent-onset arthritis (disease duration ≤1 year) were analysed. The exposure of interest was the use of glucocorticoids (GCs) at baseline.

No Impact of Body Mass Index on Outcome in Stroke Patients Treated with IV Thrombolysis BMI and IV Thrombolysis Outcome.

Background And Purpose: The impact of excess body weight on prognosis after stroke is controversial. Many studies report higher survival rates in obese patients ("obesity paradox"). Recently, obesity has been linked to worse outcomes after intravenous (IV) thrombolysis, but the number and sample size of these studies were small.

Fate of Ag-NPs in Sewage Sludge after Application on Agricultural Soils.

The objective of this work was to investigate the fate of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in a sludge-amended soil cultivated with monocot (Wheat) and dicot (Rape) crop species. A pot experiment was performed with sludges produced in a pilot wastewater treatment plant containing realistic Ag concentrations (18 and 400 mg kg(-1), 14 mg kg(-1) for the control). Investigations focused on the highest dose treatment.

Transformation of AgCl nanoparticles in a sewer system--A field study.

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NP) are increasingly used in consumer products and their release during the use phase may negatively affect aquatic ecosystems. Research efforts, so far, have mainly addressed the application and use of metallic Ag(0)-NP. However, as shown by recent studies on the release of Ag from textiles, other forms of Ag, especially silver chloride (AgCl), are released in much larger quantities than metallic Ag(0).

Novel tetrahydropyran-based bacterial topoisomerase inhibitors with potent anti-gram positive activity and improved safety profile.

Novel antibacterial drugs that are effective against infections caused by multidrug resistant pathogens are urgently needed. In a previous report, we have shown that tetrahydropyran-based inhibitors of bacterial type II topoisomerases (DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV) display potent antibacterial activity and exhibit no target-mediated cross-resistance with fluoroquinolones. During the course of our optimization program, lead compound 5 was deprioritized due to adverse findings in cardiovascular safety studies.

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of freshwater biofilms stabilize and modify CeO2 and Ag nanoparticles.

Streams are potential receiving compartments for engineered nanoparticles (NP). In streams, NP may remain dispersed or settle to the benthic compartment. Both dispersed and settling NP can accumulate in benthic biofilms called periphyton that are essential to stream ecosystems.

The new 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria as predictor of clinical and radiographic response in patients with early arthritis.

New American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) criteria for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have recently been proposed. The aim of this cohort study was to examine whether fulfilling these 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria at the first visit has an impact on the clinical course and on the radiographic progression of the disease. For this observational cohort study, we included patients from the Swiss RA registry SCQM with early RA or undifferentiated arthritis (UA, disease duration ≤1 year), as defined by the treating rheumatologist, who had not received any previous disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

Toward a comprehensive and realistic risk evaluation of engineered nanomaterials in the urban water system.

The European COoperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action ES1205 on the transfer of Engineered Nano materials from wastewater Treatment and stormwatEr to Rivers (ENTER) aims to create and to maintain a trans European network among scientists. This perspective article delivers a brief overview on the status quo at the beginning of the project by addressing the following aspects on engineered nano materials (ENMs) in the urban systems: (1) ENMs that need to be considered on a European level; (2) uncertainties on production-volume estimations; (3) fate of selected ENMs during waste water transport and treatment; (4) analytical strategies for ENM analysis; (5) ecotoxicity of ENMs, and (6) future needs. These six step stones deliver the derivation of the position of the ES1205 network at the beginning of the projects runtime, by defining six fundamental aspects that should be considered in future discussions on risk evaluation of ENMs in urban water systems.

Development and validation of a French Canadian version of the Falls Behavioral (FaB) Scale.

Purpose: To develop a French Canadian version of the Falls Behavioral (FaB) Scale and examine its psychometric properties.

Methods: The FaB was adapted in French Canadian (FaB-FC) and validated according to standard guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation of questionnaires. The internal consistency and construct validity of the FaB-FC were studied among 64 community-dwelling adults aged 60 and over.

Noninvasive functional neurosurgery using transcranial MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound.

Unlabelled: Transcranial magnetic resonance imaging-guided focused ultrasound (tcMRgFUS) is a novel technique to supplement the spectrum of established neurosurgical interventions. In contrast to traditional ablative procedures, tcMRgFUS is noninvasive and entirely imaging-guided with continuous temperature measurements at and around the target in real time. It has no trajectory restrictions and does not involve ionizing radiation.

Uptake of fluoride from aqueous solution on nano-sized hydroxyapatite: examination of a fluoridated surface layer.

Hydroxyapatite (Ca(10)(PO(4))(6)(OH)(2), HAP), both as a synthetic material and as a constituent of bone char, can serve as an effective and relatively inexpensive filter material for fluoride (F(-)) removal from drinking water in low-income countries. Fluoride uptake on HAP can occur through different mechanisms, which are, in principle, influenced by solution composition. Suspensions of HAP (2 g L(-1)) were equilibrated under controlled pH conditions (pH 6.

Parkinsonism: heterogeneity of a common neurological syndrome.

Parkinsonism refers to a neurological syndrome embracing bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, tremor at rest and impaired postural reflexes, and involving a broad differential diagnosis. Having ruled out secondary causes (most importantly drugs), distinguishing levodopa-responsive idiopathic parkinson's disease (PD) from chiefly treatment-resistant and hence atypical parkinsonism is essential. Recent clinico-pathological studies using data-driven approaches have refined the traditional classifications of parkinsonism by identifying a spectrum of subtypes with different prognoses.

In situ ESEM observation of melting silver and Inconel on an Al(2)O(3) powder bed.

A hot stage in an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) was used for in situ infiltration experiments. Pressureless infiltration of a porous Ti-activated Al(2)O(3) preform has been investigated at temperatures up to 1530 degrees C under two atmospheres (He and H(2)O((g))). A brief description of the operating and the experimental set-up is given.

Value of sensory examination in predicting bladder function in patients with T12-L1 fractures and spinal cord injury.

Objective: To determine whether early sensory examination, voluntary anal sphincter contraction, or bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) might predict bladder function in patients with a spinal fracture at the thoracolumbar level.

Design: Longitudinal study of consecutive patients admitted to a spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation center.

Setting: Primary care center, university facility in Switzerland.