Assessment of heavy metals accumulation by vegetables irrigated with different stages of textile wastewater for evaluation of food and health risk.

Wastewater irrigation for vegetable cultivation is greatly concerned about the presence of toxic metals in irrigated soil and vegetables which causes possible threats to human health. This study aimed to ascertain the accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in edible parts of vegetables irrigated with different stages of textile dyeing wastewater (TDW). Bio-concentration factor (BCF), Estimated daily intake (EDI), and target hazard quotient (THQ) were computed to estimate human health risks and speculate the hazard index (HI) of adults and children with the consumption of HMs contaminated vegetables at recommended doses.

Proposal of a novel protocol using estimated cardiac index fractional dose to improve aortic contrast enhancement for early-phase dynamic CT.

Maximum aortic computed tomography value (CTV) is difficult to control because of variations in cardiac function and patient physique. Therefore, to improve early-phase aortic enhancement on dynamic computed tomography (CT), we developed an estimated cardiac index fractional dose (eciFD). The eciFD protocol is a novel and original protocol for administering fractional dose (FD), representing the amount of iodine per unit body weight per injection duration, based on cardiac index (cardiac output divided by body surface area) as estimated by age in early-phase dynamic CT.

Blue light irradiation increases the relative abundance of the diatom Nitzschia palea in co-culture with cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa.

Lake eutrophication is associated with cyanobacterial blooms. The pennate diatom Nitzschia palea (N. palea) inhibits the growth of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa (M.

Efficient cesium encapsulation from contaminated water by cellulosic biomass based activated wood charcoal.

In this study, cost-effective cellulosic biomass based activated wood charcoal was developed from Japanese Sugi tree (Cryptomeria japonica) by concentrated nitric acid modification for adsorption of Cs from contaminated water. The physicochemical properties of specimens were investigated using N adsorption-desorption isotherms (BET method), FESEM, FTIR, and XPS spectra analysis. The experimental results revealed that the surface area of the raw wood charcoal was significantly decreased after boiling nitric acid modification.

EGFR mutation genotyping and ALK status determination in liquid-based cytology samples of non-small cell lung cancer.

Personalised medicine for primary lung cancers (PLCs) requires molecular analysis of cancer tissue or cells. The primary objective of the present prospective study was to assess the concordance between epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation detection and echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like (EML) 4-anaplastic lymphoma kinase protein (ALK) expression using liquid-based cytology (LBC) samples and matched histology samples of PLC patients. A total of 117 patients who underwent surgical resection of non-small cell PLC were enrolled.

Effective removal of cesium from wastewater solutions using an innovative low-cost adsorbent developed from sewage sludge molten slag.

This study investigates the effective removal of cesium (Cs) from aqueous solution using sewage sludge molten (SSM) slag that has undergone the surface modification with alkali (NaOH) hydrothermal treatment. The raw and modified slags were characterised systematically using the BET method, the FESEM, the XRF, the XRD spectroscopy and the CEC analysis to understand the physicochemical changes of the materials, and its sensitivity to Cs ions adsorption. Batch adsorption experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of adsorbent dose, contact time, solution pH, different initial Cs concentrations, temperature and the effect of competitive ions on Cs adsorption.

Antioxidant Responses of Vallisneria asiatica to Eutrophic Sediments in Lake Taihu, China.

Three kinds of representative sediments were obtained from a macrophyte-dominated bay (East Lake Taihu) and two algae-dominated regions (Western Lake Taihu and Meiliang Bay). Physiological responses of Vallisneria asiatica to these sediments were compared. Results from 20 days exposures showed no obvious differences in malondialdehyde (MDA) in roots, while the MDA content in leaves of plants exposed to Western Lake Taihu sediment was significantly (p<0.

Inhibitory effect of metal ions on the poly-phosphate release from sewage sludge during thermal treatment.

The purpose of this study was aimed at identifying the influence of metal cations such as Mg2+, Ca2+, Al3+ and Fe3+ on poly-phosphate (poly-P) and total phosphate (T-P) release from sewage sludge collected from wastewater treatment plant during thermal treatment at 70 degrees C for 80 min. With the addition of chelating reagent such as EDTA, release of poly-P and T-P was improved obviously during thermal treatment. Inhibitory effect of metal cations on phosphorus release was apparent by adding metal cations into sludge sample.

Occurrence and distribution of microcystins in Lake Taihu, China.

The occurrence and distribution of microcystins were investigated in Lake Taihu, the third largest lake in China. An extensive survey, larger and broader in scale than previous studies, was conducted in summer 2010. The highest microcystin concentration was found at southern part of Taihu, which was newly included in this survey.

Sporadic TP53 transition mutations in chronic cholecystitis are possibly linked to gallbladder carcinogenesis.

Background/aim: Gallbladder cancers are well known to frequently exhibit TP53 as well as K-ras gene mutations. This study performed a TP53 gene investigation by PCR-SSCP and direct sequencing using both bile supernatants and tissue samples from cholecystectomy specimens lacking gallbladder cancer, in order to investigate gallbladder carcinogenesis.

Materials And Methods: Eighteen out of 294 cases, mainly of cholecystitis, were extracted by screening SSCP of bile supernatants for TP53 mutations, and investigation of their tissue samples both SSCP and direct sequencing.

Genetic alterations of K-ras may reflect prognosis in stage III colon cancer patients below 60 years of age.

Purpose: Genetic alterations that are closely associated with patient prognosis can be landmarks of definitive therapeutic targets as well as useful biomarkers in human cancer clinics.

Methods: Three hundred seventy-eight colorectal cancer (CRC) patients were examined for K-ras mutations by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), with a subsequent 144 young colon cancer (YCC) patients added to validate its prognostic significance.

Results: K-ras mutations were identified in 161 (43%) of the 378 CRC patients and were significantly associated with tumor location (colon vs.

Endogenous gonadal hormones regulate females' behavioral responses to formalin through prostaglandin E2 release.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine if endogenous gonadal hormones affect the intracellular mechanisms in the spinal cord that control inflammatory pain responses.

Methods: We analyzed behavioral responses to, and changes in, serum levels of prostaglandin E2, estradiol, progesterone, and corticosterone after administration of 5% formalin in intact and ovariectomized (OVX) female rats.

Results: OVX females displayed significantly more flinching than did intact females during Phase I, and after formalin administration their corticosterone levels were significantly lower.

Acute and chronic estradiol replacements differentially alter corticosterone and COX-mediated responses to an inflammatory stimulus in female rats.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine whether the previously reported differential effects of estradiol on inflammation-induced behavioral responses are in part explained through differential activation of the corticosterone-cyclooxygenase (CORT-COX) regulatory pathway.

Methods: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), COX, and CORT levels were analyzed before and after a formalin administration (1% vs. 5%, representing different intensities of inflammatory stimuli).

[Hemipelvectomy, constant surgical dilema].

Introduction: In this report we present our experience in "post war" environment in our institution. Any king of pelvic surgery is challenging and impacts significantly on limb and visceral function. Any surgeon has to ask a question "is heroic surgery justifiable".

[Treatment of gunshot wounds and prevention of complications during the healing process].

Introduction: The objective of the research is the assessment of the way and results of a case-series of treatment of gunshot wounds and to remain of the requirement of complete wound treatment in peace time.

Materials And Methods: During the period from 1997 to 2006, we treated 60 patients who had penetrating gunshot wounds. The case series included 12 female and 48 male patients ranging in ages from 18 to 71 years (average age 37 years).

Effect of rotifers on the stability of aerobic granules.

The current study evaluated the effect of rotifers on the stability of aerobic granules. Two sequence batch reactors (SBRs) with airflow rates of 4 (R1) and 6 (R2) 1 min(-1), respectively, were used to develop aerobic granules. Granules were well developed with excellent settleability in terms of SVI30 (sludge volume index,) of about 50 ml g(-1) in both reactors at the beginning.

Comparison of nutrient removal efficiency between pre- and post-denitrification wastewater treatments.

A shortage of organic substances (COD) may cause problems for biological nutrient removal, that is, lower influent COD concentration leads to lower nutrient removal rates. Biological phosphorus removal and denitrification are reactions in which COD is indispensable. As for biological simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal systems, a competition problem of COD utilisation between polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) and non-polyphosphate-accumulating denitrifiers is not avoided.

Aerobic granular sludge: a promising technology for decentralised wastewater treatment.

In order to evaluate the characteristics of aerobic granular sludge, a sequencing batch reactor, feeding with synthetic wastewater at the organic loading rate of 8 kg COD/m3 d, was employed on the laboratory scale. Granules occurred in the reactor within 1 week after the inoculation from conventional flocculent sludge. Aerobic granular sludge was characterised by the outstanding settling properties and considerable contaminates removal efficiencies.

Effect of particulate biodegradable COD in a post-denitrification enhanced biological phosphorus removal system.

This research studied the effects of the particulate biodegradable fraction (X(S)) of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in a post-denitrification configuration. Denitrifying polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (DN-PAOs) and nitrifiers were completely separated in a system also known as Dephanox. It was composed by an anaerobic-anoxic (A(2)) process coupled with a parallel Nitrification biofilm tank.

Estradiol and progesterone differentially regulate formalin-induced nociception in ovariectomized female rats.

Clinical and preclinical studies have found sex-specific differences in the discrimination and perception of inflammatory stimuli. The emerging picture suggests that the biological basis of these differences resides in the regulatory activity of gonadal hormones in the central nervous system. This study describes the effects of ovarian hormones in inflammatory pain processes.

The role of female gonadal hormones in behavioral sex differences in persistent and chronic pain: clinical versus preclinical studies.

Clinical and preclinical studies have found sex-specific differences in the discrimination and perception of nociceptive stimuli. This article reviews the current literature concerning the biological basis of sex differences in the behavioral response to persistent inflammatory and chronic pain stimuli. The emerging picture from both clinical and preclinical studies suggests that the basis of these differences in nociceptive responses to such stimuli resides in the regulatory activity of gonadal hormones in the central nervous system.

Estradiol administration mediates the inflammatory response to formalin in female rats.

Female rats demonstrate higher pain sensitivity than do males in various nociceptive assays of inflammation. In the present study, we found that estradiol (20%) replacement in ovariectomized rats attenuated the chronic phase of the formalin response but only at high formalin concentrations thought to rely on peripheral inflammation. An inactive isomer of estradiol, alpha-estradiol, failed to result in the same attenuation (P > 0.