1-Octanol/Water Partition Coefficients of n-Alkanes from Molecular Simulations of Absolute Solvation Free Energies.

The 1-octanol/water partition coefficient is an important thermodynamic variable usually employed to understand and quantify the partitioning of solutes between aqueous and organic phases. It finds widespread use in many empirical correlations to evaluate the environmental fate of pollutants as well as in the design of pharmaceuticals. The experimental evaluation of 1-octanol/water partition coefficients is an expensive and time-consuming procedure, and thus, theoretical estimation methods are needed, particularly when a physical sample of the solute may not yet be available, such as in pharmaceutical screening.

Comparison of methods for estimating glomerular filtration rate in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury.

Background: In critically ill patients with acute kidney injury, estimates of kidney function are used to modify drug dosing, adjust nutritional therapy and provide dialytic support. However, estimating glomerular filtration rate is challenging due to fluctuations in kidney function, creatinine production and fluid balance. We hypothesized that commonly used glomerular filtration rate prediction equations overestimate kidney function in patients with acute kidney injury and that improved estimates could be obtained by methods incorporating changes in creatinine generation and fluid balance.

Treatment and kinetic modelling of a simulated dye house effluent by enzymatic catalysis.

Biocatalytic treatment of a synthetic dye house effluent, simulating a textile wastewater containing various reactive dyestuffs (Reactive Yellow 15, Reactive Red 239 and Reactive Black 5) and auxiliary chemicals, was investigated in a batch reactor using a commercial laccase. A high decolourisation (above 86%) was achieved at the maximum wavelength of Reactive Black 5. The decolourisation at the other dyes wavelengths (above 63% for RY15 and around 41% for RR239) and the total decolourisation based on all the visible spectrum (around 55%) were not so good, being somewhat lower than in the case of a mixture of the dyes (above 89% for RB5, 77% for RY15, 68% for RR239 and above 84% for total decolourisation).

Discontinuation of continuous renal replacement therapy: a post hoc analysis of a prospective multicenter observational study.

Objectives: To describe current practice for the discontinuation of continuous renal replacement therapy in a multinational setting and to identify variables associated with successful discontinuation. The approach to discontinue continuous renal replacement therapy may affect patient outcomes. However, there is lack of information on how and under what conditions continuous renal replacement therapy is discontinued.

Endoscopic follow-up of cyanoacrylate obliteration of gastric varices.

Bleeding from gastric varices is a life-threatening condition. We report our experience with cyanoacrylate injection. Twenty three patients with portal hypertension and gastric varices underwent intra-variceal injection of a cyanoacrylate/lipiodol solution (1:1).

Temperature and solvent effects in the solubility of some pharmaceutical compounds: Measurements and modeling.

In this work, pure solvent solubilities of drugs, such as paracetamol, allopurinol, furosemide and budesonide, measured in the temperature range between 298.2-315.2K are presented.

A comparison of observed versus estimated baseline creatinine for determination of RIFLE class in patients with acute kidney injury.

Background: The RIFLE classification scheme for acute kidney injury (AKI) is based on relative changes in serum creatinine (SCr) and on urine output. The SCr criteria, therefore, require a pre-morbid baseline value. When unknown, current recommendations are to estimate a baseline SCr by the MDRD equation.

Timing of renal replacement therapy and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with severe acute kidney injury.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between timing of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in severe acute kidney injury and clinical outcomes.

Methods: This was a prospective multicenter observational study conducted at 54 intensive care units (ICUs) in 23 countries enrolling 1238 patients.

Results: Timing of RRT was stratified into "early" and "late" by median urea and creatinine at the time RRT was started.

Solubilities of biologically active phenolic compounds: measurements and modeling.

Aqueous solubilities of natural phenolic compounds from different families (hydroxyphenyl, polyphenol, hydroxybenzoic, and phenylpropenoic) were experimentally obtained. Measurements were performed on tyrosol and ellagic, protocatechuic, syringic, and o-coumaric acids, at five different temperatures (from 288.2 to 323.

Optimisation of reactive dye degradation by laccase using Box-Behnken design.

A three-level Box-Behnken factorial design with three factors and the Response Surface Methodology were used to optimise the colour removal of the reactive textile dye, Colour Index (C.I.) reactive red 180, by commercial laccase.

Renal recovery following acute kidney injury.

Purpose Of Review: Renal recovery after acute kidney injury (AKI) is an important outcome, most commonly defined as dialysis independence at hospital discharge. This review focuses on the epidemiology of renal recovery after AKI and provides a framework for determining the relationship of a lack of renal recovery and subsequent outcomes including the development of chronic kidney disease.

Recent Findings: The majority of studies addressing renal recovery includes only critically ill patients requiring dialysis and considers renal recovery as dialysis independency at hospital discharge.

Temporal cortex direct current stimulation enhances performance on a visual recognition memory task in Alzheimer disease.

Several studies have reported that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive method of neuromodulation, enhances some aspects of working memory in healthy and Parkinson disease subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of anodal tDCS on recognition memory, working memory and selective attention in Alzheimer disease (AD). Ten patients with diagnosis of AD received three sessions of anodal tDCS (left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left temporal cortex and sham stimulation) with an intensity of 2 mA for 30 min.

Modeling the discoloration of a mixture of reactive textile dyes by commercial laccase.

Degradation of a mixture of three reactive textile dyes (Reactive Black 5, Reactive Yellow 15 and Reactive Red 239), simulating a real textile effluent, by commercial laccase, was investigated in a batch reactor. The discoloration was appraised as a percentage of the absorbance reduction at the wavelength of maximum absorbance for each dye and as total color removal based in all visible spectrum. A significantly high discoloration was achieved in both cases, indicating the applicability of this method for textile wastewater treatment.

Application of statistical experimental methodology to optimize reactive dye decolourization by commercial laccase.

Three-level Box-Behnken factorial design with three factors (pH, temperature and enzyme concentration) combined with response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the dye degradation of reactive red 239 (RR239), reactive yellow 15 (RY15) and reactive blue 114 (RB114) dyes by commercial laccase. Mathematical models were developed for each dye showing the effect of each factor and their interactions on colour removal. The model predicted for RY15 that a decolourization above 90% (after 24h) could be obtained when the enzyme concentration, temperature and pH were set at 109.

[Canaliculitis: case report and management].

Canaliculitis is a rare infection of the lacrimal canaliculus with Actinomyces israelii as its most common etiologic agent. The objective of this paper is to report a rare pathology, as well as its clinical and surgical management. Female patient, 44 years old, presenting clinical manifestations compatible with canaliculitis, was submitted to surgical treatment preserving the lacrimal punctum.

Ionic liquids as alternative co-solvents for laccase: study of enzyme activity and stability.

The activity and stability of commercial laccase (DeniLite base) in three different water soluble ionic liquids (ILs) (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium 2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethylsulfate, [emim][[MDEGSO4], 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate, [emim][EtSO4], and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate, [emim][MeSO3]) have been studied and compared to that in two organic solvents (acetonitrile and dimethyl sulfoxide). Initial enzyme activities were similar among the ILs if the same conditions were used. A high reduction on initial enzyme activity was found with acidic pH (5.

"On the Collander equation": protein partitioning in polymer/polymer aqueous two-phase systems.

Distribution coefficients of randomly selected proteins were measured in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) formed by different combinations of Dextran-75 (Dex), Ficoll-70, polyethylene glycol-8000 (PEG), hydroxypropyl starch-100 (PES), and Ucon50HB5100 (Ucon, a random copolymer of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol) at particular polymer concentrations, all containing 0.15M NaCl in 0.01 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.

Impact of mild acute kidney injury (AKI) on outcome after open repair of aortic aneurysms.

Recently, mild AKI has been considered as a risk factor for mortality in different scenarios. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the risk factors for two distinct definitions of AKI after elective repair of aortic aneurysms. Logistic regression was carried out to identify independent risk factors for AKI (defined as $25% or $50% increase in baseline SCr within 48 h after surgery, AKI 25% and AKI 50%, respectively) and for mortality.

DeltaG(CH2) as solvent descriptor in polymer/polymer aqueous two-phase systems.

Phase diagrams were determined for aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) formed by different paired combinations of Dextran (Dex-75), Ficoll-70, polyethylene glycol (PEG-8000), hydroxypropyl starch (PES-100), and Ucon50HB5100 (a random copolymer of ethylene glycol and propylene glycol) all containing 0.15M NaCl in 0.01M phosphate buffer, pH 7.

Transcranial direct current stimulation of the prefrontal cortex modulates the desire for specific foods.

We aimed to assess whether modulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLFPC) with noninvasive brain stimulation, namely transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), modifies food craving in healthy subjects. We performed a randomized sham-controlled cross-over study in which 23 subjects received sham and active tDCS (anode left/cathode right and anode right/cathode left) of the DLPFC. Subjects were exposed to food and also watched a movie of food associated with strong craving.

The mood variation in mothers of preterm infants in Kangaroo mother care and conventional incubator care.

Preterm babies are more prone to develop disorders and so require immediate intensive care. In the conventional neonatal intensive care, the baby is kept in the incubator, separated from the mother. Some actions have been taken in order to make this mother-child separation less traumatic.

Knowledge of stroke among a Brazilian urban population.

Knowledge of the population in regards to stroke has clinical and epidemiological importance. Prompt identification of the symptoms means efficient medical attendance within the window of therapeutic opportunities reducing significantly the morbidity-mortality. Our aim was to evaluate the level of knowledge of the population of Teresina (PI) concerning factors of risk, symptoms and treatment of stroke.