Application of biosurfactants in enhanced oil recovery ex-situ: a review.

With a growing focus on environmentally friendly solutions, biosurfactants derived from plants or microorganisms have gained attention for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) applications. Biosurfactants offer several advantages over existing options, including biodegradability, low toxicity, availability of raw materials, resistance to harsh reservoir conditions, and improved water/oil interfacial tension reduction. Different organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and plants, can produce these natural surfactants.

Fabrication of Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional High-Resolution Binder-Free Graphene Circuits Using a Microfluidic Approach for Sensor Applications.

In this study, a simple microfluidic method, which can be universally applied to different rigid or flexible substrates, was developed to fabricate high-resolution, conductive, two-dimensional and three-dimensional microstructured graphene-based electronic circuits. The method involves controlled and selective filling of microchannels on substrate surfaces with a conductive binder-free graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) solution. The ethanol-thermal reaction of GNP solution at low temperatures (∼75 °C) prior to microchannel filling (preheating) can further reduce the GNP andprovide a homogeneous GNP solution, which in turn enhances conductivity, reduces sheet resistance (∼0.

On the Theory of the Sphygmograph.

Many debates have already taken place on the reliability of the results obtained by means of sphygmographs. The following remarks may contribute to clarify some still unsettled points.

Remarks on Scientific Applications of Photography.

It is undisputed that all scientific knowledge proceeds from sense perception. And the way in which sense perception is fostered by the graphic arts generally, and in particular by photography (stereoscopy included), likewise needs no further explanation here.

Genito-urinary fistula patients at Bugando Medical Centre.

Background: Information was collected on 1500 obstetric fistula patients attending Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Objectives: To identify high risk populations of fistula patients treated from 1998-2006.

Design: A prospective description study of 1294 patients treated for urine and faecal incontinence at BMC.

[Relationship between the intima-media complex thickness, the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, and the level of C-reactive protein in gouty patients].

Aim: To estimate a relationship between the intima-media thickness (TIM), cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors, and the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) in gouty patients.

Subjects And Methods: Eighty-nine patients at an interattack interval were examined. The patients' mean age was 46.

[Clinical implication of assessment of heart rate variability in patients with psoriatic arthritis].

Aim: To evaluate clinical significance of heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Material And Methods: HRV was investigated by means of time-domain analysis of 24 h ECG ambulatory recording in 113 PsA (70 female) patients < 55-years-old and 65 age-matched healthy subjects. We assessed the presence of standard cardiovascular risk factors, performed carotid and femoral ultrasound with measurement of intima-medial thickness (IMT) in PsA patients.

[Cardiovascular risk in psoriatic arthritis].

Aim: To evaluate cardiovascular risk in psoriatic arthritis (PA).

Material And Methods: The examination covered 61 PA patients (52.9% females) aged 30-55 years and 45 controls without inflammatory and degeneratory diseases matched by gender, age and body mass.

[Clinical significance of the assessment of cardiac rhythm variability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

The study included 128 patients below 55 years of age with confirmed diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 30 age and sex-matched healthy volunteer comprising the control group. They were examined for clinical manifestations and severity of RA, cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, body mass index (BMI), blood lipid level), and serum inflammation markers. Intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured in common carotid arteries by duplex scanning.

[Endothelial dysfunction in scleroderma systematica: clinicopathogenetic correlations].

Aim: To evaluate disturbances of vascular tonicity regulation in scleroderma systematica (SS) patients using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) with calculation of amplitude-frequency blood flow fluctuations (variability) basing on the mathematical model wavelet-transformation.

Material And Methods: The trial included 101 patients with verified SS aged 21-60 years (mean 52.3 years, 97 females).

[Subclinical and clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis in antiphospholipid syndrome].

Aim: To evaluate intima-media complex (IMC) thickness in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome in terms of clinical-laboratory manifestations and thrombosis risk factors.

Material And Methods: The trial included 206 patients (57 males and 149 females, age 16-59, mean age 35.9 years).

Autologous progenitor cell implantation as a novel therapeutic intervention for ischaemic digits in systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: The effects of local stem cell implantation on clinical and functional characteristics of peripheral vascular disease were studied in two SSc patients with non-healing ischaemic ulcers.

Methods: The local injections of CD34(+) cells from peripheral blood (PB) after mobilization by G-CSF (Case 1) and bone marrow (BM) (Case 2) were used for ischaemic skin ulcers in hands, while mononuclear cells (MNCs) were implanted in lower extremities of the same patients. Ischaemic status was evaluated by measuring ulcer healing, Raynaud's condition score (RCS), visual analogue pain, RP and ulcer scales.

[Significance of bone marrow endothelial progenitor cells in disturbance of angiogenesis and endothelial dysfunction in systemic scleroderma].

The study is aimed to investigate the process of endothelial repair related to endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in systemic sclerosis (SS), and analyze the role of EPC abnormalities in endothelial dysfunction and impaired angiogenesis. Correlation between EPC circulating levels, measured by flowcytometry, and peripheral vascular manifestations, cardiac involvement, carotid artery disease, Framingham risk factor score, endothelial function and morphological signs of microangiopathy is explored. Our data demonstrate, that EPC reduction with disease progression is closely linked with endothelial dysfunction and destructive microangiopathy, and significantly contribute into development of severe cardiac disease and pulmonary hypertension in SS patients.

[Interleukin-18 in systemic lupus erythematosus: link with clinical symptoms and vascular atherosclerosis].

Aim: To examine correlation between IL-18 concentration, SLE manifestations and atherosclerotic vascular affection.

Material And Methods: We examined 162 SLE female patients (age 26-43 years, mean age 35 years, duration of SLE 28-204 months, mean duration 96.0 months) and 64 healthy controls (women aged 30.

[Soluble CD40 ligand in systemic lupus erythematosus: link with atherosclerotic vascular affection].

Aim: To evaluate clinical implications of pCD40L as a marker of atherosclerotic vascular affection in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Material And Methods: The examination of 132 females (mean age 35 years, SLE duration 96 months) assessed classic factors of atherosclerosis risk (AR), total coronary risk (TCR), detected subclinical atherosclerosis with ultrasonic scanning of the carotid arteries. Serum level of pCD40L was measured with enzyme immunoassay (EL4).

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in systemic sclerosis: relation to impaired angiogenesis and cardiovascular manifestations.

Objective: Given the essential role of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in endothelial repair and neovascularization, it is likely that insufficient angiogenesis seen in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is related to EPC alterations. The present study was aimed to analyze in SSc the number of circulating EPCs and their contribution into cardiovascular involvement.

Methods: EPC (CD34+VEGF-R2+ and CD133+VEGF-R2+) circulating levels were evaluated in 40 SSc patients and 24 controls by FACS; their correlations with peripheral vascular manifestations, heart involvement, Framingham risk score, carotid artery disease, endothelial function and morphological signs of microangiopathy were studied.

[Clinical significance of heart rate variability in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

Aim: To evaluate clinical significance of heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Material And Methods: HRV was investigated by means of time-domain analysis of 24 hour ambulatory ECG of 122 SLE patients under 55 years of age and 32 age-matched healthy controls. In addition to clinical manifestations and activity of SLE, we assessed the presence of basic conventional cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, smoking, body mass index, dyslipidemia), performed common carotid duplex scanning with measurement of intima-medial thickness (IMT).

[Cardiovascular diseases in rheumatoid arthritis].

Aim: To examine the significance of conventional cardiovascular factors of risk and immunoinflammatory markers in development of vascular atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Material And Methods: Conventional cardiovascular risk factors were evaluated in 103 RA patients (85 females and 18 males, mean age 46.3 years, duration of the disease 75 months).

[The significance of cardiovascular risk factors and C-reactive protein to the development of atherosclerosis in women with systemic lupus erythematosus].

Compared with general population, women suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have signs of coronary artery disease (CAD) five to eight times more often, especially in young age. Early development of atherosclerosis in patients with SLE is caused by conventional cardiovascular risk factors and specific ones, associated with the disease and its therapy. A slight increase in such an inflammatory marker as C-reactive protein (CRP) is thought to reflect the presence of subclinical inflammation in the vascular wall, connected with atherosclerotic process.

[Soluble CD40 ligand in systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome].

Aim: To investigate a clinical role of soluble (s) CD40 ligand in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

Material And Methods: A serum concentration of sCD40 ligand was measured with enzyme immunoassay (Bender Medsystems, Austria) in 21 patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS), in 25 patients with secondary APS (SAPS) associated with SLE, in 92 SLE patients and in 16 healthy donors.

Results: A sCD40 ligand concentration in sera of SAPS and SLE patients was significantly higher than in donors.

[Soluble receptors of TNF-alpha: association with atherosclerotic vascular affection in systemic lupus erythematosus in males].

Aim: To study association between concentration of soluble receptors of TNF-alpha (sTNFa-R1) and atherosclerotic vascular affection in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in men.

Material And Methods: The examination covered 75 patients (mean age 34.76 +/- 11.

[Atheroscleotic vascular lesion in systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome in men].

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of various clinical and subclinical manifestations of atherosclerosis (AS) in men with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS), as well as to evaluate correlations between vascular atherosclerotic lesions, risk factors, and the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and cardiolipin antibodies (CLA). The subjects of the study were 62 patients (mean age 35.7 +/- 11.

Quantitative electroencephalography values of neonates during and after venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and permanent ligation of right common carotid artery.

Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in neonates commonly needs neck vessel cannulation leading to ligation of right common carotid artery (RCCA) in some cases. Quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) measurements provide reproducible data of cerebral function. The aim of this case-control study was to test whether ligation of the RCCA results in EEG changes after ECMO weaning.

[Atherosclerotic lesion of the vessels in systemic lupus erythematosus in males: relations with concentration of C-reactive protein].

Aim: To elicit prevalence of clinical and subclinical manifestations of atherosclerosis in men with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), to assess correlation between vascular atherosclerosis, risk factors and concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP).

Material And Methods: Analysis of conventional and disease-related factors of risk, ultrasonic scanning of the carotid arteries, high-performance enzyme immunoassay for CRP were made in 37 patients (mean age 36.9 +/- 10.

[Vascular symptoms of Behcet's disease].

Aim: To characterize vascular symptoms of Behcet's disease (BD) in patients treated for the last 10 years in the Institute of Rheumatology.

Material And Methods: Vascular symptoms of BD were studied in 151 patients with BD (mean age 33.5 +/- 9.