Background: Fiji is a Pacific Island nation grappling with the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). While genomic technologies are increasingly utilised to understand the emergence and spread of AMR globally, its application to inform outbreak responses in low- and middle-income settings has not been reported.
Methods: Through an established capacity building program, suspected carbapenem-resistant organisms (CRO) identified at Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Fiji (Jan 2022-Oct 2023) underwent whole genome sequencing and analysis.
The products of incomplete destruction (PIDs) of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a substantial ambiguity when employing thermal treatments to remediate PFAS-contaminated materials. In this study, we present new information on PIDs produced in both inert and oxidative environments from five long-chain PFAS, including three now regulated under the U.S.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Preventing disc degeneration remains a clinical challenge; patients experiencing chronic lumbar discogenic pain have limited treatment options. Minimally invasive intradiscal procedures such as allogeneic nucleus pulposus (NP) injection have the potential to fill the treatment gap between failed conservative care and spine surgery.
Objectives: Our study sought to evaluate the magnitude and durability of improvement in back function in patients with chronic lumbar discogenic pain followed for 6 months after a single intradiscal injection of minimally manipulated, off-the-shelf processed NP allograft (VIA Disc NP®, VIVEX Biologics, Inc.
Parkinson's disease (PD) significantly affects millions of people worldwide due to the progressive degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Despite extensive research efforts, effective treatments that can halt or reverse the progression of PD remain elusive. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising new avenue for addressing this challenge, with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) standing out for their extensive therapeutic potential.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals widely used in various products, including food packaging, textiles, and firefighting foam, owing to their unique properties such as amphiphilicity and strong CF bonds. Despite their widespread use, concerns have arisen due to their resistance to degradation and propensity for bioaccumulation in both environmental and human systems. Emerging evidence suggests a potential link between PFAS exposure and neurotoxic effects, spanning cognitive deficits, neurodevelopmental disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF), namely known as dioxins, are persistent organic compounds with high toxicity. The presence of dioxins in soil is a major environmental issue worldwide, as it negatively impacts both ecosystems and human health. Thus, several advanced techniques have been applied to overcome this issue, offering promising treatment efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSnake envenomation poses a significant risk to Malaysians and country visitors. Malaysia witnesses an estimated 650 snake bites per 100,000 population annually. The primary treatment for snake envenomation involves administering antivenom derived from horses, despite its drawbacks, such as anaphylactic reactions and serum sickness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntimicrob Resist Infect Control
September 2024
Background: Gram-negative bacteria resistant to carbapenems are also known as critical antimicrobial resistant organisms. Their emergence at Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH), the largest hospital in Fiji, is a major clinical concern. This study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and readiness of healthcare workers (HCW) at CWMH regarding management of patients with infections caused by critical antimicrobial resistant organisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBean common mosaic virus (BCMV) is causing economically important diseases in leguminous crops worldwide. In this study, BCMV isolates from country bean (CB; ), yard-long bean (YLB; ), and rajma bean (RB; ) collected from Bangladesh, Nepal, and Cambodia were characterized. Samples that tested positive for BCMV in serological assays were subjected to high-throughput sequencing to generate near-full-length genome sequences.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFColorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Despite significant advances in medical treatment, chemotherapy as monotherapy can lead to substantial side effects and chemoresistance. This underscores the need for therapeutic approaches that are not only pharmacologically safe but also modulate multiple potent signaling pathways and sensitize cancer cells to overcome resistance to standard drugs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeterogeneous iron-based catalysts have drawn increasing attention in the advanced oxidation of persulfates due to their abundance in nature, the lack of secondary pollution to the environment, and their low cost over the last a few years. In this paper, the latest progress in the research on the activation of persulfate by heterogeneous iron-based catalysts is reviewed from two aspects, in terms of synthesized catalysts (Fe, FeO, FeO, FeOOH) and natural iron ore catalysts (pyrite, magnetite, hematite, siderite, goethite, ferrohydrite, ilmenite and lepidocrocite) focusing on efforts made to improve the performance of catalysts. The advantages and disadvantages of the synthesized catalysts and natural iron ore were summarized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPaper cups have been widely used such as in the fast-food industry for drinking and are generally made of disposable material. To make the paper cup waterproof and prevent leakage, a thin layer of plastic such as polylactic acid (PLA) is commonly coated onto the inner wall surface. This plastic layer can potentially release debris as microplastics, particularly when the cup is wrinkled/crumpled to break and peel off the coating layer, which is tested herein.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Evidence regarding the frequency and timing of treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) fails to offer clear consensus. We describe the LSS care journey from initial diagnosis to first surgical intervention.
Methods: Using Medicare claims database from 2009 through 2020, we identified patients who were diagnosed with LSS.
For a plastic syringe, a stopper at the end of plunger is usually made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, and co-ingredients). To reduce friction and prevent leakage between the stopper and barrel, short chain polymer of liquid PDMS is also used as lubricant. Consequently, an injection process can release solid PDMS debris from the stopper and barrel, and liquid PDMS droplets from the lubricant, both of which are confirmed herein as solid and liquid micro(nano)plastics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe ubiquitousness of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is a big concern and PFAS remediation is urgently needed such as via degradation. While previous studies have explored ultrasonic degradation of PFAS, work evaluating the operational parameters is rare, especially concerning real wastes such as aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) and foam fractionate (FF). This study investigates the key operational parameters affecting the degradation efficiency of PFAS, encompassing ultrasonication frequency (580-1144 kHz), power intensity (125-187.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrimordial neutral atomic gas, mostly composed of hydrogen, is the raw material for star formation in galaxies. However, there are few direct constraints on the amount of neutral atomic hydrogen (H i) in galaxies at early cosmic times. We analyzed James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) near-infrared spectroscopy of distant galaxies, at redshifts ≳8.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) with depression causes severe cognitive impairments. The devastating conditions will further compromise the overall quality of life. The overconsumption of high-fat and high-sucrose (HFS) diet is one of the modifiable risk factors for T2D, depression, and cognitive impairments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnvironmental pollution is escalating due to rapid global development that often prioritizes human needs over planetary health. Despite global efforts to mitigate legacy pollutants, the continuous introduction of new substances remains a major threat to both people and the planet. In response, global initiatives are focusing on risk assessment and regulation of emerging contaminants, as demonstrated by the ongoing efforts to establish the UN's Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution Prevention.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe deep removal of organic pollutants is challenging for coagulation technology in drinking water and wastewater treatment plants to satisfy the rising water standards. Iron (III) chloride (FeCl) is a popular inorganic coagulant; although it has good performance in removing the turbidity (TB) in water at an alkaline medium, it cannot remove dissolved pollutants and natural organic matter such as humic acid water solution. Additionally, its hygroscopic nature complicates determining the optimal dosage for effective coagulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAustralia's metalliferous abandoned mine sites (MAMSs), pose tangible threats to the environment and human health. To address these concerns, our study utilised state-of-the-art handheld XRF technology to conduct a real-time assessment of the Mole River arsenic mine site. The data revealed notably elevated levels of arsenic and manganese, with the southeast corner of the site identified as a contaminant hotspot.
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