Enriched stable Pb as tracer at ultra-low levels in clinical investigations.

The potential of enriched Pb (Pb) was assessed to monitor pathways of trace levels of Pb in the pg range within the human body via isotope pattern variation in situations where natural lead cannot be used as a tracer due to regulatory limitations. Isotope ratio measurements were accomplished by means of (multi-collector) inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry including a comparison of single and multi-collector ICP-MS for low-level Pb assessment. Isotopic pattern results from a blend of a large quantity of the element with a natural isotopic composition and an enriched stable isotope at orders of magnitude lower levels pose a nontrivial analytical problem.

Evaluation of Mortality Following Paclitaxel Drug-Coated Balloon Angioplasty of Femoropopliteal Lesions in the Real World.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the long-term mortality after paclitaxel drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty and plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA) of femoropopliteal lesions in real-world practice.

Background: A recent meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials suggested an increased long-term mortality risk following femoropopliteal angioplasty using paclitaxel-coated devices.

Methods: A retrospective mortality analysis of patients with at least 3-year follow-up who underwent balloon based endovascular therapy of femoropopliteal lesions was performed.

Organotypic three-dimensional cancer cell cultures mirror drug responses : lessons learned from the inhibition of EGFR signaling.

Complex three-dimensional (3D) models that recapitulate human tumor biology are essential to understand the pathophysiology of the disease and to aid in the discovery of novel anti-cancer therapies. 3D organotypic cultures exhibit intercellular communication, nutrient and oxygen gradients, and cell polarity that is lacking in two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cultures. In the present study, we demonstrate that 2D and 3D cancer models exhibit different drug sensitivities towards both targeted inhibitors of EGFR signaling and broad acting cytotoxic agents.

Large scale study on measurement of respiration activity (AT(4)) by Sapromat and OxiTop.

In the run-up for amending the Austrian landfill ordinance, parameters were developed to assess the stability/reactivity of mechanically-biologically pretreated residual wastes. The Landfill Ordinance 2008 regulates limit values for Respiration Activity (="Atmungsaktivität") RA(4) (AT(4))<7mgO(2)*(g dry matter (DM))(-1), Gas Generation Sum GS(21)<20Nl*kgDM(-1) and alternatively Gas Evolution (="Gasbildung") GB(21)<20Nl*kgDM(-1). Methods for analysing these parameters were established by the Austrian Standards Institute (2004).

[Consensus statement haemorrhoidal disease].

Haemorrhoidal disease belongs to the most common benign disorders in the lower gastrointestinal tract. Treatment options comprise conservative as well as surgical therapy still being applied arbitrarily in accordance with the surgeon's expertise. The aim of this consensus statement was therefore to assess a stage-dependent approach for treatment of haemorrhoidal disease to derive evidence-based recommendations for clinical routine.

How to enhance humification during composting of separately collected biowaste: impact of feedstock and processing.

Conventional parameters (loss on ignition, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, C/N-ratio, respiration activity (RA₄), compost status (= 'Rottegrad'), NH₄-N and NO₃-N) are not correlated to humification. At best, they provide information on the biological stability (status of degradation) of composts. Humic substances which are a source of stable organic matter and nutrients are discussed as a parameter describing compost quality.

Scrutinizing compost properties and their impact on methane oxidation efficiency.

Methane emissions from active or closed landfills can be reduced by means of microbial methane oxidation enhanced by properly designed landfill covers and engineered biocovers. Composts produced using different waste materials have already been proven to support methane oxidation, and may represent a low-cost alternative to other suitable substrates such as sandy or humic-rich soils, which are frequently not available in sufficient amounts or are too costly. In the present study a data set of 30 different compost materials (different age and input materials) and mixtures, as well as seven soils and mineral substrates were tested to assess methane oxidation rate under similar conditions in a laboratory column set-up.

Characterization of different decomposition stages of biowaste using FT-IR spectroscopy and pyrolysis-field ionization mass spectrometry.

The decomposition stage and stabilization of organic matter in biowaste (mixture of yard waste and kitchen waste), originating from an open windrow process, were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and pyrolysis-field ionization mass spectrometry (Py-FIMS). These investigations provided detailed information about chemical constituents and their behavior during the composting process. The chemical compounds were classified by their molecular signals in Py-FIMS.