Prognostic value of interleukin-6 serum levels in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: A case-control study in Iran.

Introduction: The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is an infectious disease with a high mortality rate that is challenging to treat. Cytokine storm is a crucial factor leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome in COVID-19 patients. Identifying factors that predict the severity of the disease may be primarily prognostic to guide drug therapy.

Experimental study on evaluation and optimization of heavy metals adsorption on a novel amidoximated silane functionalized Luffa cylindrica.

This study aimed to synthesize an amidoximated Luffa cylindrica (AO-LC) bioadsorbent, and evaluate its efficiency in the adsorption of heavy metals from the aqueous solutions. For this purpose, NaOH solution was used to alkaline treatment of Luffa cylindrica (LC) fibers. The silane modification of LC was performed using 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (MPS).

Methodology to determine the extent of anaerobic digestion, composting and CH oxidation in a landfill environment.

An examination of the processes contributing to the production of landfill greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is required, as the actual level to which waste degrades anaerobically and aerobically beneath covers has not been differentiated. This paper presents a methodology to distinguish between the rate of anaerobic digestion (r), composting (r) and CH oxidation (r) in a landfill environment, by means of a system of mass balances developed for molecular species (CH, CO) and stable carbon isotopes (δC-CO and δC-CH). The technique was applied at two sampling locations on a sloped area of landfill.

Pilot scale evaluation of a model to distinguish the rates of simultaneous anaerobic digestion, composting and methane oxidation in static waste beds.

The aim of this paper was to apply and validate a model for measuring the rate and extent of anaerobic digestion, composting and CH oxidation in laboratory scale beds. Degradation studies were performed in four reactors each packed with shredded unsorted municipal solid waste, with one bed covered with a 100 mm layer of soil. The rates of production of CH, CO, C-CO and the rate of consumption of O were measured and used as inputs to a mass balance expressions for these components to calculate the rates of anaerobic digestion, composting and CH oxidation.

A mass balance model to estimate the rate of composting, methane oxidation and anaerobic digestion in soil covers and shallow waste layers.

Although CH oxidation in landfill soil covers is widely studied, the extent of composting and CH oxidation in underlying waste layers has been speculated but not measured. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a mass balance model to estimate the simultaneous rates of anaerobic digestion (r), CH oxidation (r) and composting (r) in environments where O penetration is variable and zones of aerobic and anaerobic activity are intermingled. The modelled domain could include, as an example, a soil cover and the underlying shallow waste to a nominated depth.

Distally based sural artery flap without sural nerve.

The distal third of the tibia, ankle and heel area is difficult to reconstruct. For small to medium size defects, local flaps are often an easier alternative than free flap. In lower limb surgery, the sural flap is based on this principle and this flap is becoming increasingly popular.

Topography of gastritis and its severity in 864 first degree relatives of gastric cancer patients.

Objectives: Studies on gastric mucosal histological findings among first degree relatives (FDR) of gastric cancer (GC) patients are scarce. The aim is to evaluate the topography and the severity of gastritis among FDR of GC patients.

Design: A total of 989 subjects who were FDR of GC patients, ages 40-65 years underwent gastroscopies.

Serum pepsinogen I, pepsinogen II, and gastrin 17 in relatives of gastric cancer patients: comparative study with type and severity of gastritis.

Background & Aims: First-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients are at risk for developing precancerous conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of biomarkers pepsinogen I (PGI), pepsinogen II (PGII), their ratio (PG I:II), as well as gastrin 17 for screening of precancerous conditions and corpus predominant gastritis.

Methods: First-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients underwent endoscopy.