Assessment of nonadherence to inhalation therapy in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Bulgaria.

Treatment for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is compromised, quality of life is negatively impacted, and significant financial losses result from nonadherence to the prescribed therapy.

Investigating a Detection Method for Viruses and Pathogens Using a Dual-Microcantilever Sensor.

Piezoresistive microcantilever sensors for the detection of viruses, pathogens, and trace chemical gasses, with appropriate measurement and signal processing methods, can be a powerful instrument with high speed and sensitivity, with in situ and real-time capabilities. This paper discusses a novel method for mass sensing on the order of a few femtograms, using a dual-microcantilever piezoresistive sensor with a vibrating common base. The two microcantilevers have controllably shifted natural frequencies with only one of them being active.

Comprehensive Analysis of Treatment Approaches for Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Systematic Review.

Lumbar disc herniation is a common disorder that has an important impact on the quality of life and daily activities of those affected. It is defined as the displacement of the nucleus pulposus beyond the intervertebral space. This systematic review aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy of several treatment modalities, including conservative, pharmaceutical, and surgical interventions.

Clinical and Epidemiological Study of IgA Nephropathy in the Bulgarian Population: Insights into Disease Presentation and Potential Biomarkers.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common glomerulonephritis worldwide and a leading cause of chronic kidney disease and renal failure. However, the Bulgarian population has limited epidemiological data and biomarkers for IgAN. In this retrospective monocentric analysis, we investigated all the patients with biopsy-proven IgAN over 10 years in a tertiary Bulgarian institution.

Large Iodine Variability in Retail Cows' Milk in the U.S.: A Follow-Up Study among Different Retail Outlets.

In a previous study, large variability in iodine content was found among samples of store brand retail milk at a single time point in a sampling taken from 24 nationwide U.S. locations for the USDA FoodData Central database, but the sampling plan was not designed to detect differences among locations.

Linear Interval Approximation of Sensor Characteristics with Inflection Points.

The popularity of smart sensors and the Internet of Things (IoT) is growing in various fields and applications. Both collect and transfer data to networks. However, due to limited resources, deploying IoT in real-world applications can be challenging.

Impact of Surface Chemistry of Ultrasmall Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on Protein Corona Formation and Endothelial Cell Uptake, Toxicity, and Barrier Function.

Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (USPIONs) have been investigated for biomedical applications, including novel contrast agents, magnetic tracers for tumor imaging, targeted drug delivery vehicles, and magneto-mechanical actuators for hyperthermia and thrombolysis. Despite significant progress, recent clinical reports have raised concerns regarding USPION safety related to endothelial cell dysfunction; however, there is limited information on factors contributing to these clinical responses. The influence of USPION surface chemistry on nanoparticle interactions with proteins may impact endothelial cell function leading to adverse responses.

Linear Interval Approximation for Smart Sensors and IoT Devices.

In this work, we introduce and use an innovative approach for adaptive piecewise linear interval approximation of sensor characteristics, which are differentiable functions. The aim is to obtain a discreet type of inverse sensor characteristic, with a predefined maximum approximation error, with minimization of the number of points defining the characteristic, which in turn is related to the possibilities for using microcontrollers with limited energy and memory resources. In this context, the results from the study indicate that to overcome the problems arising from the resource constraints of smart devices, appropriate "lightweight" algorithms are needed that allow efficient connectivity and intelligent management of the measurement processes.

Distribution of 26 major and trace elements in edible seaweeds from the US market.

In this study we present an elemental profile of 46 edible seaweed samples purchased in the United States. The seaweeds were grouped in 13 subgroups/species based on DNA barcoding analysis. The seaweeds were decomposed by microwave accelerated acid digestion followed by quantification of 26 elements by ICP-MS.

A Case of Silicone and Sarcoid Granulomas in a Patient with "Highly Cohesive" Silicone Breast Implants: A Histopathologic and Laser Raman Microprobe Analysis.

Foreign body giant cell (FBGC) reaction to silicone material in the lymph nodes of patients with silicone breast implants has been documented in the literature, with a number of case reports dating back to 1978. Many of these case reports describe histologic features of silicone lymphadenopathy in regional lymph nodes from patients with multiple sets of different types of implants, including single lumen smooth surface gel, single lumen textured surface gel, single lumen with polyethylene terephthalate patch, single lumen with polyurethane coating, and double lumen smooth surface. Only one other case report described a patient with highly-cohesive breast implants and silicone granulomas of the skin.

Spectroscopic and Spectrometric Approaches for Assessing the Composition of Embedded Metals in Tissues.

Many medical devices contain metals that interface with the body. Additionally, embedded metal fragments from military wounds are typically not removed, to avoid the risk of morbidity associated with invasive surgery. The long-term health consequences of many of these materials are not thoroughly understood.

High Energy Density Heteroatom (O, N and S) Enriched Activated Carbon for Rational Design of Symmetric Supercapacitors.

Carbon-based symmetric supercapacitors (SCs) are known for their high power density and long cyclability, making them an ideal candidate for power sources in new-generation electronic devices. To boost their electrochemical performances, deriving activated carbon doped with heteroatoms such as N, O, and S are highly desirable for increasing the specific capacitance. In this regard, activated carbon (AC) self-doped with heteroatoms is directly derived from bio-waste (lima-bean shell) using different KOH activation processes.

Distribution of nutrient and toxic elements in brown and polished rice.

Rice is a staple food in many countries around the world and it is a source of not only the nutrients, but also toxic elements. In this study, we evaluated four degrees of polishing and determined the elemental content (P, S, K, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Cd, Hg, Pb) in brown rice, rice bran and the resulting white rice using microwave assisted decomposition followed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) detection. Additionally, individual rice grains at every polishing step were analyzed by laser ablation ICP-MS to generate elemental distribution maps.

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometric Determination of Iodine in Food Using Tetramethyl Ammonium Hydroxide Extraction-Results from a U.S. Food and Drug Administration Level 3 Interlaboratory Study.

The performance of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Elemental Analysis Manual (EAM) 4.

Semen Uranium Concentrations in Depleted Uranium Exposed Gulf War Veterans: Correlations with Other Body Fluid Matrices.

Environmental metal exposure, as well as dietary metals, may adversely affect semen quality even as others play an essential role in normal spermatogenesis and fertility. Measures of seminal fluid metals have therefore been of high interest in the last several decades but have shown inconsistent results in correlations with some semen quality parameters. As well, environmental metal measures across various body fluid matrices have not been consistently correlated contrary to what one might hypothesize based on a systemic body burden of metal.

Analysis of iodine in food samples by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry.

This work shows a method for the determination of iodine in a variety of food samples and reference materials using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) following alkaline extraction. Optimisation of the addition of organic carbon showed that a minimum of 3% 2-propanol was necessary for a constant ratio of iodine to internal standard. The limit of quantification (LOQ), calculated as 30σ for the method, was 36 ng g(-1) in solid food samples.

Cooking rice in excess water reduces both arsenic and enriched vitamins in the cooked grain.

This paper reports the effects of rinsing rice and cooking it in variable amounts of water on total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, iron, cadmium, manganese, folate, thiamin and niacin in the cooked grain. We prepared multiple rice varietals both rinsed and unrinsed and with varying amounts of cooking water. Rinsing rice before cooking has a minimal effect on the arsenic (As) content of the cooked grain, but washes enriched iron, folate, thiamin and niacin from polished and parboiled rice.

Cardiac and renal nitrosative-oxidative stress after acute poisoning by a nerve agent Tabun.

We hypothesized that Tabun poisoning, as well as other organophosphorous treatment, cause specific organs' oxidative changes that have not previously been substantiated investigated. In this regard, a marker for nitrosative-oxidative stress in the main haemodynamic organs (heart and kidney) could reveal the existence of such changes. In this study, for the first time we studied the nitrosative/oxidative stress in heart and kidney after acute Tabun (Ethyl N,N- Dimethylphosphoramidocyanidate) poisoning measuring by immunohistochemistry the expression of 3-nitrotyrosine--a marker for nitrosative-oxidative stress.

Changes in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in bulgaria (2006-2012).

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare two nationwide cross-sectional studies of diabetes prevalence in Bulgaria (2006 and 2012) and to assess its dynamics.

Material And Methods: The two studies included 2396 and 2033 subjects, respectively. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) diagnostic criteria were applied, and the data were weighed for type of settlement and age.

Suppression of dsDNA-specific B lymphocytes reduces disease symptoms in SCID model of mouse lupus.

Self-specific B cells play a main role in the pathogenesis of lupus. This autoimmune disease is characterized by the generation of autoantibodies against self antigens, and the elimination of B and T cells involved in the pathological immune response is a logical approach for effective therapy. We have previously constructed a chimeric molecule by coupling a DNA-mimotope peptides to an anti-CD32 antibody.

Arsenic-induced biochemical and genotoxic effects and distribution in tissues of Sprague-Dawley rats.

Arsenic (As) is a well documented human carcinogen. However, its mechanisms of toxic action and carcinogenic potential in animals have not been conclusive. In this research, we investigated the biochemical and genotoxic effects of As and studied its distribution in selected tissues of Sprague-Dawley rats.

Uranium quantification in semen by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

In this study we report uranium analysis for human semen samples. Uranium quantification was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. No additives, such as chymotrypsin or bovine serum albumin, were used for semen liquefaction, as they showed significant uranium content.

Elimination of autoreactive B cells in humanized SCID mouse model of SLE.

Although the exact etiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains elusive, B-cell hyperactivity and production of autoantibodies directed to components of the cell nucleus are a well-established pathogenetic mechanism of the disease. Therefore, the targeted inhibition of DNA-specific B cells is a logical therapeutic approach. The complement receptor type 1 (CR1, CD35) has been shown to suppress human B-cell activation and proliferation after co-cross-linking with the BCR, and may serve as a mediator for negative signal delivery.

Spatial mapping of mineralization with manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Paramagnetic manganese can be employed as a calcium surrogate to sensitize the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique to the processing of calcium during the bone formation process. At low doses, after just 48h of exposure, osteoblasts take up sufficient quantities of manganese to cause marked reductions in the water proton T1 values compared with untreated cells. After just 24h of exposure, 25μM MnCl(2) had no significant effect on cell viability.

Prostate cancer outcome and tissue levels of metal ions.

Background: There are several studies examining prostate cancer and exposure to cadmium, iron, selenium, and zinc. Less data are available on the possible influence of these metal ions on prostate cancer outcome. This study measured levels of these ions in prostatectomy samples in order to examine possible associations between metal concentrations and disease outcome.