Pre-exposure to peracetic acid followed by UV treatment for deactivating vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis through intracellular attack.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a global health threat to aquatic environments and its propagation is a hot topic. Therefore, deactivating antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and removing antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) from water is crucial for controlling AMR transmission. Peracetic acid (PAA), which is known for its potent oxidizing properties and limited by-product formation, is emerging as a favorable disinfectant for water treatment. In this study, we aimed to assess the efficacy of pre-exposure to PAA followed by UV treatment (PAA-UV/PAA) compared with the simultaneous application of UV and PAA (UV/PAA). The focus was on deactivating vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VREfs), a typical ARB in water. Pre-exposure to PAA significantly enhanced the efficacy of subsequent UV/PAA treatment. At a UV fluence of 7.2 mJ cm-2, the PAA-UV/PAA method achieved a 6.21 log reduction in VREfs, surpassing the 1.29 log reduction observed with UV/PAA. Moreover, compared to UV/PAA, PAA-UV/PAA showed increased efficacy with longer pre-exposure times and higher PAA concentrations, maintaining superior performance across a broad pH range and in the presence of humic acid. Flow cytometry analysis indicated minimal cellular membrane damage using both methods. However, the assessments of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and adenosine triphosphate content revealed that PAA-UV/PAA induced greater oxidative stress under similar UV irradiation conditions, leading to slower bacterial regrowth. Specifically, SOD activity in PAA-UV/PAA surged to 3.06 times its baseline, exceeding the 1.73-fold increase under UV/PAA conditions. Additionally, pre-exposure to PAA amplified ARGs degradation and reduced resistance gene leakage, effectively mitigating the spread of AMR. Pre-exposure to 200 µM PAA for 10 and 20 min enhanced vanB gene removal efficiency by 0.14 log and 1.29 log, respectively. Our study provides a feasible approach for optimizing UV/PAA disinfection for efficient removal of ARB and ARGs.

Pulmonary artery aneurysm: computed tomography (CT) imaging findings and diagnosis.

Pulmonary artery aneurysm (PAA) is a rare pulmonary vascular disease with nonspecific symptoms and various etiologies. As the disease progresses, in addition to the dilation of the pulmonary arteries, it may be accompanied by remodeling of the cardiac structure and changes in the morphology of the aorta. Recognizing the cause of PAA is therefore a clinically challenging task. In this review article, we provide an overview of various causes of PAA with the support of corresponding imaging findings on computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) examination. Firstly, from the perspective of hemodynamics, a logical diagnosis is provided according to whether the main pulmonary artery (MPA) is dilated, and whether the PA is dilated locally or diffusely. Secondly, for the imaging examination of vascular wall lesions, due to the limitations of ultrasound examination and interventional procedures, the irreplaceability of dual-phase CTPA examination in disease assessment is especially emphasized. Finally, for highly suspected disorders, it is necessary to comprehensively check with the patient whether there is a family history or past medical history. For patients with PAA, especially those with Marfan syndrome (MFS) or arteritis, adequate preoperative imaging evaluation, regular postoperative radiographic follow-up, and concurrent treatment of the underlying disease (if necessary) are crucial, which are related to the prognosis and long-term quality of life of such patients. Despite the nonspecific features of PAA presentation, a thorough examination of the patient's clinical history and imaging characteristics will play an important role in diagnosing PAA and planning patient management strategies.

Crosslinking and Swelling Properties of pH-Responsive Poly(Ethylene Glycol)/Poly(Acrylic Acid) Interpenetrating Polymer Network Hydrogels.

This study investigates the crosslinking dynamics and swelling properties of pH-responsive poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels. These hydrogels feature denser crosslinked networks compared to PEG single network (SN) hydrogels. Fabrication involved a two-step UV curing process: First, forming PEG-SN hydrogels using poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) through UV-induced free radical polymerization and crosslinking reactions, then immersing them in PAA solutions with two different molar ratios of acrylic acid (AA) monomer and poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) crosslinker. A subsequent UV curing step created PAA networks within the pre-fabricated PEG hydrogels. The incorporation of AA with ionizable functional groups imparted pH sensitivity to the hydrogels, allowing the swelling ratio to respond to environmental pH changes. Rheological analysis showed that PEG/PAA IPN hydrogels had a higher storage modulus (G') than PEG-SN hydrogels, with PEG/PAA-IPN5 exhibiting the highest modulus. Thermal analysis via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated increased thermal stability for PEG/PAA-IPN5 compared to PEG/PAA-IPN1, due to higher crosslinking density from increased PEGDMA content. Consistent with the storage modulus trend, PEG/PAA-IPN hydrogels demonstrated superior mechanical properties compared to PEG-SN hydrogels. The tighter network structure led to reduced water uptake and a higher gel modulus in swollen IPN hydrogels, attributed to the increased density of active network strands. Below the pKa (4.3) of acrylic acid, hydrogen bonds between PEG and PAA chains caused the IPN hydrogels to contract. Above the pKa, ionization of PAA chains induced electrostatic repulsion and osmotic forces, increasing water absorption. Adjusting the crosslinking density of the PAA network enabled fine-tuning of the IPN hydrogels' properties, allowing comprehensive comparison of single network and IPN characteristics.

Degradation of emerging contaminants in synthetic hydrolyzed urine by UV/peracetic acid: Free radical chemistry, and toxicity analysis.

The ecological impact of emerging contaminants (ECs) in aquatic environments has raised concerns, particularly with regards to urine as a significant source of such contaminants in wastewater. The current investigation used the UV/Peracetic Acid (UV/PAA) processes, an innovative advanced oxidation technology, to effectively separate two emerging pollutants from urine at its source, namely, ciprofloxacin (CIP) and bisphenol A(BPA). The research findings demonstrate that the presence of the majority of characteristic ions has minimal impact on the degradation of ECs. However, in synthetic hydrolyzed urine, only NH4+ inhibits the degradation of two types of ECs, with a more pronounced effect observed on CIP degradation compared to BPA.The impact of halogen ions, specifically Cl- and I-, on the degradation of CIP in synthetic hydrolyzed urine was a complex phenomenon. When these two halogen ions are present individually, the generation of reactive halogen species (RHS) within the system enhances the degradation of CIP. However, when both types of ions coexist, the formation of diatomic radical species partially inhibits degradation. In terms of BPA degradation, while the production of reactive chlorine species (RCS) to some extent hinders the reaction rate, the generation of reactive iodine species (RIS) promotes the overall process. CIP undergoes fragmentation of the piperazine and quinoline rings, decarboxylation, defluorination reactions, as well as substitution reactions, leading to the formation of products with simplified structures. The degradation of BPA occurs gradually through hydroxyl and halogen substitution as well as isopropyl cleavage. The preliminary toxicity analysis confirmed that the presence of halogen ions in urine resulted in the formation of halogenated products in two types of ECs, albeit with an overall reduction in toxicity. The UV/PAA processes was considered to be an effective and relatively safe approach for the separation of ECs in urine.

Electrospun polyhedral oligomeric silsequioxane-poly(carbonate-urea) urethane for fabrication of hemocompatible small-diameter vascular grafts with angiogenesis capacity.

The clinical utility of small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs) is limited due to the possibility of thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia. These features can delay the development of a functional endothelial cell (EC) monolayer on the luminal surface of grafts. Therefore, the development and fabrication of vascular grafts (VGs) with comparable extracellular matrix (ECM) functions are mandatory to elicit hemocompatible confluent EC monolayers, and angiogenesis behavior inside the body. To promote the interactions between ECs and the surface of electrospun polyacrylic acid-grafted polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-poly(carbonate-urea)-urethane (PAAc-POSS-PCUU), in this research, the surface of nanofibers was modified by covalently immobilizing extracted soluble proteins from aorta (ESPA) using EDC/NHS chemistry. The ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, WCA, and SEM microscopy confirmed the binding of acrylic acid and soluble vascular proteins on the surface of electrospun fibers. The PAAc-POSS-PCUU nanofibers and engineered biomimetic Pro-PAAc-POSS-PCUU nanofibers exhibited excellent biocompatibility indicated by increased survival rate (p < 0.05). Western blotting revealed the increase of VE-cadherin, Tie-2, vWF, and VEGFR-2 in HUVECs after being plated on PAAc-POSS-PCUU and Pro-PAAc-POSS-PCUU scaffolds, indicating appropriate angiogenesis behavior (p < 0.05). Besides, the antioxidant capacity was induced by the increase of SOD and GPx activity (p < 0.05). Additionally, blood compatibility tests revealed that Pro-PAAc-POSS-PCUU nanofibers accelerate the formation of a single EC layer without hemolysis and platelet adhesion. Taken together, Pro-PAAc-POSS-PCUU nanofibers exhibited excellent blood compatibility, and angiogenesis behavior, making them a promising candidate for clinical applications.

Nanofibrous Conductive Sensor for Limonene: One-Step Synthesis via Electrospinning and Molecular Imprinting.

Detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from different plant species and their organs can provide valuable information about plant health and environmental factors that affect them. For example, limonene emission can be a biomarker to monitor plant health and detect stress. Traditional methods for VOC detection encounter challenges, prompting the proposal of novel approaches. In this study, we proposed integrating electrospinning, molecular imprinting, and conductive nanofibers to fabricate limonene sensors. In detail, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and polyacrylic acid (PAA) served here as fiber and cavity formers, respectively, with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) enhancing conductivity. We developed one-step monolithic molecularly imprinted fibers, where S(-)-limonene was the target molecule, using an electrospinning technique. The functional cavities were fixed using the UV curing method, followed by a target molecule washing. This procedure enabled the creation of recognition sites for limonene within the nanofiber matrix, enhancing sensor performance and streamlining manufacturing. Humidity was crucial for sensor working, with optimal conditions at about 50% RH. The sensors rapidly responded to S(-)-limonene, reaching a plateau within 200 s. Enhancing fiber density improved sensor performance, resulting in a lower limit of detection (LOD) of 137 ppb. However, excessive fiber density decreased accessibility to active sites, thus reducing sensitivity. Remarkably, the thinnest mat on the fibrous sensors created provided the highest selectivity to limonene (Selectivity Index: 72%) compared with other VOCs, such as EtOH (used as a solvent in nanofiber development), aromatic compounds (toluene), and two other monoterpenes (α-pinene and linalool) with similar structures. These findings underscored the potential of the proposed integrated approach for selective VOC detection in applications such as precision agriculture and environmental monitoring.

Relative resistance of Salmonella serotypes (Typhimurium, Infantis, and Reading) to peroxyacetic acid on chicken wings.

Peroxyacetic acid (PAA) is widely used as an antimicrobial in poultry processing. Recent salmonellosis outbreaks caused by Salmonella Infantis (SI) from chicken products and Salmonella Reading (SR) from turkey products have raised concerns about their enhanced resistance (compared to Salmonella Typhimurium [ST]) to commonly used antimicrobial interventions such as PAA. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of PAA against Salmonella serotypes (Typhimurium, Infantis and Reading), effect on product color and decomposition of PAA at different pH levels. Fresh chicken wings (0.45 kg) were inoculated with a cocktail (ca. 6 log CFU/mL) of nalidixic acid resistant ST, rifampicin resistant SI and kanamycin resistant SR. Inoculated chicken wings were immersed in PAA solutions (100 or 500 ppm; adjusted to either pH 8.5 or unadjusted natural pH) for either 10 s or 60 min to replicate treatments for chicken parts or whole carcasses, respectively. Treated chicken wings were rinsed in buffered peptone water (100 mL) containing sodium thiosulfate (0.1 %), serially diluted in peptone water supplemented with 200 ppm of nalidixic acid, rifampicin or kanamycin for enumeration of ST, SI, and SR respectively, and plated on APC Petrifilm. Immersion of chicken wings in 500 ppm PAA for 60 min resulted in greater microbial reductions (P ≤ 0.05) of ST, SI, SR of ca. Two log CFU/mL each, compared to 10 s treatment. Regardless of concentration and pH of PAA, increased exposure time (60 min vs. 10 s) resulted in greater reductions (P ≤ 0.05) of ST, SI, SR. ST was slightly more resistant to PAA solutions than S. Infantis and S. Reading (P ≤ 0.05) for all experimental conditions (PAA conc, pH, and exposure times). Faster decomposition of PAA (100 and 500 ppm) was observed at pH 8.5 compared to unadjusted, natural pH (P ≤ 0.05). Product color (lightness, L*) was not affected regardless of the PAA concentration, exposure time or the pH.

CuSO4/H2O2induced polydopamine/polysulfobetaine methacrylate co-deposition on poly(amino acid) membranes for improved anti-protein adsorption and antibacterial activity.

Stopping postoperative soft tissue adhesions is one of the most challenging clinical problems that needs to be addressed urgently to avoid secondary injury and pain to patients. Currently, membrane materials with anti-protein adsorption and antibacterial activity are recognized as an effective and promising anti-adhesion barrier to prevent postoperative adhesion and the recurrent adhesion after adhesiolysis. Herein, poly(amino acid) (PAA), which is structurally similar to collagen, is selected as the membrane base material to successfully synthesize PAA-5 membranes with excellent mechanical and degradation properties by in-situ melt polymerization and hot-melt film-forming technology. Subsequently, the co-deposition of polydopamine/polysulfobetaine methacrylate (PDA/PSBMA) coatings induced by CuSO4/H2O2on PAA-5 membranes results in the formation of PDC-5S and PDC-10S, which exhibit excellent hemocompatibility, protein antifouling properties, and cytocompatibility. Additionally, PDC-5S and PDC-10S demonstrated significant antibacterial activity againstEscherichia coliandStaphylococcus aureus, with an inhibition rate of more than 90%. As a result, this study sheds light on newly discovered PAA membranes with anti-protein adsorption and antibacterial activity can sever as one of the promising candidates for the prevention of postoperative peritoneum adhesions.

Poly (acrylic acid)/tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles scaffold enriched with exosomes for cell-free therapy in bone tissue engineering: An in vivo evaluation.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the potential of poly (acrylic acid)/tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles (PAA/triCaPNPs) scaffold in terms of biocompatibility and osteoconductivity properties the in-vivo evaluation as well as to investigate the performance of PAA/triCaPNPs scaffold (with or without exosomes derived from UC-MSCs) for bone regeneration of rat critical-sized defect. Methods: PAA/triCaPNPs scaffold was made from acrylic acid (AA) monomer, N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAA), sodium bicarbonate (SBC), and ammonium persulfate (APS) through freeze-drying method. For in vivo evaluation, we randomly divided 24 rats into three groups. The rat calvarial bone defects were treated as follows: (1) Control group: defects without any treatment, (2) scaffold group: defects treated with scaffold only, (3) scaffold+exo group: defects treated with scaffold enriched with exosomes (1 µg/µL, 150 µg per rat). Eight- and 12-weeks post-surgery, half of the animals were sacrificed and bone regeneration was examined through micro-computerized tomography (µ-CT), histological staining, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: Quantitative analysis based on µ-CT scan images at 8 and 12 weeks post-implantation clearly indicated that healing rate for defects that were filled with scaffold enriched with exosome was significantly higher than defects filled with scaffold without exosome. The H&E and Masson staining results revealed that more new bone-like form developed in the scaffold+exo group than that in control and scaffold groups. Further, IHC staining for osteocalcin and CD31 confirmed that more bone healing in the scaffold+exo group at 12 weeks could be associated with osteogenesis and angiogenesis concurrently. Conclusion: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of PAA/triCaPNPs scaffold as a carrier of human UC-MSC-derived exosome to achieve the exosome-controlled release on calvarial bone defect. The in vivo results indicated that the exosome-enriched scaffold could effectively minify the defect area and improve the bone healing in rat model, and as such it could be an option for exosome-based therapy.

Biodegradation by Cancer Cells of Magnetite Nanoflowers with and without Encapsulation in PS-b-PAA Block Copolymer Micelles.

Magnetomicelles were produced by the self-assembly of magnetite iron oxide nanoflowers and the amphiphilic poly(styrene)-b-poly(acrylic acid) block copolymer to deliver a multifunctional theranostic agent. Their bioprocessing by cancer cells was investigated in a three-dimensional spheroid model over a 13-day period and compared with nonencapsulated magnetic nanoflowers. A degradation process was identified and monitored at various scales, exploiting different physicochemical fingerprints. At a collective level, measurements were conducted using magnetic, photothermal, and magnetic resonance imaging techniques. At the nanoscale, transmission electron microscopy was employed to identify the morphological integrity of the structures, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy was used to analyze the degradation at the crystalline phase and chemical levels. All of these measurements converge to demonstrate that the encapsulation of magnetic nanoparticles in micelles effectively mitigates their degradation compared to individual nonencapsulated magnetic nanoflowers. This protective effect consequently resulted in better maintenance of their therapeutic photothermal potential. The structural degradation of magnetomicelles occurred through the formation of an oxidized iron phase in ferritin from the magnetic nanoparticles, leaving behind empty spherical polymeric ghost shells. These results underscore the significance of encapsulation of iron oxides in micelles in preserving nanomaterial integrity and regulating degradation, even under challenging physicochemical conditions within cancer cells.

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli: Frequent, yet underdiagnosed pathotype among E. coli O111 strains isolated from children with gastrointestinal disorders in the Czech Republic.

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) strains including those of serogroup O111 are important causes of diarrhea in children. In the Czech Republic, no information is available on the etiological role of EAEC in pediatric diarrhea due to the lack of their targeted surveillance. To fill this gap, we determined the proportion of EAEC among E. coli O111 isolates from children with gastrointestinal disorders ≤ 2 years of age submitted to the National Reference Laboratory for E. coli and Shigella during 2013-2022. EAEC accounted for 177 of 384 (46.1 %) E. coli O111 isolates, being the second most frequent E. coli O111 pathotype. Most of them (75.7 %) were typical EAEC that carried aggR, usually with aaiC and aatA marker genes; the remaining 24.3 % were atypical EAEC that lacked aggR but carried aaiC and/or aatA. Whole genome sequencing of 11 typical and two atypical EAEC O111 strains demonstrated differences in serotypes, sequence types (ST), virulence gene profiles, and the core genomes between these two groups. Typical EAEC O111:H21/ST40 strains resembled by their virulence profiles including the presence of the aggregative adherence fimbriae V (AAF/V)-encoding cluster to such strains from other countries and clustered with them in the core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST). Atypical EAEC O111:H12/ST10 strains lacked virulence genes of typical EAEC and differed from them in cgMLST. All tested EAEC O111 strains displayed stacked-brick aggregative adherence to human intestinal epithelial cells. The AAF/V-encoding cluster was located on a plasmid of 95,749 bp or 93,286 bp (pAAO111) which also carried aggR, aap, aar, sepA, and aat cluster. EAEC O111 strains were resistant to antibiotics, in particular to aminopenicillins and cephalosporins; 88.3 % produced AmpC ß-lactamase, and 4.1 % extended spectrum ß-lactamase. We conclude that EAEC are frequent among E. coli O111 strains isolated from children with gastrointestinal disorders in the Czech Republic. To reliably assess the etiological role of EAEC in pediatric diarrhea, a serotype-independent, PCR-based pathotype surveillance system needs to be implemented in the future.

Efficient disinfection of combined sewer overflows by ultraviolet/peracetic acid through intracellular oxidation with preserving cell integrity.

Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) introduce microbial contaminants into the receiving water bodies, thereby posing risks to public health. This study systematically investigated the disinfection performance and mechanisms of the combined process of ultraviolet and peracetic acid (UV/PAA) in CSOs with selecting Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a target microbial contaminant. The UV/PAA process exhibited superior performance in inactivating E. coli in simulated CSOs compared with UV, PAA, and UV/H2O2 processes. Increasing the PAA dosage greatly enhanced the disinfection efficiency, while turbidity and organic matter hindered the inactivation performance. Singlet oxygen (1O2), hydroxyl (•OH) and organic radicals (RO•) contributed to the inactivation of E. coli, with •OH and RO• playing the prominent role. Variations of intracellular reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, enzymes activities, DNA contents and biochemical compositions of E. coli cells suggested that UV/PAA primarily caused oxidative damage to intracellular molecules rather than the damage to the lipids of the cell membrane, therefore effectively limited the regrowth of E. coli. Additionally, the UV/PAA process displayed an outstanding performance in disinfecting actual raw CSOs, achieving a 2.90-log inactivation of total bacteria after reaction for 4 min. These results highlighted the practical applicability and effectiveness of the UV/PAA process in the disinfection of CSOs.

Enhanced degradation of emerging contaminants by Far-UVC photolysis of peracetic acid: Synergistic effect and mechanisms.

Krypton chloride (KrCl*) excimer lamps (222 nm) are used as a promising irradiation source to drive ultraviolet-based advanced oxidation processes (UV-AOPs) in water treatment. In this study, the UV222/peracetic acid (PAA) process is implemented as a novel UV-AOPs for the degradation of emerging contaminants (ECs) in water. The results demonstrate that UV222/PAA process exhibits excellent degradation performance for carbamazepine (CBZ), with a removal rate of 90.8 % within 45 min. Notably, the degradation of CBZ in the UV222/PAA process (90.8 %) was significantly higher than that in the UV254/PAA process (15.1 %) at the same UV dose. The UV222/PAA process exhibits superior electrical energy per order (EE/O) performance while reducing resource consumption associated with the high-energy UV254/PAA process. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) detection confirm that HO• play a dominant role in the reaction. The contributions of direct photolysis, HO•, and other active species (RO• and 1O2) are estimated to be 5 %, 88 %, and 7 %, respectively. In addition, the effects of Cl-, HCO3-, and humic acid (HA) on the degradation of CBZ are evaluated. The presence of relatively low concentrations of Cl-, HCO3-, and HA can inhibit CBZ degradation. The UV222/PAA oxidation process could also effectively degrade several other ECs (i.e., iohexol, sulfamethoxazole, acetochlor, ibuprofen), indicating the potential application of this process in pollutant removal. These findings will propel the development of the UV222/PAA process and provide valuable insights for its application in water treatment.

Electrochemistry promotion of Fe(â ¢)/Fe(â ¡) cycle for continuous activation of PAA for sludge disintegration: Performance and mechanism.

In this study, electrochemistry was used to enhance the advanced oxidation of Fe(Ⅱ)/PAA (EC/Fe(Ⅱ)/PAA) to disintegrate waste activated sludge, and its performance and mechanism was compared with those of EC, PAA, EC/PAA and Fe(Ⅱ)/PAA. Results showed that the EC/Fe(Ⅱ)/PAA process effectively improved sludge disintegration and the concentrations of soluble chemical oxygen demand, polysaccharides and nucleic acids increased by 62.85%, 41.15% and 12.21%, respectively, compared to the Fe(Ⅱ)/PAA process. Mechanism analysis showed that the main active species produced in the EC/Fe(Ⅱ)/PAA process were •OH, R-O• and FeIVO2+. During the reaction process, sludge flocs were disrupted and particle size was reduced by the combined effects of active species oxidation, electrochemical oxidation and PAA oxidation. Furthermore, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) was degraded, the conversion of TB-EPS to LB-EPS and S-EPS was promoted and the total protein and polysaccharide contents of EPS were increased. After sludge cells were disrupted, intracellular substances were released, causing an increase in nucleic acids, humic acids and fulvic acids in the supernatant, and resulting in sludge reduction. EC effectively accelerated the conversion of Fe(Ⅲ) to Fe(Ⅱ), which was conducive to the activation of PAA, while also enhancing the disintegration of EPS and sludge cells. This study provided an effective approach for the release of organic matter, offering significant benefits in sludge resource utilization.

Mechanically treated Mn2O3 triggers peracetic acid activation for superior non-radical oxidation of micropollutants: Identification of reactive complexes.

This study used a simple mechanical ball milling strategy to significantly improve the ability of Mn2O3 to activate peracetic acid (PAA) for sustainable and efficient degradation of organic micropollutant (like bisphenol A, BPA). BPA was successfully removed and detoxified via PAA activation by the bm-Mn2O3 within 30 min under neutral environment, with the BPA degradation kinetic rate improved by 3.4 times. Satisfactory BPA removal efficiency can still be achieved over a wide pH range, in actual water and after reuse of bm-Mn2O3 for four cycles. The change in hydrophilicity of Mn2O3 after ball milling evidently elevated the affinity of Mn2O3 for binding to PAA, while the reduction in particle size exposed more active sites contributing partially to catalytic oxidation. Further analysis revealed that BPA oxidation in the ball mill-treated Mn2O3 (bm-Mn2O3)/PAA process mainly depends on the bm-Mn2O3-PAA complex (i.e., Mn(III)-OO(O)CCH3) mediated non-radical pathway rather than R-O• and Mn(IV). Especially, the existence of the Mn(III)-PAA complex was definitely verified by in situ Raman spectroscopy and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS). Simultaneously, density functional theory calculations determined that PAA adsorbs readily on manganese sites thereby favoring the formation of Mn(III)-OO(O)CCH3 complexes. This study advances an in-depth understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in the manganese oxide-catalyzed activation of PAA for superior non-radical oxidation of micropollutants.

Synthesis of ultrathin hybrid membranes via the co-polymerization of acrylic acid, styrene and molybdenum disulfide and their high adsorption selectivity for lead(II) in the mixture of metal ions.

Lead(II) is a potential carcinogen of heavy-metal ions (HIs). With the wide application of Pb-bearing products including lead alloy products, and new-energy lead-ion batteries, lead pollution has become a tricky problem. To solve such a difficulty, novel ultrathin MoS2-vinyl hybrid membranes (MVHMs) with a "spring" effect were synthesized via co-polymerization of acrylic acid, styrene and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and their adsorptions for HIs were explored. The "spring" effect derived from the interaction between the tendency of the short polyacrylic acid (PAA) chain connected with MoS2 to spread outward and the coulomb force between layers from MoS2 (s-MoS2), which enlarge the spacing of MoS2 layers without changing the number of layers after membrane formation, which changes the swelling membrane to a dense membrane and reduces the original thickness from 0.5 cm to 0.011 mm in the thickness direction. The adsorption experiment revealed that these MVHMs had super adsorption performance and high selectivity for Pb2+ by comparison with other five metal ions: Cu2+, Cd2+, Ni2+, Cr3+ and Zn2+. Especially, the adsorption quantity of MVHMs for Pb2+ could approach 2468 mg/g and the maximum adsorption ratio of qe[Pb2+]/qe[Cu2+] can reach 10.909. These values were much larger than the data obtained with the adsorbents reported in the last decade. A variety of models are applied to evaluate the effect of ionic groups. It was confirmed that -COOH plays a key role in adsorption of HIs and s-MoS2 also has a certain contribution. Conversely, ion exchange plays only a minor role during the period of adsorption process. Effective diffusion coefficient (Deff) of Pb(II) had the largest values among these metal ions. Hence, these hybrid membranes are promising adsorbents for the removal of Pb2+ from water containing various ions.

Massive left pulmonary artery aneurysm with a co-existing patent ductus arteriosus in a five-year-old female child: A case report.

Pulmonary Artery Aneur ysm (PAA), whether congenital or acquired, is a rare diagnostic find ing com pare d to aor tic aneur ysms. There have been fe w cases where PA As were documented as a complication of untreated Patent Ductus Ar teriosus (PDA) due to long-standing Pulmonary Arterial H ypertension (PAH). However, it is quite rare for a case of PAA to be reported with co-existing PDA without PAH. This report highlights a case of a five -year-old girl who was presented with palpitations, easy fatigability, fever, c yanos is, and vomiting. A Chest X-ray s howed mo derate cardiomega ly. A PDA of 6 mm was diagnosed on Transthoracic E chocardiog rap hy ( TTE ) and a large cavity con necte d with LPA raised suspicion of a possible LPA aneur ysm. A Chest CT scan confirm ed the diagnosis of a saccular aneurysm, originating from the distal part of the main Left Pulmonary Artery (LPA) just proximal to the point of bifurcation into lobar branches, measuring 7.5x6.5 cm. During surgery, the aneurysm was opened, emptied with suction and closed without resecting the aneur ysmal walls. The patient had an uneventful post-op course and is doing well during regular interval follow up visits.

The Effects of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress via Intratracheal Instillation of Water-Soluble Acrylic Acid Polymer on the Lungs of Rats.

Polyacrylic acid (PAA), an organic chemical, has been used as an intermediate in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. It has been suggested recently that PAA has a high pulmonary inflammatory and fibrotic potential. Although endoplasmic reticulum stress is induced by various external and intracellular stimuli, there have been no reports examining the relationship between PAA-induced lung injury and endoplasmic reticulum stress. F344 rats were intratracheally instilled with dispersed PAA (molecular weight: 269,000) at low (0.5 mg/mL) and high (2.5 mg/mL) doses, and they were sacrificed at 3 days, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after exposure. PAA caused extensive inflammation and fibrotic changes in the lungs' histopathology over a month following instillation. Compared to the control group, the mRNA levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers Bip and Chop in BALF were significantly increased in the exposure group. In fluorescent immunostaining, both Bip and Chop exhibited co-localization with macrophages. Intratracheal instillation of PAA induced neutrophil inflammation and fibrosis in the rat lung, suggesting that PAA with molecular weight 269,000 may lead to pulmonary disorder. Furthermore, the presence of endoplasmic reticulum stress in macrophages was suggested to be involved in PAA-induced lung injury.

Revisiting the Clinical Interpretation of CT-Measured Pulmonary Artery-to-Aorta Ratio-The Rotterdam Study.

RATIONALE: The pulmonary artery (PA) diameter-to-aorta ratio (PA:A) ratio is a novel marker in cardiovascular imaging for detecting pulmonary hypertension. However, we question the effect of the varying aorta diameter on the ratio, which complicates the interpretation of the PA:A ratio. OBJECTIVE: Investigate the variability of the PA:A ratio by examining the correlation between PA:A ratio and aorta diameter and by comparing the associations of the PA diameter, aorta diameters, and PA:A ratio. METHODS: We included 2197 participants from the Rotterdam Study who underwent non-contrast multidetector computed tomography to measure the PA and aorta diameters. Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated between the PA:A ratio and aorta diameter. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to compare the determinants of the individual diameters and PA:A ratio. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant correlation between the PA:A ratio and aorta diameter (r = -0.38, p < 0.001). The PA diameter was statistically significantly associated with, height, weight, diastolic blood pressure, blood pressure medication, prevalence of atrial fibrillation, prevalence of heart failure, and prevalence of stroke (p < 0.05). Except for blood pressure medication, the PA:A ratio had similar determinants compared to the PA diameter but was also statistically significantly associated with sex, and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05), which were statistically significantly associated with the aorta diameter (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The PA:A ratio should not be interpreted without taking into account the variability of the individual components (PA and aorta diameter) according to the anthropomorphic and clinical characteristics.

Pulmonary artery anastomosis during lung transplantation: a novel technique.

Pulmonary artery anastomosis (PAA) is a critical step in lung transplantation. The conventional approach involves end-to-end anastomosis, which can lead to arterial tortuosity, oozing, stenosis, and thrombosis. Here, we present a modified PAA technique for lung transplantation. The anesthesia protocol and the incision for lung transplantation adhere to standard lung transplantation protocols. The primary innovation is the enhanced pulmonary anastomosis technique. The donor and recipient artery stumps are adjusted to restore their natural anatomical alignment. The donor-recipient stump is everted, ensuring precise alignment of the intima of the donor and recipient arteries. Both ends of the anastomosis are secured using 5-0 Prolene sutures to ensure stability and traction, followed by continuous suturing. In this study, seven patients underwent PAA using this novel technique. Notably, no bleeding was observed upon unveiling and deaerating the anastomosis, eliminating the need for additional sutures. Furthermore, no pulmonary artery torsion or significant prolongation of the anastomotic procedure was observed. Postoperative computed tomography of the chest revealed no anastomotic stenosis or mural thrombosis. This novel cuff anastomosis technique can reduce the risk of thrombosis and prevent torsion and stenosis in the reconstructed artery.