Environmental-friendly extraction of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate from poly(vinyl chloride) using liquefied dimethyl ether.

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is one of the most widely used plastics. However, a major challenge in recycling PVC is that there is no economical method to separate and remove its toxic phthalate plasticizers. This research made a breakthrough by extracting PVC with liquefied dimethyl ether (DME) and successfully separating the plasticizer components. Nearly all (97.1 %) of the di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate plasticizer was extracted within 30 min by passing liquefied DME (285 g) through PVC at 25 °C. The compatibility of PVC with organic solvents, including liquefied DME, was derived theoretically from their Hansen solubility parameters (HSP), and actual dissolution experiments were conducted to determine the optimal PVC solvents. A liquefied DME mixture was used to dissolve PVC, and the extract was diluted with ethanol to precipitate the dissolved PVC. We demonstrated that liquefied DME is a promising method for producing high quality recycled products and that the process retains the fundamental properties of plasticizers and PVC without inducing degradation or depolymerization. Because of its low boiling point, DME can be easily separated from the solute after extraction, allowing for efficient reuse of the solvent, extracted plasticizer, and PVC. DME does not require heat and produces little harmful wastewater, which significantly reduces the energy consumption of the plasticizer additive separation process.

Extraction and Separation of Natural Products from Microalgae and Other Natural Sources Using Liquefied Dimethyl Ether, a Green Solvent: A Review.

Microalgae are a sustainable source for the production of biofuels and bioactive compounds. This review discusses significant research on innovative extraction techniques using dimethyl ether (DME) as a green subcritical fluid. DME, which is characterized by its low boiling point and safety as an organic solvent, exhibits remarkable properties that enable high extraction rates of various active compounds, including lipids and bioactive compounds, from high-water-content microalgae without the need for drying. In this review, the superiority of liquefied DME extraction technology for microalgae over conventional methods is discussed in detail. In addition, we elucidate the extraction mechanism of this technology and address its safety for human health and the environment. This review also covers aspects related to extraction equipment, various applications of different extraction processes, and the estimation and trend analysis of the Hansen solubility parameters. In addition, we anticipate a promising trajectory for the expansion of this technology for the extraction of various resources.

Direct synthesis of hydrogen fluoride-free multilayered Ti3C2/TiO2 composite and its applications in photocatalysis.

Ti3C2/TiO2 hybrids are environment-friendly and exhibit excellent photocatalytic and hydrogen-generating power characteristics. Herein, a novel single-step method is proposed for fabricating multilayer structures in which TiO2, generated from (NH4)2TiF6, wraps the Ti3C2 MXene by etching Ti3AlC2 with (NH4)2TiF6. The optimal reaction conditions for the etching of Ti3AlC2 with (NH4)2TiF6 were systematically studied. The phase composition, morphology, and photophysical properties of the Ti3C2/TiO2 hybrids were investigated using X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and UV-vis spectrophotometry. The thermal stability of the hybrids was investigated using thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses. Along with the formation of Ti3C2 MXene, Ti3AlC2 reacted with (NH4)2TiF6 at 60 °C for 24 h to form hybrids surrounded by NH4TiOF3 crystals. Subsequent reactions of these hybrids with H3BO3 resulted in the conversion of NH4TiOF3 crystals into TiO2 and eventually into Ti3C2/TiO2 hybrids. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of the Ti3C2/TiO2 hybrids was measured by monitoring the photodegradation of methylene blue under ultraviolet light, which showed that the photocatalytic activity of the Ti3C2/TiO2 hybrids was higher than that of the commercial anatase TiO2 nanoparticles.

Pretreatment Lymphocyte to C-Reactive Protein Ratio: An Independent Predictor of Overall Survival in Metastatic Hormone-Naïve Prostate Cancer Patients.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical value of combination of systematic inflammatory factors in predicting the outcomes of primary androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) plus first-generation antiandrogen treatment in metastatic hormone-naïve prostate cancer (mHNPC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 361 consecutive mHNPC patients from the discovery (n = 165) and validation (n = 196) cohorts were analyzed. All patients received primary ADT with surgical castration or pharmacologic castration accompanied by first-generation antiandrogens. We evaluated the prognostic impact of pretreatment lymphocyte to C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) on overall survival (OS) in both cohorts. RESULTS: The median follow-up in the discovery and validation cohorts was 43.4 and 50.9 months, respectively. In the discovery cohort, low LCR (using an optimal cutoff threshold of 14,025) was significantly correlated with poor OS compared with high LCR (P < .001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the biopsy Gleason score and LCR were independent prognostic factors for OS. In the validation cohort, low LCR was also significantly correlated with poor OS compared with high LCR (P = .001). A multivariate analysis revealed that the extent of disease on bone scan grade, lactate dehydrogenase, and LCR were all independent predictors of OS. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment low LCR is an independent predictor of poor OS in mHNPC patients. This may be informative in predicting the susceptible patients' developing worse outcomes after being treated with primary ADT plus first-generation antiandrogen.

[Primary Leiomyosarcoma of the Epididymis : A Case Report].

A 63-year-old man presented with right scrotal swelling. A physical examination revealed a painless, palpable mass in the right scrotum. The mass was well defined and lobulated. Subsequently, a diagnosis of right epididymal tumor was made, and right high orchiectomy was performed. Hematoxylin-eosin and immunostaining revealed leiomyosarcoma of the epididymis. When a diagnosis of epididymal malignant tumor is made, the standard treatment is radical orchiectomy.

Hydroxyapatite-coated titanium oxide ameliorates dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis by attenuating both innate and acquired immune reaction.

Introduction: Titanium oxide (TiO2) is a widely used oxidizer for environmental management. The power of TiO2 has been demonstrated by its photocatalytic activity. Hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated TiO2 (HA-TiO2) was used to test the in vivo effect on dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Material and methods: Mice were monitored for body weight and then sacrificed on the seventh day, and the colon length was measured. Their faeces were analysed for intestinal microbiota distribution, and colon tissue was subjected to histological examination and immunohistochemical analysis. Results: Weight loss was significantly lower in HA-TiO2-fed mice than in mice without HA-TiO2. The colon length in the DSS colitis-induced mice was shortened, but HA-TiO2 feeding lessened this effect. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses of the colon revealed that macrophages and CD4+CD8+ T cells were observed in the colitis-occurring site, indicating the involvement of innate and acquired immunity in determining the degree of DSS-induced colitis. Intestinal microbiota analysis in faeces revealed changes in the distribution of multiple bacterial species after DSS colitis induction, and the increase/decrease of 2 Clostridium (sub)clusters moved in response to the colitis phenomenon. All the described effects of HA-TiO2 were photocatalytic activity-dependent because mice that were kept in the dark showed similar results to those treated with DSS alone without HA-TiO2. Conclusions: HA-coated TiO2 ameliorated DSS-induced colitis through photocatalytic activity, while HA-TiO2 diminished the changes in intestinal microbiota and immune reactions caused by DSS.

Surfactant-Free Decellularization of Porcine Auricular Cartilage Using Liquefied Dimethyl Ether and DNase.

The most common decellularization method involves lipid removal using surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and DNA fragmentation using DNase, and is associated with residual SDS. We previously proposed a decellularization method for the porcine aorta and ostrich carotid artery using liquefied dimethyl ether (DME), which is free from the concerns associated with SDS residues, instead of SDS. In this study, the DME + DNase method was tested on crushed porcine auricular cartilage tissues. Unlike with the porcine aorta and the ostrich carotid artery, it is important to degas the porcine auricular cartilage using an aspirator before DNA fragmentation. Although approximately 90% of the lipids were removed using this method, approximately 2/3 of the water was removed, resulting in a temporary Schiff base reaction. The amount of residual DNA in the tissue was approximately 27 ng/mg dry weight, which is lower than the regulatory value of 50 ng/mg dry weight. Hematoxylin and eosin staining confirmed that cell nuclei were removed from the tissue. Residual DNA fragment length assessment by electrophoresis confirmed that the residual DNA was fragmented to less than 100 bp, which was lower than the regulatory limit of 200 bp. By contrast, in the uncrushed sample, only the surface was decellularized. Thus, although limited to a sample size of approximately 1 mm, liquefied DME can be used to decellularize porcine auricular cartilage. Thus, liquefied DME, with its low persistence and high lipid removal capacity, is an effective alternative to SDS.

Extraction of Phytochemicals from Maypole Apple by Subcritical Water.

The Maypole apple is a new, promising species of small apples with a prominent flavor and deep red flesh and peel. This study divided Maypole apples into outer flesh, inner flesh, and peel, and used subcritical water at 100-175 °C for 10-30 min to extract various phytochemicals (procyanidin B2 (PB2), 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5CQA), and epicatechin). The obtained Maypole apple extracts and extraction residues in this work were analyzed using a SEM, HPLC, FT-IR, and UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Under different subcritical water extraction conditions, this work found the highest extraction rate: to be PB2 from the peel (4.167 mg/mL), 5CQA (2.296 mg/mL) and epicatechin (1.044 mg/mL) from the inner flesh. In addition, this work regressed the quadratic equations of the specific yield through ANOVA and found that temperature is a more significant affecting factor than extraction time. This aspect of the study suggests that phytochemicals could be obtained from the Maypole apple using the new extraction method of subcritical water.

Tensile Strength of Porcine Aorta Decellularized with Liquefied Dimethyl Ether and DNase.

In a previous report, we proposed a method for decellularizing porcine aortas by removing lipids from the aortas using liquefied dimethyl ether (DME) instead of the conventional sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). This is followed by DNA fragmentation with DNase. In the current work, the physical properties of porcine aortas decellularized using the DME method are evaluated by tensile strength tests. Conventional SDS decellularized aortas are typically swollen, rupture very easily, and have poor elasticity. By contrast, DME-treated samples are found to be less elastic. However, the maximum stress required for rupture is greater than that for the original aorta. These results indicate that decellularization with DME and DNase increases the maximum stress that can be withstood. Reduction of elasticity may derive from the appearance of temporary C=N bonds due to Schiff-base reactions that occur during the lipid removal process by liquefied DME, and methods to avoid this are desirable.

Curcumin-Loaded Liposome Preparation in Ultrasound Environment under Pressurized Carbon Dioxide.

Curcumin-loaded liposomes were prepared using a supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2)−ultrasound environment system. The experiments were performed at temperatures of 40−70 °C and pressures of 10−25 MPa in a batch system with ultrasonication for 60 min. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed liposome products with spherical morphologies and diameters of <100 nm. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis indicated that the curcumin-loaded liposome nanosuspension exhibited good stability. Changing the operating conditions influenced the amount of liposome-encapsulated curcumin; as the operating temperature or pressure increased, the diameter of the liposome products and the amount of liposome-encapsulated curcumin increased and decreased, respectively. Herein, we described an innovative and practical organic-solvent-free method for generating liposomes from phospholipids.

Gas/Liquid Pulsed Discharge Plasma in a Slug Flow Reactor under Pressurized Argon for Dye Decomposition.

Pulsed discharge plasma produced in a gas/liquid environment has attracted much attention because of its low energy requirement and the generation of various radical species with high reactivity. In our previous work, a slug flow system was developed to produce gas/liquid plasma under atmospheric pressure, generating continuous bubbles and stable gas-liquid interfaces. Currently, meaningful results have also been obtained in the field of plasma under high-pressure conditions. Therefore, in this study, a slug flow system using gas/liquid discharge plasma was implemented under pressurized argon. The system pressure was controlled from 0.1 (atmospheric pressure) to 0.4 MPa, and the effect of pressure on the system was investigated. This system was also applied to the decomposition of methylene blue. The chemical reactivity was studied, and the energy of the system was calculated. The results showed that as the system pressure increased, the decomposition rate of methylene blue decreased, while the concentration of the total oxidation species increased. This can be explained by a decrease in the energy available for methylene blue decomposition owing to the steady input energy and increasing energy loss.

Extraction of Functional Components from Freeze-Dried Angelica furcijuga Leaves Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide.

Angelica furcijuga (A. furcijuga), as a material for traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used in Asian countries, such as China, Korea, and Japan, for several centuries owing to its therapeutic effects. In this study, A. furcijuga leaves were used as starting materials to extract functional substances using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) at pressure and temperature ranges of 20-40 MPa and 40-80 °C, respectively. The extraction process was performed in a semibatch-type system with extraction times of 15-120 min. The high-performance liquid chromatography analysis indicated that kaempferol, ferulic acid, ligustilide, and butylidenephthalide as selected functional substances were successfully extracted under these operating conditions. An operating pressure of 30 MPa with an extraction time of 60 min seems to be an appropriate pressure to extract functional components from A. furcijuga leaves. The Hansen solubility parameter values and statistical analysis showed that SC-CO2 with 10% ethanol addition is a feasible tool to isolate these selected functional substances from the A. furcijuga matrix.

Enhancement of Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb Phytochemical Dissolution via Micronization Using a Supercritical Antisolvent Technique.

Fine particles comprising Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb (C. xanthorrhiza) rhizome extract were successfully generated using a supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) antisolvent technique. The SCCO2 antisolvent process was performed at 40 °C with 8-16 MPa operating pressures. The CO2 and feed solution flow rates were 15 and 0.25 mL min-1, respectively. The mixture of C. xanthorrhiza rhizome extract and a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymer in acetone-ethanol was used as a feed solution. The collected particle products seemed to possess spherical and spherical-like morphologies with a diameter of less than 500 nm. The infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that the structural properties of C. xanthorrhiza rhizome extract did not change after treatment with the SCCO2 antisolvent. Furthermore, the addition of the PVP polymer in the C. xanthorrhiza rhizome extract particle products may improve their dissolution significantly in an aqueous solution medium.

Reduced-Pressure Process for Fabricating Tea Tree Oil-Polyvinylpyrrolidone Electrospun Fibers.

Electrospun fibers containing tea tree oil (TTO) can be explored for practical applications due to the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of TTO. Considering that there are potentially toxic components in TTO, it is necessary to eliminate or reduce its content in the preparation process of TTO-doped electrospun fibers. In this work, electrospun TTO-PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone) fibers containing an 18.18 wt.% decreased content of 1,8-Cineole were successfully fabricated by intense evaporation of a self-made reduced-pressure electrospinning (RP-ES) setup (as low as 94.4 kPa). In addition, such intense evaporation led to a morphology change, where a typical average fiber diameter increased from 0.831 to 1.148 µm, fewer and smaller beads in fibers, along with a rougher and grooves fiber surface. These morphology changes allowed Terpinen-4-ol to remain in the fiber for a more extended period. In addition, RP-ES proved the possibility for intense evaporation and continuous vapor removal by continuously environmental vacuum pumping of electrospinning.

PVP/Highly Dispersed AgNPs Nanofibers Using Ultrasonic-Assisted Electrospinning.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are novel materials with antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activities over a wide range. This study aimed to prepare polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) electrospinning composites with uniformly distributed AgNPs. In this study, starch-capped ~2 nm primary AgNPs were first synthesized using Atmospheric pressure Pulsed Discharge Plasma (APDP) at AC 10 kV and 10 kHz. Then, 0.6 wt.% AgNPs were mixed into a 10 wt.% PVP ethanol-based polymer solution and coiled through an Ultrasonic-assisted Electrospinning device (US-ES) with a 50 W and 50 kHz ultrasonic generator. At 12 kV and a distance of 10 cm, this work successfully fabricated AgNPs-PVP electrospun fibers. The electrospun products were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), High-Resolution TEM (HR-TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric (TG), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) methods.

Prognostic Effect of Preoperative Psoas Muscle Hounsfield Unit at Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer.

Radical cystectomy (RC) is the standard treatment for patients with advanced bladder cancer. Since RC is a highly invasive procedure, the surgical indications in an aging society must be carefully judged. In recent years, the concept of "frailty" has been attracting attention as a term used to describe fragility due to aging. We focused on the psoas muscle Hounsfield unit (PMHU) and analyzed its appropriateness as a prognostic factor together with other clinical factors in patients after RC. We retrospectively analyzed the preoperative prognostic factors in 177 patients with bladder cancer who underwent RC between 2008 and 2020. Preoperative non-contrast computed tomography axial image at the third lumbar vertebral level was used to measure the mean Hounsfield unit (HU) and cross-sectional area (mm2) of the psoas muscle. Univariate analysis showed significant differences in age, sex, clinical T stage, and PMHU. In multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model, age (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.734), sex (HR = 2.116), cT stage (HR = 1.665), and PMHU (HR = 1.758) were significant predictors for overall survival. Furthermore, using these four predictors, it was possible to stratify the prognosis of patients after RC. Finally, PMHU was useful as a simple and significant preoperative factor that correlated with prognosis after RC.

Improvement in the Filtration Performance of an Ultraporous Nanofiber Membrane by Atmospheric Pressure Plasma-Induced Surface Modification.

Nanofiber membranes have outstanding potential for filtration applications due to their great specific surface area, high porosity, and modifiable structure. Compared to conventional membranes, nanofiber membranes offer substantial high flux and high rejection ratios. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis on the filtration performance of plasma treatment on the polyacrylonitrile nanofiber membrane. The pores in the original membrane were utilized about a mere 10%, while those of the plasma-irradiated membrane were utilized nearly 60%. The membrane modification was performed using N2, O2, and Ar plasma. It was found that Ar plasma was most effective for etching the membrane structure. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was applied to detect the chemical changes on the membranes. The contact angle of the water droplets on the original membrane was 96.1°; however, after the Ar plasma treatment, it declined to 0°. Finally, the particle retention details in different cross sections of the filtered membranes were observed via a scanning electron microscope. The main innovation is to clarify the changes in the mechanism of the nanofiber membrane trapping particles before and after plasma treatment. In the filtration test after plasma treatment, the internal space of the membrane was fully and effectively utilized, and the flux was also improved. The obtained results suggest a potential application of the plasma-treated nanofiber membrane in water treatment.

A case of adenocarcinoma of the rete testis with durable response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Adenocarcinoma of the rete testis is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis. We report a case of adenocarcinoma of the rete testis with a durable response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 48-year-old man with Down syndrome (trisomy 21) presented with a 1-month history of painless swelling of the left scrotum. The physical examination revealed a left testis with a hydrocele associated with a tumor and enlarged pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes. He underwent a radical orchiectomy. The specimen was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma of the rete testis. The patient received 7 cycles of chemotherapy (1 cycle of BEP and 6 cycles of EP) postoperatively. The metastatic lymph nodes were reduced in size for at least 12 months. Our patient with adenocarcinoma of the rete testis obtained an acceptable response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: We treated a patient with an adenocarcinoma of the rete testis who had an acceptable response to platinum-based chemotherapy.

[Initial Experience of Photodynamic Diagnosis-Assisted Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (PDD-TURBT)].

Photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is expected to be useful in preventing oversight of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and in reducing the intravesical recurrence rate after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). We report our initial experience with28 cases of PDD-assisted TURBT (122 samples) performed at our hospital from February 2018 to April 2019. The median age of the patients was 74.5 years, and 18 of the 28 were primary cases. Each patient underwent TURBT with oral administration of 5-ALA 20 mg/kg 3 hours before endoscopic examination. The sensitivity was 89.8% when both white light and blue light were used, which was superior to the sensitivity of 67.8% when using only white light (p＜0.01, McNemar's test). Among the first several cases, we experienced high false positivity, which suggested that some experience may be required to discriminate tumors from inflammatory lesions. In fact, the specificity and the positive likelihood ratio improved with experience. No grade 2 or higher adverse events were observed among our cases. The median follow-up period was 738 days, and 9 of 28 patients (32. 1%) had recurrence within the follow-up period. In conclusion, our initial experience with PDD-assisted TURBT demonstrated its excellent diagnostic sensitivity and safety, as previously reported.