Health Risks Due to Metal Concentrations in Soil and Vegetables from the Six Municipalities of the Island Province in the Philippines.

This paper investigated the health risks due to metal concentrations in soil and vegetables from the island province in the Philippines and the potential ecological risks. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in vegetables and soil in six municipalities of the province were analyzed using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) Perkin Elmer Optima 8000. It was recorded that all metal concentrations in the soil, except for Cd, exceeded the soil quality standard (SQS). The concentration of Fe and Mn was highest among other metals. The Nemerow synthetical pollution index (Pn) in all soil samples was under Class V which means severe pollution level. Likewise, the risk index (RI) of soil ranged from high to very high pollution risk. Most of the metal concentrations in the vegetables analyzed also exceeded the maximum permissible limit (MPL). All health hazard indices (HHIs) were less than 1, which means potential low non-carcinogenic risk to human population by vegetable consumption. However, it was found that concentration of Cr and Ni in vegetables is a potential health hazard having concentrations exceeding the maximum threshold limit. A 75% temporary consumption reduction of bitter melon, eggplant, sweet potato tops, and string beans produced from two municipalities may be helpful in reducing exposure to target metals. Additional studies are needed to confirm this recommendation. Spatial correlation analysis showed that six out of target metals had datasets that were more spatially clustered than would be expected. The recorded data are useful for creation of research direction, and aid in developing strategies for remediation, tools, and programs for improving environmental and vegetable quality monitoring.

Pediatric Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic and Ureteroscopic Ureterolithotomy and Ureteroplasty.

Background: Pediatric urolithiasis may coexist with congenital urinary tract abnormalities, complicating conventional methods of stone treatment. Here, we present an effective case of robot-assisted laparoscopy and simultaneous ureteropyeloscopy for the definitive management of pediatric urolithiasis complicated by a congenital ureteral stricture. Case Presentation: A 3-year-old girl presented to clinic with an outside noncontrast CT scan showing two 6-7 mm nonobstructing calculi in a mildly distended upper pole moiety of a duplex left kidney. Ureteral duplication status was unclear. The patient had suffered multiple febrile urinary tract infections throughout her life. Retrograde ureteropyelogram showed a stenotic waist in the upper pole ureter just proximal to the duplex ureteral convergence, and flexible ureteroscopy confirmed a congenital ureteral stricture. Simultaneous robot-assisted laparoscopic and ureteroscopic ureterolithotomy and ureteroplasty were offered and performed using a 3-armed robotic approach. The precise location of the stricture was identified robotically with simultaneous left ureteroscopy. A medial 1.5 cm longitudinal ureterotomy was made through the ureteral stricture to facilitate upper moiety ureterorenoscopy. The calculi were visualized in the upper moiety and retrieved in whole using a stone basket. The calculi were passed via the ureterotomy to the robotic instruments intraperitoneally. The longitudinal ureterotomy was closed transversely. A ureteral stent was placed, and indocyanine green was administered intravenously to confirm good perfusion of the ureteroplasty segment via fluorescence imaging. The stent was removed at 4 weeks. Retrograde ureterography and flexible ureteroscopy revealed complete patency of the anastomosis. At 11 months, the upper pole moiety remained decompressed on ultrasonography. The patient has remained off antibiotic prophylaxis without further infection. Conclusion: Robot-assisted approaches can be primary or adjunct tools in the definitive treatment of pediatric urolithiasis with concomitant urinary tract abnormalities.

Bioinert Control of Zwitterionic Poly(ethylene terephtalate) Fibrous Membranes.

Poly(ethylene terephtalate) (PET)-based materials face general biofouling issues that we addressed by grafting a copolymer of glycidyl methacrylate and sulfobetaine methacrylate, poly(GMA- r-SBMA). The grafting procedure involved a dip-coating step followed by UV-exposure and led to successful grafting of the copolymer as evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and zeta potential measurements. It did not modify the pore size nor the porosity of the PET membranes. In addition, their surface hydrophilicity was considerably improved, with a water contact angle falling to 30° in less than 20 s and 0° in less than 1 min. The effect of copolymer concentration in the coating bath (dip-coating procedure) and UV exposure time (UV step) were scrutinized during biofouling studies involving several bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, but also whole blood and HT1080 fibroblasts cells. The results indicate that if all conditions led to improved biofouling mitigation, due to the efficiency of the zwitterionic copolymer and grafting procedure, a higher concentration (15 mg/mL) and longer UV exposure time (at least 10 min) enhanced the grafting density which reflected on the biofouling results and permitted a better general biofouling control regardless of the nature of the biofoulant (bacteria, blood cells, fibroblasts).

The ubiquitin-proteasome system and assays to determine responses to inhibitors.

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD: Proteasome inhibition is an important therapeutic modality. Additionally, given the toxicities of direct proteasome inhibition, interest is increasing in modulating the ubiquitin ligases in the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW: A detailed examination of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and an examination of methods of inhibiting this pathway from a variety of targets including the proteasome, the ubiquitin ligases and molecular biology techniques. Special attention is given to the assays used to measure modulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN: A thorough examination of the UPS and its role in cells and disease and an overview of several assays for analyzing the effect of inhibitors on the UPS. Significant detail is given to assays of the ligase system and molecular approaches. These assays have their own advantages and disadvantages and will allow investigators to make informed choices on investigating the UPS. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Interrupting the UPS can have profound consequences for cellular health and disease progression. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway contains multiple activities that cannot be definitively assayed by a single technique. Assaying the UPS requires investigators to use multiple corroborating techniques and avoid confounding issues within each technique.