Unraveling the impact of high arsenic, fluoride and microbial population in community tubewell water around coal mines in a semiarid region: Insight from health hazards, and geographic information systems.

High arsenic (As), fluoride (F-), and microbial pathogens coexist in semiarid conditions afflicting > 240 million people worldwide including Pakistan. Groundwater quality has declined due to geogenic and manmade activities providing suitable ground for ubiquity, bioavailability, and toxicity of contaminants. We tested the health hazard, distribution, and apportionment of As, F-, and microbes in groundwater around coal mines in Quetta, Pakistan. The range of As, and F- concentrations in groundwater were 0.2-16.6 µg/L, 0.4-18.5 mg/L. Both, As and F- correlate with high HCO3-, pH, Na+, SO42-, Fe, and Mn, and negatively with Ca2+ water. The coalfield showed many folds higher As 15.8-28.5 µg/L, and F- 10.8-34.5 mg/L compared to groundwater-wells. Geochemical phases revealed saturation of groundwater with calcite, dolomite, fluorite, gypsum, and undersaturation with halite-mirabilite, and arsenopyrite minerals. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model assessed five-factor solutions: geogenic, industrial, coal mining, sulfide & fluoride-bearing mineral-dissolution, and agriculture pollution delivered As, F-, and microbial contamination. About 24.6 % and 64.4 % of groundwater samples exceeded the WHO guidelines of As 10 µg/L, F- 1.5 mg/L. The carcinogenicity, and non-carcinogenicity of As, and F- were higher in children than adults. Therefore, health hazards in children are of great concern in achieving sustainable management goals.

Polyvinylidene fluoride prosthetic reinforcement in abdominal wall hernia surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical repair of the anterior abdominal wall hernia is the most common intervention in general surgery practice. The introduction of synthetic prostheses reduces the frequency of recurrences, but in many cases, they are associated with complications that could seriously impair the quality of life of patients. To reduce perioperative complications, we introduced in our practice innovative prostheses made of a highly inert polymer, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and conducted an observational study.

Associations of gestational and childhood exposure to lead, cadmium, and fluoride with cognitive abilities, behavior, and social communication at 4 years of age: NICE Birth Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Early-life lead exposure affects cognitive development and emerging evidence suggests similar effects of cadmium and fluoride. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of gestational and childhood exposure to lead, cadmium, and fluoride on cognitive abilities and behavioral and social communication problems. METHODS: We studied 470 pregnant women (gestational week 29) and their 4-year-old children from the NICE cohort in northern Sweden. Concentrations of erythrocyte lead and cadmium and urinary cadmium were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and urinary fluoride with an ion-selective electrode. Urinary concentrations were specific-gravity adjusted. Associations of log2-transformed exposure concentrations with cognitive abilities (full-scale IQ and verbal comprehension by Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Fourth Edition), behavioral problems (Child Behavior Checklist), and social communication (Social Responsiveness Scale-Second Edition) were evaluated with multivariable-adjusted linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Both gestational and cord erythrocyte lead concentrations were non-significantly inversely associated with child cognitive abilities (full-scale IQ: B [95%CI]: -1.2 [-2.9, 0.5] and -1.6 [-3.7, 0.4], respectively; per doubling of exposure). Similarly, both gestational and child urinary cadmium were inversely associated with cognitive abilities (full-scale IQ: -1.1 [-2.5, 0.3] and -1.1 [-2.5, 0.4], verbal comprehension: -1.2 [-3.1, 0.6] and -1.4 [-3.4, 0.6], respectively). Urinary fluoride concentrations showed no association with cognitive abilities. However, gestational fluoride was associated with increasing externalizing problems (0.9 [-0.3, 2.0]) and ADHD raw scores (0.3 [0.0, 0.6]). Childhood erythrocyte lead and urinary cadmium were non-significantly associated with increased behavioral problems (lead with total problems: 1.2 [-0.4, 2.9] and internalizing problems: 1.5 [-0.4, 3.4]; cadmium with externalizing problems: 1.1 [-0.2, 2.4]). CONCLUSION: Despite non-significant associations, both lead and cadmium exposure showed consistent inverse associations with cognitive abilities at 4 years, whereas associations with behavioral problems were less conclusive, especially for cadmium. Results on fluoride indicated association with externalizing problems, including ADHD, but prevalence of behavioral problems was low, increasing uncertainty.

Aluminum fluorides as noncovalent Lewis acids in proteins: The case of phosphoryl transfer enzymes.

The Protein Data Bank (PDB) was scrutinized for the presence of noncovalent O···Al Triel Bonding (TrB) interactions, involving protein residues (e.g. GLU and GLN), adenosine/guanine diphosphate moieties (ADP and GDP), water molecules and two aluminum fluorides (AlF3 and AlF4-). The results were statistically analyzed, revealing a vast number of O···Al contacts in the active sites of phosphoryl transfer enzymes, with a marked directionality towards the Al σ-/π-hole. The physical nature of the TrBs studied herein was analyzed using Molecular Electrostatic Potential (MEP) maps, the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM), the Non Covalent Interaction plot (NCIplot) visual index and Natural Bonding Orbital (NBO) studies. As far as our knowledge extends, it is the first time that O···Al TrBs are analyzed within a biological context, participating in protein trapping mechanisms related to phosphoryl transfer enzymes. Moreover, since they are involved in the stabilization of aluminum fluorides inside the protein's active site, we believe the results reported herein will be valuable for those scientists working in supramolecular chemistry, catalysis and rational drug design.

Pyrene Based Schiff Base for Cascade Fluorescent "On-Off" Detection of Aluminium(III) and Fluoride ions and its Applications in Live Cells Imaging.

An easy-to-prepare pyrene-based Schiff base PNZ was synthesized by condensing equimolar amount of 1-pyrenebutyric hydrazide with 2-hydroxy-naphthaldehyde, and employed as a fluorescent chemosensor for in-situ cascade detection of aluminium (Al3+) and fluoride (F-) ions. In DMSO:H2O (1:1, v/v), the weakly emissive PNZ showed a significant fluorescence enhancement at 455 nm selectively upon the addition of Al3+ due to the complexation-induced formation of a pyrene excimer. Schiff base PNZ and Al3+ formed a complex in 2:1 binding ratio with the estimated binding constants of K1:1 = 9826.01 M-1 and K2:1 = 3188.49 M-1. The sensing mechanism was explored by performing quantum mechanical calculations and 1H NMR titration of PNZ with Al3+. The in-situ formed PNZ-Al3+ complex species enabled the fluorescent turn-off detection of F-. Using PNZ and PNZ-Al3+, the concentrations of Al3+ and F- ions can be detected down to 2.89×10-7 M and 1.88×10-7 M, respectively. The cytotoxicity of the PNZ and its ability to bioimage Al3+ and F- ions was examined in the human cervical cancer cell line. Finally, the receptor PNZ was applied for the quantification of Al3+ and F- ions in various real samples, such as tap water, river water, rainwater, mouthwash, and toothpaste.

Comparative Evaluation of Microbial Reduction Using Silver Diamine Fluoride, Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Sodium Hypochlorite as Root Canal Irrigants after Biomechanical Preparation in Uniradicular Canals: An In Vivo Study.

Background: It is difficult to completely eradicate microorganisms from the infected root canal system. Intracanal irrigants seem necessary for eradication of infected tissues and microorganisms in addition to mechanical debridement. Continuous use of chemical antimicrobial agents leads to serious side effects. Therefore, the need arises for alternative agents to overcome the disadvantages of their chemical counterparts. Aim: To evaluate and compare the antimicrobial efficacy of three endodontic irrigants against clinically isolated bacteria found in root canals containing necrotic pulp. Materials and methods: Preirrigation sample were collected using sterile paper points and sent for microbial count. Chemomechanical preparation was performed, and the root canals were irrigated with 5 mL of test samples. After 3 days, the patient was recalled, and a postirrigation sample was collected and sent for microbial count. Result synthesis: Both 3.8% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) showed a superior capacity to sterilize the root canals compared to the neem group. Conclusion: The use of SDF as an endodontic irrigant is feasible as it effectively removes the microbes present in the canal. Clinical significance: Silver diamine fluoride has not been shown to be cytotoxic or carcinogenic, unlike NaOCl, suggesting it could be used as a potential endodontic irrigant. However, few studies have evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of SDF as an endodontic irrigant. How to cite this article: Raj S, Sharma A, Dhinsa K, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Microbial Reduction Using Silver Diamine Fluoride, Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Sodium Hypochlorite as Root Canal Irrigants after Biomechanical Preparation in Uniradicular Canals: An In Vivo Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(6):625-629.

UPLC-PDA factorial design assisted method for simultaneous determination of oseltamivir, dexamethasone, and remdesivir in human plasma.

A green and simple UPLC method was developed and optimized, adopting a factorial design for simultaneous determination of oseltamivir phosphate and remdesivir with dexamethasone as a co-administered drug in human plasma and using daclatasvir dihydrochloride as an internal standard within 5 min. The separation was established on UPLC column BEH C18 1.7 µm (2.1 × 100.0 mm) connected to UPLC pre-column BEH 1.7 µm (2.1 × 5.0 mm) at 50 °C with an injection volume of 10 µL. The photodiode array detector (PDA) was set at three wavelengths of 220, 315, and 245 nm for oseltamivir phosphate, the internal standard, and both dexamethasone and remdesivir, respectively. The mobile phase consisted of methanol and ammonium acetate solution (40 mM) adjusted to pH 4 in a ratio of 61.5:38.5 (v/v) with a flow rate of 0.25 mL min-1. The calibration curves were linear over 500.0-5000.0 ng mL-1 for oseltamivir phosphate, over 10.0-500.0 ng mL-1 and 500.0-5000.0 ng mL-1 for dexamethasone, and over 20.0-500 ng mL-1 and 500.0-5000.0 ng mL-1 for remdesivir. The Gibbs free energy and Van't Hoff plots were used to investigate the effect of column oven temperatures on retention times. Fluoride-EDTA anticoagulant showed inhibition activity on the esterase enzyme in plasma. The proposed method was validated according to the M10 ICH, FDA, and EMA's bioanalytical guidelines. According to Eco-score, GAPI, and AGREE criteria, the proposed method was considered acceptable green.

Assessing osteoporosis and bone mineral density through 18F-NaF uptake at lumbar spine.

OBJECTIVES: The use of 18F-Sodium fluoride (NaF) PET/CT is established in the detection of metastatic bone disease, yet its utility in osteoporosis remains underexplored. This research aims to assess the variations in 18F-NaF uptake among individuals with differing bone mineral density (BMD) and to examine the relationship between 18F-NaF uptake and BMD. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 199 patients (average age 56 ± 6, comprising 52 males and 147 females) with a history of cancer were analyzed. Each participant underwent both 18F-NaF PET/CT and lumbar dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans within a span of 7 days. Based on DXA outcomes, patients and their lumbar vertebrae were categorized into normal BMD, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups. The lumbar 18F-NaF uptake across these groups were compared, and to explore the association between lumbar standardized uptake values (SUV) values and BMD. The efficacy of 18F-NaF uptake in diagnosing osteoporosis or osteopenia was also evaluated. Analysis was conducted using Mann-Whitney U tests, Spearman regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis through GraphPad Prism 10.0. RESULTS: A total of 796 lumbar vertebrae from 199 patients were measured. It was observed that osteoporotic patients had significantly lower 18F-NaF uptake than those with osteopenia and normal BMD across the L1-L4 lumbar vertebrae (P < 0.0001). In a vertebra-based analysis, normal BMD vertebrae exhibited the highest maximum SUV(SUVmax) compared to osteopenic (8.13 ± 1.28 vs. 6.61 ± 1.01, P < 0.0001) and osteoporotic vertebrae (8.13 ± 1.28 vs. 4.82 ± 1.01, P < 0.0001). There was a positive correlation between lumbar 18F-NaF uptake and BMD across all vertebrae, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.5 (range: 0.57-0.8). The area under the ROC curve values were notably high, at 0.96 for osteoporosis and 0.83 for osteopenia diagnosis. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates distinct 18F-NaF uptake patterns among individuals with varying BMD levels, with a positive correlation between 18F-NaF uptake and BMD. These findings highlight the potential of 18F-NaF PET/CT as a supportive diagnostic method in the management of osteoporosis.

Corrosion Behavior of Nickel-Titanium Arch Wires Following the Use of Different Mouthwashes: An In Vivo Study.

Objective: The aim of this double-blind in vivo study was to compare the extent of corrosion on the surface of nickel-titanium (NiTi) wires in various mouthwashes. Methods: A total of 80 patients who received orthodontic treatment with as-received 0.016x0.022 inch NiTi wires were included in the study, and they were split into 4 groups. The first group used 0.05% of (225ppm F-) sodium fluoride (NaF) (Colgate Plax®) containing mouthwash, 21.6% alcohol (Listerine Cool Mint®) containing mouthwash, and 0.2% clorhexidine (CHX) (Klorhex®) containing mouthwash and the control group used drinking water with melt menthol as mouthwash. After 30 days of using mouthwash, the surfaces of NiTi wires were examined with atomic force microscopy (AFM), and surface roughness values were calculated. Results: Mouthwashes containing fluoride, essential oils, and CHX created higher surface roughness on NiTi wires than the control group. The floride-containing mouthwash group showed less corrosion than the CHX group, whereas there was no difference between the essential oil group. AFM images show supportive data with the results of the clinical study. The results were assessed using a 95% confidence interval and a significance level p<0.05. Conclusion: CHX, essential oil, and floride-containing mouthwashes cause corrosion of NiTi wires. Floride-containing mouthwash can be preferred over CHX mouthwash due to its lesser corrosion effect.

Molecular characterization of a phytomelatonin receptor and its overexpression as a 'one-stop' solution to nullify the toxic effects of hazardous inorganic agro-pollutants.

Inorganic toxicants like arsenic, copper, lead, nickel and fluoride are notorious agro-pollutants, impeding plant-productivity due to high bioaccumulation. Consumption of such contaminated plant-parts causes irreversible health hazards. We identified a G-protein coupled receptor, serving as melatonin receptor (MelR) in Nicotiana tabacum (NtMelR), that relayed downstream-signaling after binding melatonin, a potent growth regulator and antioxidant. Using inhibitors against G-protein-α and NADPH oxidase (NOX), and by supplementing epidermal strips with exogenous melatonin and H2O2, we established that NtMelR acted upstream of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in guard cells. Transgenic lines overexpressing NtMelR maintained constitutive melatonin-signaling via MelR, leading to efficient stomatal closure for preventing desiccation during oxidative stress. Melatonin biosynthesis was stimulated in the transgenic lines, exposed to different agro-pollutant stress, providing a steady-abundance of ligand for NtMelR binding and activating the defence machinery, comprising of enzymatic-antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidases and glyoxalases. Due to increased antioxidant capacity, the transgenics exhibited less molecular injuries (electrolyte leakage, methylglyoxal accumulation and NOX activity), generated less ROS and bioaccumulated significantly lower levels of toxicants. Unlike the wild-type counterparts, the transgenics maintained high relative water content, photosynthetic efficiency, could flower abundantly and even produce seeds. Overall, we established that overexpression of NtMelR is a single-window strategy to generate multiple-stress tolerant genotypes.

Diagnostic performance of 18F­FDG PET/CT vs. 18F­NaF PET/CT in breast cancer with bone metastases: An indirect comparative meta­analysis.

Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in women, with 5-year survival rates of as high as 90% for patients with early-stage breast cancer without metastasis, falling to 10% once bone metastases (BM) occur. Currently, there is no cure for breast cancer with BM. However, appropriate treatment can extend survival and improve patients' quality of life. Therefore, it is important to accurately evaluate the presence of BM in patients with breast cancer. The present meta-analysis evaluated the diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG and 18F-NaF as PET/CT tracers for breast cancer-associated BM. The present study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomographs (PET/CT) and 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) PET/CT in patients with breast cancer and BM. The PubMed and Embase databases were searched for English literature on the diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET/CT and 18F-NaF PET/CT for breast cancer BM, and two authors independently extracted data. All included studies presented data that could be used to construct a 2×2 contingency table. The methodological quality of the selected studies was assessed using QUADAS-2, and forest plots were generated based on the sensitivity and specificity of 18F-FDG PET/CT and 18F-NaF PET/CT in the diagnosis of BM associated with breast cancer. A total of 14 articles were identified, including eight on the analysis of 18F-FDG PET/CT, five on 18F-NaF PET/CT and one on both. The studies on 18F-FDG PET/CT and 18F-NaF PET/CT included 530 and 270 patients, respectively. The pooled sensitivities were 0.88 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.76-0.94] for 18F-FDG PET/CT and 0.98 (95% CI, 0.92-1.00) for 18F-NaF PET/CT, and the pooled specificities were 0.99 (95% CI, 0.97-1.00) and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.76-0.97), respectively. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve for both 18F-FDG PET/CT and 18F-NaF PET/CT was 0.99 (95% CI, 0.98-1.00). Lesion-based analysis using 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed for 909 lesions, with a sensitivity of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.67-1.00) and specificity of 1.00 (95% CI, 0.98-1.00). Compared with 18F-FDG PET/CT, 18F-NaF PET/CT showed higher sensitivity (98 vs. 88%) but lower specificity (91 vs. 99%), although the difference between methods was not statistically significant. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that 18F-NaF PET/CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT are both accurate methods for the detection of BM in patients with breast cancer, and have comparable diagnostic accuracy.

Geographical analysis of fluoride and nitrate and its probabilistic health risk assessment utilizing Monte Carlo simulation and GIS in potable water in rural areas of Mathura region, Uttar Pradesh, northern India.

Human health is being increasingly exposed to fluoride and nitrate ingestion globally due to anthropogenic alternations in groundwater resources. In the present research work, a hazard quotient (HQ), Monte Carlo simulation (MCS), and geographic information systems (GIS) have been used to estimate the non-carcinogenic health risk of nitrate and fluoride in vulnerable adults, teenagers, and children living in far-flung areas of Uttar Pradesh, Northern India. About 110 samples from some nearby populations were collected and analyzed for nitrates by ion chromatography and fluoride by a fluoride-selective electrode. The results indicated that the concentrations of fluoride and nitrate in the sampling areas ranged from 0.21 to 1.71 mg/L and 0.4-183.54 mg/L, respectively, with mean concentrations of about 1.20 mg/L and 51.52 mg/L for fluoride and nitrate, respectively. The results indicated that 27.27 % of the fluoride samples (27 out of 110) and 45.45 % of the nitrate samples (44 out of 110) were above the standard limits set by WHO. The calculated average HQ values fluoride and Nitrate for children, teenagers and adults were 1.88, 0.98, 0.90 and 3.02, 1.57, 1.45 respectively The 95th percentile HQ values for fluoride were 2.87 for children and 1.03 for adults, while those for nitrate were 4.10 for children and 1.98 for adults. Results of the health risk assessment show that there is a high potential for both non-carcinogenic and cancer risks from fluoride and nitrate through the consumption of groundwater. The Monte Carlo simulation showed the uncertainties and increased risks for children; therefore, one can infer that rural groundwater of the Mathura region, Uttar Pradesh, India, must be treated to make it potable for consumption.

Inhibitory effects of NaF on mitochondrial energy generation in human platelets in vitro.

Background: fluoride is a beneficial ion that has been used in various fields, from industrial products to therapeutics. However, due to its narrow therapeutic index, fluoride sometimes acts as a toxic agent at relatively higher concentrations in the human body. Based on the interest in genetic stability, its cytotoxic effects have been investigated mainly in nucleated, adherent cells, such as fibroblasts. However, the sensitivity of blood cells, especially anucleate platelets, to fluoride is poorly understood. To fill this gap in the literature, we investigated the effects of relatively low levels of fluoride on platelet energy metabolism, function, and viability. Methods: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was prepared from 15 non-smoking healthy male adults (age: 28-63) and treated with NaF (0.5 or 1.0 mM) in microtubes for up to 3 days. Platelet function was evaluated based on aggregation and adhesion activities. Platelet energy metabolism was evaluated based on intracellular ATP levels, extracellular lactate levels, and respiration activities. The mitochondrial membrane potential (Em) and localization of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were visualized using cytochemical methods. Platelet viability was evaluated by cell counting and tetrazolium reduction. Result: NaF (1 mM) significantly reduced platelet viability and inhibited functions. Behind these phenomena, NaF substantially decreased mitochondrial Em and increased ROS production along with significant decreases in oxygen consumption and ATP levels. Simultaneously, NaF increased the lactate levels. Although not statistically significant, similar effects were observed at 0.5 mM NaF. Conclusion: At relatively low levels, NaF has the potential to attenuate platelet function probably primarily through the inhibition of mitochondrial energy generation. Cytotoxicity may be directly related to ROS production. These findings suggest that when used topically, for example, for caries prevention in the oral cavity, NaF could interfere with wound healing and tissue regeneration by endogenous and exogenously added platelets in the form of PRP.

High fluoride aggravates cadmium-mediated nephrotoxicity of renal tubular epithelial cells through ROS-PINK1/Parkin pathway.

Fluoride (F) and cadmium (Cd) as well known environmental pollutants can cause nephrotoxicity to damage human health, while the joint toxicity of F and Cd to the renal tubular epithelial cells remains still elusive. The interactive influence between F and Cd in oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial autophagy of renal tubular epithelial cells was explored. Cells were submitted to varying concentrations with of NaF (1, 5, 10, and 15 µg/mL) combined with CdCl2·2.5H2O (1 µg/mL) for 12 h. Following this, the combined cytotoxicity was assessed. Our results show that different doses of F had varying effects on Cd-mediated nephrotoxicity, with a synergistic effect observed in the high F (15 µg/mL) co-treated with Cd. In response to the Cd induction, the high F treatment resulted in the formation of multiple autophagosomes and notably increased the levels of LDH, ROS, and MMP. It also elevated the MDA contents while decreasing the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT. Additionally, it yielded a higher Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, which further promotes the apoptotic process. The treatment also disturbed energy metabolism, resulting in a reduction of both ATP and ADP. Furthermore, autophagy-related genes and proteins, including PINK1, Parkin, LC3A, LC3B, and SQSTM1, were significantly improved. In brief, high F of 15 µg/mL aggravated Cd-mediated nephrotoxicity of renal tubular epithelial cells via the ROS-PINK1/Parkin pathway.

Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) combined with conventional MRI for the detection of skull-base invasion in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: comparison with 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).

Background: The extent of skull base invasion (SBI) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) directly impacts tumor staging, treatment strategies, and prognosis assessment for NPC patients, emphasizing the critical need for prompt diagnosis and precise assessment of invasion. Thus, we aimed to integrate the advantages of intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) and conventional magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI), and assess their combined diagnostic efficacy versus that of 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for detecting SBI in NPC patients. Methods: The study prospectively and randomly recruited 62 patients newly diagnosed with NPC by pathological biopsy at the Cancer Center of Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University from January 2021 to September 2022. All patients underwent baseline cMRI, IVIM-DWI, and PET/CT scans. The IVIM-DWI analysis included 3 primary parameters: true diffusion coefficient (D), pseudodiffusion coefficient (D*), and pseudodiffusion fraction (f). SBI was defined as the involvement of any substructure confirmed by follow-up MRI and clinical symptoms. Inter-observer agreement was evaluated utilizing the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and kappa coefficients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of cMRI, IVIM-DWI plus cMRI, and PET/CT. DeLong test was used to compare the areas under the curve (AUC) of the 3 modalities. Results: Excellent inter-observer reliability was observed (range, 0.841-0.946). Among the IVIM-DWI parameters, D* + f demonstrated comparable accuracy to D + D* + f (AUC 0.906 vs. 0.904; sensitivity 88.9% vs. 89.8%; specificity 92.3% vs. 91.0%). IVIM-DWI plus cMRI yielded an overall AUC of 0.947, sensitivity of 92.6%, and specificity of 96.8%, surpassing cMRI alone with an AUC of 0.914 (P=0.025), sensitivity of 91.2%, and specificity of 91.7%, as well as 18F-NaF PET/CT with an AUC of 0.852 (P<0.001), sensitivity of 80.1%, and specificity of 90.4%. In detecting substructures of SBI, IVIM-DWI plus cMRI showed superior performance compared to 18F-NaF PET/CT within the petrous part of the temporal bone (AUC 0.968 vs. 0.871, P=0.011; sensitivity 93.5% vs. 87.1%, specificity 100% vs. 87.1%), pterygopalatine fossa (AUC 0.935 vs. 0.831, P=0.032; sensitivity 93.9% vs. 69.7%, specificity 93.1% vs. 96.6%), and foramen ovale (AUC 0.885 vs. 0.710, P=0.019; sensitivity 76.9% vs. 61.5%, specificity 100% vs. 80.6%). Conclusions: IVIM-DWI plus cMRI can accurately detect SBI and the substructures in NPC, providing a valuable reference for personalized treatment strategies and precise prognosis assessment.

Hydride and halide abstraction reactions behind the enhanced basicity of Be and Mg clusters with nitrogen bases.

In this study, we investigate the protonation effects on the structure, relative stability and basicity of complexes formed by the interaction of monomers and dimers of BeX2 and MgX2 (X = H, F) with NH3, CH2NH, HCN, and NC5H5 bases. Calculations were performed using the M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ formalism, along with QTAIM, ELF and NCI methods for electron density analysis and MBIE and LMO-EDA energy decomposition analyses for interaction enthalpies. The protonation of the MH2- and M2H4-Base complexes occurs at the negatively charged hydrogen atoms of the MH2 and M2H4 moieties through typical hydride abstraction reactions, while protonation at the N atom of the base is systematically less exothermic. The preference for the hydride transfer mechanism is directly associated with the significant exothermicity of H2 formation through the interaction between H- and H+, and the high hydride donor ability of these complexes. The basicity of both, MH2 and M2H4 compounds increases enormously upon association with the corresponding bases, with the increase exceeding 40 orders of magnitude in terms of ionization constants. Due to the smaller exothermicity of HF formation, the basicity of fluorides is lower than that of hydrides. In Be complexes, the protonation at the N atom of the base dominates over the fluoride abstraction mechanism. However, for the Mg complexes the fluoride abstraction mechanism is energetically the most favorable process, reflecting the greater facility of Mg complexes to lose F-.

[A case of recurrent convulsions caused by acute sulfuryl fluoride gas poisoning].

Sulfuryl fluoride is a kind of pesticide with strong permeability, convenient use at low temperature, non-corrosive and other characteristics, which can kill food pests and has strong lethality to termites. In acute sulfuryl fluoride poisoning, patients can see recurrent convulsions, epileptic electroencephalogram abnormalities such as matrix spikes or high amplitude spikes. In this paper, a patient with sulfuryl fluoride poisoning with convulsion-based mental system symptoms was reported, and after clinical treatment with dexamethasone and phenobarbital sodium, the patient was cured and discharged.

Human health risk and water quality assessment due to fluoride and nitrate around Cauvery River basin, southern India.

Good quality water for human consumption, irrigation, and industrial use is very important. Today, around the world, water is contaminated by natural processes and human activities. This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of groundwater for drinking and irrigation, identify the source of fluoride and nitrate contamination, and assess the human health risks around the Cauvery River basin in southern India. A total of 30 groundwater samples were collected and analyzed for hydrochemical parameters, including EC, TDS, pH, Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO3, Cl, SO4, NO3, and F-. The majority of groundwater samples in the study area are used for drinking and irrigation. The pH of groundwater in the study area was observed to be dominantly alkaline. The levels of TDS, Ca, Na, K, F, and TH exceeded the permissible limits recommended by BIS and WHO. Fluoride and nitrate levels in groundwater exceeded the permissible limits for drinking purposes in 43% and 50% of the samples, respectively. The excessive concentration of fluoride and nitrate in groundwater could pose serious human health problems. Fluoride and nitrate concentrations in groundwater vary between 0.1 and 2 mg/l and 12 and 95 mg/l, respectively. Based on the computation of the drinking water quality index, about 73% of groundwater samples were classified as excellent to good. Health risk was assessed for infants, children, and adults using non-carcinogenic risk indices such as hazard quotients (HQ), hazard indexes (HI), total hazard indices (THI), and carcinogenic risk indices (CR). Infants, children, and adults have different total hazards indexes ranging from 1.508 to 5.733, 1.579 to 6.003, and 0.011 to 0.046, respectively. Health risk assessment results indicated that the hazard index and hazard quotient were above the recommended limit of > 1 in most of the samples for infants and children. Non-carcinogenic risk and carcinogenic risks were more likely to affect infants and children rather than adults through ingestion of contaminated water.

Apoptosis and Inflammation Involved with Fluoride-Induced Bone Injuries.

BACKGROUND: Excessive fluoride exposure induces skeletal fluorosis, but the specific mechanism responsible is still unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the pathogenesis of fluoride-induced bone injuries. METHODS: We systematically searched fluoride-induced bone injury-related genes from five databases. Then, these genes were subjected to enrichment analyses. A TF (transcription factor)-mRNA-miRNA network and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed using Cytoscape, and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database was used to screen the expression of key proteins. The candidate pharmacological targets were predicted using the Drug Signature Database. RESULTS: A total of 85 studies were included in this study, and 112 osteoblast-, 35 osteoclast-, and 41 chondrocyte-related differential expression genes (DEGs) were identified. Functional enrichment analyses showed that the Atf4, Bcl2, Col1a1, Fgf21, Fgfr1 and Il6 genes were significantly enriched in the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway of osteoblasts, Mmp9 and Mmp13 genes were enriched in the IL-17 signaling pathway of osteoclasts, and Bmp2 and Bmp7 genes were enriched in the TGF-beta signaling pathway of chondrocytes. With the use of the TF-mRNA-miRNA network, the Col1a1, Bcl2, Fgfr1, Mmp9, Mmp13, Bmp2, and Bmp7 genes were identified as the key regulatory factors. Selenium methyl cysteine, CGS-27023A, and calcium phosphate were predicted to be the potential drugs for skeletal fluorosis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway being involved in the apoptosis of osteoblasts, with the IL-17 and the TGF-beta signaling pathways being involved in the inflammation of osteoclasts and chondrocytes in fluoride-induced bone injuries.

Spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of surface water pollutants and their potential sources in Ngari, China.

The Ngari region has many important rivers and is critical to water resource security and water resource continuity in China and even in adjoining Asian countries. However, the spatial distribution and monthly variation in local water quality have been poorly understood until recently. In this study, the spatial-temporal variations of 12 water quality parameters, including pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), permanganate index (IMn), chemical oxygen demand (COD), five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), ammonia nitrogen (NNH3), total nitrogen (Ntotal), total phosphorus (Ptotal), copper (Cu), fluoride (F), arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd), were determined from samples collected monthly at 22 water cross-sectional sites in the Ngari region in 2020. The surface water pollution in the southern Ngari region was the most serious, and the water pollution level in winter was higher than that in the other seasons. As (0.0781 ~ 0.6154 mg/L) and F (1.05 ~ 4.64 mg/L) were the main exceedance factors derived from the recharge of high arsenic and fluoride geothermal water and weathering of As and F-bearing minerals. The hazard quotient and carcinogenic risk for As and F at the five contaminated sampling sites indicated potential health risks and even carcinogenicity to local populations. The hydrochemistry types of the lakes and rivers in the Ngari region were mainly chloride water and carbonate water. The results from this study can provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of surface water pollution in the Ngari region and contribute to subsequent research on the ecology of water bodies.