Halide salts induced the photodegradation of a fat-burning compound 2, 4-dinitrophenol by iron-montmorillonite.

Natural montmorillonite clay and anthropogenic organic pollutants frequently coexist in the estuarine environment where freshwater from rivers mixes with saltwater from the ocean. In this environment, the sharply changed aqueous chemistry especially salt content could significantly alter the photochemical behaviors of pollutants. However, this process was rarely investigated. In this study, the photodegradation of a representative anthropogenic weight-loss compound 2,4-dinitrophenol in the presence of Fe3+-montmorillonite and different halide salts was systematically investigated. Results show that 2,4-dinitrophenol was resistant to photodegradation by Fe3+-montmorillonite alone, but the presence of NaCl, NaBr, and sea salts in the system can evoke significant 2,4-dinitrophenol degradation. The enhancement effect was further elucidated as the replacement reaction between the clay associated Fe3+ and Na + which leads to the release of more interlayer Fe3+ from montmorillonite, resulting in increased production of high active hydroxyl radicals (˙OH) that can substantially damage 2,4-dinitrophenol molecule. In addition, halogen radicals from the reaction of halide ions with ˙OH were also confirmed to participate in 2,4-dinitrophenol degradation. Overall, this study implied that the changed salty condition in the estuarine water could induce the rapid transformation of organic pollutants that move from freshwater and have relatively stable photochemical properties.

Correlation Between Tumor Location and Clinical Properties of Glioblastomas in Frontal and Temporal Lobes.

BACKGROUND: Tumor location is a major prognostic factor in glioblastomas and may be associated with clinical properties. This study established and analyzed the correlation between tumor location and clinical properties of glioblastomas in frontal and temporal lobes. METHODS: This retrospective study determined the location of glioblastomas in the frontal lobe (FL) or temporal lobe (TL) based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical, radiologic, and molecular characteristics of FL and TL glioblastomas were compared to define their clinical properties, including sex, age, sides, relationship to ventricle, imaging subtypes, volume, isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation, promoter methylation of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, progression-free survival, and overall survival. RESULTS: The study enrolled 406 patients (182 [44.83%] in FL group and 224 [55.17%] in TL group) with a mean age of 69.8 years. Compared with FL group, TL group had higher incidence of female patients (P = 0.024), tumor location distant to the ventricle (P = 0.006), isocitrate dehydrogenase mutations (P = 0.021), promoter methylation of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (P = 0.012), and prolonged progression-free survival and overall survival (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between groups with respect to age ≥60 years at study entry (P = 0.668), sides (P = 0.879), imaging subtypes (P = 0.362), or volume (P = 0.709). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that different tumor locations are associated with diverse clinical properties of glioblastomas in FL and TL. This information will aid in increasing understanding of glioblastoma biology for application in baseline comparisons in future clinical trials.

Choice for the removal of bloody cerebrospinal fluid in postcoiling aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: external ventricular drainage or lumbar drainage?

AIM: External ventricular drainage (EVD) and lumbar drainage (LD) are the most widely used procedures for continued bloody cerebrospinal fluid drainage. Each has his own advantages and disadvantages. Here, we compared complications and clinical outcomes in patients with World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade III aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) who underwent coil placement followed by EVD or LD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this prospective, controlled study, all patients with aSAH classified as WFNS grade III who underwent coil placement at our institution were divided randomly into 2 groups: the EVD group and the LD group. The ratios of intracerebral hemorrhage, vasospasm, infection, duration of catheter placement, hydrocephalus, and Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) after 2 months of onset were analyzed between the 2 groups. RESULTS: A total of 148 patients (mean age 56.8 years) were enrolled in this study. Seventy-six patients were assigned to the EVD group, and 72 patients were assigned to the LD group. The average time interval from stroke onset to surgery was 35.1 h. Compared with the EVD group, the LD group had a lower incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage, slightly higher rates of infection and hydrocephalus, and similar vasospasm and chronic hydrocephalus rates, durations of catheter placement, and GOS scores at 2 months after onset. CONCLUSION: In order to improve the clinical outcomes of patients with aSAH, we suggest that LD is better than EVD for patients with WFNS grade III aSAH who underwent coil placement.

Analysis of related factors affecting prognosis of shunt surgery in patients with secondary normal pressure hydrocephalus.

OBJECTIVE: The management of secondary normal pressure hydrocephalus (sNPH) is controversial. Many factors may affect the surgery effect. The purpose of this study was to identify the possible factors influencing prognosis and provide theoretical basis for clinical treatment of sNPH. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out to investigate the results of 31 patients with sNPH who underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery from January 2007 to December 2011. We processed the potential influencing factors by univariate analysis and the result further by multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Factors including age, disease duration and Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score before surgery significantly influenced the prognosis of sNPH (P less than 0.05). Further logistic regression analysis showed that all the three factors are independent influencing factors. CONCLUSION: Age, disease duration and GCS score before surgery have positive predictive value in estimating favorable response to surgical treatment for sNPH.

Influence of acute ethanol intoxication on neuronal apoptosis and Bcl-2 protein expression after severe traumatic brain injury in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence and mechanism of acute ethanol intoxication (AEI) on rat neuronal apoptosis after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: Ninety-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control, AEI-only, TBI-only and TBI+AEI (n equal to 24 for each). Severe TBI model was developed according to Feeney's method. Rats in TBI+AEI group were firstly subjected to AEI, and then suffered head trauma. In each group, animals were sacrificed at 6 h, 24 h, 72 h, and 168 h after TBI. The level of neuronal apoptosis and the expression of Bcl-2 protein were determined by TUNEL assay and immunohistochemical method, respectively. RESULTS: Apoptotic cells mainly distributed in the cortex and white matter around the damaged area. Neuronal apoptosis significantly increased at 6 h after trauma and peaked at 72 h. Both the level of neuronal apoptosis and expression of Bcl-2 protein in TBI-only group and TBI+AEI group were higher than those in control group (P less than 0.05). Compared with TBI-only group, the two indexes were much higher in TBI+AEI group at all time points (P less than 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that AEI can increase neuronal apoptosis after severe TBI.

Which side of lateral ventricles to choose during external ventricular drainage in patients with intraventricular hemorrhage: ipsilateral or contralateral?

BACKGROUND: We attempted to investigate the effect of external ventricular drainage (EVD) plus intraventricular fibrinolysis from ipsilateral or contralateral ventricle on clinical outcomes in patients with intraventricular hemorrhage. METHODS: We undertook a prospective controlled study. Patients with acute obstructive hydrocephalus after intraventricular hemorrhage were randomized to receive EVD from ipsilateral ventricle (ipsilateral group [IG]) or contralateral ventricle (contralateral group [CG]). They received intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring and intraventricular injection of urokinase after surgery. We compared clinical outcomes and complications between groups. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients were enrolled, with a mean age of 55.4 years. We assigned 28 patients assigned to the IG and 17 patients to the CG. Patients in the IG showed significantly faster clot clearance in the third and fourth ventricles on computed tomography than those in the CG (3.3 ± 1.0 d versus 3.9 ± 0.8 d; P = 0.042). Analysis of ICP data showed that initial ICP in the IG was significantly higher than in the CG (20.4 ± 7.2 mm Hg versus 16.5 ± 4.4 mm Hg; P = 0.039), as was the average daily ICP on the following 3 d. The percentage of ICP readings over 20 mm Hg in the IG was also significantly larger than that in the CG (18.0% versus 10.9%; P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications regarding rebleeding, infection, epilepsy, or communicating hydrocephalus. Neither 30-d mortality rate nor Glasgow Outcome Scale score revealed significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: External ventricular drainage plus EVT from the ipsilateral or contralateral ventricle has similar short-term outcomes and complications in patients with intraventricular hemorrhage. Faster clot clearance in the third and fourth ventricles but higher ICP levels at the early stage may be expected in patients with EVD from the ipsilateral ventricle, compared with those from with EVD from the contralateral ventricle.

Application of ulinastatin in severe craniocerebral injuries.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the therapeutic effect of ulinastatin on severe craniocerebral injuries and to explore its mechanism. METHODS: There were 87 cases of severe brain injury in this series and they were either treated by ulinastatin (treatment group, 41 cases) or not (control group, 46 cases) besides routine managements. We estimated C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, superoxide dismutase, and endothelin from plasmas of all the cases on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th day after injury. RESULTS: C-reactive protein level rose on the 1st and 3rd day after injury in the two groups, but descended in treatment group on the 5th and 7th day and was significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.01). No significant difference was found for interleukin-6 in two groups during 1-5 days after injury, but on the 7th day, it decreased significantly in treatment group than control one (P < 0.01). Superoxide dismutase was higher in treatment group than control one in 5-7 days after injury (P < 0.01). Endothelin elevated on the 1st day after injury but dropped afterwards in the two groups, in which the level in treatment group was lower than that in control one. The incidence of gastrointestinal hemorrhage was lower in treatment group than control one (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Ulinastatin has the function of protecting cerebral tissue, reducing the incidence of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, improving hepatic and renal function and prognosis.