Effect of feed particle size and solvent flow rate on soybean oil extraction in a percolation type extractor.

The influence of particle size and solvent flow rate on the kinetics of oil extraction from soybean (eight fractions from 0.433 to 0.122 mm) was studied using hexane, simulating commercial percolation type extractor. The reduction in particle size from 0.433 mm to 0.141 mm showed an increase in the oil yield. However, further reduction to 0.129 mm and 0.122 mm affected the yield due to bed compaction, reducing porosity and contact area. The yield (21.5%) of the ground mass was similar to the major mass fractions (0.239-0.353 mm). The rate of extraction increased drastically with the solvent flow rate. The highest flow rate (9.67 mL/min) exhibited the highest mass transfer coefficient (km) 1.62 × 10-3 s-1 and the diffusion coefficient (De) 1.77 × 10-12 m2/s. At 7.33 mL/min, the yield and the rate of extraction were optimal and no potential benefits were obtained at higher flow rates. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-022-05554-6.

Decontamination of Microorganisms and Pesticides from Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: A Comprehensive Review from Common Household Processes to Modern Techniques.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are a rich source of micronutrients. However, many foodborne illnesses have been linked to the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables as they are reported to harbor contaminants such as microorganisms and pesticides. Recently reported foodborne outbreaks have been linked to a diverse group of fruits and vegetables due to the presence of various pathogens including Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes. Also, the increased use of pesticides has resulted in the deposition of chemical residues on the surface of fruits and vegetables, which has led to the adverse health conditions such as cancer, birth defects, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Fresh commodities are subjected to various treatments to prevent or minimize these outbreaks, and the main targets of such treatments have been the elimination of pathogens and degradation of toxic chemical residues. Here, we have discussed various decontamination methods including simple household washing, chemical treatments, and modern technologies with their mode of action for microbial and pesticide removal. The simple household processes are not very effective in the removal of pathogenic organisms and pesticides. The use of modern techniques like cold plasma, ozone, high hydrostatic pressure, and so on, showed better efficacy in the removal of microorganisms and pesticides. However, their industrial use is limited considering high installation and maintenance cost. In this review, we suggest combined methods based on their mode of decontamination and suitability for a selected fruit or vegetable for effective decontamination of microbes and pesticide together to reduce the treatment cost and enhance food safety.

Effect of Mirtazapine on Gastric Emptying in Patients with Cancer-associated Anorexia.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The tetracyclic antidepressant mirtazapine is widely used in cancer patients suffering from anorexia. Although it is known to restore appetite, the exact mechanism remains unknown. The aim of the study was to evaluate if mirtazapine has any effect on gastric emptying in patients suffering from cancer-related anorexia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Solid-meal gastric-emptying study using radiolabeled meal was performed in 28 patients suffering from cancer anorexia once at baseline and repeated after 15 days of mirtazapine therapy. RESULTS: At baseline, only 7 (25%) patients had normal gastric motility (emptying >70% at 3 h postingestion) whereas after treatment, 18 (64.2%) patients achieved this limit. Mean % gastric emptying increased from 55.2% ±21.0% to 68.9% ±21.3% (P < 0.001). Mean gastric emptying time (t1/2) before intervention was 314.7 ± 421.0 min which decreased to 116.0 ± 106.7 min after intervention. Results were further analyzed by dividing the patients into two groups based on baseline gastric-emptying study. Group A (normal gastric emptying) consisted of seven patients, mean % gastric emptying at baseline and postintervention was 75.0% ±5.25% and 87.57% ±5.94%, respectively (P < 0.018). Group B (delayed gastric emptying) consisted of 21 patients, mean % gastric emptying at baseline and postintervention was 48.71% ±18.82% and 62.76% ±16.86%, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Mirtazapine significantly improves gastric emptying in patients of prostate and breast cancer suffering from cancer-associated anorexia.

Treatment outcomes of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients in Gauteng, South Africa.

PURPOSE: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is associated with lengthy treatment, expensive and potentially toxic regimens, and high rates of treatment failure and death. This study describes the outcomes of 351 MDR-TB patients who started treatment between 2004 and 2007 at the provincial MDR-TB referral hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, and investigates risk factors associated with death. METHODS: The study involved the assessment of factors associated with treatment outcomes using a retrospective review of patient records, drug-susceptibility data and spoligotyping of isolates. RESULTS: Treatment success (completion/cure) was recorded in 158 (48.8 %) patients, while 65 (20 %) died, 93 (28.7 %) defaulted, 8 (2.5 %) failed treatment, 11(3.1 %) were transferred out to other health facilities and 16 (4.6 %) had no recorded final outcome. The proportion of successful treatment increased significantly over time. Univariable and multivariable analysis (P = 0.05) identified the year of MDR-TB diagnosis and spoligotype-defined families as factors associated with treatment outcome. No associations were found between treatment outcome and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status, previous TB and additional MDR resistance to streptomycin or ethambutol. Molecular typing of the strains revealed a diverse group of spoligotypes, with Beijing, LAM4 and H3 making up the largest groups. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first published study to investigate treatment outcomes at this facility and to find a link between genotype and treatment outcome, suggesting that genotype determination could potentially serve as a prognostic factor.

Summertime oxidative potential of atmospheric PM2.5 over New Delhi: Effect of aerosol ageing.

Exposure to elevated particulate matter (PM) concentrations in ambient air has become a major health concern over urban areas worldwide. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation due to ambient PM (termed as their oxidative potential, OP) is shown to play a major role in PM-induced health effects. In the present study, the OP of the ambient PM2.5 samples, collected during summer 2019 from New Delhi, were measured using the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay. Average volume-normalized OP (OPV) was 2.9 ± 1.1 nmol DTT min-1 m-3, and mass-normalized OP (OPm) was 61 ± 29 pmol DTT min-1 µg-1. The regression statistics of OPv vs chemical species show the maximum slope of OPV with the elemental carbon (EC, r2 = 0.72) followed by water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC, r2 = 0.72), and organic carbon (OC, r2 = 0.64). A strong positive correlation between OPm and secondary inorganic aerosols (SIA, such as NH4+ and NO3- mass fractions) was also observed, indicating that the sources emitting NO2 and NH3, precursors of NO3- and NH4+, also emit DTT-active species. Interestingly, the slope value of OPv vs OC for aged aerosols (OM/OC > 1.7, f44 > 0.12 and f43 < 0.04) was 1.7 times higher than relatively fresh organic aerosols (OA, OM/OC < 1.7, f44 < 0.12, f43 > 0.04). An increase in OPv and OPoc with f44 indicates the formation of more DTT active species with the ageing of OA. A linear increase in OPoc with increasing Nitrogen/Carbon (N/C) ratio suggests that nitrogenous OA have higher OP.

Dual carbon isotope-based brown carbon aerosol characteristics at a high-altitude site in the northeastern Himalayas: Role of biomass burning.

PM2.5 samples (n = 34) were collected from January to April 2017 over Shillong (25.7°N, 91.9°E; 1064 m amsl), a high-altitude site situated in the northeastern Himalaya. The main aim was to understand the sources, characteristics, and optical properties of local vs long-range transported carbonaceous aerosols (CA) using chemical species and dual carbon isotopes (13C and 14C). Percentage biomass burning (BB)/biogenic fraction (fbio, calculated from 14C) varied from 67 to 92 % (78 ± 7) and correlated well with primary BB tracers like f60, and K+, suggesting BB as a considerable source. Rain events are shown to reduce the fbio fraction, indicating majority of BB-derived CA are transported. Further, δ13C (-26.6 ± 0.4) variability was very low over Shillong, suggesting it's limitations in source apportionment over the study region, if used alone. Average ratio of absorption coefficient of methanol-soluble BrC (BrCMS) to water-soluble BrC (BrCWS) at 365 nm was 1.8, indicating a significant part of BrC was water-insoluble. A good positive correlation between fbio and mass absorption efficiency of BrCWS and BrCMS at 365 nm with the higher slope for BrCMS suggests BB derived water-insoluble BrC was more absorbing. Relative radiative forcing (RRF, 300 to 2500 nm) of BrCWS and BrCMS with respect to EC were 11 ± 5 % and 23 ± 16 %, respectively. Further, the RRF of BrCMS was up to 60 %, and that of BrCWS was up to 22 % with respect to EC for the samples with fbio ≥ 0.85 (i.e., dominated by BB), reflecting the importance of BB in BrC RRF estimation.

Chemotherapy or chemotherapy followed by consolidation chemoradiation in postoperative (simple cholecystectomy) gall bladder cancer with residual disease, unsuitable for revision surgery? Risk stratification and outcomes.

Background: Revision surgery (RS) is the standard of care for gallbladder cancer (GBC) after simple cholecystectomy (SC). Often these patients are unsuitable for RS due to late referral or unresectable disease. Do such patients benefit with chemotherapy (CT) alone or dual-modality (CT followed by consolidation chemoradiotherapy [CTRT])? In the absence of any guidelines, we reviewed our data with CT or CTRT to inform us regarding adequate therapy. Materials and Methods: Patients of GBC post-SC referred to us (January 2008 to December 2016) were risk-stratified into three categories based on a diagnostic CT scan: No residual disease (NRD), limited volume residual disease (LR1: Residual/recurrent disease in GB bed with or without N1 nodal station involvement), advanced residual disease (LR2: Residual/recurrent disease involving GB bed with N2 nodal station involvement) and treated with CT or CT followed by CTRT. Response to therapy (RECIST), overall survival (OS), and adverse prognostic factors affecting OS were evaluated. Results: Out of 176 patients, 87were nonmetastatic (NRD = 17, LR1 = 33 and LR 2 = 37). 31 received CT, 49 CTRT and 8 defaulted. At a median follow up of 21 months, the median OS with CT versus consolidation CTRT was not reached in NRD (P = 0.57), 19 months versus 27 months in LR1 (P = 0.003) and 14 months versus 18 months in LR 2 (P = 0.29), respectively. On univariate analysis, residual disease burden, type of treatment (CT vs. CTRT), N stage, and response to treatment were found statistically significant. Conclusion: Our data suggest that CT followed by CTRT improves outcomes in patients with limited volume disease.

Characterization of paddy-residue burning derived carbonaceous aerosols using dual carbon isotopes.

A large scale paddy-residue burning (PRB) happens every year in the northwest Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) during the post-monsoon season, and winds transport pollutants from the source region up to the northern Indian Ocean affecting air quality of the IGP and marine region. In this study, day-night pairs of fine aerosol samples (n = 69) were collected during October-November over Patiala (30.2°N, 76.3°E, 250 m amsl), a site located in the source region of PRB. Carbonaceous aerosols (CA) were characterised using chemical species and dual carbon isotopes (13C and 14C) to estimate bio vs non-bio contributions and understand their characteristics. Percentage of bio fraction (fbio, estimated using 14C) in CA varied from 74 % to 87 % (avg: 80 ± 3) during days and 71 % to 96 % (avg: 85 ± 7 %) during nights. Further, the fbio was found to be better correlated with aerosol mass spectrometer derived f60 compare to levoglucosan (LG) or nssK+, suggesting f60 a useful proxy for PRB. The δ13C varied from -27.7 ‰ to -26.0 ‰ (avg: -27.0 ± 0.4 ‰) and - 28.7 ‰ to -26.4 ‰ (avg: -27.5 ± 0.7 ‰) during day and night, respectively. Measured δ13C of the samples was found to be more enriched than expected by 0.3 to 2.0 ‰, indicating the presence of aged CA also in Patiala even during PRB period. From fbio versus δ13C correlation, and from Miller-Trans plot, δ13C of PRB is found to be -28.9 ± 1.1 ‰, which also infers that Miller-Trans plot can be used to understand source isotopic signature in the absence of radiocarbon measurements in aerosols. Further, the characteristics ratios of organic carbon (OC) to elemental carbon (EC) (11.9 ± 4.1), LG to potassium (K+) (0.84 ± 0.15), OC/LG (19.7 ± 2.0) and K+/EC (0.75 ± 0.27) were calculated by considering samples with fbio higher than 0.90, which can be used for source apportionment studies. Such studies are crucial in assessing the effects of PRB on regional air quality and climate.

Microsatellite instability in north Indian colorectal cancer patients and its clinicopathological correlation.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most deadly and fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. Microsatellite instability (MSI) has been found associated with CRC, especially in prognostication. The present study has been carried out to find the genetic instability as demonstrated by MSI and its clinicopathological correlation in north Indian patients. METHODS: This prospective study was carried out on 103 CRC patients admitted for surgery between 2014 and 2018. MSI testing was done using 5-panel markers (BAT25, BAT26, D2S123, D5S346, and D17S250) by standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. The various clinicopathological factors were analysed to see their association with MSI status and also their effect on survival. Univariate analysis was performed by using the 2-tailed Student's t-test for continuous non-normally distributed variables, and categorical variables were compared using the chi-square test. Multivariate correlation analysis was performed by logistic regression test using SPSS version 16.0 (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA). Kaplan-Meier analysis was done to detect the patient's survival. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The frequency of MSI in patient population that we studied was 41.7% (43/103). MSI tumours were significantly associated with family history (OR = 5.63, p = 0.022*, 95% CI = 1.1-28.6) and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILS) (OR = 2.60, p = 0.023*, 95% CI = 1.1-6.0). The patients surviving longer (< 5 years vs > 5 years) were found significantly associated with MSI-high (MSI-H) (OR = 3.76, p = 0.029*, 95% CI = 1.2-4.5). CONCLUSION: Family history of cancer and presence of TILS were significantly associated with the presence of MSI-H tumours; also, patients surviving more than 5 years had more MSI-H phenotype.

A study of the functional aberration of the pouch in anorectal malformation associated with congenital pouch colon.

OBJECTIVE: There are no in vitro studies of congenital pouch colon (CPC) associated with anorectal malformation (ARM) to understand its mechanism of contractility. There is no consensus regarding the utilization of the CPC in repair of anorectal malformation. In view of the above, it was decided to carry out detailed in vitro physiological study of the excised CPC. METHOD: The excised specimens of CPC were taken and 15- to 20-mm long both longitudinal and transverse strips of muscle were obtained both from the proximal and distal part. Contraction was recorded using software chart-5 for windows. Drugs used were acetylcholine, histamine, adrenaline, atropine and pheniramine maleate. The amplitude of contractions was converted to tension gram and then the tension so developed was expressed as tension per unit mass (per gram of wet tissue). RESULTS: There were total of 21 specimens of high ARM with CPC. Five specimens were of the complete pouch, which did not show a response to any drug and the remaining 16 had an incomplete pouch. The mean longitudinal and circular muscle contractions of these 16 samples were statistically higher for the proximal segment than the distal segment both for acetylcholine and histamine. The effect of atropine was not significant but that of adrenaline and pheniramine maleate were significant on the distal segment muscle. CONCLUSION: Congenital pouch colon being deficient or having poorly developed receptors in their wall can not function properly as a reservoir for faeces and, hence, it should be excised to allow adequate function.

A first insight into the genetic diversity and population structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Zonguldak, Turkey.

This study evaluated the molecular epidemiology and biodiversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in Zonguldak, Turkey, and investigated the presence and significance of the LAM7-TUR clone by spoligotyping and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) analysis. In total, 128 isolates were tested by spoligotyping; 25 selected isolates representative of the LAM7-TUR clone and similar types were also tested by MIRU-VNTR analysis. In total, 47 distinct patterns were revealed by spoligotyping, represented by 13 clusters containing between two and 28 isolates (94 isolates in total), and 34 unique patterns (a clustering rate of 73%). Using MIRU-VNTR analysis, the clustering relationships revealed by spoligotyping were confirmed. The most common spoligotyping profile was SIT53, followed by SIT41 (LAM7-TUR) and SIT50. The SIT284 clone was another phylogeographically specific clonal complex whose presence in Turkey may be endemic. The LAM7-TUR genotype was highly prevalent in Zonguldak.

Molecular, epidemiological and infectivity characterisation of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain prevalent in Madrid.

The most prevalent strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Madrid, Spain (strain 5) was recovered from 45 cases between 1997 and 2004 and showed a highly homogeneous genetic composition. This strain was not exclusive to Spain, and its spoligotyping signature (ST20) was found in entries from different countries in the SITVIT1 database. Patients infected with strain 5 were more frequently positive for human immunodeficiency virus and autochthonous, and had been in prison more frequently, but strain 5 did not show increased infectivity in an in-vitro model of infection.

Optimization of polyhydroxybutyrate production by Bacillus sp. CFR 256 with corn steep liquor as a nitrogen source.

Polyhydroxyalkanotes (PHAs), the eco-friendly biopolymers produced by many bacteria, are gaining importance in curtailing the environmental pollution by replacing the non-biodegradable plastics derived from petroleum. The present study was carried out to economize the polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production by optimizing the fermentation medium using corn steep liquor (CSL), a by-product of starch processing industry, as a cheap nitrogen source, by Bacillus sp. CFR 256. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the fermentation medium using the variables such as corn steep liquor (5-25 g l(-1)), Na(2)HPO(4) 2H(2)O (2.2-6.2 g l(-1)), KH(2)PO(4) (0.5-2.5 g l(-1)), sucrose (5-55 g l(-1)) and inoculum concentration (1-25 ml l(-1)). Central composite rotatable design (CCRD) experiments were carried out to study the complex interactions of the variables.The optimum conditions for maximum PHB production were (g l(-1)): CSL-25, Na(2)HPO(4) 2H(2)O-2.2, KH(2)PO(4) - 0.5, sucrose - 55 and inoculum - 10 (ml l(-1)). After 72 h of fermentation, the amount of PHA produced was 8.20 g l(-1) (51.20% of dry cell biomass). It is the first report on optimization of fermentation medium using CSL as a nitrogen source, for PHB production by Bacillus sp.

Infections due to Elizabethkingia meningoseptica in critically injured trauma patients: a seven-year study.

Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is an infrequent cause of hospital-acquired infections. The clinical and microbiological profiles of infections due to E. meningoseptica over a seven-year period at a Level-I trauma centre are reported in this study. Medical records of patients from whose clinical samples E. meningoseptica was isolated on more than one occasion were reviewed. A total of 21 cases were observed during the study, 16 (76.2%) of which exhibited multidrug resistance. The observed in-hospital mortality rate was 47.6%. A high index of clinical suspicion and effective detection of E. meningoseptica in clinical samples are requisite for improved clinical outcome.

Sulfate transport in human placenta: further evidence for a sodium-independent mechanism.

Sulfate transport in isolated placental brush-border membrane vesicles has properties consistent with an anion exchange process. To ascertain the relevance of this finding to sulfate accumulation by the fetus and placenta in vivo, we examined sulfate transport in human placental tissue slices, comparing sulfate uptake with that of a non-metabolizable amino acid marker, alpha-aminoisobutyrate (AIB). In contrast to AIB, which was actively concentrated from physiological media, sulfate uptake by the placenta slice was concentrative only in the absence of sodium and at low pH. Uptake of sulfate reached a steady state after 60 min. It was blocked by DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate), a specific inhibitor of anion transport, but not by ouabain. We found no evidence for Na(+)-dependent uptake of sulfate in incubated placental tissue. It seems unlikely that Na(+)-dependent sulfate transport by the placenta can be responsible for net sulfate accumulation by the human fetus.

Adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy in ampullary cancers.

PURPOSE: Patterns of failure following surgical treatment of ampullary cancers indicate that up to 45% of patients develop loco-regional recurrence. The effect of adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy on survival and loco-regional control is not yet established in this malignancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1989 to December 2000, 113 patients underwent pancreatico-duodenectomy for ampullary cancer. One hundred and four patients who survived the operation were available for analysis to study the effect of adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy on survival and loco-regional control. Forty-nine patients received adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (median dose 50.4 Gy with concurrent 5-Flurouracil) and long-term outcome in these patients was compared with those 55 who did not receive adjuvant therapy. RESULTS: The overall median survival was 30.1 (range 1.6-140.0) months with actuarial 1, 3 and 5-year survival rates of 79, 43 and 33%, respectively. No significant difference in median survival (34.6 vs 24.5 months; P=0.3) and actuarial 5-year survival rates (38 vs 28%) was seen between those who received and those who did not receive adjuvant therapy. Adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy did not influence the survival in high-risk patients (P=0.84), in various T and N stages and had no impact on loco-regional recurrence (P=0.6). CONCLUSIONS: Adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy did not improve the long-term survival or decrease recurrence rates in patients with ampullary cancers who had undergone pancreatico-duodenectomy.

Selective Mycobacterium avium-induced production of nitric oxide by human monocyte-derived macrophages.

Infection with a virulent strain of Mycobacterium avium, but not with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis or avirulent Mycobacterium smegmatis, induced the formation of nitric oxide by human monocyte-derived macrophages. This process was not affected by lipopolysaccharide or cytokines such as interferon-gamma or tumor necrosis factor alpha. M. avium-induced nitric oxide production was significantly decreased by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, a potent inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase activity, without any significant enhancement of intramacrophagic mycobacterial growth. Infection with all the three mycobacterial species induced a significant activation of phospholipase A2 activity of macrophages as evidenced by the increased release of thromboxane A2. Finally, nitric oxide production by human monocyte-derived macrophages required infection with live M. avium, as neither gamma-irradiated M. avium nor the subcellular fractions of this microorganism (cell wall, cytosol) were able to trigger nitric oxide synthesis.

An audit of postoperative radiotherapy after non-curative resection for cancer of the oesophagus.

AIMS: The role of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) after non-curative resections for cancer oesophagus is not well defined. A policy of offering PORT after non-curative resections for cancer oesophagus has been followed at our institution, and we report an audit of our experience. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between March 1990 and September 2002, 139 patients underwent resections for cancer oesophagus. Of these, 86 patients received PORT to a dose of 45-50.4 Gy/25-28 fractions. Eleven of these patients also received concurrent and adjuvant 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Disease-free survival and overall survival were computed from the day of surgery using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Seventy-six per cent (65/86) of patients had squamous cell carcinoma and 69% (59/86) of patients had tumours in the lower-third of the oesophagus. The median interval between surgery and PORT was 41 days, and 93% of patients received doses as planned. Strictures at the anastomotic site and ulcerations in the stomach mucosa were seen in 17% and 5% of patients, respectively. The median and 5-year disease-free survival was 12 months (95% CI 9.9-14.1) and 14%; whereas the median and 5-year overall survival was 17 months (95% CI 12.4-21.6) and 17%, respectively. Local and distant failures were seen in 29% and 45% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PORT, after a non-curative resection of cancer oesophagus, is well tolerated with acceptable morbidity and survival.