Nanotechnologies for environmental remediation and their ecotoxicological impacts.

Environmental nanoremediation is an emerging technology that aims to rapidly and efficiently remove contaminants from the polluted sites using engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). Inorganic nanoparticles which are generally metallic, silica-based, carbon-based, or polymeric in nature serve to remediate through chemical reactions, filtration, or adsorption. Their greater surface area per unit mass and high reactivity enable them to treat groundwater, wastewater, oilfields, and toxic industrial contaminants. Despite the growing interest in nanotechnological solutions for bioremediation, the environmental and human hazard associated with their use is raising concerns globally. Nanoremediation techniques when compared to conventional remediation solutions show increased effectivity in terms of cost and time; however, the main challenge is the ability of ENMs to remove contaminants from different environmental mediums by safeguarding the ecosystem. ENMs improving the accretion of the pollutant and increasing their bioavailability should be rectified along with the vigilant management of their transfer to the upper levels of the food chain which subsequently causes biomagnification. The ecosystem-centered approach will help monitor the ecotoxicological impacts of nanoremediation considering the safety, sustainability, and proper disposal of ENMs. The environment and human health risk assessment of each novel engineered nanomaterial along with the regulation of life cycle assessment (LCA) tools of ENMs for nanoremediation can help investigate the possible environmental hazard. This review focuses on the currently available nanotechnological methods used for environmental remediation and their potential toxicological impacts on the ecosystem.

Diagnosis Disclosure Preferences of Cancer Patients in Egypt: A Multi-Institutional Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Although diagnosis disclosure to cancer patients has important roles in cancer care, it is not a routine practice in countries like Egypt. Respecting patients' autonomy and responding to their preferences are among the factors that should guide the practice of cancer diagnosis disclosure. OBJECTIVES: To assess the preferences of Egyptian cancer patients regarding the disclosure of cancer diagnosis and to determine factors that may affect their preferences. METHODS: The study included 295 patients aware of their cancer diagnosis from 3 cancer care facilities in Egypt. Patients were asked if they would have preferred to be informed of the diagnosis or not, whom they would have preferred to receive the diagnosis information from, and if they would have preferred to tell their families or not. RESULTS: The vast majority (91%) of the included patients preferred to be informed about their diagnosis, 59% preferred to disclose the diagnosis to their families and 66% preferred to receive the diagnosis information from a physician. In univariate analysis, male gender, higher education level and employment were significantly associated with the preference for disclosure. None of the studied variables associated significantly with the preferences in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: The majority of Egyptian cancer patients in our study preferred to be informed about their diagnosis, which should be respected. The results may help in changing the diagnosis disclosure practice of health care professionals and refuting the misconception of family caregivers about cancer diagnosis disclosure in Egypt and countries with similar culture.

Determining the Structures of the Snake and Spider Toxins by X-Rays.

Snake and spider venom is a complex mixture that contains proteins, peptides, and small organic and inorganic compounds. In contrast to spider venom, snake venom proteins are well known both functionally and structurally. This work describes methods for purification and crystallization of snake and spider venom toxins and their three-dimensional structure determination by X-ray crystallography.

Bilateral uterine artery ligation via minilaparotomy for heavy menstrual bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and short-term efficacy of bilateral uterine artery ligation (UAL) via minilaparotomy for the management of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). METHODS: A prospective study of 30 women with HMB who underwent UAL. The primary outcome was cumulative treatment failure 12 months after the procedure. Treatment failure was defined as the need for hysterectomy during the follow-up period. RESULTS: At 12 months, 6 women had undergone hysterectomy for bleeding, for a cumulative failure rate of 20% (95% CI, 9%-38%). The number of bleeding days was significantly reduced by 11.9+/-1.5 days (P<0.001) and hemoglobin level significantly increased by 1.3+/-0.15 g/dL (P<0.001). Of the 30 women, 24 (80%) were satisfied with the results. No major complications were reported during the procedure or median follow-up period of 13.2 months. CONCLUSION: Bilateral UAL is a safe and effective minimally invasive procedure that can provide an alternative treatment for HMB.