[Prevalence of degenerative disc disorders in patients with lumbar stenosis[2003 - 2004]]

Determining the prevalence of degenerative changes by MRI in patients with low back pain [LBP] and lumbar canal stenosis is valuable for better understanding of important LSS issue. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of disc degeneration changes through MRI images obtained from patients with low back pain and lumbar spinal stenosis. This was a cross sectional study in which 53 patients [selected through examining 200 MRI images from patients seeking medical care because of low back pain [LBP] and referred to our MRI imaging center] with MRI findings compatible with lumbar canal stenosis [LSS], were investigated between June 2003 to September 2004. Intervertebral disc conditions such as normal status, bulging, and herniation were evaluated in patient's MRI images. Findings: In 53 patients with lumbar canal stenosis, 34% were women and 66% men [P<0.005]. Degenerative disc disorders [especially herniation] were found in 51% of our patients and 49% shown to have isolated bony canal stenosis occasionally with bulging discs. The isolated or combined anteroposterior [AP] diameter narrowing between patients with LBP was 94.35% in the current study compared to the previous estimation in our imaging center [80%] found in 1998. There was 5.65% isolated LR narrowing and 7.5% AP and LR narrowing in our study. Based on our results, 51% of patients had degenerative disc disorder in the form of disc herniation associated with spinal canal stenosis; 24.5% with no disc pathology, and 24.5% with bulging discs. Disc degeneration was more prevalent in stenotic group compared to non-stenotic group [51% versus 34%; p>0.03]

Removal of chromium [VI] from aqueous solutions using lewatit FO36 nano ion exchange resin

The removal of the chromium [VI] ion from aqueous solutions with the Lewatit FO36 ion-exchange resin is described at different conditions. The effects of adsorbent dose, initial metal concentration, contact time and pH on the removal of chromium [VI] were investigated. The batch ion exchange process was relatively fast and it reached equilibrium after about 90 min of contact. The ion exchange process, which is pH dependent showed maximum removal of chromium [VI] in the pH range 5.0-8.0 for an initial chromium [VI] concentration of 0.5 mg/dm[3]. The equilibrium related to Lewatit FO36 ion- exchange capacity and the amounts of the ion exchange were obtained using the plots of the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. It was observed that the maximum ion exchange capacity of 0.29 mmol of chromium [VI]/g for Lewatit FO36 was achieved at optimum pH value of 6.0. The ion exchange of chromium [VI] on this cation-exchange resin followed first-order reversible kinetics

Evaluating the effectiveness of a hybrid sorbent resin in removing fluoride from water

In some regions of the world, the concentration of fluoride in groundwater is high. To reduce the amount of fluoride to acceptable drinking water standard, it is highly recommended to treat the water. Fluoride adsorption in aqueous solution by a hybrid resin was studied in this research because of its functional groups likeness with goethite. Kinetic data showed that F adsorption was rapid in the beginning and maximum uptake occurred in within 10 min and equilibrium reached within 100 min. The experimental results showed that fluoride adsorption was influenced by pH of solution and optimum operating pH was in the range of 3 to 5.5. Langmuir model was applicable to the present study and F ions were exchanged with hydroxide ions in nano-scaled structure on the surface of sorbent. This adsorbent with 61% efficiency is suitable for the regions where F concentration is less than 4 mg/L

effect of inorganic cations Ca[2+] and Al[3+] on the release rate of propranolol hydrochloride from sodium carboxymethylcellulose matrices

Several methods are available for control release of propranolol hydrochloride [PLH]. The aim of the present study was to develop a novel technique to sustain PLH release from matrices. Matrices of PLH containing sodium carboxymethylcellulose [Na CMC] and various amounts of the inorganic cations Ca[2+] and A1[3+] were prepared. Dissolution of the matrices was carried out using the USP apparatus I. Analysis of release data was performed by some model independent and dependent approaches. The release of PLH was affected by incorporation of different amounts [milliequivalents, meq] of Ca[2+] 2+ and Al[3+]. When the Ca[2+] amount increased from 0- 0.375 meq, the fraction of PLH which released within 480 min was augmented from 0.74 to 1 apparently via disintegrating effect of the cation. Al[3+] in the range 0- 0.125 meq, decreased the fractional release from 0.74 to 0.37 presumably by in situ cross- linking with polymer. Al[3+] between 0.125 and 0.5 meq enhanced the release from 0.37 to 1 possibly due to the disintegrating effect. Among model independent metrics, the mean release time [MRT] failed to represent the effect of the cations on the release but the release efficiency [RE] as well as a suggested mean release rate [MRR] correlated well with the experimental release rate. Due to the complexity of the release, the only suitable kinetic model was the Weibull distribution. The minimum and maximum Weibull release rate constants for matrices containing Al[3+] were 0.0007-0.017 1/min. The corresponding values for the matrices with Ca[2+] were 0.0029-0.0082 1/min. Through careful choice of the amount of Al[3+] in NaCMC matrices the release of PLH can be controlled at a desired rate. The best model independent approach is MRR and the most accurate model dependent method is Weibull distribution to describe the release data

Fatal aortitis: a complication of aspergillus endocarditis following coronary artery bypass graft surgery

The most common fungal organism to cause endocarditis is Candida which is followed by Aspergillus. Aspergillus endocarditis can occur in either the native or prosthetic heart valves, usually occurring post operatively after cardiac surgery on implanted valves. The usual route of infection for invasive aspergillosis is through inhalation of organism into the lungs. Diagnosis is difficult because blood culture usually remains negative even with extensive disease. Long term survival is limited even with surgical intervention.Herein, we present a 49-year-old man with previous history of coronary artery bypass graft and aortic valve endocarditis which was diagnosed as Aspergillus endocarditis after the valve surgery. Unfortunately the patient died because of late occurrence of progressive aortic invasion caused by Candida and Enterococci