Ecological changes in subtidal macrobenthic communities of the Taean coast following the Hebei Spirit oil spill: A 10-year longitudinal study.

We examined long-term response (2008-2017) of the macrobenthos to the Hebei Spirit oil spill that occurred around the Taean coast, Korea, in December 2007. Oil concentrations were below the Korea/US environmental standards as of January 2008. Organic matter, chlorophyll-a, and zooplankton abundance dominated by Noctiluca scintillans were higher after the spill. Macrobenthic diversity recovered to pre-incident (2007) level in 2011. Biomass exceeded that level in 2011 and the increase prolonged for 5 years. Cross-correlation and regression analyses showed that chlorophyll-a at year t and zooplankton abundance at t-2 had a significant relationship with macrobenthic biomass at t (p < 0.05 for both), suggesting the transfer of increased organic matter (transformed from crude oil within the pelagic ecosystem) into the benthic ecosystem. Coastal wetlands around the incident area, vulnerable to oil pollution and slowly remobilizing accumulated oil, seemed to affect pelagic ecosystem processes and the unexpectedly increased and sustained biomass.

Field application of cost-effective sensors for the monitoring of NH3, H2S, and TVOC in environmental treatment facilities and the estimation of odor intensity.

Odor is usually a complex mixture of various compounds. In many countries, odor complaints have been addressed using the air dilution olfactory method (ADOM) to reduce their malodor complaint. In this study, continuous monitoring of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) using sensors was conducted in facilities for municipal and livestock wastewater treatment (LWT), and for food waste composting (FWC). Odor intensity was modeled by multivariate linear regression using sensor monitoring data with air dilution measured by the ADOM. In testing the performance of sensors in the lab, all three sensors showed acceptable values for linearity, accuracy, repeatability, lowest detection limit, and response time, so the sensors were acceptable for application in the field. In on-site real-time monitoring, the three sensors functioned well in the three environmental facilities during the testing period. Average ammonia and hydrogen sulfide concentrations were high in the LWT facility, while TVOC showed the highest concentration in the FWC facility. A longer sampling time is necessary for ammonia monitoring. Odor intensity from individual sensor data correlated well to complex odor measured by the ADOM. Finally, we suggest a protocol for field application of sensor monitoring and odor data reproduction.Implications: We suggest a protocol for the field application of sensor monitoring and odor data estimation in this study. This study can be useful to a policy maker and field operator to reduce odor emission through the determination of a more effective treatment technology and removal pathway for individual odorants.

Eight-week healing of grafted calvarial bone defects with hyperbaric oxygen therapy in rats.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the synergistic effect of adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on new bone formation and angiogenesis after 8 weeks of healing. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats (n=28) were split into 2 groups according to the application of adjunctive HBO therapy: a group that received HBO therapy (HBO group [n=14]) and another group that did not receive HBO therapy (NHBO group [n=14]). Each group was divided into 2 subgroups according to the type of bone graft material: a biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) subgroup and an Escherichia coli-derived recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2-/epigallocatechin-3-gallate-coated BCP (mBCP) subgroup. Two identical circular defects with a 6-mm diameter were made in the right and left parietal bones of each rat. One defect was grafted with bone graft material (BCP or mBCP). The other defect was not grafted. The HBO group received 2 weeks of adjunctive HBO therapy (1 hour, 5 times a week). The rats were euthanized 8 weeks after surgery. The specimens were prepared for histologic analysis. RESULTS: New bone (%) was higher in the NHBO-mBCP group than in the NHBO-BCP and control groups (P<0.05). Blood vessel count (%) and vascular endothelial growth factor staining (%) were higher in the HBO-mBCP group than in the NHBO-mBCP group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: HBO therapy did not have a positive influence on bone formation irrespective of the type of bone graft material applied after 8 weeks of healing. HBO therapy had a positive effect on angiogenic activity.

Bone Regeneration Effect of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Duration on Calvarial Defects in Irradiated Rats.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we evaluated changes in bone remodeling in an irradiated rat calvarial defect model according to duration of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 28 rats were divided into four groups. Radiation of 12 Gy was applied to the skull, and 5-mm critical size defects were formed on both sides of the skull. Bone grafts were applied to one side of formed defects. From the day after surgery, HBO was applied for 0, 1, and 3 weeks. At 6 weeks after bone graft, experimental sites were removed and analyzed for radiography, histology, and histomorphometry. RESULTS: Micro-CT analysis showed a significant increase in new bone volume in the HBO-3 group, with or without bone graft. When bone grafting was performed, BV, BS, and BS/TV all significantly increased. Histomorphometric analysis showed significant increases in %NBA and %BVN in the HBO-1 and HBO-3 groups, regardless of bone graft. CONCLUSION: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was effective for bone regeneration with only 1 week of treatment.

Adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy for irradiated rat calvarial defects.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to conduct a histologic evaluation of irradiated calvarial defects in rats 4 weeks after applying fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) with hyaluronan or biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) block in the presence or absence of adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. METHODS: Twenty rats were divided into HBO and non-HBO (NHBO) groups, each of which was divided into FGF-2 and BCP-block subgroups according to the grafted material. Localized radiation with a single 12-Gy dose was applied to the calvaria of rats to simulate radiotherapy. Four weeks after applying this radiation, 2 symmetrical circular defects with a diameter of 6 mm were created in the parietal bones of each animal. The right-side defect was filled with the materials mentioned above and the left-side defect was not filled (as a control). All defects were covered with a resorbable barrier membrane. During 4 weeks of healing, 1 hour of HBO therapy was applied to the rats in the HBO groups 5 times a week. The rats were then killed, and the calvarial specimens were harvested for radiographic and histologic analyses. RESULTS: New bone formation was greatest in the FGF-2 subgroup, and improvement was not found in the BCP subgroup. HBO seemed to have a minimal effect on new bone formation. There was tendency for more angiogenesis in the HBO groups than the NHBO groups, but the group with HBO and FGF-2 did not show significantly better outcomes than the HBO-only group or the NHBO group with FGF-2. CONCLUSIONS: HBO exerted beneficial effects on angiogenesis in calvarial defects of irradiated rats over a 4-week healing period, but it appeared to have minimal effects on bone regeneration. FGF-2 seemed to enhance new bone formation and angiogenesis, but its efficacy appeared to be reduced when HBO was applied.

Synergistic effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy with PTH [1-34] on calvarial bone graft in irradiated rat.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the synergistic effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) [1-34] in combination with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on bone graft in a rat calvarial bone defect model under impaired osteogenic conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four rats were divided into three groups. Localized radiation with a single 12 Gy dose was administered to the calvaria. Four weeks after radiation, calvarial circular defects were created in the parietal bones. All defects were filled with biphasic calcium phosphate. After the bone graft, PTH [1-34] was injected subcutaneously, and HBO was administered. At 6 weeks after the bone graft, the rats were sacrificed, and specimens were harvested. RESULTS: Histomorphometric evaluation showed that the percentage of new bone area was higher in the PTH and PTH/HBO groups than in the control group. The percent residual material area was decreased in the PTH/HBO group compared with the control group. The percentage blood vessel number was highest in the PTH group. Micro-CT evaluation showed that the new bone volume was highest in the PTH/HBO group. The residual material volume was lowest in the PTH/HBO group. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, our data indicate that PTH combined with HBO may reverse radiation-induced impairment of bone healing.

Four-week histologic evaluation of grafted calvarial defects with adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy in rats.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to characterize the healing in the grafted calvarial defects of rats after adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy. METHODS: Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats (body weight, 250-300 g) were randomly divided into two treatment groups: with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO; n=14) and without HBO (NHBO; n=14). Each group was further subdivided according to the bone substitute applied: biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP; n=7) and surface-modified BCP (mBCP; n=7). The mBCP comprised BCP coated with Escherichia-coli-derived recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (ErhBMP-2) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Two symmetrical circular defects (6-mm diameter) were created in the right and left parietal bones of each animal. One defect was assigned as a control defect and received no bone substitute, while the other defect was filled with either BCP or mBCP. The animals were allowed to heal for 4 weeks, during which those in the HBO group underwent 5 sessions of HBO. At 4 weeks, the animals were sacrificed, and the defects were harvested for histologic and histomorphometric analysis. RESULTS: Well-maintained space was found in the grafted groups. Woven bone connected to and away from the defect margin was formed. More angiogenesis was found with HBO and EGCG/BMP-2 (P<0.05). None of the defects achieved complete defect closure. Increased new bone formation with HBO or EGCG/BMP-2 was evident in histologic evaluation, but it did not reach statistical significance in histometric analysis. A synergic effect between HBO and EGCG/BMP-2 was not found. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study, the present findings indicate that adjunctive HBO and EGCG/BMP-2 could be beneficial for new bone formation in rat calvarial defects.

Relief of Injection Pain During Delivery of Local Anesthesia by Computer-Controlled Anesthetic Delivery System for Periodontal Surgery: Randomized Clinical Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Pain from local anesthetic injection makes patients anxious when visiting a dental clinic. This study aims to determine differences in pain according to types of local anesthetizing methods and to identify the possible contributing factors (e.g., dental anxiety, stress, and sex). METHODS: Thirty-one patients who underwent open-flap debridement in maxillary premolar and molar areas during treatment for chronic periodontitis were evaluated for this study. A randomized, split-mouth, single-masked clinical trial was implemented. The dental anxiety scale (DAS) and perceived stress scale (PSS) were administered before surgery. Two lidocaine ampules for each patient were used for local infiltration anesthesia (supraperiosteal injection). Injection pain was measured immediately after local infiltration anesthesia using the visual analog pain scale (VAS) questionnaire. Results from the questionnaire were used to assess degree of pain patients feel when a conventional local anesthetic technique (CNV) is used compared with a computer-controlled anesthetic delivery system (CNR). RESULTS: DAS and PSS did not correlate to injection pain. VAS scores were lower for CNR than for CNV regardless of the order in which anesthetic procedures were applied. VAS score did not differ significantly with sex. Pearson coefficient for correlation between VAS scores for the two procedures was 0.80, also indicating a strong correlation. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the present study, relief from injection pain is observed using CNR.

Community management of acute malnutrition in the developing world.

Globally, acute malnutrition triggers more than 50% of childhood mortality in children under 5 years old, which implies that about 3.5 million children die of malnutrition each year. Prior to the advent of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), the management of acute malnutrition was limited to hospitals, resulting in low coverage rates with high mortality, as malnourished cases were indentified at later stages often plagued with complications. However, current availability of RUTF has enabled malnourished children to be treated at communities. Further, because RUTF is dehydrated and sealed, it has the added advantage of a lower risk of bacterial contamination, thereby prolonging its storage life at room temperature. Recent data indicate that Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) is as cost effective as other high-impact public health measures such as oral rehydration therapy for acute diarrheal diseases, vitamin A supplementation, and antibiotic treatment for acute respiratory infections. Despite the high efficacy of CMAM programs, CMAM still draws insufficient attention for global implementation, suggesting that CMAM programs should be integrated into local or regional routine health systems. Knowledge gaps requiring further research include: the definition of practical screening criteria for malnourished children at communities, the need for systematic antibiotic therapy during malnutrition treatment, and the dietary management of severe malnutrition in children below 6 months of age.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 stimulates cyclic vitamin D receptor/retinoid X receptor DNA-binding, co-activator recruitment, and histone acetylation in intact osteoblasts.

UNLABELLED: 1,25(OH)2D3 induces gene expression through the VDR. We used chromatin immunoprecipitation techniques to explore this 1,25(OH)2D3-induced process on the 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-24-hydroxylase (Cyp24) and Opn gene promoters in intact osteoblasts. Our studies show that 1,25(OH)2D3-induced transactivation is a dynamic process that involves promoter-specific localization of VDR and RXR, recruitment of histone acetyltransferase complexes, and in the case of the Cyp24 gene, modification of histone 4. INTRODUCTION: The vitamin D receptor (VDR) binds as a retinoid X receptor (RXR) heterodimer to target DNA sequences and facilitates the recruitment of protein complexes that are essential for transcriptional modulation. These complexes include an acetyltransferase component that contains members of the p160 family and p300/CBP as well as human mediator that contains D receptor interacting protein (DRIP205). The objective of this study was to investigate the kinetics of VDR/RXR binding to 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-24-hydroxylase (Cyp24) and osteopontin (Opn) target gene promoters and to explore the recruitment and subsequent activities of co-activator complexes on these target genes in intact cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells and mouse primary calvarial osteoblasts (MOBs) were cultured in alphaMEM medium supplemented with 10% FBS. Confluent cells were treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] or the vitamin D antagonist ZK159222, and the ability of these compounds to induce localization of VDR and RXR to specific regions of Cyp24 and Opn target genes was examined using chromatin immunoprecipitation techniques. The ability of both compounds to induce the recruitment of co-activator proteins such as p160 family members, CBP and DRIP205, and to increase the level of histone acetylation on the two gene promoters in MC3T3-E1 cells was also examined. RESULTS: 1,25(OH)2D3 induces rapid association of the VDR and RXR with both the Cyp24 and the Opn gene promoters in both MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts and MOBs, interactions that are both rapid and cyclic in nature. 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment also induces rapid recruitment of co-regulators such as SRC-1, -2, and -3, CBP, and p300 to both promoters, recruitment that leads to acetylation of histone 4 on Cyp24 but not the Opn. DRIP205 is also recruited to the two promoters in response to hormonal stimulation, an appearance that correlates directly with entry of RNA pol II. Studies with the vitamin D antagonist ZK159222 suggest a complex mode of action of this compound in blocking 1,25(OH)2D3-induced transcription. Our studies indicate that 1,25(OH)2D3-induced transactivation in intact osteoblasts is a dynamic process that involves promoter-specific localization of VDR and RXR as well as the recruitment of a number of co-regulators essential to 1,25(OH)2D3-induced transcription. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that co-regulators essential for the transcriptional activity of the steroid receptor gene family are indeed critical for the actions of 1,25(OH)2D3. Selective use of co-regulators by target genes, however, may provide a mechanism for the unique and perhaps gene-selective responses observed with synthetic analogs such as ZK159222.