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Due to their widespread production and known environmental contamination, the need for the detection and remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has grown quickly. While destructive thermal treatment of PFAS at low temperatures (e.g., 200-500 °C) is of interest due to lower energy and infrastructure requirements, the range of possible degradation products remains underexplored. To better understand the low temperature decomposition of PFAS species, we have coupled gas-phase infrared spectroscopy with a multivariate curve resolution (MCR) analysis and a database of high-resolution PFAS infrared reference spectra to characterize and quantify a complex mixture resulting from potassium perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS-K) decomposition. Beginning at 375 °C, nine prevalent decomposition products (namely smaller perfluorocarbon species) are identified and quantified.
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Restauración y Remediación Ambiental , Fluorocarburos , Espectrofotometría Infrarroja , Fluorocarburos/química , Fluorocarburos/análisis , Restauración y Remediación Ambiental/métodos , Ácidos Alcanesulfónicos/química , Ácidos Alcanesulfónicos/análisis , Contaminantes Ambientales/química , Contaminantes Ambientales/análisis , TemperaturaRESUMEN
Obtaining the complex refractive index vectors n(ν~) and k(ν~) allows calculation of the (infrared) reflectance spectrum that is obtained from a solid in any of its many morphological forms. We report an adaptation to the KBr pellet technique using two gravimetric dilutions to derive quantitative n(ν~)/k(ν~) for dozens of powders with greater repeatability. The optical constants of bisphenol A and sucrose are compared to those derived by other methods, particularly for powdered materials. The variability of the k values for bisphenol A was examined by 10 individual measurements, showing an average coefficient of variation for k peak heights of 5.6%. Though no established standards exist, the pellet-derived k peak values of bisphenol A differ by 11% and 31% from their single-angle- and ellipsometry-derived values, respectively. These values provide an initial estimate of the precision and accuracy of complex refractive indices that can be derived using this method. Limitations and advantages of the method are discussed, the salient advantage being a more rapid method to derive n/k for those species that do not readily form crystals or specular pellets.
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Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have an immense potential to transform healthcare as already demonstrated in various medical specialties. This scoping review focuses on the factors that influence health data poverty, by conducting a literature review, analysis, and appraisal of results. Health data poverty is often an unseen factor which leads to perpetuating or exacerbating health disparities. Improvements or failures in addressing health data poverty will directly impact the effectiveness of AI/ML systems. The potential causes are complex and may enter anywhere along the development process. The initial results highlighted studies with common themes of health disparities (72%), AL/ML bias (28%) and biases in input data (18%). To properly evaluate disparities that exist we recommend a strengthened effort to generate unbiased equitable data, improved understanding of the limitations of AI/ML tools, and rigorous regulation with continuous monitoring of the clinical outcomes of deployed tools.
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Critical care data contain information about the most physiologically fragile patients in the hospital, who require a significant level of monitoring. However, medical devices used for patient monitoring suffer from measurement biases that have been largely underreported. This article explores sources of bias in commonly used clinical devices, including pulse oximeters, thermometers, and sphygmomanometers. Further, it provides a framework for mitigating these biases and key principles to achieve more equitable health care delivery.
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Cuidados Críticos , Humanos , SesgoRESUMEN
AIMS: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a major cause of death worldwide. Effective treatments are required to improve recovery of cardiac function following MI, with the aim of improving patient outcomes and preventing progression to heart failure. The perfused but hypocontractile region bordering an infarct is functionally distinct from the remote surviving myocardium and is a determinant of adverse remodelling and cardiac contractility. Expression of the transcription factor RUNX1 is increased in the border zone 1-day after MI, suggesting potential for targeted therapeutic intervention. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to investigate whether an increase in RUNX1 in the border zone can be therapeutically targeted to preserve contractility following MI. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this work we demonstrate that Runx1 drives reductions in cardiomyocyte contractility, calcium handling, mitochondrial density, and expression of genes important for oxidative phosphorylation. Both tamoxifen-inducible Runx1-deficient and essential co-factor common ß subunit (Cbfß)-deficient cardiomyocyte-specific mouse models demonstrated that antagonizing RUNX1 function preserves the expression of genes important for oxidative phosphorylation following MI. Antagonizing RUNX1 expression via short-hairpin RNA interference preserved contractile function following MI. Equivalent effects were obtained with a small molecule inhibitor (Ro5-3335) that reduces RUNX1 function by blocking its interaction with CBFß. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the translational potential of RUNX1 as a novel therapeutic target in MI, with wider opportunities for use across a range of cardiac diseases where RUNX1 drives adverse cardiac remodelling.
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Insuficiencia Cardíaca , Infarto del Miocardio , Animales , Ratones , Subunidad alfa 2 del Factor de Unión al Sitio Principal/genética , Subunidad alfa 2 del Factor de Unión al Sitio Principal/metabolismo , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/metabolismo , Infarto del Miocardio/genética , Infarto del Miocardio/prevención & control , Infarto del Miocardio/tratamiento farmacológico , Miocardio/metabolismo , Miocitos Cardíacos/metabolismo , Remodelación VentricularRESUMEN
Background: Guideline-recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) thresholds are often not achieved in women. The proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type-9 inhibitor (PCSK9i) monoclonal antibodies can help further reduce LDL-C and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) although differences in efficacy by sex and type are less understood. Objectives: The authors sought to determine if there are differences in the efficacy of LDL-C lowering and reduction in the risk of MACE by sex and type of PCSK9i. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was done through October 17, 2022, for published trials comparing PCSK9i vs control. Outcomes assessed were LDL-C reduction and incidence of MACE following the use of PCSK9i vs placebo, stratified by sex and type of PCSK9i used. Results: We identified 16 trials with 54,996 adults, and 15,143 (27.5%) of them were female. PCSK9i significantly reduced MACE compared to placebo in both women (HR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.74-0.97, P < 0.001) and men (HR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.79-0.91, P < 0.001) with no significant sex difference (MD -0.01, 95% CI: -0.14 to -0.13, P = 0.930). PCSK9i also significantly reduced LDL-C levels in both sexes at 12 weeks (females: MD -62.57, 95% CI: -70.24 to -54.91, P < 0.001; males: MD -66.19, 95% CI: -72.03 to -60.34, P < 0.001) and 24 weeks (females: MD -47.52, 95% CI: -52.94 to -42.09, P < 0.001; males: MD -54.07, 95% CI: -59.46 to -48.68, P < 0.001). Significant sex difference was seen in the LDL reduction of PCSK9i for both 12 weeks (males vs females: MD -4.55, 95% CI: -7.34 to -1.75, P < 0.01) and 24 weeks (males vs females: MD -7.11, 95% CI: -9.99 to -4.23, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The use of PCSK9i results in significant LDL-C and MACE reduction in both males and females. While there is no significant sex difference in MACE reduction, LDL-C reduction is greater in males than in females. Our data support the equal use of PCSK9i in all eligible patients, regardless of sex.
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Nanotechnology, the multidisciplinary field based on the exploitation of the unique physicochemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs) and nanoscale materials, has opened a new realm of possibilities for biological research and biomedical applications. The development and deployment of mRNA-NP vaccines for COVID-19, for example, may revolutionize vaccines and therapeutics. However, regulatory and ethical frameworks that protect the health and safety of the global community and environment are lagging, particularly for nanotechnology geared toward biological applications (ie, bionanotechnology). In this article, while not comprehensive, we attempt to illustrate the breadth and promise of bionanotechnology developments, and how they may present future safety and security challenges. Specifically, we address current advancements to streamline the development of engineered NPs for in vivo applications and provide discussion on nano-bio interactions, NP in vivo delivery, nanoenhancement of human performance, nanomedicine, and the impacts of NPs on human health and the environment.
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Vacunas contra la COVID-19 , COVID-19 , Humanos , COVID-19/prevención & control , Nanomedicina , Nanotecnología , ARN MensajeroRESUMEN
This paper investigates the accuracy of deriving the composite optical constants of binary mixtures from only the complex indices of refraction of the neat materials. These optical constants enable the reflectance spectra of the binary mixtures to be modeled for multiple scenarios (e.g., different substrates, thicknesses, volume ratios), which is important for contact and standoff chemical detection. Using volume fractions, each mixture's complex index of refraction was approximated via three different mixing rules. To explore the impact of intermolecular interactions, these predictions are tested by experimental measurements for two representative sets of binary mixtures: (1) tributyl phosphate combined with n-dodecane, a non-polar medium, to represent mixtures which primarily interact via dispersion forces and (2) tributyl phosphate and 1-butanol to represent mixtures with polar functional groups that can also interact via dipole-dipole interactions, including hydrogen bonding. The residuals and the root-mean-square error between the experimental and calculated index values are computed and demonstrate that for miscible liquids in which the average geometry of the cross-interactions can be considered isotropic (e.g., dispersion), the refractive indices of the mixtures can be modeled using composite n and k values derived from volume fractions of the neat liquids. Conversely, in spectral regions where the geometry of the cross-interactions is more restricted and anisotropic (e.g., hydrogen bonding), the calculated n and k values vary from the measured values. The impact of these interactions on the reflectance spectra are then compared by modeling a thin film of the binary mixtures on an aluminum substrate using both the measured and the mathematically computed indices of refraction.
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We document an artifact associated with the back reflection from samples or sampling accessories in Fourier transform spectrometers. Samples oriented normal to the incoming modulated beam can reflect light back to the interferometer and this light (the percentage dependent on the sample's refractive index) is modulated by the interferometer a second time resulting in light erroneously appearing at twice its true frequency. The phenomenon occurs across the spectrum but is most apparent when positive-going narrow absorption peaks at 1f display as negative-going peaks at 2f. We have redressed the artifact by implementing a rotation stage directly beneath the sample holder: As the stage is rotated through small angles relative to beam normal, the back-reflected light does not enter the interferometer and the artifact disappears. The observation is relevant to several IR sampling methods: gas/liquid cells, alkali halide pellets, reflectance accessories, etc.
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Despite the common occurrence of neurologic complications in patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), data on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in adult ECMO are limited. We aimed to describe the MRI findings of patients after ECMO cannulation. Records of patients who underwent ECMO from September 2017 to June 2019 were reviewed. MRI studies were performed using multiplanar sequences consisting of T1-, T2-weighted, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and susceptibility weighted images (SWI). Of the 78 adult patients who underwent ECMO, 26 (33%) survived. Of 26, eight patients (31%) had MRI studies, with a median age of 47 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 25-57). The median ECMO support time was 8 days (IQR: 4-25) and the median time from decannulation to MRI was 12 days (IQR: 1-34). Five (63%) of eight patients had ischemic infarcts; 4 (50%) had cerebral microhemorrhage; 2 (25%) had intracranial hemorrhage; and 1 (13%) had thoracic cord ischemic infarct. There were no patients with normal MRI. All patients underwent transcranial Doppler (TCD). Four of 8 (50%) showed presence of microemboli with TCD; 3 of 4 (75%) had ischemic infarcts; and 1 of 4 (25%) had presence of multiple cerebral microhemorrhages on MRI. All ischemic infarcts had diffuse pattern of punctate to small lesions for ECMO survivors. The location of cerebral microhemorrhages included lobar (n = 4, 100%), deep (n = 2, 50%), and both (n = 2, 50%). Of the MRI studies, cerebrovascular related lesions were the most frequent, with punctate ischemic infarct being the most common type that may be associated with TCD microemboli. The results of the study suggest that subclinical cerebral lesions are commonly found in patients with ECMO support. Further research is needed to understand long-term effect of these cerebral lesions.
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Oxigenación por Membrana Extracorpórea , Adulto , Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagen , Oxigenación por Membrana Extracorpórea/efectos adversos , Humanos , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Retrospectivos , SobrevivientesRESUMEN
@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Background.</strong> Newborn screening (NBS) is a procedure for the immediate detection of genetic, metabolic, and endocrine disorders in neonates and is crucial for prompt treatment should such disorders be identified. In the Philippines, Republic Act 9288 requires health workers to properly inform mothers regarding NBS and its importance before the procedure.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Objective.</strong> To determine the knowledge, attitude, and awareness of primiparous postpartum mothers towards NBS Methods: A survey questionnaire was administered to primiparous mothers from Wards 15 and 16 of the Philippine General Hospital from April 11 through May 14, 2017. Results of primiparous postpartum mothers with or without previous prenatal check-ups were then compared.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results.</strong> We surveyed 160 mothers, with half (56.3%) aged between 20 and 29 years. There were 149 mothers with and 11 without prenatal checkups. Mothers with previous prenatal checkups were more likely to be aware of NBS than those without prenatal checkups. Knowledge on NBS of mothers with previous prenatal checkups was higher on average compared to those without previous prenatal checkups. There was no significant difference in attitude between mothers with or without prenatal checkups.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusion.</strong> Prenatal checkups increased the awareness and knowledge of primiparous mothers' towards NBS, and thus can be a potent vehicle where healthcare providers may inform the mother on the process and purpose of this procedure.</p>
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Tamizaje Neonatal , Conocimiento , Concienciación , ActitudRESUMEN
Iodine monochloride (ICl) is a potential off-gas product of molten salt reactors; monitoring this heteronuclear diatomic molecule is of great interest for both environmental and safety purposes. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of infrared monitoring of ICl by measuring the far-infrared absorption cross section of its fundamental band near 381 cm-1. We have performed quantitative studies of the neat gas in a 20 cm cell at 25, 35, 50, and 70 °C at multiple pressures up to â¼9 Torr and investigated the temperature and pressure dependencies of the band's infrared cross section. Quantitative measurements were problematic due to sample adhesion to the cell walls and windows as well as reactions/possible hydrolysis of ICl to form HCl gas. Effects were mitigated by measuring only the neat gas, using short measurement times, and subtracting out the partial pressure of the HCl(g). The integrated band strength is shown to be temperature independent and was found to be equal to 9.1 × 10-19 (cm2/molecule) cm-1. As expected, the temperature dependence of the band profile showed only a small effect over this limited temperature range. We have also investigated using the absorption data along with inverse least squares multivariate methods for the quantitative monitoring of ICl effluent concentrations under different scenarios using infrared (standoff) sensing and compare these results with traditional Beer's law (univariate) techniques.
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@#After two years of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, cases have generally begun to decline in the different regions of the world, and consequently a lot of people are gradually returning to face-to-face interactions, including health-related activities. Based on scarce local literatures published recently, telerehabilitation was envisioned to be a viable solution to bridge the perennial gaps in the delivery of rehabilitation services across the Philippine archipelago, such as the lack of manpower and resources, aggravated by the pandemic.
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Atención a la Salud , Telemedicina , Telerrehabilitación , COVID-19 , Países en DesarrolloRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of heart failure and death worldwide. Preservation of contractile function and protection against adverse changes in ventricular architecture (cardiac remodeling) are key factors to limiting progression of this condition to heart failure. Consequently, new therapeutic targets are urgently required to achieve this aim. Expression of the Runx1 transcription factor is increased in adult cardiomyocytes after MI; however, the functional role of Runx1 in the heart is unknown. METHODS: To address this question, we have generated a novel tamoxifen-inducible cardiomyocyte-specific Runx1-deficient mouse. Mice were subjected to MI by means of coronary artery ligation. Cardiac remodeling and contractile function were assessed extensively at the whole-heart, cardiomyocyte, and molecular levels. RESULTS: Runx1-deficient mice were protected against adverse cardiac remodeling after MI, maintaining ventricular wall thickness and contractile function. Furthermore, these mice lacked eccentric hypertrophy, and their cardiomyocytes exhibited markedly improved calcium handling. At the mechanistic level, these effects were achieved through increased phosphorylation of phospholamban by protein kinase A and relief of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase inhibition. Enhanced sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase activity in Runx1-deficient mice increased sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content and sarcoplasmic reticulum-mediated calcium release, preserving cardiomyocyte contraction after MI. CONCLUSIONS: Our data identified Runx1 as a novel therapeutic target with translational potential to counteract the effects of adverse cardiac remodeling, thereby improving survival and quality of life among patients with MI.
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Subunidad alfa 2 del Factor de Unión al Sitio Principal/deficiencia , Infarto del Miocardio/metabolismo , Miocitos Cardíacos/metabolismo , Función Ventricular Izquierda , Remodelación Ventricular , Animales , Señalización del Calcio , Proteínas de Unión al Calcio/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Subunidad alfa 2 del Factor de Unión al Sitio Principal/genética , Proteínas Quinasas Dependientes de AMP Cíclico/metabolismo , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Ratones Noqueados , Contracción Miocárdica , Infarto del Miocardio/genética , Infarto del Miocardio/patología , Infarto del Miocardio/fisiopatología , Miocitos Cardíacos/patología , Fosforilación , Conejos , Retículo Sarcoplasmático/metabolismo , Retículo Sarcoplasmático/patología , ATPasas Transportadoras de Calcio del Retículo Sarcoplásmico/metabolismo , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
Effects of extra-column volume on apparent separation parameters were studied in ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography with columns and inlet connection tubings of various internal diameters (id) using 50-mm long columns packed with 1.8-µm particles under isocratic conditions. The results showed that apparent retention factors were on average 5, 11, 18, and 41% lower than those corrected with extra-column volumes for 4.6-, 3.0-, 2.1-, and 1.0-mm id columns, respectively, when the extra-column volume (11.3 µL) was kept constant. Also, apparent pressures were 31, 16, 12, and 10% higher than those corrected with pressures from extra-column volumes for 4.6-, 3.0-, 2.1-, and 1.0-mm id columns at the respective optimum flow rate for a typical ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography system. The loss in apparent efficiency increased dramatically from 4.6- to 3.0- to 2.1- to 1.0-mm id columns, less significantly as retention factors increased. The column efficiency was significantly improved as the inlet tubing id was decreased for a given column. The results suggest that maximum ratio of extra-column volume to column void volume should be approximately 1:10 for column porosity more than 0.6 and a retention factor more than 5, where 80% or higher of theoretically predicted efficiency could be achieved.
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Cromatografía Líquida de Alta Presión/instrumentación , Cromatografía Líquida de Alta Presión/métodos , Modelos TeóricosRESUMEN
The effect of extra-column volume on observed linear velocity was investigated for columns of various internal diameters in very high pressure liquid chromatography. The results showed that the observed linear velocities were approximately 4.5, 9.5, 16.8, and 39.5% lower than the linear velocities corrected for the extra-column volume contribution for 4.6, 3.0, 2.1, and 1.0mm internal diameter columns, respectively. An empirical relationship between extra-column band broadening and extra-column volume was obtained using 50 cm long tubings of various internal diameters. The peak variance from the extra-column volume is near linearly proportional to the square of the extra-column volume for tubings with 0.0635-0.178 mm (0.025-0.07 in.) i.d. using a 50/50 acetonitrile/water mobile phase at flow rates greater than 0.3 mL/min. The effect of column internal diameter and column length on observed efficiency was studied using 50mm columns with four different column internal diameters and 2.1mm i.d columns with three different lengths. The results showed that the observed column efficiencies for 3.0, 2.1, and 1.0mm internal diameter columns were 18, 33, and 73% lower than that for a 4.6mm internal diameter column for benzophenone (k=5.5), respectively. An approximate 20% decrease in theoretical plate number was observed for propiophenone (k=3.3) using a 50 mm × 2.1 mm column packed with 1.7 µm particles compared to a 150 mm × 2.1 mm column packed with 5.0 µm particles, while the former column provided 9 fold faster separation. It is the column to extra column volume ratio instead of absolute extra-column volume that determines the degree of extra-column band-broadening in VHPLC.