Efficient removal of triclosan from water through activated carbon adsorption and photodegradation processes.

This study investigated the application of adsorption with activated carbons (ACs) and photodegradation to reduce the concentration of triclosan (TCS) in aqueous solutions. Concerning adsorption, ACs (Darco, Norit, and F400) were characterised and batch experiments were performed to elucidate the effect of pH on equilibrium. The results showed that at pH = 7, the maximum adsorption capacity of TCS onto the ACs was 18.5 mg g-1 for Darco, 16.0 mg g-1 for Norit, and 15.5 mg g-1 for F400. The diffusional kinetic model allowed an adequate interpretation of the experimental data. The effective diffusivity varied and increased with the amount of TCS adsorbed, from 1.06 to 1.68 × 10-8 cm2 s-1. In the case of photodegradation, it was possible to ensure that the triclosan molecule was sensitive to UV light of 254 nm because the removal was over 80 % using UV light. The removal of TCS increased in the presence of sulfate radicals. It was possible to identify 2,4-dichlorophenol as one of the photolytic degradation products of triclosan, which does not represent an environmental hazard at low concentrations of triclosan in water. These results confirm that the use of AC Darco, Norit, and F400 and that photodegradation processes with UV light and persulfate radicals are effective in removing TCS from water, reaching concentration levels that do not constitute a risk to human health or environmental hazard. Both methods effectively eliminate pollutants with relatively easy techniques to implement.

Influence of different surgical techniques on primary implant stability in the posterior maxilla: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Primary stability (PS) is remarkable for secondary stability and implant success. Surgical technique modifications seem to improve primary stability, especially in poor quality bone. The aim of this study was to compare the insertion torque (IT) and implant stability quotients (ISQ) of implants placed with underpreparation, expanders, and standard surgical instrumentation in different bone types. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial enrolled 108 patients (n=108 implants) distributed in three study groups: group 1 (n=36) underpreparation technique, group 2 (n=36) expander technique, and group 3 (n=36) conventional drilling. IT was recorded with a torque indicator. ISQ was recorded with resonance frequency analysis immediately after surgery. RESULTS: ISQ values were associated with the patient's bone quality and were higher in bone quality type II (76.65) and type III (73.60) and lower in bone quality type IV (67.34), with statistically significant differences (p<0.0001). Lower stability results were obtained when conventional drilling (69.31) was used compared to the use of underpreparation (74.29) or expanders (73.99) with a level of significance of p=0.008 and p=0.005, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical technique influences the PS when there is low-quality bone. In low-quality bones, conventional drilling obtains lower ISQ values. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Replace the conventional drilling technique for an alternative, underpreparation or expanders, in low-quality bone in order to achieve greater primary stability.

Case Report: Dynamic Interdependencies Between Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Practice, Urinary Interleukin-6 Levels, and Fatigue in a Breast Cancer Survivor.

Background: This study investigated the influence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) techniques (i.e., Jin Shin Jyutsu, music, physiotherapy, Tai Chi, and energy healing) on urinary interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and fatigue in a 49-year-old breast cancer survivor suffering from cancer-related fatigue and depression. Data were sampled under conditions of "life as it is lived." Methods: For 28 days, a female breast cancer survivor collected her full urine output in 12-h intervals from about 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from about 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. These urine samples were used to determine urinary IL-6 levels through ELISA and creatinine concentrations via HPLC. In 12-h intervals (every morning and evening), the patient completed the DIARI, which included fatigue measurement and notes on incidents and activities such as CAM practice. In addition, the patient was interviewed weekly to identify meaningful everyday incidents. In this context, CAM practice was also discussed. Time series analysis consisted of ARIMA modeling and cross-correlational analyses (p < 0.05). Results: When each CAM technique was considered separately in time series analysis, CAM was consistently associated with increases in urinary IL-6 release and decreases in fatigue. Furthermore, when all CAM techniques experienced as positive were included in one time series, a biphasic urinary IL-6 response pattern was found in which CAM practice was first preceded by decreases in IL-6 by 12-0 h and then followed by increases in IL-6 after 108-120 h. Finally, cross-correlations between IL-6 and fatigue showed that increases in IL-6 were followed by decreases in fatigue intensity after 48-60 h and, conversely, that decreases in fatigue intensity were followed by decreases in IL-6 after 24-36 h and 48-60 h. Conclusion: IL-6 increases and fatigue decreases highlight potential health-promoting effects of CAM practice. Moreover, a cyclic IL-6 pattern in response to all CAM activities experienced as positive underscores that CAM was meaningful to the patient. Additionally, a negative feedback circuit between IL-6 and fatigue intensity was detected. Taken together, this study confirms the necessity of integrating subjective meaning and dynamic complexity into biopsychosocial research in order to understand human functioning under real-life conditions.

Real-Life Cause-Effect Relations Between Urinary IL-6 Levels and Specific and Nonspecific Symptoms in a Patient With Mild SLE Disease Activity.

Background: Little is known about the real-time cause-effect relations between IL-6 concentrations and SLE symptoms. Methods: A 52-year-old woman with mild SLE activity collected her entire urine for the determination of IL-6/creatinine and protein/creatinine levels (ELISA, HPLC) for a period of 56 days in 12 h intervals (total: 112 measurements). Additionally, she answered questionnaires (VAS) on oral ulceration, facial rash, joint pain, fatigue and tiredness and measured her temperature orally twice a day. Time-series analyses consisted of ARIMA modeling and cross-correlational analyses (one lag = 12 h, significance level = p < 0.05). Results: Statistical analyses showed that increased urinary IL-6 concentrations preceded increased urinary protein levels by 36-48 h (lag3: r=+.225; p=.017) and that, in the opposite direction of effect, increased urinary protein preceded urinary IL-6 decreases by 12-24 h (lag1: r=-.322; p<.001). Moreover, urinary IL-6 increases co-occurred with increased oral ulceration (lag0: r=+.186; p=.049); after 48-60 h, however, IL-6 increases showed a strong tendency to precede oral ulceration decreases (lag4: r=-.170; p=.072). Increases in facial rash preceded decreases in urinary IL-6 after 84-96 h (lag7: r=-.215; p=.023). As to fatigue, increases in urinary IL-6 co-occurred with decreased fatigue (lag0: r=-.193; p=.042); after 84-96 h, however, IL-6 increases preceded fatigue increases (+lag7: r=+.189; p=.046). Finally, joint pain, tiredness and body temperature did not significantly correlate with urinary IL-6 concentrations in either direction of effect. Conclusions: The results of this evaluation point to real-life feedback mechanisms between immune activity and SLE symptoms. Comparison with a previous evaluation of this patient suggests a counterregulatory mechanism between Th1 activity and IL-6. These findings are preliminary and require replication to draw firm conclusions about the real-time relation between IL-6 and SLE disease activity.

Determination of Exosome Mitochondrial DNA as a Biomarker of Renal Cancer Aggressiveness.

Here, the role of non-invasive biomarkers in liquid biopsy was evaluated, mainly in exosomes and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) as promising, novel, and stable biomarkers for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A total of 140 fractions (named from B to F) obtained by ultracentrifugations of whole blood samples from 28 individuals (13 patients and 15 controls) were included. Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) was conducted to characterized exosomal fraction. Subsequently, an analysis of digital PCR (dPCR) using the QuantStudio™ 3D Digital PCR platform was performed and the quantification of mtDNA copy number by QuantStudioTM 12K Flex Real-Time PCR System (qPCR) was developed. Moreover, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) analyses were included using MiSeq system (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA). An F fraction, which contains all exosome data and all mitochondrial markers, was identified in dPCR and qPCR with statistically significant power (adjusted p values ≤ 0.03) when comparing cases and controls. Moreover, present analysis in mtDNA showed a relevant significance in RCC aggressiveness. To sum up, this is the first time a relation between exosomal mtDNA markers and clinical management of RCC is analyzed. We suggest a promising strategy for future liquid biopsy RCC analysis, although more analysis should be performed prior to application in routine clinical practice.

Risk Assessments of Epidural Analgesia During Labor and Delivery.

Epidural analgesia (EA) is one of the methods of choice for labor pain relief, but its adverse effects on the mother and child remain controversial. The objective of this study was to determine whether there is an association between the use of EA and different aspects of labor. The author(s) analyzed the effect of EA on different aspects of labor in a retrospective cohort observational study of deliveries in a public Spanish hospital during a 3-year period. Women with EA administration were found to increase the risk of stimulated labor, reduce the percentage of spontaneous deliveries, increase the risk of instrumental labor due to stalled labor or loss of fetal well-being, and increase the percentage of episiotomies. However, women with EA were not and increased risk for perineal laceration or the condition of the membranes at the delivery or with the type of placental expulsion. Thus, the administration of EA should be assessed in each case by the health care professional.

Subjective Positive and Negative Sleep Variables Differentially Affect Cellular Immune Activity in a Breast Cancer Survivor: A Time-series Analysis Approach.

This study on a breast cancer survivor suffering from cancer-related fatigue (CaRF) and depression investigated the bidirectional relationship between cellular immune activity and subjective sleep. The 49-year-old patient (breast cancer diagnosis 5 years before the study, currently in remission) collected her full urine output for 28 days in 12-h intervals (8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.). These urine samples were used to determine urinary neopterin (cellular immune activation marker) and creatinine concentrations via high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Each morning, the patient answered questions on five sleep variables: sleep quality (SQ), sleep recreational value (SRV), total sleep time (TST), total wake time (TWT), and awakenings during sleep period (ADS). For the purpose of this study, the time series of the nighttime urinary neopterin levels and the five sleep variables were determined. Using centered moving average (CMA) smoothing and cross-correlational analysis, this study showed that increases in the positive sleep variables SQ and SRV were followed by urinary neopterin concentration decreases after 96-120 h (SQ, lag 4: r = -0.411; p = 0.044; SRV: lag 4: r = -0.472; p = 0.021) and 120-144 h (SRV, lag 5: r = -0.464; p = 0.026). Increases in the negative sleep variable TWT, by contrast, were followed by increases in urinary neopterin concentrations 72-96 h later (lag 3: r = 0.522; p = 0.009). No systematic effects in the other direction, i.e., from urinary neopterin levels to sleep, were observed in this study. Although preliminary, the findings of this study highlight the benefit of carefully investigating temporal delays and directions of effects when studying the dynamic relationship between sleep and immune variables in the natural context of everyday life.

Cause-effect relations between 55 kD soluble TNF receptor concentrations and specific and unspecific symptoms in a patient with mild SLE disease activity: an exploratory time series analysis study.

BACKGROUND: This integrative single-case study investigated the 12 h-to-12 h cause-effect relations between 55 kD soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1 (sTNF-R55) and specific and unspecific symptoms in a 52-year-old Caucasian woman with mild systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity. METHODS: The patient collected her entire urine for 56 days in 12 h-intervals to determine sTNF-R55/creatinine and protein/creatinine levels (ELISA, HPLC). Additionally, twice a day, she took notes on oral ulceration and facial rash; answered questionnaires (VAS) on fatigue, weakness, and joint pain; and measured body temperature orally. Time series analysis consisted of ARIMA modeling and cross-correlational analyses (significance level = p < 0.05). RESULTS: Time series analysis revealed both a circadian and a circasemiseptan rhythm in the urinary sTNF-R55 data. Moreover, several significant lagged correlations between urinary sTNF-R55 concentrations and SLE symptoms in both directions of effect were identified. Specifically, increased urinary sTNF-R55 concentrations preceded decreased urinary protein levels by 36-48 h (r = -0.213) and, in the opposite direction of effect, increased protein levels preceded increased sTNF-R55 concentrations by 24-36 h (r = +0.202). In addition, increased urinary sTNF-R55 levels preceded increased oral ulcers by 36-48 h (r = +0.277) and, conversely, increased oral ulceration preceded decreased sTNF-R55 levels by 36-48 h (r = -0.313). Moreover, increased urinary sTNF-R55 levels preceded decreased facial rash by 36-48 h (r = -0.223) and followed increased body temperature after 36-48 h (r = +0.209). Weakness, fatigue and joint pain were not significantly correlated with urinary sTNF-R55 levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study gathered first evidence of real-life, long-term feedback loops between cytokines and SLE symptoms in mild SLE disease activity. Such insights into the potential role of sTNF-R55 in SLE would not have been possible had we applied a pre-post design group study. These findings require replication before firm conclusions can be drawn.

Bacterial contamination levels of autogenous bone particles collected by 3 different techniques for harvesting intraoral bone grafts.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare levels of bacterial contamination of autogenous bone collected when using low-speed drilling, a back-action chisel, and a bone filter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bone tissue samples were taken from 31 patients who underwent surgical extraction of their third lower molars. Before surgical removal of the molar, bone particles were collected by a low-speed drill or a back-action chisel. Then, a stringent aspiration protocol was applied during the ostectomy to collect particulate bone by a bone filter. Processing of samples commenced immediately by incubation in an anaerobic or a CO2-rich atmosphere. The number of colony-forming units (CFUs) was determined at 48 hours of culture. RESULTS: No significant difference in the number of CFUs per milliliter was observed between the low-speed drilling group and the back-action chisel group in the anaerobic or CO2-rich condition (P = .34). However, significantly more micro-organisms were found in the bone filter group than in the low-speed drilling group or the back-action chisel group in the anaerobic and CO2-rich conditions (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Particulate bone harvested with low-speed drilling or a back-action chisel is safer for use as an autograft than are bone particles collected with a bone filter. These results suggest that bone obtained from low-speed drilling is safe and straightforward to harvest and could be the method of choice for collecting particulate bone. Further research is needed to lower the bacterial contamination levels of autogenous bone particles used as graft material.

Day-to-day cause-effect relations between cellular immune activity, fatigue and mood in a patient with prior breast cancer and current cancer-related fatigue and depression.

This study of a breast cancer patient with cancer-related fatigue (CaRF) and depression investigated the bidirectional cause-effect relations between cellular immune activity, fatigue and mood during 'life as it is lived'. The 49-year-old patient (breast cancer diagnosis 5 years earlier, severe CaRF and increase in depressiveness since then) collected her entire urine for 28 days in 12-h intervals (from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; total: 55 measurements) for the determination of urinary neopterin (immune activation marker) and creatinine levels using HPLC. Furthermore, she completed questionnaires twice each day (at approx. 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.), which yielded information on mood (3-Skalen-Eigenschaftswörterliste [EWL]) and fatigue levels (visual analog scale [VAS]). Cross-correlational analyses showed complex connections between urinary neopterin concentrations and mood and fatigue in terms of direction of effect, temporal delay and response pattern. Increases in urinary neopterin levels significantly preceded increases in fatigue intensity with a temporal delay of 60-72h (lag 5: r=0.298; p=0.027), whereas increases in positive mood co-occurred with neopterin level increases (lag 0: r=+0.302; p=0.025) and preceded decreases in neopterin concentrations with a temporal delay of 132-144h (lag 11: r=-0.323; p=0.017). These results confirm and extend our previous findings and show that in order to obtain an adequate understanding of the dynamic relations among cancer-related variables, the characteristics of everyday-life conditions need to be considered.

A principal component regression model to forecast airborne concentration of Cupressaceae pollen in the city of Granada (SE Spain), during 1995-2006.

The problem of developing a 2-week-on ahead forecast of atmospheric cypress pollen levels is tackled in this paper by developing a principal component multiple regression model involving several climatic variables. The efficacy of the proposed model is validated by means of an application to real data of Cupressaceae pollen concentration in the city of Granada (southeast of Spain). The model was applied to data from 11 consecutive years (1995-2005), with 2006 being used to validate the forecasts. Based on the work of different authors, factors as temperature, humidity, hours of sun and wind speed were incorporated in the model. This methodology explains approximately 75-80% of the variability in the airborne Cupressaceae pollen concentration.

Stress system dynamics during "life as it is lived": an integrative single-case study on a healthy woman.

Little is known about the dynamic characteristics of stress system activity during "life as it is lived". Using as representative a study design as possible, this investigation sought to gain insights into this area. A healthy 25-year-old woman collected her entire urine over a period of 63 days in 12-h intervals (126 measurements) to determine cortisol and neopterin (immune activation marker) levels. In addition, she filled out questionnaires on emotional state and daily routine in 12-h intervals, and was interviewed weekly to identify emotionally negative and positive everyday incidents. Adjusted cross-correlational analyses revealed that stressful incidents were associated with cyclic response patterns in both urinary cortisol and urinary neopterin concentrations. Urinary cortisol levels first decreased 12-24 h after stressful incidents occurred (lag 1: -.178; p = 0.048) and then increased a total of 72-84 h later (lag 6: +.224; p = 0.013). Urinary neopterin levels first increased 0-12 h before the occurrence of stressful incidents (-lag 1: +.185; p = 0.040) and then decreased a total of 48-60 h following such stressors (lag 4: -.181; p = 0.044). Decreases in urinary neopterin levels were also found 24-36 and 48-60 h after increases in pensiveness (lag 2: -.215; p = 0.017) and depressiveness (lag 4: -.221; p = 0.014), respectively. Findings on emotionally positive incidents sharply contrasted with those dealing with negative experiences. Positive incidents were followed first by urinary cortisol concentration increases within 12 h (lag 0: +.290; p = 0.001) and then by decreases after a total of 60-72 h (lag 5: -.186; p = 0.039). Urinary neopterin levels first decreased 12-24 h before positive incidents occurred (-lag 2: -.233; p = 0.010) and then increased a total of 12-24 h following these incidents (lag 1: +.222; p = 0.014). As with previous investigations on patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), this study showed that stress system response can be considerably longer and more complex and differentiated than findings from conventional group studies have suggested. Further integrative single-case studies will need to be conducted in order to draw firm conclusions about stress system dynamics under real-life conditions.

Forecasting pollen concentration by a two-step functional model.

A functional regression model to forecast the cypress pollen concentration during a given time interval, considering the air temperature in a previous interval as the input, is derived by means of a two-step procedure. This estimation is carried out by functional principal component (FPC) analysis and the residual noise is also modeled by FPC regression, taking as the explicative process the pollen concentration during the earlier interval. The prediction performance is then tested on pollen data series recorded in Granada (Spain) over a period of 10 years.