Adsorptive removal of fluoride using ionic liquid-functionalized chitosan - Equilibrium and mechanism studies.

In this study, novel biosorbents, based on chitosan and imidazolium ionic liquid, were prepared for the removal of fluoride from aqueous solutions. The adsorbents were characterized by FTIR, SEM-EDS and low-temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption. To investigate the adsorption mechanism and behavior of chitosan adsorbents, batch experiments were conducted under different adsorbent dosages (2, 4, 10 g/L), pH (4, 7, 9) and initial concentration (0.5-25.0 mg/L). The influence of the method of synthesis of ionic liquid on the adsorption performance were also studied. Experimental data were evaluated by Freundlich, Langmuir and Sips models. The introduction of ionic liquid significantly improved the uptake of fluoride compared to pure chitosan. The adsorption was influenced by the experimental conditions, as well as the method of ionic liquid synthesis. The highest fluoride removal was observed at pH 4 and found to decrease with increasing pH. The removal efficiency and adsorption capacity values indicated that the dose of 4 g/L was the optimum adsorbent dosage. The equilibrium data fitted best with the Sips isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacity reached 8.068 mg/g for modified chitosan beads. The mechanism of fluoride adsorption onto ionic liquid-modified chitosan involves electrostatic attraction, ion exchange and ion pair interaction.

[Use of a dynamic test with HCG for evaluation of endocrine function in gonads of men with chronic alcohol abuse]. / Zastosowanie testu dynamicznego z HCG w ocenie funkcji endokrynnej gonad u mezczyzn przewlekle naduzywajacych alkoholu.

We studied 40 chronic alcoholic men (aged 39 +/- 11) after alcohol withdrawal. We excluded in these patients severe internal organs disorders (first of all liver dysfunction) and seminal pathology. We analysed (in HCG test) plasma levels of: luteinizing hormone--LH, follicle stimulating hormone--FSH, total testosterone--T, free testosterone--fT, estradiol--E, 17-OH progesterone, sex hormone binding globulin--SHBG. Our results suggest: 1) decreased testicular reserve of free testosterone and normal level of total testosterone, 2) decreased initial level and functional reserve of 17-OH progesterone, 3) mild hyperoestrogenism, 4) no significant difference of LH, FSH, SHBG levels between alcoholics and controls, 5) these results were not changed after 6 months observation. These results indicate on subclinic alcoholic hypogonadism.

[Testosterone response (in blood serum and seminal plasma) to anti-estrogen stimulation test in fertile men and patients with disturbances of spermatogenesis]. / Reakcja ze strony testosteronu na bodziec przeciwestrogenowy w surowicy oraz plazmie nasienia u osób plodnych i z zaburzeniami spermatogenezy.

Testosterone concentrations in blood serum and seminal plasma in basic conditions and in antiestrogen test (Clostilbegyt 100 mg daily for 10 days) were evaluated for 21 fertile males, 24 males with normogonadotropic oligozoospermia and 25 azoospermia patients. Average output testosterone concentration in blood serum of the analysed groups did not differ statistically significantly, but in antiestrogen test it increased statistically significantly. Average output testosterone concentration in semen plasma in fertile men was 0.66 +/- 0.26 ng/ml (about 10 times lower than in blood serum) and idiopatic oligozoospermic patients had a half of this number. Clostilbegyt test caused increase of testosterone concentration in semen plasma in all groups (except for normospermic) what proves the relation of hormonal reactions observed in blood serum with the ones in semen plasma.

[Results of tests with clomiphene and choriogonadotropin in men with oligozoospermia treated with longterm antiestrogens]. / Wyniki testu z klomifenem i choriogonadotropina u mezczyzn z oligozoospermia przewlekle leczonych przeciwestrogenowo.

The evaluation was made of the response to testosterone and oestradiol in the test (50 mg twice daily for 10 days) and HCG test (6000 units of Biogonadyl through 2 days) performed on 21 normospermic (fertile) males and on patients with normogonadotropic, idiopathic oligozoospermia, positively (12 patients) or negatively (24 males) reacting to the longterm Clostilbegyt treatment (50 mg daily for 240 days). It was shown that patients with oligozoospermia who do not react with an increase of spermatozoa during the longterm antioestrogen treatment had higher response of oestradiol in the dynamic test (+ 118.9%) than the normospermic males (+ 60.8%) or the oligozoospermic who showed positive semenologic response to the treatment (+ 58.8%). The similar reaction of oestradiol was shown in the HCG stimulation. In the hiperoestrogenism phenomenon the authors noticed the cause of lack of positive semenologic effects of the longterm antioestrogen treatment.

[A case of Morris syndrome with extreme estrogen secretion and hypothalamo-hypophyseal-gonadal system disfunction]. / Przypadek zespolu Morrisa z wibitnym hiperestrogenizmem i dysfunkcja ukladu podwzgórze-przysadka-gonada.

A case is presented of a 23-year-old female hospitalized for infertility in whom full Morris syndrome was diagnosed. In the patient apart from testosterone level typical of a sexually mature man, high "castration" LH and FSH values and extreme hyper-estrogen secretion were found in hormonal investigation. In the histopathological pattern of the testicles removed from both inguinal canals numerous adenomas were demonstrated, originating from Sertoli cells and also, to a lesser degree, from Leydig cells. The unusual character of the case results also from complete insensitivity of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal system to circulating oestrogens and androgens (LH and FSH levels were not significantly changed after castration, and the GnRH stimulation test gave similar results before and after the operation). The authors discuss the possible mechanisms of the observed phenomena.

[A case of Schmidt's syndrome]. / Przypadek zespolu Schmidta.

A typical case of Schmidt syndrome is reported. The syndrome comprises signs of primary adrenocortical failure and hypothyroidism. Other endocrine and non-endocrine immunopathies may be present also, such as type I diabetes, gonadal failure, Addison-Biermer anaemia, myasthenia gravis, vitiligo or alopecia areata. The possibility of these concomitant changes should be taken into account in the treatment of Schmidt syndrome. The case in a 52-year-old woman is reported in view of rare occurrence of thr syndrome and its few descriptions in the Polish literature as well as diagnostic difficulties.