Insight into chromium adsorption from contaminated soil using Mg/Al LDH-zeolite.

The study investigated the effectiveness of Mg/Al LDH-zeolite (MALZ) in immobilizing exchangeable Cr (e-Cr) within the soil. The research systematically evaluated various variables affecting the immobilization of e-Cr in contaminated soil (CS), including soil pH levels (ranging from 5.0 to 9.0), different weight ratios of MALZ (1 %, 3 %, and 5 %), durations of differing incubation periods (15, 30 and 45 days), and different SM content levels (30 %, 50 %, and 70 %). The initial concentration of Cr in the CS was maintained at 50 mg/kg. The investigation findings revealed that the optimal conditions for immobilizing the e-Cr were a soil pH of 5.0, an MALZ weight ratio of 3 %, an incubation period of 30 days, and an SM level of 70 %. Under these ideal conditions, the percentage of e-Cr within the CS decreased significantly, from 87.49 % (45.64 mg/kg) in the control treatment (CT) to just 19.82 % (10.08 mg/kg) when incubated with MALZ. The primary mechanisms responsible for immobilizing the e-Cr onto MALZ included pore filling, reduction processes, co-precipitation, organic interactions and electrostatic attractions leading to the formation of carbonate-bound complexes such as Cr(VI)-carbonate, Cr(III)-carbonate, and organic complexes. Surface functional groups on MALZ, housing iron and aluminium oxyhydroxides and silicon and oxygen elements, expedited these procedures. This study provided a valuable understanding of the mitigation of soils contaminated with chromium and contributed to understanding the relations between MALZ and the e-Cr in the soil. The discoveries carry substantial consequences for the advancement of efficient remediation technologies.

Responsiveness of Inhaled Corticosteroid Treatment in Children with Asthma: The Role of rs242941 Polymorphism of CRHR1 Gene.

INTRODUCTION: Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) is the most widely used and effective treatment of asthma. However, some patients do not respond to ICS, which might be due to various genetic factors. Hence, understanding the genetic factors involved in the ICS response could help physicians to individualize their treatment decision and action plans for given patients. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) genotypes in children with asthma and the correlation between rs242941 polymorphism of CRHR1 gene and ICS responsiveness. METHODS: This prospective study included children with uncontrolled asthma, assessing their eosinophil count, IgE concentration, lung function, and fractional concentration of nitric oxide in exhaled breath (FENO) and performing CRHR1 polymorphism sequencing. The level of asthma control was assessed by asthma control test (ACT); the responsiveness of asthma treatment with ICS was evaluated by measuring the change of ACT and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) after treatment versus at inclusion. RESULTS: In total, 107 patients were analyzed for CRHR1 at rs242941. Among these, 86 (80.3%) had homozygous wild-type GG, 20 (18.7%) had heterozygous GT genotypes, and 1 (1.0%) had a homozygous variant for TT. Children with personal and family history of atopy were more likely to have GT and TT genotypes. The severity of asthma was similar between children with asthma in the three groups of GG, GT, and TT genotypes of CRHR1 at rs242941. FENO level, total IgE concentration, and eosinophilic count in children with asthma were not significantly different between GG and GT genotypes. The patient with a TT homozygous variant genotype had a higher level of FENO. There was no correlation between CRHR1 polymorphism at rs242941 and asthma control evaluated by asthma control test and lung function parameters. CONCLUSION: TT genotype of rs242941 in the CRHR1 gene is not frequent. Clinical and functional characteristics of children with asthma with rs242941 polymorphism of CRHR1 gene remain homogeneously similar. There is no correlation between rs242941 polymorphism and ACT or FEV1.

Clinical and functional characteristics of OSA in children with comorbid asthma treated by leukotriene receptor antagonist: A descriptive study.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of respiratory disorders during sleep in children, especially those with severe asthma. However, optimal treatment of asthma might significantly improve OSA severity. Methods: It was a cohort study including children aged >5 years old and diagnosed with asthma according to GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma). The data related to age, gender, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), clinical symptoms and medical history of asthma, spirometry (FEV1: forced expiratory in 1 s), and exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) were recorded for analysis. Respiratory polygraphy (RPG) was done for each study subject to diagnose OSA and its severity. Results: Among 139 asthmatic children, 99 patients with OSA (71.2%) were included in the present study (9.3 ± 0.2 years): 58.6% with uncontrolled asthma and 32.3% with partial controlled asthma. The mean ACT (asthma control testing) score was 19.0 ± 3.4. The most frequent night-time symptoms were restless sleep (76.8%), snoring (61.6%), sweating (52.5%), and trouble breathing during sleep (48.5%). The common daytime symptoms were irritable status (46.5%) and abnormal behavior (30.3%). The mean AHI (apnea-hypopnea index) was 3.5 ± 4.0 events/h. There was a significant correlation between BMI and snoring index (R = 0.189 and P = 0.027), bronchial and nasal FENO with AHI (R = 0.046 and P < 0.001; R = 0.037 and P < 0.001; respectively). There was no significant correlation between asthma level, FEV1 and AHI. The severity of asthma and respiratory function were improved significantly after 3 months and 6 months of asthma treatment in combination with leukotriene receptor antagonist (LRA) treatment. The symptoms related to OSA were significantly improved after treatment with LRA. The severity of OSA was decreased significantly after 3 months and 6 months of treatment. Conclusion: The treatment of asthmatic children with comorbid OSA by LRA in combination with standard therapy for asthma could improve the control of asthma and the symptoms and severity of OSA.

Flexible random lasers with tunable lasing emissions.

In this study, we experimentally demonstrated a flexible random laser fabricated on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate with a high degree of tunability in lasing emissions. Random lasing oscillation arises mainly from the resonance coupling between the emitted photons of gain medium (Rhodamine 6G, R6G) and the localized surface plasmon (LSP) of silver nanoprisms (Ag NPRs), which increases the effective cross-section for multiple light scattering, thus stimulating the lasing emissions. More importantly, it was found that the random lasing wavelength is blue-shifted monolithically with the increase in bending strains exerted on the PET substrate, and a maximum shift of ∼15 nm was achieved in the lasing wavelength, when a 50% bending strain was exerted on the PET substrate. Such observation is highly repeatable and reversible, and this validates that we can control the lasing wavelength by simply bending the flexible substrate decorated with the Ag NPRs. The scattering spectrum of the Ag NPRs was obtained using a dark-field microscope to understand the mechanism for the dependence of the wavelength shift on the exerted bending strains. As a result, we believe that the experimental demonstration of tunable lasing emissions based on the revealed structure is expected to open up a new application field of random lasers.

Effects of genetic factors to inhaled corticosteroid response in children with asthma: a literature review.

Numerous studies have examined the association between pharmacogenetic effects and the response to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in patients with asthma. In fact, several single nucleotide polymorphisms of a number of candidate genes have been identified that might influence the clinical response to ICS in children with asthma. Their direct or indirect effects depend on their role in the inflammatory process in asthma or the anti-inflammatory action of corticosteroids, respectively. Among the genes identified, variants in T-box 21 ( TBX21) and Fc fragment of IgE receptor II ( FCER2) contribute indirectly to the variability in the response to ICS by altering the inflammatory mechanisms in asthma, while other genes such as corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 ( CRHR1), nuclear receptor subfamily 3 group C member 1 ( NR3C1), stress induced phosphoprotein 1 ( STIP1), dual specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1), glucocorticoid induced 1 (GLCCI1), histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC), ORMDL sphingolipid biosynthesis regulator 3 (ORMDL3), and vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) directly affect this variability through the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of ICS. The results to date indicate various potential genetic factors associated with the response to ICS, which could be utilized to predict the individual therapeutic response of children with asthma to ICS. Clinical trials are underway and their results are greatly anticipated. Further pharmacogenetic studies are needed to fully understand the effects of genetic variation on the response to ICS in children with asthma.

Study of the correlations between fractional exhaled nitric oxide in exhaled breath and atopic status, blood eosinophils, FCER2 mutation, and asthma control in Vietnamese children.

INTRODUCTION: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) is a biomarker of airway inflammation in asthma. The measurement of FENO is utilized to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of children with asthma, especially for those treated with inhaled corticosteroids. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to evaluate the correlations between FENO and atopic status, blood eosinophil levels, FCER2 mutation, and asthma control in Vietnamese children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective and descriptive study approved by the local Ethical Board. All children with uncontrolled asthma, seen in the National Hospital of Pediatrics (Hanoi, Vietnam), were included. Exhaled breath FENO, blood eosinophils, skin prick test, total IgE, asthma control test (ACT), and FCER2 gene polymorphism were performed at inclusion. They were followed up at 3 months to evaluate clinical status, FENO levels, and ACT. RESULTS: Forty-two children with uncontrolled asthma with a mean age of 10±3 years (6-16 years) were included. The male/female ratio was 2.5/1. The mean FENO levels were 26±25 ppb. FENO was significantly higher in patients with a positive skin prick test for respiratory allergens (P<0.05). FENO was significantly correlated with blood eosinophil levels (r=0.5217; P=0.0004). Five of the 32 subjects (15.6%) had a mutation of FCER2 gene (rs28364072 SNP). In this group, the levels of FENO were highest (37±10 ppb; P<0.05). The levels of FENO were significantly decreased after 3 months of treatment (17±8 ppb vs 26±25 ppb; P<0.05). Significant correlations between inhaled corticosteroid doses and FENO levels occurred at 1 and 3 months (r=0.415, P=0.007; r=0.396, P=0.010; respectively). There were no correlations between FENO levels, ACT, and daily use of salbutamol. After 3 months, asthma remained uncontrolled in 22.2% of children. CONCLUSION: The measurement of FENO levels is a useful and feasible tool to predict clinical, biological, and asthma control in Vietnamese children.