Adsorptive removal of tetracycline from aqueous solution by maple leaf-derived biochar.

The present study evaluates the physicochemical properties of maple leaf-derived biochars (M-BCs) produced at different pyrolytic temperatures (i.e., 350, 550, and 750 °C) and their adsorptive properties for tetracycline onto M-BCs. The increase in pyrolysis temperature to produce M-BCs led to a significant increase in the biochar's hydrophobicity, surface area, and calcite (CaCO3) crystallization. The M-BC750 produced without functionalization or activation possessed a high calcite composition and a hydrophobic nature with lower O/C and H/C, hydroxyl groups (-OH) on the surface, and functional groups (i.e., O-containing) as H-bond acceptors. Among M-BCs, the M-BC750 present a highest TC adsorption capacity owing to possible mechanisms such as metal complexation, H-bonding, and hydrophobic interactions. The isotherm and kinetic models for TC adsorption followed the Freundlich models and pseudo-second-order models, respectively. M-BCs produced from the waste fallen maple leaves could be applied as low-cost environmental adsorbents for TC removal.

Detecting the progression of normal tension glaucoma: a comparison of perimetry, optic coherence tomography, and Heidelberg retinal tomography.

PURPOSE: We compared the abilities of Stratus optical coherence tomography (OCT), Heidelberg retinal tomography (HRT) and standard automated perimetry (SAP) to detect the progression of normal tension glaucoma (NTG) in patients whose eyes displayed localized retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) defect enlargements. METHODS: One hundred four NTG patients were selected who met the selection criteria: a localized RNFL defect visible on red-free fundus photography, a minimum of five years of follow-up, and a minimum of five reliable SAP, Stratus OCT and HRT tests. Tests which detected progression at any visit during the 5-year follow-up were identified, and patients were further classified according to the state of the glaucoma using the mean deviation (MD) of SAP. For each test, the overall rates of change were calculated for parameters that differed significantly between patients with and without NTG progression. RESULTS: Forty-seven (45%) out of 104 eyes displayed progression that could be detected by red-free fundus photography. Progression was detected in 27 (57%) eyes using SAP, 19 (40%) eyes using OCT, and 17 (36%) eyes using HRT. In early NTG, SAP detected progression in 44% of eyes, and this increased to 70% in advanced NTG. In contrast, OCT and HRT detected progression in 50 and 7% of eyes during early NTG, but only 30 and 0% of eyes in advanced NTG, respectively. Among several parameters, the rates of change that differed significantly between patients with and without progression were the MD of SAP (p = 0.013), and the inferior RNFL thickness (p = 0.041) and average RNFL thickness (p = 0.032) determined by OCT. CONCLUSIONS: SAP had a higher detection rate of NTG progression than other tests, especially in patients with advanced glaucoma, when we defined progression as the enlargement of a localized RNFL defect. The rates of change of the MD of SAP, inferior RNFL thickness, and average RNFL thickness differed between NTG patients with and without progression.

Intereye Comparison of Cirrus OCT in Early Glaucoma Diagnosis and Detecting Photographic Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Abnormalities.

PURPOSE: To compare the ability of various maps constructed using Cirrus optical coherence tomography (OCT), including the "intereye comparison" derived from the temporal superior inferior nasal temporal (TSNIT) map, in terms of glaucoma diagnosis and detection of RNFL defects identified in red-free fundus photographs. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 131 open-angle glaucoma patients with early-stage visual field defects (mean deviation ≤ -6.0 dB) and 56 healthy controls. Intereye differences were identified on TSNIT maps constructed by comparing the RNFL thickness curves of both eyes of individual patients and a separation of the RNFL thickness curves of either eye (by >50 µm) was defined as an abnormality. RESULTS: Among 131 red-free fundus photographic RNFL defects, 57 (44.0%) in the Clock-hour map, 51 (39.0%) in the Quadrant map, 37 (28%) in the Deviation map, 16 (12%) in the Thickness map, and 3 (2%) in the intereye difference obtained from the TSNIT map were misidentified. The intereye difference derived from the TSNIT map afforded a sensitivity superior to that of all other maps when used to evaluate eyes with glaucoma (98.0%, all P values < 0.05), and preperimetric eyes (97.7%, all P values < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Of the various maps constructed by the Cirrus OCT, comparison of the RNFL thickness curves of both eyes of an individual, which was possible using TSNIT map data, afforded the best diagnostic capability in terms of detecting photographic RNFL defects. Intereye comparisons of TSNIT thickness curves may be useful to detect early-stage glaucoma.

Cataract surgery in patients with acute primary angle-closure glaucoma.

We investigated the results of cataract surgery in acute angle-closure glaucoma patients whose intraocular pressure (IOP) was not controlled with conventional treatment. We compared postoperative IOP and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) with preoperative data in 10 eyes of 10 patients who had undergone cataract surgery for acute angle-closure glaucoma. Initial and preoperative mean IOP were 50.0 +/- 6.4 mmHg and 34.9 +/- 9.3 mmHg, respectively. Mean follow-up was 6.3 +/- 5.9 months. Postoperative mean IOP was 12.0 +/- 4.2 mmHg. All eyes were controlled at less than 21 mmHg and seven of them (70%) were controlled at less than 21 mmHg without medication. Postoperative BCVA was improved in 9 eyes. The complications were transient IOP elevation in 2 eyes and exudative membrane in 4. Cataract surgery may be effective to control IOP and improve visual acuity in patients with acute angle-closure glaucoma. However, follow up is necessary because of a high incidence of postoperative complications.