Integrated geochemical and magnetic potentially toxic elements assessment: a statistical solution discriminating anthropogenic and lithogenic magnetic signals in a complex area of the southeast Nile Delta.

Magnetic proxy approaches proved to be efficient for potentially toxic elements (PTEs) pollution assessment when targeting forests or areas with a homogenous background where anthropogenic magnetic signals could be easily distinguished. Here, we present a multidisciplinary approach for magnetic susceptibility ([Formula: see text]) and HM assessment in a complex area in the Nile Delta, where geogenic input, land use, and various industries with different fly ash and surface water emissions interfere. Statistical analysis discriminates between the effects of lithologic elements and the concentrations of toxic anthropogenic elements. The studied elements are classified into lithogenic and anthropogenic-related (HMs, Au industry, and fertilizers industry) groups with maximum contamination levels of eight anthropogenic-related and highly toxic PTEs (Cu, Zn, Mo, Cd, Sb, Pb, Hg, and As) in the Akrasha industrial area (pollution load index = 15.84). Considering the whole data set, the numerical correlation of [Formula: see text] with most PTE concentrations and the pollution load index (PLI) is weak, while it is moderate to strong with lithogenic elements. However, a comparison of lithogenic elements and PTE concentrations along with x-values in two separate clusters supports the correspondence of lithology with elevated x-values in silt and clay-rich soil samples as well as HM concentration in industrial sandy soils. Correspondence between magnetic maps and chemistry data with land use reflects the potential of magnetic proxy methods for qualitative PTE pollution pre-delineation of the polluted spots, provided that lithological conditions are carefully considered.

Impacts of Gum Arabic and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) with Salicylic Acid on Peach Fruit (Prunus persica) Shelf Life.

Peaches are grown in many Egyptian orchards for local and global fresh market sales. The interior fruit tissue breakdown (IFTB), often resulting in decayed peaches, is a severe problem during marketing. Therefore, to minimize FTB of peaches, in this study, gum arabic (GA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were mixed with different concentrations of salicylic acid (SA) (0, 1, and 2 mM) and were applied as edible coating to extend the shelf life of peach fruits. Mature peaches were selected and harvested when peaches reached total soluble solid content (SSC: 8.5%) and fruit firmness of about 47 N. Fruits were coated and stored at room temperature (26 ± 1 °C and air humidity 51 ± 1%) for 10 days during two seasons: 2020 and 2021. Fruit coated with GA/PVP-SA 2 mM showed a significant (p < 0.05) inhibition in degrading enzyme activities (CWDEs), such as lipoxygenase (LOX), cellulase (CEL), and pectinase (PT), compared to uncoated and coated fruits during the shelf-life period. Hence, cell wall compartments were maintained. Consequently, there was a reduction in browning symptoms in fruits by inhibiting polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activities. Thus, the fruit skin browning index showed almost no symptoms. The lipid peroxidation process and ionic permeability declined as well. The result suggests that, by applying GA/PVP-SA 2 mM as an edible coating, fruit tissue breakdown can be minimized, and the shelf life of peach can be extended up to 10 days without symptoms of tissue breakdown.

HPLC-ESI-MS Characterization of Certain Polyphenolic Compounds of Carica papaya L. Fruit Extracts and Evaluation of Their Potential Against Murine Schistosomiasis mansoni.

The in vivo antischistosomal activities of Carica papaya L. extracts were evaluated and the characterization of the active secondary metabolites of the defatted methanolic extract was performed using HPLC-ESI-MS. The plant fruit powders were extracted with 85% methanol and fractionated using organic solvents. The in vivo antischistosomal effects of the methanolic extracts and its fractions, as well as the assessment of the relationship between the antischistosomal activity of these plant extracts and oxidative stress, was determined. In addition, the defatted methanolic extract was characterized by HPLC-ESI-MS analysis. The number of worms, ova, and the Oogram pattern displayed typical Schistosoma mansoni pathology 8 weeks after infection in mice. Treatment of the infected group with the defatted methanolic extracts significantly decreased worm burden, immature ova and mature ova, while increasing the percentage of dead ova in vivo. The butanol fraction was the most effective fraction reducing worm burden by 77%, ova count in the intestine by 76% and in the liver by 80%, and significantly decreased immature and mature ova (P<0.001) compared to the infected group. Additionally, the defatted methanolic extracts improved the reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde levels in hepatic tissues in the treated groups compared to the infected group. The HPLC-ESI-MS analysis of the Carica papaya defatted methanolic extract revealed the presence of several polyphenolic compounds. Carica papaya fruit extracts are rich with phenolic acids and flavonoids and show a significant effect against S. mansoni infections which may be used alternative to PZQ as anti-schistosomal drug against schistosomiasis.

Wild-Type Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 1 Over-Expression is Related to Cancer Stem Cells Survival in Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Altered metabolism is one of the characteristics of cancer cells. We evaluated the expression of wild-type Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and the cancer stem cells (CSCs) marker CD44 by real-time PCR and levels of reduced form of glutathione in lung biopsies of 32 adenocarcinoma patients and 18 control subjects. We found that IDH1 and CD44 expression and the levels of reduced form of glutathione were significantly higher in lung adenocarcinoma patients. IDH1 was positively correlated with CD44 and reduced form of glutathione. In conclusion, wild-type IDH1 is over-expressed in lung adenocarcinoma which probably promoted tumor progression via increasing CSCs survival.

Factors Affecting Stereotactic Accuracy in Image-Guided Deep Brain Stimulator Electrode Placement.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Intraoperative imaging allows near-real-time assessment of stereotactic accuracy during implantation of deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes. Such technology can be used to examine factors impacting stereotactic error. METHODS: Intraoperative CT imaging was reviewed in patients undergoing DBS placement at Oregon Health and Sciences University. Coordinates of the target electrode were compared to the operative plan to characterize the magnitude and direction of stereotactic error with respect to side of implantation, target, and electrode approach angles. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-nine leads in 94 patients were examined. Targets were GPi (n = 86), STN (n = 31), and Vim (n = 52). The average Euclidean error was 1.63 mm (SD 0.87). The error magnitude was higher for Vim (1.95 mm) than for GPi (1.44 mm), while STN (1.65 mm) did not differ from either Vim or GPi (ANOVA: F = 6.15, p = 0.003). Electrodes targeting Vim and STN were significantly more likely to deviate medially compared to those targeting GPi (ANOVA: F = 9.13, p < 0.001). The coronal approach angle affected the error when targeting Vim (ρ = 0.338, p = 0.01). These findings were confirmed during multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a significant effect of target on the accuracy of electrode placement for DBS. Targeting Vim results in a greater Euclidean error and a greater medial deviation off target. These systematic deviations should be taken into account during electrode implantation.

Medical Therapy with Pasireotide in Recurrent Cushing's Disease: Experience of Patients Treated for At Least 1 Year at a Single Center.

Subcutaneous (SC) injection of pasireotide, a somatostatin analog, is approved for the treatment of adults with Cushing's disease (CD) for whom pituitary surgery was unsuccessful or is not an option. We highlight the symptomatic and biochemical improvement of six patients with recurrent CD treated with pasireotide SC at a single center for at least 1 year. Patients were treated either through commercial use (n = 5) or through the Phase 3 trial (n = 1; http://ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT00434148; study number, B2305). Most patients (n = 5) were female, and the mean age at diagnosis was 35.8 years. All patients demonstrated biochemical control at 1 year of treatment. Three of the five real-world patients followed for more than 1 year remain on pasireotide SC and are controlled. Two patients discontinued pasireotide SC; one patient because of persistently elevated urinary-free cortisol levels and gallstones, and the other because of treatment for an unrelated brain tumor. Symptomatic improvement varied, but all patients demonstrated weight loss. Nausea and mild, transient injection-site reactions were the most frequently reported adverse events. Although glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) increased after treatment initiation, four of five patients maintained HbA1c levels ≤7.0% while receiving pasireotide SC and concomitant individualized diabetes medication, if necessary. In patients who discontinued pasireotide SC, HbA1c levels decreased within 6 weeks. This report documents real-world use of pasireotide SC and indicates its effectiveness as a long-term treatment option for patients with CD. Although hyperglycemia was observed in most patients, it was managed with appropriate monitoring and treatment and was reversible upon discontinuation of pasireotide SC.

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension After Surgical Treatment of Cushing Disease: Case Report and Review of Management Strategies.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in patients with Cushing disease (CD), after treatment, is rarely described, in adults. The cause is believed to be multifactorial, potentially related to a relative decrease in cortisol after surgical resection or medical treatment of a corticotroph pituitary adenoma. We investigate our center's CD database (140 surgically and 60 medically [primary or adjunct] treated patients) for cases of IIH, describe our center's experience with symptomatic IIH, and review treatment strategies in adults with CD after transsphenoidal resection. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present the case of a 22-year-old woman who presented with worsening headache, nausea, vomiting, blurry vision, diplopia, visual loss, and facial numbness 14 weeks after surgical resection of adrenocorticotropic hormone-positive pituitary adenoma. Her CD had been in remission since surgery, with subsequent adrenal insufficiency (AI), which was initially treated with supraphysiologic glucocorticoid replacement, tapered down to physiologic doses at the time the IIH symptoms developed. CONCLUSIONS: Symptomatic IIH is rare in adult patients but can be severe and result in permanent vision loss. A high index of suspicion should be maintained and a fundus examination is necessary to exclude papilledema, whenever there are suggestive symptoms that initially may overlap with AI. It is possible that some cases of mild IIH are misdiagnosed as GC withdrawal or AI; however, further studies are needed. Treatment consists of reinitiation of higher steroid doses together with acetazolamide with or without cerebrospinal fluid diversion and the priority is to preserve vision and reverse any visual loss.

Establishing percent resection and residual volume thresholds affecting survival and recurrence for patients with newly diagnosed intracranial glioblastoma.

INTRODUCTION: Surgery is first-line therapy for glioblastoma, and there is evidence that gross total resection is associated with improved survival. Gross total resection, however, is not always possible, and relationships among extent (percent) of resection (EOR), residual volume (RV), and survival are unknown. The goals were to evaluate whether there is an association between EOR and RV with survival and recurrence and to establish minimum EOR and maximum RV thresholds. METHODS: Adult patients who underwent primary glioblastoma surgery from 2007 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Three-dimensional volumetric tumor measurements were made. Multivariate proportional hazards regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between EOR and RV with survival and recurrence. RESULTS: Of 259 patients, 203 (78%) died and 156 (60%) had tumor recurrence. The median survival and progression-free survival were 13.4 and 8.9 months, respectively. The median (interquartile range) pre- and postoperative tumor volumes were 32.2 (14.0-56.3) and 2.1 (0.0-7.9) cm(3), respectively. EOR was independently associated with survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.995; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.990-0.998; P = .008) and recurrence (HR [95% CI], 0.992 [0.983-0.998], P = .005). The minimum EOR threshold for survival (P = .0006) and recurrence (P = .005) was 70%. RV was also associated with survival (HR [95% CI], 1.019 [1.006-1.030], P = .004) and recurrence (HR [95% CI], 1.024 [1.001-1.044], P = .03). The maximum RV threshold for survival (P = .01) and recurrence (P = .01) was 5 cm(3). CONCLUSION: This study shows for the first time that both EOR and RV are significantly associated with survival and recurrence, where the thresholds are 70% and 5 cm(3), respectively. These findings may help guide surgical and adjuvant therapies aimed at optimizing outcomes for glioblastoma patients.