To assess feasibility, clinical outcomes, and safety of nonthermal, nontumescent (NTNT) ablation for symptomatic isolated below-the-knee (BTK) great saphenous vein (GSV) incompetence with competent saphenofemoral junction and above-knee GSV. This multicenter retrospective study included 73 treated BTK-GSV limbs in 50 patients who underwent NTNT ablation (mechanochemical ablation [MOCA] or cyanoacrylate adhesive closure [CAC]) between October 2020 and April 2025. Isolated BTK-GSV incompetence was defined as reflux ≥1.0 second confined to the BTK segment on duplex mapping without junctional or above-knee truncal reflux. Follow-up duplex ultrasound and Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) assessments were performed at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Immediate post-procedural duplex ultrasound confirmed complete occlusion of the treated BTK-GSV segment in all limbs. No partial or complete recanalization was observed during follow-up. The median VCSS improved significantly from 4 [interquartile range (IQR), 3-4] at baseline (n=73) to 0 [0-1] at 1 week (n=51), 0 [0-1] at 1 month (n=73), 0 [0-1] at 3 months (n=73), 0 [0-0] at 6 months (n=73), and 0 [0-0] at 12 months (n=43) (all P < .001 vs baseline, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). No major adverse events occurred, including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or permanent paresthesia suggestive of saphenous nerve injury. Minor events included superficial phlebitis (8%), ecchymosis (7%), and skin rash related to bandages or compression stockings (7%), all resolving with conservative management. NTNT ablation appears to be a safe and effective option for symptomatic isolated BTK-GSV reflux, providing significant clinical improvement with durable occlusion and without thermal-related nerve injury.
To investigate the residue depletion kinetics and establish the withdrawal period of fluralaner in chickens and eggs, a sensitive and reliable liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the quantitative determination of fluralaner residues in edible chicken tissues and eggs. Furthere more, fifty healthy Hy-Line Brown laying hens were selected and received fluralaner solution via drinking water at a dosage of 0.5 mg/kg body weight on the 1st day and 8th day. At 7 days after the final administration, fluralaner residues in all edible tissues declined to levels below their respective maximum residue limits (MRLs). Using WT1.4 software and calculations based on the 95 % confidence interval, the withdrawal periods for fluralaner in muscle, liver, kidney, skin/fat were 12.19, 8.06 10.67 and 4.60 days, respectively. On day 7 after the final administration, the maximum observed fluralaner residue concentration in eggs was 890.72 µg/kg. This level was below the established MRL for eggs (1300 µg/kg) as stipulated by both the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China and the European Union. Moreover, the fluralaner concentration at each time point in eggs remained below 1300 µg/kg at 95 % confidence interval. Considering inter-individual variability, age related metabolic differences, and in reference to the approved withdrawal and egg-discard periods of the originator formulation Exzolt®, a withdrawal period of 14 days was established for the self-prepared fluralaner solution in chickens, while the egg-discard period was determined to be 0 days. Current study provides a scientific and regulatory basis for the rational use of fluralaner in laying hens and supports the establishment of an appropriate withdrawal period and egg-discard strategy in layer production systems.
The demand for advanced automotive applications necessitated the development of 5G/6G multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antennas. This work presents a low-profile antenna resonating at 5.9 GHz, suitable for vehicle-to-vehicle communication applications. The resonance is achieved through the use of a defected ground structure and geometric modifications to the radiator. The single element antenna is converted into a MIMO antenna by employing the elements perpendicular to each other. The unit cell antenna has dimensions of 12 mm × 11 mm, and the MIMO antenna measures 42.44 mm × 43.56 mm. The antenna reflection coefficient has been evaluated and is found to be less than -10 dB across the operating band. The tetra-port MIMO antenna achieves greater than 20 dB isolation without the use of any isolation structures. The proposed antenna shows the gain of 3.8 dBi, and efficiency of 87% at the operating frequency. Diversity parameters are evaluated to better understand the performance of the suggested MIMO antenna. The proposed MIMO antenna exhibits an envelope correlation coefficient below 0.1, a diversity gain above 9.9 dB, a total active reflection coefficient below -10 dB, channel capacity loss below 0.4 bits/s/Hz and MEG ratio is close to unity. When installed in the vehicle, the antenna is unaffected by interference from nearby radiators and the metal body of the car.
This study presents a comprehensive simulation-based assessment of potential transboundary radiological transport to Ireland from six nuclear facilities in the United Kingdom and France, utilising weather data over a fourteen-year period (2011-2024). Systematic screening of 2.2 million HYSPLIT atmospheric dispersion simulations identified eighteen worst-case scenarios representing maximum ground deposition, maximum air concentration, and minimum warning time. Independent verification using FLEXPART and HYSPLIT demonstrated expected inter-model variability (factor of 1-10), with both Lagrangian models providing consistent risk assessment brackets. Heysham, despite its complex 19-isotope AGR source term, produced negligible radiological doses to Ireland (<0.01 mSv), substantially below intervention thresholds. More distant continental facilities (Flamanville, Paluel, Sizewell B) showed low but measurable doses (0.1-4.6 mSv), remaining well below the 50 mSv sheltering threshold. This study addresses urgent-phase protective actions only; transitional-phase food chain countermeasures are beyond scope. Hinkley Point C (under construction) showed elevated but sub-threshold doses (0.3-8.5 mSv). However, the cancelled Wylfa Newydd gigawatt-scale project (the site is now proposed for small modular reactors), owing to its extreme proximity to Ireland, exhibited concerning dose predictions: FLEXPART calculated 19.6 mSv under maximum deposition conditions (May 2024 scenario), approaching the 50 mSv sheltering threshold, whilst HYSPLIT predicted 4.5 mSv. This inter-model variability (factor of ∼5) highlights genuine uncertainty for near-source impacts but converges on a critical finding: were a gigawatt-scale reactor constructed at the Wylfa site, severe accidents during specific meteorological patterns could require protective actions in Ireland. Machine learning models (XGBoost) achieved validation accuracies of 85-93% for rapid impact prediction, whilst global sensitivity analysis revealed that meteorological conditions, rather than release parameters, dominate consequence severity. These findings provide quantitative assurance that existing nuclear infrastructure poses low transboundary risk to Ireland well below urgent-phase intervention thresholds (sheltering and evacuation), whilst demonstrating that facility proximity constitutes the dominant factor determining potential radiological impact.
Catalysis was an effective method for uranium recovery and environmental remediation. However, the weak flexoelectric response, despite being universal in dielectric materials, greatly limited its appeal for research and catalytic applications. Here, we proposed a strategy to enhance the flexoelectric response by bridging inorganic chains with metal-organic chains within the structure. The resulting hybrid material, Co[C4H4N2]V2O6, demonstrated excellent uranyl removal performance, surpassing that of state-of-the-art piezocatalysts. Co[C4H4N2]V2O6 showed flexocatalytic uranyl activity across a broad pH range and under high-salinity conditions. Under a dynamic experimental setup, Co[C4H4N2]V2O6 showed strong potential for practical flexocatalytic applications. Co[C4H4N2]V2O6 could efficiently separate uranyl in contaminated potable water, reducing the uranium concentration (~2.0 ppm) to below the drinking water standard (30 ppb). It could also lower the uranium concentration (~5.6 ppm) in mining wastewater to below the discharge limit (300 ppb). Its intrinsic anisotropic mechanical properties and cantilever-like morphology endowed high deformability, which, together with a large dielectric constant, enhanced its flexoelectric polarization. The revealed flexocatalytic mechanism confirmed that uranyl was converted into insoluble (UO2)O2·2H2O by active species generated through dynamic polarization. This work provided a promising avenue for the design of advanced flexocatalysts and offered an effective strategy for uranium recovery and environmental remediation.
Using eutectic technology, 4 Natural deep eutectic solvents composite systems were developed to enhance hydroxytyrosol (DHPET) stability and to verify their efficacy in frozen preservation. The hydrogen-bond network density in ternary systems was significantly higher than in binary systems, indicating stronger dynamic hydrogen-bond interactions. The ternary systems maintained viscosity dominance below -20 °C. LC-DHPET is particularly effective in inhibiting lipid oxidation. After 2-8 freeze-thaw cycles, the malondialdehyde content in the food remains consistently below 1.2 μg/g. The average ice crystal diameter of LB-DHPET is 16.91 μm, and the average ice crystal area is 324.61 μm2. LB-DHPET stands out most significantly in terms of preventing moisture loss. Natural deep eutectic solvents regulate the size of ice crystals through hydrogen bond networks. During repeated freeze-thaw cycles, they exhibit a synergistic effect of multiple components, effectively delaying the quality deterioration of minced beef.
Crickets are widely consumed edible insects with high nutritional value, requiring reliable analytical methods for elemental characterization. Their complex matrix can cause matrix effects, making suitable reference materials essential for quality control. Because certified cricket reference materials are scarce, particularly in Brazil, this study aimed to prepare and characterize a national reference material candidate using black cricket (Gryllus assimilis). The production process was adapted to the matrix and included grinding, lyophilization, and packaging, yielding a batch of 25 bottles. The influence of particle size and between-bottle homogeneity was evaluated. Homogeneity was assessed by ANOVA, supported by Levene and Shapiro-Wilk tests, using five randomly selected bottles and three subsamples of 0.250 g per bottle. Elemental characterization was performed by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Expanded uncertainties were estimated with a coverage factor of k = 2 at approximately 95% confidence. Results showed satisfactory between-bottle homogeneity (p-value > 0.05) and indicated that particle sizes below 500 µm did not significantly affect concentrations. The candidate presented average mass fractions ± expanded uncertainty of Ca (1531.0 ± 176.5 mg kg⁻1), Cl (5559.4 ± 1381.2 mg kg⁻1), Cu (22.9 ± 1.7 mg kg⁻1), Mg (1083.1 ± 295.8 mg kg⁻1), P (10 397.0 ± 1084.6 mg kg⁻1), and S (7608.1 ± 398.0 mg kg⁻1). Coefficients of variation were below 11%, and expanded uncertainties remained under 30%. These results demonstrate adequate precision, reproducibility, and matrix suitability of the proposed material. The study supports continued evaluation of intra-bottle homogeneity, stability, and certification to enable its availability for laboratories performing elemental analysis of cricket-based foods, strengthening analytical reliability and food safety assessment in emerging insect protein chains worldwide. This contribution addresses national needs and supports sustainable nutrition research efforts.
This study assesses groundwater quality, nitrate contamination sources, and nitrogen biogeochemical processes in an unconfined aquifer influenced by unplanned urbanization. The research was conducted in a residential peri-urban area of southeastern Mar del Plata, Argentina. Groundwater samples were collected during three periods in 2023: the pre-tourist season (September-October), the post-tourist season (March-April), and an intermediate period (May-August). A total of forty monitoring points was evaluated, including domestic wells (n = 30), observation wells (n = 6), and springs (n = 4). The methodological approach applied an integrated multi-tracer framework combining hydrochemical, isotopic, and microbiological indicators. Approximately 70% of the samples were unsuitable for human consumption according to Argentine drinking water standards, mainly due to microbiological contamination associated with on-site wastewater disposal systems. In contrast, nitrate concentrations ranged from 2.2 to 41.4 mg/L (mean: 23.7 mg/L), remaining below both local (45 mg/L) and World Health Organization (50 mg/L) guideline values. Isotopic analyses of nitrate (δ15N-NO3- and δ18O-NO3-) identified manure and sewage as the primary nitrogen sources, with nitrification as the dominant biogeochemical process. Stable water isotopes (δ2H-H2O and δ18O- H2O) indicated mixing between aquifer water and evaporated anthropogenic inputs, with enriched δ18O values reflecting intense secondary evaporation during infiltration. This study demonstrates that integrating microbiological indicators with nitrate isotopes reveals sewage-derived impacts on groundwater even when nitrate concentrations remain below regulatory thresholds, highlighting hidden sanitary risks and the value of multi-tracer approaches for groundwater protection and management in peri-urban aquifers.
Anemia represents a frequent complication in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on hemodialysis. Inflammation results in disruption of erythropoiesis and establishment of less effective responses to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). This study investigated how systemic inflammation, which C-reactive protein (CRP) measured, relates to anemia severity and erythropoietin (EPO) responsiveness among patients with chronic kidney disease who undergo maintenance hemodialysis. Cross-sectional study design involving 120 CKD patients. Participants were classified into high inflammation group for CRP levels at or above 10 mg/L and low inflammation group for CRP levels below 10 mg/L. Hematological parameters and iron status indices were analyzed, and weekly EPO doses were recorded. Pearson correlation and multivariable linear regression analyses were done while controlling for age, sex, comorbidities, and dialysis duration. High inflammation group displayed hematocrit level of 29.6% ± 4.8% while the control group showed a level of 34.2% ± 5.2% which produced a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). CRP exhibited a negative correlation with hematocrit (r = -0.42, p < 0.001) and transferrin saturation (r = -0.36, p < 0.001) but showed a positive correlation with EPO dose (r = 0.48, p < 0.001). CRP established an independent relationship with hematocrit (β = -0.43, 95% CI: -0.58 to -0.28) and EPO dosage (β = 401, 95% CI: 210 to 592) during the multivariable analysis. Cross-sectional design restricts causal relationships while the research team evaluated CRP as the only inflammatory marker. Systemic inflammation establishes a significant connection to anemia severity and EPO resistance, which affects CKD patients.
Frailty and nutritional status are increasingly recognized as key determinants of perioperative outcomes in cranial neurosurgery. Numerous indices, including the American College of Surgeons Surgical Risk Calculator (ACS-SRC), are used for risk stratification, yet their comparative accuracy across complication domains and neurosurgical indications remains uncertain. To compare the predictive performance of five preoperative risk metrics, ACS-SRC, serum albumin, Risk Analysis Index (RAI), Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), and Modified Frailty Index-5 (mFI-5), for forecasting postoperative morbidity and mortality after cranial neurosurgery performed for trauma, tumor, vascular, or functional indications. Adults (>18 years) undergoing cranial neurosurgical procedures in the ACS NSQIP database (2017-2022) were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression generated adjusted odds ratios (aORs). Discriminative performance was measured using ROC analysis and C-statistics (DeLong test). Subgroup analyses were stratified by surgical indication. Among 77,514 patients, the ACS-SRC demonstrated the highest accuracy across outcomes, with C-statistics of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.87-0.88) for mortality, 0.72 (95% CI: 0.72-0.73) for overall complications, and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.74-0.75) for major complications. Serum albumin was the next strongest predictor (mortality C-statistic 0.68, 95% CI: 0.67-0.69), outperforming or equaling frailty metrics on most endpoints. RAI exceeded mFI-5 in predictive value (mortality C-statistic 0.70, 95% CI: 0.69-0.71), while GNRI performed similarly to mFI-5 but below RAI. Higher RAI, mFI-5, and ACS-SRC scores, along with lower albumin levels, independently predicted increased 30-day mortality and complications. Subgroup analyses showed that ACS-SRC and serum albumin maintained strong performance across trauma, tumor, and vascular cohorts. ACS-SRC remains among the most accurate preoperative tools for predicting adverse outcomes after cranial neurosurgery. Serum albumin offers strong predictive capability and may serve as a practical alternative when calculator inputs are incomplete. These findings reinforce the value of structured risk stratification for surgical counseling and outcome optimization.
Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) affects millions of children globally, and treatment coverage remains below 30% in many settings, including Ethiopia. Although the Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) program has expanded nationwide, persistent service gaps remains, partly due to insufficient evidence for accurate cost estimation and budgeting. To address this gap, this study estimated the total economic cost, including provider-side financial and caregiver costs, of treating SAM through the CMAM program in two operational areas of Action Against Hunger, Ethiopia, and identified major cost drivers. A cross-sectional cost analysis was conducted in Girawa district (Oromia Region) and Adadle district (Somali Region) in 2024 from a societal perspective, including both provider-side financial and caregiver costs. Provider-side financial costs include personnel, medical supplies, therapeutic foods, equipment, transport and storage, and training and supervision. Caregiver costs include both direct costs (transport, food, and hospitalization-related expenses) and indirect costs (lost income and coping strategies). Provider-side financial costs were extracted and estimated using the FANTA CMAM costing tool. The tool automatically generated total cost per district, and the provider-side financial cost per SAM child was calculated by dividing total annual provider-side financial expenditure by the number of SAM cases treated. Caregiver costs were collected through structured exit interviews, analyzed using Excel, and summarized as mean cost per treatment episode. The mean caregiver cost was added to the provider-side financial cost to estimate the total economic cost per SAM child. The total annual provider-side financial cost for SAM treatment was USD 386,598 in Girawa district and USD 289,433 in Adadle district. Supplies, particularly RUTF and therapeutic milk, constituted the largest cost category in Girawa (57.7%), whereas repeated SAM-specific training and supervision represented the major share in Adadle (40.9%). The average provider-side financial cost per SAM child was USD 171.1 in Girawa and USD 325.2 in Adadle. The average caregivers incurred cost per SAM episode was USD 53.55. The total economic cost per SAM child, including caregiver expenses, was USD 224.65 in Girawa and USD 378.75 in Adadle. There is substantial variation in the cost of delivering SAM treatment across districts, highlighting the importance of context-specific district-level cost analyses. SAM-specific supplies and training intensity were the primary cost drivers. The incorporation of the household economic burden highlights an important but often overlooked dimension of treatment costs. These findings provide realistic district-level unit costs that can directly guide partners and governments in estimating resource needs for annual response plans while strengthening CMAM budgeting, planning, scaling up in Ethiopia.
Management of rectourinary fistula (RUF) is challenging due to limited data and variability in presentation and treatment. We conducted a systematic review of radical prostatectomy (RP)-related RUF to assess clinical features, diagnostics, treatments, and outcomes, and to propose a structured algorithm to guide management. We conducted a systematic review in accordance with PRISMA guidelines to evaluate the clinical presentation, diagnostic strategies, management approaches, and outcomes of RUF following RP. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science was performed from database inception to January 2025. Data were extracted on patient demographics, symptoms, diagnostic modalities, management strategies, surgical repair techniques and treatment outcomes. A total of 455 cases of RUF following RP were identified across 34 studies. The reported incidence of RUF ranged from <0.01% to 1.5%. The most frequent presenting symptoms were urine leakage per rectum (60.7%), fecaluria (44.1%), and pneumaturia (50.0%). Fecal and/or urinary diversion was utilized in over 60% of cases, with a median stoma duration of 3 months and an indwelling urinary catheter duration of 1 month. Conservative management (observation, fluid replacement and antibiotic therapy) was attempted in a minority of patients and was generally associated with success rates below 50%. Surgical repair was performed in nearly all cases, with the transperineal and transsphincteric approaches being the most commonly employed techniques. The median time to fistula closure ranged from 0.5 to 30 months, with reported surgical success rates varying between 41% and 100%. We propose a management flowchart based on our clinical experience, outlining the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to rectal injury and RP-related RUF. RUF after RP remains a challenging complication, often requiring stepwise management. Conservative treatments rarely succeed, and surgery is often necessary. Our proposed algorithm aims to standardize the approach to RI and RUF, guiding treatment decisions and improving outcomes.
The aim of this study was to assess the potential radiological hazards associated with the presence and exhalation of Rn-222 from polymetallic nodules collected from the Pacific Ocean seabed within the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, with a focus on radon-related inhalation hazard under defined transport/storage ventilation scenarios. The research focused on measuring the surface exhalation rate of Rn-222 from both whole nodule and pulverized samples, using an AlphaGUARD monitor operating in flow mode. The highest recorded exhalation rate was 3.26 × 10-2 Bq m-2 s-1, while the values for the remaining samples ranged from approximately 0.46 × 10-2 to 1.75 × 10-2 Bq m-2 s-1. Based on the experimentally determined exhalation rates, a scenario-based analytical estimation of indoor Rn-222 activity concentration was carried out for an enclosed ship cargo hold with typical geometric dimensions. Under the assumed ventilation and effective exhalation-area conditions, predicted indoor Rn-222 activity concentration remains below the reference level of 300 Bq m⁻³ , as set out in the Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM. The study also emphasised the importance of storage conditions, particularly the influence of moisture content in nodules on Rn-222 exhalation, as well as the need to implement basic radiological protection measures such as controlled ventilation and dust suppression. The presented results indicate that, with appropriate management and the application of simple technical measures, transportation and storage of polymetallic nodules do not pose a significant radiological hazard, in terms of the analysed Rn-222 inhalation scenario, and indoor Rn-222 activity concentration in the air can be controlled effectively.
Testosterone deficiency is highly prevalent in men with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) and is associated with obesity, sarcopenia, systemic inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction. However, the independent prognostic role of low testosterone in long-term mortality in this population remains unclear. To investigate whether baseline calculated free testosterone (cFT) independently predicts all-cause mortality in men with chronic SCI. We conducted a retrospective cohort study including 152 men with chronic SCI admitted to a rehabilitation center between 2017 and 2023. Participants were followed until death or December 2024 (median follow-up 62 months). Severe hypogonadism was defined according to European Male Ageing Study criteria. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between testosterone and mortality. Fully adjusted models included age, comorbidities, inflammatory status, functional independence, injury duration, age at injury, autonomic dysreflexia, body mass index (BMI), HDL, and testosterone-binding factors, including albumin. Prespecified parsimonious models (age + CCI or albumin) were also tested. Kaplan-Meier curves were compared by log-rank test and model discrimination was evaluated using Harrell's C-index. Twenty-four deaths (15.8%) occurred. Deceased patients had significantly lower cFT (48.9 vs. 85.4 pg/mL; p < 0.001) and lower serum albumin levels. In fully adjusted Cox models, lower cFT independently predicted mortality (HR 0.97 per pg/mL increase; 95% CI 0.95-0.98; p = 0.0139). Serum albumin was also strongly associated with mortality in multivariable models, confirming its role as a marker of nutritional and clinical frailty. The association between cFT and mortality remained robust in parsimonious models (HR 0.82 per 10 pg/mL increase; p = 0.001), including those adjusted for albumin. The age-cFT-CCI model showed good discrimination (Harrell's C-index 0.85). ROC analysis identified an internally derived threshold of 59.55 pg/mL (AUC 0.839), with significantly lower survival in men below this threshold (log-rank p < 0.0001). Low cFT independently predicts all-cause mortality in men with chronic SCI. These findings suggest that cFT may represent an integrative biomarker of systemic frailty beyond markers of nutritional and clinical status in this high-risk population and warrant confirmation in prospective multicenter studies.
Toxoplasma gondii is an important opportunistic pathogen in people living with HIV (PLWH), and the risk of reactivation increases markedly when CD4 counts fall below 100/mm³ . We aimed to determine T. gondii seroprevalence in PLWH, assess its associations with demographic and clinical variables, and emphasize preventive strategies for seronegative individuals. This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 1419 people living with HIV who were diagnosed by Western blot and followed at a tertiary care center between January 2006 and January 2024.Demographic characteristics, HIV RNA levels, CD4 counts, education level, probable route of HIV transmission, and T. gondii IgG/IgM results at the time of diagnosis were reviewed. Associations between categorical variables were evaluated using the chi-square test, and independent predictors were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Of the 1419 patients, 88.2% were male; the mean age was 45.7 years and the mean CD4 count was 302.6/mm³ . T. gondii IgG seropositivity was 41.1%. Seropositivity was significantly higher among patients aged ≥ 50 years and those with CD4 < 100/mm³ according to the chi-square test (p < 0.001). Heterosexual individuals had higher seropositivity, whereas men who have sex with men (MSM) were more often seronegative. Higher education level was significantly associated with seronegativity. This study, conducted in one of Türkiye's long-standing HIV care centers, provides comprehensive data on T. gondii seroprevalence among PLWH. The high seronegativity observed among younger and more educated individuals underscores the need for targeted education on hygiene and food safety. Regular screening and appropriate prophylactic strategies in seronegative patients at risk of advanced immunosuppression are critical to prevent life-threatening toxoplasmosis reactivation.
Given the increasing demand of poultry products, poultry processing continues to generate a large volume of wastewater rich in diverse foodborne pathogens that require effective treatment to support safe reuse. This study evaluated the disinfection rate of photo-electrochemical (PEC) treatment, which combines electrochemical (EC) and photochemical (PC) treatments for poultry processing wastewater. Wastewater from the scald and inside-outside bird washer (IOBW) units were treated using independent 7 L and 30 L PEC reactors operated at 70 V and 100 V EC with a fixed 1.6% curcumin for PC. Treatment was conducted for 300 minutes with aliquots collected every 30 minutes for quantification of aerobic bacteria (AC), Enterobacteriaceae (EB), coliforms (CC), and E. coli, on Petrifilm™. Furthermore, samples at 0, 150 and 300 minutes were selectively enriched and plated on Campylobacter agar and xylose lysine tergitol-4 for Campylobacter and Salmonella detection, respectively. Microbial reductions were reported as log10 CFU/mL and analyzed using linear mixed-effects model on R software (p ≤ 0.05) with a limit of detection of 1 CFU/mL. Across all wastewater types and reactor scales, PEC treatment at 70 V and 100 V achieved substantial reductions in AC, reducing initial loads of 5.4 - 6.2 log CFU/mL to 2.0 - 2.9 log CFU/mL within 300 minutes. Specifically, treatments at 100 V reduced AC to below the regulatory threshold of 500 CFU/mL (2.70 log CFU/mL) for wastewater reuse. EB, CC, and E. coli were completely inactivated, with faster disinfection generally observed at 100 V (120-180 minutes) compared to 70 V (180-210 minutes). Although differences between pathogen reductions were insignificant between 70 V and 100 V (p> 0.05), disinfection at 100 V showed a trend of quicker and greater microbial reduction across all microorganisms tested. Furthermore, Campylobacter and Salmonella were consistently eliminated within 150 minutes across all treatments. Overall, these findings demonstrate PEC as a viable, sustainable disinfection strategy which effectively reduced microorganisms including Campylobacter and Salmonella in processing wastewater, supporting safe reuse while reducing environmental impact.
IntroductionPharmacy compounding in oncology requires strict adherence to technical and regulatory constraints to guarantee the quality and safety of preparations for both patients and staff. Good manufacturing practices define this framework by mandating trained and qualified personnel, as well as suitable work zones and equipment. These requirements can influence the quality of work life (QWL) for pharmacy professionals. The study aims to provide an overview of working conditions across five French teams working in a pharmacy technology unit dedicated to the preparation of sterile cytotoxic drugs.Materials and MethodsA survey, adapted from the GABO questionnaire, was developed and distributed to pharmaceutical teams (n = 111) over a 5-week period.ResultsEighty-eight questionnaires were returned (79.3% response rate); however, five were excluded due to a completion rate below 60%. Ultimately, eighty-three questionnaires with a completion rate exceeding 60% were analysed (74.7% participation rate). The mean score of working conditions is 5.6 out of 10. Factors negatively influence this score include, among others: Noise levels (65% rated high or very high), which caused discomfort for 45% of healthcare professionals (HCPs)A lack of control and privacy within the workspace (43% dissatisfied).ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to present HCPs' perception of their working environment. Improvements are necessary, and professional levers for change have been identified: team atmosphere and the diversity of assigned tasks.
Onychomycoses are fungal infections of the nail unit, mainly caused by dermatophytes, and have a high prevalence worldwide. Current treatments for onychomycosis face challenges with the penetration of topically applied antifungal drugs through the nail barrier. Caryophyllene oxide is a sesquiterpenoid found in several essential oils that has antifungal properties. Clioquinol (CLI) is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent with potential for topical use. Combining a sesquiterpenoid compound with a synthetic antifungal drug offers a promising therapeutic and technological approach for treating onychomycoses, once both can be easily combined in a nanoemulsion formulation. This strategy requires the development of a quick and reliable method to evaluate their in vitro permeation and retention in the nail matrix, serving as a measure of formulation performance. In this study, using the Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) approach, we developed and validated a rapid, sensitive bioanalytical method capable of simultaneously identifying and quantifying CLI and CAROX via high-performance liquid chromatography with a UV detector (HPLC-UV) at 215 nm, with retention times below 15 min. Additionally, an ungual permeation protocol was established, and the in vitro permeation and retention of CLI and CAROX in porcine hooves were assessed. Results showed that CLI retention within the nanoemulsion was four times higher than in solution (28.11 ± 4.85 vs 7.54 ± 3.03 μg/cm2 after 72 h). For both CLI and CAROX, loading into nanostructured systems demonstrated a sustained release profile.
The Glasgow Coma Scale-based score (GCS) is used to describe the level of consciousness in critically ill patients. In risk-prediction models, an abnormal GCS carries a heavy weight, without considering the cause of impaired consciousness. We assessed the association between low GCS and mortality across individual diagnoses. In this retrospective register-based study, we examined 58,982 admissions to 20 ICUs in Finland, Estonia, and Switzerland between 2015 and 2017. We divided the patients into two categories using Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III diagnoses: Neurologic and Other diagnoses. We used the lowest GCS recorded during the first 24 h after intensive care unit (ICU) admission. We defined GCS below 9 as low. We analysed the association between low GCS and the risk of death in each APACHE III diagnosis and in the Neurologic and Other diagnoses categories using hierarchical logistic regression. There were 17,275 (29%) patients in the Neurologic category and 41,707 (71%) in the Other diagnoses category. Low GCS was recorded in 4266 (25%) patients in the Neurologic category and 6078 (15%) in the Other diagnoses category. Low GCS was associated with increased risk of death in the Neurologic category [odds ratio (OR) 11.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 8.0-15.9] and in the Other diagnoses category (OR 4.8, 95% CI 3.9-5.8). The impact of low GCS varied widely between individual diagnoses within both categories. Low GCS was a strong predictor of death, but its relative weight was highly dependent on the diagnosis.
Here, we report the first systematic study of two distinct configurations of hexagonal silver nanoparticle (AgNP) microdomain arrays prepared on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates using the laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) technique. By varying the size and spacing of the domains, we investigated how geometric parameters govern nanoparticle distribution, surface morphology, and biological response. AFM, SEM, CLSM, EDX, and XPS analyses revealed a pronounced gradient of AgNP density across the patterned surfaces, with the highest roughness and nanoparticle aggregation in domain centers, reduced coverage at the edges, and detectable but sparse particles in inter-domain gaps. Cross-section TEM further confirmed that nanoparticles are confined to a thin surface layer, ensuring high biological availability while minimizing uncontrolled leaching. Antibacterial activity assessment revealed that both Staphylococcus epidermidis (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) were reduced below the detection limit within two hours across all patterned surfaces, irrespective of domain size. Cytotoxicity tests using normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) revealed that the cells adhered, proliferated, and remained metabolically active over a seven-day period, although their enzymatic activity and numbers were reduced compared to cells growing on pristine PET. These findings highlight the unique dual functionality of LIFT-fabricated AgNP microdomains, which exhibit rapid and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, combined with good cytocompatibility. The demonstrated ability to tune surface architecture by controlling domain size and spacing offers a promising pathway toward advanced antimicrobial coatings for medical devices and implants.