Clay calcination technology: state-of-the-art review by the RILEM TC 282-CCL

The use of calcined clays as supplementary cementitious materials provides the opportunity to significantly reduce the cement industry’s carbon burden; however, use at a global scale requires a deep understanding of the extraction and processing of the clays to be used, which will uncover routes to optimise their reactivity. This will enable increased usage of calcined clays as cement replacements, further improving the sustainability of concretes produced with them. Existing technologies can be adopted to produce calcined clays at an industrial scale in many regions around the world. This paper, produced by RILEM TC 282-CCL on calcined clays as supplementary cementitious materials (working group 2), focuses on the production of calcined clays, presents an overview of clay mining, and assesses the current state of the art in clay calcination technology, covering the most relevant aspects from the clay deposit to the factory gate. The energetics and associated carbon footprint of the calcination process are also discussed, and an outlook on clay calcination is presented, discussing the technological advancements required to fulfil future global demand for this material in sustainable infrastructure development

Comparison of Karydakis versus midline excision for treatment of pilonidal sinus disease

Pilonidal sinus disease is associated with a high rate of recurrence and complications. The Karydakis (KAR) method, whereby an asymmetric subcutaneous flap obliterates the anal crease, has been shown to be effective in adults. The goal of this study is to assess the efficacy of the KAR procedure in the operative treatment of children with pilonidal sinus disease compared to those treated via a midline excision (ME). Sixty-eight cases of pediatric pilonidal sinus excision were reviewed over the past 10 years. Data abstracted included surgical approach, complication rate and recurrence rate. Student’s t -test or the Chi square test was used for statistical analysis, with P <0.05 being considered significant. An ME was performed in 44 patients; the KAR method was used in 24 patients. Mean age at diagnosis was 14.4±4.2 years for the ME group compared to 15.7±4.3 years for the KAR patients ( P =0.18). Mean operative time was significantly longer with the KAR method (58.7±25.6 min) compared to 46.3±18.6 for the primary ME ( P =0.04). Despite the increased operative dissection, there was no difference ( P =0.42) in early post-operative complication rates between groups (25% in the KAR group compared to 34.8% in the ME group). Initial drainage of an abscess had no significant effect upon the recurrence/complication rate in either group. Recurrence rate alone was lower in patients operated on via the KAR approach 0% versus 11.0% using the ME ( P =0.153). Recurrence and complication rates were lower for those patients with a pilonidal sinus treated by the KAR method compared to the ME, but the results did not reach significance. In conclusion, this study does show a potential benefit for children treated with the KAR method for pilonidal sinus. This study mimics the data obtained in adult patients and suggests that a larger study is likely to achieve significance.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47167/1/383_2005_Article_1543.pd

Meats, milk and fat consumption in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND: Data from several studies suggest that a diet high in meat, including processed meat and fat, may have an association with the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between meats, dairy products, fat consumption and the risk of CRC in Jordanians. A case-control study was performed at the five largest hospitals in Jordan. Dietary data were collected from 220 diagnosed cases of CRC and 281 healthy disease-free controls. The CRC cases were matched as closely as possible to controls using age, sex, occupation and marital status. RESULTS: The consumption of different levels and frequencies of several food types, including meats, chicken, milk and fish, was found to be associated with the risk of developing CRC. Added fats and oils were inversely associated with CRC risk with odds ratio = 0.33 (95% confidence interval = 0.13-0.83, Ptrend = 0.005). The predominant fat added by cases and controls was olive oil, followed by corn oil. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study suggest that the consumption of some types of meat, processed meats and Labaneh (strained yogurt) may be associated with the risk of developing CRC.Jordan higher counsel of educatio

Vitamin D Inhibits IL-22 Production Through a Repressive Vitamin D Response Element in the il22 Promoter

Th22 cells constitute a recently described CD4(+) T cell subset defined by its production of interleukin (IL)-22. The action of IL-22 is mainly restricted to epithelial cells. IL-22 enhances keratinocyte proliferation but inhibits their differentiation and maturation. Dysregulated IL-22 production has been associated to some inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. How IL-22 production is regulated in human T cells is not fully known. In the present study, we identified conditions to generate Th22 cells that do not co-produce IL-17 from naïve human CD4(+) T cells. We show that in addition to the transcription factors AhR and RORγt, the active form of vitamin D(3) (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)) regulates IL-22 production in these cells. By studying T cells with a mutated vitamin D receptor (VDR), we demonstrate that the 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-induced inhibition of il22 gene transcription is dependent on the transcriptional activity of the VDR in the T cells. Finally, we identified a vitamin D response element (VDRE) in the il22 promoter and demonstrate that 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-VDR directly inhibits IL-22 production via this repressive VDRE