Global systematic review and meta-analysis of health-related quality of life in Behcet’s patients

Background: Behcet’s disease (BD) is a chronic fatal illness with a relapsing remitting nature and significant organ-threatening morbidity and mortality. The aim of this research was to examine studies which were conducted on investigation of prevalence of quality of life among patients with Behcet’s disease. Methods: A total of 13 articles were extracted from four main databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science from the onset of 2000 to January 2021. All studies published in English with the purpose of examining quality of life (QOL) among patients with BD or investigating its main determinants were included. Results: Totally, 1137 BD patients participated in 13 studies. Based on random effect analysis, the total score of physical health-related QOL was 46.7 (95% CI=41.26 to 52.13) and the total score of mental health-related QOL was 49.01 (95% CI=43.83 to 54.18) representing a moderate level of QOL among BD patients. Furthermore, weighted effect size analyses showed a significant correlation between QOL and variables such as patients’ age, gender, disease duration and depression (pvalue: 0.00). Conclusion: As the symptoms of BD worsen over time, patients confront with more severe body pain, mobility restrictions, and difficulties in chewing, eating, speaking and swallowing which negatively affect social interactions of patients and reduce their QOL. Furthermore, depression was proved to act as a deteriorating factor for Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) among BD patients. Thus, patients need to be psychologically supported by a specialized team and be informed during the course of treatment to gain useful information about the disease, treatment approaches and coping strategies

Permeability and durability of high volume fly ash concrete under an applied compressive stress

The durability of concrete is one of its most important properties and has been an attractive subject for research in recent years. One of the criteria, which determine concrete durability, is permeability. Transport processes in concrete have been investigated for several decades. However, the correlation between transport coefficients and applied stress has received only little attention. The scope of this study encompassed two major research focuses. The first involved developing a test method capable of measuring the water permeability of concrete under an applied stress. The second involves investigating the permeability of high volume fly ash (HVFA) concrete at early ages. Two sets of tests were carried out. Special emphasis was placed on understanding the influence of stress application on the permeability of concrete at early ages (1-3 days). In the first set, four normal concrete mixes were investigated for effects of stress on early age concrete. In the second set, three high volume fly ash (HVFA) mixes were made to investigate the effects of fly ash on the permeability of fresh concrete. For each mixture, three 100 x 200 mm cylinders and 2 cylindrical hollow core specimens with a 50 mm diameter hollow cylindrical core at the center were cast. The cylindrical specimens were used to determine the compressive strength. The hollow core specimens were placed in specially designed cells such that water would permeate under pressure, and the collected water was drained out to a collection reservoir where its mass was measured by a computer-controlled scale. In the first set, one of the permeability cells was mounted in a testing machine to apply a certain compressive stress on the specimen during the test, but in the second set, permeability of normal concrete were compared with HVFA concrete without stress. Results indicated that the presence of a compressive stress below a certain threshold value decreased the permeability, but when the applied stress exceeded this threshold, a significant increase in the permeability occurred. Addition of fly ash as a supplementary cementing material due to the retardation and slow strength gain in concrete, increases the permeability of fly ash concrete at early ages.Applied Science, Faculty ofCivil Engineering, Department ofGraduat

Inventive Microstructural and Durability Investigation of Cementitious Composites Involving Crystalline Waterproofing Admixtures and Portland Limestone Cement

The durability of a cement-based material is mainly dependent on its permeability. Modifications of porosity, pore-structure and pore-connectivity could have significant impacts on permeability improvement, which eventually leads to more durable materials. One of the most efficient solutions in this regard is to use permeability reducing admixtures (PRA). Among these admixtures for those structures exposed to hydro-static pressure, crystalline waterproofing admixtures (CWA) have been serving in the construction industries for decades and according to ACI 212—chemical admixtures’ report, it has proven its capability in permeability reduction and durability-enhancement. However, there is substantial research being done on its durability properties at the macro level but very limited information available regarding its microstructural features and chemical characteristics at the micro level. Hence, this paper presents one of the first reported attempts to characterize microstructural and chemical elements of hydration products for cementitious composites with CWA called K, P and X using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Backscattered SEM images taken from a polished-section of one CWA type—K—admixture were analyzed in ImageJ to obtain paste matrix porosity, indicating a lower value for the CWA-K mixture. X-ray analysis and SEM micrographs of polished sections were examined to identify chemical compositions based on atomic ratio plots and brightness differences in backscatter-SEM images. To detect chemical elements and the nature of formed crystals, the fractured surfaces of three different CWA mixtures were examined. Cementitious composites with K admixture indicated needle-like crystal formation—though different from ettringite; X and P admixtures showed sulfur peaks in Energy Dispersive Spectrum (EDS) spectra, like ettringite. SEM images and X-ray analyses of mixtures incorporating Portland Limestone Cement (PLC) indicated lower-than-average porosity but showed different Si/Ca and Al/Ca atomic ratios

Durability and Self-Sealing Examination of Concretes Modified with Crystalline Waterproofing Admixtures

Repairing concrete structures costs billions of dollars every year all around the globe. For overcoming durability concerns and creating enduring economical structures, chemical admixtures, as a unique solution, have recently attracted a lot of interest. As permeability of a concrete structure is considered to play a significant role in its durability, Permeability Reducing Admixtures (PRA) is one of the ideal solutions for protecting structures exposed to water and waterborne chemicals. Different products have been developed to protect concrete structures against water penetration, which, based on their chemistry, performance, and functionality, have been categorized into PRA. As it has previously been tested by authors and proven to be a promising solution, a hydrophilic Crystalline Waterproofing Admixtures (CWA) has been considered for this study. This paper aims to investigate how this product affects concrete’s overall freeze–thaw resistance, self-sealing, and corrosion resistance. Various testing methods have been utilized to examine the performance of CWA mixtures, including the linear polarization resistance, resonance frequency testing, half-cell potential, and self-sealing test. The reinforcement corrosion potential and rate measurements indicated superior performance for CWA-treated samples. After being exposed to 300 freeze–thaw cycles, concrete mixes containing CWA—even non-air-entrained ones—showed a Durability Factor (DF) of more than 80% with no signs of failure, while non-air-entrained control samples indicated the lowest DF (below 60%) but the greatest mass loss. The major causes are a reduction in solution permeability and lack of water availability in the concrete matrix—due to the presence of CWA crystals. Furthermore, evidence from the self-sealing test suggests that CWA-treated specimens can seal wider cracks and at a faster rate

Cytotoxicity Effect of Cold Atmospheric Plasma on Melanoma (B16-F10), Breast (MCF-7) and Lung (A549) Cancer Cell Lines Compared with Normal Cells

Background and purpose: Cancer is one of the major health challenges in the world. The efficacy of current treatments is low but their side effects are high. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a new modality for cancer treatment. This study aimed to compare the cytotoxicity effect of CAP on the cell line models of common cancers and normal cells. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, argon based CAP was used to treat mouse melanoma (B16-F10), human breast cancer (MCF-7), human lung cancer (A549) cell lines, and compared with normal mouse fibroblast cells (L929), and human immortalized normal respiratory epithelial cell (Beas). We cultivated 4 groups in each cancer and normal cell lines: untreated cells; CAP exposed cells  for 20 seconds, 30 seconds, and 40 seconds.The morphological alterations and proliferation rate of the cells were evaluated after 24 and 48 hours. Results: The viability of CAP-treated cancer cells significantly decreased compared to that of the untreated cells. The viability of A549 and MCF-7 cell lines decreased to 33.9% and 49.5%, 24 hours after CAP therapy for 30 seconds. In addition, 40 seconds exposure to CAP reduced viability of B16-F10 melanoma cells to 37.9%. Whereas the CAP had no detrimental cytotoxic effect on normal L929 cells. The maintenance effect of CAP had a time dependent pattern and its cytotoxicity effect increased from 24 to 48 hour incubation. Conclusion: This study showed that the effect of CAP on cancer cells is a selective effect that is largely dependent on the radiation dose and duration of exposure of cells to compounds produced by CAP. We can use CAP in treatment of cancer because of its cytotoxicity and selectivity on cancer cells

Influence of engineered self-healing systems on ASR damage development in concrete

Supplementary cementing materials (SCMs) have proven effective in minimizing alkali-silica reaction (ASR) development. In addition, crystalline admixtures (CAs) have been identified as potential solutions to counteract damage in concrete. However, limited data on this topic is available in the literature. This study investigates the impact of CA on concrete damage and is divided into two phases: 1) the effectiveness of CA in self-healing cracks and restoring the mechanical properties of mechanically damaged concrete; 2) it explores concrete mixtures incorporating a wide range of binder compositions (i.e., general use type cement, silica fume, fly ash, slag and Metakaolin) and chemical admixtures (i.e., commercially available CAs and modified versions) in conditions enabling ASR development. Both phases involve microscopic/mechanical analyses to assess the effects of CA on damage, and comparisons with concrete mixtures without CAs are made. The results reveal that CA enhanced the self-healing of cracks up to 82 % of cracks in cement paste (115 % higher values than concrete mixtures without CA) and restored 69 % of compressive strength. Furthermore, although CAs could change the damage mechanism of ASR, they did not “safely” mitigate it. However, combining SCMs and CAs effectively reduces ASR-induced expansion

The Use of Self-Healing Technology to Mitigate the Alkali–Silica Reaction Distress in Concrete

Alkali–Silica Reaction (ASR) is one of the most harmful distress mechanisms affecting the durability and serviceability of concrete infrastructure worldwide. ASR-induced deterioration leads to micro-cracking, loss of material integrity and functionality, significantly impacting the stiffness, tensile, shear, and compressive strength of affected concrete. Over the past decades, studies have demonstrated that the partial replacement of Portland cement by supplementary cementing materials or the addition of lithium-based admixtures (e.g., lithium nitrate, etc.) is effective preventive measures against ASR. Yet, new studies are now finding that the deterioration is only delayed and not entirely prevented. In this context, it has been verified that some products, such as crystalline admixtures, could enhance concrete's healing properties, thus presenting an interesting solution to reduce water ingress and recover damaged concrete elements. However, the potential of these materials to suppress durability-related distress due to ASR has not been assessed. This paper aims to evaluate different concrete mixes presenting two different types/nature of highly reactive aggregates (i.e., coarse vs. fine aggregates), incorporating a GU-type cement, lithium nitrate, a hydrophilic crystalline waterproofing material (CW), and two modified versions (CW-mod). The samples were fabricated, exposed to ASR development, and monitored over two years. Mechanical (i.e., compressive and shear strength, modulus of elasticity, and stiffness damage test) and microscopic (i.e., Damage Rating Index) techniques were selected to further analyze the distinct mixtures’ appraised performance. The results show that the addition of CWs’ agents in concrete minimized ASR development. In general, the mixtures not only delayed the development of inner damage but significantly lowered the compressive strength loss and slowed the crack propagation in the cement paste at equivalent expansion amplitudes than control specimens. Finally, comparisons among the results found are made, and further discussions and recommendations on the reliability of adopting self-healing products to suppress ASR are conducted.</p

Pioneering Solutions for Combating Combined Deterioration Mechanisms

Deterioration mechanisms pose a significant challenge to the durability, serviceability, and safety of concrete structures. Hence, proper protection is essential to combat potential deterioration issues effectively. However, it is important to note that concrete structures are often exposed to multiple deterioration mechanisms simultaneously, which enhances the importance in searching efficient methods to protect the structures against all of these mechanisms. Since water is a common factor in many deterioration mechanisms, minimizing moisture in concrete and implementing proper waterproofing measures can be a reliable way to protect concrete. In this paper, we summarize several studies investigating the effects of a hydrophilic crystalline waterproofing admixture (CA) on concrete performance concerning corrosion, freeze-thaw cycles (FT), and alkali-silica reaction (ASR). The admixture was added during the concrete production, and the concrete specimens were examined using various test methods to evaluate their performance under different conditions. The research studies results showed that the investigated waterproofing admixture provided significant protection against corrosion by reducing its rate and preventing the initiation and propagation of corrosion-induced cracks, ultimately increasing the service life of the structures. The admixture also improved the FT resistance of concrete by reducing the damage caused by repeated freezing and thawing cycles. Additionally, the admixture could minimize ASR development, a major cause of concrete deterioration in many regions.</div

Effect of Polypropylene Fibers on Self-Healing and Dynamic Modulus of Elasticity Recovery of Fiber Reinforced Concrete

This study aims to evaluate self-healing properties and recovered dynamic moduli of engineered polypropylene fiber reinforced concrete using non-destructive resonant frequency testing. Two types of polypropylene fibers (0.3% micro and 0.6% macro) and two curing conditions have been investigated: Water curing (at ~25 Celsius) and air curing. The Impact Resonance Method (IRM) has been conducted in both transverse and longitudinal modes on concrete cylinders prior/post crack induction and post healing of cracks. Specimens were pre-cracked at 14 days, obtaining values of crack width in the range of 0.10–0.50 mm. Addition of polypropylene fibers improved the dynamic response of concrete post-cracking by maintaining a fraction of the original resonant frequency and elastic properties. Macro fibers showed better improvement in crack bridging while micro fiber showed a significant recovery of the elastic properties. The results also indicated that air-cured Polypropylene Fiber Reinforced Concrete (PFRC) cylinders produced ~300 Hz lower resonant frequencies when compared to water-cured cylinders. The analyses showed that those specimens with micro fibers exhibited a higher recovery of dynamic elastic moduli

Combination effect of cold atmospheric plasma with green synthesized zero-valent iron nanoparticles in the treatment of melanoma cancer model.

Green synthesized zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) have high potential in cancer therapy. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is also an emerging biomedical technique that has great potential to cure cancer. Therefore, the combined effect of CAP and nZVI might be promising in treatment of cancer. In this study, we evaluated the combined effect of CAP and nZVI on the metabolic activity of the surviving cells and induction of apoptosis in malignant melanoma in comparison with normal cells. Therefore, the effect of various time exposure of CAP radiation, different doses of nZVI, and the combined effect of CAP and nZVI were evaluated on the viability of malignant melanoma cells (B16-F10) and normal fibroblast cells (L929) at 24 h after treatment using MTT assay. Then, the effect of appropriate doses of each treatment on apoptosis was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry with Annexin/PI staining. In addition, the expression of BAX, BCL2 and Caspase 3 (CASP3) was also assayed. The results showed although the combined effect of CAP and nZVI significantly showed cytotoxic effects and apoptotic activity on cancer cells, this treatment had no more effective compared to CAP or nZVI alone. In addition, evaluation of gene expression showed that combination therapy didn't improve expression of apoptotic genes in comparison with CAP or nZVI. In conclusion, combined treatment of CAP and nZVI does not seem to be able to improve the effect of monotherapy of CAP or nZVI. It may be due to the resistance of cancer cells to high ROS uptake or the accumulation of saturated ROS in cells, which prevents the intensification of apoptosis