How to use the world's scarce selenium resources efficiently to increase the selenium concentration in food

The world's rare selenium resources need to be managed carefully. Selenium is extracted as a by-product of copper mining and there are no deposits that can be mined for selenium alone. Selenium has unique properties as a semi-conductor, making it of special value to industry, but it is also an essential nutrient for humans and animals and may promote plant growth and quality. Selenium deficiency is regarded as a major health problem for 0.5 to 1 billion people worldwide, while an even larger number may consume less selenium than required for optimal protection against cancer, cardiovascular diseases and severe infectious diseases including HIV disease. Efficient recycling of selenium is difficult. Selenium is added in some commercial fertilizers, but only a small proportion is taken up by plants and much of the remainder is lost for future utilization. Large biofortification programmes with selenium added to commercial fertilizers may therefore be a fortification method that is too wasteful to be applied to large areas of our planet. Direct addition of selenium compounds to food (process fortification) can be undertaken by the food industry. If selenomethionine is added directly to food, however, oxidation due to heat processing needs to be avoided. New ways to biofortify food products are needed, and it is generally observed that there is less wastage if selenium is added late in the production chain rather than early. On these bases we have proposed adding selenium-enriched, sprouted cereal grain during food processing as an efficient way to introduce this nutrient into deficient diets. Selenium is a non-renewable resource. There is now an enormous wastage of selenium associated with large-scale mining and industrial processing. We recommend that this must be changed and that much of the selenium that is extracted should be stockpiled for use as a nutrient by future generations

EVOLUÇÃO DA SUPERFÍCIE DOS IMPLANTES DENTÁRIOS - MICROGEOMETRIA

<p>Os implantes dentários têm uma história fascinante de evolução, desde suas origens até os avanços mais recentes. Inicialmente, os implantes dentários foram usados por várias culturas antigas, como os maias e egípcios, usando materiais como conchas e metais. No entanto, o conceito de osseointegração, a base da odontologia moderna de implantes, começou a ser desenvolvido pelo pesquisador sueco Per-Ingvar Brånemark nas décadas de 1950 e 1960. A osseointegração é o processo em que o osso se funde com o implante, fornecendo uma base sólida para restaurações dentárias. O tratamento de superfície dos implantes desempenha um papel crucial nesse processo. Originalmente, implantes eram lisos, mas pesquisas posteriores revelaram que a rugosidade controlada da superfície do implante aumenta a osseointegração. Isso levou a avanços na tecnologia de tratamento de superfície, como jateamento de partículas e anodização. Nos últimos anos, a evolução dos implantes dentários tem sido impulsionada pela nanotecnologia, que permitiu a criação de superfícies extremamente rugosas e aprimorou materiais. Além disso, a digitalização e a fabricação assistida por computador revolucionaram o planejamento e a colocação de implantes.</p><p>Em resumo, a trajetória da evolução dos implantes dentários envolveu a descoberta da osseointegração por Brånemark, avanços no tratamento de superfície e o uso de tecnologia de ponta para melhorar a qualidade e precisão dos implantes. Esses progressos tiveram um impacto significativo na odontologia, proporcionando aos pacientes soluções mais eficazes e duradouras para a substituição de dentes ausentes.</p&gt

The outcomes of two different bulking agents (dextranomer hyaluronic acid copolymer and polyacrylate-polyalcohol copolymer) in the treatment of primary vesico-ureteral reflux

ABSTRACT Purpose Subureteral injection of bulking agents in the endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux is widely accepted therapy with high success rates. Although the grade of vesicoureteric reflux and experience of surgeon is the mainstay of this success, the characteristics of augmenting substances may have an effect particularly in the long term. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of the endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) with two different bulking agents: Dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer (Dx/HA) and Polyacrylate polyalcohol copolymer (PPC). Materials and Methods A total 80 patients (49 girls and 31 boys) aged 1-12 years (mean age 5.3 years) underwent endoscopic subureteral injection for correction of VUR last six years. The patients were assigned to two groups: subureteral injections of Dx/HA (45 patients and 57 ureters) and PPC (35 patients and 45 ureters). VUR was grade II in 27 ureters, grade III in 35, grade IV in 22 and grade V in 18 ureters. Results VUR was resolved in 38 (66.6%) of 57 ureters and this equates to VUR correction in 33 (73.3%) of the 45 patients in Dx/HA group. In PPC group, overall success rate was 88.8% (of 40 in 45 ureters). Thus, Thus, this equates to VUR correction in 31 (88.5%) of the 35 patients. Conclusions Our short term data show that two different bulking agent injections provide a high level of reflux resolution and this study revealed that success rate of PPC was significantly higher than Dx/HA with less material

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion induced diaphragm contractility dysfunction: Electrophysiological and ultrastructural study in a neonatal rat model

PubMedID: 26411723Aim To evaluate the remote effect of intestinal ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury mediated by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?) on diaphragm contractility functions and whether administration of NAC may counteract the possible detrimental effects in an experimental neonatal rat model. Methods 40 Wistar rat pups were randomized into four groups; ten animals in each. Intestinal ischemia was conducted by obstructing mesentery of intestines by a silk loop. In the control group; only laparotomy was performed. After 1 h ischemia, reperfusion was conducted for 1 h in 1 h group, 24 h for 24 h group and 24 h for 24 h + NAC group but administration of NAC (150 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally twice a day was performed. Inflammatory response was evaluated by tissue TNF-? level and contractility functions by mechanic activity studies of the diaphragm. Electrophysiology of the diaphragm and the phrenic nerve was conducted to determine neuropathy or myopathy and transmission electron microscopy was performed to evaluate ultrastructural changes in the phrenic nerve. Results Diaphragm tissue TNF-? level significantly increased in 1 h and 24 h groups (P = 0.004, P = 0.0001; respectively). Diaphragm mechanic activation force and duration significantly decreased at 1 h and 24 h (P = 0.004, P = 0.02 and P = 0.0001, P = 0.0001; respectively). NAC administration significantly prevented decrease in the maximal contraction and the duration (P < 0.001). Phrenic nerve compound action potential (CMAP) amplitude significantly decreased in 1 h group (P < 0.0001) and NAC administration significantly prevented this decrease when compared with 24 h group (P < 0.001). In diaphragmatic needle electromyography, the duration of motor unit potentials (MUP) was prolonged significantly when compared with control group. Contractility and electrophysiological studies were indicating primarily neuropathy in diaphragm dysfunction. Histopathology revealed axonal and myelin degeneration in the 1 h and 24 h group, but less injury in the NAC administered group. Conclusions Intestinal IR induced elevation of TNF-? level in the diaphragm. Impairment in the diaphragm contractility and neuropathic changes in the phrenic nerve occurred even in the first hour of reperfusion. NAC administration prevented these detrimental effects. © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

A Diagnostic Dilemma for the Pediatrician: Radiolucent Tracheobronchial Foreign Body

The purpose of this study is to determine the role of clinical history, physical examinations, and radiological findings in the evaluation of patients with suspected radiolucent foreign body aspiration. Methods: The medical records of 236 children (under the age of 18 years), on whom a rigid bronchoscopy was performed between 1999 and 2015 because of suspected radiolucent foreign body aspiration, were analyzed retrospectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of clinical history, physical examinations, and radiological findings were evaluated. Results: In 71.1% of all cases, the children were under the age of 3 years. The bronchoscopy showed the presence of a foreign body in 52.9% of cases, with the locations of the foreign bodies being as follows: (1) right main bronchus, 47.2%; (2) left main bronchus, 36.0%; (3) trachea, 11.2%; (4) both bronchi, 5.6%. Organic foreign bodies were found in 78% of the patients, whereas inorganic foreign bodies were detected in 22% of the patients. The sensitivity and specificity of clinical history, physical examinations, and radiological findings were 98.4% and 54.9%, 47.2% and 74.7%, and 35.2% and 92.7%, respectively. Conclusion: Tracheobronchial foreign body aspirations usually occur prior to the age of 3 years, with the most frequently aspirated foreign bodies being food or items of a radiolucent nature. Clinical history, physical examinations, and radiological findings are not able to detect the presence of a radiolucent foreign body aspiration in children. Therefore, a bronchoscopy should be performed on children in whom a choking event has been witnessed, even in cases of normal radiological and clinical findings