Adhesion abilities and biosorption of Cd and Mg by microorganisms - first step for eco-friendly beneficiation of phosphate ore

Chemical reagents used in traditional mineral processing can be toxic and hazardous for the environment. Therefore, the use of biotechnological methods is becoming increasingly important. Great hopes are being placed in the use of microorganisms for bio-beneficiation of raw materials. However, assessment of adhesion abilities of bacteria onto minerals surface as well as biosorption of metals are essential steps before designing final process of each ore beneficiation. The main aim of this work was an investigation of biosorption of Cd and Mg, as well as adhesion abilities of five microorganism species with minerals included in the natural mixture of phosphate ore form Djebel Onk, Algeria. The ore, due to its unique composition, created conditions for adhesion of all five tested microbial strains onto apatite surface during incubation at pH 3. Moreover, Rhodococcus erythropolis CD 130, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Escherichia coli adhered distinctly onto apatite surface during incubation at pH 7. Incubation lasting 20 min at pH 4-6 created the most favorable conditions for biosorption of metals by B. subtilis and adhesion of cells. In case of C. albicans, biosorption of metals as well as adhesion of cells onto the mineral surface were more effective after longer time and in a wider pH range

Ocena przydatności skali Apgar: ogólnopolska ankieta dotycząca oddziałów noworodkowych

Abstract Introduction: The paper discusses the reliability of the Apgar score for evaluating newborns, particularly its usefulness in assessing the state of preterm or full term newborns born with hypoxia. Aim: The paper provides a sum-up of the opinions on usefulness and reliability of the Apgar score given by doctors from 255 NICUs. Material and methods: Data for the analysis were gathered by means of a questionnaire opinion poll sent to 158 primary referral centers, 71 secondary referral centers and 26 tertiary referral centers. Respondents answered questions about value of the Apgar score assessment (highly valuable, limited value, always reliable), as well as overrating and underrating children born in good overall condition and children born with clinical and biochemical indicators of hypoxia. In the group of prematurely born babies, the data concerning newborns with very low (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) were analyzed separately. Results: 88,5% neonatologists claimed the use of the Apgar score in assessing newborn condition to be of little value and only 11,5% found this indicator useful and reliable. Conclusions: According to the majority of Polish neonatologists, Apgar score is not reliable in the assessment of term and preterm hypoxic newborns.Streszczenie Ocena noworodków według skali Apgar wydaje się być coraz mniej przydatna w ocenie noworodka niedotlenionego. Cel pracy: Celem pracy była sumaryczna opinia neonatologów zatrudnionych w 255 oddziałach noworodkowych dotyczącą przydatności i wiarygodności skali Apgar w ocenie stanu ogólnego noworodków. Materiał i metody: Badania oparto na ankietach przesłanych do 158 oddziałów I stopnia referencyjności,71 oddziałów II stopnia referencyjności i 26 oddziałów III stopnia referencyjności. Neonatolodzy przedstawili swoje opinie dotyczące wiarygodności skali Apgar w ocenie donoszonych i przedwcześnie urodzonych noworodków z objawami niedotlenienia wewnątrzmacicznego. Respondenci udzielali odpowiedzi oceniając wartość skali Apgar jako bardzo wiarygodną, o ograniczonej wiarygodności lub zawsze miarodajną, a także jako niedoszacowaną lub przeszacowaną w stosunku do biochemicznych i klinicznych wykładników niedotlenienia. W grupie noworodków przedwcześnie urodzonych opinie dotyczyły zarówno oceny noworodków z bardzo małą jak i ekstremalnie małą masą ciała. Wyniki: 88,5% neonatologów podkreśla ograniczoną wartość skali Apgar w ocenie stanu ogólnego noworodków, a tylko 11,5% uważa ją stale za przydatną i wiarygodną. Wnioski: Według większości polskich neonatologów ocena według skali Apgar noworodków niedotlenionych tak donoszonych jak i przedwcześnie urodzonych nie jest wiarygodna

The role of upper airway pathology as a co-morbidity in severe asthma

Introduction: Severe asthma is a complex heterogeneous disease that is refractory to standard treatment and is complicated by multiple co-morbidities and risk factors. Several co-morbidities may contribute to worsen asthma control and complicate diagnostic and therapeutic management of severe asthmatic patients. Areas covered: A prevalent cluster of chronic upper airway co-morbid diseases is recognized in severe asthma. Evaluation for these disorders should always be considered in clinical practice. The aim of this review is to provide an updated overview of the prevalence, the pathogenetic mechanisms, the clinical impact and the therapeutic options for upper airway pathology in severe asthma, focusing on chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic rhinitis. Expert commentary: In the context of severe asthma, the clinical significance of upper airway co-morbidities is based on mutual interactions complicating diagnosis and management. A better analysis and understanding of phenotypes and endotypes of both upper and lower airway diseases are crucial to further develop targeted treatment

Smoking cessation and vaping cessation attempts among cigarette smokers and e-cigarette users in Central and Eastern Europe

Our aim is to assess the smoking cessation and vaping cessation activity, including quit attempts and willingness to quit among university students in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as to investigate personal characteristics associated with smoking cessation and vaping cessation attempts. Data were collected by questionnaire which included 46 questions on cigarette and e-cigarette use. Questionnaires were obtained from 14,352 university students (aged 20.9 ± 2.4 years; cooperation rate of 72.2%). For the purposes of this analysis, only data from exclusive cigarette smokers (n = 1716), exclusive e-cigarette users (n = 129), and dual users (216) were included. Of all cigarette smokers, 51.6% had previously tried to quit smoking and 51.5% declared a willingness to quit cigarette smoking in the near future. Among all e-cigarette users only 13.9% had ever tried to quit using the e-cigarette and 25.2% declared a willingness to give up using e-cigarette in the near future. The majority of the group did not use pharmacotherapy to quit cigarette (87.5%) or e-cigarette (88.9%) use. Our results indicate that while most university students have some desire to quit conventional smoking, those who use e-cigarettes do not have the same desire

The Prevalence of Cigarette and E-cigarette Smoking Among Students in Central and Eastern Europe-Results of the YUPESS Study

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are an alternative to traditional tobacco cigarette smoking. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use among university students from Central and Eastern Europe and to investigate personal characteristics associated with cigarette and e-cigarette smoking. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was performed between 2017-2018 among university students in five European countries: Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Slovakia. The questionnaire included 46 questions related to the frequency and habits of traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes use. Completed questionnaires were obtained from 14,352 students (8800 medical; aged 20.9 +/- 2.4 years) with an overall response rate of 72.2%. Two-thirds of the respondents had smoked a traditional tobacco cigarette and 43.7% had used an e-cigarette. Overall current smoking status included 12.3% traditional cigarette smokers, 1.1% e-cigarette users, and 1.8% were dual users with the remainder being non-smokers. Smoking status differed between the research centres (p < 0.001). Females were less likely to try either cigarettes (OR = 0.83) or e-cigarettes (OR = 0.62) and were less likely to be current cigarette (OR = 0.64), e-cigarette (OR = 0.34), or dual users (OR = 0.33) than males. Perception of e-cigarettes significantly differed between smokers and non-smokers (p < 0.001). Among university students, cigarettes are more popular than e-cigarettes