Voltammetric Investigation on Uranyl Sorption by Alginate Based Material. Influence of Hydrolysis and pH Dependence

The removal of U(VI) as uranyl (UO22+) from aqueous solutions was investigated by sorption onto alginate based material. The hydrolysis of uranyl ion was always taken into account in the calculations of free (22UO) ion in aqueous solution, in the experimental pH range considered, as well as the acid-base properties of alginate polymer. The sorption process follows a pseudo-second order kinetic model and the sorption rate decreases when the pH value increases. In addition to the classical Langmuir and Freundlich models, the equilibrium data were fitted by using a modified multi-component equilibrium model, never tested before. Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) measurements were carried out in NaNO3 aqueous solutions for the kinetic and equilibrium studies, respectively. Direct measurements of uranyl by DPV were carried out without using complexing agent, as usually reported in the literature; this allowed us to know the free UO22+ concentration and the hydrolyzed species formed in the ~ 2.0 to 5.0 pH range investigated. The physical structure and morphology of biomaterials was investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) measurements

speciation of chitosan with low and high molecular weight carboxylates in aqueous solution

Quantitative data on the speciation of chitosan (310kDa) with low and high molecular weight carboxylates in aqueous solution are reported. The following carboxylic ligands were considered: monocarboxylate (butyrate); dicarboxylates (malonate, succinate, azelate); tricarboxylate (1,2,3-propanetricarboxylate); tetracarboxylate (1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylate); polyacrylates (2.0 and 20kDa); polymethacrylate (5.4kDa). The investigation was performed by potentiometry at t ¼ 25 � C, at low ionic strength (without addition of supporting electrolyte) and at I ¼ 0:15mol L � 1 (NaCl). For all the systems the formation of (chitosan)LHi species was found (L ¼carboxylic ligand; i ¼1 to 4 depending on the carboxylic ligand considered). The stability of proton–chitosan–carboxylate species depends on the number of carboxylic groups involved in the complexation, and it was possible to calculate a rough free energy value per bond DGn ¼� 15 � 2kJ mol � 1 . By using the stability data, the quantitative sequestering capacity of chitosan towards the carboxylates here considered [expressed as the–log(total chitosan concentration) necessary to bind 50% of carboxylate, i.e., pL50] was calculated for different pH values, at low ionic strength and at I ¼ 0:15mol L � 1 . The pL50 values, ranging from 3 to 7, show that chitosan is quite a strong sequestering agent towards carboxylates. Evidences were also obtained for the different behaviour between low and high molecular weight carboxylates

Optimization of coupled advanced oxidation processes and activated carbons for purification of salt water

Photocatalysis, ozonation and activated carbons were investigated separately and in combination as tools for the purification of polluted salt water. Coupling different processes enables to overcome many drawbacks related to the use of the single technologies and at the same time to exploit possible synergistic effects. In this work a kinetic analysis was performed for modelling the degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4NP) as a probe pollutant molecule in synthetic seawater. Thus, the optimum synergistic conditions of the three processes acting together were determined and discussed

Spider bites of medical significance in the mediterranean area: misdiagnosis, clinical features and management

Despite the disrepute spiders have had for centuries, their bite is a rare occurrence. In the Mediterranean area, only two of the numerous known species are considered of medical significance: Latrodectus tredecimguttatus and Loxosceles rufescens. Spider bites have no pathognomonic signs or symptoms, therefore most diagnoses are presumptive; a spider bite can only be diagnosed when a spider (seen at the time of the bite) is collected and identified by an expert, since most physicians and patients are unable to recognize a certain spider species or distinguish spiders from other arthropods. Skin lesions of uncertain etiology are too often attributed to spider bites. In most cases, these are actually skin and soft-tissue infections, allergic reactions, dermatoses etc. Misdiagnosing a wound as a spider bite can lead to delays in appropriate care, cause adverse or even fatal outcomes and have medical-legal implications. Concerningly, misinformation on spider bites also affects the medical literature and it appears there is lack of awareness on current therapeutic indications for verified bites

Clostridium difficile infection in Italian urban hospitals: data from 2006 through 2011

BACKGROUND: In developed countries, Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) represents an emerging threat in terms of morbidity and mortality rates. In our country limited CDI epidemiological data can be found. We have conducted a 6-year retrospective study to evaluate the incidence of CDI in Italian urban hospitals. METHODS: Stool samples tested for C. difficile toxins from January 2006 to December 2011 in 5 large hospitals in Rome, Italy, were considered in the analysis. Repeated samples taken ≤ 2 months after a positive result were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 402 CDI episodes were identified. The incidence of CDI episodes progressively increased from 0.3 in 2006 to 2.3 per 10,000 patient-days in 2011. CDI episodes mostly occurred in patients > 60 years of age (77%). The >80 year-old age class reported the highest percentage of CDI episodes on tested samples (16%). Eighty percent (80%) of CDI episodes occurred in medical wards followed by surgery (10.2%) and intensive care units (9.8%). CONCLUSIONS: A significant increasing incidence of CDI episodes over the study period was observed during the years (p<.001), particularly in the older age groups. Medical wards experienced the highest number of CDI episodes as compared to intensive care and surgical wards. The increasing rate of CDI episodes over the last six years in our country, is alarming; urgent improvements in the surveillance systems and control programs are advisable

Diet composition of an invasive population of Lithobates catesbeianus (American Bullfrog) from Argentina

The American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus has been introduced around the world, with invasive populations reported from almost all South American countries. A population of this species was introduced in the Calingasta department of San Juan province, which is an arid environment in western Argentina. This work provides information on the dietary composition of an invasive population of L. catesbeianus, and compares the degree of dietary overlap between adults and juveniles. Stomach contents of 169 bullfrogs (82 adults and 87 juveniles) were analysed. Adults consumed 40 prey taxa and Hymenoptera (Insecta) was the most numerous prey item (41.8%), followed by Araneae (13.6%) and Aeglidae (13.4%). Juveniles consumed 29 prey taxa and Hymenoptera constituted the highest percentage in prey number (77.2%). The trophic overlap niche index at the same level shows a value of 0.64 overlap in dietary community between adults and juveniles of this bullfrog. Aeglidae was volumetrically the most important trophic item (25.4%), followed by Anura (25.02%). Our results showed that cannibalism in bullfrogs is more common than the consumption of native anurans, coinciding with that reported in other populations of introduced bullfrogs. The high similarity in the diets of both size classes and the association between the size of the predator and prey suggest that the impact caused by bullfrogs throughout their ontogeny is high andprobablyhasanimpactontheirprey.Freshwatercrabsarethemainitemsinthe diet of Lithobates catesbeianus in other introduced populations and are usually the most conspicuous at our study site. The crabs in freshwater ecosystems are part of the lowest trophic level in the food chain. The major threats to the southern region’s freshwater crabs include deforestation, farming and exotic species. Lithobates catesbeianus has a generalist diet and high overlap between adults and juveniles.Fil: Quiroga, Lorena Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Moreno Avila, María Daniela. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Cataldo, Ariel Anibal. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Aragon y Traverso, Juan Héctor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Pantano, María Victoria. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Olivares Toselli, Juan Pablo Segundo. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología; ArgentinaFil: Sanabria, Eduardo Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Facultad de Filosofía, Humanidades y Artes. Instituto de Ciencias Básicas; Argentin

Postmastectomy radiotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is widely used in locally advanced breast cancer (BC) treatment. The role of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) after NAC is strongly debated. The aim of our analysis was to identify major prognostic factors in a single-center series, with emphasis on PMRT. From 1997 to 2011, 170 patients were treated with NAC and mastectomy at our center; 98 cases (57.6%) underwent PMRT and 72 cases (42.4%) did not receive radiation. At a median follow-up period of 7.7 years (range 2–16) for the whole cohort, median time to locoregional recurrence (LRR) was 3.3 years (range 0.7–12.4). The 5-year and 10-year actuarial LRR rate were 14.5% and 15.9%, respectively. At the multivariate analysis the factors that significantly correlated with survival outcome were ≥4 positive nodes (HR 5.0, 1.51–16.52; P=0.035), extracapsular extension (HR 2.18, 1.37–3.46; P=0.009), and estrogen receptor positive disease (HR 0.57, 0.36–0.90; P=0.003). Concerning LRR according to use of radiation, PMRT reduced LRR for patient with clinical T3 staged disease (P=0.015). Our experience confirmed the impact of pathological nodal involvement on survival outcome. PMRT was found to improve local control in patients presenting with clinical T3 tumors, regardless of the response to chemotherapy

Molecular Signature of Biological Aggressiveness in Clear Cell Sarcoma of the Kidney (CCSK)

: Clear cell sarcoma of the kidney (CCSK) is a rare pediatric renal tumor with a worse prognosis than Wilms' tumor. Although recently, BCOR internal tandem duplication (ITD) has been found as a driver mutation in more than 80% of cases, a deep molecular characterization of this tumor is still lacking, as well as its correlation with the clinical course. The aim of this study was to investigate the differential molecular signature between metastatic and localized BCOR-ITD-positive CCSK at diagnosis. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and whole-transcriptome sequencing (WTS) were performed on six localized and three metastatic BCOR-ITD-positive CCSKs, confirming that this tumor carries a low mutational burden. No significant recurrences of somatic or germline mutations other than BCOR-ITD were identified among the evaluated samples. Supervised analysis of gene expression data showed enrichment of hundreds of genes, with a significant overrepresentation of the MAPK signaling pathway in metastatic cases (p &lt; 0.0001). Within the molecular signature of metastatic CCSK, five genes were highly and significantly over-expressed: FGF3, VEGFA, SPP1, ADM, and JUND. The role of FGF3 in the acquisition of a more aggressive phenotype was investigated in a cell model system obtained by introducing the ITD into the last exon of BCOR by Crispr/Cas9 gene editing of the HEK-293 cell line. Treatment with FGF3 of BCOR-ITD HEK-293 cell line induced a significant increase in cell migration versus both untreated and scramble cell clone. The identification of over-expressed genes in metastatic CCSKs, with a particular focus on FGF3, could offer new prognostic and therapeutic targets in more aggressive cases