Contributor Notes

FOR production of standard grade Ferro-manganese the iron content in manganese ores should not exceed certain limits. Vast reserves of ferruginous manganese ores exist in several locations in U. A. R., which do not find good markets on account of their high iron content. Preliminary work showed that the iron content could be successfully reduced by magnetic roasting followed by magnetic sepa-ration. As reduction to the magnetic stage takes place readily in the fluidized state`, it was decided to use the fluidization technique in the present study

Anaemia during critical illness

Anaemia occurs frequently during critical illness. Recent studies have increased our understanding of how well critically ill patients tolerate anaemia. It is known that anaemia does not result simply from diagnostic and physical blood loss, but is multifactorial in origin. Recently, abnormalities in circulating red cell function have been described that are potentially relevant to efficient oxygen delivery. Potential new approaches to the management of the anaemic patient during critical illness have also been evaluated. This narrative review considers methodological issues relevant to understanding the critical care literature on anaemia. We summarize current understanding of the prevalence of anaemia during critical illness, specifically among patients in intensive care units (ICUs), and discuss the various factors that contribute to its development. We consider how red cell function may alter during critical illness and the possible clinical relevance of these changes. The treatment of anaemia is discussed, with particular emphasis on haemoglobin triggers for allogeneic red cell transfusions among critically ill patients, with reference to clinically important subgroups. The place of erythropoietin, an emerging therapy for anaemia in this setting, is considered and key future research questions identified. Definition of anaemia Anaemia is a haemoglobin concentration in blood that is below the expected value, when age, gender, pregnancy and certain environmental factors, such as altitude, are taken into account. Interpreting the critical care transfusion literature Anaemia is assessed by measuring the haemoglobin concentration or haematocrit. It therefore reflects the relationship between circulating red cell mass and the plasma volume. During critical illness, many factors can change acutely both these factors, such that the presence of anaemia needs to be interpreted in relation to concurrent therapy and pathophysiology. This detail is often unclear from large studies, because it is difficult to measure, expensive to collect, and classification in a manner that enables statistical analysis is difficult. Another major confounder to interpretation is transfusion practice. Prior to publication of the Transfusion Requirements in Critical Care (TRICC) trial there was wide variation in transfusion practice. Prevalence of anaemia during critical illness The prevalence of anaemia among critically ill patients is influenced by factors that include patient case mix, illnes

Eficacia antioxidante y anticancerígena de compuestos bioactivos terapéuticos de residuos de la fermentación de aceitunas

Olive pomace, which is considered as one of the worst agro-industrial wastes in Mediterranean countries was tested for bioactive compounds production through the solid state fermentation of Kluyveromyces marxianus. Because they present potent biological activities, phenolic compounds from both unfermented and fermented pomace were extracted with simultaneous evaluation of their antioxidant and anticancer activities. Conditions for optimum total phenolic recovery with maximum antioxidant activity were optimized using methanol as the extracting solvent with a sample to solvent ratio of 1:10 at 50 °C for 2 hours. The in-vitro anticancer activity of both extracts was assessed against different human cancer cell lines. The results revealed that both extracts exerted anticancer effects close to the value of doxorubicin drug against liver HepG2 and breast MCF-7 cell lines, and moderate activity against prostate PC3 and colon HCT116 cell lines. Nevertheless, the fermented extract was more potent than the unfermented one. No effect against lung A549, cervix Hela cancer cell lines or normal HFB4 cells was observed for both extracts. A GC/MS analysis was carried out to determine the compounds responsible for antioxidant and anticancer activities. The results showed the presence of methyl palmitate, methyl oleate, and ethyl oleate in the methanolic extract of unfermented olive pomace, while that of the fermented one showed the production of carvacrol, thymol, eugenol, caryophyllene oxide and methyl isopalmitate.El orujo de oliva considerado como uno de los peores residuos agroindustriales en los países mediterráneos fue ensayado para la producción de compuestos bioactivos mediante fermentación en estado sólido de Kluyveromyces marxianus. Se extrajeron los compuestos fenólicos de orujos fermentados y no fermentados ambos con potentes actividades biológicas y se evaluaron sus actividades antioxidantes y anticancerígenas. Se optimizaron las condiciones para la recuperación fenólica óptima con actividad antioxidante máxima, estas se lograron usando metanol como disolvente de extracción con una relación de muestra a disolvente de 1:10 a 50 °C durante 2 horas. La actividad anticancerígena in vitro de ambos extractos se evaluó frente a diferentes líneas celulares de cáncer humano. Los resultados revelaron que ambos extractos ejercen un efecto anticancerígeno cercano al valor del fármaco doxorrubicina contra líneas celulares hepáticas HepG2 y MCF-7 de mama, y actividad moderada contra líneas celulares de PC3 de próstata y HCT116 de colon, sin embargo, el extracto fermentado fue más potente que el no fermentado. No se observó ningún efecto contra las líneas celulares A549 de cáncer el pulmón, de cuello de útero o células HFB4 normales, para ambos extractos. El análisis GC/MS se llevó a cabo para determinar los compuestos responsables de las actividades antioxidantes y anticancerígenas. Los resultados mostraron la presencia de palmitato de metilo, oleato de metilo y oleato de etilo en el extracto metanólico de orujo de oliva no fermentado, mientras que el fermentado mostró la producción de carvacrol, timol, eugenol, óxido de cariofileno e isopalmitato de metilo

Respiratory Health Effects of Exposure to Low-NOx Unflued Gas Heaters in the Classroom: A Double-Blind, Cluster-Randomized, Crossover Study

There are long-standing concerns about adverse effects of gas appliances on respiratory health. However, the potential adverse effect of low-NOx (nitrogen oxide) unflued gas heaters on children’s health has not been assessed. Our goal was to compare the respiratory health effects and air quality consequences of exposure to low-NOx unflued gas heaters with exposure to non–indoor-air-emitting flued gas heaters in school classrooms. We conducted a double-blind, cluster-randomized, crossover study in 400 primary school students attending 22 schools in New South Wales, Australia. Children measured their lung function and recorded symptoms and medication use twice daily. Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and formaldehyde concentrations were measured in classrooms using passive diffusion badges.NO₂ concentrations were, on average, 1.8 times higher [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.6–2.1] and formaldehyde concentrations were, on average, 9.4 ppb higher (95% CI, 5.7–13.1) during exposure to unflued gas versus flued gas heaters. Exposure to the unflued gas heaters was associated with increased cough reported in the evening [odds ratio (OR) = 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01–1.34] and wheeze reported in the morning (OR = 1.38; 95% CI, 1.04–1.83). The association with wheeze was greater in atopic subjects. There was no evidence of an adverse effect on lung function. We conclude that classroom exposure to low-NOx unflued gas heaters causes increased respiratory symptoms, particularly in atopic children, but is not associated with significant decrements in lung function. It is important to seek alternative sources of heating that do not have adverse effects on health

Effect of dietary honey on intestinal microflora and toxicity of mycotoxins in mice

BACKGROUND: Bee honey is a functional food which has a unique composition, antimicrobial properties and bifidogenic effect. In order to assess whether honey can inhibit the toxic effect of mycotoxins, the present study was undertaken. METHODS: Production of biomass and toxins by Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus ochraceus were followed in media without and with honey. Although aflatoxins and ochratoxin A. were administrated to male Swiss albino mice up to 1 μg and 10 ng/kg body weight/day respectively. The experimental animals were fed diets without our with 10% honey for two months. The changes in colonic probiotic bacteria, determintal colon enzyme glucuronidases, and genotoxicity were followed. RESULTS: Addition of 32% in its media increased the biomass of A parasiticus, while the biomass of A. ochraceus decreased and Ochratoxin A. was not produced. When the honey was added at the ratio of 32 and 48% in the medium. No relationship was found between mycelium weight and production of mycotoxins. Oral administration of aflatoxins (mixture of B(1), B(2), G(1) and G(2)) and Ochratoxin A. induced structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow and germ cells of male mice, whereas, honey treatment reduced the genotoxicity of mycotoxins. Also both toxins induced histopathological changes in liver and kidney. Feeding on diet supplemented with honey improved the histopathological changes in case of aflatoxin group, but not in the case of ochratoxin A. group (except of kidney in two cases). No significant differences were found in the activity of colon β-glucuronidase between group fed diet with or without honey. On the other hand, the colon bifido bacteria and lactobacilli counts were increased markedly in group receiving diet supplemented with honey. CONCLUSION: Substituting sugars with honey in processed food can inhibit the harmful and genotoxic effects of mycotoxins, and improve the gut microflora

Pancreatic beta cell protection/regeneration with phytotherapy

Although currently available drugs are useful in controlling early onset complications of diabetes, serious late onset complications appear in a large number of patients. Considering the physiopathology of diabetes, preventing beta cell degeneration and stimulating the endogenous regeneration of islets will be essential approaches for the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The current review focused on phytochemicals, the antidiabetic effect of which has been proved by pancreatic beta cell protection/regeneration. Among the hundreds of plants that have been investigated for diabetes, a small fraction has shown the regenerative property and was described in this paper. Processes of pancreatic beta cell degeneration and regeneration were described. Also, the proposed mechanisms for the protective/regenerative effects of such phytochemicals and their potential side effects were discussed