Nano silver-coated polypropylene water filter: I. manufacture by electron beam gun using a modified Balzers 760 machine

As adequate freshwater supplies decrease steadily, novel technologies are required for water purification. Nanotechnology, a new scientific frontier, promises to revolutionize innovation in many industries. Advancements in nanotechnology are being applied in the water-purification industry to keep harmful bacteria out of drinking water. Due to its bactericidal properties, nano silver is used in many products as an antibacterial. This study aimed to produce a nano silver-coated water-treatment polypropylene filter via the physical vapor deposition method using the Balzers 760 machine equipped with an electron beam gun ESQ 110. The Balzers machine was modified in order to enable coating of the cylindrical filters in a homogenous manner. The nano silver particles were made by electron beam bombardment of the silver metal, which were subsequently deposited on the polypropylene filter evenly. The thickness of the nano layer coated on the filter was about 55.0nm in average, as revealed by the microprocessor unit of the Balzers machine during the coating process. The thickness of the nano layer and the chemical composition of the produced filters were studied by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and the X-ray diffraction technique. The filter system produced in this work has the potential to be used as an efficient and cost-effective water treatment method. The inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) studies revealed that there was no nano silver particle present in the filtered water sample. Hence, there is no risk of contamination of drinking water with the silver nano particles upon application of the manufactured filters. This is the first report on the manufacture of nano silver-coated cylindrical polypropylene filter using the electron beam gun technique

New trends on microbiological water treatment.

Silver nanoparticle-decorated porous polypropylene filter is prepared by physical vapor deposition method using a modified Balzers 760 coating machine. Silver nanoparticles were generated by electron beam bombardment of the silver metal. A 45nm layer of the silver nanoparticles were subsequently deposited on the polypropylene filter homogenously. The nano silver-coated filters were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The antibacterial efficiency of the nano silver-coated filters was evaluated using a custom- made experimental set up and the membrane filter method. A zone of inhibition test was also performed to compare the bactericidal effect of coated versus non-coated filters. At a flow rate of 3L/hr, the output count of Escherichia coli was zero after 6.5 hours filtration when the input water had a bacterial load of 103 colony-forming units (cfu) per milliliter. The inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) results showed that the 45nm layer of the silver nanoparticles are stable on the water filter and are not washed away by water flow even after 6.5h filtration

Complete removal of pathogenic bacteria from drinking water using nano silver-coated cylindrical polypropylene filters.

An attempt was made to investigate the removal of Escherichia coli bacteria from drinking water using nano silver-coated polypropylene water filter. For the production of nano silver filters, a modified Balzers 760 machine equipped with an electron beam gun was used. The nano-silver particles were made by electron beam bombardment of the silver metal, which were subsequently deposited on the polypropylene filters evenly. The thickness of the nano layer coated on the filters was 35.0 nm. The nano silver-coated filters were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The antibacterial efficiency of the filters was evaluated using the membrane filter method. At a flow rate of 3 l/h, the output count of E. coli was zero after 7 h filtration when the input water had a bacterial load of 103 colony-forming units (cfu) per milliliter. The inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) results showed that the 35 nm layer of the silver nanoparticles were stable on the water filter and were not washed away by water flow even after 72 h

Nano silver-coated polypropylene water filter : II. evaluation of antimicrobial efficiency

This research will improve our understanding of the microorganism removal effectiveness of the nano silver-coated polypropylene filter used in water purification. Silver nanoparticles were deposited on cylindrical polypropylene water filter by physical vapor deposition method using a modified Balzers machine. The enumeration of bacteria was done by membrane filter method. At a flow rate of 3L/hr and after 5h filtration all of the Escherichia coli cells were killed when the input water had a bacterial load of 103 colony-forming units (CFU) per mL. The inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) was used to determine any trace amount of the silver nano particles left in the water sample after filtration. Results showed that nano particles are stable on the water filter and are not washed away by water flow after 5h filtration. The nano silver-coated filter reported here has the potential to be used as an efficient water treatment technique

Use of Central Nervous System (CNS) Medicines in Aged Care Homes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Both old age and institutionalization in aged care homes come with a significant risk of developing several long-term mental and neurological disorders, but there has been no definitive meta-analysis of data from studies to determine the pooled estimate of central nervous system (CNS) medicines use in aged care homes. We conducted this systematic review to summarize the use of CNS drugs among aged care homes residents. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA) databases were searched (between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2018) to identify population-based studies that reported the use of CNS medicines in aged care homes. Pooled proportions (with 95% confidence interval), according to study location were calculated. Results: A total of 89 studies reported the use of CNS medicines use in aged care. The pooled estimate of CNS drugs use varied according to country (from 20.3% in Ireland to 49.0% in Belgium) and region (from 31.7% in North America to 42.5% in Scandinavia). The overall pooled estimate of psychotropic medicines use was highest in Europe (72.2%, 95% CI, 67.1–77.1%) and lowest in ANZ region (56.9%, 95% CI, 52.2–61.4%). The pooled estimate of benzodiazepines use varied widely from 18.9% in North America to 44.8% in Europe. The pooled estimate of antidepressants use from 47 studies was 38.3% (95% CI 35.1% to 41.6%) with highest proportion in North America (44.9%, 95% CI, 35.3–54.5%). Conclusion: The overall use of CNS drugs varied among countries, with studies from Australia-New Zealand reported the lowest use of CNS drugs. The criteria for prescribing CNS drugs in clinical practice should be evidence-based. The criteria should be used not to prohibit the use of the listed medications but to support the clinical judgement as well as patient safety

Insight into blood pressure targets for universal coverage of hypertension services in Iran: the 2017 ACC/AHA versus JNC 8 hypertension guidelines

BACKGROUND: We compared the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Iran based on two hypertension guidelines; the 2017 ACC/AHA -with an aggressive blood pressure target of 130/80 mmHg- and the commonly used JNC8 guideline cut-off of 140/90 mmHg. We shed light on the implications of the 2017 ACC/AHA for population subgroups and high-risk individuals who were eligible for non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic therapies. METHODS: Data was obtained from the Iran national STEPS 2016 study. Participants included 27,738 adults aged ≥25 years as a representative sample of Iranians. Regression models of survey design were used to examine the determinants of prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension based on JNC8 was 29.9% (95% CI: 29.2-30.6), which soared to 53.7% (52.9-54.4) based on the 2017 ACC/AHA. The percentage of awareness, treatment, and control were 59.2% (58.0-60.3), 80.2% (78.9-81.4), and 39.1% (37.4-40.7) based on JNC8, which dropped to 37.1% (36.2-38.0), 71.3% (69.9-72.7), and 19.6% (18.3-21.0), respectively, by applying the 2017 ACC/AHA. Based on the new guideline, adults aged 25-34 years had the largest increase in prevalence (from 7.3 to 30.7%). They also had the lowest awareness and treatment rate, contrary to the highest control rate (36.5%) between age groups. Compared with JNC8, based on the 2017 ACC/AHA, 24, 15, 17, and 11% more individuals with dyslipidaemia, high triglycerides, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease events, respectively, fell into the hypertensive category. Yet, based on the 2017 ACC/AHA, 68.2% of individuals falling into the hypertensive category were eligible for receiving pharmacologic therapy (versus 95.7% in JNC8). LDL cholesterol< 130 mg/dL, sufficient physical activity (Metabolic Equivalents≥600/week), and Body Mass Index were found to change blood pressure by - 3.56(- 4.38, - 2.74), - 2.04(- 2.58, - 1.50), and 0.48(0.42, 0.53) mmHg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Switching from JNC8 to 2017 ACC/AHA sharply increased the prevalence and drastically decreased the awareness, treatment, and control in Iran. Based on the 2017 ACC/AHA, more young adults and those with chronic comorbidities fell into the hypertensive category; these individuals might benefit from earlier interventions such as lifestyle modifications. The low control rate among individuals receiving treatment warrants a critical review of hypertension services

The association between acylcarnitine and amino acids profile and metabolic syndrome and its components in Iranian adults: Data from STEPs 2016

BackgroundEvidence, albeit with conflicting results, has suggested that cardiometabolic risk factors, including obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), dyslipidemia, and hypertension, are highly associated with changes in metabolic signature, especially plasma amino acids and acylcarnitines levels. Here, we aimed to evaluate the association of circulating levels of amino acids and acylcarnitines with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in Iranian adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed on 1192 participants from the large–scale cross-sectional study of Surveillance of Risk Factors of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Iran (STEP 2016). The circulating levels of amino acids and acylcarnitines were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in individuals with MetS (n=529) and without MetS (n=663).ResultsThe higher plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids (Val, Leu), aromatic amino acids (Phe, Tyr), Pro, Ala, Glu, and the ratio of Asp to Asn were significantly associated with MetS, whereas lower circulating levels of Gly, Ser, His, Asn, and citrulline were significantly associated with MetS. As for plasma levels of free carnitine and acylcarnitines, higher levels of short-chain acylcarnitines (C2, C3, C4DC), free carnitine (C0), and long-chain acylcarnitines (C16, C18OH) were significantly associated with MetS. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that factor 3 (Tyr, Leu, Val, Met, Trp, Phe, Thr) [OR:1.165, 95% CI: 1.121-1.210, P&lt;0.001], factor 7 (C0, C3, C4) [OR:1.257, 95% CI: 1.150-1.374, P&lt;0.001], factor 8 (Gly, Ser) [OR:0.718, 95% CI: 0.651-0.793, P&lt; 0.001], factor 9 (Ala, Pro, C4DC) [OR:1.883, 95% CI: 1.669-2.124, P&lt;0.001], factor 10 (Glu, Asp, C18:2OH) [OR:1.132, 95% CI: 1.032-1.242, P= 0.009], factor 11 (citrulline, ornithine) [OR:0.862, 95% CI: 0.778-0.955, P= 0.004] and 13 (C18OH, C18:1 OH) [OR: 1.242, 95% CI: 1.042-1.480, P= 0.016] were independently correlated with metabolic syndrome.ConclusionChange in amino acid, and acylcarnitines profiles were seen in patients with MetS. Moreover, the alteration in the circulating levels of amino acids and acylcarnitines is along with an increase in MetS component number. It also seems that amino acid and acylcarnitines profiles can provide valuable information on evaluating and monitoring MetS risk. However, further studies are needed to establish this concept

Metabolomics profile and 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score

BackgroundThe intermediate metabolites associated with the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remain largely unknown. Thus, we conducted a large panel of metabolomics profiling to identify the new candidate metabolites that were associated with 10-year ASCVD risk.MethodsThirty acylcarnitines and twenty amino acids were measured in the fasting plasma of 1,102 randomly selected individuals using a targeted FIA-MS/MS approach. The 10-year ASCVD risk score was calculated based on 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines. Accordingly, the subjects were stratified into four groups: low-risk (n = 620), borderline-risk (n = 110), intermediate-risk (n = 225), and high-risk (n = 147). 10 factors comprising collinear metabolites were extracted from principal component analysis.ResultsC4DC, C8:1, C16OH, citrulline, histidine, alanine, threonine, glycine, glutamine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, glutamic acid, arginine, and aspartic acid were significantly associated with the 10-year ASCVD risk score (p-values ≤ 0.044). The high-risk group had higher odds of factor 1 (12 long-chain acylcarnitines, OR = 1.103), factor 2 (5 medium-chain acylcarnitines, OR = 1.063), factor 3 (methionine, leucine, valine, tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine, OR = 1.074), factor 5 (6 short-chain acylcarnitines, OR = 1.205), factor 6 (5 short-chain acylcarnitines, OR = 1.229), factor 7 (alanine, proline, OR = 1.343), factor 8 (C18:2OH, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, OR = 1.188), and factor 10 (ornithine, citrulline, OR = 1.570) compared to the low-risk ones; the odds of factor 9 (glycine, serine, threonine, OR = 0.741), however, were lower in the high-risk group. “D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism”, “phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis”, and “valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis” were metabolic pathways having the highest association with borderline/intermediate/high ASCVD events, respectively.ConclusionsAbundant metabolites were found to be associated with ASCVD events in this study. Utilization of this metabolic panel could be a promising strategy for early detection and prevention of ASCVD events