Ammonium recovery from municipal wastewater by ion exchange: Development and application of a procedure for sorbent selection

Ion exchange represents one of the most promising processes for ammonium recovery from municipal wastewater (MWW). However, most previous studies on ammonium ion exchange did not optimize the process or evaluate its robustness under real operational conditions. This experimental study aimed at (i) developing a procedure for the selection of a sorbent for selective ammonium removal/recovery from MWW, (ii) validating the procedure by applying it to several sorbents, (iii) performing a preliminary optimization and robustness assessment of ammonium removal/recovery with the selected sorbent. The application of the procedure to natural and synthetic zeolites and a cation exchange resin confirmed that batch isotherm tests need to be integrated by continuous-flow tests. The selected sorbent, a natural mixture of Chabazite and Phillipsite, resulted in high performances in terms of cation exchange capacity (33 mgN gdry resin-1), ammonium operating capacity (5.2 mgN gdry resin-1), ammonium recovery yield (78-91%) and selectivity towards ammonium. The process performances resulted stable during 7 adsorption/desorption cycles conducted with MWW treatment plant effluents in a 60-cm column. The switch to a highly saline effluent produced in a hotspot of seawater intrusion did not determine significant changes in performances. Contact time was reduced to 6 min without any decrease in performances. Potassium – well tolerated by crops – was selected as the regenerating agent, in the perspective to produce a desorbed product to be re-used as fertilizer. The study shows that Chabazite/Phillipsite has a high capacity to recover ammonium from MWW in a circular economy approach

A Retrospective Clinico-Pathologic Study of 35 Dogs with Urethral Transitional Cell Carcinoma Undergoing Treatment

: Chemotherapy and cyclooxygenase inhibitors (COXi) are primary treatments for canine urethral transitional cell carcinoma (uTCC), a tumor known for its aggressiveness and poor prognosis. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the clinico-pathological characteristics, treatment modalities, and prognostic factors of 35 dogs with confirmed uTCC that received chemotherapy and COXi. Upon admission, urethral obstruction (UO) and urinary tract infection (UTI) were observed in seven (20%) dogs each. Gemcitabine (n = 20; 57.1%) and vinblastine (n = 10; 28.6%) were commonly used as first-line therapies, with four dogs also receiving radiation therapy. Based on RECIST, one (2.9%) dog achieved complete remission, nine (25.7%) partial remission, 20 (57.14%) showed stable disease, and five (14.3%) progressed. Among dogs with UO, six (85.7%) showed resolution or improvement after the first chemotherapy dose. The median time to local progression was 171 days (range: 107-235), and the median survival time was 333 days (range: 158-508). Dogs with UO upon admission had a higher risk of local progression, while both UO and UTI were associated with an increased risk of overall disease progression and tumor-related death. Additionally, gemcitabine significantly improved metastatic control. This study identified UO and UTI as negative prognostic factors, highlighting the importance of a multimodal approach in managing uTCC

Influence of Magnesium as a Major Contributor of Water Hardness on Some Cardiac Disease Risk Factors

Various ecological studies report a reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality risk with increasing magnesium levels in drinking water. Most of the studies done in this field were epidemiologic studies.The aim of the present study was to examine whether magnesium addition to drinking water can affect risks of cardiac disease. The study included five groups of male albino rats. The rats received either tap water or water containing 5, 10, 20 g of magnesium sulfate per liter. During the whole experiment, all the groups received hypercholesterolemic diet except for the normal control which received normal basal diet. At the end of the experiment, blood was drawn for the determination of plasma magnesium, lipid profile and liver function. In addition, the extent of obesity was determined using the body mass index (BMI). In all groups magnesium addition was associated with higher levels of plasma magnesium. The blood analysis showed a significant decrease in serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL- cholesterol and VLDL- cholesterol, while there was a significant increase in HDL- cholesterol in groups received magnesium sulfate in drinking water, compared with the hypercholesterolemic group received tap water. GOT, GPT and ALP followed the same trend. The addition of MgSO4 to the drinking water results in significant decrease in BMI of the magnesium treated groups relative to the hypercholesterolemic control. These results showed that high magnesium concentration in drinking water is capable of decreasing some cardiac disease risk factors in male albino rats. Keywords: Cardiac disease, hypercholesterolemia, Magnesium, Risk factors, Water

Classification of Septic Shock Phenotypes Based on the Presence of Hypotension and Hyperlactatemia in Cats

open8noBackground: Three different phenotypes of septic shock based on changes in blood pressure and lactate are recognized in people. Dysoxic shock, representing the combination of fluid-refractory hypotension and hyperlactatemia, is characterized by greater disease severity and mortality compared to cryptic shock (hyperlactatemia alone) and vasoplegic shock (hypotension with normal blood lactate). Little is known about septic shock and specifically its phenotypes in cats. Objective: To analyze the characteristics and prognostic implications of three septic shock phenotypes in cats with sepsis. Methods: Cats with septic shock were prospectively included. Septic shock was defined by the presence of hypotension (mean blood pressure <60 mmHg) requiring vasopressor support and/or persistent hyperlactatemia (>4 mmol/L) and classified in three subgroups: dysoxic shock, vasoplegic shock and cryptic shock. Clinical and clinicopathological variables including APPLEfast and APPLEfull scores, occurrence of multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS; presence of at least two dysfunctional organs simultaneously) and outcome were compared among subgroups. Cats with sepsis showing normal blood pressure and lactate concentrations hospitalized during the study period were included as uncomplicated sepsis, and compared to cats with septic shock for selected variables. Length of hospital stay and mortality were evaluated in the whole study population. Odds ratios for mortality were calculated using logistic regression analysis. Significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: The study enrolled 48 cats with uncomplicated sepsis and 37 cats with septic shock (dysoxic shock n = 17; vasoplegic shock n = 11; cryptic shock n = 7). Cats with dysoxic shock had significantly higher APPLEfast and APPLEfull scores compared to vasoplegic and cryptic shock. Mortality rates were not significantly different among cryptic (57%), dysoxic (65%) and vasoplegic shock (91%), while MODS occurrence was significantly lower in cats with cryptic shock (57%) compared to patients affected by dysoxic (94%) and vasoplegic (100%) shock. Cats with septic shock had higher frequency of MODS and greater mortality rate than cats with uncomplicated sepsis. Conclusion: Despite similar in-hospital mortality, cats with dysoxic and vasoplegic shock are characterized by having higher occurrence of multi- organ dysfunction compared to cats affected by cryptic shock. Results from this study suggest novel means of identifying high-risk subgroups of septic cats.openTroia R.; Buzzurra F.; Ciuffoli E.; Mascalzoni G.; Foglia A.; Magagnoli I.; Dondi F.; Giunti M.Troia R.; Buzzurra F.; Ciuffoli E.; Mascalzoni G.; Foglia A.; Magagnoli I.; Dondi F.; Giunti M

Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Ocular Bacterial Strains Isolated from Pediatric Patients in University Hospital of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli," Naples, Italy

Eye infections caused by bacteria are a serious public health problem among pediatric patients. These diseases, if not properly treated, can cause blindness and impaired vision. The study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance profiles of the main pathogens involved in eye infections. This study involved pediatric patients enrolled at the "Luigi Vanvitelli" University Hospital of Campania in Naples, Italy, between 2017 and 2019. Of a total of 228 pediatric patients, 73 (32%) tested positive for bacterial infection. In terms of strain distribution, 85% were Gram-positive bacteria, while 15% were Gram-negative bacteria. The most frequently isolated strains were coagulase-negative Staphylococci (60.4%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (16.4%). The isolated bacteria showed a significant percentage of resistance to multiple antibiotics. Therefore, the identification of the causal bacteria and antimicrobial sensitivity tests are mandatory to select the effective drug for the treatment of eye infections and prevent the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Antimicrobial Applications of Green Synthesized Bimetallic Nanoparticles from Ocimum basilicum

Antibiotic resistance is an important and emerging alarm for public health that requires development of new potential antibacterial strategies. In recent years, nanoscale materials have emerged as an alternative way to fight pathogens. Many researchers have shown great interest in nanoparticles (NPs) using noble metals, such as silver, gold, and platinum, even though numerous nanomaterials have shown toxicity. To overcome the problem of toxicity, nanotechnology merged with green chemistry to synthesize nature-friendly nanoparticles from plants. Here, we describe the synthesis of NPs using silver (AgNPs) and platinum (PtNPs) alone or in combination (AgPtNPs) in the presence of Ocimum basilicum (O. basilicum) leaf extract. O. basilicum is a well-known medicinal plant with antibacterial compounds. A preliminary chemical–physical characterization of the extract was conducted. The size, shape and elemental analysis were carried out using UV–Visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed polydisperse NPs with spherical shape. The size of the particles was approximately 59 nm, confirmed by DLS analysis, and the polydisperse index was 0.159. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) demonstrated an effective and selective capping of the phytoconstituents on the NPs. The cytotoxic activities of AgNPs, PtNPs and AgPtNPs were assessed on different epithelial cell models, using the 3-[4.5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2.5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell proliferation assay, and discovered low toxicity, with a cell viability of 80%. The antibacterial potential of the NPs was evaluated against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumoniae), and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strains. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays showed AgPtNP activity till the least concentration of NPs (3.15–1.56 g/mL) against ATCC, MS, and MDR E. coli, E. faecalis, and S. aureus and the Kirby–Bauer method showed that AgPtNPs gave a zone of inhibition for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in a range of 9–25 mm. In addition, we obtained AgPtNP synergistic activity in combination with vancomycin or ampicillin antibiotics. Taken together, these results indicate that bimetallic nanoparticles, synthesized from O. basilicum leaf extract, could represent a natural, ecofriendly, cheap, and safe method to produce alternative antibacterial strategies with low cytotoxicity

Clinical Features, Short-Term Mortality, and Prognostic Risk Factors of Septic Patients Admitted to Internal Medicine Units: Results of an Italian Multicenter Prospective Study

Only a few studies provided data on the clinical history of sepsis within internal Medicine units.The aim of the study was to assess the short-term mortality and to evaluate the prognostic risk factors in a large cohort of septic patients treated in internal medicine units.Thirty-one internal medicine units participated to the study. Within each participating unit, all admitted patients were screened for the presence of sepsis.A total of 533 patients were included; 78 patients (14.6%, 95%CI 11.9, 18.0%) died during hospitalization; mortality rate was 5.5% (95% CI 3.1, 9.6%) in patients with nonsevere sepsis and 20.1% (95%CI 16.2, 28.8%) in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. Severe sepsis or septic shock (OR 4.41, 95%CI 1.93, 10.05), immune system weakening (OR 2.10, 95%CI 1.12, 3.94), active solid cancer (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.16, 3.94), and age (OR 1.03 per year, 95% CI 1.01, 1.06) were significantly associated with an increased mortality risk, whereas blood culture positive for Escherichia coli was significantly associated with a reduced mortality risk (OR 0.46, 95%CI 0.24, 0.88).In-hospital mortality of septic patients treated in internal medicine units appeared similar to the mortality rate obtained in recent studies conducted in the ICU setting

Clinical Features and Outcome of 79 Dogs With Digital Squamous Cell Carcinoma Undergoing Treatment: A SIONCOV Observational Study

In dogs, digit squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is uncommon. Clinical signs are frequently underestimated, leading to a diagnostic delay. The purpose of this retrospective study was to report our experience regarding the clinical presentation, diagnostic work-up, treatment and outcome of 79 client-owned dogs with SCC of the digit. The greatest majority (84.8%) of dogs was dark-coated. Schnauzers represented approximately one third of the study population, and had a poorer outcome compared with other breeds. The majority of SCCs occurred in the front limbs (61%), and bone lysis was frequently observed (92.4%). Approximately 9% of dogs had involvement of multiple digits, and this was associated with a shorter time to progression (TTP; P = 0.047). Similarly, a duration of clinical signs >90 days was associated with a shorter TTP (P = 0.02). Regional lymph node metastases were documented in 17.7% of dogs at admission and were significantly associated with tumor-related death (P < 0.001). At presentation, none of the dogs had evidence of distant metastasis. Digit amputation achieved adequate local tumor control in the majority of cases. Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy were carried out in 21.5% of cases, with uncertain benefit. Due to the relatively non-aggressive clinical behavior of digit SCC, chemotherapy should only be offered in the case of metastatic disease. Approximately one fourth of dogs developed de novo SCCs during the follow-up. Careful examination of the digits should be encouraged in breeds considered at high risk and in dogs with a previous history of digital SCC

Surgical findings and outcomes after unilateral adrenalectomy for primary hyperaldosteronism in cats: a multi-institutional retrospective study

Case series summary: Twenty-nine cats from different institutions with confirmed or highly suspected primary hyperaldosteronism treated by unilateral adrenalectomy were retrospectively included in this study. The most frequent clinical signs were lethargy (n = 20; 69%) and neck ventroflexion (n = 17; 59%). Hypokalaemia was present in all cats, creatinine kinase was elevated in 15 and hyperaldosteronism was documented in 24. Hypertension was frequently encountered (n = 24; 89%). Preoperative treatment included potassium supplementation (n = 19; 66%), spironolactone (n = 16; 55%) and amlodipine (n = 11; 38%). There were 13 adrenal masses on the right side, 15 on the left and, in one cat, no side was reported. The median adrenal mass size was 2 × 1.5 cm (range 1-4.6 × 0.4-3.8); vascular invasion was present in five cats, involving the caudal vena cava in four cats and the renal vein in one. Median duration of surgery was 57 mins. One major intraoperative complication (3%) was reported and consisted of haemorrhage during the removal of a neoplastic thrombus from the caudal vena cava. In 4/29 cats (14%), minor postoperative complications occurred and were treated medically. One fatal complication (3%) was observed, likely due to disseminated intravascular coagulation. The median duration of hospitalisation was 4 days; 97% of cats survived to discharge. The potassium level normalised in 24 cats within 3 months of surgery; hypertension resolved in 21/23 cats. Follow-up was available for 25 cats with a median survival of 1082 days. Death in the long-term follow-up was mainly related to worsening of comorbidities. Relevance and novel information: Adrenalectomy appears to be a safe and effective treatment with a high rate of survival and a low rate of major complications. Long-term medical treatment was not required

Ruptured hepatoblastoma: A case report and literature review

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