Silver-based Microbial Check Valve for Spacecraft Potable Water Systems

As human space exploration increases, the development of a more efficient potable water treatment system suited for spacecraft becomes crucial. This Waste-management Education Research Consortium (WERC) challenge was designed to explore the viability of microbial control through the utilization of silver ions as a biocide for possible integration into the Tranquility Node 3 water purification system aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Current systems using iodine risk causing hyperthyroidism from overexposure; however, silver can be safely ingested without this side effect. After researching silver delivery methods including electrochemical ion production, controlled release, or a combination of the two, our team decided to design a controlled release system capable of meeting the constraints listed in the problem statement. By using a membrane similar to those within dialysis devices a system was designed to deliver silver ions to a stream of water that requires arguably no power and is exceptionally lightweight. While the silver delivery system fulfilled the constraints of the WERC problem statement, our team also examined the use of resins like those contained in the current Microbial Check Valve (MCV). Resin substitutes capable of selective silver sorption are recommended as replacements for those within the current MCV to prevent backwards microbial diffusion through the system. Multiple designs will be presented in this paper. First, our membrane-controlled release silver delivery system (SDS) is presented to specifically address the WERC Task 1 deliverables. Second, a proposed upgrade to the ISS water system is described that replaces the ion exchange resin beds with silver-selective media prevent microbial contamination of water in the potable water system of the spacecraft. Given the extreme lightweight nature of the SDS, nil power requirement, and minor modification to the existing system, Hogs In Space has delivered a highly effective method to deliver and control silver based on the WERC Task 1 requirements

Intestinal resection and primary anastomosis as treatment of intussusception due to ileum lipoma: case report and review

Intussusception is an unusual cause of intestinal occlusion in adults, accounting for 5% of cases, and is the result of an underlying pathology in 90% of cases, 60% of which are tumors. The pathogenesis describes the invagination of an intestinal segment into the lumen of an adjacent segment with subsequent alterations in irrigation, risk of necrosis and perforation. Surgical management is indicated in adult patients to restore intestinal transit and to exclude malignancy as the axis of the intussusception. We present the case of a 58-year-old female patient with enteric intussusception at ileum due to lipoma, who underwent bowel resection and manual end-to-end intestinal anastomosis in two planes

Inguinal plasty and appendectomy as treatment for Amyand's hernia: case report and literature review

Amyand's hernia is described as the presence of the caecal appendix within the hernial sac of an incarcerated inguinal hernia. It was reported as an incidental finding in 1% of cases and with evidence of appendicitis in 0.1% of cases. The approach involves performing appendectomy and inguinal repair in the same surgical time, depending on the clinical scenario and the surgeon's decisions. We presented the case of a 76-year-old male patient with a diagnosis of Amyand's right inguinal hernia diagnosed during trans-operative right inguinal plasty

May Measurement Month 2019: An analysis of blood pressure screening results from Argentina

The Argentinean Society of Hypertension, in agreement with the May Measurement Month (MMM) initiative of the International Society of Hypertension, implemented for the third consecutive year a hypertension screening campaign. A volunteer cross-sectional survey was carried out in public spaces and health centres during the month of May 2019 across 33 cities in Argentina. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg based on the mean of the second and third BP measurements, or in those on treatment for high BP. A total of 94 523 individuals (53.9 ± 17.8 years old, 55 231women and 39 292 men), were evaluated. The age and sex standardized mean BP was 124.7/77.2 mmHg. Among participants, 34.7% were overweight (25-29.9 m/kg2) and 28.7% had obesity (≥30 m/kg2). Individuals identified as being overweight had BP 3/2 mmHg higher and individuals with obesity 6/4 mmHg higher than those with normal weight. The prevalence of hypertension was 52.5%. Although 81.1% were aware and 77.7% were on antihypertensive treatment, only 46.0% of all individuals with hypertension had their BP controlled. Moreover, 19.8% of those not on any antihypertensive medication were found with raised BP. The low level of control of hypertension generates the critical need for the development of community-based prevention strategies reinforcing strategies to increase the awareness and control of hypertension.Fil: Salazar, Martin Rogelio Enrique. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Garcia Vazquez, Fortunato. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Espeche, Walter. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Marquez, Diego. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Becerra, Pedro. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Marissi, Evangelina. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Sorasio, Viviana B.. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Staffieri, Gustavo J.. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Kalbermatter, Arnoldo. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: De Cerchio, Alejandro E.. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Beaney, Thomas. Imperial College London; Reino UnidoFil: Partington, Giles. Imperial College London; Reino UnidoFil: Poulter, Neil R.. Imperial College London; Reino UnidoFil: Marín, Marcos. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Ennis, Irene Lucia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares "Dr. Horacio Eugenio Cingolani". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares "Dr. Horacio Eugenio Cingolani"; Argentina. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; Argentin

Guía docente común de las titulaciones de Ingeniero en Electrónica en las universidades andaluzas

El presente documento constituye el resultado del trabajo elaborado de acuerdo con la Convocatoria de Elaboración de Guías Docentes de Titulaciones Andaluzas conforme al Sistema de Créditos Europeos (años 2005/2006) de la Dirección General de Universidades, dependiente de la Secretaría General de Universidades, Investigación y Tecnología de la Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa de la Junta de Andalucía

Management and Outcome of Cardiac and Endovascular Cystic Echinococcosis

Cardiac and vascular involvement are infrequent in classical cystic echinococcosis (CE), but when they occur they tend to present earlier and are associated with complications that may be life threatening. Cardiovascular CE usually requires complex surgery, so in low-income countries the outcome is frequently fatal. This case series describes the characteristics of cardiovascular CE in patients diagnosed and treated at a Tropical Medicine & Clinical Parasitology Center in Spain. A retrospective case series of 11 patients with cardiac and/or endovascular CE, followed-up over a period of 15 years (1995–2009) is reported. The main clinical manifestations included thoracic pain or dyspnea, although 2 patients were asymptomatic. The clinical picture and complications vary according to cyst location. Isolated cardiac CE may be cured after surgery, while endovascular extracardiac involvement is associated with severe chronic complications. CE should be included in the differential diagnosis of cardiovascular disease in patients from endemic areas. CE is a neglected disease and further studies are necessary in order to make more definite management recommendations for this rare and severe form of the disease. The authors propose a general approach based on cyst location: exclusively cardiac, endovascular or both

Augmented serum level of major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A (MICA) protein and reduced NKG2D expression on NK and T cells in patients with cervical cancer and precursor lesions

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. NK and cytotoxic T cells play an important role in the elimination of virus-infected and tumor cells through NKG2D activating receptors, which can promote the lysis of target cells by binding to the major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A (MICA) proteins. Increased serum levels of MICA have been found in patients with epithelial tumors. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of soluble MICA (sMICA) and NKG2D-expressing NK and T cells in blood samples from patients with cervical cancer or precursor lesions with those from healthy donors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Peripheral blood with or without heparin was collected to obtain mononuclear cells or sera, respectively. Serum sMICA levels were measured by ELISA and NKG2D-expressing immune cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Also, a correlation analysis was performed to associate sMICA levels with either NKG2D expression or with the stage of the lesion.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Significant amounts of sMICA were detected in sera from nearly all patients. We found a decrease in the number of NKG2D-expressing NK and T cells in both cervical cancer and lesion groups when compared to healthy donors. Pearson analysis showed a negative correlation between sMICA and NKG2D-expressing T cells; however, we did not find a significant correlation when the analysis was applied to sMICA and NKG2D expression on NK cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results show for the first time that high sMICA levels are found in sera from patients with both cervical cancer and precursor lesions when compared with healthy donors. We also observed a diminution in the number of NKG2D-expressing NK and T cells in the patient samples; however, a significant negative correlation between sMICA and NKG2D expression was only seen in T cells.</p