Serum and peritoneal fluid levels of ischemia modified albumin in moderate/severe endometriosis

Background: Recently, the role of oxidative stress in progression of endometriosis has been reported. Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is a marker of protein oxidation and very limited number of studies has evaluated the role of IMA in endometriosis. This study was designed to evaluate the serum and peritoneal fluid IMA levels in moderate/severe endometriosis as a marker for oxidative stress.Methods: This study was designed as a prospective controlled clinical trial. The study group consisted of 35 cases who underwent laparoscopy and with a diagnosis of moderate/severe endometriosis. The control group (n=35) was cases without endometriosis that underwent laparoscopy for tubal sterilization. The serum and peritoneal fluid IMA levels were measured spectrophotometrically by colorimetric method with complex of albumin non-binding cobalt and dithioerthreitol.Results: Although the median serum IMA levels in study and control groups were similar (p=0.553), the levels of peritoneal fluid IMA were significantly higher in study group (p=0.044). In endometriosis cases with dysmenorrhea peritoneal fluid IMA levels were much higher than cases without dysmenorrhea (p=0.018).Conclusions: The increased levels of IMA in peritoneal fluid of endometriosis support the possible role of oxidative stress in endometriosis. With this study, peritoneal fluid IMA levels are initially documented in endometriosis cases

Investigation of Lactic Acid Separation by Layered Double Hydroxide: Equilibrium, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics

The layered double hydroxide (LDH) with high crystallinity was prepared via the coprecipitation method for studying the separation equilibria of lactic acid. It was characterized by FTIR, XRD, and molecular size analyses. The effects of the amount of LDH, temperature, and initial lactic acid concentration on the separation process have been investigated. Results show that the maximum removal of lactic acid was obtained as 66.49% in the case of 1 g of LDH at 298 K. The isothermal data were fitted to Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin adsorption isotherms. Elovich, Lagergren, and pseudo-second-order kinetic model equations were applied. The experimental data were fitted with the Langmuir isotherm according to R-2, which is 0.9894 at 298 K, 0.9972 at 308 K, and 0.9998 at 318 K respectively. Separation depended on initial lactic acid concentration at investigated different temperatures (298 K, 308 K, 318 K) significantly. Standard free energy (Delta G degrees), enthalpy (Delta H degrees), and entropy (Delta S degrees) are calculated. The variation of several thermodynamic parameters was calculated according to thermodynamic analysis

Equilibrium, kinetics and thermodynamic studies for separation of malic acid on layered double hydroxide (LDH)

The adsorption equilibria of malic acid onto layered double hydroxide (LDH) was studied. In the experimental context of this study, firstly LDH with a highly crystalline structure was synthesized with the co-precipitation method and characterized. In the adsorption experiment some important effects such as, adsorption equilibrium, influence of quantities of LDH as adsorbent, effect of adsorption temperature, and influence of starting concentration of malic acid were investigated. The removal of malic acid was 96.73% the highest percentage for 1 g LDH at 298 K. The results obtained from the experiment were used to plot Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin adsorption isotherms. It has been found that experimental data about solid-liquid equilibria of malic acid with LDH and isotherm equations were appropriate. The equilibrium data show that the adsorption isotherm is compatible with Langmuir isotherm (R-2 is 0.9992 at 298 K). Adsorption depended on the starting malic acid concentration at various temperatures (298, 308,318 K), respectively. The temperature dependence of adsorption process is associated with changes in several thermodynamic parameters such as standard Gibbs energy (Delta G degrees), enthalpy (Delta H degrees) and entropy (Delta S degrees) of adsorption and were calculated. Elovich and other kinetic model equations were applied to the obtained data from the experiment. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Removal of Basic Dye from Aqueous Solutions Using a Novel Nanocomposite Hydrogel: N-Vinyl 2-Pyrrolidone/Itaconic Acid/Organo Clay

In this work, N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone/itaconic acid/organo clay nanocomposite hydrogels were synthesized by free radical polymerization technique using different amounts of organo clay. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy techniques were used for characterization of nanocomposite hydrogels and swelling, and mechanical properties of these hydrogels were investigated. Safranine-T adsorption capacities of nanocomposite hydrogels were investigated at different conditions such as pH, contact time, adsorbent dose and initial concentration of dye. The optimum pH value was found to be pH 6. According to the organo clay content, there are no significant differences in dye adsorption capacities of nanocomposite hydrogels until the clay content reaches 5 % wt. While the organo clay amount of nanocomposite hydrogels increases up to 10 % wt, dye adsorption capacities of these hydrogels significantly decrease. Adsorption processes of dye onto the nanocomposite hydrogels follow pseudo-second-order type adsorption kinetic. The equilibrium adsorption data have been evaluated using Freundlich and Langmuir Isotherm models. The results illustrated that the adsorption follows Langmuir isotherm

N-vinylcaprolactam-based microgels: synthesis, characterization and drug release applications

In this study, N-vinylcaprolactam, metacrylic acid sodium salt and itaconic acid sodium salt-based copolymeric and terpolymeric microgels were synthesized by precipitation polymerization method with 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropioamidine) dihydrochloride as initiator. Then these microgels were characterized by SEM technique, cloud points and colloidal properties determinations. Volume phase transitions of copolymeric and terpolymeric N-vinylcaprolactam-based microgels are determined at an interval of 32-37 A degrees C. Rhodamine B (model drug) and Nadalol (beta-blocker drug) were used to investigate the drug loading and release behavior of microgels. It is concluded that model drug loading capacity and release amount changed with the presence and amount of itaconic acid sodium salt in the microgel structure. In addition, the maximum drug release amount of microgels was found to be 58 and 55 % for Rhodamine B and Nadolol, respectively. As a result, we can say that the microgels obtained in this study are suitable for drug delivery applications

Study on novel exfoliated polyampholyte nanocomposite hydrogels based on acrylic monomers and Mg-Al-Cl layered double hydroxide: Synthesis and characterization

Novel exfoliated polyampholyte nanocomposite hydrogels (NH-LDHs) based on acrylic acid (AA), 2(diethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (2-DEAEMA), N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (NMBA) and layered double hydroxide (Mg-Al-CI LDH) were synthesized using an in situ free radical addition polymerization method in aqueous media. First, Mg-Al-CI LDH with a highly crystalline structure was prepared and characterized using FTIR, XRD, TGA and SEM analyses. The formation of NH-LDHs was confirmed by FTIR and XRD analyses. The morphological structure and select properties, such as the thermal, swelling and mechanical properties, of the NH-LDHs were also investigated. NH-LDHs have an exfoliated structure and smooth and nonporous surface morphologies. They can also be used as thermally stable nanocomposite hydrogels. The results revealed that adding a small amount of exfoliated Mg-Al-CI LDH could effectively increase the compressive modulus of the polyampholyte gels. When the Mg-Al-CILDH was incorporated into the polyampholyte hydrogel matrix, two synergic effects, additional co-crosslinking and additional hydrophilicity, occur in the swelling behaviors of the gels. All NH-LDHs are sensitive to pH, and they have zwitterion characteristics at pH 5.5. It was concluded that the NH-LDHs synthesized in this study might be used as alternative water absorbents in solutions with different pH. The diffusion of water into the NH-LDHs gel systems in deionized water at room temperature is assumed to be a non-Fickian behavior. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Swelling, mechanical and mucoadhesion properties of Mt/starch-g-PMAA nanocomposite hydrogels

Novel mucoadhesive montmorillonite/starch-graft-poly (methacrylic acid) nanocomposite hydrogels (Mt/S-g-PMAA) based on gelatinized wheat starch, an anionic monomer methacrylic acid (MAA), and different amounts of montmorillonite (Mt) as nanoparticles were synthesized according to the conventional grafting reaction mechanism in the aqueous media. The grafting amount of the products (G%) was determined. The formation of Mt/S-g-PMAA was confirmed by FTIR and XRD analyses. The swelling behavior and the erosion characteristics of the Mt/S-g-PMAA were investigated in deionized water, and pH = 5 lactate buffer solution as in vitro vaginal medium at 37 +/- 0,1 degrees C. Mechanical and in vitro mucoadhesion properties of all Mt/S-g-PMAA were also investigated using ewe vaginal mucosa. The results show that adding a higher amount of Mt could effectively increase the mucoadhesion properties of the clay mineral-polymer nanocomposite (CPN) hydrogels. It is then concluded that the 10Mt/S-g-PMAA may be used as alternative highly mucoadhesive CPN hydrogel drug carrier for vaginal route. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Serum Vasostatin-1 Level is Increased in Women with Preeclampsia

Objective To evaluate the serum vasostatin-1 levels in preeclamptic and non-preeclamptic pregnant women. Materials and methods Thirty consecutive women with mild preeclampsia and sixty consecutive women with severe preeclampsia were compared with ninety gestational age-matched (+/- 1 week) non-preeclamptic pregnant women with an appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) fetus. Results Mean serum vasostatin-1 was significantly higher in women with preeclampsia than gestational age-matched controls. Mean serum vasostatin-1 was significantly higher in the mild preeclampsia group compared to its gestational age-matched control group, and in the severe preeclampsia group compared to its gestational age-matched control group. There was no significant difference in mean serum vasostatin-1 levels between the mild and severe preeclampsia groups, and in severe early- and severe late-onset preeclampsia groups. Serum vasostatin-1 had positive correlations with systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion Serum vasostatin-1 was significantly higher in women with preeclampsia compared to those of the gestational age-matched controls. There was no significant difference in mean serum vasostatin-1 levels between the mild and severe preeclampsia groups and severe early- and severe late-onset preeclampsia groups

Endovascular Repair of Iliac Artery Aneurysms: A Single Center Experience in 10-Years

Objectives: Isolated iliac artery aneurysms (IAAs) are rare, but nonetheless life-threatening when ruptured. The endovascular approach has taken over open repairs in time. The reported data is constituted of a retrospective series. We reviewed our 10-year-long experience with elective endovascular treatment of iliac aneurysms

Debranching Solutions in Endografting for Complex Thoracic Aortic Dissections

Background: Conventional surgical repair of thoracic aortic dissections is a challenge due to mortality and morbidity risks. Objectives: We analyzed our experience in hybrid aortic arch repair for complex dissections of the aortic arch. Methods: Between 2009 and 2013, 18 patients (the mean age of 67 ± 8 years-old) underwent hybrid aortic arch repair. The procedural strategy was determined on the individual patient. Results: Thirteen patients had type I repair using trifurcation and another patient with bifurcation graft. Two patients had type II repair with replacement of the ascending aorta. Two patients received extra-anatomic bypass grafting to left carotid artery allowing covering of zone 1. Stent graft deployment rate was 100%. No patients experienced stroke. One patient with total debranching of the aortic arch following an acute dissection of the proximal arch expired 3 months after TEVAR due to heart failure. There were no early to midterm endoleaks. The median follow-up was 20 ± 8 months with patency rate of 100%. Conclusion: Various debranching solutions for different complex scenarios of the aortic arch serve as less invasive procedures than conventional open surgery enabling safe and effective treatment of this highly selected subgroup of patients with complex aortic pathologies