Poboljšanje mikrobiološke ispravnosti borovnica pomoću polimernih nanočestica s timolom

Research background. The presence of Yersinia enterocolitica on raw food products raises the concern of yersiniosis as most of the berries are consumed raw. This is a challenging issue from the food safety aspect since it could increase the occurrence of foodborne diseases among humans. Thus, it is crucial to implement an effective sanitation before the packaging. Experimental approach. This study aims to synthesize and characterize thymol-loaded polyvinyl alcohol (Thy/PVA) nanoparticles as a sanitizer for postharvest treatment of blueberries. Thy/PVA nanoparticles were characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic approaches, prior to the analyses of antimicrobial properties. Results and conclusions. The diameter size of the nanoparticles was on average 84.7 nm, with a surface charge of −11.73 mV. Based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurement, the Thy/PVA nanoparticles notably shifted to the frequency of 3275.70, 2869.66, 1651.02 and 1090.52 cm-1. A rapid burst was observed in the first hour of release study, and 74.9 % thymol was released from the PVA nanoparticles. The largest inhibition zone was displayed by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), followed by Y. enterocolitica and Salmonella typhi. However, amongst these bacteria, the inhibition and killing of Y. enterocolitica required a lower concentration of Thy/PVA nanoparticles. The treatment successfully reduced the bacterial load of Y. enterocolitica on blueberries by 100 %. Novelty and scientific contribution. Thymol is a plant-based chemical without reported adverse effects to humans. In this study, by using the nanotechnology method of encapsulation with PVA, we improved the stability and physicochemical properties of thymol. This nanoparticle-based sanitizer could potentially promote the postharvest microbiological safety of raw berries, which may become an alternative practice of food safety.Pozadina istraživanja. Prisutnost bakterije Yersinia enterocolitica u sirovim prehrambenim proizvodima izaziva zabrinutost zbog moguće pojave jersinioze, s obzirom na to da se bobičasto voće najčešće konzumira sirovo. S aspekta sigurnosti hrane ova bakterija predstavlja problem, jer može povećati učestalost pojave bolesti koje se prenose hranom. Stoga je neophodno provesti učinkovitu sanitaciju voća prije pakiranja. Eksperimentalni pristup. Svrha je ovoga rada bila sintetizirati i okarakterizirati nanočestice poli(vinil-alkohola) s timolom kao dezinficijensom za obradu borovnica prije pakiranja. Nanočestice su okarakterizirane pomoću spektroskopije i mikroskopije, a zatim su ispitana njihova antimikrobna svojstva. Rezultati i zaključci. Prosječni promjer nanočestica bio je 84,7 nm, s površinskim nabojem od −11,73 mV. Rezultati Fourier transformirane infracrvene spektroskopije (FTIR) pokazuju značajan pomak pika nanočestica poli(vinil-alkohola) s timolom prema frekvencijama od 3275,70; 2869,66; 1651,02 i 1090,52 cm-1. Iznenadni porast količine timola oslobođenog iz nanočestica opažen je u prvih sat vremena ispitivanja njegovog kontroliranog otpuštanja, a ukupno je otpušteno 74,9 % timola. Opažena je najveća zona inihbicije rasta bakterije Staphylococcus aureus otporne na meticilin (MRSA), a zatim bakterija Y. enterocolitica i Salmonella typhi. Međutim, za inhibiciju i ubijanje bakterija Y. enterocolitica bile su potrebne manje koncentracije nanočestica poli(vinil-alkohola) s timolom. Ovim je postupkom broj bakterija Y. enterocolitica uspješno smanjen za 100 %. Novina i znanstveni doprinos. Timol je spoj biljnog porijekla, koji ne narušava zdravlje čovjeka. U ovome smo radu inkapsulacijom u omotaču s poli(vinil-alkoholom) povećali stabilnost i poboljšali fizikalno-kemijska svojstva timola. Primjenom nanočestica tog dezinficijensa može se poboljšati mikrobiološka ispravnost sirovog bobičastog voća, što se u praksi može primijeniti za očuvanje sigurnosti hrane

Osimertinib-induced hearing loss: an uncommon aftereffect of a novel drug—a case report

Abstract Background Epidermal growth factor  receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have significantly improved survival outcomes of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Nonetheless, usage of TKIs is not without adverse effects, as it has been reported to cause irreversible sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Case presentation We describe a 72-year-old man who experienced hearing loss after taking osimertinib for 6 months. Later, his hearing further declined over a period of 1 year. Hearing rehabilitation with high-powered behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aid has helped to improve his quality of life to some degree. There were no other known causative factors leading to the hearing deterioration. To date, there is no case report on osimertinib-induced SNHL. Conclusion Physicians ought to counsel patients on osimertinib of this rare side effect and monitor for early signs of hearing loss. Treatment protocol should be in place taking into account that they have either failed or likely to fail the first- or second-line treatments and have advanced stage disease

Magnetic resonance imaging noise filtering using adaptive polynomial-fit non-local means

Every image, whether it is a Magnetic Resonance (MR) image or a gray scale image, usually contains noise, which negatively affects image processing and analysis outcomes. For MR images, noise can be induced by environmental, equipment, and human factors. Rician noise obeys a Rician distribution. It degrades the quality of an image and makes it blurry. Rician noise is signal-dependent. Thus, it is a difficult task to separate signals from noise. In order to reduce Rician noise in MR images, noise-removing techniques are necessary to be applied before the image undergoes further processing. In this paper, a noise�removing technique is developed by cascading a new noise estimation method known as Nonlinear Spatial Mean Absolute Deviation (NSMAD) with a new noise filter known as Adaptive Polynomial-Fit Non-Local Means (Adaptive_PFNLM) filter. The NSMAD method is used to estimate the level of noise standard deviation in MR images. Then, the value of noise standard deviation is passed to the Adaptive_PFNLM filter to remove noise. The NSMAD method is compared with three existing estimation methods, namely Brummer’s method, Maximum Likelihood (ML) method, and Local Mean method. The Adaptive_PFNLM filter is also compared with three existing filters, namely Non-Local Means (NLM) filter, Linear Minimum Mean Square Error (LMMSE) filter, and Polynomial-Fit Non Local Means (PFNLM) filter. The comparison is evaluated by using the mean absolute error (MAE), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), mean square error (MSE), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structure similarity (SSIM) and quality index (Q). The results indicate that NSMAD and Adaptive_PFNLM perform better than the existing noise estimation methods and noise filters

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Noise Filtering using Adaptive Polynomial-Fit Non-Local Means

Every image, whether it is a Magnetic Resonance (MR) image or a gray scale image, usually contains noise, which negatively affects image processing and analysis outcomes. For MR images, noise can be induced by environmental, equipment, and human factors. Rician noise obeys a Rician distribution. It degrades the quality of an image and makes it blurry. Rician noise is signal-dependent. Thus, it is a difficult task to separate signals from noise. In order to reduce Rician noise in MR images, noise-removing techniques are necessary to be applied before the image undergoes further processing. In this paper, a noise�removing technique is developed by cascading a new noise estimation method known as Nonlinear Spatial Mean Absolute Deviation (NSMAD) with a new noise filter known as Adaptive Polynomial-Fit Non-Local Means (Adaptive_PFNLM) filter. The NSMAD method is used to estimate the level of noise standard deviation in MR images. Then, the value of noise standard deviation is passed to the Adaptive_PFNLM filter to remove noise. The NSMAD method is compared with three existing estimation methods, namely Brummer’s method, Maximum Likelihood (ML) method, and Local Mean method. The Adaptive_PFNLM filter is also compared with three existing filters, namely Non-Local Means (NLM) filter, Linear Minimum Mean Square Error (LMMSE) filter, and Polynomial-Fit Non Local Means (PFNLM) filter. The comparison is evaluated by using the mean absolute error (MAE), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), mean square error (MSE), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structure similarity (SSIM) and quality index (Q). The results indicate that NSMAD and Adaptive_PFNLM perform better than the existing noise estimation methods and noise filters

Ancient schwannoma of cervical sympathetic chain masquerading as carotid body tumour

Schwannoma of cervical sympathetic chain is a rare cause of neck swelling. We report a 73- year-old male presented with anterior neck triangle swelling mimicking a carotid body tumour. Surgical excision was done, and the histopathological examination reported as ancient schwannoma. We would like to discuss the important differential diagnoses and highlight the possibility of an ancient schwannoma of cervical sympathetic chain masquerading as carotid body tumour. Also, to emphasise the importance of imaging for pre-operative planning and counselling

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially