The evaluation of factors affecting sorption of pentachlorophenol in soil

The release of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) derived from different industrial processes represents an important source of environmental contamination. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a highly chlorinated organic compound that has been extensively used as a broad spectrum biocide, particularly in the wood preservation industry. Due to its stable aromatic ring structure and high chlorine content, PCP is persistent in the environment, and it has become one of the most widespread contaminants in soil, sediments and water. In soil, the fate of POPs is governed by their interactions with reactive soil colloids. The soil properties as well as the chemical properties of the pollutants, control its bioavailability and transport, thus, affecting further remediation processes. The main objective of the present work was to study the sorption of pentachlorophenol in soil, collected from Iasi area (Romania). The experiments were performed in batch mode. Interest was directed towards the effects of contact time (0-72 h), initial pollutant concentration (5 - 20 mg L-1), pH and temperature (10 - 50oC). The sorbed amounts of PCP increased with increase in contact time and initial concentration and reached the equilibrium after 24 h. Pentachlorophenol sorption increase with temperature in the range of 10-25oC, suggesting an endothermic process, and decrease when the temperature increased from 25 to 50°C. The results indicated that lower temperature (i.e. 10 to 25°C) was favorable for the sorption process. The high temperature (50°C) might affect the physicochemical properties of soil therefore; the sorption PCP on soil was significantly reduced

Sindromul antifosfolipidic catastrofal asherson

Sindromul antifosfolipidic catastofal Asherson se dezvoltă rapid la persoanele pozitive pentru anticorpii antifosfolipidici, ca urmare a unui factor declanşator identifi cabil (infecţie, traumatism, coagulare inadecvată, patologie obstetricală). Cel mai frecvent este întâlnit la persoanele cu sindrom antifosfolipidic primar sau lupus eritematos sistemic (LES) ori afecţiuni „lupus-like” (LLD). Clinic, se manifestă prin tromboze ale vaselor mici, afectând diverse organe (inimă, creier, tract astrointestinal, rinichi, suprarenale). In 1/3 din cazuri apar ocluzii de vase mari, ca manifestări ale sindromului de răspuns infl amator sistemic (SRIS) sau sindromul de detresă respiratorie acută (SDRA). Cu toata terapia, precoce şi intensivă, ce constă în adminstrarea de anticoagulante, corticoizi, antibiotice, imunoglobuline intravenos, plasmafereză, mortalitatea rămâne crescută, ridicându-se la aproximativ 50% din cazuri

The Hydrolysis of Cellulosic Materials in Ionic Liquids

This study’s main objective was the dissolution of cellulose from biomass using ionic liquids to obtain saccharides by prehydrolysis. Raw materials were exposed to the ionic liquids (ILs) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, 1-ethyl-2,3-dimethyl-imidazolium chloride, and 3-(2-methoxy-2-oxoethyl)-1-(3-methoxy-3-oxo-propyl)-imidazolium bromide at 105 °C for 6 h. The sugar content of the liquid phase was characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The vegetal materials after treatments were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Glucose was the main reducing sugar product in each case. Different ILs were found to be most effective, depending on what sample was being dissolved – microcrystalline cellulose or rapeseed stalk

Evaluation of Leukocytes and Neutrophils, Markers of Inflammatory Syndrome in Preeclampsia

Introduction: In pregnancies with preeclampsia, there is a generalized inflammatory response, which is much more intense than in normal pregnancy. Aim: To evaluate leukocytes and neutrophils in the serum of pregnant women with preeclampsia and to compare these values to normal pregnancy. To investigate a possible relation between the detected values and the severity of preeclamptic syndrome. Material and method: A transversal study was performed in three groups of patients: group 1 (preeclampsia), group 2 (normal pregnancy), group 3 (control). The samples were processed using a multichannel automated hematology analyzer – ACCOS 319. The results obtained were processed by descriptive and comparative statistical methods. Results: A significant increase in leukocyte and neutrophil values was found in preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancy. Also, for group 2 (PE), there was no correlation between the number of leukocytes, neutrophils, respectively, and SBP and uric acid values, but a significant correlation was found between the studied inflammatory markers and DBP values. Conclusions: Leukocyte and neutrophil values can be considered markers of the inflammatory syndrome present in preeclampsia. These parameters were positively correlated with DBP values

Intraperitoneal Fat through GRP78: A Risk Factor for Endometrial Cancer

Introduction. The identification of biological markers that indicate an increased risk for the development or recurrence of endometrial cancer (EC) in obese women might be useful for decreasing EC mortality and morbidity. Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) is a major protein of the endoplasmic reticulum expressed in all normal cells. Overexpression of GRP78 has been reported to be a tumoral biomarker. Increased detection of GRP78 is positively correlated with the tumoral stage and prognosis. This study aimed to identify a correlation between intraperitoneal fat, plasma GRP78 levels, and EC. Materials and Methods. Two groups of patients were included in the study: group I, 44 patients diagnosed with EC, and group II, 44 patients without gynecological pathology or inflammatory disorders. Visceral fat was determined by ultrasound and plasma GRP78 levels were measured. Results. Plasma GRP78 levels were significantly higher in patients with EC compared to the control group. Intraperitoneal fat was in a positive linear correlation with the plasma GRP78 level (p<0.0001). Conclusion. The measurement of the GRP78 level associated with the determination of intraperitoneal fat can be a useful predictor for EC