Revaluation of bamboo as biomass

Bamboo is a grassy plant that grows rapidly, is also a renewable natural resource and with a high yield. There are many applications and uses of bamboo, which led to its planting around the world. Among the industries in which bamboo has by now experienced extensive exploitation, we can remember the textile, construction, furniture ; even food, pharmaceutical or cosmetic industries. Biomass is the plant material that is used as a renewable energy resource. This is achieved others by cultivating plants specially used for energy production or by using resistors from small industrial sectors. The current paper highlights the potential for the recovery of bamboo as biomass, both in terms of the fact that bamboo is a plant that is believed to be an inexhaustible resource, but also for the wide amount of rest from its multiple uses

The influence of environmental factors and heavy metals in the soil on plants’ growth and development

Plants need certain conditions that represent their living environment. When the living environment provides the conditions required by the plant, it will grow and develop properly. The growth and development of plants involve environmental factors, which represent those constituent elements of the natural environment, which actively intervene in plants’ life. The present work shows the characteristics of an agricultural soil, contaminated with heavy metals (Cu, Pb and Zn) in different concentrations, which has been divided into pots, in which were thereafter planted vegetable seedlings (tomatoes, cucumbers, parsley, spinach, carrots, radishes). During the plants’ growing time, the temperature and humidity of the air inside the greenhouse, as well as the humidity and pH of the soil, were monitored. The growth and the development of the plants under certain conditions were also tracked, until the end of the growing period. The results of monitoring the plants’ growth and development are important in assessing the impact of the contamination over the soil and the plants

Cephalic vein patency after deltopectoral approach to the shoulder and the effect on upper extremity edema

© 2020 American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Background: The effect of the direction of cephalic vein mobilization in a deltopectoral approach to the shoulder on limb edema is unknown. The primary objective was to evaluate the effect of the direction of cephalic vein mobilization/ligation on limb edema after elective shoulder arthroplasty. The secondary objectives were to: evaluate the effect of the arthroplasty procedure performed on limb edema; correlate postoperative ultrasonographic patency with intraoperative assessment. Methods: A cohort of 62 patients undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty using the deltopectoral approach were enrolled and prospectively followed. Exclusion criteria included: surgery for fracture and prior open anterior shoulder procedure. Surgeons documented the direction of vein mobilization and if it was ligated. Patency was assessed by doppler ultrasound and standardized limb circumference measurement preoperatively, at 2 weeks and 12 weeks postoperatively. Results: Arm circumference was significantly increased at 2 weeks in all cohorts (lateral, p\u3c0.001; medial, p = 0.007; ligated, p = 0.011) and at 12 weeks in the laterally-mobilized (p = 0.022) and ligated cohorts (p = 0.003) as compared to preoperatively. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty demonstrated significantly greater arm circumference at 12 weeks as compared to total shoulder arthroplasty (p = 0.014). Intraoperative determination of patency was moderately correlated with 2- and 12-week (r = 0.70, 0.59) ultrasound assessment. Conclusion: Medial cephalic vein mobilization in a deltopectoral approach resulted in significantly less arm edema at 3-months when compared to lateral mobilization/ligation. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty demonstrated greater arm edema at 3-months when compared to total shoulder arthroplasty. Intraoperative determination of cephalic vein patency was moderately correlated with postoperative vein patency as assessed by ultrasound. Level of Evidence: III

What Is Different in Acute Hematologic Malignancy-Associated ARDS? An Overview of the Literature

Background and Objectives: Acute hematologic malignancies are a group of heterogeneous blood diseases with a high mortality rate, mostly due to acute respiratory failure (ARF). Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is one form of ARF which represents a challenging clinical condition. The paper aims to review current knowledge regarding the variable pathogenic mechanisms, as well as therapeutic options for ARDS in acute hematologic malignancy patients. Data collection: We provide an overview of ARDS in patients with acute hematologic malignancy, from an etiologic perspective. We searched databases such as PubMed or Google Scholar, including articles published until June 2022, using the following keywords: ARDS in hematologic malignancy, pneumonia in hematologic malignancy, drug-induced ARDS, leukostasis, pulmonary leukemic infiltration, pulmonary lysis syndrome, engraftment syndrome, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, TRALI in hematologic malignancy, hematopoietic stem cell transplant ARDS, radiation pneumonitis. We included relevant research articles, case reports, and reviews published in the last 18 years. Results: The main causes of ARDS in acute hematologic malignancy are: pneumonia-associated ARDS, leukostasis, leukemic infiltration of the lung, pulmonary lysis syndrome, drug-induced ARDS, radiotherapy-induced ARDS, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, peri-engraftment respiratory distress syndrome, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation-related ARDS, transfusion-related acute lung injury. Conclusions: The short-term prognosis of ARDS in acute hematologic malignancy relies on prompt diagnosis and treatment. Due to its etiological heterogeneity, precision-based strategies should be used to improve overall survival. Future studies should focus on identifying the relevance of such etiologic-based diagnostic strategies in ARDS secondary to acute hematologic malignancy

Does a Single Exposure to General Anesthesia Have a Cumulative Effect on the Developing Brain after Mild Perinatal Asphyxia?

Background: General anesthesia (GA) in pediatric patients represents a clinical routine. Factors such as increased birth age and maternal chronic conditions cause more infants to experience hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, an additional risk for anesthesia. Aim: This study evaluates the effect of one sevoflurane-induced GA episode on the immature brain previously exposed to perinatal asphyxia (PA). Methods: Postnatal day 6 (PND6) Wistar rats were exposed to a 90-min episode of normoxia/PA and at PND15 to a 120-min episode of normoxia/GA. Four groups were analyzed: Control (C), PA, GA, and PA-GA. Post-exposures, fifteen pups/group were sacrificed and the hippocampi were isolated to assess S-100B and IL-1B protein levels, using ELISA. At maturity, the behavior was assessed by: forced swimming test (FST), and novel object recognition test. Results: Hippocampal S-100B level was increased in PA, GA, and PA-GA groups, while IL-1B was increased in PA, but decreased in PA-GA. The immobility time was increased in PA and PA-GA, in FST. Conclusions: Both PA and GA contribute to glial activation, however with no cumulative effect. Moreover, PA reduces the rats’ mobility, irrespective of GA exposure, while memory evaluated by the novel object recognition test was not influenced