The dynamic texture and humus content in argic chernozem stationary-site erosion control Aldeni Buzau

The hilly area of Buzau county is very affected by degradation processes predominantly anthropogenic and natural erosion. The surface erosion on agricultural land lost annually to 13.5 t/ha, double the limit. Advanced degradation of the soil cover in the area, led to the award of the name "bad lands Buzau"

Effect of ZrO2 Nanoparticles on the Mechanical and Anticorrosion Properties of Epoxy Coating

Homogeneous epoxy coatings containing ZrO2 nanoparticles were applied on Grade A naval steel substrates. The morphology of the coating was characterized by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The effect of nanoparticles on the corrosion resistance of the hybrid coating was investigated by potentiodynamic polarization method. ZrO2 (1 wt.%) doping increased the microhardness of coating up to 15%, from 12.5 (kgf/mm2) to 14.4 (kgf/mm2). The coated steel samples were electrochemically monitorized over the 30 days of immersion in 5 wt.% NaCl solution. As shown by the polarization resistance and corrosion rate, the nanoparticles have a beneficial role, significantly improving the corrosion resistance

Synchronous rectal and breast cancer in a 40-year-old woman

Multiple primary malignancies have an increasing incidence in the general population due to better diagnostic tools and the increased life expectancy. However, synchronous lesions are still rare and have a rate which varies between 0,17 and 0,69%. Second primary tumours usually develop after some time from the first cancer diagnosis. Although there is an arsenal of therapeutical options – the order and priority of the therapeutic choices are debatable and need to be tailored to every patient. The present paper illustrates the case of a 40 years old woman who presented to the emergency department with diffuse abdominal pain, nausea and bloating. The patient had done a fine needle biopsy of a suspicious lump in her right breast one week before the presentation and had no other relevant medical history. The CT scan revealed intraperitoneal free liquid with a paracolic mass at the rectosigmoid junction. The surgical team decided to perform an exploratory laparoscopy. At exploration, the mass was intensely adherent to the uterus and fixed to the pelvis. Conversion to laparotomy and extemporaneous exam of the mass were undertaken, which revealed adenocarcinoma. En-bloc rectosigmoidian resection with hysterectomy and bilateral adnexectomy. The histopathology report staged the tumour as pT4N2M0 adenocarcinoma. Breast biopsy pathology report revealed no special type (NST) carcinoma, with luminal B breast cancer on immunohistochemistry. Clinical staging of the breast was cT1N0. After discussion of the case in the multidisciplinary team, it was decided for Madden mastectomy with axillary lymphadenectomy. Breast reconstruction with retropectoral expander was done in the same operating procedure. Post-mastectomy pathology report revealed pT1N0 and no metastases were present at standard imaging. The immunohistochemical profile of the resected breast tumour proved to be Luminal A. Adjuvant therapy consisted in chemoradiation for the rectum. The breast neoplasia was treated with tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy. Synchronous primary neoplasia exists and even if they have a low incidence once identified their treatment requires particular treatment for each case. A multidisciplinary approach is essential

Impact of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations on sustained virologic response in HCV-infected patients: Results from the GUARD-C Cohort

BACKGROUND: Despite the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, peginterferon alfa/ribavirin remains relevant in many resource-constrained settings. The non-randomized GUARD-C cohort investigated baseline predictors of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations (sr-RD) and their impact on sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients receiving peginterferon alfa/ribavirin in routine practice. METHODS: A total of 3181 HCV-mono-infected treatment-naive patients were assigned to 24 or 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa/ribavirin by their physician. Patients were categorized by time-to-first sr-RD (Week 4/12). Detailed analyses of the impact of sr-RD on SVR24 (HCV RNA <50 IU/mL) were conducted in 951 Caucasian, noncirrhotic genotype (G)1 patients assigned to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin for 48 weeks. The probability of SVR24 was identified by a baseline scoring system (range: 0-9 points) on which scores of 5 to 9 and <5 represent high and low probability of SVR24, respectively. RESULTS: SVR24 rates were 46.1% (754/1634), 77.1% (279/362), 68.0% (514/756), and 51.3% (203/396), respectively, in G1, 2, 3, and 4 patients. Overall, 16.9% and 21.8% patients experienced 651 sr-RD for peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, respectively. Among Caucasian noncirrhotic G1 patients: female sex, lower body mass index, pre-existing cardiovascular/pulmonary disease, and low hematological indices were prognostic factors of sr-RD; SVR24 was lower in patients with 651 vs. no sr-RD by Week 4 (37.9% vs. 54.4%; P = 0.0046) and Week 12 (41.7% vs. 55.3%; P = 0.0016); sr-RD by Week 4/12 significantly reduced SVR24 in patients with scores <5 but not 655. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, sr-RD to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin significantly impacts on SVR24 rates in treatment-naive G1 noncirrhotic Caucasian patients. Baseline characteristics can help select patients with a high probability of SVR24 and a low probability of sr-RD with peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin

Impact of Safety-Related Dose Reductions or Discontinuations on Sustained Virologic Response in HCV-Infected Patients: Results from the GUARD-C Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Despite the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, peginterferon alfa/ribavirin remains relevant in many resource-constrained settings. The non-randomized GUARD-C cohort investigated baseline predictors of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations (sr-RD) and their impact on sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients receiving peginterferon alfa/ribavirin in routine practice. METHODS: A total of 3181 HCV-mono-infected treatment-naive patients were assigned to 24 or 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa/ribavirin by their physician. Patients were categorized by time-to-first sr-RD (Week 4/12). Detailed analyses of the impact of sr-RD on SVR24 (HCV RNA <50 IU/mL) were conducted in 951 Caucasian, noncirrhotic genotype (G)1 patients assigned to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin for 48 weeks. The probability of SVR24 was identified by a baseline scoring system (range: 0-9 points) on which scores of 5 to 9 and <5 represent high and low probability of SVR24, respectively. RESULTS: SVR24 rates were 46.1% (754/1634), 77.1% (279/362), 68.0% (514/756), and 51.3% (203/396), respectively, in G1, 2, 3, and 4 patients. Overall, 16.9% and 21.8% patients experienced ≥1 sr-RD for peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, respectively. Among Caucasian noncirrhotic G1 patients: female sex, lower body mass index, pre-existing cardiovascular/pulmonary disease, and low hematological indices were prognostic factors of sr-RD; SVR24 was lower in patients with ≥1 vs. no sr-RD by Week 4 (37.9% vs. 54.4%; P = 0.0046) and Week 12 (41.7% vs. 55.3%; P = 0.0016); sr-RD by Week 4/12 significantly reduced SVR24 in patients with scores <5 but not ≥5. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, sr-RD to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin significantly impacts on SVR24 rates in treatment-naive G1 noncirrhotic Caucasian patients. Baseline characteristics can help select patients with a high probability of SVR24 and a low probability of sr-RD with peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin.This study was sponsored by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland. Support for third-party writing assistance for this manuscript, furnished by Blair Jarvis MSc, ELS, of Health Interactions, was provided by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland

Impact of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations on sustained virologic response in HCV-infected patients: Results from the GUARD-C Cohort

Background: Despite the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, peginterferon alfa/ribavirin remains relevant in many resource-constrained settings. The non-randomized GUARD-C cohort investigated baseline predictors of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations (sr-RD) and their impact on sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients receiving peginterferon alfa/ribavirin in routine practice. Methods: A total of 3181 HCV-mono-infected treatment-naive patients were assigned to 24 or 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa/ribavirin by their physician. Patients were categorized by time-to-first sr-RD (Week 4/12). Detailed analyses of the impact of sr-RD on SVR24 (HCV RNA <50 IU/mL) were conducted in 951 Caucasian, noncirrhotic genotype (G)1 patients assigned to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin for 48 weeks. The probability of SVR24 was identified by a baseline scoring system (range: 0-9 points) on which scores of 5 to 9 and <5 represent high and low probability of SVR24, respectively. Results: SVR24 rates were 46.1 % (754/1634), 77.1% (279/362), 68.0% (514/756), and 51.3% (203/396), respectively, in G1,2, 3, and 4 patients. Overall, 16.9% and 21.8% patients experienced 651 sr-RD for peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, respectively. Among Caucasian noncirrhotic G1 patients: female sex, lower body mass index, pre-existing cardiovascular/pulmonary disease, and low hematological indices were prognostic factors of sr-RD; SVR24 was lower in patients with 651 vs. no sr-RD by Week 4 (37.9% vs. 54.4%; P = 0.0046) and Week 12 (41.7% vs. 55.3%; P = 0.0016); sr-RD by Week 4/12 significantly reduced SVR24 in patients with scores <5 but not 655. Conclusions: In conclusion, sr-RD to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin significantly impacts on SVR24 rates in treatment-naive G1 noncirrhotic Caucasian patients. Baseline characteristics can help select patients with a high probability of SVR24 and a low probability of sr-RD with peginter-feron alfa-2a/ribavirin

Modeling and simulation of the PTC heater used in automotive

At present, efforts are made to improve the passenger’s thermal comfort inside the vehicle. The thermal comfort level depends on the air conditioning and heating system. The conventional heating systems use the heat excess delivered by the vehicle’s engine. Nevertheless, this heat excess is insufficient for warming the interior air to a comfort level. In order to improve the conventional heating method, auxiliary heating devices are required. The paper deals with the analysis and measurement of the PTC heater characteristics. A test-bench is described. The heating process inside the vehicle is analyzed and a model and simulations are also presented

Pedodiversity of soil cover Tătarului valley river basins, with valley road and valley apples Slanic located on the right side of the rested

The concept of genetic diversity and spatial expressed pedodiversity soil in a particular territory. For this purpose data are correlated in the studied soil genesis with their spatial arrangement in that territory. This concept was presented in the work of Professor Florea N. not "territorial units Pedodoversitatea genetic quality indices and geopedological analysis "

Quantification of Selenium Compounds from Soil Samples by HPLC-ICP-MS

Keywords: Selenium speciation, environment, hyphenated technique, separation The development of a methodology to determine selenium speciation in soils at ultra-trace level was studied. Analytical procedure was based on liquid chromatographyinductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS). A special attention was paid on selenium species extraction optimisation. The extractants were selected on the basis of reagents used in Se sequential extraction schemes. The conservation of the original Se speciation in soil during extraction was checked for each extractant. After extraction, total Se content was quantified in dissolved (extracts) and solid phases. Extraction efficiencies increased in order waters &lt;&lt; citric acid ≈ phosphate buffers &lt; nitric acid &lt;&lt; sodium hydroxide. Speciation analyses indicate the occurrence of selenite (SeIV) in all extracts, whiles selenate (SeVI) and Se containing compound, with retention time close to the one of selenocystine species (SeCys2), were detected only in water extract

HPLC Analysis and Risk Assessment of 15 Priority PAHs in Human Blood Serum of COPD Patient from Urban and Rural Areas, Iasi (Romania)

One of the leading risk factors for environmental health problems is air pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that this risk factor is associated with one of every nine deaths worldwide. Epidemiological studies conducted in this field have shown a solid connection between respiratory pathology and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure. COPD and asthma are respiratory diseases that were shown to have a strong association with exposure to PAHs. The purpose of the present study was to assess the serum levels of 15 PAHs in 102 COPD patients and to evaluate the results according to the residence environment of the investigated subjects. Analyses were carried out using a high-performance liquid chromatograph Nexera X2—Shimadzu Japan, which was equipped with an LC–30AD pump and an SIL–30AC autosampler. Spiked matrices, procedure blanks, spiked controls, and calibration standards in the acetonitrile were used as quality-assurance samples. Benzo(a)pyrene is the main representative of PAHs and was determined in higher concentrations in subjects with COPD versus the control group from the urban area (0.90/0.47 ng/mL) and rural area (0.73/0.44 ng/mL). The values obtained for the Benzo(a)pyrene-equivalent factor indicate a higher carcinogenic potential for patients diagnosed with COPD in urban areas compared to those in rural areas. These results could be due to traffic and vehicle emissions. This research identifies the need for legislative action to decrease semi-volatile organic compounds, especially PAHs, mainly in urban cities, in order to improve environmental management and health conditions