An Efficient Method for Testing the Quality of Drinking-Water Filters Used for Home Necessities

This paper presents research conducted in the direction of analyzing the efficiency of filters used for drinking water intended for domestic consumption, with effects on the water quality gained from the public distribution network. A basic method that uses accessible techniques, such as optical microscopy and tests that involve the use of existing products on the consumer market, was developed regarding the filtration capacities of the main filters existing on the market—a method that has advantages, such as speed and ease of application, a unitary character in obtaining samples, low costs, and high efficiency. The technique approached is that of microscopy, and the samples used were taken from the laboratory tests made on the mentioned filters, using a specific experimental stand designed to support laboratory tests by using chosen filter cartridges. The research results obtained were analyzed to make a classification from the perspective of filtration efficiency, in terms of using statistical analysis tools (mathematical models and methods processed in MATLAB software). Moreover, by using a certain type of application based on specific mathematical algorithms, which takes into account some influential factors with a decisive role on household consumers, it was aimed to identify the optimal filter element for acquisition and use in its own regime. The aim of the study was to identify the optimal filter cartridge from the perspective of quality–price ratio

Innate Immune Responses in Pediatric Patients with Gastritis—A Trademark of Infection or Chronic Inflammation?

The aim of this study was to define the relationship between several environmental, laboratory, and genetic factors, i.e., TLR2 and NLRP3 polymorphisms, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in children, by comparing three different groups of pediatric subjects: H. pylori-induced gastritis, non-H. pylori gastritis, and healthy controls. Our final study sample included 269 children, which were divided into three groups according to the histopathological exam: group 1 with 51 children with H. pylori-induced gastritis, group 2 with 103 children with H. pylori-negative gastritis, and group 3 (control group) with 115 children without any histopathological changes. All children underwent a thorough anamnesis, clinical exam, laboratory tests, and upper digestive endoscopy with gastric biopsy for rapid urease test, histopathological exam, and genetic analysis of TLR2 rs3804099, TLR2 rs3804100, and NLRP3 rs10754558 gene polymorphisms. We noticed a significant association between living conditions and the type of gastritis (p < 0.0001). Both rapid urease and serological tests were significantly associated with the presence of H. pylori (p < 0.0001). The CT variant genotype of TLR2 rs380499 was significantly associated with neutrophil count (p = 0.0325). We noticed a significant association between the CC variant genotype of NLRP3 rs10754558 and leucocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, as well as ALT (p = 0.0185, p = 0.0379, p = 0.0483, p = 0.0356). Based on these findings, we state that poor living conditions and rural areas represent risk factors for H. pylori infection. The rapid urease test is a reliable diagnostic tool for this infection. CT and TT carriers of TLR2 rs3804099, as well as CC carriers of NLRP3 rs10754558, might display a more severe degree of systemic inflammation

A Flavonoid-Rich Extract of <i>Sambucus nigra</i> L. Reduced Lipid Peroxidation in a Rat Experimental Model of Gentamicin Nephrotoxicity

The use of gentamicin (GM) is limited due to its nephrotoxicity mediated by oxidative stress. This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of a flavonoid-rich extract of Sambucus nigra L. elderflower (SN) to inhibit lipoperoxidation in GM-induced nephrotoxicity. The HPLC analysis of the SN extract recorded high contents of rutin (463.2 ± 0.0 mg mL−1), epicatechin (9.0 ± 1.1 µg mL−1), and ferulic (1.5 ± 0.3 µg mL−1) and caffeic acid (3.6 ± 0.1 µg mL−1). Thirty-two Wistar male rats were randomized into four groups: a control group (C) (no treatment), GM group (100 mg kg−1 bw day−1 GM), GM+SN group (100 mg kg−1 bw day−1 GM and 1 mL SN extract day−1), and SN group (1 mL SN extract day−1). Lipid peroxidation, evaluated by malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidant enzymes activity—superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX)—were recorded in renal tissue after ten days of experimental treatment. The MDA level was significantly higher in the GM group compared to the control group (p p = 0.021). SN extract failed to improve SOD, CAT, and GPX activity in the GM+SN group compared to the GM group (p > 0.05), and its action was most probably due to the ability of flavonoids (rutin, epicatechin) and ferulic and caffeic acids to inhibit synthesis and neutralize reactive species, to reduce the redox-active iron pool, and to inhibit lipid peroxidation. In this study, we propose an innovative method for counteracting GM nephrotoxicity with a high efficiency and low cost, but with the disadvantage of the multifactorial environmental variability of the content of SN extracts