Surfactant-enhanced mobilization of hydrocarbons from soil: Comparison between anionic and nonionic surfactants in terms of remediation efficiency and residual phytotoxicity

The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of two surfactants (Polysorbate 80 – Tween 80 and Sodium Dodecyl Benzensulphonate – SDBS) for the remediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. To study the effectiveness of these surfactants, an experimental laboratory-scale apparatus was set up for the simulation of a soil flushing intervention. Different surfactant concentrations and flushing flow rates were investigated. At the end of the experiments, the removal efficiency was evaluated and phytotoxicity tests were performed by means of germination index (GI). Results showed that the use of both surfactants allows to reach high removal efficiency (~50% for Tween 80 and ~70% for SDBS) of hydrocarbons from soil and that either the surfactant concentration and the contact time between surfactant and contaminant affected the extraction performance. GI results showed different effects of the two surfactants on the phytotoxic features of the soil after treatment. Indeed, while the soil treated with SDBS was found to be more phytotoxic, leading to a lowering of the GI (10.88 %), the soil samples flushed with Tween 80 were characterized by higher values (146.61%). These results might be of interest in the case of surfactant application in remediation interventions in soils intended for future agricultural activity

Oral rehabilitation of oncology patients with dental implants after reconstruction surgery with autogenous flaps

OBJECTIVE: Reconstruction after radical cancer surgery in terms of function and esthetics can be quite demanding. The aim of this study was to evaluate oral rehabilitation with autogenous flaps and dental implants for maxillofacial reconstruction in oncologic patients after implant insertions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study consisted of 19 patients diagnosed with either squamous cell carcinoma, fusocellular carcinoma, or mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The reconstruction of the maxillofacial defects was done with autogenous flaps (free fibular flap, antero-lateral thigh flap, radial forearm flap, or rotational pedicled temporal muscle flap). Implants were inserted on the average 32.03±19.51 months after reconstructive operations. A total of 82 implants were inserted. Mean follow-up after maxillo-facial surgery was 7.2 years (mean 86.56±22.04 months). Mean follow-up after implant insertions was 4.5 years (mean 54.6±21.82). Primary outcome was implant survival. Secondary outcome was evaluation of post-surgical complications. RESULTS: There were surgical revisions in seven patients after reconstructive surgery with flaps, mainly due to tumor relapse. Complications were seen in 11 patients. There was one implant failure. Overall implant survival rate was 98.8%. No relations were found between implant survival rate and gender, type of tumor, type of microvascular free flap, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and prosthesis type. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this study, oral rehabilitation with dental implants inserted in free flaps for maxillofacial reconstruction after ablative oncologic surgery can be considered as a safe treatment modality with successful outcomes

Future New Indications for CRT: Which Patients Might Benefit?

Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) is a non-pharmacological treatment for patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF) due to systolic dysfunction who also present an intraventricular conduction abnormality and a QRS duration greater than 120 ms Consequently, CRT has been included in the current American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology guidelines for the implantation of permanent pacemakers as a therapeutic option for patients with systolic heart failure, NYHA class ≥ 3, QRS duration ≥ 130 ms, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter ≥ 55 mm and ejection fraction < 35

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) oral lesions surgical management with Nd:YAG laser versus blade and QMR scalpel: a single center experience in 251 cases

HPVs are a large and varied group of viruses capable of infecting both animals and humans. They have evolved together with their respective hosts and are isolable in different and numerous species of birds, reptiles, marsupials and mammals. The present study aims to analyze and compare the epidemiological aspects of 251 HPV-associated benign lesions treated with three different surgical approaches. Between January 2004 and December 2019, 251 HPV-associated benign lesions (papillomas and / or condylomas) were treated at the Center of Medicina e Patologia Orale Laser Assistita of the University of Parma. After loco-regional anesthesia, the excisional biopsy was performed with A): 15C scalpel blade; B): molecular quantum resonance scalpel (RQM); C): Nd: YAG laser (1064 mn, 3.5W, 70Hz). The epidemiological analysis considered: gender, age, site of the lesion, surgical technique and recurrence. Our study did not show substantial differences in gender prevalence and the mean age of 50 years (minimum 8 years, maximum 85 years). Our study showed that HPV-associated lesions are localized in almost half of patients (47.9%) on the tongue or hard palate, less frequently on the cheeks (16.3%) and on the upper or lower lip (14,4) and in less than 10% of patients in the soft palate. Our study showed a low relapse rate (3%) for all three therapeutic approaches used, meaning that the cold blade, RQM scalpel and Nd: YAG laser can be successfully used to treat lesions associated with HPV, the laser approach has proved to be slightly more effective: probably thanks to the radicalization obtained through carbonization of the biopsy surrounding tissues. Since a small group of these viruses are the responsible agent of several types of human cancers (including squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity), early screening and treatment of HPV-associated lesions is essential to prevent the development of oncological diseases

Absorption and diffusion of a 645 nm diode laser beam in the bone. An ex vivo study

The present preliminary ex vivo study aims to assess the possible interaction between complex biological systems and laser light, through irradiation of different hard tissue samples. A 645 nm wavelength diode laser was adopted to perform the present evaluation. Due to known similarities to human tissues, swine tissue samples were used. Two samples of cortical bone measuring 4.4 mm and 4.7 mm of thickness and 2 samples of spongeous bone measuring 2.45 mm and 2.9 mm were harvested for the analysis of hard tissues. Mean absorption values were as follows: 128.82 mW standard deviation 8.74 for 2.45 mm spongeous bone sample; 132.34 mW standard deviation 7.66 for 2.9 mm spongeous bone sample; 140.59 mW standard deviation 5.97 for 4.4 mm cortical bone sample and 152.20 mW standard deviation 3.36 for 4.7 mm mucosa and cortical bone sample. Red-light laser with 645nm wavelength has the ability to reach cells in each layer of measured tissues