Decay of escherichia coli in soil following the application of biosolids to agricultural land

The decay of Escherichia coli in a sandy loam soil, amended with enhanced and conventionally treated biosolids, was investigated in a field experiment following spring and autumn applications of sewage sludge. Control soils, without the application of biosolids, were also examined to determine the background indigenous populations of E. coli which are present in the environment. The survival of indigenous E. coli and populations of E. coli applied to soil in biosolids, is assessed in relation to environmental factors influencing pathogen-decay processes in soil

Tailoring surface properties, biocompatibility and corrosion behavior of stainless steel by laser induced periodic surface treatment towards developing biomimetic stents

Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS) holds great potential for regenerative biomedicine. Creating highly precise LIPSS enables to generate biomimetic implant surfaces with improved properties. The present study focuses on the fabrication and investigation of laser-treated stainless steel samples with applied linear LIPSS patterns with grooves made by means of a picosecond laser system using wavelengths of 1064 nm and 532 nm. To investigate properties of the laser-treated surfaces and to understand the basics of cell-surface interactions between the LIPSS and human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells (UCMSC), flat stainless steel samples with various applied nanopatterns were used. Such LIPSSs demonstrated higher surface roughness, good biocompatibility, lower wettability and higher corrosion resistance compared to the untreated (polished) spec-imens. The surface roughness of laser-treated samples was in microscale that enabled adhesion and migration of endothelial cells, thus increasing the likelihood for endothelialisation. This thereby could reduce the chances for the development of Late Stent Thrombosis (LST) and In-Stent Restenosis (ISR). Furthermore, laser textured surfaces demonstrated an environment supportive for cell attachment, proliferation and alignment with the nanogroves. Therefore, application of the biomimetic nanopatterns could help to overcome frequent post-surgery complications after the stent implantation

Updated global estimates of respiratory mortality in adults ≥ 30 years of age attributable to long-term ozone exposure

BACKGROUND: Relative risk estimates for long-term ozone (O3) exposure and respiratory mortality from the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II (ACS CPS-II) cohort have been used to estimate global O3-attributable mortality in adults. Updated relative risk estimates are now available for the same cohort based on an expanded study population with longer follow-up. OBJECTIVES: We estimated the global burden and spatial distribution of respiratory mortality attributable to long-term O3 exposure in adults ≥30 y of age using updated effect estimates from the ACS CPS-II cohort. METHODS: We used GEOS-Chem simulations (2×2.5º grid resolution) to estimate annual O3 exposures, and estimated total respiratory deaths in 2010 that were attributable to long-term annual O3 exposure based on the updated relative risk estimates and minimum risk thresholds set at the minimum or fifth percentile of O3 exposure in the most recent CPS-II analysis. These estimates were compared with attributable mortality based on the earlier CPS-II analysis, using 6-mo average exposures and risk thresholds corresponding to the minimum or fifth percentile of O3 exposure in the earlier study population. RESULTS: We estimated 1.04–1.23 million respiratory deaths in adults attributable to O3 exposures using the updated relative risk estimate and exposure parameters, compared with 0.40–0.55 million respiratory deaths attributable to O3 exposures based on the earlier CPS-II risk estimate and parameters. Increases in estimated attributable mortality were larger in northern India, southeast China, and Pakistan than in Europe, eastern United States, and northeast China. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the potential magnitude of health benefits of air quality policies targeting O3, health co-benefits of climate mitigation policies, and health implications of climate change-driven changes in O3 concentrations, are larger than previously thought

Features of modeling fatty liver disease in rats of different ages based on a high-calorie diet

BACKGROUND: The problem of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of fat liver disease (FLD) is one of the actual problems of modern medicine. In this regard, the need for the creation of reliable experimental models of the FLD, which would be as close as possible to the pathogenetic patterns of the development of this disease in humans.AIM: To create an experimental model of FLD and compare the efficiency of its reproduction in rats of different ages.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on male Wistar rats, whose ages at the beginning of the experiment were 3 and 18 months. Control animals were fed a standard diet. The experimental rats were kept on a diet with excess fat (45 %) and carbohydrates (31 %) for 12 weeks. The liver tissue samples were taken for morphological studies of FLD. Histological preparations were made according to the standard technique. Morphometry on digital images of micropreparations was conducted using the computer program «IMAGE J». The concentration of lipids, cholesterol, and triglecerides in the liver tissue was determined, and the concentration of ALT in the blood serum was determined. To assess the biophysical properties of the liver tissue, the method of multifrequency bioimpedance measurement was used.RESULTS: The transfer of animals to a high-calorie diet developed by us led to the development of FLD. This was evidenced by an increase of the liver mass, its pale shade and soft consistency. Morphometric signs of FLD were also revealed. Hypertrophy of hepatocytes was observed with a simultaneous decrease in the nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio; accumulation of numerous lipid inclusions in the cytoplasm and the appearance of large lipid droplets replacing the voids of dead hepatocytes. The number of binuclear hepatocytes and nucleolus in the nucleus, the relative area of the sinusoid network were decreased. An increase in the concentration of lipids, cholesterol and triglecerides in the liver tissue of experimental rats, as well as the activity of ALT in the blood serum, was observed. Changes in the bioimpedance measurements of the liver tissue also indicated the  development of severe fatty degeneration of the liver in both young (to a greater extent) and old rats.CONCLUSION: The model of FLD we have advanced based on a combined (fat-carbohydrate) high-calorie diet. It leads to the development of pronounced morphological, biochemical and biophysical signs of this pathology in all experimental rats. The most pronounced manifestations of FLD are observed in young animals

Влияние прерывистой гипо- и гипероксии на состояние респираторного отдела легких

Summary. An influence of normobaric hypoxic (10 % of oxygen in nitrogen) and hyperoxic (40 % of oxygen in nitrogen) breathing sessions on the respiratory part of the lungs was investigated in rats of 3 month of age. After 28 daily hypoxic sessions, 30 min each, we detected lung hyperinflation, an enlargement of the total alveolar area and reduction in connecting tissue elements in the lungs. After 28 daily hyperoxic sessions, 60 min each, we found reduction in mean diameter, depth, cross-sectional area and the entrance size of alveoli, increased the amount of collagen fibers, the alveolar wall thickness and increased oxyproline concentration in the lungs. These findings could indicate the connecting tissue growth in the respiratory part of the lungs and worsening of oxygen diffusion through the blood-air barrier.Резюме. Исследовалось влияние сеансов дыхания нормобарической гипо- (10 % кислорода в азоте) и гипероксической (40 % кислорода в азоте) газовой смесью на состояние респираторного отдела легких 3-месячных крыс. После 28 ежедневных (по 30 мин) сеансов гипоксии обнаружилось увеличение воздушности респираторного отдела и общей площади альвеолярной поверхности, снижение количества элементов соединительной ткани в легких, уменьшение среднего диаметра, глубины, площади поперечного сечения альвеол, ширины входа в альвеолу, увеличение количества коллагеновых волокон, толщины межальвеолярной перегородки и концентрации общего оксипролина в легких. Это может свидетельствовать о разрастании соединительной ткани в респираторном отделе легких, ухудшении условий диффузии кислорода через аэрогематический барьер

Комбінований вплив переривчастої нормобаричної гіпоксії та мелатоніну на морфологічні зміни підшлункової залози спонтанно-гіпертензивних щурів

The aim of the study was to investigate the morphological changes in the pancreas of spontaneously hypertensive animals after the combined effect of intermittent normobaric hypoxia (INH) and melatonin.Materials and methods. The study was carried out in spring on 24 spontaneously hypertensive male rats (SHR line). The experimental animals were daily given a hypoxic gas mixture (12 % oxygen in nitrogen) in an intermittent mode: 15 min deoxygenation/15 min reoxygenation for 2 hours. The same rats were daily administered orally with exogenous melatonin at 10.00 at a dose of 5 mg/kg. The duration of the experiment was 28 days. Histological preparations were prepared according to a standard procedure. Morphometry of the digital images of preparations was performed using the computer program ImageJ.Results. Based on changes in morphometric parameters (reduction in the size of acini, exocrinocytes, height of the epithelium), it can be assumed that the combined effect of INH and melatonin reduces the activity of the exocrine function of the pancreas. In the endocrine part of the pancreas of experimental animals morphological signs of its activation were noted: the linear dimensions of the Langerhans islets, the number and the density of their endocrine cells increased. Experimental animals also showed a decrease in the width of interlobular and interacinar interlayers of connective tissue, which can be considered as a manifestation of the mechanism of structural adaptation that facilitates the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the parenchymal elements of the pancreas.Conclusions. The combined effect of intermittent normobaric hypoxia and melatonin leads to the appearance of morphological signs of a decrease in the activity of the exocrine part of the pancreas in hypertensive rats. At the same time, the activity of the endocrine gland function in these animals increased.Цель работы – исследовать морфологические изменения поджелудочной железы (ПЖ) спонтанно-гипертензивных крыс после комбинированного воздействия прерывистой нормобарической гипоксии (ПНГ) и мелатонина.Материалы и методы. Исследование проведено в весенний период на 24 спонтанно-гипертензивных крысах-самцах (линия SHR). Подопытным животным ежедневно подавали гипоксическую газовую смесь (12 % кислорода в азоте) в прерывистом режиме: 15 минут деоксигенация/15 минут реоксигенация в течение 2 часов. Этим же крысам ежедневно в 10.00 перорально вводили экзогенный мелатонин в дозе 5 мг/кг. Продолжительность эксперимента составляла 28 суток. Из ткани ПЖ изготавливали гистологические препараты по стандартной методике. На цифровых изображениях препаратов осуществляли морфометрию с помощью компьютерной программы ImageJ.Результаты. На основании изменений морфометрических показателей (уменьшение размеров ацинусов, экзокриноцитов, высоты эпителия) можно предположить, что совместное действие ПНГ и мелатонина снижает активность экзокринной функции ПЖ. В эндокринной части ПЖ подопытных животных отмечали морфологические признаки ее активации: увеличивались линейные размеров островков Лангерганса, количество и плотность размещения в них эндокриноцитов. Установленное уменьшение ширины прослоек междольковой и межацинусной соединительной ткани можно рассматривать как проявление механизма структурной адаптации, обеспечивающей облегчение транспорта кислорода и питательных веществ к паренхиматозным элементам ПЖ и выделение гормонов в кровь.Выводы. Комбинированное воздействие прерывистой нормобарической гипоксии и мелатонина приводит к появлению морфологических признаков снижения активности экзокринной части поджелудочной железы у гипертензивных крыс. Активность эндокринной функции железы у этих животных возрастает.Мета роботи – дослідити морфологічні зміни підшлункової залози (ПЗ) спонтанно-гіпертензивних тварин після комбінованого впливу переривчастої нормобаричної гіпоксії (ПНГ) і мелатоніну.Матеріали та методи. Дослідження виконали навесні на 24 спонтанно-гіпертензивних щурах-самцях (лінія SHR). Піддослідним тваринам щодня подавали гіпоксичну газову суміш (12 % кисню в азоті) в переривчастому режимі: 15 хвилин деоксигенація/15 хвилин реоксигенація протягом 2 годин. Цим самим щурам щодня перорально вводили екзогенний мелатонін о 10.00 у дозі 5 мг/кг. Тривалість експерименту – 28 діб. З тканини ПЗ виготовляли гістологічні препарати за стандартною методикою. На цифрових зображеннях препаратів здійснювали морфометрію за допомогою комп’ютерної програми ImageJ.Результати. На підставі змін морфометричних показників (зменшення розмірів ацинусів, екзокриноцитів, висоти епітелію) можна припустити, що поєднана дія ПНГ і мелатоніну знижує активність екзокринної функції ПЗ. В ендокринній частині ПЗ дослідних тварин виявили морфологічні ознаки її активації: збільшилися лінійні розміри острівців Лангерганса, кількість і щільність розміщення у них ендокриноцитів. Встановлене зменшення ширини прошарків міжчасточкової та міжацинусної сполучної тканини можна вважати проявом механізму структурної адаптації, що забезпечує полегшення транспорту кисню та поживних речовин до паренхіматозних елементів ПЗ і виділення гормонів у кров.Висновки. Комбінований вплив переривчастої нормобаричної гіпоксії та мелатоніну має морфологічні ознаки зниження активності екзокринної частини підшлункової залози в гіпертензивних щурів. Водночас активність ендокринної функції залози в цих тварин зростає