A MULTIMEDIA MODEL FOR THE EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOR OF DIOXINS

Joint Research on Environmental Science and Technology for the Eart

Prediction of anastomotic leakage

Background : Anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy is significantly associated with more severe complications, such as sepsis and mortality. Early prediction for anastomotic leakage is usually difficult and needs to be treated rapidly. In the current study, we investigated the correlation between hemodynamic and several complications after esophagectomy in patients with esophageal cancer, using the FloTrac system. Materials and Methods : Between April 2013 and December 2014, 39 patients with a mean age of 66.6 ± 8.9 years underwent postoperative supervision using the FloTrac sensor / Vigileo monitoring system after curative surgery for esophageal cancer. We retrospectively evaluated the association between the number of aberrant cardiac index (CI) along with stroke volume variability (SVV) values and clinicopathological parameters of postoperative complications in this report. Results : There were significant positive correlations between the number of aberrant values of CI along with SVV and depth of invasion during pathological stage. Concerning major postoperative complications, there was a significant positive correlation between the number of aberrant values of CI and anastomotic leakage. Discussion: The hemodynamic change by employing the FloTrac system could predicts the complication of anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy. Adequate management of hemodynamic stability by utilizing it will reduce the complications of anastomotic leakage

Penyahwarnaan efluen kilang minyak kelapa sawit (POME) melalui proses pengoksidaan Fenton secara berterusan menggunakan limonit sebagai pemangkin

Industri minyak sawit mempunyai impak yang besar ke atas alam sekitar terutama di Malaysia. Efluen kilang minyak sawit (POME) merupakan air buangan yang mengandungi sebatian organik yang berasal daripada bahan boleh urai dan sedia direput oleh mikroorganisma. Teknologi rawatan POME masa kini banyak bertumpu kepada kaedah biologi untuk mengurangkan permintaan oksigen kimia (COD), permintaan oksigen bio-kimia (BOD) dan jumlah karbon organik (TOC). Walau bagaimanapun, kebanyakan proses biologi tidak dapat menguraikan warna yang terdapat dalam POME. Kajian ini mengkaji potensi teknologi pengoksidaan Fenton menggunakan biji limonit sebagai pemangkin kepada hidrogen peroksida untuk merawat POME selepas proses rawatan biologi yang diperoleh daripada kilang minyak kelapa sawit. Keputusan menunjukkan dengan hanya 50 mM H2O2 boleh menyahwarnakan POME sebanyak 800-1000 PtCo secara berterusan dengan pengekalan masa 1 jam pada pH 3

Absence of Kupffer cells in carcinogen induced liver hyperplastic nodules: demonstration by intravenous injection of indian ink.

Absence of Kupffer cells in rat liver hyperplastic nodules induced by a chemical carcinogen was demonstrated by intravenous injection of indian ink. Hyperplastic nodules appeared 4 weeks after diethylnitrosamine (DEN) was administered, and the nodules continued growing and became eosinophilic hyperplastic nodules after 5 to 6 weeks. After intravenous injection of indian ink, hyperplastic nodules were observed as carbon-free white nodules, which were macroscopically distinguishable from the black surrounding tissue. As observed by light microscopy, Kupffer cells were absent in hyperplastic nodules in contrast to being present in the surrounding tissue. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed these findings and furthermore revealed that the sinusoidal endothelium of hyperplastic nodules had no fenestrae. Injection of indian ink is a useful method for delineation and enucleation of hyperplastic nodules in the study of morphological and chemical changes of nodules.</p

Scanning electron microscopy of Ito's fat-storing cells in the rat liver.

The whole body including extended processes of Ito's fat-storing cells was observed by scanning electron microscopy in rat liver injured with lithocholic acid (LCA). Necrotic foci developed in the midlobular zone 48 h after LCA administration. Demonstration of Ito cell bodies around the foci was probably facilitated by easy detachment of hepatocytes from Ito cells. The body and the processes were located mainly between the sinusoidal endothelium and hepatocytes; sometimes they were between hepatocytes. Ito cells often were proximate to collagen fiber bundles and sometimes were attached to them. The cell body was flatly round or elliptic, 7 to 12 micron in diameter. Its surface was finely undulated with microvillous projections about 0.1 micron in length. Branching patterns of the processes resembled a fern-leaf mantling the sinusoidal endothelium. The trunks of the processes were about 2 micron in diameter and 20-30 micron in length. These processes tapered, branching into thinner processes, with the most peripheral being 0.1 micron in diameter. Ito cells and their branching processes likely strengthen sinusoidal walls and control blood flow in the sinusoids.</p

Application of Water Quality Simulation for Water Safety Plan at Mahaweli River Basin, Kandy

Water Safety Plan (WSP) is an effective risk assessment framework to elaborate possible risks for water supply systems. However, risk quantification of “severity” and “likelihood” of specific incidents is challenging especially for the risks at water sources. Water quality simulation is an essential tool for predicting the risks and applying effective countermeasures, while data availability and usability for practitioners remains as obstacles for implementation. The objective of this study is to develop appropriate simulation methodology for the risks at water source of all the water supply systems in Sri Lanka. In this report, we focused on the Mahaweli river basin in Kandy. Reviewing the existing WSP at Greater Kandy WTP, the contamination of intake water by the leachate from neighbouring solid waste damping site was considered as a significant risk. We developed dynamic hydraulic model and water quality model which can configure input and output data on Microsoft Excel interface. As a result of the simulation, it was implied that the contaminant from the leachate can flow back to the intake of the WTP due to density flow. Re-risk assessment for possible countermeasures showed the structure modification and leachate treatment are effective to mitigate the risk for water quality hazards

Hair organ regeneration via the bioengineered hair follicular unit transplantation

Organ regenerative therapy aims to reproduce fully functional organs to replace organs that have been lost or damaged as a result of disease, injury, or aging. For the fully functional regeneration of ectodermal organs, a concept has been proposed in which a bioengineered organ is developed by reproducing the embryonic processes of organogenesis. Here, we show that a bioengineered hair follicle germ, which was reconstituted with embryonic skin-derived epithelial and mesenchymal cells and ectopically transplanted, was able to develop histologically correct hair follicles. The bioengineered hair follicles properly connected to the host skin epithelium by intracutaneous transplantation and reproduced the stem cell niche and hair cycles. The bioengineered hair follicles also autonomously connected with nerves and the arrector pili muscle at the permanent region and exhibited piloerection ability. Our findings indicate that the bioengineered hair follicles could restore physiological hair functions and could be applicable to surgical treatments for alopecia