Concrete sewer pipe corrosion induced by sulphuric acid environment

Corrosion of concrete sewer pipes induced by sulphuric acid attack is a recognised problem worldwide, which is not only an attribute of countries with hot climate conditions as thought before. The significance of this problem is by far only realised when the pipe collapses causing surface flooding and other severe consequences. To change the existing post-reactive attitude of managing companies, easy to use and robust models are required to be developed which currently lack reliable data to be correctly calibrated. This paper focuses on laboratory experiments of establishing concrete pipe corrosion rate by submerging samples in to 0.5 pH sulphuric acid solution for 56 days under 10ºC, 20ºC and 30ºC temperature regimes. The result showed that at very early stage of the corrosion process the samples gained overall mass, at 30ºC the corrosion progressed quicker than for other temperature regimes, however with time the corrosion level for 10ºC and 20ºC regimes tended towards those at 30ºC. Overall, at these conditions the corrosion rates of 10 mm/year, 13,5 mm/year and 17 mm/year were observed

Assessing and targeting key lifestyle cardiovascular risk factors at the workplace: Effect on hemoglobin A1c levels

<div><p></p><p><b>Purpose</b> Despite the key role played by lifestyle habits in the epidemic of type 2 diabetes (T2D), nutritional quality and physical activity are not systematically considered in clinical practice. The project was conducted to verify whether assessing/targeting lifestyle habits could reduce hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels of employees. <b>Methods</b> The intervention consisted of a 3-month competition among teams of five employees to favor peer-based support in the adoption of healthier lifestyle habits (Eat better, Move more, and Quit smoking) (n = 900). A comprehensive cardiometabolic/cardiorespiratory health assessment was conducted before and after the contest (nutrition/physical activity questionnaires, blood pressure, anthropometric measurements, lipid profile, HbA1c, fitness). HbA1c levels were used to identify individuals with prediabetes (5.7%–6.4%) or T2D (≥6.5%). <b>Results</b> At baseline, 51% of the employees had increased HbA1c levels (≥5.7%). The HbA1c levels were associated with waist circumference, independently of body mass index. Subjects with prediabetes showed a higher waist circumference as well as a more deteriorated cardiometabolic profile compared to workers with normal HbA1c levels. After the intervention, employees with elevated HbA1c significantly reduced their HbA1c levels. <b>Conclusion</b> Results suggest that assessing/targeting key lifestyle correlates of the cardiometabolic profile represents a relevant approach to target abdominal obesity and fitness with a significant impact on HbA1c levels. </p><p></p><p>Key Messages</p><p></p><p>The prevalence of employees with prediabetes or undiagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D) was rather high in our cohort, suggesting that, from a public health standpoint, identification of those individuals is not optimal.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Employees with prediabetes or T2D showed a higher waist circumference and a more deteriorated cardiometabolic risk profile compared to those with normal HbA1c levels.</p><p></p><p></p><p>The significant reduction in HbA1c levels observed in response to the 3-month intervention supports the notion that a program which assesses and manages cardiometabolic risk at the workplace by also focusing on key lifestyle factors (nutritional quality and physical activity levels) represents an interesting option to reduce the risk of developing diabetes among high-risk individuals or to improve glycemic control and related cardiometabolic risk in patients with T2D.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p></div

Preoperative and postoperative profile of fasting plasma glucose, insulin, HOMA and fructosamine.

<p>Fasting plasma glucose (A), insulin (B), HOMA (C) and fructosamine (D) were assessed at multiple time points: preoperative baseline (BSL) and postoperative 24 hours (24H), 5 days (5D), 6 and 12 months (6M and 12M). Patients were separated into 2 groups based on preoperative fasting vaspin levels: high vaspin (HI-grp, vaspin ≥2.5 ng/mL, black circles and low vaspin (LO-grp, vaspin <2.5 ng/mL, white circles). Results are expressed as average ± sem, and were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA for time (all p<0.0001) and group differences as indicated.</p

Preoperative and postoperative profile of fasting plasma HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol ratio and gamma-glutamytransferase.

<p>Fasting plasma HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) (A), triglycerides (B), total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (TC/HDL ratio) (C) and gamma-glutamytransferase (GGT) (D) were assessed at multiple time points: preoperative baseline (BSL) and postoperative 24 hours (24H), 5 days (5D), 6 and 12 months (6M and 12M). Patients were separated into 2 groups based on preoperative fasting vaspin levels: high vaspin (HI-grp, vaspin ≥2.5 ng/mL, black circles and low vaspin (LO-grp, vaspin <2.5 ng/mL, white circles). Results are expressed as average ± sem, and were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA for time (all p<0.0001) and group differences as indicated.</p

Preoperative and postoperative profile of fasting plasma Acylation Stimulating Protein, Interleukin-6 and Visfatin.

<p>Fasting plasma Acylation Stimulating Protein (ASP) (A), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) (B), and Visfatin (C) were assessed at multiple time points: preoperative baseline (BSL) and postoperative 24 hours (24H), 5 days (5D), 6 and 12 months (6M and 12M). Patients were separated into 2 groups based on preoperative fasting vaspin levels: high vaspin (HI-grp, vaspin ≥2.5 ng/mL, black circles and low vaspin (LO-grp, vaspin <2.5 ng/mL, white circles). Results are expressed as average ± sem, and were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA for time and group differences as indicated.</p

Rapid and long-term improvement in lipid profile after BPD-DS bariatric surgery.

<p>Changes in plasma total cholesterol (A), triglyceride (B), HDL-C (C), LDL-C (D), ApolipoproteinB (E), and C-Reactive Protein (F) were found at 6 and 12 months between Orexin-INC and Orexin-DEC groups. Significance was determined by two-way repeated measures ANOVA followed by Holm-Sidak post-hoc test. Values are presented as mean ± s.e.m., where *P<0.05, and **P<0.01.</p

Preoperative and postoperative profile of fasting plasma vaspin and body mass index.

<p>Fasting plasma vaspin (ng/mL) and body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) were assessed at multiple time points: preoperative baseline (BSL) and postoperative 24 hours (24H), 5 days (5D), 6 and 12 months (6M and 12M). Patients were separated into 2 groups based on preoperative fasting vaspin levels: high vaspin (HI-grp, vaspin ≥2.5 ng/mL, black circles and low vaspin (LO-grp, vaspin <2.5 ng/mL, white circles). Pre- and post-operative fasting plasma vaspin in HI-grp and LO-grp in all subjects (A), women (B) and men (C). Percent change in post-operative vaspin levels relative to baseline (BSL) value in all subjects (D), women (E) and men (F). G) Pre- and post-operative BMI in HI-grp and LO-grp. Results are expressed as average ± sem, and were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA for time and group differences as indicated.</p

Correlation of Vaspin with Parameters at Baseline and 12 months.

<p>Correlation of baseline and 12-month vaspin with baseline and 12-month parameters. All continuous variables listed in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0111002#pone-0111002-t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a> were analysed. Only those with significant correlations are given.</p><p>Correlation of Vaspin with Parameters at Baseline and 12 months.</p

Changes in BMI and body composition after BPD-DS bariatric surgery.

<p>Changes in body mass index (BMI) (% change, A), and % fat (% change, B) at 5 days, 6 and 12 months between Orexin-INC and Orexin-DEC groups. There were no significant differences between the two groups by two-way repeated measures ANOVA followed by Holm-Sidak post-hoc test. Values are presented as mean ± s.e.m.</p

Preoperative Fasting Vaspin, Acylation Stimulating protein and IL-6 levels.

<p>Fasting vaspin (ng/mL), acylation stimulating protein (ASP, nmol/L) and interleukin-6 (IL-6, pg/mL) levels were measured in 77 severely obese patients (22 men and 55 women). Distribution of fasting plasma vaspin levels (ng/mL) according to frequency is given in all subjects (A), women (B) and men (C). D) Spearman correlation of fasting vaspin to fasting ASP (r = 0.371, p = 0.001). E) Spearman correlation of fasting vaspin to fasting IL-6 (r = .303, p = 0.01).</p