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This research mainly sought to evaluate the sediments of the Urmia lake bed to prevent their erosion and the possibility of improving the problematic saline fine soils in the region by the geo-polymerisation process. For this purpose, perlite and pumice materials, with pozzolanic properties and weight percentages of 3, 5, and 7, were separately mixed with soil, along with the calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) solution as a catalyst with 2%, 5%, and 7%. Then, the samples were cured for one day. Uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), direct shear, and consolidation tests were performed to assess the geotechnical properties of improved soil compaction. The results revealed that, compared to pumice, perlite could improve the behavioural properties of the studied soil. The inclusion of perlite and pumice, along with calcium hydroxide, increased the flexibility of the stabilised soil, as indicated by the brittleness index. Similarly, combining 3% perlite with 2% Ca(OH)2 could increase UCS at failure by 3.27 times. In addition, the mixture of 5% perlite with 7% Ca(OH)2 could enhance the shear strength by 3.3 times. Finally, combining 3% perlite with 5% calcium hydroxide reduced the swelling of the improved soil by 82%, and the consolidation settlement was decreased by 64% on average. Highlights: Sodium saline silty soil can cause many problems, such as settlement and swelling in ground and underground structures. The present research investigated the effects of perlite and pumice materials and calcium hydroxide as a catalyst on improving saline silty soil. The results revealed that perlite is more effective than pumice because of its pozzolanic properties. As a result of mixing perlite with saline silty soil along with calcium hydroxide, after curing, the skeleton of the soil particles changed from fine to coarse grains, modifying the characteristics of the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of indigenous diazotrophic bacteria from saline paddy fields of The Northern Coastal of Pemalang in increasing N and K nutrient uptake in rice plants. This research was conducted at the Experimental Farm and Agronomy & Horticulture Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto. This study was designed using a completely randomized block design with nitrogen fixing bacteria as the treatment and repeated three times. The treatment that was tried was a type of N2-fixing bacteria consisting of control without inoculation of bacteria (P0), Acinetobacter junii (P1), Bacillus tropicus (P2), Acinetobacter schindleri (P3), Pseudomonas stutzeri (P4), Bacillus altitudinis (P5), Bacillus cereus (P6), and Bacillus subtilis (P7). The study used the culture solution method with the source of nutrition from AB Mixtm nutrient with EC set at 5.5 dSm-1, and pH 5.5-6.5. Observation variables including N uptake by rice plants were analyzed at the maximum vegetative phase using the Kjedahl method, Na and K absorption of rice plants were analyzed by diacidic extraction method and the results were measured using a flame photometer. The research data were analyzed using ANOVA, and if they were significantly different, they continued with DMRT 5%. The result showed that inoculation of rice plants with Bacillus subtilis significantly increased plant biomass, N uptake, and K uptake. Diazotrophic bacteria inoculation was able to increase the N uptake of rice plants by an average of 0.341 g/plant (104.36%), while in the control treatment it was only 0.167 g/plant. Inoculation of diazotrophic bacteria in plants under salinity stress tends to reduce Na uptake in rice plants. Inoculation of diazotropic bacteria was able to increase the average K/Na ratio of 113.31%, and this indicated that inoculation of halotolerant diazotrophic bacteria was able to increase the tolerance of rice plants to salinity stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Extubation is associated with hemodynamic changes and emergence phenomena leading to cough, sore throat, dysphonia, and dysphagia in the postoperative period. The aim of our study was to compare intracuff 2% alkalinized lignocaine with 1% alkalinized lignocaine and saline in reducing endotracheal tube induced emergence phenomena and haemodynamic changes at extubation in neurosurgical patients. Materials and Methods In this randomized controlled study, 90 adult patients of either sex, scheduled to undergo neurosurgical procedures were randomly divided into three groups of 30 each to receive either 1% alkalinized lignocaine (AL1), 2% alkalinized lignocaine (AL2), or saline as cuff inflation media. Intracuff pressures and haemodynamic variables were noted intraoperatively and during emergence. The presence of postextubation cough, sore throat, dysphonia, and dysphagia were monitored until 24 hours postoperatively. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and ANOVA. A p -value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results The intracuff pressures were significantly less with alkalinized lignocaine as compared to saline, after 3 hours of induction. Post extubation, hemodynamic parameters and incidence of coughing and bucking at extubation were significantly less in Groups AL1 (p = 0.024) and AL2 (p = 0.02) as compared to saline. On assessment of laryngotracheal morbidity, the incidence of coughing was found to be significantly less with 2% alkalinized lignocaine as compared to saline (p = 0.021) at 1 hour after extubation. Sore throat was significantly less in Groups AL1 and AL2 as compared with saline at 1 hour (p = 0.008, 0.002 respectively) and 8 hours (p = 0.01 in both groups), and in Group AL2 versus saline at 24 hours (p = 0.044) after extubation. The incidence of dysphonia was significantly less in Groups AL1 and AL2 as compared with saline at 1 hour (p = 0.016, p = 0.002) and 24 hours (p = 0.012 in both groups) and in Group AL2 versus saline at 8 hours (p = 0.03) postoperatively. No significant differences were noted between 1% alkalinized lignocaine and 2% alkalinized lignocaine. Conclusion Intracuff alkalinized lignocaine 1% and 2% were significantly better than saline in reducing coughing and bucking at extubation, post extubation haemodynamic changes and incidence of postoperative cough, sore throat, and dysphonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinization leads to a reduction in arable land area, which seriously endangers food security. Developing saline-alkali land has become a key measure to address the contradiction between population growth and limited arable land. Rice is the most important global food crop, feeding half of the world's population and making it a suitable choice for planting on saline-alkali lands. The traditional salt–alkali improvement method has several drawbacks. Currently, non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology is being increasingly applied in agriculture. However, there are few reports on the cultivation of salt/alkali-tolerant rice. Under alkaline stress, argon NTP treatment significantly increased the germination rate of Longdao 5 (LD5) rice seeds. In addition, at 15 kV and 120 s, NTP treatment significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and SOD. NTP treatment induced changes in genes related to salt-alkali stress in rice seedlings, such as chitinase and xylanase inhibitor proteins, which increased the tolerance of the seeds to salt-alkali stress. This experiment has expanded the application scope of NTP in agriculture, providing a more cost-effective, less harmful, and faster method for developing salt-alkali-tolerant rice and laying a theoretical foundation for cultivating NTP-enhanced salt-alkali-tolerant rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonclinical studies of test articles (TAs) in nonhuman primates are often designed to assess both biodistribution and toxicity. For this purpose, studies commonly use intravenous perfusion of ice-cold (2°C-8°C) saline to facilitate measurements of TA-associated nucleic acids and proteins, after which tissues undergo later fixation by immersion for histological processing and microscopic evaluation. Intriguingly, minimal apoptosis/single cell necrosis (A/SCN) of randomly distributed neural cells is evident in the cerebral cortex and less often the hippocampus in animals from all groups, including vehicle-treated controls. Affected cells exhibit end-stage features such as cytoplasmic hypereosinophilia, nuclear condensation or fragmentation, and shape distortions, so their lineage(s) generally cannot be defined; classical apoptotic bodies are exceedingly rare. In addition, A/SCN is not accompanied by glial reactions, leukocyte infiltration/inflammation, or other parenchymal changes. The severity is minimal in controls but may be slightly exacerbated (to mild) by TA that accumulate in neural cells. One plausible hypothesis explaining this A/SCN exacerbation is that cold shock (perhaps complicated by concurrent tissue acidity and hypoxia) drives still-viable but TA-stressed cells to launch a self-directed death program. Taken together, these observations indicate that A/SCN in brain processed by cold saline perfusion with delayed immersion fixation represents a procedural artifact and not a TA-related lesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Saline nasal sprays are frequently used in the management of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) for the cleansing and clearing of aeroallergens from the nasal cavity. Also using a drug‐free approach, AM‐301 nasal spray is forming a thin film barrier on the nasal mucosa to prevent contact with allergens, trap them, and facilitate their discharge. A clinical trial compared the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of AM‐301 and saline spray in SAR. Methods: A total of 100 patients were randomized 1:1 to self‐administer AM‐301 or saline 3 × daily for 2 weeks. Primary efficacy endpoint: reduction in mean daily reflective Total Nasal Symptom Score (rTNSS). Secondary efficacy endpoints: reduction in mean instantaneous TNSS and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ), global impression of efficacy. Safety and tolerability: adverse events, relief medication use, symptom‐free days, global impression of tolerability. Results: AM‐301‐treated patients achieved a significantly lower rTNSS than the saline group (LS square means difference −1.1, 95% CI −1.959 to −0.241, p =.013) with improvement observed across all individual nasal symptoms. Likewise, all secondary endpoints showed statistical significance in favor of AM‐301; for example, quality of life was significantly improved overall (p <.001) as well as for each individual RQLQ domain. Both treatments showed similarly good safety and tolerability. With AM‐301, fewer patients used relief medication and more enjoyed symptom‐free days compared to saline treatment. Conclusions: AM‐301 was more effective than saline in improving SAR nasal symptoms and related quality of life while offering similar tolerability, demonstrating the benefits of a barrier approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There has been a greater focus in recent literature proposing air to be a superior medium to saline in tissue expanders. This study aims to review the literature and assess the quality of data on the efficacy and safety of air as an alternative medium to saline in tissue expanders, in the setting of postmastectomy two-stage reconstruction. Methods A systematic review regarding air inflation of tissue expanders was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The methods followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Three reviewers separately performed data extraction and comprehensive synthesis. Results A total of 427 articles were identified in our search query, of which 11 met the inclusion criteria. Three pertained to inflation with room air, and eight pertained to inflation with CO 2 using the AeroForm device. They were comparable to decreased overall complication rates in the room air/CO 2 cohort compared to saline, although statistical significance was only observed in one of five two-arm studies. Investigating specific complications in the five two-arm studies, significantly lower rates of skin flap necrosis were only observed in two CO 2 -based studies. Studies rarely discussed other safety profile concerns, such as the impacts of air travel, radiation planning, and air extravasation beyond descriptions of select patients within the cohort. Conclusion There is insufficient evidence to suggest improved outcomes with room air inflation of tissue expanders. Further work is needed to fully characterize the benefits and safety profiles of air insufflation before being adopted into clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, considerable research has been conducted on extracting energy from superhot geothermal reservoirs, where temperatures are higher than at the critical point of water. A major challenge when operating wells under such conditions is managing scaling in an effective manner. In this study, the thermodynamics of the precipitation and scaling of crystalline NaCl (halite) under superhot conditions is explored using the H 2 O – NaCl system as a proxy. Phase diagrams in pressure–enthalpy and pressure–entropy coordinates are used to illustrate how scaling occurs in idealized processes, such as the isenthalpic expansion of geothermal fluid to the wellhead or the isentropic power generation of a steam turbine. Particular emphasis is placed on explaining the non-trivial graphical composition of these phase diagrams in an accessible manner. A wellhead sample and an estimate of the downhole conditions are used as points of reference in the discussion of scaling. All thermodynamic properties, including the solubility of NaCl in water vapor, are calculated using a newly developed equation of state by the same authors as in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Illumination characteristics of flexible ureteroscopes have been evaluated in air, but not in saline, the native operative medium for endourology. The aim was to evaluate light properties of contemporary ureteroscopes in air versus saline, light distribution analysis, and color temperature. Methods: We evaluated the Storz Flex-Xc and Flex-X2s, Olympus V3 and P7, Pusen 7.5F and 9.2F, and OTU WiScope using a 3D printed black target board in-vitro model submerged in saline. A spectrometer was used for lux and color temperature measurements at different opening locations. Results: Illuminance was higher in saline compared to air (5679 vs. 5205 lx with Flex-Xc, p = 0.02). Illuminance in saline differed between ureteroscopes (ANOVA p < 0.001), with highest for the Flex-Xc at 100% brightness setting (5679 lx), followed by Pusen 9.2F (5280 lx), Flex-X2s (4613 lx), P7 (4371 lx), V3 (2374 lx), WiScope (582 lx) and finally Pusen 7.5F (255 lx). The same ranking was found at 50% brightness setting, with the highest ureteroscope illuminance value 34 times that of the scope with lowest illuminance. Most scopes had maximum illuminance off center, with skewness. Three scopes had two light sources, with one light source for all other scopes. Inter-scope comparisons revealed significant differences of color temperature (ANOVA p < 0.001). Conclusion: The study demonstrates the presence of inhomogeneous light spread as well as large differences in illumination properties of ureteroscopes, possibly impacting on the performance of individual scopes in vivo. Additionally, the study suggests that future studies on illumination characteristics of flexible ureteroscopes should ideally be done in saline, and no longer in air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate illumination properties in an in-vitro kidney calyx model in saline. Design and methods: We evaluated a series of contemporary flexible ureteroscopes including the Storz Flex-Xc and Flex-X2s, Olympus V3 and P7, Pusen 7.5F and 9.2F, as well as OTU WiScope using a 3D-printed closed pink kidney calyx model, submerged in saline. A spectrometer was used for illuminance and color temperature measurements at different openings located at center (direct light), 45° (direct and indirect light) and 90°(indirect light) to the axis of the scope. Results: Maximum illuminance was at the center opening for all scopes (range: 284 to 12,058 lx at 50% brightness and 454 to 11,871 lx at 100% brightness settings). The scope with the highest center illuminance (Flex-Xc) was 26 times superior to the scope with the lowest illuminance (Pusen 7.5Fr) at 100% brightness setting. For each scope, there was a peripheral illuminance drop ranging from − 43 to − 92% at 50% brightness and − 43% to − 88% at 100% brightness settings, respectively (all p < 0.01). Highest drop was for the P7 and the Pusen 9.2F. All scopes had illuminance skew, except the V3. All scopes had a warm color temperature. Conclusion: Illumination properties vary between ureteroscopes in an enclosed cavity in saline, and differs at center vs 45° and 90° positions within scopes. Peripheral illuminance drop can be as high as − 92%, which is undesirable. This may affect the choice of ureteroscope and light brightness settings used in surgery by urologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND This Study was conducted and all patients were admitted with Diabetic foot ulcer and was about 40 patients and were Randomized into two groups of 20 each. Subjects of one group received treatment with Nitric oxide dressings, which was revised every alternative day and was observed for a period of three weeks. Subjects of other group received treatment with standard saline dressing and their healing outcome was also observed for a period of three weeks. Wound healing was assessed using Wound assessment tool (Bates - Jensen wound assessment tool) scoring from 1 - 65. Serum levels MMP-9 levels were measured in each group before and after dressing. Efficacy of Nitric oxide dressing over standard saline dressing was recorded. METHODS This was a hospital-based Interventional Study, Randomized (Comparative Study) group conducted among 40 patients diagnosed with diabetic foot ulcer at the Department of General Surgery, PSG Hospitals, Peelamedu, Coimbatore, India, and the duration period was from January 2021 to December 2022 after obtaining clearance from the institutional ethics committee and written informed consent from the study participants. RESULTS When the results of the study were analysed, it became clear that participants who received nitric oxide dressings fared better in terms of healing than those who received regular saline dressings. According to our findings, diabetic ulcers treated with nitric oxide had significantly less ulcer area than ulcers treated with saline after 3 weeks. While the control group exhibited a reduction of 50.5%, the group that had nitric oxide dressing showed a reduction of 66.9% (p value<0.05) CONCLUSION The study summarizes that chronic diabetic foot ulcers lack nitric oxide which impairs wound healing. Administration of exogenous nitric oxide facilitated angiogenesis and vasodilation, thereby promoting would healing. Nitric oxide dressings increase the area of wound healing and showed reduced levels of serum MMP levels when compared to standard saline dressings. Hence, nitric oxide dressing which is cost effective and also reduces the frequency of dressings can be used in regular clinical practice for the management of diabetic foot ulcer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the modern era of dentistry, natural and herbal alternatives are favored since they are renewable, have fewer adverse effects, and are cost-effective. Purpose: To assess the effectiveness of different intracanal medications in eliminating Enterococcus faecalis. Materials and Methods: In total, 50 single-rooted extracted teeth were decoronated at the cemento-enamel junction followed by the preparation of the canal. Then, in each of the presterilized samples, inoculum containing the E. faecalis was transferred and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. Samples were allocated into 5 groups of 10 each: Group A (saline), Group B (calcium hydroxide), Group C (Curcuma longa), Group D (honey), and Group E (nitrofurantoin group). The medicaments were injected into the canals respectively, the antibacterial assessment was done on the 1st and 7th day. Dentinal shavings are incubated and streaked on Mueller–Hinton agar plates and incubated for 24 hours at 37°C and the colony forming units (CFUs) were assessed. Results: Among all the groups, there was a significant change in the number of colonies from Day 1 to Day 7, except in Group A (saline). Comparison between the groups revealed significant differences, with better efficacy by Group D (honey) followed by Group E (nitrofurantoin) and Group C (C. longa). The least antimicrobial efficacy was observed with calcium hydroxide and no activity with saline. Conclusion: Honey has the greatest antimicrobial efficacy among all the tested intra-canal medicament groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity or a physiological microbiome imbalance can cause or maintain disease. Thus, this work examined a novel betadine–saline combination for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Materials and Methods: This study was in vitro. Betadine, saline, and their mixtures were tested for Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Aspergillus niger (gram-negative). Pour plate and disc diffusion methods were used to test CFUs, DZI, and RZI for various agent combinations. Results: For Lactobacillus acidophilus, Betadine 90% + saline 10% had the greatest DZI and RZI at 24 and 12 mm, respectively. For E. coli, Betadine 50% + saline 50% had the highest at 16 and 8 mm. Betadine 60% + saline 40% had 14 mm RZI and the highest antifungal activity. Conclusion: The novel betadine–saline antibacterial and antifungal combination performed well. In vivo research should confirm the existing findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this study, we explored the impact of saline–alkaline environments on the diversity and functional traits of benthic organisms. In environments with varying levels of salt, we noticed changes in living organisms, like improved swimming abilities and better adaptation to breathing in high-salinity conditions. These findings offer crucial insights to understand and manage ecosystems in saline–alkaline environments, particularly in the face of climate change. This study provides a practical foundation for conservation efforts, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the unique roles of benthic organisms across varying salinity levels. By revealing adaptive strategies and their ecological significance, our research contributes to global initiatives that address environmental challenges and promote enhanced ecosystem resilience. In this study, we investigated how changes in salinity affect biodiversity and function in 11 typical water bodies in the Altai region. The salinity of the freshwater bodies ranged from 0 to 5, the brackish water salinities ranged from 5 to 20, and the hypersaline environments had salinities > 20. We identified 11 orders, 34 families, and 55 genera in 3061 benthic samples and classified them into 10 traits and 32 categories. Subsequently, we conducted Mantel tests and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) and calculated biodiversity and functional diversity indices for each sampling site. The results indicated that biodiversity and the proportion of functional traits were greater in freshwater environments than in saline environments and decreased gradually with increasing salinity. Noticeable shifts in species distribution were observed in high-salinity environments and were accompanied by specific functional traits such as swimming ability, smaller body sizes, and air-breathing adaptations. The diversity indices revealed that the species were more evenly distributed in high-diversity environments under the influence of salinity. In contrast, in high-salinity environments, only a few species dominated. The results suggested that increasing salinity accelerated the evolution of benthic communities, leading to reduced species diversity and functional homogenization. We recommend enhancing the monitoring of saline water resources and implementing sustainable water resource management to mitigate the impact of salinity stress on aquatic communities in response to climate-induced soil and water salinization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No studies to date have investigated the ability of sympathetic nerve entrapment point saline (SNEP) injections to achieve long-term pain relief in patients with migraine. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the safety and long-term efficacy of repeat splenius capitis (SC) SNEP injections in patients with migraine (with/without tension-type headache). This retrospective, single-arm study included 12 patients with migraine. Isotonic saline was injected into their SC approximately six times for 3 months. Headache frequency, duration (hour/week), intensity (using the visual analog scale), and quality of life (using the Headache Impact Test-6) were assessed during the follow-up visits for up to 24 months after the first injection. Changes before and after treatment were assessed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Significant reductions in headache frequency, duration, and intensity were observed at all assessment points after SNEP injections when compared with the baseline values (p < 0.05), while the patients' headache-related quality of life also improved. Treatment was continued for up to 3 months to maintain these improvements, and no worsening of status or adverse effects were observed in any of the patients over the following 24 months. Our results show that SNEP injections may offer persistent, substantial, and clinically relevant benefits in patients with migraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An on-going question in plant hydraulic research is whether there is intra-specific variability and/or plasticity in xylem traits. Plasticity could be important in taxa that colonize diverse habitats. We used Tamarix, a non-native woody plant, to investigate population differences in hydraulic conductivity (Ks), vulnerability-to-embolism curves and vessel anatomy. We also conducted a season-long drought experiment to determine water potentials associated with crown dieback of field-grown plants. We measured vessel length and diameter, and compared visual (micro-computed tomography; microCT) and hydraulic methods to quantify percentage loss in hydraulic conductivity (PLC). Among plants grown in a common environment, we did not find differences in our measured traits between two populations of Tamarix that differ in salinity at their source habitats. This taxon is relatively vulnerable to embolism. Within samples, large diameter vessels displayed increased vulnerability to embolism. We found that the microCT method overestimated theoretical conductivity and underestimated PLC compared with the hydraulic method. We found agreement for water potentials leading to crown dieback and results from the hydraulic method. Saplings, grown under common conditions in the present study, did not differ in their xylem traits, but prior research has found difference among source-site grown adults. This suggests that plasticity may be key in the success of Tamarix occurring across a range of habits in the arid southwest USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Artifacts from poor ureteroscopes’ light design with shadowing and dark areas in the field of view have been reported. The aim was to quantify effects of light obstruction in a kidney calyx model. Methods: We evaluated a series of contemporary flexible ureteroscopes including the Storz Flex-Xc and Flex-X2s, Olympus V3 and P7, Pusen 7.5F and 9.2F, as well as OTU Wiscope using an enclosed 3D-printed pink in vitro kidney calyx model submerged in saline, where the field of light was intentionally partially obstructed alternatively at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. A color spectrometer was used for illuminance measurements at a 45° opening position in the background of the model. Results: Overall and mean background illuminance for each obstructive situation were significantly different between scopes for both 50% and 100% brightness settings (ANOVA p < 0.001). At 50% brightness setting, almost all scopes had their highest and lowest background illuminance with the 6 o’clock and 3 o’clock obstructive situation, respectively. At 100% brightness setting, these became 6 o’clock and 12 o’clock obstructive situations. Considering each obstructive situation individually, the Flex-Xc was consistently the scope with highest background illuminance and the Pusen 7.5F the lowest. Background illuminance for each obstructive situation varied significantly for each scope individually, with the greatest range of variability for Pusen 7.5F and V3. Conclusions: Illuminance performance of ureteroscopes within an obstructed calyx model differ significantly for various obstructive situations. Urologists should be aware of this to help guide their choice of ureteroscope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Increase in cuff pressure is seen during nitrous oxide anaesthesia if air is used to inflate the cuff of LMA. This can lead to post-operative complications like sore throat, hoarseness and dysphagia. The aim of this study was to compare changes in the intracuff pressure in disposable LMA filled with Air, Saline or 2% Lignocaine in the cuff while using nitrous oxide anaesthesia and to assess postoperative pharyngolaryngeal complications. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized comparative study conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Karnataka. 120 patients were randomized into three groups containing 40 patients each using computer generated random numbers and sealed envelope method. For subjects in Group A, air was injected into disposable LMA. For the subjects in Group S, Saline was injected, and for subjects in Group L, 2% Lignocaine was injected. Results: The groups were comparable for demographic data, type of surgery, size of LMA, duration of anaesthesia, cuff volume and seal pressure. The mean cuff pressures at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes and at the end of surgery were significantly higher in group A and S as compared to group L (p<0.05). The cuff pressure increased from 70.42±8.3 cm H2O to 98.31±4.66 cm H2 O at 120 minutes in group A, whereas there was no significant increase in cuff pressure from baseline in group S and group L. Conclusion: Intracuff pressure increases significantly within 15 minutes of nitrous oxide anaesthesia when air is used to inflate the cuff than saline or 2% Lignocaine. Pharyngeal complications like sore throat, dysphagia were seen only in air and saline group when compared to Lignocaine group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To assess perioperative effect of oral ketorolac and acetaminophen in children undergoing bilateral myringotomy (BMT). Methods: Seventy five paediatric patients of ASA physical status I or II scheduled to undergo elective bilateral myringotomy (BMT) of both genders were divided into three groups of 25 each. Group I received saline (placebo), Group II acetaminophen (10 mg/kg) and Group III ketorolac (1 mg/kg). No other preanaesthetic medications were administered. Results: Group I had 15 males and 10 females, Group II had 12 males and 13 females and Group III had 11 males and 14 females. Duration of surgery was 8.4 minutes in Group I, 8.0 minutes in Group II and 7.4 minutes in group III. Duration of anaesthesia was 14.7 minutes in Group I, 14.3 minutes in Group II and 13.9 minutes in Group III. Oxygen saturation on arrival in PACU was 96.4% in Group I, 96.3% in Group II and 96.1% in Group III. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). The mean eye opening (mins) was 11, 13 and 14, response to commands (mins) was 14, 20 and 21, first oral intake (mins) was 31.5, 29.4 and 30.2, ambulation (mins) was 52.3, 75.4 and 54.0, discharge home (mins) was 72.6, 77.8 and 78.5, behaviour score in PACU before meeting parent(mins) was 2.3, 2.2 and 1.3, after meeting parent (mins) was 1.2, 1.1 and 1.0 and postoperative emesis was 13%, 15% and 22%. A non- significant difference was observed (P> 0.05). Conclusion: Both oral ketorolac and acetaminophen are safe and effective analgesics for perioperative pain management in children undergoing bilateral myringotomy. They can be used alone or in combination with other analgesics to provide multimodal pain management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Great Salt Lake in Utah is the largest saline lake in the Western hemisphere and one of the largest terminal lakes in the world. Situated at the eastern edge of the Great Basin, it is a remnant of the freshwater Lake Bonneville whose water level precipitously lowered about 12,000 years ago due to a natural break in Red Rock pass to the north. It contains a diverse assemblage of cyanobacteria which vary spatially dependent on salinity. In 1984, the waters of the Great Salt Lake occupied 8500 km2. Nearly four decades later, the waters occupy 2500 km2—a reduction in surface area of 71%. With predominantly westerly winds, there is a potential for the adjacent metropolitan residents to the east to be exposed to airborne cyanobacteria- and cyanotoxin-containing dust. During the summer and fall months of 2022, air and dried sediment samples were collected and assessed for the presence of BMAA which has been identified as a risk factor for ALS. Collection of air samples equivalent to a person breathing for 1 h resulted in BMAA and isomers being found in some air samples, along with their presence in exposed lakebed samples. There was no clear relationship between the presence of these toxins in airborne and adjacent lakebed samples, suggesting that airborne toxins may originate from diffuse rather than point sources. These findings confirm that continued low water levels in the Great Salt Lake may constitute an increasing health hazard for the 2.5 million inhabitants of communities along the Wasatch Front. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To determine if initial fluid resuscitation with balanced crystalloid (e.g., multiple electrolytes solution [MES]) or 0.9% saline adversely affects kidney function in children with septic shock. DESIGN: Parallel-group, blinded multicenter trial. SETTING: PICUs of four tertiary care centers in India from 2017 to 2020. PATIENTS: Children up to 15 years of age with septic shock. METHODS: Children were randomized to receive fluid boluses of either MES (PlasmaLyte A) or 0.9% saline at the time of identification of shock. All children were managed as per standard protocols and monitored until discharge/death. The primary outcome was new and/or progressive acute kidney injury (AKI), at any time within the first 7 days of fluid resuscitation. Key secondary outcomes included hyperchloremia, any adverse event (AE), at 24, 48, and 72 hours, and all-cause ICU mortality. INTERVENTIONS: MES solution (n = 351) versus 0.9% saline (n = 357) for bolus fluid resuscitation during the first 7 days. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The median age was 5 years (interquartile range, 1.3-9); 302 (43%) were girls. The relative risk (RR) for meeting the criteria for new and/or progressive AKI was 0.62 (95% CI, 0.49-0.80; p < 0.001), favoring the MES (21%) versus the saline (33%) group. The proportions of children with hyperchloremia were lower in the MES versus the saline group at 24, 48, and 72 hours. There was no difference in the ICU mortality (33% in the MES vs 34% in the saline group). There was no difference with regard to infusionrelated AEs such as fever, thrombophlebitis, or fluid overload between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among children presenting with septic shock, fluid resuscitation with MES (balanced crystalloid) as compared with 0.9% saline resulted in a significantly lower incidence of new and/or progressive AKI during the first 7 days of hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traumatic brain injury has a crippling impact on sufferers' quality of life, and numerous therapy techniques are being researched to address this problem. In this study, we compared the superiority of HS against mannitol as one such element of treating TBI patients. Objective: To compare the efficacy of hypertonic saline and mannitol and demonstrate superiority of one group over the other. Method: Our meta-analysis included only randomized controlled trials that compared the efficacy of mannitol and hypertonic saline in the treatment of traumatic brain injury. The literature search was done using a variety of databases, like Google Scholar, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library. From each of the included RCTs, accurate data extraction, bias risk assessment, and statistical analysis were carried out. Result: There are 748 patients among the 15 RCTs. Our primary outcomes are mortality and functional outcomes, and our secondary outcomes include treatment failure, osmolality, intracerebral pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), serum sodium (Na), partial pressure of oxygen in brain tissue (PBTO2), duration of elevated ICP, mean arterial pressure, hematocrit level, and central venous pressure. The comparison showed non-significant results for mortality (RR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.49–1.08; p = 0.12) and functional outcome (RR = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.74–1.80; p = 0.53). HS is linked to higher Na levels (RR = 4.55, 95% CI 1.34–7.76, P = 0.005, I2 = 96%). Despite performing a sensitivity analysis due to the heterogeneities in our various outcomes, the findings were still unreliable. Conclusion: Our study revealed inconsequential trends for HS and mannitol, and no conclusion was made. We believe the two medications to be equally effective, but there is still opportunity for improvement as more studies are carried out. Eventually, a conclusive decision can be reached in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Regenerative therapy has shown promising results in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) knee with Kellgren–Lawrence (KL) Grades I–III. We compared the safety, efficacy, functional, and clinical outcomes of intra-articular implantation of autologous adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction (SVF) isolated using direct ultrasonic cavitation (Sahaj therapy–Cell Innovation Patented Technology) and saline injection in knee osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: The present prospective observational study was conducted over 3 years. We enrolled 120 patients in our study, where four patients got excluded as they did not meet the inclusion criteria. The remaining 116 patients were randomized into two groups, one with autologous adipose tissue-derived SVF and the other group with saline injection. A comparison of mean KOOS and VAS scores at different follow-ups was done using Paired 't' test. A p value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The results show that the SVF group had significantly higher KOOS scores (78.49 ± 6.54 in the SVF group vs 59.19 ± 5.14 in the saline group), respectively (p < 0.001). Similarly, the SVF group had significantly lesser VAS scores (3.17 ± 0.94 in the SVF group vs 3.89 ± 1.04 in the saline group), respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Autologous adipose tissue-derived SVF is a better choice for treating knee osteoarthritis. For individuals with degenerative osteoarthritis, autologous SVF grafting in the same surgical procedure is an innovative and promising treatment modality. Even after 3 years of follow-up, the study participants with OA knee have shown a good clinical and functional outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthrocentesis is a minimally invasive technique used in treating various temporomandibular disorders. There are various lavaging agents and intra-articular injections used in arthrocentesis viz., Normal Saline (NS), Ringer's Lactate (RL), Sodium Hyaluronate (SH), Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP), Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) etc. The present review was conducted to compare the published literature about the efficacy of various lavaging agents and intra-articular injections used in arthrocentesis. It was found that NS and RL are currently the best proven agents for Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) lavage. It has been observed that lavage combined with intra-articular injections produces better outcomes than lavage alone. Patients who received treatment with arthrocentesis in conjunction with Hylauronic Acid (HA) injection, displayed faster and more noticeable improvement in their perception of pain and maximal mouth opening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Passive Microvolume Irrigation (PMI) with Sodium Hypochlorite (NaOCl) has been proposed as a new method for root canal disinfection. It is based on the concept that irregular surface characteristics of endodontic instruments can carry NaOCl into the canal space with controlled fluid volume, without applying any pressure. Aim: To compare and evaluate the efficacy of 3% and 5% NaOCl PMI, Saline PMI, and 3% NaOCl Standard Irrigation (SI) in removing the Smear Layer (SL) from the root canal walls at the cervical, middle, and apical thirds of single-rooted teeth. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics at Vishnu Dental College, Andhra Pradesh, India. The study was conducted in February 2018. Forty maxillary central incisors with a single canal, extracted within three months of the study, were collected. The teeth were divided into four groups (n=10) based on the irrigation method: Group-1 (3.0% NaOCl SI), Group-2 (3.0% NaOCl PMI), Group-3 (5.0% NaOCl PMI), and Group-4 (Saline PMI). All samples were instrumented upto F4 size with Protaper rotary files, and a final rinse of 17% Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (EDTA) was used. SL removal was evaluated using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 21.0. Statistical tests used were Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney-U tests. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant for all comparisons. Results: There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in SL removal between 3.0% NaOCl SI, 3.0% NaOCl PMI, and 5.0% NaOCl PMI in the middle and apical thirds of the root canals. However, 5.0% NaOCl PMI showed significantly higher efficiency in SL removal at the cervical third compared to the other groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: Passive microvolume irrigation with 3% and 5% NaOCl showed comparable efficacy to 3% hypochlorite SI in the middle and apical thirds of the root canal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evidence regarding optimal crystalloid use in the perioperative period remains unclear. As the primary aim of this study, we sought to summarise the data from RCTs examining whether use of balanced crystalloids compared with 0.9% saline (saline) leads to differences in patient-important outcomes. We searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane library, and Clinicaltrials.gov, from inception until December 15, 2022, and included RCTs that intraoperatively randomised adult participants to receive either balanced fluids or saline. We pooled data using a random-effects model and present risk ratios (RRs) or mean differences (MDs), along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We assessed individual study risk of bias using the modified Cochrane tool, and certainty of evidence using GRADE. Of 5959 citations, we included 38 RCTs (n =3776 patients). Pooled analysis showed that intraoperative use of balanced fluids compared with saline had an uncertain effect on postoperative mortality analysed at the longest point of follow-up (RR 1.51, 95% CI: 0.42–5.36) and postoperative need for renal replacement therapy (RR 0.95, 95% CI: 0.56–1.59), both very low certainty. Furthermore, use of balanced crystalloids probably leads to a higher postoperative serum pH (MD 0.05, 95% CI: 0.04–0.06), moderate certainty. Use of balanced crystalloids, compared with saline, in the perioperative setting has an uncertain effect on mortality and need for renal replacement therapy but probably improves postoperative acid-base status. Further research is needed to determine whether balanced crystalloid use affects patient-important outcomes. CRD42022367593. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: One of the most valuable methods to diagnose lower airway disorders such as equine asthma is broncho alveolar lavage (BAL), whereby a solution, usually saline, is inserted in a distal part of a lung lobe. The solution is then collected and contains cells present in the deeper airways. It is a safe procedure, but saline can cause local inflammation (neutrophilia). This study aimed to investigate if there are better solutions for the procedure, for example, less acidic ones, to avoid causing inflammation, and whether the BAL fluid retrieved from one lung lobe is representative for the whole lung. Since it is not necessary to use horses with respiratory disorders to answer these research questions, healthy horses were used. Four horses were used (using four lung lobe locations and four different solutions per horse twice with an interval of 48 h) and generated enough data to answer the questions. The findings were that the BAL composition is not affected by either the solution used or the lung lobe sampled. These findings are positive because they support keeping the procedure easy and practical. Equine bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is usually performed with 250–500 mL of isotonic saline at pH 5.5. The acidic pH of saline may cause an increase in airway neutrophil count 48 h after BAL. Other isotonic solutions such as Ringer's solution, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or Plasma-Lyte 148® have a neutral pH of 7.4 and might be a better choice for BAL by not provoking inflammation and the influx of neutrophils into airways. BAL was performed in four healthy horses in four different lung lobes using four different solutions in a randomized crossover design. In each lobe, BAL was performed twice with a 48 h interval using 250 mL of solution. Automated total nucleated cell counts (TNCs) were recorded, and differential cell counts in lavage fluid were determined by two investigators blinded to treatments. The mean volume of BAL fluid retrieved was 51 ± 14%. The mean neutrophil percentage (%N) increased from 1.5 ± 0.9% to 14.7 ± 9.6% at 48 h (p < 0.001) but was not significantly affected by the solution used or the lung lobe sampled. In conclusion, in this study, the influx of neutrophils into airways after BAL was independent of the type of isotonic solution used and the lung lobe sampled. Saline remains an appropriate solution for BAL in horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To test the hypothesis that fluid resuscitation in the ED with plasmalyte‐148 (PL) compared with 0.9% sodium chloride (SC) would result in a lower proportion of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Methods: We performed a prespecified nested cohort study at two hospitals within a cluster, crossover, open label, randomised, controlled trial comparing the effects of PL versus SC as fluid therapy for patients who presented to the ED with DKA. All patients presenting within a fixed recruitment period were included. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients admitted to ICU. Results: Eighty‐four patients were enrolled (SC n = 38, PL n = 46). The SC group had a lower median pH on admission (SC: 7.09 [interquartile range (IQR) 7.01–7.21], PL: 7.17 [IQR 6.99–7.26]). The median volume of intravenous fluids administered in ED was 2150 mL (IQR 2000–3200 mL; SC) and 2200 mL (IQR 2000–3450; PL); respectively. A higher proportion of patients in the SC group, 19 (50%), was admitted to ICU compared with PL group, 18 (39.1%); however, after adjustment for pH at presentation and diabetes type in a multivariable logistic regression model, the PL group did not have a significantly different rate of ICU admission compared with the SC group (odds ratio for ICU admission 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.13–3.97, P = 0.71). Conclusion: Patients with DKA treated with PL compared with SC in the EDs had similar rates of requiring ICU admission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To determine the effectiveness of controlled slow-dissolving NPK fertilizers with NPK 19-16-18 to improve soil nutrients on rice (Oryza sativa L.). Methods: The field experiment was on saline-affected acid sulfate soil in Hau Giang province, Viet Nam, in the Winter-Spring rice crop 2018-2019. The experiment consisted of 2 treatments, corresponding to 2 formulas and 2 types of fertilizers, including new generation fertilizer application with the formula 50N-40P205 -30K20 kg/ha; and conventional fertilizers of 126N-88 P205-23K20. Each formula with 3 replications and each repetition is 1,000 m². Result: The NPK-CFR fertilizers and urea humate help improve proper soil nutrients and total micro-organisms. In which; (i) when compared to the farmer's control field, the rice growth and yield were comparable and did not differ significantly (5.68 tons/ha in the farmer's control field and 5.85 tons/ha in the experimental field). (ii) However, when compared to the farmer's field, the amount of fertilizer in the experimental field is reduced by more than 50%. Besides, the economic efficiency of NPK-CFR and Urea humate is higher than in farmers' fields, from 1 to 8.6%. The total profit is higher than farmers' fields. The NPK-CFR fertilizers and urea humate can be used to replace traditional fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and Aim: A plethora of chemicals have been used for gutta-percha decontamination, though none of these methods have proven to be fully effective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of triphala, aloe vera, and Morinda citrifolia (M. citrifolia) as potential root canal irrigants and their effectiveness in decontaminating gutta-percha cones against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Escherichia faecalis (E. faecalis), and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Materials and Methods: The antimicrobial efficacy of different herbal extracts against the reference strains of the test pathogens was assessed based on the zones of inhibition created, while for testing decontamination of gutta-percha cones, sterile gutta-percha cones were incubated in thioglycollate broth (THIO) followed by the evaluation of the turbidity values of the broth (in formazin turbidity units (FTU)) through digital photo-colorimeter. Statistical Analysis Used: One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Fisher's least significant difference (LSD) post hoc analysis were used for comparison between different groups. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The results of this study revealed that for E. faecalis and E. coli, 90% ethanolic extracts of aloe vera had maximum efficacy with the diameter of the zone of inhibition achieved being 23.0 mm and 17.0 mm, respectively, while for S. aureus, both aloe vera and M. citrifolia showed equal zones of inhibition of diameter of 22.0 mm at 10-1 concentration. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study suggested that all three tested herbal extracts were found to have optimal antimicrobial activity against the test pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the mean pain score with prophylactic corticosteroid injection versus placebo in the management of wrist pain on the ulnar aspect in patients presenting with fracture of distal radius. Material and methods: Study Design: Randomized controlled trial Setting: Orthopedic Surgery Department, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi Duration: Six months (March 5, 2018 to Sept 5, 2018) Data Collection Procedure: 80 patients were included by using non-probability consecutive sampling after fulfilling the selection criteria. A demographic profile (patient name, age, gender, anatomical side and contact details) was obtained. Patients were split into two random groups by a simple lottery method. Patients of group A were given one shot of 80mg corticosteroid in the area of the ulnar styloid process near TFCC and group B patients were given a shot of distilled water (2 cc). Both groups of patients were followed in OPD for 3 months in their postoperative visits. A visual analogue scale (VAS) score was recorded. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: The mean age of the patients was 41.05 ± 11.05 years an age range of 40 years. The mean age in the corticosteroid and placebo groups was 39.68±10.67 years and 42.42 ± 11.39 years respectively. There were 42 (52.50%) male and 38 (47.50%) female patients with a higher male ratio i.e., 1.10:1. In corticosteroid and placebo groups there were 21 (52.50%) male and 19 (47.50%) female cases. The mean pain at baseline was 7.72 ± 1.66 while in the corticosteroid and placebo group, the mean pain was 7.60 ± 1.67 and 7.85 ± 1.65 respectively with statistically equal mean pain p-value = 0.504. After 3 months of treatment, mean pain in the corticosteroid group was 1.30 ± 0.66 and was 2.60 ± 1.58 in the placebo group, p-value < 0.001. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that prophylactic corticosteroid injection is more effective in reducing pain in patients with distal radial fracture than placebo. By using prophylactic corticosteroid injections in the future, we can reduce pain to achieve more satisfaction for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plantar warts are benign, epidermal neoformations, viral, and easily transmitted. Although 30% of these warts disappear spontaneously, the American Association of Dermatology recommends treatment if they cause pain or bleeding. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of Dermojet® infiltration using a solution composed of equal parts of 0.9% saline and 2% mepivacaine in the treatment of plantar warts, and to identify the type of necrosis achieved at 7–10 days after the infiltration (M1 sample) and at 15–17 days (M2 sample). Method: In this analytical prospective observational study, 102 histories were reviewed by the same researcher. The patients were treated with this technique at four private podiatry clinics. Results: A total of 61.8% of the patients were male. The patients' mean age was 26.6 ± 14.10 years. A total percentage of 78.4% of the patients achieved complete elimination of the lesion by the second evaluation and after a single infiltration. Bivariate analysis revealed a significant inverse relationship between treatment efficacy and a history of previous disease (p < 0.001) and the period of evolution of the lesion (p < 0.001; 95% CI [0.78–7.91]). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed an association with the number of evaluation sessions (p < 0.001) and with previous illnesses (p = 0.014). A total percentage of 82.35% presented partial necrosis in the M1 sample and 76.92% had complete necrosis in the M2 sample. Conclusions: In 78.4% of the patients considered, the plantar warts treated disappeared after a single infiltration. The variables associated with treatment efficacy were the number of follow‐up visits and the existence of associated diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exploitation of the XIV horizon, in two slices, across the entire mining perimeter of the Slănic Prahova Salt Mine until the end of 2059 will result in the amplification of surface subsidence, already affected by the mining operations of Victoria, Cantacuzino, and Old Mines. Systematic annual monitoring of ground deformation has been conducted since 2004 through geometric leveling along selected representative alignments, which were utilized to forecast the temporal evolution of surface subsidence and the impact of mining the XIV horizon. Furthermore, 3D numerical modeling was employed to estimate the subsidence and ground displacements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Endoscopic sinus surgery is a frequently performed surgery for sinonasal polyposis. This includes various complications such as Crusting and synechiae formation etc. which can be reduced or minimised by regular nasal douching and nasal toileting in immediate post operative period. Methods: This study was conducted to assess the quality of life using SNOT 22 score and the efficacy of Triamcinolone Acetate impregnated anterior nasal packing based on the Peri-Operative Sinus Endoscopic (POSE) score and Lund Kennedy score on short and midterm post operative outcomes in patients undergoing Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for sinonasalpolyposis. This study was a prospective observational study comprising of 80 patients diagnosed with sinonasal polyposis. Patients were divided into two groups with 40 patients in group A (non absorbable Triamcinolone Acetate impregnated nasal packing) and 40 patients in group B(non absorbable Saline impregnated nasal packing). Study setting: This study was conducted at a tertiary care centre in South India from July 2017 to July 2019 after EthicsCommitteeapproval. Results of this study showed Improvement in quality of life index in the postoperative period in both Group A (Triamcinolone Acetate) and Group B (saline). Lund Kennedy and Peri operative sinus endoscopy score (POSE) showed statistically significant results with better and early healing among Group A (Triamcinolone Acetate) patients. Conclusion: This shows Triamcinolone Acetate nasal packing in intaoperative period helps to reduce early post operative complications such as edema,crusting and synechiae formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the 5 years that have passed since the publication of the 2018 International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Allergic Rhinitis (ICAR-Allergic Rhinitis 2018), the literature has expanded substantially. The ICAR-Allergic Rhinitis 2023 update presents 144 individual topics on allergic rhinitis (AR), expanded by over 40 topics from the 2018 document. Originally presented topics from 2018 have also been reviewed and updated. The executive summary highlights key evidence-based findings and recommendation fromthe full document. Methods: ICAR-Allergic Rhinitis 2023 employed established evidence-based reviewwith recommendation (EBRR) methodology to individually evaluate each topic. Stepwise iterative peer review and consensuswas performed for each topic. The final document was then collated and includes the results of this work. Results: ICAR-Allergic Rhinitis 2023 includes 10 major content areas and 144 individual topics related to AR. For a substantial proportion of topics included, an aggregate grade of evidence is presented, which is determined by collating the levels of evidence for each available study identified in the literature. For topics in which a diagnostic or therapeutic intervention is considered, a recommendation summary is presented, which considers the aggregate grade of evidence, benefit, harm, and cost. Conclusion: The ICAR-Allergic Rhinitis 2023 update provides a comprehensive evaluation of AR and the currently available evidence. It is this evidence that contributes to our current knowledge base and recommendations for patient evaluation and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beside natural factors, human activities are important for the development of microbiomes. Thus, local soil bacterial communities are affected by recent activities such as agriculture, mining and industry. In addition, ancient human impacts dating back centuries or millennia have changed soils and can emboss the recent bacterial communities up to now, representing a certain long-term "memory of soil". Soil samples from five different archaeological excavation places were investigated for the presence of Archaea with a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) analysis of the DNA coding for 16S r-RNA sequences. It was found that the abundance of Archaea differs strongly between less than one and more than 40 percent of bacteria. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of all samples shows that the archaeological excavation places can be distinguished from each other by the archaeal component of soil bacterial communities, which presents a typical pattern for each place. Most samples are marked by the dominance of Crenarchaeota, which are presented mainly by ammonia-related types. High contents of Nanoarchaeaota have been observed in one ash deposit of a historical saline and all samples of a historical tannery area. These samples are also marked by a significant presence of Dadabacteria. The specific abundancies of special Archaea—among them ammonia-oxidizing and sulphur-related types—are due obviously to former human activities and support the concept of the "ecological memory of soil". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 is a devastating disease, and its control is difficult due to its high transmissibility rate and a long incubation average period (6.4 days). Additionally, more than half of the infected patients were asymptomatic young people or children. The asymptomatic virus transmission is the actual challenge to controlling the disease. Because of limited treatment options, diagnosis techniques have been the first focus all over the world, involving q-RT-PCR as a gold standard, serological tests, point of care studies, or RT-LAMP. Generally, nasopharyngeal, and oropharyngeal samples are preferred clinically as sources. However, alternative sources are being researched, particularly for healthcare professionals who have difficulty taking samples, patients who are afraid of giving samples, and pediatric patients. Herein, physiological saline has been utilized to offer an alternative source besides the swab samples for use in q-RT-PCR. In this study, 212 randomly chosen patients' samples were studied, and we evaluated the concordance and accurate q-RT-PCR results in two different sources, obtained from swab and gargle samples of patients. Herein, physiological saline is utilized, which is widely used medically as a recommended irrigating and wound dressing solution. We obtained in our experiments with this method, the confidence interval determines 74.50% positivity when compared to the routine q-RT-PCR procedure as summarized. In addition, when only the gargle sampling method is studied in low-income countries, the cost of testing for COVID-19 will decrease significantly. Because this method does not require vNAT or VTM transport solution sterile swab sticks as shown. The plastic container with a lid in which the patient can gargle with SF and spit it out is an ideal method for this. Additionally, it provides a great cost-benefit in low-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injectable therapies have been increasingly investigated to treat plantar fasciitis in randomized controlled trials (RCT) where normal saline injections are frequently used as placebo. The purpose was to quantify the effect of saline injections and compared against available minimal clinically important difference (MCID) criteria specific for plantar fasciitis to assess if changes were clinically meaningful. RCT including a placebo group (normal saline) and reporting changes in pain and functional outcomes in plantar fasciitis were identified through a search in MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus to February 2022. PRISMA guidelines and a registered protocol (PROSPERO: CRD42020214035) were followed to conduct the study. Pooled analysis of 13 RCT (379 subjects) included for analysis revealed a significant improvement on pain (P <.00001) and functional scores (P <.00001) after normal saline injections. These changes exceeded the established MCID criteria. Normal saline injections in plantar fasciitis showed a therapeutic effect with statistically and clinically meaningful improvement when administered in the setting of an RCT for up to 12 months. The control of potential confounders influencing the effect of saline injections is required for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the long-term clinical efficacy provided by intra-articular injections of either Pure Platelet-rich Plasma (P-PRP) or sham saline to treat knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods: This prospective, parallel-group, double-blind, multi-center, sham-controlled randomized clinical trial recruited participants with KOA from orthopedic departments at nine public hospitals (five tertiary medical centers, four secondary medical units) starting January 1, 2014, with follow-up completed on February 28, 2021. Participants were randomly allocated to interventions in a 1:1 ratio. Data were analyzed from March 1, 2021, to July 15, 2021. Three sessions (1 every week) of P-PRP or sham saline injected by physicians. The primary outcome was the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) at 3, 6, 12, 24, 60 months of follow-up. Secondary outcomes included the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, intra-articular biochemical marker concentrations, cartilage volume, and adverse events. Laboratory of each hospital analyzed the content and quality of P-PRP. Results: 610 participants (59% women) with KOA who received three sessions of P-PRP (n = 308, mean age 53.91 years) or sham saline (n = 302, mean age 54.51 years) injections completed the trial. The mean platelet concentration in PRP is 4.3-fold (95% confidence interval 3.6–4.5) greater than that of whole blood. Both groups showed significant improvements in IKDC, WOMAC, and VAS scores at 1 month of follow-up. However, only the P-PRP group showed a sustained improvement in clinical outcome measurements at month 24 (P < 0.001). There were statistically significant differences between the P-PRP and sham saline groups in all clinical outcome measurements at each follow-up time point (P < 0.001). The benefit of P-PRP was clinically better in terms of WOMAC-pain, WOMAC-physical function and WOMAC-total at 6, 12, 24, and 60 months of follow-up. No clinically significant differences between treatments were documented in terms of WOMAC-stiffness at any follow-up. A clinically significant difference favoring P-PRP group against saline in terms of IKDC and VAS scores was documented at 6, 12, 24 and 60 months of follow-up. At 6 months after injection, TNF-α and IL-1β levels in synovial fluid were lower in the P-PRP group (P < 0.001). Tibiofemoral cartilage volume decreased by a mean value of 1171 mm3 in the P-PRP group and 2311 mm3 in the saline group over 60 months and the difference between the group was statistically significant (intergroup difference, 1140 mm3, 95% CI − 79 to 1320 mm3; P < 0.001). Conclusions: In this randomized clinical trial of patients with KOA, P-PRP was superior to sham saline in treating KOA. P-PRP was effective for achieving at least 24 months of symptom relief and slowing the progress of KOA, with both P-PRP and saline being comparable in safety profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The band structures and band gap energies, Eg, of passive films formed on titanium (Ti) in simulated bioliquids, Hanks' solution (Hanks) and saline, were evaluated. Ti was polarized at 0, -0.1, and -0.2 VAg/AgCl, Ef, for 1 h. After polarization, the surfaces were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the photoelectrochemical responses were evaluated. The current change during photoirradiation was recorded as a photocurrent transient at each measuring potential, Em, and by changing the wavelength of the incident light. Passive films consisted of a very thin TiO2 layer containing small amounts of Ti2O3 and TiO, hydroxyl groups, and water. During polarization in Hanks, calcium and phosphate ions were incorporated or formed calcium phosphate but not in saline. Calcium phosphate and hydroxyl groups influenced the band structure. Eg was graded in Hanks but constant in saline, independent of Ef and Em. The passive film on Ti behaved as an n-type semiconductor containing two layers: an inner oxide layer with a large Eg and an outer hydroxide layer with a small Eg. In Hanks, Eg was 3.3-3.4 eV in the inner oxide layer and 2.9 eV in the outer hydroxide layer. In saline, Eg was 3.3 eV in the inner layer and 2.7 eV in the outer layer. Calcium phosphate and hydroxyl groups influenced the band structure of the passive film. The Eg of the outermost surface was smaller than that of TiO2 ceramics, which is probably one of the principles of the excellent biocompatibility of Ti among metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regression of available thermodynamic data in the BaSO 4 –NaCl–H 2 O system yielded Pitzer ion interaction parameters that accurately describe the activities of aqueous species and mineral solubilities in this system. This thermodynamics description is compared with published Pitzer parameter sets, and combined with a model for the kinetics of barite nucleation and growth, based on classical nucleation theory. Both the thermodynamic and nucleation/growth models have been incorporated into the PHREEQC computer code to facilitate calculation of the extent and consequences of barite formation in natural and engineered systems. Results of geochemical modelling calculations agree adequately with the amount of barite scale thicknesses derived from calliper measurements from an oil well if the effective surface free energy of barite nuclei is assumed to be ∼50 mJ m−2. Better results, however, are achieved using a temperature dependent effective surface free energy. In contrast, calculations performed by ignoring the effects of barite nucleation lead to a substantial overestimation of the amount of scale formed in our modelled systems. The success of our mineral nucleation and growth model to describe scaling in our modelled system suggests this description of precipitation rates can be applied to many other mineral-aqueous fluid systems, in particular where supersaturation is slight and the solids forming have substantial surface free energy. • The accuracy of barite solubility calculated with Pitzer databases for PHREEQC vary, in particular with temperature. • Based on classical nucleation theory, we have developed a model for nucleation and growth and implemented it in PHREEQC. • The model can accurately describe measured thickness of barite scale in a water producing oil well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructed wetlands use vegetation and microorganisms to remove contaminants like nitrogen and phosphorus from water. For mariculture, the impact of salinity on the efficiency of wastewater treatment of wetlands is unneglectable. However, little is known about their impact on the microbiome in constructed wetlands. Here, we set four salinity levels (15, 22, 29, and 36) in Salicornia constructed wetlands, and the experiment was conducted for a period of 72 days. The 15 group exhibited the highest removal rates of nitrogen compounds and phosphate, compared to the other salinity groups, the nosZ gene exhibited significantly higher expression in the 22 group (p < 0.05), indicated that microorganisms in 22 salinity have higher denitrification abilities. The three dominant phyla identified within the microbiomes were Proteobacteria, known for their diverse metabolic capabilities; Cyanobacteria, important for photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation; and Firmicutes, which include many fermenters. The ecological network analysis revealed a 'small world' model, characterized by high interconnectivity and short path lengths between microbial species, and had higher co-occurrence (45.13%) observed in this study comparing to the Erdös-Réyni random one (32.35%). The genus Microbulbifer emerged as the sole connector taxon, pivotal for integrating different microbial communities involved in nitrogen removal. A negative correlation was observed between salinity levels and network complexity, as assessed by the number of connections and diversity of interactions within the microbial community. Collectively, these findings underscore the critical role of microbial community interactions in optimizing nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands, with potential applications in the design and management of such systems for improved wastewater treatment in mariculture. [Display omitted] • The effects of different salinities on microbial composition and nitrogen removal in CW were explored. • The co-occurrence network revealed the complex interactions within microbial communities. • Findings have highlighted the interplay between microbial dynamics and environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, different plasma-activated liquids were evaluated for their antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli, as well as for their cytotoxicity on mammalian cells. The PALs were prepared from distilled (DIS), deionized (DI), filtered (FIL), and tap (TAP) water. Additionally, 0.9% NaCl saline solution (SAL) was plasma-activated. These PALs were prepared using 5 L/min air gliding arc plasma jet for up to 60.0 min of exposure. Subsequently, the physicochemical properties, such as, the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), the pH, the conductivity, and the total dissolved solids (TDS) were characterized by a water multiparameter. The PALs obtained showed a drastic decrease in the pH with increasing plasma exposure time, in contrast, the conductivity and TDS increased. In a general trend, the UV-vis analyses identified a higher production of the following reactive species of nitrogen and oxygen (RONS), HNO2, H2O2, NO3−, and NO2−. Except for the plasma-activated filtered water (PAW-FIL), where there was a change in the position of NO2− and NO3− at some pHs, The higher production of HNO2 and H2O2-reactive species was observed at a low pH. Finally, the standardized suspensions of Escherichia coli were exposed to PAL for up to 60.0 min. The plasma-activated deionized water (PAW-DI pH 2.5), plasma-activated distilled water (PAW-DIS pH 2.5 and 3), and plasma-activated tap water (PAW-TAP 3.5) showed the best antimicrobial effects at exposure times of 3.0, 10.0, and 30.0 min, respectively. The MTT analysis demonstrated low toxicity of all of the PAL samples. Our results indicate that the plasma activation of different liquids using the gliding arc system can generate specific physicochemical conditions that produce excellent antibacterial effects for E. coli with a safe application, thus bringing future contributions to creating new antimicrobial protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The goal of the current study was to determine if irrigation with ozonated water following conventional exodontia lowers postextraction complications in contrast to irrigation with normal saline. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 80 healthy participants, 40 males and 40 females 40 men who had routine closed tooth extraction. Two groups of participants were formed (Group A: irrigated with ozonated water and group B: irrigated with normal saline). The key research postoperative outcome measures that had been assessed postoperatively were the pain level experienced during the first five days after surgery, the degree of soft tissue healing, and the occurrence of alveolar osteitis. Results: Both groups had an equal distribution of males and females. Gender and age characteristics did not significantly differ across groups (P=0.588 and P=0.104 respectively). Both groups saw a significant postoperative reduction in pin, which decreased from 1.9 on the first day to 0.3 on the fifth. Regarding the occurrence of alveolar osteitis or the rate of soft tissue healing, there was no marked difference between the groups. Conclusion: Although ozonated water reduced the occurrence of postoperative sequla after traditional nonsurgical tooth extraction, the findings were not statistically different from the standard saline irrigation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: Central venous catheters (CVC) are widely used in critical care units. Due to the high prevalence of central venous catheter dysfunction, the cost, and the complications of their replacement, finding the right way to prevent catheter occlusion becomes important. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of an intermediate dose of heparin solution in the prevention of central venous catheter occlusion in ICU-admitted patients. Method: This randomized controlled trial was performed in the Adult Intensive Care Unit (AICU) of Imam Reza Hospital from 2019 to 2020. In each patient (153 patients), the lines were divided into two categories: active or inactive. Inactive lines in the intervention group (76 patients) were washed every 8 hours with 10 ml of saline solution and then filled with 1.5 ml of heparin solution (at a concentration of 100 units per ml). In the control group (77 patients) only washing with 10 ml of saline solution was performed. The active lines in the intervention group were first washed with 10 ml of saline solution after each use and filled with 1.5 ml of heparin solution if not used immediately. In the control group, only saline washing was performed. Each line was examined once daily during the morning shift to determine whether it was open or closed. Result: In the studied lines in 153 patients admitted to the intensive care unit who were divided into two groups of intervention (heparin) and control (saline), no significant difference was observed in the occlusion of the catheter lines (p>0.05). Conclusion: After 14 days of examination of central venous catheters in patients, the effectiveness of an intermediate dose of heparin in preventing catheter obstruction was not more than the saline solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing world population, the need for health prevention is also increasing. In these recent years, there is a rapid advancement in clinical care due to the technological advancements in the various fields of sensors and micro-controllers for assuring fast recovery of patients in the hospitals. The major and crucial necessity of the hospitalized patients is that each patient ought to be provided with a better treatment and observation and ought to be provided the right measure of vital nutrition at the right time. Saline solution is used for the covid patients to reduce the inflammation in different parts of the body such as lungs, heart, kidney and skin. Among the various treatments, the saline therapy is the most important treatment that numerous patients receive from the hospitals. Whenever a saline is fed to the patients, the patient needs to be persistently administered by a nurse or a care-taker. But unfortunately, there are some circumstances like patient's blood flow backwards into the saline tubing system. The proposed saline level monitoring and automatic alert system helps to protect the patients in this Covid time and to provide them with safety during saline feeding hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balanced crystalloids may improve outcomes compared with saline for some critically ill adults. Lower tonicity of balanced crystalloids could worsen cerebral edema in patients with intracranial pathology. The effect of balanced crystalloids versus saline on clinical outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) requires further study. We planned an a priori subgroup analysis of TBI patients enrolled in the pragmatic, cluster-randomized, multiple-crossover Isotonic Solutions and Major Adverse Renal Events Trial (SMART) (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02444988, NCT02547779). Primary outcome was 30-day in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included hospital discharge disposition (home, facility, death). Regression models adjusted for pre-specified baseline covariates compared outcomes. TBI patients assigned to balanced crystalloids (n = 588) and saline (n = 569) had similar baseline characteristics including Injury Severity Score 19 (10); mean maximum head/neck Abbreviated Injury Score, 3.4 (1.0). Isotonic crystalloid volume administered between intensive care unit admission and first of hospital discharge or 30 days was 2037 (3470) mL and 1723 (2923) mL in the balanced crystalloids and saline groups, respectively (p = 0.18). During the study period, 94 (16%) and 82 (14%) patients (16%) died in the balanced crystalloid and saline groups, respectively (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60 to 1.75; p = 0.913). Patients in the balanced crystalloid group were more likely to die or be discharged to another medical facility (aOR 1.38 [1.02-1.86]; p = 0.04). Overall, balanced crystalloids were associated with worse discharge disposition in critically injured patients with TBI compared with saline. The confidence intervals cannot exclude a clinically relevant increase in mortality when balanced crystalloids are used for patients with TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The nose is the portal for severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection, suggesting the nose as a target for topical antiviral therapies. The purpose of this study was to assess both the in vivo and in vitro efficacy of a detergent‐based virucidal agent, Johnson and Johnson's Baby Shampoo (J&J), in SARS‐CoV‐2–infected subjects. Methods: Subjects were randomized into three treatment groups: (1) twice daily nasal irrigation with J&J in hypertonic saline, (2) hypertonic saline alone, and (3) no intervention. Complementary in vitro experiments were performed in cultured human nasal epithelia. The primary outcome measure in the clinical trial was change in SARS‐CoV‐2 viral load over 21 days. Secondary outcomes included symptom scores and change in daily temperature. Outcome measures for in vitro studies included change in viral titers. Results: Seventy‐two subjects completed the clinical study (n = 24 per group). Despite demonstrated safety and robust efficacy in in vitro virucidal assays, J&J irrigations had no impact on viral titers or symptom scores in treated subjects relative to controls. Similar findings were observed administering J&J to infected cultured human airway epithelia using protocols mimicking the clinical trial regimen. Additional studies of cultured human nasal epithelia demonstrated that lack of efficacy reflected pharmacokinetic failure, with the most virucidal J&J detergent components rapidly absorbed from nasal surfaces. Conclusion: In this randomized clinical trial of subjects with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, a topical detergent‐based virucidal agent had no effect on viral load or symptom scores. Complementary in vitro studies confirmed a lack of efficacy, reflective of pharmacokinetic failure and rapid absorption from nasal surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serpentinization produces H2 and synthesizes CH4 that can support nonphotosynthetic habitability on Earth and possibly beyond. Although fluids on Earth and beyond that may participate in serpentinization are extensively saline with elevated levels of chlorine, chloride minerals are generally not considered to be a crucial component of serpentinization. In this study, we report the formation of kuliginite, a recently discovered hydroxychloride mineral with the ideal formula of Fe3Mg(OH)6Cl2, during internal serpentinization within olivine‐hosted fluid inclusions in ultramafic rocks from New Caledonia, southwest Pacific. It is inferred that kuliginite may form during serpentinization by Cl‐rich saline fluids under certain conditions on celestial bodies, which is largely unrevealed due to our insufficient knowledge about kuliginite. As a mineral containing ∼57 wt.% FeO that is mainly ferrous, kuliginite, even in minor amounts, may play an important role in iron partitioning during serpentinization, with a great influence on the production of H2 and synthesis of CH4. In a word, stabilization of kuliginite retards iron oxidation, whereas further hydration of kuliginite supplements canonical pathways of iron oxidation. In addition, as a hydroxychloride, kuliginite may have a significant weight in the chlorine budget of serpentinite. Therefore, kuliginite in the serpentinized fluid inclusions presented in this study may have general implications for serpentinization in certain saline environments on Earth and beyond, which needs to be further explored in the future. Plain Language Summary: Serpentinization represents the hydration of mantle rocks uplifted to the surface into serpentine‐dominated rocks. It produces hydrogen and synthesizes methane that can be utilized as energy by chemosynthetic microbes to further support a nonphotosynthetic habitat. Generation of hydrogen from water during serpentinization is caused by the oxidation of iron, which is dictated by iron distribution between newly formed minerals. In this study, kuliginite, a recently discovered chloride mineral with the ideal formula of Fe3Mg(OH)6Cl2, is shown to form during serpentinization in mantle rocks from New Caledonia, southwest Pacific. It is proposed that kuliginite may be produced during serpentinization in certain saline environments on Earth and beyond. As kuliginite is highly enriched in iron, its presence during serpentinization can significantly influence iron distribution and hydrogen generation. Future studies are expected to identify more kuliginite and better understand the role of chlorine during serpentinization. Key Points: Kuliginite, a recently discovered hydroxychloride with the ideal formula of Fe3Mg(OH)6Cl2, was found in serpentinized fluid inclusionsKuliginite may form during serpentinization in certain saline environments on Earth and beyondKuliginite formation can greatly influence iron partitioning and hydrogen/methane generation during serpentinization [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parylene is used as encapsulating material for medical devices due to its excellent biocompatibility and insulativity. Its performance as the insulating polymer of implantable neural interfaces has been studied in electrolyte solutions and in vivo. Biological tissue in vitro, as a potential environment for characterization and application, is convenient to access in the fabrication lab of polymer and neural electrodes, but there has been little study investigating the behaviors of Parylene in the tissue in vitro. Here, we investigated the electrochemical impedance behaviors of Parylene C polymer coating both in normal saline and in a chilled pig brain in vitro by performing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements of platinum (Pt) wire neural electrodes. The electrochemical impedance at the representative frequencies is discussed, which helps to construct the equivalent circuit model. Statistical analysis of fitted parameters of the equivalent circuit model showed good reliability of Parylene C as an insulating polymer in both electrolyte models. The electrochemical impedance measured in pig brain in vitro shows marked differences from that of saline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]