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Background and Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and laboratory changes of ischemia and reperfusion injury in the remnant livers of donors with and without Pringle maneuver. Furthermore, we evaluated the recipients who have been transplanted with liver grafts from these donors. Methods and Materials: A total of 108 patients (54 living liver donors and 54 liver recipients) who underwent donor hepatectomy and recipients who living donor liver transplantation, were included in this randomized double-blind study between February 2021 and June 2021. The donors were divided into two groups: Pringle maneuver applied (n = 27) and Pringle maneuver not applied (n = 27). Similarly, recipients with implanted liver obtained from these donors were divided into two groups as the Pringle maneuver was performed (n = 27) and not performed (n = 27). Blood samples from donors and recipients were obtained on pre-operative, post-operative 0 h day (day of surgery), post-operative 1st day, post-operative 2nd day, post-operative 3rd day, post-operative 4th day, post-operative 5th day, and liver tissue was taken from the graft during the back table procedures. Liver function tests and complete blood count, coagulation tests, IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and β-galactosidase measurements, and histopathological findings were examined. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the parameters of biochemical analyses for ischemia-reperfusion injury at all periods in the donors with and without the Pringle maneuver. Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference between in the recipients in who received liver grafts harvested with and without the Pringle maneuver. There was no statistically significant difference between the two recipient groups in terms of perioperative bleeding and early bile duct complications (p = 0.685). In the histopathological examinations, hepatocyte damage was significantly higher in the Pringle maneuver group (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Although the histological scoring of hepatocyte damage was found to be higher in the Pringle maneuver group, the Pringle maneuver did not augment ischemia-reperfusion injury in donors and recipients that was evaluated by clinical and laboratory analyses.

Toxic materials in waste generally contain several components of the global trending pollutant category, especially PAHs and heavy metals. Bioremediation technology for waste management that utilizes microorganisms (bacteria) has not been fully capable of breaking down these toxic materials into simple and environmentally friendly chemical products. This review paper examines the potential application of a consortium of marine sponge symbionts with high performance and efficiency in removing PAHs and heavy metal contaminants. The method was carried out through a review of several related research articles by the author and published by other researchers. The results of the study conclude that the development of global trending pollutant (GTP) bioremediation technology could be carried out to increase the efficiency of remediation. Several types of marine sponge symbiont bacteria, hydrocarbonoclastic (R-1), metalloclastic (R-2), and metallo-hydro-carbonoclastic (R-3), have the potential to be applied to improve waste removal performance. A consortium of crystalline bacterial preparations is required to mobilize into GTP-exposed sites rapidly. Bacterial symbionts of marine sponges can be traced mainly to sea sponges, whose body surface is covered with mucus.

Radioembolization shows great potential as a treatment for intermediate- and advanced-stage liver cancer. However, the choices of radioembolic agents are currently limited, and hence the treatment is relatively costly compared to other approaches. In this study, a facile preparation method was developed to produce samarium carbonate-polymethacrylate [152Sm2(CO3)3-PMA] microspheres as neutron activatable radioembolic microspheres for hepatic radioembolization. The developed microspheres emits both therapeutic beta and diagnostic gamma radiations for post-procedural imaging. The 152Sm2(CO3)3-PMA microspheres were produced from commercially available PMA microspheres through the in situ formation of 152Sm2(CO3)3 within the pores of the PMA microspheres. Physicochemical characterization, gamma spectrometry and radionuclide retention assay were performed to evaluate the performance and stability of the developed microspheres. The mean diameter of the developed microspheres was determined as 29.30 ± 0.18 µm. The scanning electron microscopic images show that the spherical and smooth morphology of the microspheres remained after neutron activation. The 153Sm was successful incorporated into the microspheres with no elemental and radionuclide impurities produced after neutron activation, as indicated by the energy dispersive X-ray analysis and gamma spectrometry. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed that there was no alteration to the chemical groups of the microspheres after neutron activation. After 18 h of neutron activation, the microspheres produced an activity of 4.40 ± 0.08 GBq.g−1. The retention of 153Sm on the microspheres was greatly improved to greater than 98% over 120 h when compared to conventionally radiolabeling method at ~85%. The 153Sm2(CO3)3-PMA microspheres achieved suitable physicochemical properties as theragnostic agent for hepatic radioembolization and demonstrated high radionuclide purity and 153Sm retention efficiency in human blood plasma.

Introduction: Neutron-activated samarium-153-oxide-loaded polystyrene ([153Sm]Sm2O3-PS) microspheres has been developed in previous study as a potential theranostic agent for hepatic radioembolization. In this study, the therapeutic efficacy and diagnostic imaging capabilities of the formulation was assessed using liver cancer Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model. Methods: Twelve male SD rats (150–200 g) that implanted with N1-S1 hepatoma cell line orthotopically were divided into two groups (study versus control) to monitor the tumour growth along 60 days of treatment. The study group received an intra-tumoural injection of approximately 37 MBq of [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS microspheres, while control group received an intra-tumoural injection of 0.1 mL of saline solution. A clinical single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) system was used to scan the rats at Day 5 post-injection to investigate the diagnostic imaging capabilities of the microspheres. All rats were monitored for change in tumour volume using a portable ultrasound system throughout the study period. Histopathological examination (HPE) was performed after the rats were euthanized at Day 60. Results: At Day 60, no tumour was observed on the ultrasound images of all rats in the study group. In contrast, the tumour volumes in the control group were 24-fold larger compared to baseline. Statistically significant difference was observed in tumour volumes between the study and control groups (p < 0.05). The SPECT/CT images clearly displayed the location of [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS in the liver tumour of all rats at Day 5 post-injection. Additionally, the [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS microspheres was visible on the CT images and this has added to the benefits of 153Sm as a CT contrast agent. The HPE results showed that the [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS microspheres remained concentrated at the injection site with no tumour cells observed in the study group. Conclusions: Neutron-activated [153Sm]Sm2O3-PS microspheres demonstrated excellent therapeutic and diagnostic imaging capabilities for theranostic treatment of liver cancer in a SD rat model. Further studies with different animal and tumour models are planned to validate this finding.

Background: Inflammation and the associated immune pathways are among the most important factors in liver regeneration after living donor hepatectomy. Various biomarkers, especially liver function tests, are used to show liver regeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the course of liver regeneration following donor hepatectomy (LDH) by routine and regeneration-related biomarkers. Method: Data from 63 living liver donors (LLDs) who underwent LDH in Inonu University Liver Transplant Institute were prospectively analyzed. Serum samples were obtained on the preoperative day and postoperative days (POD) 1, 3, 5, 10, and 21. Regenerative markers including alfa-fetoprotein (AFP), des carboxy prothrombin (DCP), ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), and angiotensin-converting enzyme isotype II (ACEII) and liver function tests including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin levels were all analyzed. Results: The median age of the LLDs was 29.7 years and 28 LLDs were female. Eight LLDs developed postoperative complications requiring relaparotomy. The routine laboratory parameters including AST (p = 0.006), AFP (p = 0.002), DCP (p = 0.007), and ODC (p = 0.002) showed a significant increase in POD3. The regeneration parameters showed a different pattern of change. In right-lobe liver grafts, ACEII (p = 0.002), AFP (p = 0.035), and ODC (p = 0.001) showed a significant increase over time. DCP (p = 0.129) and RBP4 (p = 0.335) showed no significant changes in right-lobe liver grafts. Conclusions: Regenerative markers are increased in a sustained fashion following LDH. This is more prominent following right-lobe grafts which are indicative of progenitor-associated liver regeneration.

The genus Aeromonas has been recognised as an important pathogenic species in aquaculture that causes motile Aeromonas septicaemia (MAS) or less severe, chronic infections. This study compares the pathogenicity of the different Aeromonas spp. that were previously isolated from freshwater fish with signs of MAS. A total of 124 isolates of Aeromonas spp. were initially screened for the ability to grow on M9 agar with myo-inositol as a sole carbon source, which is a discriminatory phenotype for the hypervirulent A. hydrophila (vAh) pathotype. Subsequently, LD50 of six selected Aeromonas spp. were determined by intraperitoneal injection of bacterial suspension containing 103, 105, and 107 CFU/mL of the respective Aeromonas sp. to red hybrid tilapias. The kidneys, livers and spleens of infected moribund fish were examined for histopathological changes. The screening revealed that only A. dhakensis 1P11S3 was able to grow using myo-inositol as a sole carbon source, and no vAh strains were identified. The LD50–240h of A. dhakensis 1P11S3 was 107 CFU/mL, while the non-myo-inositol utilizing A. dhakensis 4PS2 and A. hydrophila 8TK3 was lower at 105 CFU/mL. Similarly, tilapia challenged with the myo-inositol A. dhakensis 1P11S3 showed significantly (p < 0.05) less severe signs, gross and histopathological lesions, and a lower mortality rate than the non-myo-inositol A. dhakensis 4PS2 and A. hydrophila 8TK3. These findings suggested that myo-inositol utilizing A. dhakensis 1P11S3 was not a hypervirulent Aeromonas sp. under current experimental disease challenge conditions, and that diverse Aeromonas spp. are of concern in aquaculture farmed freshwater fish. Therefore, future study is warranted on genomic level to further elucidate the influence of myo-inositol utilizing ability on the pathogenesis of Aeromonas spp., since this ability correlates with hypervirulence in A. hydrophila strains.

The Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) is the condition of a lack of carbohydrate and protein stores in the body that trigger chronic failure nutrient intake and body maintenance function caused to impact the heart functions. The NT-pro-BNP and Hs- Troponin I proteins were found as the indicator of cardiac dysfunction. The sixty subjects of PEM, analyzed by standard of Indonesia Healt Ministry as well as nutritional status. The blood electrolytes examined by laboratory assay and the levels of Hs-Troponin 1 and NT-Pro-BNP were analyzed by Immune-Chromatography method. Assessing of the ventricular mass with the seeing the peak of the diastolic flow rate of left ventricular that estimated by the curve of the receiver operating characteristic and the area under the curve (P

Mercury (Hg) contamination in soil and forage plants is toxic to ecosystems, and artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the main source of such pollution in the Bombana area of Indonesia. Hg contamination in soil and forage plants was investigated by particle-induced X-ray emission analysis of samples collected from three savannah areas (i.e., ASGM, commercial mining, and control areas) in the Bombana area. Hg contents of forage plants in the ASGM area (mean 9.90 ± 14 µg/g) exceeded those in the control area (2.70 ± 14 µg/g). Soil Hg contents (mean 390 ± 860 µg/g) were also higher than those in the control area (mean 7.40 ± 9.90 µg/g), with levels exceeding international regulatory limits. The Hg contents of 69% of soil and 78% of forage-plant samples exceeded critical toxicological limits. Thus, the Hg levels observed in this study indicate that contamination extending over large areas may cause major environmental problems.

Introduction: Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) has been proven as an effective treatment for unresectable liver tumor. In this study, neutron activated, 153Sm-labeled microspheres were developed as an alternative to 90Y-labeled microspheres for hepatic radioembolization. 153Sm has a theranostic advantage as it emits both therapeutic beta and diagnostic gamma radiations simultaneously, in comparison to the pure beta emitter, 90Y. Methods: Negatively charged acrylic microspheres were labeled with 152Sm ions through electrostatic interactions. In another formulation, the Sm-labeled microsphere was treated with sodium carbonate solution to form the insoluble 152Sm carbonate (152SmC) salt within the porous structures of the microspheres. Both formulations were neutron-activated in a research reactor. Physicochemical characterization, gamma spectrometry, and radiolabel stability tests were carried out to study the performance and stability of the microspheres. Results: The Sm- and SmC-labeled microspheres remained spherical and smooth, with a mean size of 35 µm before and after neutron activation. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated that the functional groups of the microspheres remained unaffected after neutron activation. The 153Sm- and 153SmC-labeled microspheres achieved activity of 2.53 ± 0.08 and 2.40 ± 0.13 GBq·g−1, respectively, immediate after 6 h neutron activation in the neutron flux of 2.0 × 1012 n·cm−2·s−1. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) and gamma spectrometry showed that no elemental and radioactive impurities were present in the microspheres after neutron activation. The retention efficiency of 153Sm in the 153SmC-labeled microspheres was excellent (~99% in distilled water and saline; ~97% in human blood plasma), which was higher than the 153Sm-labeled microspheres (~95% and ~85%, respectively). Conclusion: 153SmC-labeled microspheres have demonstrated excellent properties for potential application as theranostic agents for hepatic radioembolization.

Soil compaction is an important physical limiting factor for the root growth and plant emergence and is one of the major causes for reduced crop yield worldwide. The objective of this study was to generate 2D/3D soil compaction maps for different depth layers of the soil. To do so, a soil penetrometer was designed, which was mounted on the three-point hitch of an agricultural tractor, consisting of a mechanical system, data acquisition system (DAS), and 2D/3D imaging and analysis software. The system was successfully tested in field conditions, measuring soil penetration resistances as a function of depth from 0 to 40 cm at 1 cm intervals. The software allows user to either tabulate the measured quantities or generate maps as soon as data collection has been terminated. The system may also incorporate GPS data to create geo-referenced soil maps. The software enables the user to graph penetration resistances at a specified coordinate. Alternately, soil compaction maps could be generated using data collected from multiple coordinates. The data could be automatically stratified to determine soil compaction distribution at different layers of 5, 10,.…, 40 cm depths. It was concluded that the system tested in this study could be used to assess the soil compaction at topsoil and the randomly distributed hardpan formations just below the common tillage depths, enabling visualization of spatial variability through the imaging software.

The industrial mining sector is one of the main contributors to environmental damage and toxic metal pollution, although some contamination originates from natural geological sources. Due to their position at the top of the food chain, cattle tend to bioaccumulate mercury (Hg) in their bodies. We used analyses of cattle hair samples to investigate Hg contamination in cattle farmed within and outside of an artisanal and small-scale gold-mining area in Bombana, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. We also examined the factors that might have influenced the toxicity, such as the environmental conditions, sex, and age of the cattle. A total of 63 hair samples were analyzed by particle-induced X-ray emission spectrometry. The mean Hg concentration was significantly higher in hair from cattle farmed within the artisanal and small-scale gold mining area (11.44 μg/g hair) than in those farmed outside the area (2.89 μg/g hair, p < 0.05). A possible cause of this is contamination by mercury persistent in terrestrial food chain. The results indicates that the level of toxic metals such as Hg need to be controlled in food sources to protect human health, especially in Bombana, Indonesia.

The rapid expansion of the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) industry in developing countries has marginalized the local communities in poverty, and resulted in occupational exposure to mercury via the gold extraction process. We investigated the mercury exposure of the mining workers lived inside and outside the mining area. Based on the occupations of the contributors, the hair samples were divided into three subgroups: directly exposed, indirectly exposed, and a control. A total of 81 hair samples were analyzed by particle-induced X-ray emission spectrometry. The median mercury concentration was highest in the hair from the directly exposed group (12.82 μg/g hair) (control group median: 4.8 μg/g hair, p < 0.05), and the concentrations in hair from 45 respondents exceeded the Human Biomonitoring I (HBM I) threshold limit. Mercury concentrations were also elevated in the hair from the indirectly exposed group (median 7.64 μg/g hair, p < 0.05), and concentrations in hair from 24 respondents exceeded the HBM I threshold limits. Exposure to mercury during ASGM presents health risks and is harmful for the miners; mercury is also at hazardous levels for people who live in the mining area but who are not engaged in mercury-based gold extraction.