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Abstract: The La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3 (LSCF) nanoceramic powders were prepared by sol–gel process using nitrate based chemicals for SOFC applications since these powders are considered as more promising cathode materials for SOFC. The citric acid was used as a chelating agent and ethylene glycol as a dispersant. The powders were calcined at 650 °C/6 h, 900 °C/3 h and 1150 °C/2 h in air using Thermolyne 47900 furnace. These powders were characterized by employing SEM/EDS, XRD, porosimetry and TGA/DTA techniques. The SEM images indicate that the particle sizes of the LSCF powders are in the range of 50–200 nm. The LSCF perovskite phases are seen from the XRD patterns. From XRD Line broadening technique, the average particle size of the powders before and after calcination was found to be around 15 and 22.5 nm respectively. Porosimetry analysis depicts that the surface area the LSCF powders was decreased from 26 to 3 m2/g with increasing calcination temperatures up to 1150 °C. TGA plot shows that there is no weight loss after the temperature 500 °C indicating completion of combustion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To achieve a highly balanced comparison of trabecular bypass stenting (IS2, iStent inject) with ab interno trabeculectomy (T, Trabectome) by exact matching., Methods: Fifty-three IS2 eyes were matched to 3446 T eyes. Patients were matched using exact matching by baseline intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of glaucoma medications, and glaucoma type, and using nearest neighbor matching by age. Individuals without a close match were excluded. All surgeries were combined with phacoemulsification., Results: A total of 78 eyes (39 in each group) could be matched as exact pairs with a baseline IOP of 18.3 ± 5.1 mmHg and glaucoma medications of 2.7 ± 1.2 in each. IOP in IS2 was reduced to 14.6 ± 4.2 mmHg at 3 months and in T to a minimum of 13.1 ± 3.2 mmHg at 1 month. In IS2, IOP began to rise again at 6 months, eventually exceeding baseline. At 24 months, IOP in IS2 was 18.8 ± 9.0 mmHg and in T 14.2 ± 3.5 mmHg. IS2 had a higher average IOP than T at all postoperative visits (p < 0.05 at 1, 12, 18 months). Glaucoma medications decreased to 2.0 ± 1.5 in IS2 and to 1.5 ± 1.4 in T., Conclusion: T resulted in a larger and sustained IOP reduction compared with IS2 where a rebound occurred after 6 months to slightly above preoperative values.

Background: To compare two-year results of a filtering trabeculotomy (FTO) to conventional trabeculectomy (TE) in open-angle glaucoma by exact matching. Methods: 110 patients received an FTO and 86 a TE. FTO avoided the need for an iridectomy due to a preserved trabeculo-descemet window anterior to the scleral flap. TE employed a trabecular block excision and iridectomy. Mitomycin C was used in both. FTO and TE were exact matched by baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) and the number of glaucoma medications. Complete and qualified success (IOP ≤18 mmHg and IOP reduction ≥ 30%, with or without medication) were primary endpoints. IOP, visual acuity (BCVA), complications and intervention were secondary endpoints. Results: 44 FTO were exact matched to 44 TE. The IOP baseline in both groups was 22.5±4.7 mmHg on 3±0.9 medications. At 24 months, complete success was reached by 59% in FTO and 66% in TE, and qualified success by 59% in FTO and 71% in TE. In FTO, IOP was reduced to 12.4±4.3 mmHg at 12 months and 13.1±4.1 mmHg at 24 months. In TE, IOP was 11.3±2.2 mmHg at 12 months and 12.0±3.5 mmHg at 24 months. Medications could be reduced at 24 months to 0.6±1.3 in FTO and 0.2±0.5 in TE. There were no significant differences between the two groups in IOP, medications, complications or interventions at any point. Conclusion: Modifying aqueous flow through a limited trabeculotomy in FTO yielded clinical outcomes similar to traditional TE but allowed to avoid an iridectomy., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2020 Strzalkowska A et al.)

Damage to the mucous membrane is a serious issue associated with chemotherapy. Gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity is complex and multistep process and unregulated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory mediators play vital role in the development of GI toxicity. In the present study we have investigated the attenuating potential of vitamin C (vit. C) on 5 fluorouracil (5-FU) induced GI toxicity by targeting oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Rats were gavaged with vit. C (500 mg/kg b. wt.) or vehicle daily (day 1-10) and were given intraperitoneal injection of 5-FU (150 mg/kg b. wt.) or saline (control) on day 8 to induce mucositis. We found that vit. C supplementation attenuated 5-FU induced lipid peroxidation, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, activation of NF-kB and expression of COX-2. Histological observations further supported the protective potential of vit. C against 5-FU induced intestinal anomalies such as neutrophil infiltration, loss of cellular integrity, villus and crypt deformities. Thus the biochemical, molecular and histological findings of the present study demonstrate that oxidative stress and inflammation play vital role in 5-FU induced GI toxicity and the inhibitory potential of vit. C is may be due to the modulation of oxidative stress, activation of redox sensitive transcription factor and also its downstream target molecules.

Objective: To investigate qualitatively and quantitatively the bacterial aerosols before, during, and after clinical work sessions in different areas within a multichair dental clinic, an isolation clinic, the sterilization center, and the prosthetic laboratory in the College of Dentistry, King Saud University. In addition, the contributions of aerosols generated by different types of dental procedures were investigated., Method and Materials: Air sampling using blood and heart infusion agar plates at 4 selected areas was performed 3 times per day over a 2-week period before, during, and after clinical sessions., Results: The concentration of total bacterial aerosols was 5 times higher in the multichair clinic, 3.6 times higher in the prosthetic laboratory, and 2 times higher in the sterilization center and isolation clinic during working sessions as compared to before the working sessions. At the end of the working day, aerosols decreased 50% to 70% in all areas. Staphylococcus epidermidis had the highest prevalence (37.1%) of colony composition of bacteria examined., Conclusion: This study demonstrates that aerosols increase during and after work sessions and therefore increase the chance for infectious agent transmission. Preventive measures should be instituted to reduce or disrupt aerosols as a transmission route in the multichair dental clinic, sterilization center, prosthetic laboratory, and isolation clinic.

The objective of this study was to investigate qualitatively and quantitatively the bacterial aerosols before, during, and after clinical work sessions in different areas within a multichair dental clinic, an isolation clinic, the sterilization center, and the prosthetic laboratory in the College of Dentistry, King Saud University. Also, the contributions of aerosols generated by different types of dental procedures were investigated. Air sampling using blood and heart infusion agar plates at four selected areas was performed three times per day over a 2-week period before, during, and after clinical sessions. The concentration of total bacterial aerosols was 5 times higher in the multichair clinic, 3.6 times higher in the prosthetic laboratory, 2 times higher in the sterilization center and isolation clinic during working sessions as compared to before the working sessions. At the end of the working day, aerosols decreased 50-70% in all areas. Staphylococcus epidermidis had the highest prevalence (37.12q%) of colony composition of bacteria examined. This study demonstrates that aerosols increase during and after work sessions and, therefore, increase the chance for infectious agent transmission. Preventive measures should be instituted to reduce or disrupt aerosols as a transmission route in the multichair dental clinic, sterilization center, prosthetic laboratory, and isolation clinic.