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Three novel thin-film composite (TFC) nanofiltration membranes are prepared using an ultrafiltration membrane (UFM) of organic polymer resin polyacrylonitrile followed by a mineralization process. The UFM was hydrolyzed (H-UFM) and then transferred in dopamine (DA) and tris buffer (TRIS) solutions. DA–TRIS coating is further favorable for the growth of nanoparticles (NPs), titania (TiO2), and zirconia (ZrO2) on membrane piece surface. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was combined with an energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS) in order to provide important insights into the arrangement and potential functions of NPs, due to their unambiguous chemical signal, for possible characterization and modification of materials at the atomic scale. Depending on whether the top layer is made of TiO2, ZrO2, or both, the membranes are called, respectively, TFC-NFTitan, TFC-NFZircon, and TFC-NFTitanZircon. The three membranes under the optimized preparation conditions (30 °C, 12 h of hydrolysis time, and operating pressure of 0.6 MPa) exhibited high rejection and permeation performance. TFC-NFTitanZircon showed the highest rejection (89–95%) for divalent cations with the salt rejection sequence of , while the permeate flux is not less than . All three membranes demonstrated long-term durability under 120-h testing. HIGHLIGHTS Thin-film composite nanofiltration membrane (NFM) for salt rejection.; Novel in situ NFM fabrication using the insights provided by a scanning electron microscope combined with an energy-dispersive spectrometer on the arrangement and potential functions of nanoparticles.; Modification of an ultrafiltration membrane to the NFM for salt removal.; Organic–inorganic NF preparation using a mineralization process.;

Purpose: To create an accurate 3D reconstruction of the vascular trees, it is necessary to know the exact geometrical parameters of the angiographic imaging system. Many previous studies used vascular structures to estimate the system's exact geometry. However, utilizing interventional devices and their relative features may be less challenging, as they are unique in different views. We present a semi-automatic self-calibration approach considering the markers attached to the interventional instruments to estimate the accurate geometry of a biplane X-ray angiography system for neuroradiologic use., Methods: A novel approach is proposed to detect and segment the markers using machine learning classification, a combination of support vector machine and boosted tree. Then, these markers are considered as reference points to optimize the acquisition geometry iteratively., Results: The method is evaluated on four clinical datasets and three pairs of phantom angiograms. The mean and standard deviation of backprojection error for the catheter or guidewire before and after self-calibration are [Formula: see text] mm and [Formula: see text] mm, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of the 3D root-mean-square error (RMSE) for some markers in the phantom reduced from [Formula: see text] to [Formula: see text] mm., Conclusion: A semi-automatic approach to estimate the accurate geometry of the C-arm system was presented. Results show the reduction in the 2D backprojection error as well as the 3D RMSE after using our proposed self-calibration technique. This approach is essential for 3D reconstruction of the vascular trees or post-processing techniques of angiography systems that rely on accurate geometry parameters., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objective: There is increasing evidence that gray matter (GM) impairment is strongly associated with clinical performance decline. We aim to perform a voxelwise analysis between regional GM (rGM) perfusion and structural abnormalities in early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients with normal cognition (RRMS-IC) and explore clinical correlate of early rGM abnormalities., Methods and Materials: We studied 14 early RRMS-IC patients and 14 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), structural MRI, and a comprehensive neuropsychological examination were acquired from all participants. Neuropsychological tests include expanded disability status scale, minimal mental status examination, short physical performance battery, Wechsler memory scale, and quick smell test. Voxel-based morphometry was used for analyzing SPECT and T1-MR images to identify rGM hypoperfusion and atrophy, respectively (RRMS-IC vs controls (group analysis), and also, each patient vs controls (individual analysis)) ( p < 0.001). Then, anatomical location of impaired regions was acquired by automated anatomical labeling software., Results: There was no significant difference in total GM volume between RRMS-IC and healthy controls, however, rGM atrophy and hypoperfusion were detected. Individual analysis revealed more rGM impairment compared with group analysis. rGM hypoperfusion was more extensive rather than rGM atrophy in RRMS-IC. There was no spatial association between rGM atrophy and rGM hypoperfusion ( p > 0.05). rGM abnormalities correlated with several relevant minimal clinical deficits., Conclusion: Lack of spatial correlation between rGM atrophy and hypoperfusion might suggest that independent mechanisms might underlie atrophy and hypoperfusion. Perfusion SPECT may provide supplementary information along with MRI., Advances in Knowledge: Association between rGM atrophy and rGM hypoperfusion and their clinical significance in early RRMS-IC is not well described yet. Our study showed that there is spatial dissociation between rGM atrophy and rGM hypoperfusion, suggesting that different mechanisms might underlie these pathologies.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) reduction in patients with dizziness and perfusion-related clinical impairment using brain perfusion single photon emission tomography (SPECT)., Methods: Thirty-four patients with subjective dizziness and 13 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were studied. Dizziness-related impairments were assessed using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Brain perfusion SPECT scan was acquired from all participants. The carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was also measured. Brain perfusion data were qualitatively interpreted in all cases. Voxel-wise analysis was also conducted in 11 patients compared to healthy controls., Results: Thirty-four patients (mean age=53.8±13.4 years, m/f: 19/15) and 13 age- and sex-matched controls (mean age=51.5±13.1, m/f: 7/6) were included. The dizziness severity was mild in 58.8% (n=20), moderate in 26.5% (n=9), and severe in 14.7% (n=5). Qualitative interpretation of SPECT images showed normal scans in 4 (11.2%) patients and abnormal scans in 30 (88.2%) patients. Patients with dizziness showed a significantly decreased brain perfusion in the precuneus, cuneus, occipital lobe (superior and inferior parts), frontal lobe (inferior and middle parts), temporal lobe, parietal lobe (inferior and superior parts), cerebellum, insula, and putamen nucleus. Based on both qualitative SPECT interpretation and voxel-wise analysis, perfusion defect had a significant association with the total SPPB score and the scores of two sub-domains (p<0.05), but not with the DHI (p>0.05) score., Conclusion: The perfusion- and atherosclerosis-related impairments of gait and balance were largely independent of subjective dizziness and dizziness severity. Moreover, this study provided support for contribution of perfusion impairment to the disturbance of gait and balance in older populations along with other pathologic processes., (© 2021 mums.ac.ir All rights reserved.)

For the first time, using aluminum-boron electrodes in the electrocoagulation cell for harvesting the cultivated Chlorella microalgae and then performing a hydrothermal process of producing biofuel, mesoporous biochar was produced with an average pore diameter of 11.62 nm, a high specific surface area of 126.4 m 2 /g and a total pore volume of 0.55 cm 3 /g. Based on the chemical characterization, aluminum boride carbide (Al 3 B 48 C 2 ) and boehmite [Al 2 (OOH) 2 ] were identified in the biochar composition so that 7.17 wt% Al and 16.67 wt% B were measured on the biochar surface by EDS analysis. As the by-product of hydrothermal converting microalgae Chlorella into biofuel, the residual biochar was innovatively used to separate tetracycline from aqueous solutions. The nonlinear form of the Freundlich model fitted theadsorption equilibrium data well with the least error function value explained by the intraparticle diffusion model. The maximum adsorption capacity of 25.94 mg/g was obtained through endothermic physical adsorption., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Evaluating locoregional extension of cervical cancer is a key step in patient management. This study evaluated the feasibility of fusion imaging - a combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with real-time high-resolution ultrasound (US) - to diagnose cervical cancer and its extension., Patients and Methods: This prospective bi-center study included 13 women who underwent a 1.5-T MRI protocol including at least one T2-weighted plane. The results of imaging fusion were then compared with US and MRI results alone., Results: Cervical cancer was detected as a hyperechogenic hypervascularized lesion. Parametrial extension was detected by exploration of the stromal ring and the use of color Doppler mode in fusion imaging, and characterized by visualization of a vascular bridge., Conclusion: Fusion imaging could be used as a complementary technique for MRI to enhance diagnostic performance for cervical cancer lesions. While MRI remains the reference, real-time fusion imaging could improve its characterization and detect parametrial infiltration., (Copyright© 2017, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.)

The molecular mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) carcinogenesis are still not fully understood. DNA repair defects may influence HCC risk. The aim of the study was to look for potential genetic variants of DNA repair genes associated with HCC risk among patients with alcohol- or viral-induced liver disease. We performed four case-control studies on 2,006 European- (Derivation#1 and #2 studies) and African-ancestry (Validation#1 and #2 studies) patients originating from several cohorts in order to assess the association between genetic variants on DNA repair genes and HCC risk using a custom array encompassing 94 genes. In the Derivation#1 study, the BRIP1 locus reached array-wide significance (Chi-squared SV-Perm, P =5.00×10 -4 ) among the 253 haplotype blocks tested for their association with HCC risk, in patients with viral cirrhosis but not among those with alcoholic cirrhosis. The BRIP1 haplotype block included three exonic variants (rs4986763, rs4986764, rs4986765). The BRIP1 ' AAA ' haplotype was significantly associated with an increased HCC risk [odds ratio (OR), 2.01 (1.19-3.39); false discovery rate (FDR)- P =1.31×10 -2 ]. In the Derivation#2 study, results were confirmed for the BRIP1 ' GGG ' haplotype [OR, 0.53 (0.36-0.79); FDR- P =3.90×10 -3 ]. In both Validation#1 and #2 studies, BRIP1 ' AAA ' haplotype was significantly associated with an increased risk of HCC [OR, 1.71 (1.09-2.68); FDR- P =7.30×10 -2 ; and OR, 6.45 (4.17-9.99); FDR- P =2.33×10 -19 , respectively]. Association between the BRIP1 locus and HCC risk suggests that impaired DNA mismatch repair might play a role in liver carcinogenesis, among patients with HCV- or HBV-related liver disease., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The authors who have taken part in this study declared that they do not have anything to disclose regarding funding or conflict of interest with respect to this manuscript.

Background: The present study was carried out to evaluate cerebral perfusion in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with a moderate to severe stage of disease. Some patients underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and brain perfusion between before and after that was compared., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 25 secondary progressive (SP)-MS patients from the hospital database. Neurological disability evaluated by Expanded Disability Status Scale Score (EDSS). Brain perfusion was performed by (99 m) Tc-labeled bicisate (ECD) brain SPECT and the data were compared using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). In total, 16 patients underwent HBOT. Before HBOT and at the end of 20 sessions of oxygen treatment, 99mTc-ECD brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed again then the results were evaluated and compared. Brain perfusion was performed by (99 m) Tc-labeled bicisate (ECD) brain SPECT and the data were compared using statistical parametric mapping (SPM)., Results: A total of 25 SP-MS patients, 14 females (56 %) and 11 males (44 %) with a mean age of 38.92 ± 11.28 years included in the study. The mean disease duration was 8.70 ± 5.30 years. Of the 25 patients, 2 (8 %) had a normal SPECT and 23 (92 %) had abnormal brain perfusion SPECT studies. The study showed a significant association between severity of perfusion impairment with disease duration and also with EDSS (P <0.05). There was a significant improvement in pre- and post-treatment perfusion scans (P <0.05), but this did not demonstrate a significant improvement in the clinical subjective and objective evaluation of patients (P >0.05)., Conclusions: This study depicted decreased cerebral perfusion in SP-MS patients with a moderate to severe disability score and its association with clinical parameters. Because of its accessibility, rather low price, practical ease, and being objective quantitative information, brain perfusion SPECT can be complementing to other diagnostic modalities such as MRI and clinical examinations in disease surveillance and monitoring. The literature on this important issue is extremely scarce, and follow up studies are required to assess these preliminary results.

The treatment of uterine cervical cancer evolved the last past twenty years. The management of early stages cervical cancer is based on surgery +/- after an initial brachytherapy in order to increase loco-regional control. A conservative treatment preserving uterine and ovarian functions is sometimes possible for young patients < 40 years old wishing to conceive. This strategy allows pregnancies with low recurrence rate. Finally, the use of the sentinel lymph node staging should be validated within the next few years. The treatment of locally advanced stages is based on concomitant chemoradiation therapy, which allows obtaining an important complete tumour response rate (90%). Thereafter, the irradiation modalities will depend on the para-aortic lymph nodes status diagnosed by PET-computed tomography +/- staging laparoscopic para-aortic lymphadenectomy. The use of completion surgery may be indicated in case of cervical residual disease and has to be balanced with its specific morbidity. All the decisions are made during a multidisciplinary tumour board.

Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS) is a rare childhood disorder characterized by acquired aphasia and epilepsy. 99mTc-ECD SPECT imaging was performed in two right-handed children with LKS. A relative decrease in perfusion was found in the left frontal-temporal cortices of both patients as well as in the left and right parietal cortices of one patient with aphasia, without clinical epilepsy. The degree of regional cerebral perfusion impairment did not correlate with the severity of the clinical and EEG abnormalities, but the area of hypoperfusion was compatible with the speech area of the brain. Overall, although asymmetrical temporoparietal perfusion appears as a common finding in LKS, SPECT findings in LKS alone cannot elucidate the pathogenic features of the disorder in the brain. Here, we present two cases of LKS in which we investigated SPECT perfusion scans.

Background: Malaria is a leading cause of mortality in southern Benin. The main causative agent, Plasmodium falciparum, poses a threat on critical transfusions in pregnant women and children. This study's objective was to compare the performance of different malaria screening methods in blood donors in southern Benin, a malaria-endemic country., Methods: Blood from 2,515 voluntary blood donors in Benin was collected over a period of 10 months in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes, which were then classified according to extraction time: long rainy season, short dry season, short rainy season, and long dry season. Microscopic examination was used to count parasites. Parasite density (PD) was expressed as the number of parasites per μL of blood. Pan Plasmodium pLDH detection was assessed by an ELISA-malaria antigen test. Using crude soluble P. falciparum antigens, an ELISA-malaria antibody test detected anti-Plasmodium antibodies., Results: Among the 2,515 blood donors (2,025 males and 488 females) screened, the rate of asymptomatic Plasmodium carriage was 295/2,515 (11.72%, 95% CI: 10.5-13.1%). Males had a higher infection rate (12.4%) than did females (8.8%). Parasite density was very low: between seven and100 parasites per μL of blood was reported in 80% of donors with parasitaemia. Three Plasmodium species were diagnosed: P. falciparum in 280/295 patients (95.0%), Plasmodium malariae in 14/295 (5.0%), and Plasmodium ovale in 1/295 (0.34%). Malaria prevalence in donors was higher during the rainy seasons (13.7%) compared with the dry seasons (9.9%). The use of a highly sensitive assay enabled pan Plasmodium pLDH detection in 966/2,515 (38.4%, 95% CI: 36.5%-40.3%). Malaria antibody prevalence was 1,859/2,515 (73.9%, 95% CI: 72.16-75.6%). Donors' antigenaemia and antibody levels varied significantly (P <0.05) over the course of the four seasons. The highest antigenaemia rate 323/630 (51.3%), was observed during the short rainy season, while the highest antibody prevalence, 751/886 (84.7%), was recorded during the long dry season., Conclusion: Blood donations infected with Plasmodium can transmit malaria to donation recipients. Malaria diagnostic methods are currently available, but the feasibility criteria for mass screening in endemic areas become preponderant. Detection of the pLDH antigen seems to be an adequate screening tool in endemic areas, for this antigen indicates parasite presence. Routine screening of all donated blood would prevent infected blood donations and reduce P. falciparum transmission in critical patients, such as children and pregnant women. This tool would also decrease medical prophylaxis in donation recipients and contribute to lower Plasmodium resistance.

Background: Genomewide association studies have shown a relation between plasma vitamin B-12 concentration and the 461G→A polymorphism of fucosyltransferase 2 (FUT2), a gene associated with susceptibility to Helicobacter pylori infection., Objective: We evaluated in 2 populations the association of FUT2 461 G→A polymorphism with vitamin B-12 and related metabolic markers and investigated whether the influence of FUT2 on H. pylori serology is part of the mechanisms that underlie these associations., Design: The study included 1282 ambulatory subjects from Europe and West Africa. Blood concentrations of vitamin B-12, folate, homocysteine, and methylmalonic acid were measured. Genotyping was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. H. pylori serology testing was performed by using ELISA., Results: In univariate analysis, FUT2 461 A/A genotype was associated with higher plasma vitamin B-12 concentration in the total population (P = 0.0007) as well as in Europe (P = 0.0009) and in West Africa (P = 0.0015). Positivity for H. pylori serology was higher in West Africa (P < 0.0001) and was not associated with low plasma vitamin B-12. The prevalence of H. pylori-positive patients did not differ among FUT2 461 G→A genotypes (P = 0.2068). In multivariate analysis, FUT2 461 G→A genotype (P = 0.0008), but not positive H. pylori serology, was an independent predictor of plasma vitamin B-12 concentration., Conclusion: This study confirms the influence of FUT2 461 G→A polymorphism on plasma vitamin B-12 concentration and showed no influence of H. pylori serologic status on this association in ambulatory subjects from Europe and West Africa.

Background/aims: Homocysteine metabolism is linked to DNA methylation, a mechanism potentially involved in the course of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We evaluated the association of determinants of homocysteine metabolism with the outcome of HBV infection., Methods: Four hundred and fifty-five healthy adults from Togo and Benin were tested for HBV serologic markers, HLA DR alleles, folate, vitamin B12, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677 C-->T, 1298 A-->C and methionine synthase 2756 A-->G polymorphisms., Results: Seventy-eight percent of the study population was anti-HBc positive. Among them, 202 (56.9%) were anti-HBs positive and 58 (16.3%) were HBsAg positive. After stepwise logistic regression, the MTHFR 677 T allele was independently associated with persistence of detectable anti-HBs antibodies (OR: 2.47; 95% CI: 1.29-4.71; p=0.006). The mean HBV DNA level was significantly lower in HBsAg positive subjects carrying the 677 T allele than in those with the 677 CC genotype (1000+/-1406 vs. 2,400,000+/-214,000 copies/ml, p=0.005). Beninese origin and HLA-DRB1*09 allele were the other determinants independently associated with favorable outcome of HBV infection., Conclusions: The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 T allele seems to protect against chronic HBV infection in young African adults.