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The cytokine storm is a complication related to SARS-CoV-2 infection worldwide. This study aimed to address the level of three cytokines which were interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), with different blood parameters to the formation of cytokine storm or any complication among COVID-19 patients., Method and Material: A total of 104 serum samples were included for this purpose, and they were divided into three categories the healthy control group ( n =30), mild COVID-19 patients ( n =23), and severe cases of COVID-19 patients ( n =51). The cytokine concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Serum ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were also evaluated and compared with the concentration of the proinflammatory cytokines., Result: The data analysis showed a significant relationship between the serum IL-6 level with serum ferritin and CRP and the progression to the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The IL-6 level was increased in mild COVID-19 patients and was significantly elevated in severe COVID-19 patients. Patients in the severe group had significantly higher serum ferritin, CRP, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels than those in the mild and healthy groups. The IL-1β and TNF-α were not significantly different in the groups compared with the healthy control group., Conclusion: This study revealed that the proinflammatory cytokines and biochemical laboratory tests are promising biomarkers for detecting the severity of COVID-19 cases., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests, (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

The remediation of Congo Red (CR) dye by the synthetic sorbent composited from sewage and waterworks sludge was studied in batch and continuous experiments. The continuous experiments studied the composite synthetic after mixing with composite synthetic sorbent filter (CSF) glass waste to increase the hydraulic conductivity of the permeable reactive barrier (PRB). The synthetic composite sorbent was characterised by the nitrogen adsorption-desorption tests, field emission-scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. For evaluating the batch tests, the variable conditions of initial concentration, solution pH, agitation time and agitation speed were studied. The synthetic sorbent showed a high ability to remove the CR from a contaminated water, with maximum sorbent uptake equal to 9,469.211 mg/g and composite adsorbent-filter CSF equal to 4,415.946 mg/g. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model governed the adsorption process. The column tests showed the highest reactivity, with 50:50 weight ratios of the adsorbent to filter glass waste. The experiments were done with different concentrations of CR and different bed heights of CSF as the PRB for 90 days. There was a delay in the breakthrough time when decreasing the contaminant concentrations and when increasing the composite adsorbent-filter CSF bed height. The breakthrough curves were well represented by the COMSOL model.

Purpose: To identify prognostic factors for curve progression in de novo degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DNDLS) by performing a systematic review of the literature., Methods: Studies were selected for inclusion following a systematic search in the bibliographic databases PubMed and EMBASE prior to September 2015 and hand searches of the reference lists of retrieved articles. Two authors independently assessed methodological quality. Data were extracted and presented according to a best evidence synthesis., Results: The literature search generated a total of 2696 references. After removing duplicates and articles that did not meet inclusion criteria, 12 studies were included. Due to the lack of statistical analyses, pooling of data was not possible. Strong evidence indicates that increasing intervertebral disk degeneration, lateral vertebral translation ≥6 mm, and an intercrest line through L5 (rather than L4) are associated with DNDLS curve progression. Moderate evidence suggests that apical vertebral rotation Grade II or III is associated with curve progression. For the majority of other prognostic factors, we found limited, conflicting, or inconclusive evidence. Osteoporosis, a coronal Cobb angle <30°, lumbar lordosis, lateral osteophytes difference of ≥5 mm, and degenerative spondylolisthesis have not been shown to be risk factors. Clinical risk factors for progression were not identified., Conclusions: This review shows strong evidence that increased intervertebral disk degeneration, an intercrest line through L5, and apical lateral vertebral translation ≥6 mm are associated with DNDLS curve progression. Moderate evidence was found for apical vertebral rotation (Grade II/III) as a risk factor for curve progression. These results, however, may not be directly applicable to the individual patient.