Search

Efficient delivery of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) to a non-aqueous-phase liquid (NAPL) target zone located above the water table requires an understanding of their transport and binding characteristics. In this investigation, NPs coated with a tunable amphiphilic copolymer were employed in a series of experiments using a 1.4-m-long lysimeter. A crude oil zone was emplaced in the lysimeter to evaluate NP binding capabilities to a representative NAPL. Experimental observations were supported by a reactive transport model. NPs coated with a polymer concentration that promotes enhanced binding to crude oil were successfully delivered and retained in the NAPL zone at concentrations about three times higher than elsewhere in the lysimeter and consistent with the distribution of total petroleum hydrocarbons. Model simulations were able to reproduce the observed asymmetrical NP breakthrough curves and retention profile. The estimated attachment rate coefficient was two orders of magnitude higher for the NAPL zone than elsewhere, supporting the observed preferential binding to the crude oil. Depth-dependent straining was used in the model to capture the NP retention observed near the top of the lysimeter, presumably due to film straining caused by the increased capillary pressure. In addition to the reversible attachment and straining mechanisms, model simulations also indicated that loss of aqueous NP mass was required deeper in the lysimeter to provide a reasonable fit to the observed NP data. Due to increased contact with sediments, the polymer structure that coats the NPs may be slowly removed, leading to aggregation and reduced mobility because of physical trapping. Findings of this study revealed that despite the demonstrated targeted binding capability of these NPs in unsaturated systems, their delivery to a target NAPL zone distant from an injection location may be a challenge due to possible aggregation over longer travel distances and thus an important design consideration. Soil and groundwater contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons is a global issue due to the harm it causes to the environment and human health. Hence, developing novel in situ technologies is necessary due to limitations associated with ex situ remediation. One emerging technology called nanoremediation involves injecting nanosize particles into the impacted area to interact with contaminants effectively due to their small size and large surface area. By modifying their surface, particles can transport through soil and stick to specific contaminants, which is called targeted delivery. To better understand this technology, it should be studied under conditions similar to those in the field. Hence, we investigated targeted delivery of engineered nanoparticles in a large 1.4-m-long column packed with natural soil, representative of the unsaturated zone above a shallow aquifer. Our findings demonstrated preferential nanoparticle attachment to the crude oil–impacted sediment which provides the foundation to advance the use of these nanoparticles as a treatment agent and increases treatment efficiency. However, the noted increase in nanoparticle retention over longer travel distances is suggestive of their stability issues in unsaturated porous media, which may pose a limitation for the delivery of these NPs to a target zone distal from the injection location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) is associated with two progressive diseases: HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). Although HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL) has been introduced as a risk factor for these diseases' progression, it is not sufficient on its own to yield an accurate estimation of the outcome of the infection. In the present study, PVL and HTLV-1 basic leucine zipper factor (HBZ) expression level as viral factors, and IFN λ3 as a host factor, were evaluated in HAM/TSP patients and HTLV-1 asymptomatic carriers (ACs). During 2014-2015, 12 HAM/TSP patients and 18 ACs who had been referred to the HTLV-1 Clinic, Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS), Mashhad, Iran, were enrolled in this study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and the DNA and mRNA were extracted for quantification of HBZ, IFN λ3 expression, and PVL using real-time PCR (TaqMan method). Although the PVL was higher in the HAM/TSP group, with a 94% confidence interval, there were no considerable differences in terms of HBZ mRNA and PVL between ACs and HAM patients. IFN λ3 expression in the HAM/TSP group was significantly higher than in the ACs ( P = 0.02). To the best of our knowledge, no study has evaluated the expression level of IFN λ3 in HTLV-1 positive patients. The immune response against HTLV-1 viral antigens and virulent factors will therefore further refine our knowledge of interactions between the virus and host in the pathogenesis of HTLV-1-related disorders. The virus PVL and the host IFN λ3 can be used as pathogenic factors of HTLV-1 infected patients at risk of HAM/TSP manifestation. J. Med. Virol. 89:1102-1107, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperbilirubinemia is a common problem in neonates and causes serious complications. Thus, serial measurements of bilirubin should be done. This assessment is done through two methods of laboratory measurement in serum sample and transcutaneous bilirubinometer. This descriptive study compared transcutaneous bilirubin assessment and laboratory serum bilirubin. Bilirubin level was assessed among 256 neonates admitted to the Qods Children's Hospital in Qazvin- Iran, because of neonatal indirect jaundice, through two methods of transcutaneous bilirubinometery from two sites of forehead and sternum and laboratory measurement of bilirubin in serum. The cases were non-hemolytic icteric term neonates weighing 2500 gram or more and had not received phototherapy or other treatments. Neonates with hemolytic forms of jaundice, sepsis and suspicious to metabolic disorders were excluded. Assessments by means of KJ-8000 transcutaneous bilirubinometer from two sites of forehead and sternum and through laboratory measurement of serum bilirubin were registered and analyzed. The results of the current study showed that there was a correlation of 0.82 between serum bilirubin and transcutaneous forehead bilirubin assessment and for the used device sensitivity of 0.844; specificity of 0.842, Youden Index of 0.709 and Shortest of 0.042 for a cut-off of 12.4 in bilirubin of participants. Furthermore, Likelihood Ratio positive and negative (LR) were 5.665 and 0.164, respectively and diagnostic Odds Ratio (LR+/LR-) was 34.56. Transcutaneous bilirubinometery can be considered as a reliable tool to assess bilirubin for the screening of neonatal jaundice in term neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Thrombin is a proinflammatory and pro-coagulant agent which is upregulated in several human diseases. Thrombin has a critical role in promoting cell proliferation and microvascular leakage in malignant cells, resulting in cancer growth and progression. Here, we explored the potential therapeutic value of curcumin on permeability induced by thrombin in mice., Materials and Methods: To assess the activity of curcumin on thrombin-induced vascular permeability mice model, C57BL / 6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: (1) control (2) Thrombin (3) Thrombin + Curcumin and (4) Thrombin + Metformin. Thirty minutes after treatment, Evans blue was injected intravenously through the tail vein to mice. Then, animals were sacrificed and the dye was extracted from the skin tissue by incubation with formamide. Heatmap and correlation map were generated and protein-protein interaction network of the hub genes was drawn by Cytoscape software., Results: Hub DEG expression rate showed that Heat shock protein a1 (Hspa1) family (comprised of HSPa1a, b, and HSPa5), caspase 3, and minichromosome maintenance complex component 2 were overexpressed after treatment with curcumin. Functional modules of curcumin enriched through Enrich gene biological process and revealed positive association of gene expression of apoptosis process with the therapy. Curcumin was also found to reduce leucocyte migration in murine tissues. Additionally, treatment with curcumin resulted in downregulation of heat shock proteins and proinflammatory cytokines such as monocyte chemotactic protein 1, interleukin-6 and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 3., Conclusion: Curcumin inhibited the proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory HSPs in endothelial cells and reduced thrombin-induced barrier destabilization in vivo ., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that there is no conflict of interest.