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A series of relatively simple incubation experiments to assess and evaluate microbial mercury (Hg) transformations in water column and sediments were performed monthly or bimonthly in a period from March 2011 to December 2011. Sampling campaigns were performed at station F in the southeastern part of Gulf of Trieste, northern Adriatic Sea. Gulf of Trieste has been for the last 500 year continuously impacted with inflow of Hg, originating from the Idrija Hg mine. The microbial mercury transformations were assessed using a short-lived (t1/2=64.12 h) radioisotope 197Hg. Calculated activities of microbial Hg reduction and methylation were correlated with other environmental factors, such as temperature, nutrient availability, oxygenation, organic matter, substrate (Hg in bioavailable chemical form) availability, structure of microbial community and presence of mer operon. Preliminary results show that in water column a substantial Hg reduction occurs, whereas methylation was not observed. On the other hand, long-term incubation experiments with sediments show that methylation process is active however preliminary results also suggest a significant MeHg degradation.

Long term experimental studies suggest that, under anoxic transient conditions, redox fronts within the sediment shift upwards causing sequential rise and fall of benthic fluxes of reduced species (Mn(II), Fe(II) than S(-II)). Infaunal benthic organisms are associated to different redox fronts as micro-habitats and must be affected by such changes during natural hypoxia events. In order to document geochemical evolution of the sediment during prolonged anoxia in a realistic system, benthic chambers were deployed on the seafloor of the Northern Adriatic and sampled after 9, 30 and 315 days of incubation. Oxygen and sulfide were measured continuously in the early stages of the experiment (during 9 days). High-resolution porewater profiles were sampled by DET probes and redox sensitive species were analysed (alkalinity, SO42-, Mn2+, Fe2+). After 7 days, anoxia was reached within the chambers. Mn and Fe started diffusing towards the water column giving a rusty color to the seafloor. Infaunal species appeared at the surface. After 20 days, all macro-organisms were dead. Macro-organisms decomposition laying on the seafloor generated important production of sulfides within the chamber generating a downward flux of sulfide towards the sediment where sulfides were quickly oxidized by metallic oxides or precipitated as FeS. Sulfide was no more detectable in the water column and porewaters at the end of the experiment. Therefore, our results suggest that sulfide enrichment in the water column in coastal systems is strongly controlled by the biomass of benthic macrofauna and its decay during hypoxia while its residence time in water column is controlled by iron content (as solid oxides or as dissolved reduced cation) within the sediment, even without water circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a common health problem that affects roughly 35% of women in the reproductive period. A prospective uncontrolled study was conducted to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of a non-ablative Er:YAG laser treatment of SUI. Forty-three patients participated in the study. All women underwent three sessions of IncontiLase® procedure, and efficacy of laser treatment was assessed by 1-h pad test, 24-h pad test, 3-day voiding diary, and ICIQ-UI SF questionnaire at multiple follow-ups. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way repeated measures ANOVA. Patients were questioned about discomfort during treatment and any adverse events following the laser procedures. All outcome measures showed a significant change over a period of the entire clinical trial. Eighteen-month follow-up revealed a fading of the effect, which was alleviated by single-session maintenance treatments every 6 months. There were no serious adverse events reported during the study. All reported side effects were mild and transient. The application of non-ablative Er:YAG laser for SUI treatment significantly improves the SUI symptoms. High improvement rates and patient satisfaction can be maintained with single-session maintenance treatments performed every 6 months. Long-term safety profile of multiple non-ablative Er:YAG laser treatment is shown. NCT04348994, 16.04.2020, retrospectively registered., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Successful treatment of acne scars in ethnic skin requires procedures that are safe and effective with a low incidence of hyper or hypopigmentation postoperatively., Objective: In this study, the safety and efficacy of a combined treatment protocol including tumescent anesthesia, subcision, trichloracetic acid peel, and fractional erbium laser resurfacing was evaluated., Methods: This is a retrospective study of 56 patients (22 women and 34 men) with predominantly rolling acne scars and Fitzpatrick skin Types IV-VI who were treated using a combination of tumescent anesthesia, extensive subcision, fractional ablative erbium laser, and a blending 20% trichloracetic acid (TCA) peel., Results: The mean improvement after a single treatment, assessed by 3 independent evaluators (2 dermatologist and 1 dermatology physician assistant), was 2.52 (SD = 1.04) on a scale of 1 to 4., Conclusion: The combination of tumescent anesthesia, extensive subcision, fractional ablative erbium laser resurfacing, and a blending 20% TCA peel (combined procedure) is both safe and effective in the treatment of rolling acne scars in ethnic skin types with acceptable temporary adverse effects., (Copyright © 2020 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Warts are benign epithelial proliferations that result from human papillomavirus (HPV) infection occurring on the skin and mucosa. Patients express a significant reduction in quality of life due to this cosmetic nuisance, as well as functional problems and physical discomfort. Newer methods of wart removal include different energy-based devices, mostly lasers. Nonablative lasers such as Nd:YAG have a higher success rate and are usually used with topical or infiltrative anesthesia. The procedure may be safer without anesthesia but still tolerable with an appropriate cooling and technique., Aims: The purpose of this study is to report on our experience over 3 years since the approach without anesthesia has been utilized., Patients/methods: A retrospective chart review analysis of all 85 patients who underwent 1064 nm Nd:YAG wart removal without anesthesia between November 2016 and August 2019 was conducted. One of the main outcome measures was determining the number of sessions required in order to get full clearance., Results: The mean number of sessions was 2.2 (range 1-7). The mean VAS pain score during the procedure was 6 (range: 2-10), and side effects were negligible., Conclusion: Long-pulse 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser without any chemical anesthesia is safe and effective for the treatment of warts., (© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) combines the conditions of vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) and urinary tract dysfunction, which is a result of urethral atrophy. There are several treatment methods available for the management of vulvovaginal symptoms of GSM, whereas urinary tract dysfunction often remains overlooked and undertreated. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the safety and efficacy of intraurethral Er:YAG laser treatment of urinary symptoms of GSM., Patients and Methods: Patients with diagnosed GSM, having less than 5% of vaginal superficial cells in the cytology, vaginal pH higher than 5, with urinary symptoms of GSM (dysuria, frequency, urgency) and impaired continence due to urethral atrophy, received two sessions of intraurethral Er:YAG laser with a 3-week interval in-between the sessions. Laser energy was delivered in non-ablative way using Erbium SMOOTH™ mode technology and a 4-mm thick cannula. Therapeutic efficacy was determined using ICIQ-SF, the 1-hour pad test and VAS scores. Occurrence of adverse effects was followed at every visit. Follow ups (FU) were at 3 and 6 months., Results: 29 female patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in this pilot study and received two sessions of the intraurethral non-ablative Erbium SMOOTH™ laser therapy. Significant improvement was observed in all measured parameters at both FU. ICIQ-SF improved by an average of 64% at 3 months FU and by 40% at 6 months. The 1-hour pad test showed a reduction of the quantity of leaked urine by 59% at 3 months FU and by 42% at 6 months FU. All urinary symptoms of GSM improved. Dysuria dropped to 13% and 31% of baseline values at three and 6 months respectively, urinary urgency dropped to 23% and 47% and frequency dropped to 22% and 43% after 3 and 6 months, respectively. Adverse effects were mild and transient., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that intraurethral Er:YAG laser is an efficacious and safe modality for treatment of urinary symptoms of GSM, however, prospective, randomized, and controlled trials with larger number of patients are needed to better assess the long-term effect of this novel procedure. Lasers Surg. Med. 50:802-807, 2018. © 2018 The Authors. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2018 The Authors. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The incorporation and trophic transfer of total and methyl mercury (THg, MeHg) were examined in three size classes of plankton (10-53, 53-200, and >200 μm size range) and a small planktivorous fish, Galaxias maculatus, from the large multi-branched Lake Nahuel Huapi (North Patagonia, Argentina). Three sites representing a large range of lake benthic-pelagic structures (based on depth and shoreline characteristics) and precipitation regimes were sampled. Nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes (δ(15)N, δ(13)C) were analyzed to assess Hg trophodynamics. Selenium concentrations were determined together with THg in order to consider its potential effect on Hg trophodynamics. High THg concentrations (0.1-255 µg g(-1) dry weight (DW)) were measured in plankton, largely in inorganic form (MeHg: 3-29 ng g(-1) DW, 0.02-7% of THg, in the two larger size classes). A trend of increasing THg concentrations, varying in two to three orders of magnitude, with decreasing plankton size was associated with precipitation measured prior to each sampling event. Passive adsorption of dissolved Hg(2+) from wet deposition and runoff is considered to be the principal Hg uptake mechanism at the base of the pelagic food web. Despite the initially high THg uptake in the smaller plankton classes, the transfer to G. maculatus, and consequently to the entire food web, is likely limited due to low proportion of MeHg to THg in plankton. Furthermore, evidence of G. maculatus with benthic feeding habits having higher impact on MeHg trophic transfer compared to the same species with more pelagic (e.g., zooplankton) feeding habits, was observed. Although there is a high THg uptake in plankton, limited amounts are incorporated in the entire food web from the pelagic compartment.

A highly sensitive laboratory methodology for simultaneous determination of methylation and reduction of spiked inorganic mercury (Hg(2+)) in marine water labelled with high specific activity radiotracer ((197)Hg prepared from enriched (196)Hg stable isotope) was developed. A conventional extraction protocol for methylmercury (CH(3)Hg(+)) was modified in order to significantly reduce the partitioning of interfering labelled Hg(2+) into the final extract, thus allowing the detection of as little as 0.1% of the Hg(2+) spike transformed to labelled CH(3)Hg(+). The efficiency of the modified CH(3)Hg(+) extraction procedure was assessed by radiolabelled CH(3)Hg(+) spikes corresponding to concentrations of methylmercury between 0.05 and 4ngL(-1). The recoveries were 73.0±6.0% and 77.5±3.9% for marine and MilliQ water, respectively. The reduction potential was assessed by purging and trapping the radiolabelled elemental Hg in a permanganate solution. The method allows detection of the reduction of as little as 0.001% of labelled Hg(2+) spiked to natural waters. To our knowledge, the optimised methodology is among the most sensitive available to study the Hg methylation and reduction potential, therefore allowing experiments to be done at spikes close to natural levels (1-10ngL(-1))., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)