Tropospheric ozone enhancement during post-harvest crop-residue fires at two downwind sites of the Indo-Gangetic Plain

Abstract

In the present study, surface ozone (O₃), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), and carbon monoxide (CO) levels were measured at two sites downwind of fire active region in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP): Agra (27.16° N, 78.08° E) and Delhi (28.37° N, 77.12° E) to study the impact of post-harvest crop-residue fires. The study period was classified into two groups: Pre-harvest period and Post-harvest period. During the post-harvest period, an enhancement of 17.3 and 31.7 ppb in hourly averaged O₃ mixing ratios was observed at Agra and Delhi, respectively, under similar meteorological conditions. The rate of change of O₃ was also higher in the post-harvest period by 56.2% in Agra and 39.5% in Delhi. Relatively higher O₃ episodic days were observed in the post-harvest period. Fire hotspots detected by Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) along with backward air-mass trajectory analysis suggested that the enhanced O₃ and CO levels at the study sites during the post-harvest period could be attributed to crop-residue burning over the North-West IGP (NW-IGP). Satellite observations of surface CO mixing ratios and tropospheric formaldehyde (HCHO) column also showed higher levels during the post-harvest period.

Graphical abstract

Removal of pharmaceutically active compounds from synthetic and real aqueous mixtures and simultaneous disinfection by supported TiO 2 /UV-A, H 2 O 2 /UV-A, and TiO 2 /H 2 O 2 /UV-A processes

Abstract

Pharmaceutically active compounds are carried into aquatic bodies along with domestic sewage, industrial and agricultural wastewater discharges. Psychotropic drugs, which can be toxic to the biota, have been detected in natural waters in different parts of the world. Conventional water treatments, such as activated sludge, do not properly remove these recalcitrant substances, so the development of processes able to eliminate these compounds becomes very important. Advanced oxidation processes are considered clean technologies, capable of achieving high rates of organic compounds degradation, and can be an efficient alternative to conventional treatments. In this study, the degradation of alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, lorazepam, and carbamazepine was evaluated through TiO₂/UV-A, H₂O₂/UV-A, and TiO₂/H₂O₂/UV-A, using sunlight and artificial irradiation. While using TiO₂ in suspension, best results were found at [TiO₂] = 0.1 g L⁻¹. H₂O₂/UV-A displayed better results under acidic conditions, achieving from 60 to 80% of removal. When WWTP was used, degradation decreased around 50% for both processes, TiO₂/UV-A and H₂O₂/UV-A, indicating a strong matrix effect. The combination of both processes was shown to be an adequate approach, since removal increased up to 90%. H₂O₂/UV-A was used for disinfecting the aqueous matrices, while mineralization was obtained by TiO₂-photocatalysis.

Fluorescent characteristic and compositional change of dissolved organic matter and its effect on heavy metal distribution in composting leachates

Abstract

Composting leachates were collected to investigate the fluorescent characteristic and compositional change of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and the effects of the DOM and nutrients on heavy metal distribution during a leachate combination treatment process. Excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectra showed that, with the progress of the treatment units, the content of fulvic-like, humic-like, and protein-like substances gradually decreased. One fulvic-like component (C1), three humic-like components (C2, C3, and C4), and three protein-like components (C5, C6, and C7) were identified in the leachate DOM by parallel factor analysis. Anaerobic-aerobic processes removed a large fraction of the tyrosine-like component (C7) and tryptophan-like component (C6) and a small amount of humic-like component (C2), while the membrane bioreactor showed a good removal effect on protein-like component. The ultra-filtration membrane treatment had a removal effect on fulvic-like and humic-like component and other recalcitrant compounds, while the reverse osmosis treatment had a good removal effect on both humic-like and protein-like components. Correlation analysis indicated that Mn and Cr were primarily associated with protein-like components and nutrients in the composting leachates. Ni and Pb were bound to fulvic-like, humic-like, and protein-like components, Co and Zn interacted with inorganic nitrogen and total phosphorus, and Cd only interacted with inorganic nitrogen.

RE: “MODELING RISK-FACTOR TRAJECTORIES WHEN MEASUREMENT TOOLS CHANGE SEQUENTIALLY DURING FOLLOW-UP IN COHORT STUDIES: APPLICATION TO DIETARY HABITS IN PRODROMAL DEMENTIA”

The impact of environmental pollution on public health expenditure: dynamic panel analysis based on Chinese provincial data

Abstract

In recent years, along with rapid economic growth, China's environmental problems have become increasingly prominent. At the same time, the level of China's pollution has been growing rapidly, which has caused huge damages to the residents' health. In this regard, the public health expenditure ballooned as the environmental quality deteriorated in China. In this study, the effect of environmental pollution on residents' health expenditure is empirically investigated by employing the first-order difference generalized method of moments (GMM) method to control for potential endogeneity. Using a panel data of Chinese provinces for the period of 1998–2015, this study found that the environmental pollution (represented by SO₂ and soot emissions) would indeed lead to the increase in the medical expenses of Chinese residents. At the current stage of economic development, an increase in SO₂ and soot emissions per capita would push up the public health expenditure per capita significantly. The estimation results are quite robust for different types of regression specifications and different combinations of control variables. Some social and economic variables such as public services and education may also have remarkable influences on residential medical expenses through different channels.

Use of Neodymium magnetic discs as pressure earrings for ear lobe keloid post-excision

2 to Z flap for reconstruction of adjacent skin defects

Effect of Petrolatum Coating on Fast-Absorbing Gut Suture

Split Ear Lobe Repair with Piercing Preservation and Optimal Ear Lobe Aesthetics

Effect of EDTA and citric acid on absorption of heavy metals and growth of Moso bamboo

Abstract

The effect of EDTA and citric acid on accumulation, toxicity of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb), and growth of Moso bamboo was investigated in current experiment. The availability of heavy metals in soil and its uptake by plants has indicated toxicity. The results revealed that EDTA and citric acid has reduced biomass of Moso bamboo but non-significant difference in biomass was observed compared with control. Application of EDTA (10 mmol kg⁻¹) has significantly improved copper (Cu) by 56.5 and 84.9% in roots and above ground parts of plants. Application of EDTA (10 mmol kg⁻¹) has significantly enhanced lead (Pb) by 51.8 and 210.8% in roots and above ground parts of Moso bamboo. Furthermore, treatment of EDTA has significantly improved activities of water-soluble Cd, Cu, and Pb in soil by 98.9, 70.1, and 73.1 times compared with control. In case of contents of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-extractable metals, the treatment of EDTA (10 mmol kg⁻¹) has produced maximum increase of 244.5 mg kg⁻¹ Zn and 157.9 mg kg⁻¹ Pb, respectively. It is concluded that effect of EDTA was superior compared with citric acid for improvement of phytoremediation potential of Moso bamboo.

Molecular surveillance of Vittaforma -like microsporidia by a small-volume procedure in drinking water source in Taiwan: evidence for diverse and emergent pathogens

Abstract

Vittaforma corneae belongs to microsporidia, which include over 1500 species of opportunistic obligate intracellular fungi infecting almost all known animal taxa. Although outbreaks of ocular infections caused by waterborne V. corneae have been reported in recent years, little is known about the occurrence of this pathogen in aquatic environments. In this study, 50 water samples from rivers and reservoirs around Taiwan in two seasons were analyzed to explore the presence of this pathogen in natural aquatic environments. A high detection rate of Vittaforma-like amplicons (94%; 47/50) was observed in the water samples when examined by nested PCR with primer pairs specific to the small ribosomal subunit (SSU) rRNA gene. After electrophoresis, many lanes showed multiband patterns with expected molecular weights. After confirmation by DNA sequencing and by sequence alignment in the NCBI database, we identified a variety of Vittaforma-like microsporidia with weak sequence similarity, with approximately 85% identity to V. corneae, thus indicating high diversity of microsporidia in aquatic environments. Phylogenetic analysis showed clear-cut microsporidian clade classification and indicated that the most Vittaforma-like microsporidia in this study belong to clade IV and cluster into four major groups. The first group is similar to the microsporidia associated with ocular microsporidiosis. The second group is associated with the diarrheal pathogens, whereas the third and fourth groups are a novel group and a zoonotic group, respectively. This study provides abundant sequencing information, which will be useful for future molecular biological studies on microsporidia. Because microsporidia are important pathogens of animals and humans, it is urgently necessary to determine via a survey whether there are species with potential threats that have not yet been revealed.

CHOP/caspase-3 signal pathway involves in mitigative effect of selenium on lead-induced apoptosis via endoplasmic reticulum pathway in chicken testes

Abstract

Lead (Pb) is an environmental pollutant. Selenium (Se) has alleviative effect on Pb poisoning. However, mitigative effect of Se on Pb-induced apoptosis has not been unclear via endoplasmic reticulum (ER) pathway in chicken testes. The aim of this study was to investigate mitigative effect of Se on apoptosis induced by Pb poisoning via ER pathway in chicken testes. Sixty male chickens (7-day-old) were randomly divided into the control group offered drinking water (DW) and basic diet (BD) (0.49 mg/kg Se), the Se group offered DW and BD containing Na₂SeO₃ (SeBD) (1.00 mg/kg Se), the Pb group offered DW containing (CH₃OO)₂Pb (PbDW) (350.00 mg/L Pb) and BD, and the Pb + Se group offered PbDW and SeBD; and were fed for 90 days. The following contents were performed as follows: histology; antioxidant indexes (reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)); mRNA expressions of ER-related genes (glucose-related protein 78 (GRP78), protein kinase-like ER kinase (PERK), eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), and enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP)); and apoptosis-related genes (cysteine-aspartic protease (caspase)-3 and caspase-12) in chicken testes. The results indicated that Pb poisoning caused histological changes; increased MDA content; decreased the content of GSH and the activities of GPx, GST, and SOD; and upregulated mRNA expressions of the above five ER-related genes and two apoptosis-related genes in the chicken testes. Se alleviated Pb-induced oxidative stress, ER stress, and apoptosis via CHOP/caspase-3 signal pathway in the chicken testes.

Immobilization of Eu and Ho from synthetic acid mine drainage by precipitation with Fe and Al (hydr)oxides

Abstract

Use of lime to mitigate acid mine drainage is, in general, accompanied by precipitation of iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al) (hydr)oxides which may increase the removal of trace elements from water. This work aimed to evaluate the precipitation of Fe/Al (hydr)oxides to remove rare earth elements (REE) from contaminated water and the stability of precipitates. Two sets of 60-day syntheses were carried out using different Fe/Al/REE molar ratios, for europium (Eu) and holmium (Ho). The pH was periodically adjusted to 9.0, and the stability of the resulting precipitates was evaluated by water-soluble and BCR extractable phases, namely (1) acid soluble, extracted by 0.11 mol L⁻¹ acetic acid; (2) reducible, extracted with 0.5 mol L⁻¹ hydroxylamine hydrochloride; and (3) oxidisable, extracted with 8.8 mol L⁻¹ hydrogen peroxide efficiencies of the water treatments for both Eu and Ho that were higher than 99.9% irrespective to the Fe/Al/REE molar ratios. Water-soluble phases of Eu and Ho were lower than 0.01% of the total contents in the precipitates. Recoveries from precipitates by Bureau Communautaire de Référence (BCR) sequential extractions increased with increasing concentrations of Eu and Ho. Acetic acid extracted higher amounts of REE, but Eu recovery was superior to Ho. Lepidocrocite was formed as Eu concentration increased which decreased its stability in the precipitates.

Editorial to the thematic issue Climate change and Microbiology

Safety and efficacy of HCV eradication during etanercept treatment for severe psoriasis

Dermatologic Therapy, EarlyView.

Pimpinella anisum essential oil nanoemulsions against Tribolium castaneum —insecticidal activity and mode of action

Abstract

The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is an economically important pest of stored products. As possible alternative to conventional insecticides for its management, plant essential oils have gained interest owing to their effectiveness and eco-friendly features. However, they also show some drawbacks, such as low stability, poor water solubility and diffusion, and limited persistence in the environment. A good strategy to overcome these disadvantages is represented by green nanotechnologies. Herein, we developed a nanoemulsion based on the essential oil from Pimpinella anisum L. (Apiaceae) containing 81.2% of (E)-anethole and evaluated its toxicity on T. castaneum adults and F₁ progeny, as well as its morphological and histological impact. The aniseed oil nanoemulsion was characterized by the formation of a semi-solid interphase between oil and water; mean drop size was 198.9 nm, PDI was 0.303, zeta potential was − 25.4 ± 4.47 mV, and conductivity was 0.029 mS/cm. The nanoemulsion showed toxicity on T. castaneum (LC₅₀ = 9.3% v/v), with a significant impact on its progeny. Morphological and histological damages triggered by feeding and exposure to the aniseed nanoemulsion were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy. Overall, our findings showed that the development of nanoemulsions allows to improve the stability of P. anisum essential oil enhancing its efficacy against stored grain pests and contributing to reduce the use of harmful synthetic insecticides.

The combined effect of Bassa 50EC and Vitashield 40EC on the brain acetylcholinesterase activity in climbing perch ( Anabas testudineus )

Abstract

The combined effect of Vitashield 40EC (chlorpyrifos ethyl-CPF) and Bassa 50EC (fenobucarb-F) was compared with the effects from exposure to the two pesticides separately, by measuring the brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in climbing perch fingerlings (Anabas testudineus). The experiment was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions and included three treatments containing 0.173 mg/L of CPF, 1.137 mg/L of F, 0.173 mg/L of CPF + 1.137 mg/L of F (M), and a control. The inhibition of the brain AChE activity in fish exposed to F was weaker and shorter than in fish exposed to CPF. The inhibition by the mixture of CPF and F was significantly lower and less prolonged than the inhibition by only CPF but significantly higher than the inhibition by only F.

Mitochondria, temperature, and the pace of life

Abstract

Life history strategies, physiological traits and behavior are thought to covary along a "pace of life" axis, with organisms at the fast end of this continuum having higher fecundity, shorter lifespan, and more rapid development, growth, and metabolic rates. Countergradient variation represents a special case of pace of life variation, in which high-latitude organisms occupy the fast end of the continuum relative to low-latitude conspecifics when compared at a common temperature. Here, we use Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) to explore the role of mitochondrial properties as a mechanism underlying countergradient variation, and thus variation in the pace of life. This species is found along the Atlantic coast of North America, through a steep latitudinal thermal gradient. The northern subspecies has faster development, more rapid growth, higher routine metabolic rate, and higher activity than the southern subspecies when compared at a common temperature. The northern subspecies also has greater mitochondrial respiratory capacity in the liver, although these differences are not evident in other tissues. The increased respiratory capacity of liver mitochondria in northern fish is associated with increases in the activity of multiple electron transport complexes, which largely reflects an increase in the amount of inner mitochondrial membrane per mitochondrion in the northern fish. There are also differences in the lipid composition of liver mitochondrial membranes, including differences in cardiolipin species, which could also influence respiratory capacity. These data suggest that variation in mitochondrial properties could, at least in part, underlie variation in the pace of life in Atlantic killifish.

Integrated ecological floating bed treating wastewater treatment plant effluents: effects of influent nitrogen forms and sediments

Abstract

In recent years, the treatment of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent has gained increasing attention. However, researches on the relationships between nitrogen forms and nitrogen removal efficiency are very limited. Based on the fact that the nitrogen forms in the WWTP effluent may vary as the season changes, the nitrogen removal efficiencies of an integrated ecological floating bed (IEFB) was studied under different influent nitrogen forms. In addition, the effects of sediments in the system were also quantified during the experiment. Results showed that the total nitrogen (TN) removal rates of the IEFB were 25.61 ± 5.72% and 60.03 ± 7.00%, respectively, when the main influent nitrogen forms are nitrate and ammonia. The sediments in the system also played vital roles in the removal processes: when the sediments were covered with a polyethylene membrane, the total nitrogen (TN) removal rate of the system dropped from 27.86 ± 5.53% to 14.78 ± 4.97%, and the total phosphorus (TP), from 58.77 ± 6.20% to 33.51 ± 25.52%.

Modeling the risk of water pollution by pesticides from imbalanced data

Abstract

The pollution of ground and surface waters with pesticides is a serious ecological issue that requires adequate treatment. Most of the existing water pollution models are mechanistic mathematical models. While they have made a significant contribution to understanding the transfer processes, they face the problem of validation because of their complexity, the user subjectivity in their parameterization, and the lack of empirical data for validation. In addition, the data describing water pollution with pesticides are, in most cases, very imbalanced. This is due to strict regulations for pesticide applications, which lead to only a few pollution events. In this study, we propose the use of data mining to build models for assessing the risk of water pollution by pesticides in field-drained outflow water. Unlike the mechanistic models, the models generated by data mining are based on easily obtainable empirical data, while the parameterization of the models is not influenced by the subjectivity of ecological modelers. We used empirical data from field trials at the La Jaillière experimental site in France and applied the random forests algorithm to build predictive models that predict "risky" and "not-risky" pesticide application events. To address the problems of the imbalanced classes in the data, cost-sensitive learning and different measures of predictive performance were used. Despite the high imbalance between risky and not-risky application events, we managed to build predictive models that make reliable predictions. The proposed modeling approach can be easily applied to other ecological modeling problems where we encounter empirical data with highly imbalanced classes.

Analysis of the changes in scalp hair angles: In vivo and in vitro comparison before and after tumescence

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, EarlyView.

Association between clinical characteristics, quality of life, and sleep quality in patients with periorbital hyperchromia

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, EarlyView.

Evaluation of selected skin parameters following the application of 5% vitamin C concentrate

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, EarlyView.

Evidence‐based treatment for gynoid lipodystrophy: A review of the recent literature

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, EarlyView.

Platelet‐rich plasma on female androgenetic alopecia: Tested on 10 patients

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, EarlyView.

Combination of fractional carbon dioxide laser with narrow band ultraviolet B to induce repigmentation in stable vitiligo: A comparative study

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, EarlyView.

Correlation between serum IL‐17A level and SALT score in patients with alopecia areata before and after NB‐UVB therapy

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, EarlyView.

Maximum cadmium limits establishment strategy based on the dietary exposure estimation: an example from Chinese populations and subgroups

Abstract

Dietary exposure to cadmium (Cd) in the Chinese population is currently a public health concern. China's national standard for maximum limits (MLs) of Cd in foods needs to be assessed. The objective of this research is to estimate the impacts of different Cd MLs intakes from selected foods and food groups and to provide scientific evidence for ML establishment. Food consumption data were taken from the Chinese National Diet and Nutrition Survey. Cd contamination data were obtained from the National Food Contamination Monitoring Program. A beta binomial normal (BBN) model was applied in the probabilistic assessment. Different possible ML scenarios for rice were selected to assess the impact of different MLs on Cd concentration and intake. More than 70% of children aged 2–6 years and over 30% of the general population have a dietary daily Cd intake above provisional tolerable daily intake (PTMId). Cd intake changed greatly relative to baseline when different possible MLs were used, but the changes were not as large when compared among the different possible MLs. Cd exposure in China, especially for children, is a public health concern. It is recommended that the ML for rice be held at 0.2 mg/kg.

Selective bioaccumulation, biomagnification, and dissipation of hexachlorocyclohexane isomers in a freshwater food chain

Abstract

Hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs), having potential risks to humans and ecosystem. This work evaluated the propensity of organisms to accumulate, eliminate, and transfer HCHs along the food chain (Tubifex tubifex and common carp (Cyprinus carpio)). The accumulation of HCHs from water by worms and carp was observed, and the concentrations increased with exposure time. After 8 days, the HCH concentrations in organisms remained stable. The accumulation factor (AF) values of HCHs in T. tubifex were higher than those in carp, indicating that the bioaccumulation abilities of HCHs in T. tubifex were higher than those in carp. The contaminated worms as a dietary source in the food chain led to significantly higher bioaccumulation in carp. The biomagnification factor (BMF) values of HCH isomers were all greater than 1. In the dissipation experiments, the elimination was fast and the half-lives were shorter than 2.5 days. The enantioselective accumulation and dissipation of α-HCH enantiomers were observed in worms and carp (food chain), and the enantiomeric differences should be taken into consideration in the study of contaminants risk assessment. The results on trophic transfer of HCHs in a freshwater food chain should be helpful for better understanding the fate, transport, and transfer of HCHs in freshwater environments.

Enantioselective analysis and degradation of isofenphos-methyl in vegetables by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

The enantioselective degradation of isofenphos-methyl in cowpea, cucumber, and pepper under field conditions was investigated to elucidate the enantioselective environmental behaviors of this pesticide. The concentrations of the enantiomers were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The degradation rates of isofenphos-methyl enantiomers were the fastest in cowpea, followed by cucumber and pepper, with half-lives ranging from 1.48 to 8.06 days. The enantioselective degradation of isofenphos-methyl was characterized by calculating and comparing the values of enantiomer fraction (EF) and enantiomeric selectivity (ES). The degradation rates and enantioselectivities of isofenphos-methyl were different for the three vegetables. (R)-(−)-isofenphos-methyl was degraded faster than (S)-(+)-isofenphos-methyl in cowpea and cucumber, whereas (S)-(+)-isofenphos-methyl underwent preferential degradation in pepper. These results could serve as a reference for the study of enantioselective behavior of isofenphos-methyl in plants and further food safety evaluation, where the enantiomeric differences should be considered in the risk assessment.

Estrogen returns to the stage in melanoma

Pigment Cell &Melanoma Research, EarlyView.

FBXW7 regulates a mitochondrial transcription program by modulating MITF

Pigment Cell &Melanoma Research, EarlyView.

Evaluation of the molecular lipid organization in millimeter‐sized stratum corneum by synchrotron X‐ray diffraction

Skin Research and Technology, EarlyView.

Enhanced immunity in intradermal vaccination by novel hollow microneedles

Skin Research and Technology, EarlyView.

Evaluation of sex‐related changes in skin topography and structure using innovative skin testing equipment

Skin Research and Technology, EarlyView.

Antera 3D capabilities for pore measurements

Skin Research and Technology, EarlyView.

PI3K Activation in Neural Stem Cells Drives Tumorigenesis which can be Ameliorated by Targeting the cAMP Response Element Binding (CREB) Protein

Abstract

Background

Hyperactivation of PI3K signaling is common in cancers but the precise role of the pathway in glioma biology remains to be determined. Some understanding of PI3K signaling mechanisms in brain cancer comes from studies on neural stem/progenitor cells, where signals transmitted via the PI3K pathway cooperate with other intracellular pathways and downstream transcription factors to regulate critical cell functions.

Methods

To investigate the role for the PI3K pathway in glioma initiation and development, we generated a mouse model targeting the inducible expression of a PIK3CA^H1047A oncogenic mutant and deletion of the PI3K negative regulator, PTEN, to neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs).

Results

Expression of a Pik3ca^H1047A was sufficient to generate tumors with oligodendroglial features but simultaneous loss of PTEN was required for the development of invasive, high-grade glioma. Pik3ca^H1047A-PTEN mutant NSPCs exhibited enhanced neurosphere formation which correlated with increased WNT signaling, while loss of CREB in Pik3ca^H1047A-Pten mutant tumors led to longer symptom-free survival in mice.

Conclusion

Taken together, our findings present a novel mouse model for glioma demonstrating that the PI3K pathway is important for initiation of tumorigenesis and that disruption of downstream CREB signaling attenuates tumor expansion.

Acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis in twenty‐one diabetic patients

Clinical Otolaryngology, EarlyView.

Trends of metals enrichment in deposited particulate matter at semi-arid area of Iran

Abstract

The presence and enrichment of heavy metals in dust depositions have been recognized as an emerging environmental health issues in the urban and industrial areas. In this study, the deposition of some metals was found in Qom, a city located in a semi-desert area in Iran that is surrounded by industrial areas. Dust deposition samples were collected using five sampling stations during a year. Dust samples were digested applying acidic condition and then, the metal content was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma technology (ICP-OES). Comparative results showed the following order, from the maximum to the minimum concentration (mg/kg dust) of elements: Ca > Al > Fe > Mg > Ti > Si > K > B > Sr > Mn > P > Ba > Cr > Zn > Ni > Sn > Pb > V > Na > Cu > Co > U > Li > Ce > Ag. The differences among the average concentrations of metals in the five stations were not significant (p value > 0.05). The average concentration of some metals increased significantly during cold seasons. In this study, the cluster analysis (CA) and princicipal component analysis (PCA) were applied, and relationships among some elements in different clusters were found. In addition, the geo-accumulation and enrichment analysis revealed that the following metals had been enriched more than the average values: boron, silver, tin, uranium, lead, zinc, cobalt, chromium, lithium, nickel, strontium, and coper. The presence of thermal power plant, pesticide manufacturing plants, publishing centers, traffic jam, and some industrial areas around the city has resulted in the enrichment of some metals (particularly in cold seasons with atmospheric stable conditions) in dust deposition.

Capturing intra-tumor genetic heterogeneity by de novo mutation profiling of circulating cell-free tumor DNA: a proof-of-principle

Ann Oncol 2014; 25: 1729–1735 (doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdu239)

Mapping unmet supportive care needs, quality-of-life perceptions and current symptoms in cancer survivors across the Asia-Pacific region: results from the International STEP Study

Ann Oncol 2017; 28: 2552–2558 (doi:10.1093/annonc/mdx350)

Changes of biotoxicity in food waste fermentation wastewater treated by a membrane bioreactor system

Abstract

The biotoxicity of industrial effluents has attracted much concern in the wastewater treatment process. This research performed the biological treatment of the wastewater generated from food waste fermentation by anaerobic/anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic-membrane bioreactor (A³-MBR) system aiming at the meet of discharge standards and elimination of ecological risks to aquatic environment. The results showed that the A³-MBR could effectively remove pollutants such as COD, TN, ammonia, and TP in the wastewater. The study of biotoxicity revealed that the acute toxicity was mainly contained in the polar and mid-polar fractions of the wastewater, and the remained acute toxicity was less than 0.6 TU, much lower than the secondary effluent of domestic wastewater treatment plant. The genotoxicity was found abundantly in the polar fractions and less in mid-polar fractions, and a relatively low genotoxicity (0.086 μg 4-NQO/L) was obtained in the final effluent of the treatment system. The fulvic acid-like compounds and humic acid-like compounds were the main cause of the acute toxicity, while the aromatic proteins and soluble microbial by-products mainly resulted in the genotoxicity in the wastewater.

Impact of selected drugs and their binary mixtures on the germination of Sorghum bicolor (sorgo) seeds

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the toxicological potential of binary drug mixtures and individual drugs under different pH conditions with different inorganic ion additions on the germination of Sorghum bicolor (sorgo) seeds. To assess whether the given drug mixtures were more phytotoxic than the individual compounds, concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA) approaches were applied to estimate the predicted phytotoxicity values, followed by calculations of the MDR (model deviation factor) to determine the deviation from the predicted values. Binary mixtures of chloramphenicol with ketoprofen, diclofenac sodium, and oxytetracycline hydrochloride proved to be synergistic. The pH changes had the largest impact on the phytotoxicity of the diclofenac sodium and ketoprofen solutions, elevating their toxicity toward S. bicolor, and the co-presence of inorganic ions was shown to have an impact on ketoprofen, chloramphenicol, and oxytetracycline hydrochloride. Most of the interactions between sorgo plants and pharmaceuticals with added ions were antagonistic in nature, particularly those calculated using the IA model, with a few cases (one case for ketoprofen and chloramphenicol, two cases for oxytetracycline hydrochloride, and four cases for diclofenac sodium) of overestimation.

Facile synthesis of highly porous “carbon sponge” with adsorption and co-adsorption behavior of lead ions and atrazine

Abstract

The rapid industrialization and modern agriculture, increasing emission of heavy metals, and abusing application of pesticide have changed biochemical features of the soil system and water system. Additionally, heavy metals and pesticide compounds may occur together in environments, giving rise to more serious damage to the environment because of their combined toxicity and carcinogenic properties. Therefore, there is a growing need for the development of low-cost adsorbents for their removal. Porous carbon materials have been considered as highly effective materials for pollutant ion control. In this thesis, a novel porous "carbon sponge" is produced using sucrose (S-PCS) with gas-producing molten salt KHCO₃ as the activator at different pyrolysis temperatures under a limited-oxygen condition. Results from these characterizations have indicated that the as-prepared carbon sponges share high surface area (up to 457.6434 m² g⁻¹) and abundant oxygen-containing functional groups existed on the surface. The essential factors of contact time, initial concentrations, and cyclic availability on adsorption of lead ions and atrazine onto the as-prepared porous samples are also discussed. The typical kinetic and thermodynamic models are carried out to interpret the adsorption behaviors of lead ions and atrazine. The interactive effects and mechanism of lead ions and atrazine adsorption onto S-PCS samples are examined by simultaneous adsorption and preloading adsorption procedures. Combined with the economic and environmental merits of the raw materials, the porous carbon sponges of sucrose by KHCO₃ activated are promising materials for potential practical applications.

Graphical abstract

The schematic diagram on the preparation of porous carbon sponse from sucrose.

Ionizing radiation exposure: hazards, prevention, and biomarker screening

Abstract

Radiation is a form of energy derived from a source that is propagated through material in space. It consists of ionizing radiation or nonionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is a feature of the environment and an important tool in medical treatment, but it can cause serious damage to organisms. A number of protective measures and standards of protection have been proposed to protect against radiation. There is also a need for biomarkers to rapidly assess individual doses of radiation, which can not only estimate the dose of radiation but also determine its effects on health. Proteomics, genomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics have been widely used in the search for such biomarkers. These topics are discussed in depth in this review.

Concentration-dependent responses of soil bacterial, fungal and nitrifying communities to silver nano and micron particles

Abstract

The growing use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is likely to result in increased environmental contamination. Although AgNPs have been reported to affect microbial communities in a range of ecosystems, there is still a lack of information concerning the effect of low concentrations of AgNPs on soil microbial community structures and functional groups involved in biogeochemical cycling. In this study, the concentration-dependent effects of AgNPs and silver micron particles (AgMPs) on bacterial and fungal community structures in an agricultural pastureland soil were examined in a microcosm-based experiment using enzyme analysis, molecular fingerprinting, qPCR and amplicon sequencing. Soil enzyme processes were impacted by Ag contamination, with soil dehydrogenase activity reduced by 1 mg kg⁻¹ of AgNPs and AgMPs. Soil urease activity was less susceptible, but was inhibited by ≥ 10 mg kg⁻¹ AgNPs. The significant (P ≤ 0.001) decrease in copy numbers of the amoA gene by 10 mg kg⁻¹ AgNPs indicated that archaea ammonia oxidisers may be more sensitive to AgNP contamination than bacteria. Amplicon sequencing revealed the bacterial phyla Acidobacteria and Verrucomicrobia to be highly sensitive to AgNP contamination. A broad reduction in the relative abundance of Acidobacterial genera was observed, with the exception of the genus Geothrix which increased in response to AgNP and AgMP amendment. Broad tolerance to Ag was observed among the Bacteriodetes, with higher relative abundance of most genera observed in the presence of AgNPs and AgMPs. The proteobacterial genus Dyella was highly tolerant to AgNPs and AgMPs and relative abundance of this genus increased with Ag concentration. Soil fungal community structure responded to both AgNPs and AgMPs, but the nanoparticle had an impact at a lower concentration. This study demonstrates that pastureland soil microbial communities are highly sensitive to AgNP amendment and key functional processes may be disrupted by relatively low levels of contamination.

Laparoscopic training using a quantitative assessment and instructional system

Abstract

Purpose

Laparoscopic surgery requires complex surgical skills; hence, surgeons require regular training to improve their surgical techniques. The quantitative assessment of a surgeon's skills and the provision of feedback are important processes for conducting effective training. The aim of this study was to develop an inexpensive training system that provides automatic technique evaluation and feedback.

Methods

We detected the instrument using image processing of commercial web camera images and calculated the motion analysis parameters (MAPs) of the instrument to quantify performance features. Upon receiving the results, we developed a method of evaluating the surgeon's skill level. The feedback system was developed using MAPs-based radar charts and scores for determining the skill level. These methods were evaluated using the videos of 38 surgeons performing a suturing task.

Results

There were significant differences in MAPs among surgeons; therefore, MAPs can be effectively used to quantify a surgeon's performance features. The results of skill evaluation and feedback differed greatly between skilled and unskilled surgeons, and it was possible to indicate points of improvement for the procedure performed in this study. Furthermore, the results obtained for certain novice surgeons were similar to those obtained for skilled surgeons.

Conclusion

This system can be used to assess the skill level of surgeons, independent of the years of experience, and provide an understanding of the individual's current surgical skill level effectively. We conclude that our system is useful as an inexpensive laparoscopic training system that might aid in skill improvement.

Exploiting the potential of unlabeled endoscopic video data with self-supervised learning

Abstract

Purpose

Surgical data science is a new research field that aims to observe all aspects of the patient treatment process in order to provide the right assistance at the right time. Due to the breakthrough successes of deep learning-based solutions for automatic image annotation, the availability of reference annotations for algorithm training is becoming a major bottleneck in the field. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the concept of self-supervised learning to address this issue.

Methods

Our approach is guided by the hypothesis that unlabeled video data can be used to learn a representation of the target domain that boosts the performance of state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms when used for pre-training. Core of the method is an auxiliary task based on raw endoscopic video data of the target domain that is used to initialize the convolutional neural network (CNN) for the target task. In this paper, we propose the re-colorization of medical images with a conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN)-based architecture as auxiliary task. A variant of the method involves a second pre-training step based on labeled data for the target task from a related domain. We validate both variants using medical instrument segmentation as target task.

Results

The proposed approach can be used to radically reduce the manual annotation effort involved in training CNNs. Compared to the baseline approach of generating annotated data from scratch, our method decreases exploratively the number of labeled images by up to 75% without sacrificing performance. Our method also outperforms alternative methods for CNN pre-training, such as pre-training on publicly available non-medical (COCO) or medical data (MICCAI EndoVis2017 challenge) using the target task (in this instance: segmentation).

Conclusion

As it makes efficient use of available (non-)public and (un-)labeled data, the approach has the potential to become a valuable tool for CNN (pre-)training.

Effective deep learning training for single-image super-resolution in endomicroscopy exploiting video-registration-based reconstruction

Abstract

Purpose

Probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE) is a recent imaging modality that allows performing in vivo optical biopsies. The design of pCLE hardware, and its reliance on an optical fibre bundle, fundamentally limits the image quality with a few tens of thousands fibres, each acting as the equivalent of a single-pixel detector, assembled into a single fibre bundle. Video registration techniques can be used to estimate high-resolution (HR) images by exploiting the temporal information contained in a sequence of low-resolution (LR) images. However, the alignment of LR frames, required for the fusion, is computationally demanding and prone to artefacts.

Methods

In this work, we propose a novel synthetic data generation approach to train exemplar-based Deep Neural Networks (DNNs). HR pCLE images with enhanced quality are recovered by the models trained on pairs of estimated HR images (generated by the video registration algorithm) and realistic synthetic LR images. Performance of three different state-of-the-art DNNs techniques were analysed on a Smart Atlas database of 8806 images from 238 pCLE video sequences. The results were validated through an extensive image quality assessment that takes into account different quality scores, including a Mean Opinion Score (MOS).

Results

Results indicate that the proposed solution produces an effective improvement in the quality of the obtained reconstructed image.

Conclusion

The proposed training strategy and associated DNNs allows us to perform convincing super-resolution of pCLE images.

Knowledge transfer for surgical activity prediction

Abstract

Purpose

Lack of annotated training data hinders automatic recognition and prediction of surgical activities necessary for situation-aware operating rooms. We propose using knowledge transfer to compensate for data deficit and improve prediction.

Methods

We used two approaches to extract and transfer surgical process knowledge. First, we encoded semantic information about surgical terms using word embedding. Secondly, we passed knowledge between different clinical datasets of neurosurgical procedures using transfer learning.

Results

The combination of two methods provided 22% improvement of activity prediction. We also made several pertinent observations about surgical practices based on the results of the performed transfer.

Conclusion

Word embedding boosts learning process. Transfer learning was shown to be more effective than a simple combination of data, especially for less similar procedures.

Cadmium bioaccumulation and antioxidant enzyme activity in hepatopancreas, kidney, and stomach of invasive apple snail Pomacea canaliculata

Abstract

The acute toxicity of Cd was tested, and metal bioaccumulation in tissue was determined for the alien invasive species Pomacea canaliculata and its native competitor Sinotaia quadrata under experimental conditions. The invasive species was more tolerant to Cd toxicity than native species, for which the LC₅₀ values were 4.26, 2.24, and 1.98 mg/L at exposure times of 48, 72, and 96 h, respectively, approximately three times higher than those of the native snails. The viscera accumulated the highest Cd concentration, followed by the foot and shell in both species. Metal concentrations in the above three tissues of P. canaliculata were much higher than those of S. quadrata, irrespective of Cd dose and exposure time. For P. canaliculata, the highest concentration of metal was further observed in the hepatopancreas (0.64–3.98 mg/g) followed by the kidney (0.067–3.78 mg/g), with lowest levels in the stomach (0.062–1.53 mg/g). Among the five antioxidant enzymes, the most responsive enzymes were CAT, ALP, and GST in the hepatopancreas; CAT, POD, and GST in the kidney; and POD in the stomach of exposed animals. These results, demonstrating a high Cd tolerance, may partly explain the ability of P. canaliculata to displace S. quadrata in Cd-contaminated habitat. The Cd was accumulated mainly in the hepatopancreas and kidney of invasive species, which changed the activity of antioxidant enzymes allowing the animals to cope with the toxicity.

Graphical abstract

Cadmium bioaccumulation and antioxidant enzyme activity in the invasive Pomacea canaliculata.

Source characterization and risk of exposure to atmospheric polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Ghana

Abstract

With recent evidence that persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are emerging in environmental media in some developing countries that otherwise have sparing production and usage history, it has become important to identify such contemporary source factors of PCBs and the risks this may pose, in line with the global consensus on POP management and elimination. The present study investigated contaminations from atmospheric PCBs in Ghana, deciphered source factors, and accessed risk of exposure to dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs). Atmospheric PCBs were monitored by deployment of PUF-disk passive air samplers (PAS) at several sites across Ghana for 56 days. Atmospheric ∑₁₉₀PCB concentration in Ghana ranged from 0.28 ng/m³ in Kumasi to 4.64 ng/m³ at Agbogbloshie, a suburb in Accra noted for informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling activities. As high as 11.10 ng/m³ of PCB concentration was measured in plumes from uncontrolled open burning of e-wastes at Agbogbloshie. Applying statistical source characterization tools, it emerged that e-wastes were a major contributor to the environmental burden of atmospheric PCBs in Ghana. The risk of DL-PCB toxicity via inhalation in the Agbogbloshie area was 4.2 pg TEQ/day, within similar order of magnitude of an estimated risk of 3.85 pg TEQ/day faced by e-waste workers working averagely for 8 h per day. It is suggested that elimination of e-waste sites would help to significantly reduce PCB-related toxicity issues in Ghana.

Graphical abstract

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Urban particulate matter in air pollution penetrates into the barrier-disrupted skin and produces ROS-dependent cutaneous inflammatory response in vivo

Particulate matters (PMs) are mixtures of particles suspended in the air. Their sources include factories, power plants, refuse incinerators, automobile, construction activities, fires and natural windblown dust [1]. Major components of PM are metals, organic compounds, materials of biologic origin, ions, and particle carbon core [2]. It also contains gases that are adsorbed onto the particles. PMs can be classified according to particulate size as PM0.1 (ultrafine particles, ≤ 0.1 μm), PM2.5 (fine particles, ≤ 2.5 μm), and PM10 (≤ 10 μm).

A novel, topical, nonsteroidal, TRPV1 antagonist, PAC-14028 cream improves skin barrier function and exerts anti-inflammatory action through modulating epidermal differentiation markers and suppressing Th2 cytokines in atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as atopic eczema, is the most common inflammatory skin disease characterized by chronic and relapsing episodes of intense pruritus, an impaired epidermal barrier and eczematous lesions [1–3]. AD occurs more frequently in younger individuals; in the developing countries, prevalence ranges from 15% to 30% in children and 2% to 10% in adults [1,4]. Most of the patients develop AD in early childhood but late-onset AD can occur at all ages. The course is heterogeneous and unpredictable as some patients develop persisting or chronic relapsing AD, whereas others lose nearly all symptoms until adolescence [5,6].

Ecological Expansion and Extinction in the Late Ediacaran: Weighing the Evidence for Environmental and Biotic Drivers

Abstract

The Ediacara Biota, Earth's earliest communities of complex, macroscopic, multicellular organisms, appeared during the late Ediacaran Period, just prior to the Cambrian Explosion. Ediacara fossil assemblages consist of exceptionally preserved soft-bodied forms of enigmatic morphology and affinity which nonetheless represent a critical stepping-stone in the evolution of complex animal ecosystems. The Ediacara Biota has historically been divided into three successive Assemblages—the Avalon, the White Sea and the Nama. Although the oldest (Avalon) Assemblage documents the initial appearance of several groups of Ediacara taxa, the two younger (White Sea and Nama) Assemblages record a particularly striking suite of ecological innovations, including the appearance of diverse Ediacara body plans—in tandem with the rise of bilaterian animals—as well as the emergence of novel ecological strategies such as movement, sexual reproduction, biomineralization and the development of dense, heterogeneous benthic communities. Many of these ecological innovations appear to be linked to adaptations to heterogeneous substrates and shallow and energetic marine settings. In spite of these innovations, the majority of Ediacara taxa disappear by the end of the Ediacaran, with interpretations for this disappearance historically ranging from the closing of preservational windows to environmentally or biotically mediated extinction. However, in spite of the unresolved affinity and eventual extinction of individual Ediacara taxa, these distinctive ecological strategies persist across the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary and are characteristic of younger animal-dominated communities of the Phanerozoic. The late Ediacaran emergence of these strategies may, therefore, have facilitated subsequent radiations of the Cambrian. In this light, the Ediacaran and Cambrian Periods, although traditionally envisioned as separate worlds, are likely to have been part of an ecological and evolutionary continuum.

Neural Crest Transplantation Reveals Key Roles in the Evolution of Cavefish Development

Abstract

Evolutionary changes in Astyanax mexicanus cavefish with respect to conspecific surface fish, including the regression of eyes, loss of pigmentation, and modification of the cranial skeleton, involve derivatives of the neural crest. However, the role of neural crest cells in cavefish evolution and development is poorly understood. One of the reasons is that experimental methods for neural crest analysis are not well developed in the Astyanax system. Here we describe neural crest transplantation between Astyanax surface fish and cavefish embryos. We found differences in the migration of cranial neural crest cells transplanted from the surface fish anterior hindbrain to the same region of surface fish or cavefish hosts. Cranial neural crest cells migrated extensively throughout the head, and to a lesser extent the trunk, in surface fish hosts but their migration was mostly restricted to the anterior and dorsal head regions in cavefish hosts. Cranial neural crest cells derived from the surface fish transplants invaded the degenerating eyes of cavefish hosts, resulting in increased eye size and suggesting that cavefish neural crest cells are defective in forming optic derivatives. We found that melanophores were formed in albino cavefish from grafts of surface fish trunk neural crest cells, showing that the cavefish tissue environment is conducive for pigment cell development, and implicating intrinsic changes in cavefish neural crest cells in loss of body pigmentation. It is concluded that changes in neural crest cells play key roles in the evolution of cavefish development.

Understanding molecular evolution and development of the organ of Corti can provide clues for hearing restoration

Abstract

The mammalian hearing organ is a stereotyped cellular assembly with orderly innervation: two types of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) innervate two types of differentially distributed hair cells (HCs). HCs and SGNs evolved from single neurosensory cells through gene multiplication and diversification. Independent regulation of HCs and neuronal differentiation through expression of basic Helix-loop-Helix transcription factors (bHLH TFs: Atoh1, Neurog1, Neurod1) led to the evolution of vestibular HC assembly and their unique type of innervation. In ancestral mammals, a vestibular organ was transformed into the organ of Corti (OC) containing a single row of inner HC (IHC), three rows of outer HCs (OHCs), several unique supporting cell types, and a peculiar innervation distribution. Restoring the OC following long-term hearing loss is complicated by the fact that the entire organ is replaced by a flat epithelium and requires reconstructing the organ from uniform undifferentiated cell types, recapitulating both evolution and development. Finding the right sequence of gene activation during development that is useful for regeneration could benefit from an understanding of the OC evolution. Toward this end, we report on Foxg1 and Lmx1a mutants that radically alter the organ of Corti (OC) cell assembly and its innervation when mutated and may have driven the evolutionary reorganization of the basilar papilla into an organ of Corti in ancestral Therapsids. Furthermore, genetically manipulating the level of bHLH TFs changes HC type and distribution and allows inference how transformation of HCs might have happened evolutionarily. We report on how bHLH TFs regulate OHC/IHC and how misexpression (Atoh1-Cre; Atoh1f/kiNeurog1) alters HC fate and supporting cell development. Using mice with altered HC types and distribution, we demonstrate innervation changes driven by HC patterning. Using these insights, we speculate on necessary steps needed to convert a random mixture of postmitotic precursors into the orderly OC through spatially and temporally regulated critical bHLH genes in the context of other TFs to restore normal innervation patterns.

An approach for phycoremediation of different wastewaters and biodiesel production using microalgae

Abstract

Four microalgal strains, namely, Tetraselmis indica (T. indica), Scenedesmus abundans (S. abundans), Spirulina sp., and Nostoc muscorum (N. muscorum) were cultivated on four different wastewaters in 1000 ml photobioreactors with 750 ml working volume under 94.5 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ light intensity for 14 days for phycoremediation of wastewaters and sustainable biodiesel production. These microalgal strains attained maximum biomass growth in the secondary treated sewage (STS). Maximum biomass yield (0.6533 g L⁻¹) and lipid productivity (25.44 mg L⁻¹ d⁻¹) for T. indica were achieved in STS. T. indica removed (63.6–78.24%) of nitrate, (60.90–65.97%) of phosphate, (61.01–80.01%) of ammonical nitrogen, and (71.16–85.70%) of total organic carbon (TOC) in all four wastewaters. The fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profile of T. indica shows the presence of myristic acid (1.2%) pentadecylic acid (0.28%), palmitic acid (10.32%), oleic acid (34.59%), linoleic acid (12.38%), and eicosanoic acid (14.88%) in STS. This study demonstrates that T. indica is the most suitable microalgal species among the four microalgal strains selected for phycoremediation of wastewaters and higher biomass production for sustainable biodiesel production.

Heavy metal availability, bioaccessibility, and leachability in contaminated soil: effects of pig manure and earthworms

Abstract

A pot experiment and a leaching experiment were conducted to investigate the effects of earthworms and pig manure on heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn) immobility, in vitro bioaccessibility and leachability under simulated acid rain (SAR). Results showed manure significantly increased soil organic carbon (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), available phosphorus (AP), total N, total P and pH, and decreased CaCl₂-extractable metals and total heavy metals in water and SAR leachate. The addition of earthworms significantly increased AP (from 0.38 to 1.7 mg kg⁻¹), and a downward trend in CaCl₂-extractable and total leaching loss of heavy metals were observed. The combined earthworm and manure treatment decreased CaCl₂-extractable Zn, Cd, and Pb. For Na₄P₂O₇-extractable metals, Cd and Pb were decreased with increasing manure application rate. Application of earthworm alone did not contribute to the remediation of heavy metal polluted soils. Considering the effects on heavy metal immobilization and cost, the application of 6% manure was an alternative approach for treating contaminated soils. These findings provide valuable information for risk management during immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated soils.

Interplay between elemental imbalance-related PI3K/Akt/mTOR-regulated apoptosis and autophagy in arsenic (III)-induced jejunum toxicity of chicken

Abstract

Arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃), the most toxic form of arsenic found in foodstuffs, is considered a carcinogen for human and animal. But many of the events that occur during its passage through the gastrointestinal tract are uncharted in birds. This study assesses the toxic effect on the jejunum of chicken which subchronically exposed to diets that contain As₂O₃ (0, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5 mg/kg body weight) for 90 days. Electron microscopy, TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), qPCR, and Western blot were performed. The results showed that mitochondrial fusion and apoptosis inhibiting genes had degressive trends, whereas mitochondrial fission and apoptosis activating genes presented heightened expressions in the treatment group compared with the control (P < 0.05). Subsequently, significant inhibition in PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling was observed. Moreover, the expression of autophagy markers (LC3-II/LC3-I, Beclin-1) increased time and dose-dependently. Additionally, metabolic disorders of trace elements were detected evidenced by their significant decreases (aluminum, silicon, calcium, manganese, strontium, titanium, lithium, boron, cobalt, mercury, chromium) and increases (arsenic, cadmium, selenium, lead, nickel) on 90 days using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). It is possible that the changes of trace elements have a hand in the come on and development of arsenism. Taken together, we conjectured that, in chicken jejunum, arsenic led to redistribution of trace elements, promoting apoptosis via regulating mitochondrial dynamics, leading to autophagy through PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathways.

A patchwork epistemology of disagreement?

Abstract

The epistemology of disagreement standardly divides conciliationist views from steadfast views. But both sorts of views are subject to counterexample—indeed, both sorts of views are subject to the same counterexample. After presenting this counterexample, I explore how the epistemology of disagreement should be reconceptualized in light of it.

Ammonia production in poultry houses can affect health of humans, birds, and the environment—techniques for its reduction during poultry production

Abstract

Due to greater consumption of poultry products and an increase in exports, more poultry houses will be needed. Therefore, it is important to investigate ways that poultry facilities can coexist in close proximity to residential areas without odors and environmental challenges. Ammonia (NH₃) is the greatest concern for environmental pollution from poultry production. When birds consume protein, they produce uric acid, ultimately converted to NH₃ under favorable conditions. Factors that increase production include pH, temperature, moisture content, litter type, bird age, manure age, relative humidity, and ventilation rate (VR). NH₃ concentration and emissions in poultry houses depend on VR; seasons also have effects on NH₃ production. Modern ventilation systems can minimize NH₃ in enclosed production spaces quickly but increase its emissions to the environment. NH₃ adversely affects the ecosystem, environment, and health of birds and people. Less than 10 ppm is the ideal limit for exposure, but up to 25 ppm is also not harmful. NH₃ can be minimized by housing type, aerobic and anaerobic conditions, manure handling practices, litter amendment, and diet manipulation without affecting performance and production. Antibiotics can minimize NH₃, but consumers have concerns about health effects. Administration of probiotics seems to be a useful replacement for antibiotics. More studies have been conducted on broilers, necessitating the need to evaluate the effect of probiotics on NH₃ production in conjunction with laying hen performance and egg quality. This comprehensive review focuses on research from 1950 to 2018.

The nexus between energy consumption and financial development: estimating the role of globalization in Next-11 countries

Abstract

In the modern era of globalization, the economic activities expand with the passage of time. This expansion may increase demand for energy both in developing and developed countries. Therefore, this study assesses the impact of financial development on energy consumption incorporating the role of globalization in Next-11 countries. A group of panel estimation techniques is used to analyze the panel data and time series data for the time 1990–2014. The empirical results of the study suggest that financial development stimulates energy consumption. Also, globalization increases demand for energy consumption, although the single country analysis suggests that the effect of globalization on energy demand is heterogeneous among N-11 countries. Furthermore, feedback hypothesis is confirmed between financial development and energy consumption. Also, bidirectional causality is found between economic growth and energy consumption. The findings urge for the attention of policymaker in emerging countries to develop a strategy to reduce the consequences of energy consumption by controlling resource transfer through globalization to the host country and by adopting energy conversation policies.

Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during Sphagnum litters decay

Abstract

The dynamics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degradation in Sphagnum litters and the decomposition of the litters were investigated. PAH concentration decreased to approximately half of the initial concentration as Sphagnum litters decayed. The initial PAH concentration was 489.2 ± 72.2 ng g⁻¹, and the concentration after 120 days of incubation was 233.0 ± 5.8 ng g⁻¹. The different PAH compositions changed concentrations at different times. The low-molecular-weight (LMW) and high-molecular-weight (HMW) PAHs started to be degraded after incubation and after 40 days of incubation, respectively. PAH concentrations in the Sphagnum litters correlated with the total organic carbon (TOC) content (p < 0.05), indicating that PAHs were associated with the TOC of the Sphagnum litters and were degraded as organic matter decayed. The positive relationship between LMW PAH concentration and the soluble carbohydrate content (p < 0.05) indicated that LMW PAHs and the readily decomposed organic carbon fractions were cometabolized, or that LMW PAHs were mainly absorbed by soluble carbohydrate. The weak negative correlation between fulvic acid (FA) and PAH concentrations (p < 0.1) indicated that FA may enhance PAH degradation. Redundancy analysis suggested that the contents of both soluble carbohydrate and cellulose significantly affected the changes in PAH concentrations (p < 0.05), and that FA content and C/N ratios may also contribute to the changes in PAH concentrations (p < 0.1). However, the polyphenol that was related to microbial activities was not associated with changes in PAH concentrations. These results suggested that litter quality is more important than microbial activities in PAH degradation in Sphagnum litters.

Equal treatment for belief

Abstract

This paper proposes that the question "What should I believe?" is to be answered in the same way as the question "What should I do?," a view I call Equal Treatment. After clarifying the relevant sense of "should," I point out advantages that Equal Treatment has over both simple and subtle evidentialist alternatives, including versions that distinguish what one should believe from what one should get oneself to believe. I then discuss views on which there is a distinctively epistemic sense of should. Next I reply to an objection which alleges that non-evidential considerations cannot serve as reasons for which one believes. I then situate Equal Treatment in a broader theoretical framework, discussing connections to rationality, justification, knowledge, and theoretical versus practical reasoning. Finally, I show how Equal Treatment has important implications for a wide variety of issues, including the status of religious belief, philosophical skepticism, racial profiling and gender stereotyping, and certain issues in psychology, such as depressive realism and positive illusions.

Association of Plexiform Neurofibroma Volume Changes and Development of Clinical Morbidities in Neurofibromatosis 1

Abstract

Background

Plexiform neurofibromas (PN) in neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) can cause substantial morbidities. Clinical trials targeting PN have recently described decreases in PN volumes. However, no previous study has assessed the association between changes in PN volumes and PN related morbidities. Our objective was to assess if increasing PN volume in NF1 is associated with increasing PN related morbidity.

Methods

Retrospective review of patients enrolled on the NCI NF1 Natural History study with ≥ 7 years of data available. Morbidities including pain, motor dysfunction, vision loss and PN related surgery, were assessed at time of baseline PN MRI with volumetric analysis and time of MRI with maximum PN volume.

Results

Forty-one patients (median age at baseline 8 years) with 57 PN were included. At baseline, 40 PN had at least one PN associated morbidity. During the observation period, 27 PN required increasing pain medication, and these PN grew faster per year (median difference 8.3%, 95% CI 2.4, 13.8%) than those PN which did not. PN resulting in motor impairment at baseline (n=11) had larger volumes compared to those that did not (median difference 461 mL, 95% CI 66.9, 820).

Conclusions

Many NF1 PN were associated with clinically significant morbidity at baseline, highlighting the need for longitudinal morbidity evaluations starting at an early age to capture changes in PN associated morbidities. Prospective evaluation of standardized patient reported and functional outcomes in clinical trials are ongoing and may allow further characterization of the association of PN volume increase or decrease and clinical changes.

Intratumoral Heterogeneity of Oxygen Metabolism and Neovascularization Uncovers Two Survival Relevant Subgroups of IDH1 Wild-type Glioblastoma

Abstract

Background

The intratumoral heterogeneity of oxygen metabolism in combination with variable patterns of neovascularization (NV) as well as reprogramming of energy metabolism affects the landscape of tumor microenvironments (TMEs) in glioblastoma. Knowledge of the hypoxic and perivascular niches within the TME is essential for understanding treatment failure.

Methods

Fifty-two patients with untreated glioblastoma (IDH1 wildtype) were examined with a physiological MRI protocol including a multiparametric quantitative blood-oxygen-level-dependent (qBOLD) approach and vascular architecture mapping (VAM). Imaging biomarker information about oxygen metabolism (mitochondrial oxygen tension) and neovascularization (microvascular density and type) were fused for classification of six different TMEs: necrosis; hypoxia with/without neovascularization; oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos); glycolysis with/without neovascularization. Association of the different TME volume fractions with progression-free survival (PFS) was assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard models.

Results

A common spatial structure of TMEs was detected: central necrosis surrounded by tumor hypoxia (with defective and functional neovasculature) and different TMEs with a predominance of OxPhos and glycolysis for energy production, respectively. The percentage of the different TMEs on the total tumor volume uncovered two clearly different subtypes of glioblastoma IDH1wt: a glycolytic dominated phenotype with predominantly functional neovasculature and a necrotic/hypoxic dominated phenotype with approximately 50% of defective neovasculature. Patients with a necrotic/hypoxic dominated phenotype showed significantly shorter PFS (P = 0.035).

Conclusions

Our non-invasive mapping approach allows for classification of the TME and detection of tumor-supportive niches in glioblastoma which may be helpful for both clinical patient management and research.

How should adult patients with neurofibromatosis 1 be managed?

Among familial tumor syndromes, neurofibromatosis 1 (NF-1) is the most prevalent, affecting about 1 in 3000 births. The disorder leads to a microdeletion in the gene coding for neurofibromin, which is a negative regulator of the Ras oncogene signal transduction pathway. The gene is situated on 17q11.2, and mutation is transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. However, half of affected individuals are spontaneous mutations.

Influence of temperature fluctuations on one-stage deammonification systems in northern cold region

Abstract

Cold and fluctuant temperatures are still a bottleneck for the application of one-stage deammonification in mainstream anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation). In this study, to simulate the practical but critical operational condition under rapidly fluctuant temperatures between April and May in cold northern area, two deammonification reactors with anammox granular sludge and nitritation flocculent sludge were tested under the cold shock with temperature fluctuations (11–18 °C). Under the controlled temperature (32 °C), good performances were obtained in both reactors. However, after the cold shock (ca. 13 °C), both reactors deteriorated similarly. The ammonia removal efficiencies decreased by half, while total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiencies decreased by two thirds. Nitrite accumulated in both reactors, while nitrate production was not disturbed although its contributions from nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) increased. In the stage with increasing wastewater temperatures (17.5 ± 2.2 °C), several operational conditions were tested to recover the performances, including limited dissolved oxygen, long hydraulic retention time (HRT), high nitrogen loading with elevated pH, and low NH₄⁺–N (60 mg/L), which did not significantly improve the performances, while the phenomena of heterotrophic nitrate reduction dramatically improved the nitrogen removal performances under limited aeration. During the cold temperature shock, insufficient anammox activity, and nitrate overproduction were the main problems.

Lipoxin A4 inhibits UV radiation-induced skin inflammation and oxidative stress in mice

The skin, as the outermost organ, is a physical barrier between the organism and the environmental deleterious factors such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV radiation is one of the major risk factors for dermatologic diseases and chronic UV radiation exposure has been shown to cause skin cancer and premature skin aging [1]. Pathological levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are formed as a consequence of exposure to UV radiation and by recruited neutrophils expressing gp91phox, a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 2 (NOX2) subunit that contributes to superoxide anion production during acute inflammation [2].

The impact of occupational exposure to traffic-related air pollution among professional motorcyclists from Porto Alegre, Brazil, and its association with genetic and oxidative damage

Abstract

Vehicles play an important role in modern life; however, they also generate hazards. Occupational exposed subjects are in long-term contact with harmful products, which sets these professionals in a susceptible group to air pollutant damage. The aims of this study were to quantify individual exposure to pollutant gases and chemical elements and to evaluate oxidative and genetic damage in professional motorcyclists and office workers. We recruited professional motorcyclists and office workers from Porto Alegre, Brazil, between January and December 2016. Individual exposure to air pollutants was assessed by passive monitoring. Fingernail trace elements were determined by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Oxidative stress biomarkers were quantified spectrophotometrically, and genotoxicity was evaluated by micronuclei assay. Individual exposure to NO₂ and O₃, trace element content (Sb, Pt, As, Cd, V, Mn, and Co), oxidative stress factors, and genetic damage were statistically higher in professional motorcyclists (p < 0.05). Moreover, NO₂ and O₃ levels showed very strong positive correlation with plasmatic lipid peroxidation (p < 0.001 and r = 0.8849 and 0.8995) and strong positive correlation with micronuclei frequency (p < 0.001 and r = 0.7683 and 0.7280). Results suggest that professional motorcyclists are at high risk due to long-term air pollution exposure, which implies in the onset of several harmful effects and worsening of pre-existent diseases.

Neonicotinoid detection in wild turkeys ( Meleagris gallopavo silvestris ) in Ontario, Canada

Abstract

The use of neonicotinoid insecticides in agriculture is now recognized for the health risks it poses to non-target wildlife, with associated honey bee mortality especially concerning. Research directed toward the presence and effects of these pesticides on terrestrial vertebrates that consume neonicotinoid-coated seeds, such as wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris), is lacking. This study used liquid chromatography attached to a tandem mass spectrometer to assess the liver from 40 wild turkeys for neonicotinoid and other pesticide residues and compared detected levels of these contaminants across the southern Ontario, Canada. Nine (22.5%) wild turkeys had detectible levels of neonicotinoid residues—clothianidin in eight, and thiamethoxam in three. Two (5.0%) of these turkeys had detectable levels of both clothianidin and thiamethoxam. Fuberidazole was detected in two (5.0%) wild turkeys. The highest level of thiamethoxam detected was 0.16 ppm, while clothianidin was detected at 0.12 ppm, and fuberidazole at 0.0094 ppm. Knowledge of exposure in free-ranging wildlife is critical for better understanding the effects of neonicotinoids on wildlife health; thus, these data help establish baseline data for southern Ontario wild turkeys and provide context for reference values in future analyses.

Surgical results of laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease with special reference to recurrence

Abstract

Background

Surgical results of GERD have mainly been reported from the Western countries, with a few reports found in Japan. We examined the surgical results of laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication and clarify the characteristics of recurrent cases.

Methods

The subjects included 375 patients who underwent laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication from June 1997 to December 2016 as the initial surgery. Patient characteristics, pathophysiology, and surgical results were examined. In addition, we compared the patient characteristics and pathophysiology of recurrent cases in comparison with non-recurrent cases.

Results

Age 59 (43–70) and male 211 (56.3%). The operation time was 141 min (113–180) and intraoperative complications were found to have onset in 13 subjects (3.5%). Dysphagia after surgery was found in 18 cases (4.8%). The A factor (the degree of hiatal hernia), P factor (the degree of esophagitis), and pH < 4 holding time significantly improved after surgery compared with prior to surgery (p < 0.001 for all), while the LES lengths and abdominal LES lengths were extended (p < 0.001 for each). Recurrence was found in 48 patients (15.1%) among the 318 patients for whom we could confirm the presence or absence of recurrence. The A factor, P factor, and pH < 4 holding time prior to surgery were, respectively, higher in the recurrence group (p = 0.031, p < 0.001, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication for GERD could be performed safely, with a response rate as good as 85%. Compared with non-recurrent cases, preoperative clinical conditions such as esophageal hiatal hernia, reflux esophagitis, and acid reflux time were all advanced in recurrent cases.

Philosophy of Management Between Scientism and Technology

Abstract

This article addresses the difficulty in pursuing a philosophical engagement with management without falling into the trap of scientism. It also explores the option to turn management theorists away from science to seek insights from technology. The article is organized in four parts: a preliminary discussion on management from a philosophical viewpoint, a crucial distinction between philosophy of management as a mode of inquiry and a field of study, an analysis of the risk of scientism in the current philosophical work on management, and an initial inspection across the waters separating management and philosophy of technology.

Characterization of 3‐Acetyl Chlorophyll a and 3‐Acetyl Protochlorophyll a Accommodated in the B800 Binding Sites of Photosynthetic Light‐Harvesting Complex 2 in the Purple Photosynthetic Bacterium Rhodoblastus acidophilus

Photochemistry and Photobiology, EarlyView.

Contact Dermatitis Symposium

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 13-16, May 2018.

All About Acne

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 12-12, May 2018.

Miscellaneous and Other Surprises

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 7-9, May 2018.

Author Index 2018

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 130-134, May 2018.

Plenary Session 4 and Awarding of Prizes

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 29-31, May 2018.

Poster Presentations

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 32-129, May 2018.

Mohs Quality Assurance Program and Fellow Talks

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 9-10, May 2018.

Paediatric Symposium

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 16-19, May 2018.

What's New in Journals

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 31-31, May 2018.

Psoriasis Symposium

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 12-13, May 2018.

Procedural Dermatology – Free Papers

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 11-12, May 2018.

Registrar Training Session

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 24-24, May 2018.

Dermatology Hospitalist

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 22-24, May 2018.

Translational Research

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 25-28, May 2018.

Procedural Dermatology – Mohs Peer Review

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 4-4, May 2018.

Melanoma & Skin Cancer Free Communications

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 19-22, May 2018.

Registrar & Fellow Update – Medical

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 3-4, May 2018.

Registrar Forum

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 4-7, May 2018.

Dermatology Research

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 31-32, May 2018.

Issue Information

Australasian Journal of Dermatology, Volume 59, Issue S1, Page 1-2, May 2018.

Complexities of perceived and actual performance in pathology interpretation: A comparison of cutaneous melanocytic skin and breast interpretations

Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, EarlyView.

High terbinafine resistance in Trichophyton interdigitale isolates in Delhi, India harbouring mutations in the squalene epoxidase gene

Mycoses, EarlyView.

Isavuconazole for treatment of invasive fungal diseases caused by more than one fungal species

Mycoses, EarlyView.

Dermatoporosis and vitamin C deficiency

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, EarlyView.

Intra‐ and interobserver variability of image‐based PASI assessments in 120 patients suffering from plaque‐type psoriasis

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, EarlyView.

Systematic review of the prevalence of nodal metastases and the prognostic utility of sentinel lymph node biopsy in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

The Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

Linear keratinocytic epidermal nevi on trunk skin caused by a somatic FGFR2 p.C382R mutation

The Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

Repeated hyperhidrosis and chilblain‐like swelling with ulceration of the fingers and toes in hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type II

The Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

Identification of a novel missense KRT86 mutation in a Chinese family with monilethrix

The Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

Peristomal pyoderma gangrenosum with high serum levels of interleukin‐8

The Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

Rhabdomyolysis due to bacteremia from Enterobacter cowanii caused by a rose thorn prick

The Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

Clinical and dermoscopic spectrum of discoid lupus erythematosus: novel observations from lips and oral mucosa

International Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

A pruritic maculopapular eruption leaving a reticular hyperpigmentation

International Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

Onychoscopic evaluation of onychomycosis in a tertiary care teaching hospital: a cross‐sectional study from South India

International Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

UVA‐1 phototherapy for the management of atopic dermatitis: a large retrospective study conducted in a low‐middle income country

International Journal of Dermatology, EarlyView.

Structural characterization of Bacillus licheniformis Dahb1 exopolysaccharide—antimicrobial potential and larvicidal activity on malaria and Zika virus mosquito vectors

Abstract

Microbial polysaccharides produced by marine species play a key role in food and cosmetic industry, as they are nontoxic and biodegradable polymers. This investigation reports the isolation of exopolysaccharide from Bacillus licheniformis Dahb1 and its biomedical applications. Bacillus licheniformis Dahb1 exopolysaccharide (Bl-EPS) was extracted using the ethanol precipitation method and structurally characterized. FTIR and ¹H-NMR pointed out the presence of various functional groups and primary aromatic compounds, respectively. Bl-EPS exhibited strong antioxidant potential confirmed via DPPH radical, reducing power and superoxide anion scavenging assays. Microscopic analysis revealed that the antibiofilm activity of Bl-EPS (75 μg/ml) was higher against Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus vulgaris) bacteria over Gram-positive species (Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus pumilus). Bl-EPS led to biofilm inhibition against Candida albicans when tested at 75 μg/ml. The hemolytic assay showed low cytotoxicity of Bl-EPS at 5 mg/ml. Besides, Bl-EPS achieved LC₅₀ values < 80 μg/ml against larvae of mosquito vectors Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti. Overall, our findings pointed out the multipurpose bioactivity of Bl-EPS, which deserves further consideration for pharmaceutical, environmental and entomological applications.

Allergie de contact et photo-induite à l’huile essentielle d’argan

Publication date: May 2018
Source:Annales de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie, Volume 145, Issue 4, Supplement
Author(s): Omar Boudghene Stambouli, Amal Tebbal, Boumediene Dahmani
IntroductionLes huiles essentielles sont des concentrés des composés aromatiques d'une plante ou des extraits d'amande. Elles sont utilisées en cosmétique et en aromathérapie. L'huile d'argan est extraite de l'amande oléagineuse de l'arganier. Nous rapportons un cas d'allergie de contact et photo-induite secondaire à l'application locale de l'huile d'argan.ObservationsB.Z., âgé de 54 ans, se présentait au service de dermatologie pour des lésions érythémato-squameuses prurigineuses apparues depuis 3 jours au niveau du visage. Il n'avait pas d'antécédent particulier. À l'examen clinique, on observait des lésions érythémateuses finement squameuses du visage s'étendant au pavillon d'oreille avec un œdème de ce dernier. À l'anamnèse, le patient signalait avoir appliqué 3 jours de suite de l'huile d'argan à l'endroit ou étaient apparues les lésions dans un délai de 48 H avec notion d'exposition solaire. Le patient n'avait pas bénéficié d'explorations photo-patch tests malheureusement.DiscussionL'arganeraie s'étire au sud-ouest du Maroc, c'est une espèce endémique, cet épineux appartient à la famille des sapotacées, une essence tropicale. L'huile d'argan est extraite du fruit de l'arganier, plus précisément des amandons contenus dans le noyau. Elle se décline en deux versions : l'une utilisée en gastronomie : diététique, l'autre en cosmétique : anti-radicalaire, anti-oxydante, et anti-inflammatoire. Elle est souvent perçue comme sans danger. Pourtant son utilisation peut provoquer des réactions irritatives, de contact et photo-allergiques. Il est intéressant de réaliser le photo-patch tests afin de démontrer cette réaction. À notre connaissance, il existe peu de cas montrant que l'exposition solaire aggrave la sensibilisation de contact aux huiles essentielles et c'est le premier cas à l'huile d'argan. Il est important d'informer des effets indésirables potentiels et de rester vigilants face à l'utilisation croissante de ces produits naturels.ConclusionL'huile d'argan utilisée en cosmétologie ; en aromathérapie est sensibilisante, occasionne des réactions de contact. Nous décrivons une allergie de contact à cette huile doublée d'une photo-allergie. Il est important de mettre en garde contre les dangers possibles de cette huile essentielle.

Profil épidémio-clinique de la consultation dermatologique dans le camp des réfugiés syriens de Zaatari-Jordanie

Publication date: May 2018
Source:Annales de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie, Volume 145, Issue 4, Supplement
Author(s): M. El Amraoui, A. Bouhamidi, N. Hjira, M. Boui
IntroductionLes camps de réfugiés constituent un climat propice ou où sévit la pathologie dermatologique, favorisée par la promiscuité, le manque d'hygiène, la précarité, la malnutrition, le stress et les conditions météorologiques défavorables.Buts du travailNotre travail a comme objectifs d'étudier les caractéristiques sociodémographiques des consultants ainsi que les particularités des dermatoses qui surviennent sur ce terrain.Matériels et méthodesÉtude rétrospective, monocentrique, étalée sur une durée de trois mois, du 14/11/2014 au 14/02/2015, au sein du 1^er hôpital marocain médico-chirurgical de campagne, implanté à Zaatari en Jordanie, au profit des réfugiés syriens.RésultatsLa consultation dermatologique venait en troisième position des consultations spécialisées par 2736 consultations. Également 65 interventions ont été effectuées. Nous avons observé une discrète prédominance féminine avec une fréquence de 52 %. L'âge de nos patients variait de 17 jours à 100 ans avec une prédominance nette pour les tranches de [10–19] ans (27,16 %) et [0–9] ans (23,06 %). Les dermatoses infectieuses représentaient la moitié de la pathologie dermatologique (49,65 %), suivies par les dermatoses immuno-allergiques (20,83 %) et la pathologie tumorale (5,04 %), alors que, les autres dermatoses (24,48 %) étaient dominées par la pathologie inflammatoire, la pathologie du froid, les brûlures et les mutilations de guerre. Notant que 5,30 % des patients présentaient plus d'une dermatose, 4,27 % des dermatoses étaient surinfectées et 2,21 % des patients présentaient des IST.ConclusionLe camp de réfugiés est un climat propice où tous les facteurs sont réunis, pour favoriser l'émergence de la pathologie dermatologique. La promiscuité, la malnutrition et l'hygiène précaire favorisent les dermatoses infectieuses. Le froid et les conditions météorologiques défavorables optimisent les dermatoses immuno-allergiques, les gelures et les acrosyndromes. Le stress dévoile les dermatoses inflammatoires et psychosomatiques. La guerre et les installations insalubres favorisent les brûlures et les mutilations de guerre.

Tuberculose cutanée de l’enfant : encore un scrofuloderme

Publication date: May 2018
Source:Annales de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie, Volume 145, Issue 4, Supplement
Author(s): O.B. Boudghene Stambouli, A. Dib Lachachi
IntroductionLa tuberculose cutanée occupe la cinquième place après les atteintes pleuropulmonaire, ganglionnaire, urogénitale et digestives. Nous rapportons un cas de tuberculose cutanée à type de scrofuloderme à double localisation révélant une atteinte osseuse et ganglionnaire sous-jacente.Matériel et méthodesUne fillette de six ans a été adressée au servie, pour la prise en charge d'une lésion ulcerosquamo-croûteuse de part et d'autre la cheville gauche, évoluant depuis un an.ObservationsLes traitements prescrits antérieurement (antibiotique, antiseptiques, antifongiques) n'ont donné aucune amélioration. L'anamnèse n'a pas trouvé la notion de traumatisme et la fillette était vaccinée par le BCG avec cicatrice de vaccination présente. L'examen clinique a retrouvé un état général conservé, sans fébricule avec courbe de croissance normale, mais la fillette ne pouvait pas marcher ou se tenir debout par la déformation de sa cheville ; on note également.Une lésion ulcéreuse d'allure cicatricielle au niveau du creux inguinal gauche surmontant une masse sous-jacente.RésultatsDes examens ont été réalisés et le diagnostic de tuberculose à type de scrofuloderme à double localisation surmontant un foyer osseux et ganglionnaire a été retenu ; une triple antibiothérapie antituberculeuse a été prescrite avec évolution très satisfaisante.DiscussionLes aspects de tuberculose cutanée chez l'enfant les plus fréquemment rencontrés sont le lupus vulgaire et le scrofuloderme, bien que dans une étude marocaine de Casablanca la gomme et le scrofuloderme étaient les formes les plus fréquentes. La preuve de la tuberculose étant rarement apportée, son diagnostic est difficile et se base le plus souvent sur un faisceau d'argument anamnestique, clinique, histologique, biologique, évolutif et thérapeutique.ConclusionLa forme clinique de tuberculose cutanée de l'enfant la plus fréquente reste le scrofuloderme.

Atteinte cutanée au cours de la maladie de Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada

Publication date: May 2018
Source:Annales de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie, Volume 145, Issue 4, Supplement
Author(s): C. Chouk, N. Litaiem, M. Jones, S. Harbaoui, S. Rammeh, N. Ezzine, F. Zeglaoui
IntroductionLa maladie de Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) est une maladie multisystémique rare, affectant l'œil, le système nerveux central, l'oreille interne et les téguments. C'est une maladie auto-immune médiée par les lymphocytes T dont la cible est la cellule mélanocytaire. Nous rapporterons ici à travers 3 observations de VKH, les différentes manifestations cutanées observées au cours de cette maladie.ObservationsIl s'agit de 3 patients : un homme de 77 ans et deux femmes de 41 et 54 ans, suivis en ophtalmologie pour panuvéite bilatérale d'installation récente. Ils avaient comme antécédents : un vitiligo étendu d'évolution stable depuis plusieurs années chez un malade, un diabète sucré équilibré sous régime chez une patiente et une malformation cardiaque opérée dans l'enfance chez une patiente. À l'examen on notait la présence de larges plaques achromiques bien limitées du dos, du visage et des mains associées à une poliose du cuir chevelu chez un malade, des cils blancs avec quelques macules dépigmentées du corps chez une malade et des plaques hypopigmentées des membres inférieurs chez l'autre. Le diagnostic de VKH dans sa forme incomplète était retenu devant l'association de manifestations oculaires et cutanées de la maladie. Les 3 patients étaient traités par l'association d'une corticothérapie générale à 1mg/kg/j et cyclosporine à 3mg/kg/j avec stabilisation de l'atteinte ophtalmologique.DiscussionLa maladie de VKH est dans sa forme typique une panuvéite bilatérale associée à des manifestations extraoculaires, méningées, cutanées et intéressant l'oreille interne. Sa distribution est inégale dans le monde, affectant plus fréquemment les populations du pourtour méditerranéen, les asiatiques et les amérindiens. Une prédominance féminine est notée dans la plupart des études et l'âge moyen de la maladie est autour de 35 ans. Les manifestations cutanées du VKH sont d'apparition tardive à types de poliose au niveau des cils et des sourcils, des mèches de cheveux voire une canitie, une pelade et des macules leucodermiques. Une hyperesthésie cutanée est parfois rapportée à la phase prodromale de la maladie. Les macules leucodermiques sont assimilés par certains auteurs à un authentique vitiligo. Il s'agit d'une manifestation survenant à distance des signes initiaux d'uvéite, et elle est corrélée à la dépigmentation du fond d'œil (signe de Sugiura) qui demeure une manifestation tardive de la maladie.ConclusionLes macules leucodermiques dans la maladie de VKH sont corrélées à la dépigmentation du fond d'œil. Bien qu'il s'agisse d'un signe tardif de la maladie, sa valeur pronostique demeure incertaine.

Surdosage au méthotrexate suite à une erreur de posologie : à propos d’un cas

Publication date: May 2018
Source:Annales de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie, Volume 145, Issue 4, Supplement
Author(s): O.B. Boudghene Stambouli, I. Mahi
IntroductionLe méthotrexate est utilisé à de faibles doses en dermatologie pour le traitement du psoriasis Nous rapportons une observation d'une erreur de posologie au méthotrexate administré par voie orale dans le traitement d'un psoriasis et conduisant à des effets secondaires relativement graves.Matériel et méthodesNous rapportons le cas d'un homme atteint de psoriasis et traité par le méthotrexate.ObservationsUn homme âgé de 26 ans aux antécédents de psoriasis été adressé pour des ulcérations cutanées et muqueuses apparues suite à une erreur de posologie au méthotrexate. La dose administrée était de 20mg par semaine, mais le patient qui n'a pas reçu suffisamment de renseignements a pris 20mg de méthotrexate en dose quotidienne. Après une dose totale de 60mg, sont apparues des lésions érosives cutanées et muqueuses buccales, génitales et anales. L'examen ophtalmologique mettait en évidence une dystrophie maculaire. Les examens biologiques révélaient une thrombopénie, une leucopénie et un syndrome inflammatoire. Des cristaux était retrouvés lors de l'examen macroscopique et microscopique des urines.RésultatsLe diagnostic d'un surdosage au méthotrexate suite à une erreur de posologie était retenu et ce médicament a été immédiatement interrompu. Une hyperhydratation alcaline a été débuté avec soins locaux pour les lésions cutanées et muqueuses. L'évolution était favorable au bout de quelques jours.DiscussionC'est le cas pour notre patient qui a présenté des effets indésirables relativement graves suite à un surdosage au méthotrexate provoqué par une erreur de posologie. Les principales manifestations retrouvées chez notre patient ont été : une atteinte rénale avec formation de cristaux visibles macroscopiquement, une atteinte hématologique, des ulcérations cutanées et muqueuses avec atteinte buccale génitale duodénale anale et enfin une maculopathie dont l'imputabilité du méthotrexate n'a pu être confirmée. Afin d'éviter la récurrence de ce type d'erreur avec le méthotrexate par voie orale, des mesures préventives sont proposées au niveau international.ConclusionLe méthotrexate est un médicament largement employé en thérapeutique dermatologique l'information au patient de même qu'une bonne coopération médecin patient constituent une étape importante dans sa prescription permettant ainsi d'éviter des accidents graves voire mortels.

Efficacité de l’association pentoxifylline et doxycycline dans le traitement de l’aphtose buccale récidivante associée à la maladie de Behçet

Publication date: May 2018
Source:Annales de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie, Volume 145, Issue 4, Supplement
Author(s): C. Chouk, N. Litaiem, M. Jones, S. Harbaoui, O. Midassi, S. Rammeh, N. Ezzine, F. Zeglaoui
IntroductionL'aphtose buccale récidivante peut être idiopathique ou révéler une maladie inflammatoire comme la maladie de Behçet.ButRapporter une alternative thérapeutique au traitement de l'aphtose buccale récidivante en décrivant l'efficacité de l'association pentoxifylline et doxycycline.RésultatUne jeune femme de 30 ans, aux antécédents d'aphtose buccale récidivante depuis 2011, s'est présentée à notre consultation pour plaques papulopustuleuses du dos, cuisses et mains compatibles histologiquement avec une vascularite leucocytoclasique. L'examen des muqueuses montrait des aphtes de la muqueuse jugale, malaire, de la pointe de la langue, des amygdales palatines et du voile du palais dont certaines étaient géantes (>1cm). La muqueuse génitale était épargnée. L'examen articulaire révélait une synovie de la cheville droite. Le test pathergique était positif. Les examens ophtalmologique et neurologique étaient sans anomalies. La malade était traitée par prednisone 0,5mg/kg associée à la colchicine à faible dose (0,5mg/j) en raison d'une intolérance digestive. L'amélioration clinique était rapide au bout de quelques jours de traitement. Un mois plus tard, après l'arrêt de la corticothérapie, la malade présentait une nouvelle poussée avec récidive des aphtes géants et développement d'un érythème noueux des jambes. Le diagnostic de maladie de Behçet était alors retenu. La patiente était remise sous presnisolone 0,5mg/kg associé à des injections de triamcinolone 40mg en intramusculaire avec une réponse rapide mais récidive à l'arrêt de la corticothérapie. Un traitement par pentoxifylline à la dose de 1200mg associée à la doxycycline 100mg par jour était initié. La réponse clinique était alors favorable avec cicatrisation au bout de 8j et absence de récidive au bout de 4 mois de traitement.ConclusionLa pentoxifylline, molécule prescrite essentiellement dans l'artériopathie des membres inférieurs, a été utilisée avec succès dans le traitement de plusieurs maladies inflammatoires. Au cours de la maladie de Behçet elle inhibe l'activation des polynucléaires neutrophiles et le relargage des cytokines en rapport avec son effet anti-TNFa. Des études ont démontré son utilité pour le traitement des lésions aphteuses buccales et génitales en association à la colchicine. La doxycycline est utilisée pour son effet anti-inflammatoire à faible dose. Associer la pentoxifylline à la doxycycline paraît une alternative thérapeutique possible et bien tolérée dans le traitement d'une aphtose buccale récidivante, résistante à la colchicine et/ou corticodépendante.

Editorial board

Publication date: May 2018
Source:Annales de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie, Volume 145, Issue 4, Supplement

Syndrome de Stevens Johnson et gynécomastie induits par les inhibiteurs non nucléosidiques de la transcriptase inverse (INNTI) chez un enfant infecté par le VIH

Publication date: May 2018
Source:Annales de Dermatologie et de Vénéréologie, Volume 145, Issue 4, Supplement
Author(s): G. Mahamadou, B. Saka, A.S. Akakpo, A. Bassowa, A.N. Dapam, J.N. Teclessou, E. Mensah, P. Pitché
IntroductionLes inhibiteurs non nucléosidiques de la transcriptase inverse (INNTI) sont des médicaments antirétroviraux souvent utilisés en première ligne du régime thérapeutique de l'infection à VIH1. Nous rapportons un cas de gynécomastie bilatérale sévère et d'un syndrome de Stevens Johnson respectivement induit par l'efavirenz et la névirapine chez un même patient.ObservationUn garçon de 16 ans, infecté par le VIH depuis la naissance a été mis sous ténofovir, abacavir et efavirenz depuis août 2015. En avril 2016, quand son poids a atteint 32kg, l'abacavir a été remplacée par la lamivudine. Une augmentation bilatérale de volume mammaire, dissimulée par le patient a été diagnostiquée deux ans après le début du traitement antirétroviral. L'histoire de la maladie, l'examen physique et les examens de laboratoire ont permis d'exclure les causes connues de gynécomastie. L'efavirenz a été alors considérée comme la cause la plus vraisemblable. Ce médicament a été donc retiré et remplacé par la névirapine en juillet 2017. Trente trois jours après le début du traitement par la névirapine, une éruption cutanée est apparue. À l'examen physique, on notait des macules érythémateuses, des bulles flasques avec un décollement cutané estimé à 10 %. Il y avait également des lésions conjonctivales, buccale et génitale. Le diagnostic de syndrome de Stevens Johnson induit par la névirapine a été retenu. Deux mois après le retrait de l'efavirenz, la taille des seins a diminué de 3cm au sein gauche et de 2cm à droite.ConclusionLa recherche d'une gynécomastie comme effet indésirable de l'efavirenz est primordiale afin d'intervenir au moment où l'affection peut encore être réversible. Par ailleurs, en cas de gynécomastie induite par l'efavirenz, un inhibiteur de protéase (IP) devrait être préféré à la névirapine pour diminuer le risque de toxidermie.