Chloride Ion Levels Research Articles

Modeling the Time-Dependent Variation of Road Salt Concentrations Using Analytical and Machine-Learning Approaches to Advance Service Life Predictions for Concrete Structures

The exposure of concrete structures to environmental and climatic conditions is detrimental to their durability. In northern climates, the key contributor to their degradation is corrosion of the reinforcing steel because of chloride ions originating from de-icing salts applied on roadways during the winter season. In consequence, a key input parameter for predicting the time to the initiation of corrosion for concrete elements is the time history of the concentration of chloride ions at their surfaces. To investigate this issue, a specialized mobile monitoring station was deployed along a roadway over several winter seasons to collect data on salting operations, weather conditions, and the temporal variation of chloride ion levels on the roadway. At first, salting operations were monitored, and then exploratory and machine-learning algorithms were applied to develop relationships between weather conditions, road conditions, and chloride ion concentrations. The first proposed model is based on the simulation modeling approach, while the second is based on the machine-learning XGBoost model. The findings demonstrate that both models can predict the variation of salt concentration on the road surface as a function of time after a salting operation. By accounting for the time dependency of surface chloride in service life models, more accurate predictions of corrosion initiation time are possible, since the rate of penetration of chloride ions is highly dependent on wetting/drying cycles throughout the winter.

Sweat‐powered, skin‐adhesive multimodal sensor for long‐term and real‐time sweat monitoring

AbstractThe importance of continuous healthcare management has significantly accelerated the development of wearable devices for monitoring health‐related physical and biochemical markers. Despite extensive research on wearable devices for physiological and biochemical monitoring, critical issues of power management and device/skin interfacial properties restrict the advancement of personalized healthcare and early disease detection. Here, we report a multimodal sweat monitoring device featuring a real‐time display and long‐term data analysis based on self‐powered format of sweat‐activated batteries (SABs). The polyvinyl alcohol‐sucrose (PVA‐Suc) hydrogel serves as the key component for the SAB, offering not only great long‐term adhesive properties for conformable wearability but also significant power generation capabilities. A maximum current density of 44.06 mA cm−2 and a maximum power density of 21.89 mW cm−2 can be realized for the hydrogel based SAB. The resulting device integrates an advanced colorimetric and electrochemical sensor array to measure pH levels, glucose concentrations, and chloride ion levels in human sweat, with data wirelessly transmitted by Near Field Communication. The self‐powering features and multiple mode sensing function offer sufficient power to support real‐time monitoring of metabolic biomarkers in sweat, with the ability to visually observe changes in the colorimetric sensors for long‐term data monitoring.

Sweat Pore-Inspired Functional Nanofiber Fabrics for Sweat Management and Simultaneous Detection.

Functional fabric with directional sweat transport and simultaneous sweat detection is highly desirable in daily life due to its crucial role in ensuring exercise comfort and promoting health. Herein, the inspiration is drawn from both the perspiration function of sweat pores and the backflow prevention feature of the surrounding solid skin to develop bioinspired hydrophobic nanofiber fabric. When combined with commercial cotton, this fabric enables rapid discharge of sweat through the sweat pore-like channels at an ultrafast speed of 240 g s-1 m-2, while effectively preventing backflow around these channels to ensure highly efficient personal drying. The performance of the bioinspired nanofiber fabric surpasses that of five commercially available moisture-wicking fabrics by effectively guiding liquid transport while minimizing residual moisture accumulation on the inner side. Furthermore, a colorimetric analysis system is integrated into the bioinspired nanofiber fabric, which facilitates convenient sampling of sweat samples and detection of biomarkers in sweat such as chloride ion, calcium ion, and pH level. This innovative design based on the concept of sweat pores opens up new possibilities for developing intelligent fabrics, electronic skins, and point-of-care devices.

Hydrochemical Assessment of Tigris River for Irrigation Purposes within Baghdad Province, Iraq

The aims of this study are (1) to determine whether Tigris River water is suitable for irrigation using specific irrigation indices. (2) Analysis of thirteen hydrochemical parameters, including pH, EC, TDS, , , , , , , , , TA and as total hardness. Also, seven irrigation water quality indices were used: Magnesium Hazard (MH), Kelly's Index (KI), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Sodium Percentage (Na%), Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP), Potential Salinity (PS), and Sodium Hazard (SH), supported by the most specific irrigation diagrams (Piper, USSL and Wilcox). Samples were taken monthly from twelve different sites along the river for two consecutive years (2021-2022). The results revealed that the water is suitable for irrigation chemically according to SAR, Na%, SSP, KI, and MH, except for PS due to high levels of sulfate and chloride ions. Furthermore, the USSL diagram indicated Irrigation water quality, that 100% of water samples taken from the Tigris fell into the appropriate class within 2021. While in 2022, 83.33% of samples were within the appropriate class (C3-S1). According to the Wilcox diagram, 91.66% and 83.33% among the water samples within a good class (low sodium and moderate salinity) for two consecutive years

A systematic corrosion failure analysis of Li-ion powered hearing aids from various markets

Hearing aids (HA) are low-power electronic devices used worldwide. The ongoing trend in the HA industry has been to move towards Li-ion battery technology replacing conventional zinc-air batteries. The corrosion reliability of HA devices is a critical issue, due to their exposure to harsh user environments including body fluid contact, high humidity, and temperature. The combined effect of higher operating voltage (4.3 V) and design miniaturisation poses new risks for corrosion reliability. To fully understand the environmental reliability issues of the Li-ion powered HA, it is crucial to investigate field performance by conducting root cause failure analysis on the field-returned failed devices. This study investigated two different HA models (open vs. glued model). The analysis used a systematic FMEA-based approach to identify and understand failure modes, mechanisms, and potential causes using various analysis techniques (e.g., LOM, SEM&EDS, and ICP-OES). Furthermore, statistical analysis was conducted based on the repair data created by the global service centre to reveal the failure percentage, and time to failure of different components. Passive components, solder connections, and galvanic charging contact showed the highest failure percentages. The most common causes of corrosion failures were high levels of chloride ions, high humidity, flux residues, and insufficient coating protection.

Geospatial interpolation and hydro-geochemical characterization of alluvial aquifers in the Thal Desert, Punjab, Pakistan.

This study seeks to assess the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater in the southern part of Thal Desert of Pakistan. The primary focus lies in identifying potential sources of contamination and evaluating their impact on groundwater and the ecosystem. Groundwater samples were collected from diverse sources including shallow hand pumps, tubewells, and dug wells, with depths ranging from 11 to 28 m. A comprehensive analysis was performed to scrutinize the physical, chemical, and microbial attributes of the samples. Utilizing visual aids like the Piper, Durov, and Gibbs diagrams, as well as Pearson correlation, scatter plots, Schoeller diagrams, and pie charts, the study evaluated the groundwater quality and its suitability for consumption. Results indicate that mineral infiltration from rainfall, domestic waste, and industrial effluents significantly affects groundwater quality, leading to widespread salinity. Weathering processes and ion exchange were identified as key factors contributing to elevate levels of bicarbonates, sodium, magnesium, and chloride ions. Employing the Water Quality Index (WQI) on 40 groundwater samples, findings reveal that 52.5% of samples demonstrated poor to not suitable quality, with 27.5% categorized as poor, 2.5% as very poor, and 22.5% not suitable consumption. Conversely, 47.5% of samples showcased good to excellent quality, with 25% rated as good and 22.5% as excellent. These findings provide valuable insights for hydrogeologists to develop appropriate strategies for water treatment and address any concerns related to groundwater quality.

Karakterisasi Bioetanol dari Limbah Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit

At the moment, Indonesia still relies heavily on fossil fuels to cover its domestic energy demands. However, one of the main causes of the rise in greenhouse gas emissions is the nation's reliance on fossil fuels for energy damage to the environment. An alternate energy source is called bioethanol. The fermentation process of natural ingredients with the help of microorganisms, Bioethanol produced from biomass in this study is palm empty fruit bunches (PEFB) because of the cellulose content of 45.59% which can be converted into second-generation bioethanol. Poses for making bioethanol of PEFB through the process of pretreatment, hydrolysis, fermentation, and distillation. The purpose of this study is to determine the characteristics of bioethanol produced by PEFB waste. Bioethanol characteristic testing refers to test standards determined by SNI 7390:2008/2013, This study produced ethanol content of 4.92% in 6-day fermentation that did not meet the specified standards, methanol content produced 0.4% in 10-day fermentation and had met the specified standards, water content in 4-10 days fermentation produced 25.56%-30.72% did not meet the specified standards, denaturant content in 10-day fermentation produced 9% had met the specified standards. The fermentation of 6 days produced the best condition, obtaining 4.92% ethanol content and 25% moisture content. Still, it did not meet the specific standards of SNI 7390:2008, but met the SNI standards for the methanol content of 0.4%, denaturant level of 11%, acidity of 0.3 mg /L, chloride ion levels of 0.7 mg /L, sulphur content of 0.68 mg /L, and the sap content of 7 mg / l.

Predictive modeling of lower extreme deep vein thrombosis following radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer: based on multiple machine learning methods

Postoperative venous thromboembolic events (VTEs), such as lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT), are major risk factors for gastric cancer (GC) patients following radical gastrectomy. Accurately predicting and managing these risks is crucial for optimal patient care. This retrospective case‒control study involved 693 GC patients from our hospital who underwent radical gastrectomy. We collected plentiful and comprehensive clinical indicators including a total of 49 baseline, preoperative, surgical and pathological clinical data. Using univariate logistic regression, we identified potential risk factors, followed by feature selection through the Boruta algorithm. We then constructed the final predictive model using multivariate logistic regression and evaluated it using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, calibration plots, decision curve analysis, and other methods. Additionally, we applied various machine learning techniques, including decision trees and random forests, to assess our model’s predictive strength. This retrospective case‒control study involved 693 GC patients from our hospital who underwent radical gastrectomy. We collected plentiful and comprehensive clinical indicators including a total of 49 baseline, preoperative, surgical and pathological clinical data. Using univariate logistic regression, we identified potential risk factors, followed by feature selection through the Boruta algorithm. We then constructed the final predictive model using multivariate logistic regression and evaluated it using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, calibration plots, decision curve analysis, and other methods. Additionally, we applied various machine learning techniques, including decision trees and random forests, to assess our model’s predictive strength. Univariate logistic analysis revealed 14 risk factors associated with postoperative lower limb DVT. Based on the Boruta algorithm, six significant clinical factors were selected, namely, age, D-dimer (D-D) level, low-density lipoprotein, CA125, and calcium and chloride ion levels. A nomogram was developed using the outcomes from the multivariate logistic regression analysis. The predictive model showed high accuracy, with an area under the curve of 0.936 in the training set and 0.875 in the validation set. Various machine learning algorithms confirmed its strong predictive capacity. MR analysis revealed meaningful causal relationships between key clinical factors and DVT risk. Based on various machine learning methods, we developed an effective predictive diagnostic model for postoperative lower extremity DVT in GC patients. This model demonstrated excellent predictive value in both the training and validation sets. This novel model is a valuable tool for clinicians to use in identifying and managing thrombotic risks in this patient population.

Formation and health risk assessment of trihalomethanes in coastal wells impacted by seawater intrusion

The formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) in coastal wells impacted by seawater intrusion (SWI) is relatively understudied. Coastal wells, unlike typical groundwater sources, frequently exhibit elevated levels of chloride and bromide ions, potentially influencing the formation and speciation of THMs. The current study investigated the THM formation in coastal well water from a location affected by SWI. Samples were chlorinated with 2.5 mg L−1 and 5 mg L−1 chlorine doses to replicate field conditions. The THM concentration in the samples exceeded the maximum permissible limit for drinking water. The well with the highest chloride-to-bromide (Cl/Br) ratio (Cl/Br = 645) exhibited the highest total THM concentration (503.2 μg L−1). Samples with high bromide concentration had more brominated THMs over the 5-day reaction period. The bromine substitution factors for wells after 24 h with a chlorine dose of 2.5 mg L−1 were 1.89, 2.21, and 2.78, corresponding to bromide concentrations of 0.098, 0.109, and 1.275 mM, respectively. The average cancer risk associated with the well water was estimated to be 20.9 × 10−06 through dermal contact and 6.84 × 10−04 through inhalation. The study area had an estimated average cancer risk of 705 cases per million population. The study area's common diseases and cancer incidence data for the past four decades indicated a decreasing trend for waterborne diseases and a steep increase in cancers. While several factors may contribute to increasing cancer cases, our study highlights chlorinated coastal well water as an additional potential cancer risk agent.

Evaluation of Liver Markers, Kidney Markers, Electroyte Panel and Protein Profile in Pump Attendants Exposed to Petrol Fumes from Selected Filling Stations in Ihiala, State, Nigeria

Environmental hazard in a work place is an inevitable experience especially when it has to do with working in a filling stations where volatile and combustible substances like petrol, diesel and kerosene are dispensed via PMS and other channels of distribution or outlets and in the process pollute or saturate the air with hydrocarbons. Individuals working in a petrol station pose different risk of exposure to these xenobiotics that enter the body via different means (inhalation, ingestion and skin or eye contact) and could be detrimental to the body system resulting to death if not properly handled. This research was aimed at assessing some biochemical indicators of occupational hazard in fuel pump attendant from selected service stations in Ihiala, Anambra state. A total of eighty apparently healthy subjects (40 males and 40females) aged between 28-35 years volunteers participated in the study. Each gender was further categorized into two groups of 20 each for control (unexposed workers) and exposed pump attendants respectively. The pump attendants that volunteered for this study had spent an average of 5-6 years on the job. Blood samples were collected from the volunteers with their informed consent and selected biochemical parameters such as liver function test (ALP, AST ALT), kidney function test (urea, creatinine and uric acid), protein profile (total protein and albumin), and electrolyte levels were investigated using standard methods. The result of the investigations showed that urea and creatinine level of exposed female pump attendants (5.80±0.02 mg/dl and 82.50±2.15 mg/dl)were significantly higher (P<0.05) than unexposed female pump attendants (5.00±0.45mg/dl and 58.00±0.11 mg/dl respectively). Serum sodium (Na+ ) electrolyte levels of exposed male and female exposed pump attendant (143.00±1.05 and 141.00±1.25 mmol/L respectively) were significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to Na+ electrolyte levels in male and female unexposed workers (138.00±0.14 mmol/L and 139.50±2.11 mmol/L respectively) while the chloride ion level in male and female pump attendants were higher compared to male and female unexposed workers. Alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase (ALT and AST) levels of male and female exposed pump attendant were higher than that in male and female unexposed pump attendant. Petroleum fumes are therefore environmental pollutants that could have serious consequences on biochemical parameters in petroleum product exposed individuals. Therefore, health Safety and Environmental training is recommended for petrol station workers on regular basis to improve their safety and create awareness on the dangers inherent associated with filling station workers exposed to petrol fumes.

High-sensitivity and energy-efficient chloride ion sensors based on flexible printed carbon nanotube thin-film transistors for wearable electronics

The advent of flexible single-walled carbon nanotube thin-film transistors (SWCNT-TFTs) has transformed electronics, providing significant benefits like low operating voltage, reduced power consumption, cost-effectiveness, and improved signal amplification. This study focuses on leveraging these attributes to develop a novel flexible high-sensitivity and energy-efficient chloride ion sensors based on printed flexible SWCNT-TFTs utilizing polymers-sorted semiconducting SWCNTs (sc-SWCNTs) as the active layers and ion liquids-poly(4-vinylphenol as dielectric layers along with the evaporated deposition of aluminum electrodes and printed silver electrodes as the gate and source-drain electrodes, respectively. The sensors exhibit several operational advantages, including low voltage requirements (≤1 V), rapid response speed (5.32 s), significant signal amplification (Up to 702.6 %), low power consumption (0.31 μJ at 1 mmol chloride ion), good repeatability, high sensitivity for both low and high concentrations of chloride ion (up to 100 mmol/L) and excellent mechanical flexibility (No obvious changes after bending for 10,000 times with a 5 mm radius). The detection mechanism of chloride ions was analyzed using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that chloride ions react with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to form silver chloride (AgCl) on printed electrodes, impeding carrier transport and reducing the currents in SWCNT TFTs. Importantly, our sensors' compatibility with smart devices allows for real-time monitoring of chloride ion levels in human sweat, offering significant potential for daily health monitoring.

FEATURES OF THE DISTRIBUTION AND COMPOSITION OF SNOW COVER WITHIN THE LANDSCAPES OF CHASHNIKOVO

For landscape conditions in the upper reaches of the river Klyazma, Solnechnogorsk district, Moscow region, the height and reserves of snow cover were investigated, and the chemical composition of the snow was determined. The basis for considering the component composition of snow cover was the geochemical taxonomy of chemical elements based on the characteristics of water migration and abundance. Data from 23 snow sampling points were interpolated in SAGA GIS using the inverse distance weighting (IDW) method. On this basis, zones differing in the chemical composition of snow are identified. One of the zones is confined to the M-10 Moscow-St. Petersburg highway, while the second borders on populated areas. The area close to the highway is characterized by increased levels of calcium, sodium, aluminum, and chloride ions in the snow cover. The second zone, bordering populated areas, is characterized by a high content of calcium, copper, and manganese in the snow. For the third zone, low concentrations of components in the snow were observed which are characteristic of a superaquatic landscape due to the distance from sources of pollution. The studied composition of snow waters belongs to the bicarbonate-sodium-calcium-chloride class. It has been shown that the height and reserves of snow cover are partially controlled by two factors: the type of elementary landscape and the type of ecosystem. Against this background, the spatial distribution of concentrations of elements and anions in snow is predominantly controlled by the anthropogenic factor.

Effects of chronic nitrite exposure on hematological parameters, oxidative stress and apoptosis in spotted seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus) reared at high temperature

The effects of nitrite stress on blood biochemistry, antioxidant capacity, and apoptosis of spotted seabass (Lateolabrax maculatus) under high-temperature conditions were investigated. Fish were subjected to varying levels of nitrite concentrations for 28 days, specifically 0, 8, and 16 mg/L. Blood and gill samples were collected at the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th of the exposure for index determination, respectively. Results showed that as the concentration of nitrite increased, blood hemoglobin (Hb) and serum chloride ion (Cl-) levels decreased. In addition, compared to the control group, methemoglobin (MetHb), hematocrit (HCT), red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and serum potassium ion (K+) were significantly increased in the nitrite-stressed group. In terms of antioxidants, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in the gill were significantly decreased with increasing nitrite concentration. Additionally, malondialdehyde (MDA) content was significantly increased with increasing nitrite concentration. Regarding genes related to apoptosis, as nitrite concentration increased, the expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor (Hif-1α) and cytochrome C (Cyt-c) genes in the gill were significantly up-regulated on the 1st and 3rd day of exposure. The expressions of P53, Bax, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, and Caspase-9 genes in the gill were significantly up-regulated in stress groups at different exposure time intervals compared to the control group. In summary, nitrite caused disruption in the balance of blood ions, decreased antioxidant capacity in the gills, increased expression of genes associated with apoptosis, ultimately resulting in gill injury in the spotted seabass.

Ameliorative potential role of Rosmarinus officinalis extract on toxicity induced by etoposide in male albino rats.

The present work was showed to assess the effect of administration of rosemary extract on etoposide-induced toxicity, injury and proliferation in male rats were investigated. Forty male albino rats were arranged into four equal groups. 1st group, control; 2nd group, etoposide; 3rd group, co-treated rosemary & etoposide; 4th group, rosemary alone. In comparison to the control group, etoposide administration resulted in a significant increase in serum ALT, AST, ALP, total bilirubin, total protein, and gamma GT. In contrast; a significant decrease in albumin level in etoposide group as compared to G1. G3 revealed a significant decrease in AST, ALT, ALP, total protein and total bilirubin levels and a significant rise in albumin level when compared with G2. Serum levels of urea, creatinine, potassium ions, and chloride ions significantly increased; while sodium ions were significantly decreased in G2 when compared with G1. Also, there was an increase of MDA level for etoposide treated group with corresponding control rats. However, there was a remarkable significant decrease in SOD, GPX and CAT levels in G2 as compared to G1. There was a significant increase in serum hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Nitric oxide (NO) levels in group treated with etoposide when compared to control group. It was noticeable that administrated by rosemary alone either with etoposide had not any effect on the levels of H2O2 and Nitric oxide. Serum level of T3 and T4 was significantly increased in etoposide-administered rats in comparison with G1. The administration of rosemary, either alone or with etoposide, increased the serum levels of T3 and T4 significantly when compared to control rats. The gene expression analysis showed significant downregulation of hepatic SOD and GPx in (G2) when compared with (G1). The treatment with rosemary extract produced significant upregulation of the antioxidant enzymes mRNA SOD and GPx. MDA gene was increased in (G2) when contrasted with (G1). Treatment of the etoposide- induced rats with rosemary extract delivered significant decrease in MDA gene expression when compared with etoposide group. Rats treated with etoposide showed significant decline in hepatic Nrf2 protein expression, when compared with G1. While, supplementation of Etoposide- administered rats with the rosemary produced a significant elevation in hepatic Nrf2 protein levels. Additionally, the liver histological structure displayed noticeable degeneration and cellular infiltration in liver cells. It is possible to infer that rosemary has a potential role and that it should be researched as a natural component for etoposide-induced toxicity protection.

Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis: Review of Pathophysiology, Clinical Presentation, Treatment and Outcomes

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is considered one of the most common pediatric surgical conditions. Presentation is most common between the ages of 2 to 12 weeks with a mean and median age of 5 weeks. IHPS has been reported to be more common in males than females (5:1) and in first-born children (30-40%). Throughout history, the etiology of this condition has been studied, discovering multiple genetic and environmental factors, such as newborns with increased acid secretion, nitric oxide synthase deficiency, poor innervation of the pyloric muscle, smoking during pregnancy, neonatal use of macrolides and cesarean section; however, the exact cause remains uncertain. The classic clinical presentation begins with a recent history of severe, nonbilious projectile vomiting immediately after feeding and a strong, persistent appetite. During abdominal examination, palpation of the "pyloric olive" in the epigastrium by an experienced doctor is considered a pathognomonic sign. Laboratory tests may show low chloride, potassium, and hydrogen ion levels, leading to metabolic alkalosis due to persistent vomiting. Ultrasound is the gold standard imaging study if history and physical examination are insufficient to diagnose IHPS with a reported sensitivity and specificity of up to 98% and 100% by allowing evaluation of pyloric morphology and behavior. Pyloromyotomy is considered the definitive treatment for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, but should not be performed until the baby is adequately resuscitated. Patients typically experience positive outcomes after pyloromyotomy, with low morbidity and mortality rates. Most cases recover quickly and without complications.

Ameliorative Activity of Vitamin C against Alcohol Induced Cardio-toxicity in Adult Male Wistar Rats

Highlights: 1. Ameliorative effects of vitamin C against alcohol in this research are very interesting to be observed. 2. Vitamin C may have some beneficial effects on heart function by acting as an antioxidant. - Background: Alcohol and it metabolites causes cardiomyopathy, which is one of the main form of alcohol induced heart damage. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of vitamin C against alcohol-induced heart toxicity and selected indices. Material and Methods: Forty healthy male Wistar rats were used in this experiment, which lasted 21 days. The rats were divided into eight groups, with five rats in each group. Group A received only distilled water, Group B received 6000 mg/kg of alcohol, and Groups C to H received different doses of vitamin C and alcohol in varying combinations. Blood samples were collected and analyzed for levels of sodium, potassium, and chloride ions. The hearts were also analyzed for antioxidant activities and histo-pathological changes. Results: The findings indicated that alcohol administration caused a decrease in blood electrolyte levels compared to the control group, while treatment with vitamin C and co-administration of vitamin C and alcohol improved blood electrolyte levels. The antioxidant enzymes activity of the heart improved in the vitamin C and co-administration groups, as evidenced by increased GSH, SOD, and CAT activity and decreased MDA levels when compared to the alcohol-only group. Conclusion: Therefore, this study suggests that commercial grade vitamin C at doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg can protect the heart against alcohol-induced toxicity. However, further research is necessary to examine the anti-inflammatory effect of commercial grade vitamin C.

Health-related quality of life and its influencing factors in patients with breast cancer based on the scale QLICP-BR

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among females worldwide. During the past 15 years, quality of life (QOL) has become an important aspect of breast cancer treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate QOL of breast cancer patients in China, and investigate its associations with sociodemographic and clinical variables. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 246 breast cancer patients in China. Recruited patients were surveyed for QOL using the QOL instruments for cancer patients-breast cancer QLICP-BR (V2.0). We assessed the associations between potential influencing factors and QOL using multiple linear regression models. The general mean QOL score for our population was 70.24 with SD = 8.70. Results indicated that medical insurance, drinking history, alkaline phosphatase, serum chloride ion level, serum calcium ion level, serum phosphorus ion level, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, red cell volume distribution width and platelet had significant associations with QOL of breast cancer patients. Our results emphasized that many factors are affecting QOL of breast cancer patients, which may provide a reference for targeted management or intervention strategies of breast cancer patients to improve their QOL.

Correlation between cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities before ventriculoperitoneal shunt and postoperative intracranial infection in adult patients with hydrocephalus: A clinical study.

To identify the relationship between preoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leukocyte, chloride, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, adenosine deaminase, lactic acid and protein levels and ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection. Records of 671 consecutive adult patients who underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery for the treatment of hydrocephalus at Zhujiang Hospital affiliated with Southern Medical University from January 2011 to March 2022 were reviewed. The patients were divided into infection and non-infection groups based on the presence of postoperative infection. For all patients, we analyzed age; sex; primary disease; preoperative CSF leukocyte, chloride, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, adenosine deaminase, lactic acid and protein levels; postoperative temperature; and postoperative infection. A total of 397 patients were included, 28 (7.05%) of whom had an infection within 6 months of the operation and the remaining had no infection. There was no significant difference in age, sex, primary disease, leukocyte, chloride ion, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, adenosine deaminase and protein levels in CSF between infection group and non-infection group (p > 0.05). The postoperative infection rate of patients with CSF glucose < 2.8 mmol/L (x 2 = 11.650, p = 0.001) and CSF lactic acid >2.8 mmol/L (x 2 = 12.455, p < 0.001) was higher than that of patients with CSF glucose level ≥2.8 mmol/L and CSF lactic acid level in the range of (1-2.8) mmol/L, respectively, with statistical difference. Compared with the non-infection group, the level of CSF glucose (t = 4.113, p < 0.001) was significantly lower, and the level of CSF lactic acid (t = 6.651, p < 0.001) was significantly higher in the infection group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative cerebrospinal fluid glucose < 2.8 mmol/L (OR = 3.911, 95% CI: 1.653~9.253, p = 0.002) and cerebrospinal fluid lactate >2.8 mmol/L (OR = 4.712, 95% CI: 1.892~11.734, p = 0.001) are risk factors for infection after ventriculoperitoneal shunt. ROC analysis revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) for CSF glucose and lactic acid level were 0.602 (95% CI: 0.492-0.713) and 0.818 (95% CI: 0.738-0.898), respectively. The infection group had higher rates of fever and body temperature on postoperative day 3-7 (p < 0.05). For adult hydrocephalus patients without clinical manifestations of intracranial infection but only with simple abnormality of cerebrospinal fluid, when the content of glucose in cerebrospinal fluid is < 2.8 mmol/L, and the content of lactic acid is >2.8 mmol/L, it is recommended to perform ventriculoperitoneal shunt after further improvement of cerebrospinal fluid indicators, otherwise, hasty operation will increase the postoperative infection rate. The postoperative fever rate of ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery is high and the body temperature drops rapidly. If there is still fever after day 3 after surgery, whether there is intracranial infection should be considered.

Evaluation of sub-acute oral toxicity effects of Phaulopsis falcisepala C.B. Clarke (Acanthaceae) in rats

Phaulopsis falcisepala is a herb or undershrub found in forest zone of West Africa and used for a wide range of ethnomedicinal purposes. Despite the ethnomedicinal importance of P. falcisepala, detailed data about its safety and toxicity is lacking. This study was done to evaluate sub-acute toxicity of P. falcisepala in rats. Whole plant of P. falcisepala was extracted with methanol. Wistar rats (n = 6/group) were administered orally with P. falcisepala extract at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day for 28 days. Control group received distilled water. Physical observations were recorded daily and weights of animals were recorded weekly. After 28 days, samples of blood, serum and vital organs were obtained for haematological, biochemical and histological evaluations. Results showed that daily oral doses of P. falcisepala extract up to 1000 mg/kg for 28-days did not cause any behavioral changes or mortality. The plant extract did not induce significant alterations in body-weights, haematological, hepatic and renal parameters and serum levels of sodium, potassium, and chloride ions. No significant differences (p &gt; 0.05) were recorded in relative weights of ovaries, testes, heart and kidneys of experimental groups compared to control group. Changes were observed in lipid profile (p &lt; 0.05) and histology of kidneys and liver of rats treated with plant extract, particularly at highest dose, 1000 mg/kg. These findings suggest that extract of P. falcisepala could be safely applied for its medicinal properties at low to medium doses. However, sub-acute administration of doses up to 1000 mg/kg/day could pose deleterious risk to liver and kidneys.

Gallic and Hesperidin Ameliorate Electrolyte Imbalances in AlCl3-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Wistar Rats.

Nephrotoxicity is usually characterized by inefficiency of the kidney, thereby causing disruptions to electrolyte balance and blood acidity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of hesperidin and gallic acid on serum electrolytes and ion pumps in Wistar rats subjected to aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced nephrotoxicity. Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups of five animals apiece. Group one served as the negative control and received distilled water while the study lasted. Animals in groups 2–4 received 100 mg/kg/day AlCl3 throughout the study. Animals in groups 3 and 4 were also administered 100 mg/kg/day gallic acid and 100 mg/kg/day hesperidin, respectively. Groups 5 and 6 were treated with 100 mg/kg/day gallic acid only and 100 mg/kg/day hesperidin only, respectively. Treatments were administered orally via gavage for 28 days with distilled water as the vehicle. Animals were sacrificed after which levels of potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, chloride, and bicarbonate ions were evaluated in the serum, while activities of Na+/K+ and Ca2+/Mg2+ ATPases were determined in kidney homogenate. Results showed that AlCl3 significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited activities of Na+/K+ and Ca2+/Mg2+ ATPases in addition to increasing serum levels of potassium, calcium, phosphate, and chloride, with concomitant decrease in serum levels of magnesium and bicarbonate. However, coadministration of AlCl3 with either gallic acid or hesperidin ameliorated all the disruptions caused by AlCl3. It could be concluded that gallic acid and hesperidin could be relevant in managing electrolyte imbalances and acidosis occasioned by kidney dysfunction.