NaCl Research Articles

Halotherapy as Adjuvant Therapy for Respiratory Diseases: A Literature Review

Halotherapy (HT) is part of salt therapy derived from speleotherapy/speleoclimate, which comes from using a micro size of dry salt in aerosol form (such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sodium chloride) with stable air temperature (18–24ºC) and moderate to high humidity (40–60%) for inhalation inside a cave/imitation cave since the nineteenth century. The benefits of HT as an adjuvant may help patients with many medical conditions, especially respiratory and dermatology diseases. This therapy is believed to alleviate inflammation and the immune response and improve respiratory function, etc. The clinical benefits of HT are advocated, but the mechanisms still need to be explicitly elucidated. This study’s main objective is to critically review and evaluate the evidence from existing literature of HT efficacy as an adjuvant therapy for respiratory disease in a narrative review. This review used a systematic approach and narrative synthesis. PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched. Based on preset selection criteria, two reviewers separately looked over abstracts and chose relevant papers. HT improves mucociliary elimination, diminishes airway inflammation, and improves pulmonary function. This adjuvant therapy is safe and does not cause serious adverse events. Therefore, this therapy should be considered an adjuvant therapy for respiratory diseases because of its potential effects. However, scientific evidence of the effectiveness of HT is limited. High-quality further research is required to ascertain the effectiveness of this treatment for respiratory conditions. Keywords: adjuvant, halotherapy, respiratory diseases, salt therapy, therapy

Enhancing quick-cooking bean quality: The impact of salt concentrations on soaking of fresh and aged Brazilian genotypes

AimThis study aimed to investigate the feasibility of preparing quick-cooking beans from freshly harvested and aged beans with HTC defects from two Brazilian bean genotypes and to evaluate the influence of different salt concentrations in the soaking step. MethodTwo Brazilian bean genotypes (BRS Estilo and BRS Esteio) that were freshly harvested and aged with hard-to-cook (HTC) defects were used to produce quick-cooking beans by testing different treatments with saline solutions (0.5 %, 1.0 %, and 1.5 %) sodium bicarbonate [NaHCO3] and sodium chloride [NaCl]) in the soaking stage. The cooking time, water absorption, damaged grains, colorimetric profile, visual characteristics, and hardness were analyzed. ResultsThe use of salts in the soaking step promoted reductions of up to 95 % in the cooking time of the beans. The shortest cooking times and highest water absorption were observed with NaHCO3 treatments. After processing, browning of the tegument was observed in BRS Estilo, whereas BRS Esteio exhibited the opposite behavior. Beans soaked in NaHCO3 showed higher levels of damage, regardless of the evaluated genotype; however, HTC beans showed less damage and higher hardness than freshly harvested beans. ConclusionDifferent concentrations of NaCl and NaHCO3 enabled the elaboration of beans with greater water absorption capacity, shorter cooking times, and lower hardness. The 1.0 % NaCl treatment produced quick-cooking beans with better characteristics. The use of salts during the soaking step can help in the preparation of quick-cooking beans, providing improvements in technological quality, especially for HTC beans.

Effect of Sodium Chloride on the Kinetics of Methane Hydrate Formation in Bulk Soy Lecithin Solutions

Effect of Sodium Chloride on the Kinetics of Methane Hydrate Formation in Bulk Soy Lecithin Solutions

Effect of ultrasound combined with highland barley dietary fiber on gel properties of reduced-salt chicken breast myofibrillar protein.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of ultrasound combined with highland barley dietary fiber (HBDF) on the quality of reduced-salt chicken breast myofibrillar protein (MP) gel. The molecular forces maintaining gel structure, the gelling formation process, and gel microstructure of different groups, two control groups (2% sodium chloride [NaCl] group, 1% NaCl group), and four treatment groups (0.3% HBDF+U5, 0.3% HBDF+U10, 0.5% HBDF+U5, and 0.5% HBDF+U10) were examined. Results indicated significant improvements (p<0.05) in gel properties such as water-holding capacity, textural characteristics, and color of the MP gel of the four treatment groups compared to Control 2 (1% NaCl) group. Furthermore, the second structural alterations were characterized by increase β-sheet, β-turn, and random coil structure contents in treatment groups, especially in 0.3% HBDF+U5 and 0.5% HBDF+U5 groups; in addition, the exposure of more hydrophobic groups and the formation of disulfide bonds and hydrogen bonds were promoted in treatment groups, thus enhancing protein aggregation and gel quality. Finally, compared to Control 2 (1% NaCl) group, more compact and uniform gel network structures and pores inside the composite gels were observed in treatment groups. In conclusion, the findings demonstrated that the application of ultrasound in combination with HBDF improved the gelling characteristics of reduced-salt chicken breast MP gel, especially 0.3% HBDF+U5 and 0.5% HBDF+U5 groups.

An Exceptionally Salt Tolerant Copoly(Maleimide Sulfobetaine) - Structural Requirements for Ultra-Salt Tolerance.

Zwitterionic polymers are an important class of polymers with far-ranging applications. In the widely studied poly(meth)acrylate and poly(meth) acrylamide-based zwitterions, properties can be tuned by changing the nature of substituents attached to ammonium ions. However, these changes influenced salt tolerance of zwitterionic polymers only to a limited extent. Upon adding salt these polymers expanded in solution initially. Further increase in salt concentration caused the polymer chains to shrink similar to the common water soluble, uncharged polymers thereby deteriorating the viscosity of aqueous solutions. In contrast to the conventional poly(meth)acrylate and poly(meth)acrylamide-based zwitterions, zwitterionic copolymaleimides showed substituent dependent salt-tolerant nature. In the absence of any substituent on the polymer backbone such as zwitterionic poly(ethylene-alt-maleimide) (ZI-PEMA) the viscosity of salt solutions increased both with the increasing salt concentration as well as the concentration of polymer. This is likely due to the continuous expansion of polymer coil in salt solutions with increasing salt concentration caused primarily by the rigidity of the polymer backbone. ZI-PEMA also enhanced the saturation limit of mono- and divalent salts like sodium chloride and hydrated calcium bromide in water. This property is useful for various applications like fish curing, for making high-density fluids, refrigeration, etc. across various industrial sectors.

Greater lactate accumulation does not alter peripheral concentrations of key appetite-regulating neuropeptides.

The potential mechanisms involved in lactate's role in exercise-induced appetite suppression requires further examination. We used sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) supplementation in a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized crossover design to explore lactate's role on neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti-related peptide (AgRP), and alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) concentrations. Twelve adults (7 males; 24.2±3.4 kg‧m-2; 42.18±8.56 mL‧kg-1‧min-1) completed two identical high-intensity interval training sessions following ingestion of NaHCO3 (BICARB) or sodium chloride (PLACEBO) pre-exercise. Blood lactate, acylated ghrelin, NPY, AgRP, α-MSH, and appetite perceptions were measured pre-exercise, 0-, 30-, 60-, and 90-min post-exercise. Free-living energy intake (electronic food diaries) was measured the day before, of, and after each experimental session. In BICARB, blood lactate was greater post-exercise (p<0.002, d>0.70) though acylated ghrelin was similar (p=0.075, =0.206) at all time-points post-exercise (p>0.034, d<0.22). NPY (p=0.006, >0.509) and AgRP (p<0.001, >0.488) had main effects of time increasing following exercise and returning to baseline, with no differences between sessions (NPY: p=0.0.192, =0.149; AgRP: p=0.422, =0.060). α-MSH had no main effect of time (p=0.573, =0.063) or session (p=0.269, =0.110). Appetite perceptions were similar during BICARB and PLACEBO (p=0.007, d=0.28) increasing in both sessions post-exercise (p<0.088, d>0.57). Energy intake had a main effect of day (p=0.025, =0.825), where the experimental session day was greater than the day before (p=0.010, d=0.59) with no other differences between days (p>0.260, d<0.38). The lower accumulation of lactate than our previous work did not generate exercise-induced appetite suppression as there were no differences in acylated ghrelin, appetite perceptions, or peripheral concentrations of neuropeptides.

THE ROLE OF OIL-IN-WATER EMULSION COMPONENTS ON SANDSTONES PERMEABILITY

This work studies the stability of oil-in-water emulsions and proposes a new methodology to evaluate the impact of different emulsion's components (sodium chloride, surfactant, and oil) on permeability decline during the injection into natural rocks. Stable emulsions were obtained by varying surfactant and oil concentrations and stirring speed. Emulsions, proven to be stable for more than 24h, were used in coreflooding tests. First, coreflooding experiments were conducted by injecting brine, which provided a permeability reduction of 7% and 20% in rocks measuring approximately 20mD and 120mD, respectively. Then, a surfactant solution was injected, resulting in a decline in permeability from 17 to 23% in the studied scenarios. Finally, emulsions with 0.05 and 0.01wt% oil concentrations were injected, and permeability was reduced to around 65% of its original value in low permeability rocks. Results show that damage due to oil droplets retention was intensive in the scenarios studied.

Изменение состава пектиновых веществ при замораживании и хранении растительной продукции

To keep up with the growing demand, producers of frozen plant products have to develop new freezing technologies that would preserve the sensory and biological properties of fruits and vegetables. Pectins are important structural and moisturebinding components of plant cells that improve their stability at high and low temperatures. The research objective was to study the effect of blanching and various freezing methods on the composition of pectin substances during long-term storage of fruits and vegetables. The research featured scorzonera, salsify, kohlrabi, apples, and plums. The freezing modes included two temperature modes (–24 and –35°C) and three freezing methods, i.e., blanching, air-freezing represented by natural air-freezing, artificial convection, and fluidization, and immersion in a mix of water, ethyl alcohol, sucrose, and sodium chloride. The frozen samples were stored in sealed bags at –18°C for 7–12 months. The water-soluble pectin, intermediate fraction, and protopectin obtained by extraction were determined using the colorimetric carbazole method. The qu alitative analysis relied on infrared spectroscopy. Blanching reduced the pectin content by 2–10% in vegetables and by 18–21% in apples. Fluidization and immersion freezing had the least damaging effect on pectins. Air-freezing with natural convection caused the greatest damage to protopectin. During storage, the maximal loss of pectins (66%) occurred in the salsify sample subjected to natural air convection at –24°C. The least damage (9%) was detected in the kohlrabi sample frozen at –24°C in ice environment. A higher moisture content in the native state correlated with minimal losses of pectins by the end of refrigerated storage. The research also included identification of absorption bands for pectic substances in fro zen scorzonera and salsify. In this study, pectin content depended on moisture content in tissues, blanching process, and freezing method. All frozen samples demonstrated losses of protopectin and an increase in the intermediate fraction. An intense freezing process had a positive effect on the pectin content during long-term storage. However, after six months of storage, the samples demonstrated significant fractional changes and pectin losses.

Physical compatibility and chemical stability of bupivacaine, epinephrine, and nalbuphine in 0.45 % sodium chloride, 0.9 % sodium chloride, or plasma-lyte A

PurposeTo evaluate the physical compatibility and chemical stability of the combination of bupivacaine, epinephrine, and nalbuphine when in mixed in 0.45 % sodium chloride, 0.9 % sodium chloride, or Plasma-Lyte A. MethodsBupivacaine 0.5 % (15 mL), epinephrine 1 mg/mL (0.15 mL), and nalbuphine 10 mg/mL (0.5 mL) were combined to prepare three distinct admixtures with 0.45 % sodium chloride, 0.9 % sodium chloride, or Plasma-Lyte A. Visual inspection, spectrophotometric analysis, pH evaluation, and high-performance liquid chromatography tests were conducted at hours 0, 1, 5, 8, and 24. Samples were stored in ambient room light at room temperature. ResultsThere were no demonstrable changes identified in any of the samples with regards to visual changes, spectrophotometric absorbance, or pH. In each studied fluid, the remaining drug concentrations were an average of 100.92 % bupivacaine, 95.8 % epinephrine, and 100.02 % nalbuphine. ConclusionsThe combination of bupivacaine, epinephrine, and nalbuphine was found to be physically compatibility and chemically stable for a period of 24 h at room temperature.

How does NaCl enhance Cd tolerance in Inula crithmoides L? Insights into Cd uptake, compartmentalization, and chelation

This study investigated the effect of NaCl on the uptake, translocation, compartmentalization, and chelation of cadmium (Cd) in the halophyte Inula crithmoides. Seedlings were subjected hydroponically for 21 days to 25 and 50 μM Cd applied alone or combined with 100 mM NaCl. Findings revealed that, Cd alone induced intense chlorosis and necrosis and altered plant development resulting in diminished biomass production. However, NaCl alleviated Cd-induced toxicity by increasing biomass accumulation, associated with restoration of photosynthesis activity. At the level of whole plant, NaCl reduced Cd concentration in different organs as well as its translocation toward the shoots. At the cellular level, Na Cl changed the cell-compartmentalization of Cd in the shoots and roots by inducing a preferential accumulation into the soluble fraction (vacuole). NaCl increased the chelation of Cd to chloride and nitrate. As compared to Cd alone, salt addition to Cd-treated plants enhanced significantly succinic acid concentration in the leaves suggesting a possible role of this acid in Cd-chelation. Globally, NaCl alleviated Cd-induced phytotoxicity in this halophyte by reducing Cd absorption, translocation and increased Cd fixation to organic acids as well as through the changes in Cd2+ cell compartmentalization. Obtained data suggested that this fast growing halophyte could be used to rehabilitate Cd polluted saline soils.

Effect of Temperature and Salinity on Survival of Protoscoleces of Hydatid Cyst in Liver In Vitro.

Hydatid cyst is the metacestode stage of Echinococcus granulosus that occurs in herbivores and humans as intermediate hosts by consuming parasite eggs through forage and vegetables. Carnivores, as definitive hosts, become infected by consuming infected vesicles of herbivores. The most effective treatment for a hydatid cyst is surgical operation. Inactivating E. granulosus protoscoleces through heating, cooling, or chemicals such as sodium chloride can be considered an effective method for controlling hydatidosis in both humans and animals. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different temperatures and salinity conditions on the survival of Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces. For this purpose, 50 g of infected liver (in triplicate) was separately treated with different temperatures (+10°C, +50°C, +60°C, +72°C, and -20°C) and concentrations of sodium chloride (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) for 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. Additionally, 50 g of infected liver was stored separately in the refrigerator (+4°C) as a control group. The survival rate of the protoscoleces was evaluated by staining with 1% eosin under a light microscope. The results showed that the protoscoleces were significantly affected, with 100% mortality at -20°C after 0.5 h, and complete death at +72°C, +60°C, +50°C, and +10°C after 1, 1.5, 3, and 24 h, respectively (p < 0.005). Similarly, the protoscoleces in the liver mass survived at 5% NaCl after 3 h but died at 10% after 24 h, at 15% after 12 h, and at 20% after 6 h. It is concluded that exposing the liver infected with protoscoleces hydatid cyst to a temperature of -20°C and a sodium chloride concentration of 10% for 24 h is suitable for inactivating the protoscoleces.

Eco-friendly corrosion inhibition of copper in NaCl media using Perseana americana extract: Insights from quantum and electrochemical studies

Corrosion of copper in saline environments, particularly in 3.5% sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions, poses significant challenges across various industries, leading to substantial economic losses and safety concerns. Traditional corrosion inhibitors, often synthetic and toxic, raise environmental issues that necessitate the exploration of sustainable alternatives. This study investigates the use of Perseana americana extract (PAE) as an eco-friendly inhibitor for copper corrosion, demonstrating an impressive inhibition efficiency of 96.53% at an optimal concentration of 300 mg/L. Electrochemical assessments, including potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), reveal that PAE functions as a mixed-type inhibitor, significantly reducing the corrosion current density (icorr) from 3.59 × 10⁻⁵ A/cm2 (without inhibitor) to 1.83 × 10⁻⁵ A/cm2 at 100 mg/L, and further to 0.12 × 10⁻⁵ A/cm2 at 300 mg/L. The adsorption behavior of PAE on the copper surface adheres to the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating monolayer adsorption with a Gibbs free energy of adsorption (ΔGads) of −18.84 kJ/mol, suggesting a predominantly physisorption mechanism. Additionally, Monte Carlo simulations confirm strong interactions between PAE molecules and the copper surface, with the highest adsorption energy recorded for phloretin at −3778.338 kcal/mol, highlighting the extract's potential as a green alternative to conventional inhibitors. This research underscores the viability of utilizing natural plant extracts for effective corrosion control, contributing to more sustainable practices in metal protection.

Role of Acoustic and Volumetric Properties in View to Estimate the Intermolecular Interactions in the Solutions of Electrolytes and l‐Isoleucine

Abstractl‐Isoleucine is subjected to density and sound velocity measurements in aqueous solutions of potassium (KCl) and sodium chlorides (NaCl) as well as water, from 288.15 to 298.15 K. Through the use of these experimental data, a variety of volumetric and acoustical parameters are calculated, including values for molar volume (Vm), available volume (Va), adiabatic compressibility (β), nonlinear parameters (B/A), Wada constant (W), Rao's constant (R), and van der Wall's constant (a). The findings shed light on many electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions within the binary system involving electrolytes, water, and amino acids. The interactions between the electrolytes and l‐isoleucine are thoroughly examined under varying electrolyte concentrations and temperatures, revealing many interactions. Positive transfer quantities demonstrate the ion‐hydrophilic and solute–solvent interaction in the aqueous medium, particularly between l‐isoleucine and NaCl and KCl. The influence of electrolyte type and temperature on these interactions is discernible. The culmination of the study's outcomes is elaborated through analyzing solute–solvent and solute–solute interactions. In particular, the interaction hierarchy is identified as l‐isoleucine + water + KCl &gt; l‐isoleucine + water + NaCl &gt; l‐isoleucine + swater.

FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF HERBAL TOOTHPASTE

The present study is concerned with the formulation and evaluation of herbal toothpaste, which contains various properties like tooth abrasives, tooth whitening, anti-caring, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, desensitivity, etc. The herbal toothpaste was prepared using mango leaf extract and guava leaf extract as active ingredients, along with various excipients, which include calcium carbonate, sodium chloride, sodium lauryl sulphate, sodium benzoate, glycerine, camphor, honey and distilled water. The toothpaste was prepared by homogeneous mixing of all the excipients and the herbal extract. Four formulations were prepared using mango leaf extract as an active ingredient along with varying excipient concentrations, four formulations were prepared using guava leaf extract as an active ingredient along with varying excipient concentrations, and a polyherbal formulation consisting of four formulations containing both mango leaf extract and guava leaves extract as active ingredients along with varying excipient concentrations. The formulations were tested for various parameters such as homogeneity, abrasiveness, foamability, moisture content, Spreadability, extrudability, colour, PH, and antibacterial activity. The study concluded that polyherbal formulation showed best results and was found to be best among all batches. The polyherbal formulation, F4 showed was found to be best among all other formulations.

Direct synthesis of low-silica ZSM-48 zeolite via seed-assisted hydrothermal synthesis with 1,6-hexanediamine as template

ZSM-48 zeolite is characteristic of 10-member ring (10-MR) one-dimensional tubular channel structure and finds extensive applications in catalytic hydroisomerization reactions. Here we developed an efficient synthetic strategy for low-silica ZSM-48 zeolite with a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio at 30∼176 via a seed-assisted hydrothermal synthesis method, overcoming the limit that 1,6-hexanediamine (HDA) template can only be used to synthesize high-silica (i.e., SiO2/Al2O3 ratio >200) zeolites. A two-step crystallization procedure coupled with zeolite seed-assisted synthesis strategy was enrolled to realize well crystallized ZSM-48 zeolites, in which the zeolite nuclei are sufficiently produced at the nucleation temperature at 100 °C for 24 h with the aid of zeolite seeds, and the zeolite growth is proceeded at the crystallization temperature at 160 °C for 48 h. The morphology and particle size of low-silica ZSM-48 have been manipulated by adjusting the synthetic parameters, such as the alkalinity and silicon source of aluminosilicate gel for zeolite, the crystallization manner (static or dynamic crystallization), as well as the presence of additive (i.e., sodium chloride). The as-synthesized ZSM-48 zeolite exhibits a significantly high acid content of 0.194 mmol/g, highlighting its potential as an excellent acidic support for hydroisomerization catalysts. The cost-effective and environmentally friendly synthesis strategy, which is anticipated to expand the application of alkylamine organic templates in the synthesis of low-silica ZSM-48 zeolite.

The effect of geology and agricultural development on the groundwater, West Minia, Egypt

Fifty groundwater samples were collected from the Oligocene sand and Middle Eocene limestone aquifers and analyzed for major ions and stable isotopes. Aquifer sediment samples were examined to determine hydraulic properties, and sixty-six well logs were investigated to understand the subsurface geology. The study reveals that lithofacies, mineral composition, and geologic structures significantly influence groundwater quality and behavior. Karst features in the Middle Eocene limestone aquifer create subsurface caves, leading to challenges such as abrupt salinization and well failure. In the Oligocene aquifer, groundwater is predominantly of the sodium chloride type. In the Middle Eocene aquifer, 80 % of samples are sodium chloride, with variations of sodium bicarbonate (10 %) and sodium sulfate (10 %) types. Remote sensing from 2013 to 2021 shows significant agricultural expansion, with vegetation increasing by over 227 km². This growth, driven by large agricultural projects, has led to substantial groundwater consumption, resulting in a 5-meter decline in water levels within just one year (from 2020 to 2021). The over-extraction poses a risk to the aquifers, threatening long-term sustainability. Understanding the region's geology is crucial for mitigating these issues and ensuring sustainable groundwater management.

Thirst and the influence of ionic concentration; an investigation into the effect on salivary lubrication and the role of MUC5B

Saliva plays a crucial role in lubricating the oral cavity and maintaining a normal hydrated mouthfeel, with the main macromolecule in saliva, MUC5B, playing a significant role in its lubricating properties. Mucins form a hydrated biogel that covers the oral epithelium and forms part of the mucosal pellicle, maintaining proper hydration. This study investigates the relationship between ionic concentration, saliva lubrication, and the perception of oral dryness. At baseline, sodium was found to be ten times more concentrated in the mucosal pellicle compared to bulk saliva, in contrast to potassium which was only 1.5 times more concentrated in the pellicle. Increasing concentrations of mouthwashes containing sodium or potassium indicated a preferential sequestering of sodium in the mucosal pellicle with sodium chloride rinses being associated with an increased thirst perception. We therefore propose that sodium binds to MUC5B, reducing the electrostatic repulsions between its negatively charged moieties. This interaction subsequently leads to a compaction of the mucin structure, which decreases the hydration of MUC5B and reduces its lubricating properties. We determined that increased sodium concentrations compact the mucin structure as indicated by transmission electron microscopy. However, we found that increased sodium concentrations were associated with improved the lubrication of salivary and MUC5B films in an oral tribology mimic, decreasing the coefficient of friction from 0.044 to 0.018, and 0.416 to 0.100 with the addition of 200 mM sodium chloride for saliva and MUC5B, respectively. MUC5B was also demonstrated to become more hydrated with increasing ionic concentrations, as indicated by Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation. We therefore propose that increased hydration shells surrounding the sodium counterions are responsible for this improved lubrication via the hydration lubrication mechanism. Lastly, it was observed that the spinnbarkeit of saliva decreased with increasing ionic concentrations, indicating a reduced stretchiness in its rheological properties. However, the concentration of MUC5B alone did not appear to affect spinnbarkeit, highlighting that many factors influence the biophysical properties of saliva.

Characterization and biocontrol potential of Wickerhamomyces subpelliculosus yeasts isolated from dates: Volatile compounds-mediated antifungal activity against mycotoxigenic Penicillium strains

Seven yeast strains were isolated from Tunisian dates. The strains were identified by sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domain of the nuclear large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene. Based on this all strains in the study were almost identical with that of the type strain of Wickerhamomyces subpelliculosus (CBS 5767) indicating that they belong to this species. All strains were characterized physiologically and biochemically. All strains grew in the presence of 50 % sucrose, 10 % sodium chloride and at 42 °C. The potential of these yeasts as biocontrol agent against mycotoxigenic Penicillium species inhabiting date, was evaluated. All yeast strains inhibited the growth of P. citrinum P10 and P. chrysogenum C17 previously isolated from dates, with inhibition percentages ranging between 43.6 % and 70.3 % on dual culture plate assays. Moreover, the volatile compounds (VCs) produced by these yeasts inhibited the mycelial growth rate and sporulation of both fungus strains, up to 76.5 and 100 %, respectively, on inverted culture plate assay. The VCs of W. subpelliculosus strains Y4 and Y24, which exhibit strong inhibitory activity against toxigenic Penicillium, were determined by head-space solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis. Results revealed significant levels of alcohols (27.36 % for Y4 and 23.35 % for Y24) and esters (66.19 % for Y4 and 75.82 % for Y24). Their significant bioactivity, along with the lack of reported adverse effects on consumer health or the environment, makes them a sustainable and effective alternative to synthetic fungicides for the biocontrol of mycotoxigenic Penicillium affecting stored dates.

Healing with Systematic Wound Management after Minimally Invasive Treatment of Axillary Osmidrosis.

Axillary osmidrosis (AO), the condition of armpit smell, can be treated with minimally invasive techniques. However, patients may experience wound complications and a relatively long recovery period after operation. In this case series, the researchers investigated the effectiveness of systematic wound management for wound healing after minimally invasive treatment of AO.From January 2016 to December 2021, 64 patients with AO underwent systematic wound management after minimally invasive treatment. Systematic wound management included three consecutive steps of wound irrigation with 0.9% sodium chloride, suction drainage, and compression dressing. The researchers retrospectively evaluated wound healing results and recorded complications. Of the patients, 60 (93.8%) had good primary wound healing results, 1 (1.5%) developed a hematoma, and 3 (4.7%) had partial epidermis necrosis. The hematoma was easily evacuated, and the partial epidermis necrosis recovered spontaneously without obvious scarring. No other adverse effects were observed.The results of this case series indicate that systematic wound management is reliable and practical and provides good wound healing results after minimally invasive treatment of AO.

Effects of Sodium Chloride on PEMFC Durability at a Concentration Close to that of a Marine Environment

The marine application of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) requires special attention due to sea salt aerosols and atmospheric pollutants, susceptible to degrade these systems and induce performance losses. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to identify the performance losses of PEMFCs due to sodium chloride (NaCl) pollution similar to that of the marine environment. A 641 h ageing test with a NaCl concentration in air of 120 μg.m‒3 was carried out on a five cells stack of 220 cm2. The results reveal a key mechanism for reversible performance loss, namely the deposition of salt particles in the channels and on the surface of the cathode gas diffusion layer (GDL). This can lead to the complete shutdown of a cell. Nonetheless, this contamination did not induce significant irreversible performance losses as the restarts of the stack cause the salt particles to dissolve. An overall degradation rate of 8 μV·h‒1, similar to that of the baseline without NaCl contamination, is observed.