Search Results (490)

Cyanide species pose an environmental concern as they inhibit important biological processes in humans and aquatic systems. There is more focus on free-CN and weak acid dissociables cyanide as hazardous species compared to strong acid dissociables due to their higher reactivity and toxicity. However, the strong acid dissociables cyanide also poses health concerns as it liberates free-CN under ultraviolet irradiation or when present in acidic solutions. Detection of strongly acid dissociables cyanide typically requires its digestion in acidic solutions and measurement of the gaseous HCN produced. A simple infrared spectroscopic method is described here to speciate and quantify three strong acid dissociables cyanide: [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻, [Co(CN)₆]³⁻, and [Au(CN)₂]⁻. The strategy involves precipitating the strongly acid dissociables cyanide using cetyltrimethylethylammonium bromide, capturing the precipitate on a polyethylene membrane, and quantifying the individual strongly acid dissociables cyanide from the IR spectrum recorded in transmission mode through the membrane. Controlling the particle diameter to be in the range of 0.2–2 µm is important. Particles less than 0.2 µm pass through the membrane, whereas particles larger than about 2 µm lead to nonlinearity in quantification. The average %recoveries for [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻, [Co(CN)₆]³⁻, and [Au(CN)₂]⁻ were 100% (%RSD = 7), 91% (%RSD = 7), and 101% (%RSD = 8), respectively. The detection limit for [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ and [Co(CN)₆]³⁻ were both 20 ppb CN⁻, whereas [Au(CN)₂]⁻ was 100 ppb CN⁻. The detection range was 20–750 ppb CN⁻ for [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ and [Co(CN)₆]³⁻ and 100–750 ppb CN⁻ for [Au(CN)₂]⁻ with a linear regression of R² = 0.999–1.000. Full article

In clinical applications of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) immunosensors, accurately determining analyte biomarker concentrations is essential. This study presents a non-invasive approach for quantifying various breast cancer biomarkers—including human epidermal growth factor receptor II (HER-II) (2+, 3+ (I), 3+ (II), 3+ (III), and positive IV) and CA 15-3—using a directional, plasmonically active, label-free SERS sensor. Each stage of sensor functionalization, conjugation, and biomarker interaction was verified by UV–Vis spectroscopy. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterized the morphology of gold nanourchin (GNU)-immobilized printed circuit board (PCB) substrates. An enhancement factor of ≈ 0.5 × 10⁵ was achieved using Rhodamine 6G as the probe molecule. Calibration curves were initially established using standard HER-II solutions at concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 ng/mL and CA 15-3 at concentrations from 10 to 100 U/mL. The SERS signal intensities in the 620–720 nm region were plotted against concentration, yielding linear sensitivity with R² values of 0.942 and 0.800 for HER-II and CA15-3, respectively. The same procedure was applied to breast cancer serum (BCS) samples, allowing unknown biomarker concentrations to be determined based on the corresponding calibration curves. SERS data were processed using the filtfilt filter from scipy.signal for smoothing and then baseline-corrected with the Improved Asymmetric Least Squares (IASLS) algorithm from the pybaselines.Whittaker library. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) effectively distinguished the sample groups and revealed spectral differences before and after biomarker interactions. Key Raman peaks were attributed to functional groups including N–H (primary and secondary amines), C–H antisymmetric stretching, C–N (amines), C=O antisymmetric stretching, NH₃⁺ (amines), carbohydrates, glycine, alanine, amides III, C=N stretches, and NH₂ in primary amides. Full article

Background and Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) significantly impacts morbidity and mortality, often due to cardiovascular comorbidities that are frequently overlooked. This study examines the prevalence of left ventricular dysfunction in COPD patients and its association with disease severity, hypoxemia, and exacerbation frequency. Materials and Methods: COPD patients (n = 114) were evaluated using spirometry and transthoracic echocardiography. Statistical analysis utilized Student’s t-test, chi-square test, and multivariable logistic regression with 1000 bootstrapping iterations, considering p < 0.05 as significant differences. Results: Most patients were classified as Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage III (40.4%) and stage IV (44.7%). Diastolic dysfunction was present in 67.5% of the patients (Grade 1: 53.5%, Grade 2: 13. 2%, Grade 3: 0.0.9%), while 18.4% exhibited systolic dysfunction (LVEF < 50%). The prevalence of diastolic dysfunction increased significantly, from 41.2% in GOLD stage II to 92. 2% in GOLD stage IV (p < 0.001). Independent predictors of diastolic dysfunction included GOLD stage IV (Odds Ratio [OR]: 5.39, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1. 42–23.35, p < 0.001), older age (OR: 1.02 per year, 95% CI: 1.01–1.04, p = 0.025), and a history of frequent exacerbations (OR: 1.09 per event, 95% CI: 1.01–1.17, p = 0.039). Systolic dysfunction correlated significantly with GOLD stage IV (OR: 1.83, p = 0.014), oxygen saturation below 88% (OR: 3.12, p = 0.036), and having three or more exacerbations (OR: 4.18, p = 0.008). Conclusions: This study reveals a high prevalence of left ventricular dysfunction in COPD patients, linked to disease severity, hypoxemia, and frequent exacerbations. It supports incorporating complementary echocardiographic assessments in managing advanced COPD, especially for those with frequent exacerbations or oxygen desaturation. Full article

This study investigates the potential of sulfuric acid modified wheat straw, polysaccharide-rich agricultural byproduct, as a low-cost adsorbent for the selective adsorption of Au(III) ions from aqueous solutions. The wheat straw was treated with concentrated sulfuric acid to enhance its surface properties and functional groups, particularly sulfonic and oxygen-containing functional groups. Adsorption experiments were performed under various conditions, including acid concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 3.0 mol/L, contact times from 1 to 6 h, and initial Au(III) concentrations of 60.36, 90.0, and 150.0 mg/L. The highest adsorption efficiency, 99.0%, was achieved at an acid concentration of 1.0 mol/L. Furthermore, it was determined that an increase in the initial Au(III) concentration from 60.36 mg/L to 150.0 mg/L resulted in a 4.5 times increase in maximum adsorption capacity under optimal conditions. Kinetic modeling revealed that the adsorption process followed pseudo-second order kinetics, suggesting chemisorption as the rate-limiting step. Characterization techniques such as SEM/EDS, XRD, BET and XPS confirmed structural modification, surface sulfonating, and the successful adsorption and reduction of Au(III) to elemental gold (Au⁰) on the modified straw surface. This work demonstrates that modified wheat straw is a promising, effective, and low cost for the recovery of gold from low-concentration solutions and provides insight into the adsorption and reduction mechanisms at the molecular level. Full article

This study investigates the cytotoxic properties of metal complexes incorporating thio-uracil derivatives, specifically 2,4-dithiouracil and 6-propyl-2-thiouracil. The research focuses on the cytotoxic effects of Cu(II) and Pd(II) complexes with 6-propyl-2-thiouracil, as well as mixed-ligand transition metal Cu(II) and Au(III) complexes of 2,4-dithiouracil with 2-thiouracil and uracil. Cytotoxic activity was assessed against human cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa) and normal kidney cells from the African green monkey. The results demonstrated that incorporating Cu(II) and Au(III) into the compound structures significantly enhanced their cytotoxic effects. Notably, all tested complexes exhibited a stronger inhibitory effect on cancer cell proliferation compared to normal cells, with the palladium(II) complex of 6-propyl-2-thiouracil showing the lowest CD₅₀ value against the tumor cell line (0.00064 mM), which were 149 times lower than that of the ligand (0.0955 mM). These findings suggest that thio-uracil-based metal complexes, particularly those containing palladium (II) and gold(III), hold significant potential for further development as anticancer agents. Full article

Gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is a frequent and severe complication after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (aSCTx). Although biopsy and histopathology remain the gold standard for diagnosis of GvHD, this approach can be limited by thrombocytopenia accompanying aSCTx and the diagnostic delay associated with routine histopathology. Here, we report on two patients in which dye-based contact microscopy using a latest generation endocytoscope with 520-fold magnification enabled in vivo diagnosis of GvHD. The first patient was a 23-year-old man with acute lymphoblastic leukemia presenting with non-bloody diarrhea 3 months after aSCTx. After topical staining with crystal violet and methylene blue, endocytoscopy in the rectum showed several apoptotic epithelial cells. Histopathology confirmed GvHD grade III according to the Lerner classification. The second patient was a 59-year-old female with diarrhea 3 months after aSCTx. Apart from pathognomic apoptotic bodies, EC additionally revealed crypt lumina enlargement and mononuclear cell infiltrates in the lamina propria with subsequent crypt distension. The duration of the procedure was less than 5 min in each patient. These findings illustrate that in vivo microscopy using endocytoscopy can enable instantaneous diagnosis of GvHD with the benefit of accelerating therapeutic decisions in patients with suspected severe GvHD. Full article

Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are the gold standard as MRI probes but are nowadays facing medical limitations and environmental concerns. To address these issues, novel strategies focus on the optimization of Gd(III)-based probes. One promising approach involves incorporating Gd(III) into nanoparticles, particularly coordination polymers, which offer improved relaxivity. In this study, we explore the self-assembly of Gd(III) ions with ascorbate ligand, forming extended coordination polymer architectures. Our investigation focuses on understanding the impact of nanoparticles’ growth and aggregation on their relaxivity properties. Notably, the controlled aggregation process leads to a different distribution of the Gd(III) in the surface and in the bulk of the nanoparticles, mainly responsible for their longitudinal relaxivity. Additionally, the introduction of Eu(III) into the network enables the development of a dual-modal probe with paramagnetic and optical features. Full article

Background/Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of periodontal blood flow on the periapical region during various endodontic disinfection procedures. The hypothesis that periodontal blood flow reduces the increase in root surface temperature during disinfection procedures was tested. Methods: One hundred and twenty extracted human teeth were shortened to 11 mm and the root canal was prepared using the F4 ProTaper Gold system. The specimens were covered with wax and then sealed in a thermoforming sheet, leaving a gap of 0.2 mm. Cannulas were attached to simulate stable fluid circulation. Thermographic evaluation was carried out using an infrared camera. The following methods were chosen for disinfection: I, λ445 nm diode laser (0.6 W, cw); II, λ445 nm diode laser, 3 W, pulsed, duty cycle 50%, 10 Hz; III, λ445 nm diode laser, 3 W, pulsed, duty cycle 75%, 10 Hz; IV, λ970 nm diode laser, 2 W, pulsed, duty cycle 50%, 10 Hz; V, λ970 nm diode laser, 2 W, pulsed, duty cycle 75%, 10 Hz; VI, experimental plasma device (2.5 W, 3.7 V); VII, heat plugger (200.0 °C); VIII, NaOCl 3% (60 °C). The results were analyzed statistically using the Kruskal–Wallis test. When there were significant differences between the groups (p < 0.05), the pairwise Mann–Whitney test with sequential Bonferroni correction was applied. Results: The smallest temperature changes, with a median value of 0.82 °C (max. 2.02 °C, min. 0.15 °C, IQR 0.87 °C), were observed using the laser at a setting of λ445 nm, 0.6 W cw, and a circulation rate of 6 mL/min. The highest temperature changes were measured at a fluid circulation rate of 0 mL/min with a laser setting of λ445 nm, 3 W, pulsed, duty cycle 75% with a median value of 21.7 °C (max. 25.02 °C, min. 20.29 °C, IQR 2.04 °C). Conclusions: Disinfection procedures with laser, NaOCl, and an experimental plasma device can lead to an increase in root surface temperature. With the exception of the heat plugger, no significant temperature changes were observed. This study was conducted in vitro, which may limit the direct applicability of the results to clinical scenarios. Nevertheless, the simulation of blood flow showed a thermally protective effect, suggesting that clinical protocols should consider this variable when selecting thermal disinfection methods. These results support the hypothesis that periodontal blood flow may have a potentially positive influence on temperature changes during disinfection procedures. Full article

Background: Musculoskeletal injuries are frequent in handball players due to the high-impact nature of the sport. Accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment are essential for recovery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become the gold standard for evaluating complex sports-related injuries. This case report aims to assess the role of MRI in diagnosing trauma in professional handball players and the effectiveness of individualized treatment approaches. Methods: Four male members of the “Politehnica” Timișoara first team who sustained match- or training-related injuries between January 2023 and December 2024 underwent an 1.5 T MRI. Individualized conservative protocols included rest, NSAIDs, physiotherapy, and graded kinesitherapy. Results: The first case involved a right back with a knee hematoma and a vastus lateralis tear. Conservative treatment led to recovery. The second case was a left back with peripheral neuropathy caused by hamstring avulsion at the ischial tuberosity. Conservative therapy alleviated symptoms. The third case involved a left winger with adductor muscle tears, which recovered with conservative management. The fourth case, a goalkeeper, had a type III navicular fracture misdiagnosed on radiography, correctly identified via MRI and treated conservatively. Conclusions: MRI is invaluable in diagnosing handball-related injuries, enabling accurate assessments and effective individualized treatment, resulting in early recovery. Full article

The incidence of malignancies diagnosed during pregnancy is estimated at 1 in 1000 pregnancies, with cervical cancer being the most common gynecological malignancy in this population. The increasing maternal age and widespread use of prenatal screening contribute to the rising detection rates. Early symptoms of cervical cancer, such as vaginal bleeding or discharge, often mimic normal pregnancy changes, leading to potential delays in diagnosis. Cervical dysplasia, a known precursor of cervical cancer, is closely associated with high-risk HPV infection, which affects approximately 25% of women of reproductive age. Screening using cytology and HPV testing is considered safe and effective during pregnancy in early detection. Colposcopy remains the gold standard in further diagnostics, with targeted biopsy indicated in selected cases. In cases of high-grade lesions (CIN II/III), conservative management is often preferred, as more than 60% of lesions regress postpartum. Invasive cervical cancer diagnosed during pregnancy is rare, with an estimated incidence of 1.4–4.6 per 100,000 pregnancies. Management decisions depend on gestational age, cancer stage, and the patient’s reproductive preference. Chemotherapy can be administered after the first trimester with acceptable maternal and fetal safety profiles. This review presents current evidence on screening, diagnostic pathways, and treatment strategies. It emphasizes the importance of individualized care, multidisciplinary collaboration, and shared decision-making to optimize outcomes for both mother and fetus. Full article

Background: Hallux rigidus is a painful and degenerative pathology of the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP1) joint. In severe cases it is usually appropriate to consider arthrodesis or arthroplasty of the joint. Arthrodesis represents the gold standard, but arthroplasty allows patients to recover mobility. Although arthroplasty has slightly inferior functional results to arthrodesis, it has shown very good results in terms of joint mobility, patient satisfaction and pain reduction. The goal of the present study was to evaluate short-term outcomes of patients that received a third-generation double-stemmed MTP1 implant manufactured from high-performance silicon. Methods: In this retrospective study the authors analyzed data of 37 patients who underwent MPT1 joint arthroplasty with Silktoe^TM double-stemmed implant using the R 4.2.2 software (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). The indications were hallux rigidus of grade III and grade IV (81.1%), hallux rigidus plus valgus (10.8%), painful or unstable joint following previous surgery (5.4%) and hallux rigidus due to gout (2.7%). Data were collected during routine visits at 1 and 6 months and 1 and 2 years. Results: There were no intraoperative and postoperative complications. There were no revisions or reoperations at a follow-up of two years. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society-Hallux Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal Scale (AOFAS-HMI) score was 94.6 ± 7.6 (median, 100; range, 70–100) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score was 0.4 ± 0.80 (median, 0; range, 0–3.5) at the final follow-up. Conclusions: The data from this study presented excellent short-term results for patients who received an arthroplasty of the MTP1 joint using a third-generation double-stemmed spacer made of high-performance silicone. For all patients who received the Silktoe^TM implant, AOFAS-HMI scores of 94.6 and VAS scores of 0.4 were obtained at a two-year follow-up. These values were in line with results reported in the literature for similar devices. Full article

Water pollution by antibiotics and heavy metals threatens the ecological environment and human health globally, yet there is no rapid method to detect multiple antibiotics and metal ions simultaneously. A simple, fast, and ultra-sensitive colorimetric chemosensor for the simultaneous detection of moxifloxacin (MOX), ciprofloxacin (CIP), and Cr(III) based on the aggregation of ammonium thioglycolate (ATG)-functionalized gold nanoparticles (ATG-AuNPs) was developed. Following the addition of MOX, CIP, and Cr(III), a color change in the solution was observed from wine-red to blue-grey. The UV–Vis signal of the ATG-AuNPs system blended with MOX, CIP, and Cr(III) in the range of 0~200 µM, 0~100 µM, and 0~5 µM was assessed and measured with detection limits (LODs) of 1.57 µM, 1.30 µM, and 57.1 nM calculated by 3σ/S, respectively. Therefore, this system has the potential to act as an effective colorimetric chemosensor for simultaneously detecting MOX, CIP, and Cr(III) in complex environmental systems. Full article

The stability of gold chloride clusters is an important topic in catalysis and nanomaterials, but experimental data are missing. Here, fourteen different clusters were obtained simultaneously using laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and were identified as Au_nCl_n+m⁻ (n = 1–5; m = 1, 3, 5, 7) or AuCl_n+1⁻, Au₂Cl_2n+1⁻, Au₃Cl_2n+2⁻, Au₄Cl_2n+1⁻ and Au₅Cl_2n+2⁻. Consequently, the effects of laser intensity on their stability were evaluated, considering differences in the AuCl unit or the number of Cl atoms. For the Au_nCl_n+1⁻ and Au_nCl_n+3⁻ groups, the relative intensity of the clusters decreased with each additional AuCl unit as the laser intensity increased. Au_nCl_n+5⁻ clusters showed a different trend in relative intensities: Au₃Cl₈⁻ > Au₂Cl₇⁻ > Au₄Cl₉⁻ > Au₅Cl₁₀⁻. The mononuclear AuCl₄⁻ showed the highest stability, which is consistent with their “superhalogen” character. In the Au₂Cl_2n+1⁻ clusters, Au₂Cl₅⁻ with Au (III)–Au(I) interaction was more stable at lower laser intensities, while Au₂Cl₃ with Au(I)–Au(I) bonds became more dominant at higher intensities. Among the Au₃Cl_2n+2⁻, Au₄Cl_2n+1⁻ clusters, those with purely “aurophilic” interactions became increasingly stable with increasing laser intensity. These results emphasize the importance of bond type and cluster size for the stability of gold chloride clusters at different laser intensities. Full article

The Axi gold deposit, which is located in the Tulasu Basin of the West Tianshan orogenic belt in Northwest China, features vein-type ore bodies hosted in radial structural fractures formed due to volcanic activity. The deposit experienced three distinct mineralization stages: Stage I, characterized by the microcrystalline quartz–pyrite crust; Stage II, characterized by quartz–sulfide–native gold veins; and Stage III, characterized by quartz–carbonate veins. Fluid inclusion studies have identified four types of inclusions: pure vapor, vapor-rich, liquid-rich, and pure liquid. The number of vapor-rich inclusions decreases when moving from Stage I to Stage III, whereas the number of liquid-rich inclusions increases. The fluid temperature gradually decreases from 178–225 °C in Stage I to 151–193 °C in Stage II and further to 123–161 °C in Stage III, whereas the fluid salinity decreases slightly from 2.1%–5.1% wt.% NaCl eqv to 1.4%–4.6% wt.% NaCl eqv and finally to 0.5%–3.7% wt.% NaCl eqv. As suggested by the results of the oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon isotope analyses, the ore-forming fluids were primarily meteoric water. Sulfur isotopic compositions indicate a single deep mantle source. The lead isotopic compositions closely resemble those of Dahalajunshan Formation volcanic rocks, indicating that these rocks were the primary source of the ore-forming material. In addition, gold mineralization formed in a Devonian–Early Carboniferous volcanic arc environment. Element enrichment was mainly caused by the circulation of heated meteoric water through the volcanic strata, while fluid boiling and water–rock interactions were the main mechanisms driving element precipitation. The integrated model developed in this study underscores the intricate interplay between volcanic processes and meteoric fluids during the formation of the Axi gold deposit, offering a robust framework for an understanding of the formation processes and enhancing the predictive exploration models in analogous geological settings. Full article

The Cuyu gold deposit in central Jilin Province in Northeast China is located in the eastern segment of the northern margin of the North China Craton (NCC), as well as the eastern segment of the Xing’an–Mongolian Orogenic Belt (XMOB). Gold ore-bodies are controlled by NW-trending faults and mainly occur in late Hercynian granodiorite. The mineralization process in the Cuyu deposit can be divided into three stages: quartz + coarse grained arsenopyrite + pyrite (stage I), quartz + sericite + pyrite + arsenopyrite + electrum + chalcopyrite + sphalerite (stage II), and quartz + calcite ± pyrite (stage III). Stage II is the most important for gold mineralization. We conducted analyses including petrography, microthermometry, laser Raman spectroscopy of fluid inclusions, and H–O–S–Pb isotopic analysis to elucidate the mineralization processes in the Cuyu deposit. Five types of primary fluid inclusions (FIs) are present in the hydrothermal quartz and calcite grains of the ore: liquid-rich two-phase aqueous fluid inclusions (L-type), vapor-rich two-phase aqueous fluid inclusions (V-type), CO₂-bearing two- or three-phase inclusions (C1-type), CO₂-rich two- or three-phase inclusions (C2-type), and pure CO₂ mono-phase inclusions (C3-type). From stages I to III, the fluid inclusion assemblages changed from L-, C2-, and C3-types to L-, V-, C1-, C2-, and C3-types and, finally, to L-types only. The corresponding homogenization temperatures for stages I to III were 242–326 °C, 202–298 °C, and 106–188 °C, and the salinities were 4.69–9.73, 1.63–7.30, and 1.39–3.53 wt.% NaCl equiv., respectively. The ore-forming fluid system evolved from a NaCl-H₂O-CO₂ ± CH₄ ± H₂S fluid system in stage I and II with immiscible characteristics to a homogeneous NaC-H₂O fluid system in stage III. Microthermometric data for stages I to III show a decreasing trend in homogenization temperatures and salinities. The mineral assemblages, fluid inclusions, and H–O–S–Pb isotopes indicate that the initial ore-forming fluids of stage I were exsolved from diorite porphyrite and characterized by a high temperature and low salinity. The addition of meteoric water in large quantities led to decreases in temperature and pressure, resulting in a NaCl-H₂O-CO₂ ± CH₄ ± H₂S fluid system with significant immiscibility in stage II, facilitating the deposition of gold and associated polymetallic sulfides. The Cuyu gold deposit has a similar ore genesis to those of gold deposits in the Jiapigou–Haigou gold belt (JHGB) of southeastern Jilin Province indicating potential for gold prospecting in the northwest-trending seam of the JHGB. Full article