Prospects for prevention of adhesion process during cardiac surgical interventions

The article is devoted to the problem of prevention of adhesions in cardiac surgery. It was determined that the problem is urgent due to the increase in the number of heart surgeries. The formation of adhesions is a reaction of the body after surgery, which is a stage of healing and partly performs a protective function. Nevertheless, the presence of adhesions violates the mechanical properties of the heart, negatively affects central hemodynamics, complicates the surgeon’s task during repeated surgical interventions and increases the risk of repeated operations.It has been shown that at present, for the prevention of adhesions, researchers tend to use biodegradable barrier materials with biocompatibility and the ability to dissolve after performing the barrier function. The main anti-adhesion agents used in cardiac surgery are membranes and gels. The requirements for an “ideal” agent for the prevention of adhesion were determined: biocompatibility, no irritating effect, no effect on wound healing, suppression of the growth of connective tissue in the pericardium.Conclusions. Until now, none of the funds has all the necessary qualities to prevent adhesion in the pericardium. Therefore, the search for effective methods for the prevention of postoperative adhesions remains relevant for cardiac surgery.

Hacia una teoría de los bienes públicos como bienes políticos y el rol estatal

In this work Public Goods are analyzed from the point of view of their definition as «non-excludable» and «non-rivalry» in order to show the contradictions it entails. Also we propose Political Goods as a proper name in order to define those goods provided by the state apart from the basic ones (security and justice) and therefore to show how these are the result of political pressure and arbitrary decisions by bureaucrats (which is studied in the works of James Buchanan on Democracy). Finally we present a possible justification for the provision of Security and Justice by the State based on Economic Theory (according to the theories of Robert Nozick), which would show that the State could be the ideal agent to provide these goods, while at the same time avoid using the contradictory and ambiguous category of Public Goods. Key words: Public Goods, Praxeology, Ludwig von Mises, Public Choice School, James Buchanan, Minimal State, Robert Nozick, Spontaneous Order, Created Order, Externalities. JEL Classification: H40, H41, H42, D62. Resumen: En el presente trabajo se realiza un análisis de los Bienes Públicos desde su definición de «No Exclusión» y «No Rivalidad» para demostrar las contradicciones en que incurre la misma. A su vez se propone como término correcto el de Bienes Políticos para ilustrar que aquellas funciones que el Estado adopta por encima de las básicas (seguridad y justicia) son fruto de presiones políticas y la arbitrariedad de los funcionarios (lo cual es ilustrado con las teorías de James Buchanan sobre la Democracia). Finalmente se procede a brindar una posible justificación de la provisión estatal de Segu - ridad y Justicia bajo los fundamentos de la Teoría Económica (en base a las teorías de Robert Nozick), lo cual demostraría que estos son bienes para cuya provisión el Estado podría ser el agente o árbitro ideal, sin necesidad de recurrir a la categoría contradictoria y ambigua de Bienes Públicos. Palabras clave: Bienes Públicos, Praxeología, Ludwig von Mises, Escuela de la Elección Pública, James Buchanan, Estado Mínimo, Robert Nozick, Orden Espontáneo, Orden Creado, Externalidades. Clasificación JEL: H40, H41, H42, D62.

Rapid, Sensitive and Reliable Ricin Identification in Serum Samples Using LC–MS/MS

Ricin, a protein derived from the seeds of the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis), is a highly lethal toxin that inhibits protein synthesis, resulting in cell death. The widespread availability of ricin, its ease of extraction and its extreme toxicity make it an ideal agent for bioterrorism and self-poisoning. Thus, a rapid, sensitive and reliable method for ricin identification in clinical samples is required for applying appropriate and timely medical intervention. However, this goal is challenging due to the low predicted toxin concentrations in bio-fluids, accompanied by significantly high matrix interferences. Here we report the applicability of a sensitive, selective, rapid, simple and antibody-independent assay for the identification of ricin in body fluids using mass spectrometry (MS). The assay involves lectin affinity capturing of ricin by easy-to-use commercial lactose–agarose (LA) beads, following by tryptic digestion and selected marker identification using targeted LC–MS/MS (Multiple Reaction Monitoring) analysis. This enables ricin identification down to 5 ng/mL in serum samples in 2.5 h. To validate the assay, twenty-four diverse naive- or ricin-spiked serum samples were evaluated, and both precision and accuracy were determined. A real-life test of the assay was successfully executed in a challenging clinical scenario, where the toxin was identified in an abdominal fluid sample taken 72 h post self-injection of castor beans extraction in an eventual suicide case. This demonstrates both the high sensitivity of this assay and the extended identification time window, compared to similar events that were previously documented. This method developed for ricin identification in clinical samples has the potential to be applied to the identification of other lectin toxins.

Newcastle Disease Virus Expressing an Angiogenic Inhibitor Exerts an Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy in Colon Cancer Model

Numerous studies demonstrate that the NDV-mediated gene therapy is a promising new approach for treatment of cancer. VEGF-Trap plays a vital role in anti-angiogenesis. Therefore, we hypothesize that a recombinant NDV (rNDV) expressing VEGF-Trap would be an ideal agent for the colon cancer therapy. In this study, VEGF-Trap gene was incorporated into the genome of rNDV (named rNDV-VEGF-Trap). rNDV-VEGF-Trap reduced cell growth ratio by 85.37% and migration ratio by 87.9% in EA.hy926 cells. In vivo studies, treatment with rNDV-VEGF-Trap reduced tumor volume of CT26-bearing mice by more than 3 folds and tumor weight by more than 4 folds. Immunohistochemistry analysis of CD34 showed rNDV-VEGF-Trap significantly decreased the number of vascular endothelial cells in the tumor tissues of the tumor-bearing mice. Moreover, Western blot analysis demonstrated that treatment with rNDV-VEGF-Trap significantly decreased the phosphorylation levels of AKT, ERK1/2 and STAT3 and increased the expression levels of P53, BAX and cleaved caspase-3 in the tumor tissue. In addition, to evaluate the toxicity of VEGF-Trap, serum chemistries were analyzed. The results showed that rNDV-VEGF-Trap caused insignificant changes of creatinine levels, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST). Futhermore, administration of rNDV-VEGF-Trap did not cause the diarrhoea，decreased appetite, weight decrease and haemorrhage of the experimental mice. These data suggest that rNDV-VEGF-Trap exhibits an enhanced inhibition of CT26-bearing mice by enhancing anti-angiogenesis and apoptosis. rNDV-VEGF-Trap is a potential candidate for carcinoma therapy especially for colon cancer.

Bioindicators and biomonitoring: honeybees and hive products as pollution impact assessment tools for the Mediterranean area

The global range of the environmental quality issues we all face necessitates integrated action from all of the countries that suffer from a particular environmental issue. We must be able to obtain data on the presence of pollutants and their effects on biota from any territory, regardless of its environmental, infrastructural, social, and economic conditions. Biomonitoring utilizes organisms and natural materials to obtain this information. In particular, the honeybee is a ubiquitous, easy-to-breed organism with great mobility. Its body, which is covered with hairs, picks up materials and particulates that it encounters in the environment. Therefore, bees are highly effective accumulators of materials from the soil, vegetation, air, and water. These characteristics mean that the honeybee is both a bioindicator and a passive bioaccumulator organism, making it an ideal agent for easily monitoring vast areas inexpensively, even in regions where infrastructure is scarce. In this short review, we summarize the main targets of the honeybee-based monitoring campaigns that have been carried out to date, highlighting the results obtained in assessments of organic and inorganic pollution performed by coupling more modern technologies with this long-standing practice. It is hoped that this review will make scientists more aware of the incredible potential of these delicate organisms to provide data that could prove useful in the management of environmental issues.

Rational Responses to Risks

A philosophical account of risk, such as this book provides, states what risk is, which attitudes to it are rational, and which acts affecting risks are rational. Attention to the nature of risk reveals two types of risk, first, a chance of a bad event, and, second, an act’s risk in the sense of the volatility of its possible outcomes. The distinction is normatively significant because different general principles of rationality govern attitudes to these two types of risk. Rationality strictly regulates attitudes to the chance of a bad event and is more permissive about attitudes to an act’s risk. Principles of rationality governing attitudes to risk also justify evaluating an act according to its expected utility given that the act’s risk, if any, belongs to every possible outcome of the act. For a rational ideal agent, the expected utilities of the acts available in a decision problem explain the agent’s preferences among the acts. Maximizing expected utility is just following preferences among the acts. This view takes an act’s expected utility, not just as a feature of a representation of preferences among acts, but also as a factor in the explanation of preferences among acts. It takes account of an agent’s attitudes to an act’s risk without weakening the standard of expected-utility maximization. The view extends to evaluations of combination of acts, either simultaneous or in a sequence. Applications cover hedging, return-risk evaluation, professional advice, and government regulation.

Hemodynamic Safety of Continuous Infusion Labetalol Versus Esmolol Combination Therapies for Type B Aortic Dissections

Background: Medical management for type B aortic dissections (TBADs) require aggressive blood pressure and heart rate control to minimize further dissection extension and to restore perfusion to vital organs. Current guidelines recommend β-blockers (BB) as first-line therapy, however do not differentiate an ideal agent for use. Objective: This study evaluated the hemodynamic safety of continuous infusion labetalol compared to esmolol combination (EC) therapies for TBADs. Methods: This single-center, retrospective analysis identified patients with a TBAD who received high dose continuous intravenous labetalol (HD-CIVL) or EC therapies. Patients who received HD-CIVL or EC therapies for a minimum of 2 hours, during which a minimum of 4 blood-pressure readings were recorded, were included. The primary end point was the incidence of hemodynamic instability with the use of HD-CIVL versus EC therapies. Results: A total of 20 patients receiving HD-CIVL and 22 patients receiving EC therapy were included in the analysis. Ten (50%) of patients receiving HD-CIVL and 7 (32%) of patients receiving EC therapies met the clinical definition of hemodynamic instability ( P = .23). Patients experiencing hemodynamic instability were all due to hypotension, with one also being due to bradycardia. Over half the patients in both groups had discontinued therapy ( P = .06) and were administered bolus fluids ( P = .27). Only one patient receiving HD-CIVL required vasopressor administration while none in the EC group ( P = .48). Conclusion: Our study suggests that HD-CIVL is associated with a nonstatistical significant higher incidence of hemodynamic instability compared to an EC regimen in TBADs. Further studies are warranted in this patient population.

Theatre as an Agent of Change: Mobilising Against Marijuana Addiction in Tombia Ekpetiama Community in Bayelsa State

This paper posits community theatre as an agent of change and argues that community theatre possesses the technicalities to bring awareness to the members of a community to the social and cultural issues affecting them via their exploration in drama or performance, thereby causing changes in their mindset, action and socialisation patterns. With a focus on marijuana addiction amongst the youths in Tombia, Ekpetiama, the paper critically analyses the effectiveness of community theatre in mobilising, sensitising, entertaining and educating the community members on the dangers of drug abuse. Marijuana addiction is a challenge worldwide and theatre practitioners have engaged several community theatre projects in order to sensitise addicts on the need to do away with drugs. This work used focus group interactions, participant observation and in-depth interviews methods to record the opinions of the people of Tombia community on issues of concern evolving from marijuana abuse. Adopting performance analysis schemata, the responses recorded were structured as thematic strands analysed and interpreted in line with the research objectives. Findings showed that community theatre is a viable avenue within which Tombia, Ekpetiama community became aware and knowledgeable about the social challenges of marijuana addiction. This in turn influenced the resolve of the youths to change by shunning marijuana smoking while the community elders were prompted to put progressive local measures in place in order to checkmate the youths and boost practices that strengthen development. Therefore, it was concluded that, community theatre is indeed an ideal agent for the mobilisation of people at the grassroots level as it encourages village or community participation to open room for them to assess their problems and proffer solutions via the implementation of meaningful changes that aid community development. The study contributes to the understanding of community theatre and exposes its efficacy, as an additional strategy; to fight against drug abuse in communities in Nigeria.

Cellulose for the effective decontamination of water pollution

The widespread industrialization, urbanization, and technological development have triggered the daily release of considerable amounts of pollutants, specifically in aquatic environments. Previous research and work-studies indicate the existence of defined properties, such as low cost, non-toxicity, biodegradability, reusability, and easy synthesis, preparation or extraction, which make a material an ideal agent for the remediation of water or the environment. Therefore, the scientific community has focused on the development and study of several novels, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective materials. Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer encountered worldwide. Thereby, due to the unique biological properties that this biopolymer possesses, it has emerged as a potential candidate to replace synthetic materials for practical bioremediation of contaminated water. Furthermore, the presence of hydroxyl groups on its surface makes this biopolymer highly malleable, thus significantly enhancing its physicochemical properties by using a wide variety of functional groups and modification methods. The present review describes the different biopolymers useful for remediation of environmental pollution, explores in more detail the characteristics of cellulose and its promising applications in the decontamination of water pollution, and pays special attention to the removal of heavy metal ions, dyes, and hydrophobic organic compounds.

Peppermint Essential Oil Toxicity to the Pear Psylla (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) and Potential Applications in the Field

Chinese pear psylla (Cacopsylla chinensis Yang et Li) is a serious orchard pest that causes declines in fruit quality through feeding damage and the spread of pathogens. The rapid development of chemical pesticide resistance has become a severe problem in controlling pear psylla. Thus, the development of natural pesticides to replace conventional chemical pesticides is urgently needed. Here, we found that the essential oil of peppermint (Mentha haplocalyx Briq. [Lamiales: Labiatae]) is an ideal agent for controlling pear psylla based on experiments in the laboratory and the field. The major constituents of peppermint essential oil were found including menthol (49.73%), menthone (30.52%), α-pinene (3.60%), and α-terpineol (3.81%). This oil and chemicals in it performed serious contact toxicity against the winter-form adults and nymphs of pear psylla, yielding LD50 values of 2.54, 10.71, 2.77, 5.85, and 12.58 μg/adult and 1.91, 9.56, 2.18, 4.98, and 12.07 μg/nymph, respectively. Furthermore, the essential oil strongly repelled the adults of pear psylla with 78% repellence at the highest concentration tested in a Y-tube olfactometer in the laboratory. The combined effect of the two factors made peppermint essential oil a natural pesticide, which achieved a maximum reduction of round to 80.9% in winter-form adult population and round to 67.0% in nymph population at the concentration of 4.0 ml/L in the field. Additionally, it had no effect on the natural enemies of pear psylla in the field. Therefore, peppermint essential oil has potential as an alternative to chemical pesticides for pest control in integrated pest management programs in pear orchards.