Life Makes Itself

The cell is a microcosm of life. Cells draw matter and energy from their environment, construct their own fabric, maintain their identity over time, and reproduce their own kind. Each is a hive of functional activity involving myriads of molecules crammed into a tiny space, and intricately structured so as to accomplish the cell’s primary objective: to make two cells where there was one before. This chapter intends to give readers a sense of what living entails: the chemical factory, how cells harvest energy, heredity, and how information integrates the cacophony of molecules into an orchestra.

Lichen Polyphenolic Compounds for the Eradication of Candida albicans Biofilms

Lichens, due to their symbiotic nature (association between fungi and algae), constitute a chemical factory of original compounds. Polyphenolic compounds (depsides and depsidones) are the main constituents of lichens and are exclusively biosynthesized by these organisms. A panel of 11 polyphenols was evaluated for their anti-biofilm activity against Candida albicans biofilms on the maturation phase (anti-maturation) (MMIC50) as well as on preformed 24-h-old biofilm (anti-biofilm) (MBIC50) using the XTT assay. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of compounds (MICs) against C. albicans planktonic yeast were also determined using a broth microdilution method. While none of the tested compounds were active against planktonic cells (IC50 > 100 µg/ml), three depsides slowed the biofilm maturation (MMIC50 ≤12.5 µg/ml after 48 h of contact with Candida cells). Evernic acid was able to both slow the maturation and reduce the already formed biofilms with MBIC50 ≤12.5 µg/ml after 48 h of contact with the biofilm. This compound shows a weak toxicity against HeLa cells (22%) at the minimal active concentration and no hemolytic activity at 100 µg/ml. Microscopic observations of evernic acid and optimization of its solubility were performed to further study this compound. This work confirmed the anti-biofilm potential of depsides, especially evernic acid, and allows to establish the structure–activity relationships to better explain the anti-biofilm potential of these compounds.

Cancer incidence in Thyborøn-Harboøre, Denmark: a cohort study from an industrially contaminated site

In a fishing community Thyborøn-Harboøre on the Danish West coast, a chemical factory polluted air, sea, and ground with > 100 xenobiotic compounds. We investigated cancer incidence in the community. A historical cohort was identified from the Central Population Register and followed for cancer incidence in the Danish Cancer Register including inhabitants from 1968–1970 at height of pollution, and newcomers in 1990–2006 after pollution control. Two fishing communities without pollution, Holmsland and Hanstholm, were referent cohorts. We calculated rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). In 1968–1970, 4914 persons lived in Thyborøn-Harboøre, and 9537 persons in Holmsland-Hanstholm. Thyborøn-Harboøre had a statistically significant excess cancer incidence compared with Holmsland-Hanstholm; RR 1.20 (95% CI 1.11–1.29) deriving from kidney and bladder cancer; stomach and lung cancer in men, and colorectal cancer in women. In 1990–2006, 2933 persons came to live in Thyborøn-Harboøre. Their cancer incidence was the same as for newcomers to Holmsland-Hanstholm; RR 1.07 (95% CI 0.88–1.30). Persons in Thyborøn-Harboøre at height of chemical pollution had a cancer risk 20% above persons living in non-polluted fishing communities with a pattern unlikely to be attributable to life style. The study suggested that chemical pollution may have affected cancer risk.

THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF OCULAR TRAUMA IN GAYA DISTRICT AND ADJACENT AREAS

Aim:The aim was to determine the epidemiology of ocular trauma in Gaya District and adjacent areas from February 2019 to January 2020. Materials and Methods: This prospective, hospital-based, observational study was conducted at the Ophthalmology and Emergency Outpatient Departments of ANMMCH, Gaya, Bihar. Detailed history was taken, incidence of injury in different months, incidence of non-occupational injury and incidence of occupational injury etc. Results: Out of 455 patients, 283 (60.2%) were male and 172 (39.8%) were female. Overall male-to-female sex ratio was 3:1. Patients were aged between 0 and 75 years (mean: 35.38 ± 11.69 (male) and 56.88±17.44 (female)). The most vulnerable age group was 16–25 years. In this study cases were particularly seen in summer than winter and rainy season due to more outdoor activities in summer than in winter and rainy season. It was also seen that that non occupational injury was more than occupational injury and in nonoccupational injury most cases was domestic [30%] followed by crackers, playground etc. among occupational injuries highest incidences were seen among construction worker [40%] followed by chemical factory workers [34%], blunt injuries predominate [56%] and only 17% by sharp objects. In majority of cases traumatic agent was solid in nature and most common mode of injury was projectile in nature. Most common ocular part involved was ocular adnexa 83% of cases followed by globe injury. Kaur and Agarwal study revealed that 78.94%of injuries were open globe injury whereas AL-Mahrouki reported that 94%ofocular injuries were closed globe. Conclusion:The study highlights epidemiology of ocular trauma in Gaya district and its adjacent areas Based on this study services recommended are public should be educated about importance of eyes.

Skin burns from monochloroacetic acid leak in a chemical plant: a case report

The patient, a 45-year-old male chemical factory worker, was burned by monochloroacetic acid discharged from a ruptured pipe. The patient was merely flushed with water and did not leave the workplace immediately. As a result, he suffered local burn symptoms, which gradually worsened. Two and a half hours after the accident, he developed symptoms of systemic poisoning, such as lethargy and dyspnoea. After a thorough debridement of the wound surface and subsequent skin grafting combined with early glucocorticoid therapy and haemofiltration, a satisfactory result was achieved, and the patient eventually recovered. With the widespread use of monochloroacetic acid in China, incidents of poisoning with this chemical are becoming increasingly common, with more than 100 cases reported in the past ten years in China alone.

Pilot-Scale Production, Properties and Application of Fe/Cu Catalytic-Ceramic-Filler for Nitrobenzene Compounds Wastewater Treatment

Iron powder, Kaolin powder and CuSO4∙5H2O were employed as the main materials for the pilot-scale production of Fe/Cu catalytic- ceramic-filler (CCF) by way of wet type replacement-thermo-solidification. The physical properties, half-life, microstructure, removal rate of nitrobenzene compounds and the biodegradability-improvement of military chemical factory comprehensive wastewater were tested in comparison with commercial Fe/C ceramic-filler (CF). Catalytic micro-electrolysis bed reactors (CBRs) designed as pretreatment process and BAFs (Biological Aerated Filters) were utilized in a 90 days field pilot-scale test at last. The results showed the characteristics of optimum CCF were: 1150 kg/m3 of bulk density, 1700 kg/m3 of grain density, lower than 3.5% of shrinking ratio, 3.5% of 24 h water absorption, 6.0 Mpa of numerical tube pressure, 0.99 acid-resistance softening co-efficiency and 893.55 days of half-life. 25% addition of Fe with 1% of copper plating rate was efficient for the removal of nitrobenzene compounds and significant in promoting the biodegradability of military chemical factory comprehensive wastewater. The two-stage design of CBRs and BAFs showed high dependability and stability for the practical engineering application.