Microorganisms and Biochar Improve the Remediation Efficiency of Paspalum vaginatum and Pennisetum alopecuroides on Cadmium-Contaminated Soil.

Phytoremediation can help remediate potential toxic elements (PTE) in soil. Microorganisms and soil amendments are effective means to improve the efficiency of phytoremediation. This study selected three microorganisms that may promote phytoremediation, including bacteria (Ceratobasidium), fungi (Pseudomonas mendocina), and arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, Funneliformis caledonium). The effects of single or mixed inoculation of three microorganisms on the phytoremediation efficiency of Paspalum vaginatum and Pennisetum alopecuroides were tested under three different degrees of cadmium-contaminated soil (low 10 mg/kg, medium 50 mg/kg, and high 100 mg/kg). The results showed that single inoculation of AMF or Pseudomonas mendocina could significantly increase the biomass of two plants under three different degrees of cadmium-contaminated soil, and the growth-promoting effect of AMF was better than Pseudomonas mendocina. However, simultaneous inoculation of these two microorganisms did not show a better effect than the inoculation of one. Inoculation of Ceratobasidium reduced the biomass of the two plants under high concentrations of cadmium-contaminated soil. Among all treatments, the remediation ability of the two plants was the strongest when inoculated with AMF alone. On this basis, this study explored the effect of AMF combined with corn-straw-biochar on the phytoremediation efficiency of Paspalum vaginatum and Pennisetum alopecuroides. The results showed that biochar could affect plant biomass and Cd concentration in plants by reducing Cd concentration in soil. The combined use of biochar and AMF increased the biomass of Paspalum vaginatum by 8.9-48.6% and the biomass of Pennisetum alopecuroides by 8.04-32.92%. Compared with the single use of AMF or biochar, the combination of the two is better, which greatly improves the efficiency of phytoremediation.

Toxic effect of Moringa peregrina seeds on histological and biochemical analyses of adult male Albino rats.

Moringa is multipurpose promising tree particularly for medicinal use. With its high nutritive and pharmaceutical values, every part of the tree is suitable for human consumptions. The use of vegetate parts, seeds or extracts requires toxicological evaluations to prove and verify safety uses before being added to pharmaceutical medicine, or any other products related to human diet. In this study, Moringa peregrina seeds, grown in high elevation mountain in Saint Catherin area, were investigated and evaluated for their toxicity with respect to its topological potential through histological and biochemical studies in Albino rats. Daily doses of 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg body weight of dry seed of M. peregrina were administered orally to 4 groups of rats for 14 days. Biochemical and histopathological results were evaluated by standard methods. Measured biochemical parameters, insulin, albumin, total protein, creatinine, urea, uric acid, Follicle-stimulating hormone, Luteinizing hormone and Testosterone, revealed normal levels compared to control group. However, measured level of blood sugars, cholesterol, triglyceride and liver enzyme, displayed significant decreases. No histopathological changes were detected in the body tested organs. In consequences, intake of different doses of M. peregrina, even high one, exhibit no organ toxicity and are safe for human use.

Surgical management of peri-ampullary tumors: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Surgical resection still remains the best treatment for patients with periampullary tumors. This study aims to present the results of surgical treatment of this disease at our center. METHODOLOGY: Between January 1995 and December 2004, 216 periampullary tumors were treated by surgical resection. The mean age was 58 years with male to female ratio 2:1. The most common symptom was jaundice (97.7%). Abdominal pain occurred in 74% of patients. Pancreaticogastrostomy was done in 183 patients and pancreaticojejunostomy in 33 patients. RESULTS: Operative mortality occurred in 7 patients (3.2%). The median survival was 22.6 months for patients with ampullary tumors and 16.6 months for patients with pancreatic head tumors. Early operative complications occurred in 33% of patients; the most common one was wound infection (11.6%), pancreatic leak (10.6%), abdominal collection (10.6%) and delayed gastric emptying (8.8%). Factors associated with increased risk of developing complications were the type of pancreatico-enteric anastomosis (pancreatic leak was more frequent with pancraticojejunostomy), soft pancreatic texture and intraoperative blood transfusion of more than 4 units. Factors associated with better survival included tumor diameter (less than 3cm), origin (ampullary), differentiation (well differentiated) and margin status (negative resection margins). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative complications of pancreaticoduodenectomy, especially with the adoption of pancreaticogastrostomy, occur with reasonable incidence. Survival largely depends on the origin of the tumor.

Resectability and prognostic factors after resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hilar cholangiocarcinoma, still a challenging problem for surgeons and resectional surgery, is the treatment of choice for long-term survival. In this study we tried to evaluate different prognostic factors after resection. METHODOLOGY: From January 1995 to October 2004, 440 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma were admitted to the Gastroenterology Surgical Center, Mansoura University, Egypt. Of these patients 73 underwent potentially curative resection giving respectability rate of 17%, and the remaining 367 patients underwent non-surgical treatment because of advanced disease, advanced cirrhosis and poor general condition. Of the 73 patients, 35 (48%) underwent localized hepatic resection and 38 (52%) patients underwent major hepatic resection. Various prognostic factors for survival were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Hospital mortality occurred in 8 (11%) patients. The most common postoperative complications were: bile leak, liver cell failure and wound infection 23.2%, 17.8% and 9.5% respectively. The survival rates at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years were 79%, 32.6, 18.5, 137% and 13% respectively. The result of univariate analysis revealed that radicality of resection, lymph nodes status, tumor differentiation, modified Bismuth staging, underlying liver pathology, HCV viral infection, blood transfusion, preoperative serum bilirubin <10mg and CA19-9 are dependent prognostic factors. By multivariate Cox analysis radicality of resection, lymph nodes status, serum bilirubin below 10mg/dL level of CA19-9 and hepatitis viral infection were independent predictor factors. CONCLUSIONS: From this study we found that aggressive surgical procedure to obtain curative resection with preoperative serum bilirubin below 10mg and HCV infective negative especially in noncirrhotic liver may bring a better prognosis in hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Low-dose heparin appears safe and can eliminate protamine use for carotid endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the morbidity associated with carotid endarterectomy (CEA) when low doses of heparin (30 U/kg) are used for anticoagulation. This technique eliminates the need for protamine and its potentially deleterious effects on some patients. DESIGN: A retrospective chart review. SETTING: A large academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: The records of 420 consecutive CEAs in 337 patients (83 bilateral procedures). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The amount of heparin used was less than that used in most reported studies. Eighty-two percent of patients received only 2,000 U of heparin for their entire operation (range, 500 to 3,000 U). Complication rates were low. Neurologic complications included a 0.95% incidence of nonfatal stroke and a 2.1% incidence of transient neurologic deficits that resolved in the first day. There was no mortality. The wounds were described in the postoperative period as dry (96%), swollen (3%), or bloody (1%). No patients received protamine. CONCLUSION: The use of 5 to 10,000 U of heparin will provide anticoagulation for more than an hour. In CEA surgery, anticoagulation for this duration is often unnecessary. A smaller dose of heparin (30 U/kg) can provide adequate anticoagulation for this procedure while eliminating the potentially deleterious effects of protamine use. No additional morbidity was attributed to this technique.