A comparative neutron and gamma-ray radiation shielding investigation of molybdenum and boron filled polymer composites.

This work presents a detailed radiation shielding study for polymer composites filled with Boron and Molybdenum additives. The chosen novel polymer composites were produced at different percentages of the additive materials to provide a proper evaluation of their neutron and gamma-ray attenuation abilities. The effect of additive particle size on the shielding characteristics was further investigated. On the gamma-ray side, simulation, theoretical and experimental evaluations were performed in a wide range of photon energies varying from 59.5 keV to 1332.5 keV with help of MC simulations (GEANT4 and FLUKA), WinXCOM code, a High Purity Germanium Detector, respectively. A remarkable consistency was reported between them. On the neutron shielding side, the prepared samples produced with nano and micron particle size additives were additionally examined by providing fast neutron removal cross-section (ΣR) and the simulated neutron transmissions through the prepared samples. The samples filled with nano sized particles show better shielding capability than the one filled with micron sized particles. In other words, a new polymer shielding material that does not contain toxic content is introduced: the sample codded N-B0Mo50 exhibits superior radiation attenuation.

Real-world patient data on immunity and COVID-19 status of patients with MPS, Gaucher, and Pompe diseases from Turkey.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 and lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) share a common immunological pathway as they cause the release of cytokines in a similar pattern. We aimed to evaluate the immunity status and reveal the course of COVID-19 in patients with LSDs. RESULTS: The median age of 110 patients with LSDs was 129 months (range: 21-655), and all but one patient with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) type III were regularly receiving enzyme replacement therapy (ERT). In 53.6% (n = 56) of the patients (23 patients with Gaucher disease [10 type III, 13 type I], 26 patients with MPS [8 type VI, 11 type IVA, 1 type III, 3 type II, and 3 type I], and 7 patients with Pompe disease), an abnormality in at least one of the autoimmunity or immunodeficiency parameters was reported. Furthermore, 12 (57%) of 21 Gaucher cases (7 type III, 5 type I), 18 (40.9%) of 44 MPS cases (9 type IVA, 5 type VI, 1 type I, 2 type II, and 1 type III), and six (66%) of nine Pompe cases were reported to involve abnormalities in at least one of the parameters related to immunodeficiency. Immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgA levels were reported to be lower, and there were abnormalities in the lymphocyte counts and subgroups in the MPS group. ANA was reported to be positive in one patient with Gaucher type III, anti-DNA in two patients with Gaucher type I and one patient with MPS type VI, antithyroglobulin in two patients with Gaucher type I, anti-TPO in one patient with Gaucher type I, TRAB in one patient with Gaucher type I, antiphospholipid IgM in three patients with Gaucher type III and one patient with Gaucher type I, anticardiolipin IgM in one patient with Gaucher type I, one patient with Gaucher type III, and one patient with MPS type II. However, no clinical presentation was consistent with the laboratory results except for one patient with Gaucher type I disease with Hashimoto thyroiditis. Two of the four patients who survived the COVID-19 infection with mild symptoms had a diagnosis of Gaucher type I, and no abnormality was detected in their laboratory tests. The other two patients had a diagnosis of MPS types VI and II. Immune dysfunction was detected in the patient with a diagnosis of MPS type II. Four of our patients were discharged without any sequelae. CONCLUSION: Problems with immunity did not cause any noticeable clinical results. Being well protected by reducing social contact might have played a role. However, we believe that it should be borne in mind that cardiac and pulmonary involvement, as well as immune dysfunction in LSDs, may cause an increased need for intensive care because of secondary bacterial infections.

Altered isotope charge distribution of acetylcholine neurotransmitter and Myasthenia Gravis.

Acetylcholine (ACh) is a central neurotransmitter that is used for signal transmission among neurons. For signal transmission in neurons, a neurotransmitter must bind to its receptor in order to produce an action potential. It is known that in Myasthenia Gravis (MG) cases, autoantibodies could block this binding. In the future, the treatment of MG could be achieved via modulation of molecular interaction between ACh and acetylcholine receptor (AChR). This study suggests that if an atom on a ligand (i.e. a neurotransmitter) is replaced with its isotope, it may cause charge redistribution such as that the binding between ligand and its receptor may be improved. Hence suggesting that with replacement of atoms with their isotopes in any biologically important ligand could alter its affinity towards its corresponding receptor, which would have a wide array of applications in medicine.

Effects of N-acetyl-cysteine and acetylsalicylic acid on the tonsil bacterial biofilm tissues by light and electron microscopy.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the bacterial biofilm formation on the tonsil surface exposed N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) of patients undergoing tonsillectomy by light and electron microscopy. The general process of biofilm formation comprises adhesion of free-living or planktonic bacteria to a surface, which subsequently develop into microcolonies and form a biofilm. Based on studies that have shown the presence of biofilms in common sites of chronic infections, it has become clear that bacteria may persist on mucosal surfaces through formation of biofilms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients between 4 and 39 years of age (mean, 11.9 ± 11.2 years). In all cases, periodic acide Schiff (PAS) staining was found to be an accurate predictor of the presence or absence of biofilm using light microscopy as a control standard. Therapeutic doses of NAC and ASA were identificated as the effective on the tonsil bacterial biofilm using light and electron microscopy. RESULTS: Biofilm formation was detected on all samples. Tonsils removed from patients with ASA-10 had showed higher-grade inhibitory effect at the biofilm formation than the other group (p ≤ 0.0001). The correlation was found between drug dose and decrease at the biofilm formation. CONCLUSIONS: In chronic or recurrent tonsillitis patients, decrease on the tonsils surface biofilm formation may be associated with ASA dose. Whether effect on the tonsils surface biofilm formation of other agent have a role is not known. Key Words: Acetylsalicylic acid, Chronic tonsillitis, In vitro, Mucosal biofilm, N-Acetyl-cysteine.

Pain relief for children after adenotonsillectomy.

Effective pain relief following adenotonsillectomy in children remains a challenge. This study evaluated the effects of intramuscular 0.5 mg/kg ketamine, 1 mg/kg tramadol or 1 mg/kg meperidine on post-operative pain and recovery in 45 children aged 1-7 years undergoing adenotonsillectomy. Anaesthesia was induced with thiopental or sevoflurane (with succinylcholine for intubation) and was maintained with sevoflurane in oxygen and nitrous oxide. Post-operative pain was scored blind using a modified Toddler-Preschooler Post-Operative Pain Scale 30, 60, 120 and 240 min after tracheal extubation. Post-operative agitation scores were also recorded. Mean post-operative pain score was significantly higher in the tramadol-treated group compared with the meperidine-treated group 120 min after extubation. At all other time-points after extubation, mean post-operative pain scores were similar for the three treatment groups. Ketamine was associated with a significantly higher mean agitation score compared with tramadol and meperidine. We conclude that the effects of ketamine, meperidine and tramadol on post-operative pain following adenotonsillectomy in children were similar.

Sacral agenesis with imperforate anus and its late complication: neuropathic bladder.

The authors report a rare case of imperforate anus as a congenital anomaly. Early diagnosis and close follow up are emphasized, in order to prevent the development of complications which may last for a lifetime.

Phase studies of ethoxylated surfactants-oil-water-undecylenic acid.

Two non-ionic surfactants (Simulsol OL 50 and Simulsol 98) separately or as 1:1 mixtures, together with corn oil-undecylenic acid and water formed various phases. Phase equilibrium studies were made. In all phase equilibrium diagrams investigated, both at 20 and 37 degrees C, lamellar and hexagonal liquid crystalline and oily isotropic phases were found, besides the emulsion system. Emulsions were composed of mixed lamellar and hexagonal liquid crystalline phases which formed at low concentrations of surfactant and oil and correspondingly high water concentrations.