Results of pericardiectomy for constrictive pericarditis : Single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated our early and late outcomes after pericardiectomy in patients with constrictive pericarditis (CP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 31 patients who underwent pericardiectomy for CP from 1997 to 2015. Their mean age was 49.2 ± 18.5 years and 74.2 % of them were male. The vast majority had severe functional impairment (NYHA class III-IV) with a mean duration of symptoms of 14.2 ± 10.1 months. RESULTS: Early mortality was 9.7 %: n = 3; multiorgan failure (MOF) in 1, respiratory failure in 1, and left heart failure in 1. Preoperative systolic pulmonary artery pressure over 60 mmHg (p = 0.038, odds ratio [OR] = 0.12) and postoperative low cardiac output syndrome (p = 0.005, OR = 13.5) were significant predictors of early mortality in univariate analysis. Mean follow-up time was 57.8 ± 61.9 months (4-216 months). Late mortality was 6.8 % (2/28 patients) and the cause was MOF secondary to end-stage right heart failure. In Kaplan-Meier analyses, actuarial (including early mortality) and event-free survival rates were 83.9 and 51.1 % at 216 months, respectively. At the end of follow-up, the majority of patients (23/26, 92.9 %) were in good functional status (NYHA class I-II). There were fewer patients under diuretic therapy in the postoperative than in the preoperative period; however, the difference was not statistically significant (12/31 vs. 4/26, p = 0.76). There was no significant difference between the preoperative and follow-up tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion values (15.5 ± 2.2 and 16.6 ± 2.2 mm, respectively, p = 0.088). Left ventricular systolic function was preserved in all patients postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Although early mortality after pericardiectomy remains high, the procedure provides significant improvement in functional status in the long term.

Electrochemical treatment of Baker's yeast wastewater containing melanoidin: optimization through response surface methodology.

Effluents from Baker's yeast production plant contain a high percentage of color and a large amount of organic load. In the present study, Baker's yeast wastewater (BYW) is treated with the electrocoagulation (EC) process using Al electrodes. Operating parameters (pH, current density, color intensity and operating time) are optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). Quadratic models are developed for the responses which are removal efficiencies of color, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) and operating cost (OC). Optimum operating parameters and responses are determined as initial pH 5.2, current density of 61.3 A/m(2) and operation time of 33 min, and 71% of color, 24% of COD, 24% of TOC removal efficiencies and OC of 0.869 €/m(3), respectively. The quadratic model fits for all responses very well with R(2) (>0.95). This paper clearly shows that RSM is able to optimize the operating parameters to maximize the color, COD and TOC removal efficiencies and minimize the OC.

Treatment of rinse water from zinc phosphate coating by batch and continuous electrocoagulation processes.

Treatment of spent final rinse water of zinc phosphating from an automotive assembly plant was investigated in an electrochemical cell equipped with aluminum or iron plate electrodes in a batch mode by electrocoagulation (EC). Effects of the process variables such as pH, current density, electrode material and operating time were explored with respect to phosphate and zinc removal efficiencies, electrical energy and electrode consumptions. The optimum operating conditions for removal of phosphate and zinc were current density of 60.0 A/m(2), pH 5.0 and operating time of 25.0 min with Al electrode and current density of 60.0 A/m(2), pH 3.0 and operating time of 15.0 min with Fe electrode, respectively. The highest phosphate and zinc removal efficiencies at optimum conditions were 97.7% and 97.8% for Fe electrode, and 99.8% and 96.7% for Al electrode. The electrode consumptions increased from 0.01 to 0.35 kg electrode/m(3) for Al electrode and from 0.20 to 0.62 kg electrode/m(3) for Fe electrode with increasing current density from 10.0 to 100.0 A/m(2). The energy consumptions were 0.18-11.29 kWh/m(3) for Al electrode and 0.24-8.47 kWh/m(3) for Fe electrode in the same current density range. Removal efficiencies of phosphate and zinc were found to decrease when flow rate was increased from 50 to 400 mL/min in continuous mode of operation. The morphology and elements present in the sludge was also characterized by using SEM and EDX.

Treatment of cadmium and nickel electroplating rinse water by electrocoagulation.

Treatments of cadmium-cyanide and nickel-cyanide electroplating rinse water were investigated in an electrochemical reactor equipped with iron plate electrodes in a batch mode by electrocoagulation (EC). Effects of the process variables such as pH, current density, and operating time were explored with respect to removal efficiencies of cadmium, nickel and cyanide in electroplating rinse water and operating costs as well. Removal efficiencies and operating costs under the optimum conditions (30 A/m2, 30 min and pH 8-10 for cadmium; 60A/m2, 80 min and pH 8-10 for nickel) for the EC process in electroplating rinse water were determined as 99.4% and 1.05/m3 for cadmium, 99.1% and 2.45/m3 for nickel and > 99.7% for cyanide, respectively. The results indicated that EC was very effective treatment for the removals of cadmium, nickel, and cyanide ions from the electroplating rinse water.

Electrochemical treatment and operating cost analysis of textile wastewater using sacrificial iron electrodes.

Electrocoagulation (EC) method with iron electrode was used to treat the textile wastewater in a batch reactor. Iron electrode material was used as a sacrificial electrode in monopolar parallel mode in this study. The removal efficiencies of the wastewater by EC were affected by initial pH of the solution, current density, conductivity and time of electrolysis. Under the optimal experimental conditions (initial pH 6.9, current density of 10 mA/cm(2), conductivity of 3,990 microS/cm, and electrolysis time of 10 min), the treatment of textile wastewater by the EC process led to a removal capacity of 78% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 92% of turbidity. The energy and electrode consumptions at the optimum conditions were calculated to be 0.7 kWh/kg COD (1.7 kWh/m(3)) and 0.2 kgFe/kg COD (0.5 kgFe/m(3)), respectively. Moreover, the operating cost was calculated as 0.2 euro/kg removed COD or 0.5 euro/m(3) treated wastewater. Zeta potential measurement was used to determine the charge of particle formed during the EC which revealed that Fe(OH)(3) might be responsible for the EC process.

Removal of thiocyanate from aqueous solutions by ion exchange.

The adsorption kinetics and equilibrium of thiocyanate in aqueous solutions onto an anion-exchange resin (Purolite A-250) were investigated in a batch-mode operation to assess the possible use of this adsorbent. The effect of various parameters such as initial thiocyanate concentration, contact time, pH, particle size, resin dosage and temperature were studied. A comparison of four kinetic models, the pseudo-first-order, second-order, Elovich and diffusion controlled kinetic models, on the thiocyanate-resin system was used to determine the rate constants and the adsorption mechanism. The kinetic results correlated well with pseudo-second-order model. The experimental parameters had also an effect on the pore and surface diffusivities. The optimum conditions for removal of thiocyanate were found to be pH 8, 2g/l of adsorbent dosage, 355-500 microm of particle size and equilibrium time of 30 min, respectively. The column capacity and performance by the bed depth service time model using bed depth and flow rate as variables were evaluated. The adsorption isotherm data were fitted well to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The adsorption capacity was calculated as 191.20mg/g at 323 K. Thermodynamics parameters such as free Delta G(0), Delta H(0) and DeltaS(0) for the adsorption were evaluated. The positive value of Delta H(0) indicated that the process was endothermic in nature.

Error analysis of equilibrium studies for the almond shell activated carbon adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions.

In this study, the preparation of activated carbon from almond shell with H2SO4 activation and its ability to remove toxic hexavalent chromium from aqueous solutions are reported. The influences of several operating parameters such as pH, particle size and temperature on the adsorption capacity were investigated. Adsorption of Cr(VI) is found to be highly pH, particle size and temperature dependent. Four adsorption isotherm models namely, Langmuir, Freundlich, Tempkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich were used to analyze the equilibrium data. The Langmuir isotherm provided the best correlation for Cr(VI) onto the almond shell activated carbon (ASC). Adsorption capacity was calculated from the Langmuir isotherm as 190.3 mg/g at 323 K. Thermodynamic parameters were evaluated and the adsorption was endothermic showing monolayer adsorption of Cr(VI). Five error functions were used to treat the equilibrium data using non-linear optimization techniques for evaluating the fit of the isotherm equations. The highest correlation for the isotherm equations in this system was obtained for the Freundlich isotherm. ASC is found to be inexpensive and effective adsorbent for removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions.

Adsorption kinetics of a basic dye from aqueous solutions onto apricot stone activated carbon.

The preparation of activated carbon from apricot stone with H(2)SO(4) activation and its ability to remove a basic dye, astrazon yellow 7 GL, from aqueous solutions were reported in this study. The adsorbent was characterized by FTIR, BET and SEM, respectively. The effects of various experimental parameters, such as initial dye concentration, pH, adsorbent dosage and temperature were investigated in a batch-adsorption technique. The optimum conditions for removal of the basic dye were found to be pH 10, 6g/l of adsorbent dosage and equilibrium time of 35 min, respectively. A comparison of three kinetic models, the pseudo first-order, second-order and diffusion controlled kinetic models, on the basic dye-adsorbent system showed that the removal rate was heavily dependent on diffusion controlled kinetic models. The adsorption isotherm data were fitted well to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The adsorption capacity was calculated as 221.23 mg/g at 50 degrees C. Thermodynamics parameters were also evaluated. The values of enthalpy and entropy were 49.87 kJ/mol and 31.93 J/mol K, respectively, indicating that this process was spontaneous and endothermic. The experimental studies were indicated that ASC had the potential to act as an alternative adsorbent to remove the basic dye from aqueous solutions.

Adsorption of reactive dyes from aqueous solutions by fly ash: kinetic and equilibrium studies.

Adsorption kinetic and equilibrium studies of three reactive dyes namely, Remazol Brillant Blue (RB), Remazol Red 133 (RR) and Rifacion Yellow HED (RY) from aqueous solutions at various initial dye concentration (100-500 mg/l), pH (2-8), particle size (45-112.5 microm) and temperature (293-323 K) on fly ash (FA) were studied in a batch mode operation. The adsorbent was characterized with using several methods such as SEM, XRD and FTIR. Adsorption of RB reactive dye was found to be pH dependent but both RR and RY reactive dyes were not. The result showed that the amount adsorbed of the reactive dyes increased with increasing initial dye concentration and contact time. Batch kinetic data from experimental investigations on the removal of reactive dyes from aqueous solutions using FA have been well described by external mass transfer and intraparticle diffusion models. It was found that external mass transfer and intraparticle diffusion had rate limiting affects on the removal process. This was attributed to the relatively simple macropore structure of FA particles. The adsorption data fitted well with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The optimum conditions for removal of the reactive dyes were 100mg/l initial dye concentration, 0.6g/100ml adsorbent dose, temperature of 293 K, 45 microm particle size, pH 6 and agitation speed of 250 rpm, respectively. The values of Langmuir and Freundlich constants were found to increase with increasing temperature in the range 135-180 and 15-34 mg/g for RB, 47-86 and 1.9-3.7 mg/g for RR and 37-61 and 3.0-3.6 mg/g for RY reactive dyes, respectively. Different thermodynamic parameters viz., changes in standard free energy, enthalpy and entropy were evaluated and it was found that the reaction was spontaneous and endothermic in nature.

The adsorption of basic dye (Astrazon Blue FGRL) from aqueous solutions onto sepiolite, fly ash and apricot shell activated carbon: kinetic and equilibrium studies.

In this study, sepiolite, fly ash and apricot stone activated carbon (ASAC) were used as adsorbents for the investigation of the adsorption kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamic parameters of the basic dye (Astrazon Blue FGRL) from aqueous solutions at various concentrations (100-300 mg/L), adsorbent doses (3-12 g/L) and temperatures (303-323 K). The result showed that the adsorption capacity of the dye increased with increasing initial dye concentration, adsorbent dose and temperature. Three kinetic models, the pseudo-first-order, second-order, intraparticle diffusion, were used to predict the adsorption rate constants. The kinetics of adsorption of the basic dye followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. Equations were developed using the pseudo-second-order model which predicts the amount of the basic dye adsorbed at any contact time, initial dye concentration and adsorbent dose within the given range accurately. The adsorption equilibrium data obeyed Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption capacities (Q0) calculated from the Langmuir isotherm were 181.5 mg/g for ASAC, 155.5 mg/g for sepiolite and 128.2 mg/g for fly ash at 303 K. Thermodynamical parameters were also evaluated for the dye-adsorbent systems and revealed that the adsorption process was endothermic in nature.

Removal of Astrazon Yellow 7GL from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto wheat bran.

Adsorption kinetic and equilibrium of a basic dye (Astrazon Yellow 7GL) from aqueous solutions at various initial dye concentration (50-300 mg/l), pH (4-10), adsorbent dosage (2-8 g/l), particle size (354-846 microm) and temperature (30-50 degrees C) on wheat bran were studied in a batch mode operation. The result showed that the amount adsorbed of the dye increased with increasing initial dye concentration and contact time, whereas particle size and pH had no significant affect on the amount of dye adsorbed by the adsorbent. A comparison of kinetic models on the overall adsorption rate showed that dye/adsorbent system was best described by the pseudo second-order rate model. The removal rate was also dependent on both external mass transfer and intra-particle diffusion. The low value of the intraparticle diffusivity, 10(-11) cm2/s, indicated the significant influence of intraparticle diffusion on the kinetic control. The adsorption capacity (Q0) calculated from the Langmuir isotherm was 69.06 mg/g for at pH 5.6, 303 K for the particle size of 354 microm. The experimental data yielded excellent fits with Langmuir and Tempkin isotherm equations. Different thermodynamic parameters showed that the reaction was spontaneous and endothermic in nature.

Treatment of the textile wastewater by combined electrocoagulation.

Electrocoagulation (EC) due to some advantages over chemical coagulation is becoming a popular process to be used for wastewater treatment. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of initial addition of a chemical coagulant such as polyaluminum chloride (PAC) or alum on the COD removal efficiency of EC treatment of textile wastewaters. The two salts exhibited the same performance in chemical coagulation, but in the combined electrocoagulation (CEC), PAC was found to significantly enhance the COD removal rate and efficiency, depending on the amount of the total aluminum supplied, by initial addition and electrochemical generation. A comparative operating cost analysis was also given and it was found that with the same operating cost per mass of COD removed, CEC performance was 80%, in contrast to 23% with EC, in 5 min of operation.

Treatment of levafix orange textile dye solution by electrocoagulation.

The decolorization of the levafix orange textile dye in aqueous solution by electrocoagulation using aluminum sacrificial anode has been investigated. The process performance is analyzed in terms of decolorization efficiency and the important cost-related parameters such as electrode and energy consumptions, as a function of initial pH, conductivity, current density, initial dye concentration and electrolysis time. The present study proves the effectiveness of electrochemical treatment for the textile dye solution. 95% decolorization efficiency may be obtained at suitable operating conditions such as; current density 100 A/m(2), operating time 12 min and initial pH 6.4. The corresponding electrode and energy consumptions during the electrolysis were found to be 1.8 kg Al/kg dye and 35 k Wh/kg dye.

Adsorption of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions by activated carbon prepared from apricot stone.

Apricot stones were carbonised and activated after treatment with sulphuric acid (1:1) at 200 degrees C for 24 h. The ability of the activated carbon to remove Ni(II), Co(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II), Cr(III) and Cr(VI) ions from aqueous solutions by adsorption was investigated. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to observe the effect of pH (1-6) on the activated carbon. The adsorptions of these metals were found to be dependent on solution pH. Highest adsorption occurred at 1-2 for Cr(VI) and 3-6 for the rest of the metal ions, respectively. Adsorption capacities for the metal ions were obtained in the descending order of Cr(VI) > Cd(II) > Co(II) > Cr(III) > Ni(II) > Cu(II) > Pb(II) for the activated carbon prepared from apricot stone (ASAC).

The effects of cyclopentolate on intraocular pressure and retrobulbar hemodynamics in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes of intraocular pressure (IOP) and retrobulbar hemodynamics after cyclopentolate administration in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. METHODS: Eighteen patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and 18 patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma were enrolled in the study. After baseline measurements of IOP, the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistivity index (RI) of the ophthalmic, central retinal, and posterior ciliary arteries were investigated by color Doppler imaging. Then, 1% cyclopentolate was instilled in one eye of each subject. After 45 minutes of instillation of the cyclopentolate, the measurements of IOP and retrobulbar blood flow velocities were repeated. The results were compared with those of 20 age-matched normal subjects. RESULTS: Neither IOP nor retrobulbar blood flow velocities changed significantly in control subjects after cyclopentolate administration. IOP increased significantly after cyclopentolate instillation in pseudoexfoliation syndrome (p = 0.004). Retrobulbar blood velocities did not change significantly after the cyclopentolate in this group. In pseudoexfoliation glaucoma group, it was observed that basal mean IOP showed a statistically significant increase after cyclopentolate drop (p = 0.002). Although blood flow velocities of ophthalmic artery did not change significantly, PSV and EDV of the central retinal and posterior ciliary arteries decreased significantly (p < 0.05) and RI of the posterior ciliary artery increased significantly (p = 0.01) after cyclopentolate instillation. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of our findings, pseudoexfoliation appears to be a predictive factor for an IOP rise after cyclopentolate. In pseudoexfoliation glaucoma patients, an increase of IOP after cyclopentolate could lead to a decreased retrobulbar blood flow. IOP must be rechecked after cyclopentolate administration in these patients to avoid further damage to the ganglion cells.

The effects of cyclopentolate on intraocular pressure and retrobulbar hemodynamics in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes of intraocular pressure (IOP) and retrobulbar hemodynamics after cyclopentolate administration in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. METHOD: Eighteen patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and 18 patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma were enrolled in the study. After baseline measurements of IOP, the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistivity index (RI) of the ophthalmic, central retinal, and posterior ciliary arteries were investigated by color Doppler imaging. Then, 1% cyclopentolate was instilled in one eye of each subject. After 45 minutes of instillation of the cyclopentolate, the measurements of IOP and retrobulbar blood flow velocities were repeated. The results were compared with those of 20 age-matched normal subjects. RESULTS: Neither IOP nor retrobulbar blood flow velocities changed significantly in control subjects after cyclopentolate administration. IOP increased significantly after cyclopentolate instillation in pseudoexfoliation syndrome (p=0.004). Retrobulbar blood velocities did not change significantly after the cyclopentolate in this group. In pseudoexfoliation glaucoma group, it was observed that basal mean IOP showed a statistically significant increase after cyclopentolate drop (p=0.002). Although blood flow velocities of ophthalmic artery did not change significantly, PSV and EDV of the central retinal and posterior ciliary arteries decreased significantly (p<0.05) and RI of the posterior ciliary artery increased significantly (p=0.01) after cyclopentolate instillation. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of our findings, pseudoexfoliation appears to be a predictive factor for an IOP rise after cyclopentolate. In pseudoexfoliation glaucoma patients, an increase of IOP after cyclopentolate could lead to a decreased retrobulbar blood flow. IOP must be rechecked after cyclopentolate administration in these patients to avoid further damage to the ganglion cells. (Eur J Ophthalmol 2004; 14: #-400).

Removal of Ni(II) from aqueous solution by adsorption onto hazelnut shell activated carbon: equilibrium studies.

Activated carbon prepared from hazelnut shell was used as an adsorbent for the removal of Ni(II) from aqueous solution. Batch mode adsorption studies were carried out by varying initial metal ion concentration, agitation speed, temperature and particle size. A contact time of 180 min was required to reach equilibrium. The equilibrium data were analysed using the Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherms. The characteristic parameters for each isotherm were determined. The Langmuir isotherm provided the best correlation for Ni(II) onto the activated carbon. Thermodynamical parameters revealed that the adsorption of Ni(II) is exothermic in nature.