Effects of Binding between Ca in Hard Water and Phosphorus in Amylopectin on the Qualities of Boiled Rice and Rice Noodle Prepared by Soaking and Boiling in Hard Water.

Recently, global warming has led to an increase in chalky rice grains. This has consequently resulted in the deterioration in quality of rice products. Although we previously reported that hard water, rich in Ca, is useful for the quality improvement of high-temperature-damaged rice grains, the mechanism was not elucidated sufficiently. Therefore, we used various kinds of rice cultivars, from waxy to high-amylose ones, for soaking and boiling in hard water and compared physical and chemical properties of the products. It was shown that the degree of quality improvement, such as final viscosities in pasting property, and textural properties of boiled rice, was more remarkable for high-amylose rice than low-amylose rice. As we found that the phosphorus contents showed positive correlations with amylose and long chains of amylopectin, we estimate that the effects are mainly due to binding of calcium and phosphorus. Because that high-amylose or long-chain-rich amylopectin rice cultivars showed high calcium contents in rice products, these rice cultivars would be very useful to supply calcium through dietary intake via hard water cooking.

Nanocrystal-induced chronic tubular-nephropathy in tropical countries: diagnosis, mitigation, and eradication.

In tropical countries, a mysterious tubulo-interstitial chronic renal disease (CKD), unrelated to diabetes, hypertension, and immunological causes, manifested four decades ago. Approximately 25,000 primarily middle-aged male farmers succumb annually to this crystal-tubular nephropathy (CTN). Without any known causative factors, it was identified as CKD of unknown aetiology (CKDu). Because multiple factors contribute to causing it later, was changed to CKD of multi-factorial (CKDmfo). Despite no evidence, it was hypothesised to cause by agrochemicals or heavy metals in food or drinking contaminated water. However, current data suggest that the CKD-CTN is due to natural geogenic water contamination. Consumption of concentrated stagnant groundwater from deep-dug wells and tube wells containing hard water and fluoride, overdecades is necessary for its clinical manifestations. In all affected countries have prolonged annual dry seasons that led to the evopo-concentration of ions and minerals in groundwater, making hard water even more unpalatable, thus, peasants consume lesser amounts of water. They develop chronic dehydration from daily exposure to hot climatic conditions aggravated by regular alcohol intake. These conditions provide a highly conducive environment-a perfect storm for calcium phosphate (CaPO4) crystal formation in renal tissues. Our recent histological and preliminary electron microscopic data reveal deposition of CaPO4 crystals and nano-tubes in kidneys. While CaPO4 nano-minerals are unstable, the presence of fluoride ions stabilises and allows their growth. This new concept paves the path for highly cost-effective, straightforward local solutions to protect farm workers and eliminate the disease, without embarking on expensive medications, interventions, or building hospitals. Chronic dehydration-associated CKD-CTN is preventable by increased consumption of potable water. Increasing clean water consumption reduces CKD-CTN incidence, and associated morbidities and premature deaths. However, the damage becomes irreversible when the disease advances beyond CKD stage IIIB. The incidence of this deadly renal failure can be prevented by its education, lifestyle changes, and increased water consumption, not by treating the renal disease or expanding dialysis centres/hospitals, or transplantation services. Eradication of CKD-CTN cost significantly less than the current approach of treating affected persons and unnecessarily expanding health infrastructure. Since the manifestation of CKD-CTN is due to consuming naturally contaminated drinking water (with calcium containing hard water and fluoride), it is not difficult to remove these to prevent CKD-CTN: thus, international assistance is unwarranted for its eradication. The straightforward approaches described here will prevent CKD-CTN and save thousands of lives in affected farming communities.

Effects of Hard Water Boiling on Chalky Rice in Terms of Texture Improvement and Ca Fortification.

In the present paper, we investigated the characteristics of chalky rice grains generated by ripening under high temperature and compared them with whole grains. We evaluated 14 unpolished Japonica rice grains harvested in Japan in 2021, and these samples (original grains) were divided into two groups (a whole grain group and a chalky grain one). We found that not only activities of endogenous amylase and proteinase, but also cell wall-degrading enzymes, such as xylanase and cellulase, changed markedly between chalky grains and whole grains. Using rice grains blended with 30% of chalky grains as the material, we compared the sugar and mineral contents and textural properties of the rice grains soaked and boiled in either ordinary water or hard water, such as Evian or Contrex. It was shown that xylanase, in addition to amylase and proteinase, may play an important role in changing the texture of the boiled chalky rice grains. For the sake of preventing the above-mentioned deterioration in the texture of boiled grains of chalky rice, we tried to use hard water, such as Evian or Contrex, to soak and cook the chalky rice grains. It was shown that the hard water was useful for the prevention of texture deterioration of the boiled rice grains due to inhibition of the activities of endogenous hydrolytic enzymes, such as α-amylase, ß-amylase, proteinase, and xylanase. Furthermore, we found that the hard water was useful in increasing the calcium absorption through the meal by 2.6 to 16.5 times.

Melatonin ameliorates glyphosate- and hard water-induced renal tubular epithelial cell senescence via PINK1-Parkin-dependent mitophagy.

The combination of glyphosate (Gly) and hard water (Hwt) is a suspected risk factor for chronic interstitial nephritis in agricultural communities (CINAC). Accumulated mitochondrial damage and proximal tubular epithelial (PTE) cell senescence have been implicated in CINAC pathogenesis. Melatonin (Mel) has potential mitochondrial function and renoprotective properties, but its role and mechanism in CINAC are unknown. Here, we detected PTE cell senescence and PTEN-induced putative protein kinase 1 (PINK1)-parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (Parkin)-dependent mitophagy in mice orally administered with different doses of Gly combined with Hwt (Gly: 100 mg/kg·bw and 0.7 mg/L; Hwt: 2,500 mg/L CaCO3 and 250 mg/L Ca2+) for different durations (12 and 36 w) using histological examination, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunofluorescence (IF) analysis, and immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunoblotting, ELISA and biochemical assays with kits. The same assays were performed after combination treatment with Mdivi-1 (an inhibitor of mitophagy, i.p. 10 mg/kg·bw, twice a week for 12 w) or Mel (i.p. 10 mg/kg·bw, once a day for 12 w) under high-level exposure. Gly combined with Hwt (Gly-Hwt) significantly increased P16-P21-dependent PTE cell senescence, mitochondrial fission and oxidative stress, and activated PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy, accompanied by defective autophagic flux at high doses but unaltered autophagic flux at low doses. Improved senescence occurred after Mdivi-1 administration, suggesting that mitophagy is involved in cellular senescence. Mel significantly decreased senescence induced by Gly-Hwt. Furthermore, PINK1-Parkin-dependent mitophagy and autophagic flux were markedly enhanced, and mitochondrial function was improved, as evidenced by reductions in mitochondrial fission and subsequent oxidative damage. Thus, Gly and Hwt synergistically promote PTE cell senescence through PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy, and Mel exerts renoprotective effects by modulating mitophagy, suggesting therapeutic applications in ageing-related CINAC.

Melatonin ameliorates renal dysfunction in glyphosate- and hard water-treated mice.

Chronic interstitial nephritis in agricultural communities (CINAC) is a severe and widespread disease that has been associated with environmental and occupational exposure to glyphosate and hard water. However, the potential underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Melatonin is reported to exert protective effects on the kidney, but whether melatonin can attenuate renal tubular injury in mice exposed to glyphosate combined with hard water is unclear. Here, mice were treated with high doses and environmentally relevant doses of glyphosate (100 mg/kg·bw and 0.7 mg/L, respectively) and/or hard water (2500 mg/L CaCO3 and 250 mg/L Ca2+, respectively) via their drinking water for 12 weeks. We found that high-dose glyphosate or hard water treatment significantly increased the levels of biomarkers of renal damage, including ß2-microglobulin, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipid carrier protein, and/or albumin, in the urine; these increased biomarker levels were correlated with obvious morphological changes, and all of these changes were also observed in animals exposed to environmentally relevant doses of glyphosate and/or high Ca2+ water. Melatonin (10 mg/kg·bw, intraperitoneal injection, daily for 12 weeks) administered concomitantly with high doses of glyphosate and hard water inhibited the glyphosate- and hard water-induced increases in the levels of kidney injury biomarkers and changes in morphology; this result was intriguing. Additionally, glyphosate combined with hard water at both high and environmentally relevant doses significantly upregulated the expression of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress marker proteins Bip, ATF6, and PERK as well as the pyroptosis-related proteins (NLRP3 and caspase 1 signaling proteins) in renal tissues. Similarly, melatonin significantly attenuated the increased ER stress and pyroptosis induced by high doses of glyphosate and hard water. In summary, we conclude that exposure to glyphosate and hard water at both high doses and environmentally relevant doses causes renal dysfunction in mice, and this dysfunction can be attenuated by melatonin, possibly through the inhibition of ER stress and pyroptosis. Our results support the notion that melatonin may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of chronic kidney diseases.

Challenges in direct determination of Glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid in water by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry at modified reverse phase columns: Effect of matrix interferences in fresh and hard water systems.

This study validated two underivatized methods (M1 and M2) according to the Eurachem guidelines to analyze the herbicide Glyphosate and its major metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid simultaneously by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in both fresh and hard waters. Samples were analyzed directly after filtration through 0.22 µm syringe filters in M1, while samples were acidified with acetic acid before filtration in M2. Spike recoveries were greater than 80% for Glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid in both methods. The limit of quantitation was 0.5 µg/L for M1, and 0.1 µg/L for M2 by using matrix-matched calibrations. The linear regression coefficient of both methods was greater than 0.995. The expanded uncertainty was found to be less than 25% for both. Moreover, M1 has an additional mass spectral confirmation ability, and the column and the mobile phase used in M2 can be used to analyze the inert surfactant used in Glyphosate formulations, Polyethoxylated tallow amine. The accuracy of the developed methods was assured by participating in a proficiency testing program against M2 and conducting the t-test for results generated by both M1 and M2. Both methods, therefore, can be used to determine Glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid content concurrently in fresh and hard waters.

Randomized controlled pilot trial with ion-exchange water softeners to prevent eczema (SOFTER trial).

BACKGROUND: Observational studies suggest an increased risk of eczema in children living in hard versus soft water areas, and there is, therefore, an interest in knowing whether softening water may prevent eczema. We evaluated the feasibility of a parallel-group assessor-blinded pilot randomized controlled trial to test whether installing a domestic ion-exchange water softener before birth in hard water areas reduces the risk of eczema in infants with a family history of atopy. METHODS: Pregnant women living in hard water areas (>250 mg/L calcium carbonate) in and around London UK, were randomized 1:1 antenatally to either have an ion-exchange water softener installed in their home or not (ie to continue to receive usual domestic hard water). Infants were assessed at birth and followed up for 6 months. The main end-points were around feasibility, the primary end-point being the proportion of eligible families screened who were willing and able to be randomized. Clinical end-points were evaluated including frequency of parent-reported doctor-diagnosed eczema and visible eczema on skin examination. Descriptive analyses were conducted, and no statistical testing was performed as this was a pilot study. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-nine families screened were eligible antenatally and 28% (41/149) could not have a water softener installed due to technical reasons or lack of landlord approval. Eighty of 149 (54%) were randomized, the primary end-point. Two participants withdrew immediately after randomization, leaving 39 participants in each arm (78 total). Attrition was 15% (12/78) by 6 months postpartum. All respondents (n = 69) to the study acceptability questionnaire reported that the study was acceptable. Fifty-six of 708 (7.9%) water samples in the water softener arm were above the hard water threshold of 20 mg/L CaCO3 . At 6 months of age 27/67 infants (40%) developed visible eczema, 12/36 (33%) vs. 15/31 (48%) in the water softener and control groups, respectively, difference -15% (95% CI -38, 8.3%), with most assessments (≥96%) remaining blinded. Similarly, a lower proportion of infants in the water softener arm had parent-reported, doctor-diagnosed eczema by 6 months compared to the control arm, 6/17 (35%) versus 9/19 (47%), difference -12% (95% CI -44, 20%). CONCLUSION: A randomized controlled trial of water softeners for the prevention of atopic eczema in high-risk infants is feasible and acceptable. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03270566 (clinicaltrials.gov).

Water Quality and Mortality from Coronary Artery Disease in Sardinia: A Geospatial Analysis.

The role of water hardness on human health is still debated, ranging from beneficial to harmful. Before the rise of drinking bottled water, it was a common habit to obtain supplies of drinking water directly from spring-fed public fountains. According to the geographic location, spring waters are characterized by a variable content of mineral components. In this ecological study, for the first time in Sardinia, Italy, the spatial association between spring water quality/composition and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for coronary artery disease (CAD) in the decade from 1981 to 1991 was investigated using data retrieved from published databases. In a total of 377 municipalities, 9918 deaths due to CAD, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI), ICD-9 code 410, and ischemic heart disease (IHD), ICD-9 code 411-414, were retrieved. A conditional autoregressive model with spatially structured random effects for each municipality was used. The average SMR for CAD in municipalities with a predominantly "soft" (<30 mg/L) or "hard" (≥30 mg/L) water was, respectively, 121.4 ± 59.1 vs. 104.7 ± 38.2 (p = 0.025). More specifically, an inverse association was found between elevated calcium content in spring water and cardiovascular mortality (AMI: r = -0.123, p = 0.032; IHD: r = -0.146, p = 0.009) and borderline significance for magnesium (AMI: r = -0.131, p = 0.054; IHD: r = -0.138, p = 0.074) and bicarbonate (IHD: r = -0.126, p = 0.058), whereas weak positive correlations were detected for sodium and chloride. The lowest CAD mortality was observed in geographic areas (North-West: SMR 0.92; South-East: SMR 0.88), where calcium- and bicarbonate-rich mineral waters were consumed. Our results, within the limitation of an ecological study, confirm the beneficial role of waters with high content in calcium and bicarbonate against coronary artery disease.

Involvement of mitochondrial fission in renal tubular pyroptosis in mice exposed to high and environmental levels of glyphosate combined with hard water.

Chronic interstitial nephritis in agricultural communities (CINAC) has reached epidemic proportions. The combination of glyphosate and hard water has been postulated to play a potent aetiological role in CINAC. Therefore, dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1)-mediated aberrant mitochondrial fission and subsequent activation of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (Nlrp3)/caspase1 pathway may be involved in the pathogenesis of nephropathy. In the present study, mice were sub-chronically exposed to high doses and environmental levels of glyphosate (100 mg/kg body weight (mg/kg·bw) glyphosate in Roundup and 0.7 mg/L pure glyphosate, respectively) and hard water (2500 mg/L CaCO3 and 250 mg/L Ca2+, respectively) in drinking water. Moreover, Mdivi-1 (Md-1, 10 mg/kg·bw) was intraperitoneally injected to inhibit Drp1 on the basis of the high-dose experiment. Histopathological examination, biochemical analysis, ELISA, western blotting and fluorescent staining were used to analyse renal structure, renal tubular pyroptosis and mitochondrial fission/fusion alterations. The results showed dramatic proximal tubular injury, particularly in the combined groups. Moreover, significant increases in the protein expression levels of calmodulin (CaM), calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), Drp1/p-Drp1-Ser616 and the Txnip/Nlrp3/caspase1 signalling pathway, and alterations in oxidative stress were observed in the combined groups, and these effects were attenuated by the Drp1 inhibitor Md-1. Intriguingly, there may be a synergistic effect of glyphosate and hard water on renal injury. Taken together, these results suggest that the combination of glyphosate and hard water, even at environmental exposure levels, enhances pyroptosis and ongoing tubulointerstitial inflammation through excessive Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission.

Renal tubular injury induced by glyphosate combined with hard water: the role of cytosolic phospholipase A2.

BACKGROUND: The combined effects of glyphosate and hard water on chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CDKu) have attracted much interest, but the mechanisms remain unknown. Cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) plays a key role in the acute and chronic inflammatory reactions. This study explored the effect of glyphosate combined with hard water on renal tubules and the possible targets and mechanisms involved. METHODS: In vivo experiments were conducted to investigate the synergistic effects and potential mechanisms of glyphosate and hard water on renal tubular injury in mice. RESULTS: Administration of glyphosate in mice resulted in elevated levels of ß2-microglobulin (ß2-MG), albumin (ALB), and serum creatinine (SCr) compared to control mice. This increase was more pronounce when glyphosate was combined with hard water. In the glyphosate-treated mice, small areas of the kidney revealed fibroblast proliferation and vacuolar degeneration, particularly at the higher dose of 400 mg/kg glyphosate. However, the combination of glyphosate and hard water induced an even greater degree of pathological changes in the kidney. Immunofluorescence and western blot analyses showed that glyphosate and hard water had a coordinated effect on calcium ions (Ca2+)-activated phospholipase A2 and the activation may play a key role in inflammation and renal tubular injury. Exposure to glyphosate alone or glyphosate plus hard water increased the levels of oxidative stress markers and inflammatory biomarkers, namely, thromboxane A2 (TX-A2), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and nitric oxide (NO). Parameters of oxidative stress, including the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were decreased. Further analysis showed that the levels of these biomarkers were significantly different between the mice treated with glyphosate plus hard water and the mice treated with glyphosate alone. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that hard water combined with glyphosate can induce renal tubular injury in mice, and this may involve mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)/cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2)/arachidonic acid (AA) and its downstream factors.

The Significances of Water Volume to Decoct Formulas Described in Classical Chinese Medicine / 日本東洋医学雑誌

Although the descriptions of shigyakukachotanto in “Waitaimiyaofang” and tsumyakushigyakukachotanjuto in “Songban Shanghanlun” are quite similar to each other, the specifications of the dosages of crude drugs and the water volume in the books were considerably different. Focused on the specified water volume to decoct these formulas, each reasonable decocting period was estimated, then the decoctions were prepared using hard water that was common in mainland China. The dosages of aconite root were 2­-fold different between these two formulas, but the contents of aconitine-­type diester alkaloids (ADA) in both decoctions were found in the range of 1.2—1.4­-fold. It was suggested that in order to control the efficacy and the safety of aconite, the decocting period was well regulated by the specification of water volume for decocting at this ancient era. Moreover, the dosages of aconite root and glycyrrhiza in bukuryoshigyakuto (BSGT) formula of “Songban Shanghanlun” are equal to those of shigyakuto (SGT) but the specified water volume to begin decocting is as about twice as that of SGT. When prepared using hard water, BSGT resulted to make the contents of ADA lower and those of non-­ester alkaloids higher compared with those of SGT decoction. It was suggested the spe­cific water volume for each formula prescribed in classical Chinese medicine had considerable significance to determine the dosages of chemical ingredients in the decoctions especially in the circumstances using hard water to prepare them.

Optimal control strategy for the effects of hard water consumption on kidney-related diseases.

OBJECTIVES : We study the optimal control strategy for the effects of hard water consumption on kidney-related diseases. The mathematical model has been formulated and studied to gain insights on the optimal control strategy on the effects of hard-water consumption on kidney-related diseases. The positivity and boundedness of the solutions are determined. A global sensitivity analysis has been performed and the numerical solutions have been carried out. RESULTS : A global sensitivity analysis shows that the control on water is an important parameter. This can reduce the proportion of individuals with kidney-dysfunction and hence reduces the proportion of individuals with kidney-related diseases. Furthermore, the numerical solutions show that with the optimal control, the proportion of individuals with kidney-related diseases can be minimised.

Hard water syndrome: a case series of 30 patients from a London haemodialysis unit.

Severe and life-threatening hypercalcaemia can develop in haemodialysis patients dialysed against a dialysate with a high calcium concentration, the so-called hard water syndrome. Here we describe the development of hard water syndrome in 30 patients following sequential failure of the reverse osmosis unit and water softeners. Serum calcium levels rose from 2.43 ± 0.19 to 3.92 ± 0.51 mmol/L after exposure. All patients required emergency haemodialysis and four acutely deteriorated, one of whom was 24 weeks pregnant. This is the largest reported series of patients affected by this rare and severe condition. This event led to the introduction of processes to minimize future risks.

Hard water may increase the inhibitory effect of feed on the oral bioavailability of oxytetracycline in broiler chickens.

The aim of this study was to determine to what extent the ions present in hard water (125 mg/L of MgCl2 and 500 mg/L of CaCl2) may intensify the feed-induced decrease in oxytetracycline (OTC) absorption rate in broiler chickens after single oral administration at a dose of 15 mg/kg. Drug concentrations in plasma were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and combined, compartmental and non-compartmental approach was used to assess OTC pharmacokinetics. The administration of feed decreased the absolute bioavailability (F) of OTC from 12.70%±4.01 to 6.40%±1.08, and this effect was more pronounced after the combined administration of OTC with feed and hard water (5.31%±0.90). A decrease in the area under the concentration- time curve (AUC0-t), (from 10.18±3.24 µg·h/ml in control to 5.13 µg·h/ml±1.26 for feed and 4.26 µg·h/ml±1.10 for feed and hard water) and the maximum plasma concentration of OTC (Cmax) (from 1.22±0.18 µg/ml in control, to 1.01 µg/ml ±0.10 for hard water, 0.68 µg/ml±0.10 for feed and 0.61 µg/ml±0.10 for feed and hard water) was observed. The results of this study indicate that feed strongly decreases F, AUC0-t and Cmax of orally administered OTC. The ions present in hard water increase this inhibitory effect, which suggests that, therapy with OTC may require taking into account local water quality and dose modification, particularly when dealing with outbreaks caused by less sensitive microorganisms.

To Evaluate and Compare Changes in Baseline Strength of Hairs after Treating them with Deionized Water and Hard Water and its Role in Hair Breakage.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Interaction of hair with water is common. This study was conducted to compare changes in baseline strength of hair after treating it with hard water and deionized water. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Hardness level of water samples collected from 10 districts of KP, Pakistan was determined, and that with maximum hardness was considered our sample hard water. Hair samples of 70 male individuals, from district with minimum hardness levels, were collected. Each hair sample was divided into three equal parts, and three groups of hair were established, each group containing 70 hairs. Group A was considered control. Group B was treated with deionized water and Group C was treated with hard water. Tensile strength of all three groups was measured using the universal testing machine and compared using paired t-test. RESULTS: The mean age of all 70 participants were 23.87 ± 3. The mean values of tensile strength for hairs of Groups A, B, and C were 255.49, 254.84, and 234.16 with a standard deviation of 57.55, 58.74, and 56.25, respectively. Results were significant in case of hard water (P = 0.001) as compared to deionized water (P = 0.609). CONCLUSION: Hard water decreases strength of hair and thus increases breakage.

Some bottled water may be salubrious.

Hard drinking water seems protective against cardiovascular disease compared to soft water. Published data on calcium and magnesium in bottled water products were evaluated to determine water hardness. Data on water chemistry of thirty-three products were obtained from the internet and hardness, as calcium carbonate, was calculated. Approximately two thirds of the products were soft according to criteria of the US Geological Survey; only one fifth were very hard. Beer and wine also were found to be very hard. Consumers and suppliers should avoid soft water. Some beneficial, cardiovascular effects of beer and wine may be the result of hard water.

Litiasis urinaria y su relación con el consumo de aguas duras en la comuna de Maipú / Urinary lithiasis and its relation to the consumption of hard water in the Maipu Borough

INTRODUCCIÓN: La litiasis urinaria es una patología frecuente, que afecta principalmente a adultos en edad productiva, y que en el último tiempo ha presentado un aumento en la incidencia global. Cerca del 80 % de los cálculos se componen mayoritariamente de calcio. Existe controversia en la literatura sobre el rol que podría tener el consumo de aguas con altos índices de dureza y el riesgo de padecer litiasis. El objetivo de este estudio es identificar una posible asociación entre dureza de agua para consumos e incidencia de litiasis urinaria en la poblacion de Maipú. MATERIALES Y METODOS: Se incluyen en el estudio todos los pacientes atendidos por urólogos en forma ambulatoria electiva en el Hospital El Carmen de Maipú, por diagnóstico de litiasis urinaria, en los años 2015 y 2016, que residen en la comuna. Se georreferenciaron de acuerdo a sus direcciones en los distintos sectores de distribución de agua potable.Se realizó análisis fisicoquímico de muestras de agua extraídas de cada sector para determinar su dureza. Se estudiaron a través del índice de correlación de Pearson las posibles asociaciones entre dureza del agua e incidencia de litiasis. RESULTADOS: La dureza promedio del agua de Maipú es de 484 mg/L de CaCO3, valor que se encuentra por sobre el promedio regional y nacional. La incidencia anual de litiasis en la poblacion estudiada fue de 4,4 casos/10.000 habitantes, valor similar al promedio nacional. El índice de correlación de Pearson entre dureza de agua e incidencia anual fue de -0,51. CONCLUSIONES: No fue posible establecer una relación causal entre dureza de agua e incidencia de litiasis en la población estudiada. Se sugiere avanzar en esta misma línea con estudios futuros de casos y controles.AU

INTRODUCTION: Urinary lithiasis is a frequent pathology, which mainly affects adults in a productive age, and which-in recent times- has increased in terms of global incidence. About 80 % of the stones are composed mainly of calcium.There is controversy in literature addressing the possible relation amongst water consumption with high hardnessindexes and the risk of lithiasis. The objective of this study is to identify a possible association between water hardnessfor consumption and urinary lithiasis incidence in the Maipu population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients assisted by urologists on an elective ambulatory basis, at the El Carmen Hospital in Maipú, diagnosed with urinary lithiasis, in the years 2015 and 2016, and who reside in the Borough have been included in the study. They were georeferenced according to their address in the different drinking water distribution areas. Physiochemical analysis of water samples extracted from each sector was carried out to determine its hardness. The possible associations between hardness of water and incidence of lithiasis were studied through the Pearson correlation index. RESULTS: The average water hardness in Maipu is 484 mg / L of CaCO3, a value that is above the regional and national average. The annual incidence of lithiasis in the studied population was 4.4 cases / 10,000 inhabitants, a value that is similar to the national average. The Pearson correlation index between water hardness and annual incidence was -0.51. CONCLUSIONS: It was not possible to establish a causal relation between water hardness and incidence of lithiasis in the studied population. It is suggested to advance in this same line with future case and control studies.

Improving the Efficiency of New Automatic Dishwashing Detergent Formulation by Addition of Thermostable Lipase, Protease and Amylase.

The use of T1 lipase in automatic dishwashing detergent (ADD) is well established, but efficiency in hard water is very low. A new enzymatic environmentally-friendly dishwashing was formulated to be efficient in both soft and hard water. Thermostable enzymes such as T1 lipase from Geobacillus strain T1, Rand protease from Bacillussubtilis strain Rand, and Maltogenic amylase from Geobacillus sp. SK70 were produced and evaluated for an automatic dishwashing detergent formulation. The components of the new ADD were optimized for compatibility with these three enzymes. In compatibility tests of the enzymes with different components, several criteria were considered. The enzymes were mostly stable in non-ionic surfactants, especially polyhydric alcohols, Glucopon UP 600, and in a mixture of sodium carbonate and glycine (30:70) buffer at a pH of 9.25. Sodium polyacrylate and sodium citrate were used in the ADD formulation as a dispersing agent and a builder, respectively. Dishwashing performance of the formulated ADDs was evaluated in terms of percent of soil removed using the Leenert's Improved Detergency Tester. The results showed that the combination of different hydrolysis enzymes could improve the washing efficiency of formulated ADD compared to the commercial ADD "Finish" at 40 and 50 C.

Hard water softening effect of a baby cleanser.

BACKGROUND: Hard water is associated with atopic dermatitis (eczema). We wanted to determine if a baby cleanser and its individual components altered free ionized calcium (Ca2+) in a simulated hard water baby bath. For these studies, an in vitro determination of free Ca2+ in a simulated hard water baby bath, and an in vivo exploratory study of free Ca2+ absorption into skin from hard water were performed. METHODS: Free Ca2+ was measured with an ion-sensitive electrode in vitro in hard water (100-500 ppm, Ca2+) before and after addition of the cleanser and/or its components. In an exploratory study, absorption of Ca2+ into skin from hard water was determined in three female participants (aged 21-29 years). RESULTS: At an in-use dilution of 1%, the test cleanser reduced free Ca2+ from ~500 ppm to <200 ppm; a 10% in-use dilution bound virtually all free Ca2+. The anionic surfactant component contributed the most to this effect. In the exploratory in vivo study, we measured a reduction of ~15% in free Ca2+ from simulated hard water over 10 minutes. CONCLUSION: Baby cleansers can bind free Ca2+ and reduce the effective water hardness of bath water. Reducing the amount of free Ca2+ in the water will reduce the availability of the ion for binding to the skin. Altering or reducing free Ca2+ concentrations in bath water may be an important parameter in creating the ideal baby bath.

Effect of topical application of hard water in weakening of hair in men.

Background: Hard water is thought to play a key role in weakening of hair (not Hair Loss) and breakage especially when travelling is involved. In our community, commonly men do the travelling and complain more about hair problem which is why only young male individuals were included in this study. Materials and Methods: Water samples from different districts of KPK, Pakistan, were collected and their hardness values were estimated to find the water sample of maximum and minimum water hardness in order to know the maximum hardness hair would encounter in KPK, Pakistan. Samples from district Kohat had maximum hardness whereas minimum hardness was estimated in samples of district Peshawar. Water from district Kohat was considered as our sample water for the experimental group of hair. Hair samples were collected from 76 male individuals of district Peshawar, the area with least water hardness among the samples collected. Each hair sample was divided into two halves. One half was considered as experimental group and the other was considered as control group. The experimental group was treated with hard water of district Kohat for 10 minutes on alternate days, for 3 months. In a very similar way the control group was treated with de-ionized water. Tensile strength in term of "Stress" of both the experimental and control groups were measured using the universal testing machine and compared using paired t-test. Results and Conclusions: The standard deviations (SD) for hair treated with hard water and distilled water was 62.05 and 58.13 respectively and the mean values were 238.49 and 255.36 respectively. The results showed that the tensile strength of hair was significantly (p=0.001) reduced in hair treated with hard water as compared to hair treated with de-ionized water.