Thirty strains of algae were examined for their biosorption abilities in the uptake of cadmium, lead, nickel, and zinc from aqueous solution. A wide range of adsorption capacities between the different strains of algae and between the four metals can be observed. The cyanophyceae Lyngbya taylorii exhibited high uptake capacities for the four metals. The algae showed maximum capacities according to the Langmuir Adsorption Model of 1.47 mmol lead, 0.37 mmol cadmium, 0.65 mmol nickel, and ...

BACKGROUND: General practitioners (GPs) often feel uncomfortable when patients request an antibiotic when there is likely little benefit. This study evaluates the effect of access to point-of-care tests on decreasing the prescription of antibiotics in respiratory tract infections in subjects who explicitly requested an antibiotic prescription.

METHODS: Spanish GPs registered all cases of respiratory tract infections over a 3-week period before and after an intervention undertaken in 2008 ...

BACKGROUND: Physicians' adherence to guideline-recommended therapy is associated with short-term clinical outcomes in heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, its impact on longer-term outcomes is poorly documented. Here, we present results from the 18-month follow-up of the QUALIFY registry.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Data at 18 months were available for 6118 ambulatory HFrEF patients from this international prospective observational survey. Adherence was measured ...

The effects of near ultraviolet (NUV) light on a NUV chromophore-containing oxidant-sensitive enzyme, dihydroxyacid dehydratase (DHAD), were measured in seven strains of Escherichia coli. The strains differed in production of the oxidant-defense enzymes, superoxide dismutases (Fe-SOD and Mn-SOD), and catalases HPI and HPII. With the stress of aerobic growth but without NUV exposure, the strains lacking either Fe or Mn SOD or both SODs had 57%, 25%, and 12%, respectively, of the ...

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a fatal lung disease with a variable and unpredictable natural history and limited treatment options. Since publication of the ATS-ERS statement on IPF in the year 2000 diagnostic standards have improved and a considerable number of randomized controlled treatment trials have been published necessitating a revision. In the years 2006 - 2010 an international panel of IPF experts produced an evidence-based guideline on diagnosis and treatment of IPF, which ...

The incorporation of lauric acid, palmitic acid and oleic acid into phospholipids of lung and liver has been studied in tissue slices of control rabbits and of rabbits treated with bromhexine or ambroxol in doses of 10 mg/kg. A marked increase (up to 200% of the controls) of palmitic acid incorporation into phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) and phosphatidyl-ethanolamine of the lung was found whereas the incorporation rate of palmitic acid into lecithin and phosphatidylethanolamine of the ...

The reduction of the prevalence of zoonoses and zoonotic agents like campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis requires eradication, control and monitoring measures to protect both animal and public health. Therefore, it is important to identify the main sources of infections within the poultry production chain. As the latest EFSA results show, these zoonotic agents were mostly found on fresh poultry meat as well as in live poultry. Consequently, the main entrance paths have to be identified ...

Prognostic parameters and indicators of deterioration of prolastin substituted alpha 1 antitrypsin deficient COPD (AAT) are poorly defined. In particular, there is a lack of information how patients with AAT report exacerbations or how intravenous therapy with prolastin is tolerated and leads to a stabilization of the clinical course of the disease. In a prospective study seven patients were followed over 36 months who received i. v. prolastin at home. Both clinical parameters such as ...

IntroductionStudies which deal with the problems of total hip arthoplasty (THA) in patients with neuromuscular impairments are rare. The aim of this study was to examine whether THA for painful coxarthrosis in such patients relieved pain and improved functional outcome and how high the complication rate was.Material and methodsFor this study 10 patients (13 hips) with neuromuscular impairment who had received a total hip arthroplasty for painful coxarthrosis were retrospectively ...