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In vitro analysis of gallstone formation in the presence of bacteria.
Sharma, R, Sachan, SG, Sharma, SR
Indian journal of gastroenterology : official journal of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology. 2020;(5):473-480
Abstract
AIM: In our previous study, we have isolated different genera of bacteria from gallstones and this intrigued us to study their role in gallstone formation. The isolates exhibited certain biliary activities like urease activity, slime production, and β-glucuronidase production. We aimed to investigate the role of these factors in the formation of gallstone in in vitro conditions at a supersaturated concentration of cholesterol. METHODOLOGY To mimic bile in in vitro state, Brilliant Green Bile Broth (BGBB) media having a composition similar to human bile was used. Four different experimental sets were prepared, each having nine flasks with varying concentrations of cholesterol and CaCO3 (calcium carbonate). Test sets I, II, III, and IV were inoculated with Salmonella, Enterococcus, Helicobacter, and Neisseria respectively, which were isolated from gallstone itself. Out of these four bacteria, only Helicobacter did not possess slime activity. A control set was also established which was devoid of bacteria. The control also had nine flasks with different concentrations of cholesterol and CaCO3. All the sets were incubated in the incubator shaker at 37 °C and 80 revolution per minutes (RPM) for 20 days. RESULT It was observed that the sets having bacteria had a less nucleation time as compared to the control (F = 5.274; p < 0.001). Solidification of gallstone was observed only in the set with bacteria having slime activity (sets I, II, and IV). CONCLUSION The slime activity of bacteria leads to solidification of gallstones, whereas the other activities accelerate the nucleation of gallstone formation enhancing the severity of the disease.
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Investigating mechanical properties and biocement application of CaCO3 precipitated by a newly-isolated Lysinibacillus sp. WH using artificial neural networks.
Ekprasert, J, Fongkaew, I, Chainakun, P, Kamngam, R, Boonsuan, W
Scientific reports. 2020;(1):16137
Abstract
A newly-isolated Lysinibacillus sp. strain WH could precipitate CaCO3 using calcium acetate (Ca(C2H3O2)2), calcium chloride (CaCl2) and calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2) via non-ureolytic processes. We developed an algorithm to determine CaCO3 crystal structures by fitting the simulated XRD spectra to the experimental data using the artificial neural networks (ANNs). The biogenic CaCO3 crystals when using CaCl2 and Ca(NO3)2 are trigonal calcites with space group R3c, while those when using Ca(C2H3O2)2 are hexagonal vaterites with space group P6522. Their elastic properties are derived from the Voigt-Reuss-Hill (VRH) approximation. The bulk, Young's, and shear moduli of biogenic calcite are 77.812, 88.197, and 33.645 GPa, respectively, while those of vaterite are 67.082, 68.644, 25.818 GPa, respectively. Their Poisson's ratios are ~ 0.3-0.33, suggesting the ductility behavior of our crystals. These elastic values are comparable to those found in limestone cement, but are significantly larger than those of Portland cement. Based on the biocement experiment, the maximum increase in the compressive strength of Portland cement (27.4%) was found when Ca(NO3)2 was used. An increased strength of 26.1% was also found when Ca(C2H3O2)2 was used, implying the transformation of less-durable vaterite to higher-durable calcite. CaCO3 produced by strain WH has a potential to strengthen Portland cement-based materials.
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Growth, Yield and Biochemical Impact of Anti-transpirants on Sunflower Plant Grown under Water Deficit.
Abdallah, MMS, Bakry, BA, El-Bassiouny, HMS, El-Monem, AAA
Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS. 2020;(4):454-466
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Climate change affecting on weather in many different ways especially drought and temperature rise. This will drastically down plant production, if not start looking for another source to increase water productivity to cope up with water stress conditions. In this study efforts were conducted to interpret the use of anti-transpirants to conserving irrigation water, aiding plant survival under dry conditions and protecting plant against drought stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two field experiments were carried out during 2017 and 2018 successive growing summer seasons at the experimental farm of National Research Centre, Nubaria, El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt. Anti-transparent ,i.e., chitosan (100 and 150 mg L-1), calcium carbonate (5 and 10 g L-1), salicylic acid (200 and 300 mg L-1) were foliar sprayed on sunflower plants grown under two water levels (normal 100% and deficit 50%). RESULTS The results showed that water stress decreased growth criteria, photosynthetic pigments, osmoprotectants, yield components, oil and carbohydrate (%) as compared to 100% of irrigation requirements. Meanwhile, water deficit induced significant increases in (proline). Foliar treatments of sunflower plant with chitosan, calcium carbonate, salicylic acid increased growth criteria, yield components, photosynthetic pigments, total soluble sugars, proline and free amino acid as compared to control plant. Data also illustrated that, all used treatment improved seed yield, oil and carbohydrate% of sunflower plants. CONCLUSION Generally, it could be concluded that 10 g L-1 CaCO3 and 300 mg L-1 SA at 50% level of water irrigation could be recommended for sunflower plant grown under similar field conditions in order to get optimum yield and to save irrigation water.
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Prevention of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo with vitamin D supplementation: A randomized trial.
Jeong, SH, Kim, JS, Kim, HJ, Choi, JY, Koo, JW, Choi, KD, Park, JY, Lee, SH, Choi, SY, Oh, SY, et al
Neurology. 2020;(9):e1117-e1125
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation in preventing recurrences of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). METHODS We performed an investigator-initiated, blinded-outcome assessor, parallel, multicenter, randomized controlled trial in 8 hospitals between December 2013 and May 2017. Patients with confirmed BPPV were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 518) or the observation (n = 532) group after successful treatment with canalith repositioning maneuvers. The primary outcome was the annual recurrence rate (ARR). Patients in the intervention group had taken vitamin D 400 IU and 500 mg of calcium carbonate twice a day for 1 year when serum vitamin D level was lower than 20 ng/mL. Patients in the observation group were assigned to follow-ups without further vitamin D evaluation or supplementation. RESULTS The intervention group showed a reduction in the ARR (0.83 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.74-0.92] vs 1.10 [95% CI, 1.00-1.19] recurrences per 1 person-year) with an incidence rate ratio of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.66-0.87, p < 0.001) and an absolute rate ratio of -0.27 (-0.40 to -0.14) from intention-to-treat analysis. The number needed to treat was 3.70 (95% CI, 2.50-7.14). The proportion of patients with recurrence was also lower in the intervention than in the observation group (37.8 vs 46.7%, p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS Supplementation of vitamin D and calcium may be considered in patients with frequent attacks of BPPV, especially when serum vitamin D is subnormal. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE This study provides Class III evidence that for patients with BPPV, vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces recurrences of BPPV.
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Bacteria incorporated with calcium lactate pentahydrate to improve the mortar properties and self-healing occurrence.
Chaerun, SK, Syarif, R, Wattimena, RK
Scientific reports. 2020;(1):17873
Abstract
Concrete can be harmful to the environment due to its high energy consumption and CO2 emission and also has a potential crack formation, which can promote a drop in its strength. Therefore, concrete is considered as a non-sustainable material. The mechanisms by which bacterial oxidation of organic carbon can precipitate calcite that may fill the voids and cracks on cement-based materials have been extensively investigated to prevent and heal the micro-cracks formation. Hence, this study focused on utilizing a new alkaliphilic bacterial strain indigenous to an Indonesian site, Lysinibacillus sphaericus strain SKC/VA-1, incorporated with calcium lactate pentahydrate, as a low-cost calcium source, with various bacterial inoculum concentrations. The bacterium was employed in this study due to its ability to adapt to basic pH, thus improving the physical properties and rejuvenating the micro-cracks. Experimentally, the addition of calcium lactate pentahydrate slightly affected the mortar properties. Likewise, bacteria-incorporated mortar exhibited an enhancement in the physical properties of mortar. The highest improvement of mechanical properties (an increase of 45% and 36% for compressive and indirect tensile strength, respectively) was achieved by the addition of calcium lactate pentahydrate incorporated with 10% v/v bacterial inoculum [about 7 × 107 CFU/ml (colony-forming unit/ml)]. The self-healing took place more rapidly on bacterial mortar supplemented with calcium lactate pentahydrate than on the control specimen. XRD analysis demonstrated that the mineralogical composition of self-healing precipitates was primarily dominated by calcite (CaCO3), indicating the capacity of L. sphaericus strain SKC/VA-1 to precipitate calcite through organic carbon oxidation for self-healing the artificial crack on the mortar. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the potential utilization of the bacterium L. sphaericus incorporated with calcium lactate pentahydrate to increase the mortar properties, including its self-healing ability. However, further study with the water-cement ratio variation is required to investigate the possibility of using L. sphaericus and calcium lactate pentahydrate as an alternative method rather than reducing the water-cement ratio to enhance the mortar properties.
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6.
Fall Prevention and Anti-Osteoporosis in Osteopenia Patients of 80 Years of Age and Older: A Randomized Controlled Study.
Zhou, J, Liu, B, Qin, MZ, Liu, JP
Orthopaedic surgery. 2020;(3):890-899
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Abstract
UNLABELLED To evaluate the effects of two fall-prevention and anti-osteoporotic protocols in elderly patients with osteopenia (OPA). METHODS The present randomized controlled study included patients with OPA (n =123). The age of these patients was ≥80 years old, with the mean age of 83.54 ± 2.99 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 2.97:1.00. Fall-prevention guidance was given to all patients. Patients in the experiment group (n = 62) orally received 600 mg/d of calcium carbonate, 0.5 μg/d of alfacalcidol, and 70 mg/week of alendronate, while patients in the control group (n = 61) orally received 600 mg/d of calcium carbonate and 0.5 μg/d of alfacalcidol for 18 months. The grip strength, gait speed, bone turnover markers, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and bone mineral density were measured, and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and the chair rising test (CRT) were performed. Falls, fragility fractures, medication compliance, and side effects of the drugs were recorded. RESULTS The serum levels of bone turnover markers (type I procollagen amino-terminal peptide [P1NP], type I collagen carboxyl terminal peptide [β-CTx], and osteocalcin [OC]) decreased, while the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and bilateral femoral neck increased after treatment in the experiment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The rate of change in bone mineral density of the bilateral femoral neck was higher in the experiment group than the control group (3.43% vs 0.03%, P < 0.05; 2.86% vs -0.02%, P < 0.01). After treatment, the proportion of patients with increased hip T scores in the experiment group (66.1%, 41/62) was significantly higher than the proportion (35.0%, 21/60) in the control group (P = 0.001). The incidence of fall decreased in both groups after treatment compared to that before treatment (54.8% vs 33.9% and 54.1% vs 36.7%, respectively; P < 0.05). The incidence of fragility fractures was lower in the experiment group than the control group (8.1% vs 20.0%, P = 0.057). During the intervention period, the incidence of fragility fractures in patients who did not fall (3.8%, 3/79) was significantly lower than that in patients who fell (32.6%, 14/43) (P = 0.000). The risk of fragility fractures was significantly lower in patients who did not fall compared to patients who fell (relative risk: 0.117, 95% confidence interval: 0.035-0.384). CONCLUSION The combination of alendronate sodium with alfacalcidol and calcium can significantly improve the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and femoral neck. For older patients with OPA, subjectively paying attention to avoiding falls can significantly reduce the risk of fragility fractures.
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Vitamin D and Calcium Supplement Attenuate Bone Loss among HIVInfected Patients Receiving Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Emtricitabine/ Efavirenz: An Open-Label, Randomized Controlled Trial.
Boontanondha, P, Nimitphong, H, Musikarat, S, Ragkho, A, Kiertiburanakul, S
Current HIV research. 2020;(1):52-62
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Antiretroviral therapy (ART), especially with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), has been associated with accelerated bone turnover and leads to significant bone loss. OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine the effect of vitamin D2 and calcium on bone mineral density (BMD) in HIV-infected patients receiving TDF/emtricitabine (FTC)/efavirenz (EFV). METHODS A prospective, open-label, randomized controlled study was conducted. Eligible patients were ART naïve HIV individuals who initiated TDF/FTC/EFV. The study group received supplementation with vitamin D2 and calcium carbonate, whereas the control group was administered only ART. The primary outcome was the percentage change in total hip BMD at week 24 compared with baseline. RESULTS A total of 18 patients were randomized (9 in each group). The mean (standard deviation; SD) total hip BMD significantly decreased from baseline in both groups, from 0.96 (0.14) g/cm2 to 0.93 (0.13) g/cm2 in the study group (p = 0.006) and from 0.87 (0.11) g/cm2 to 0.84 (0.11) g/cm2 in the control group (p = 0.004). The mean (SD) lumbar spine BMD significantly decreased from baseline in both groups, from 1.00 (0.13) g/cm2 to 0.97 (0.13) g/cm2 (p = 0.004) in the study group and from 0.90 (0.09) g/cm3 to 0.86 (0.08) g/cm2 in the control group (p = 0.006). At week 24, the mean (SD) lumbar spine BMD was significantly greater in the study group than in the control group (p = 0.042). However, there were no significant differences in the percentage change of total hip, lumbar spine, and femoral neck BMD between both groups. No adverse events were reported. In conclusion, as early as 24 weeks after TDF initiation, a significant decline in BMD was detected. CONCLUSION Vitamin D2 and calcium supplements should be considered for HIV-infected patients receiving TDF/FTC/EFV in a resource-limited setting where there are limited ART options (Clinicaltrials. gov NCT0287643).
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Controlled synthesis of calcium carbonate nanoparticles and stimuli-responsive multi-layered nanocapsules for oral drug delivery.
Elbaz, NM, Owen, A, Rannard, S, McDonald, TO
International journal of pharmaceutics. 2020;:118866
Abstract
Stimuli-responsive layer-by-layer (LbL) capsules are appealing drug carriers for oral drug delivery owing to their abilities to utilize environmental differences to trigger changes in particles properties. LbL capsules typically have micrometer diameter ranging between 1 and 5 µm. The opportunity to use LbL for the modification of particles in the nanorange may provide enhanced benefits and properties for drug delivery. In this work, we used multiple polyelectrolytes to prepare novel stimuli-responsive multi-layered nanocapsules with submicron diameters. A systematic study was conducted to investigate the influence of various experimental parameters on the formation of calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CaCO3) as nanocores. The resultant nanocores were then used for the assembly of LbL nanocapsules and the variables that influenced the diameter of capsules were investigated. Finally, novel stimuli-responsive multi-layered nanocapsules made of four polyelectrolytes including Eudragit L100, chitosan, sodium alginate, and poly-L-arginine were prepared and characterized. The stimuli-responsive multi-layered nanocapsules loaded with a model drug, curcumin, were assessed for drug release under pH conditions that mimic the gastrointestinal tract. These data demonstrate the potential for nanocapsules to be designed to protect the drug in the stomach and release it in the lower gastrointestinal tract.
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Pregnancy supplementation of Gambian mothers with calcium carbonate alters mid-childhood IGF1 in a sex-specific manner.
Prentice, A, Ward, KA, Nigdikar, S, Hawkesworth, S, Moore, SE
Bone. 2019;:314-320
Abstract
CONTEXT Sex-specific effects of pregnancy calcium carbonate supplementation have been reported in 8-12 year old Gambian children, indicating faster growth in boys but slower growth in girls born to calcium-supplemented mothers. OBJECTIVE To determine whether the pregnancy supplement resulted in sex-specific effects on offspring IGF1 and other growth-related indices in mid-childhood. DESIGN Analysis of archived data obtained in mid-childhood from the children of rural Gambian mothers who had been randomised to 1500 mgCa/d (Ca) or placebo (P) from 20 weeks pregnancy to delivery (ISRCTN96502494). PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS Of the 526 children born and followed in infancy, 290 had early-morning, fasting plasma assayed for IGF1, IGFBP3, leptin, insulin and calcium-related indices and had anthropometry performed at age 7.5 (SD1.2) years (N/group: Males(M)-Ca = 64, Females(F)-Ca = 77; M-P = 76, F-P = 73). Sex-specific effects of maternal supplementation were considered using regression with sexes separated and together to test for sex ∗ supplement interactions. RESULTS Boys had lower IGF1, IGFBP3, leptin and insulin than girls (P ≤ 0.004). IGF1 was higher in M-Ca than M-P (+14.2 (SE7.7)%, P = 0.05) but lower in F-Ca than F-P (-17.8 (SE7.4)%, P = 0.01); sex ∗ supplement interaction P = 0.001. IGF1 concentrations (ng/ml, geometric mean [-1SE,+1SE]) were M-Ca = 78.1[4.3,4.5], M-P = 67.8[3.4,3.6]; F-Ca = 99.5[4.8,5.1], F-P = 118.9[6.4,6.8]. Similar sex ∗ supplement interactions were seen for IGFBP3 and IGF1-adjusted-for-IGFBP3 but group differences were smaller. There were no significant supplement effects on the other biochemical indices. CONCLUSIONS Calcium carbonate supplementation of pregnant Gambian mothers resulted in higher IGF1 in boys and lower IGF1 in girls during mid-childhood, consistent with the reported maternal supplement effects on growth of the offspring in later childhood.
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Chitosan enhances calcium carbonate precipitation and solidification mediated by bacteria.
Nawarathna, THK, Nakashima, K, Kawasaki, S
International journal of biological macromolecules. 2019;:867-874
Abstract
Formation of the biominerals in living organisms is mainly associated with organic macromolecules. These organic materials play an important role in the nucleation, growth, and morphology controls of the biominerals. Current study mimics this concept of organic matrix- mediated biomineralization by using microbial induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) method in combination with the cationic polysaccharide chitosan. CaCO3 precipitation was performed by the hydrolysis of urea by the ureolytic bacteria Pararhodobacter sp. SO1 in the presence of CaCl2, with and without chitosan. The crystal polymorphism and morphology of oven-dried samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The amount of precipitate obtained was higher in the presence of chitosan. The precipitate included both of the CaCO3 and the chitosan hydrogel. Rhombohedral crystals were dominant in the precipitate without chitosan and distorted crystal agglomerations were found with chitosan. Sand solidification experiments were conducted in the presence of chitosan under different experimental conditions. By adding chitosan, more strongly cemented sand specimens could be obtained than those from conventional method. All of these results confirm the positive effect of chitosan for the CaCO3 precipitation and sand solidification.