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Gums from the dried leaves of Abelmoschus esculentus was extracted and evaluated as a suspending agent in cotrimoxazole suspension then characterized based on water solubility, swelling index, hydration capacity, proximate and elemental analysis. Standard gums such as betonite, tragacanth and sodium CMC were used for comparison and the values of the swelling index obtained were 1.83, 1.25, 1.40 and 12.40 for A. esculentus, and respectively for other suspending agents while the hydration capacity were 3.70, 1.80, 3.80 and 9.46 respectively as in swelling index. Proximate analysis of the A. esculenta leaf gum shows presence of moisture (12.20), ash (19.70), carbohydrate (16.67), protein (48.13), lipid (1.80) and fiber (1.51). The metal analysis reveals the presence of Fe, Pb, Mg, Ca, Na and K with values of lead obtained (2.55mg/kg). Cotrimoxazole suspension was formulated with percentage compositions of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%w/v of the suspending agents and evaluated for properties as: rheology, viscosity, sedimentation volume, redispersibillity and pH. Sodium CMC was observed to having consistent superior activity over the other gums in all parameters evaluated while the A. esculentus gum depicted behavior comparable to bentonite and tragacanth.

The rapid drop in internal temperature of mass concrete can readily lead to temperature cracks. Hydration heat inhibitors reduce the risk of concrete cracking by reducing the temperature during the hydration heating phase of cement-based material but may reduce the early strength of the cement-based material. Therefore, in this paper, the influence of commercially available hydration temperature rise inhibitors on concrete temperature rise is studied from the aspects of macroscopic performance and microstructure characteristics, and their mechanism of action is analyzed. A fixed mix ratio of 64% cement, 20% fly ash, 8% mineral powder and 8% magnesium oxide was used. The variable was different admixtures of hydration temperature rise inhibitors at 0%, 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% of the total cement-based materials. The results showed that the hydration temperature rise inhibitors significantly reduced the early compressive strength of concrete at 3 d, and the greater the amount of hydration temperature rise inhibitors, the more obvious the decrease in concrete strength. With the increase in age, the influence of hydration temperature rise inhibitor on the compressive strength of concrete gradually decreased, and the decrease in compressive strength at 7 d was less than that at 3 d. At 28 d, the compressive strength of the hydration temperature rise inhibitor was about 90% in the blank group. XRD and TG confirmed that hydration temperature rise inhibitors delay early hydration of cement. SEM showed that hydration temperature rise inhibitors delayed the hydration of Mg(OH)2.

INTRODUCTION:Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common causes of hospitalization in the United States. Intravenous (IV) hydration with normal saline (NS) is the most commonly used fluid for resuscitation. Recent studies have shown better outcomes with use of more pH balanced fluid like ringer's lactate and Plasmalyte (PL). We conducted a retrospective review to evaluate differences in outcomes of AP in patients who received NS compared to PL.METHODS:All patients >18 years of age admitted to our hospital with the diagnosis of AP from November 2016 to October 2018. Primary outcomes were persistent SIRS at 48 hours and mortality. Secondary outcomes were readmission within 30 days and length of stay (LOS). Categorical characteristics of NS and PL patients were compared using Pearson's chi-square or Fisher's exact tests and continuous ones were compared using Student's t-tests or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using a multivariable logistic regression model for 30 days readmission. The model adjusted for age, sex, SIRS at 48 hours, and LOS. A multivariable linear regression model on a natural log transformation of LOS was used to estimate the effect of fluid type on LOS for NS and PL patients. Statistical analysis was conducted using SAS 9.4.RESULTS:343 patients met our inclusion criteria. 192 patients received NS and 151 received PL for IV hydration. There were no differences in the baseline demographics including age, sex, BMI and comorbidities as calculated by Charlson comorbidity index. Persistent SIRS at 48 hours was significantly higher in patients who received NS compared to PL (26.8% vs 7.7%; P = <0.0001). LOS was significantly higher in patients who received NS (4.7 days vs 3.7 days, P = 0.0039). 30 days readmission was also significantly higher in NS group (22.8% vs 12.8%; P = 0.0195). Mortality although trended lower in PL group, was not significantly different (7.3% NS group vs 2.6% PL group, P = 0.0556). In multivariable analysis use of PL is associated with lower odds of 30 days readmission [OR = 0.515 (CI: 0.280–0.950); P = 0.0338] and shorter LOS [%decrease = 16.6% (CI: −26.4%, −5.5%); P = 0.0045].CONCLUSION:Our study revealed that use of PL in AP is associated with lower rate of persistent SIRS at 48 hours, shorter LOS, and 30 days readmission rate. Larger randomized controlled trials are needed to further strengthen the association of PL for outcomes in AP.Table 1

The interdialytic period may be characterized by weight fluctuations due to fluid overload, and this hyperhydration environment may result in damage to the mechanisms for supplying oxygen to the muscles, which in turn may contribute to impaired physical function. This study examined the association between hydration status and physical function in haemodialysis (HD) patients. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study completed in 830 HD patients. Hydration status and body composition were determined using bioelectrical impedance.

To present evidence-based recommendations that promote optimized fluid-maintenance practices for physically active individuals.   Both a lack of adequate fluid replacement (hypohydration) and excessive intake (hyperhydration) can compromise athletic performance and increase health risks. Athletes need access to water to prevent hypohydration during physical activity but must be aware of the risks of overdrinking and hyponatremia. Drinking behavior can be modified by education, accessibility, experience, and palatability. This statement updates practical recommendations regarding fluid-replacement strategies for physically active individuals.   Educate physically active people regarding the benefits of fluid replacement to promote performance and safety and the potential risks of both hypohydration and hyperhydration on health and physical performance. Quantify sweat rates for physically active individuals during exercise in various environments. Work with individuals to develop fluid-replacement practices that promote sufficient but not excessive hydration before, during, and after physical activity.

Background: Luteolin is a flavonoid compound that has been widely studied for its various anti-cancer properties and sensitization to multidrug-resistant cells. However, the limited solubility and bioavailability of Lut hindered its potential clinical use. Theoretically, the combination of this compound with vitamin E TPGS and poloxamer 407 can produce a synergistic effect to enhance tumor apoptosis and P-glycoprotein inhibition. This study aimed to develop and optimize vitamin E TPGS/Poloxamer 407 micelles loaded with luteolin through investigating certain factors that can affect the encapsulation efficiency and particle size of the micelle. Methods: A micelle was prepared using the film hydration method, and the micellar solution was lyophilized. The cake formed was analyzed. The factors investigated include the concentrations of the surfactants, ratio of vitamin E TPGS/Poloxamer 407, temperature of the hydrating solution, duration of hydration, and freezing temperature before lyophilization. The effects of these factors on the encapsulation efficiency and particle size of the micelle were also studied. The encapsulation efficiency was measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer, while particle size was measured using dynamic light scattering. Results: The optimized micelle was found to have 90% encapsulation efficiency with a particle size of less than 40 nm, which was achieved using a 10% concentration of surfactants at a vitamin E TPGS/Poloxamer 407 ratio of 3:1. The optimized temperature for hydrating the micellar film was 40 °C, the optimized mixing time was 1 h, and the optimized freezing temperature was −80 °C. The solubility of the luteolin-loaded micelles increased 459-fold compared to pure Lut in water. The critical micelle concentration of the vitamin E TPGS/Poloxamer 407 micelle was 0.001 mg/mL, and the release study showed that luteolin-loaded micelles exhibited sustained release behavior. The release of luteolin from a micelle was found to be higher in pH 6.8 compared to pH 7.4, which signified that luteolin could be accumulated more in a tumor microenvironment compared to blood. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that several factors need to be considered when developing such nanoparticles in order to obtain a well-optimized micelle.

This recommendation is an outcome of the work carried out by a working group within the RILEM Technical Committee 238-SCM “Supplementary Cementitious Materials”. The working group studied the effect of supplementary cementitious materials on the pore solution, the microstructure and the hydration product assemblage of hardened Portland cements blended with common supplementary cementitious materials. The recommendation reflects the results of a round robin test programme on common hydration stoppage methods in 10 participating laboratories. Among four different methods tested, solvent exchange by isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol) gave the best results in terms of preservation of the cement hydrate assemblage and overall reproducibility of the results [1]. The current protocol is developed based on best laboratory practices of the participating laboratories and literature reports [2–4]. The presented hydration stoppage protocol is recommended for the study of Portland cement-based hydrate assemblages by common material characterization techniques such as thermogravimetry and X-ray powder diffraction.