26199 research outputs found
Sort by
Synergic Treatment of Plant-Based Antioxidants with Iron Chelators for Iron Overload in Transfusion-Dependent-Thalassemia Patients: A Systematic Review
Get PDFThe combined use of plant-based antioxidants and iron chelators presents a synergistic treatment approach that effectively tackles both iron overload and the accompanying oxidative stress in individuals with transfusion-dependent Thalassemia (TDT). Plant-based antioxidants counteract reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative damage, whereas iron chelators effectively bind excess iron, reducing the body's iron concentration. This combined therapy can be beneficial in improving TDT patients with iron overload. We systematically reviewed the literature exploring the plant-based antioxidants with iron chelators for iron overload in transfusion-dependent Thalassemia Patients. All fourteen included studies were randomized clinical trials, employing various randomization methods including simple randomization, double-blinded, triple-blinded, and crossover designs. The included studies enrolled participants across different age groups, including both young and adult patients. Despite the variability in plant-based antioxidants with iron-chelating properties, the key findings were as follows: Nine studies reported a significant reduction in iron overload, eight studies observed a marked decrease in oxidative stress markers, and five studies demonstrated reduced liver enzyme levels, suggesting potential hepatoprotective effects. All included studies reported significant effects of various supplements on key biomarkers, including total iron (Fe), ferritin, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and liver enzymes (AST, ALT). Silymarin, green tea, and grape seed extract (GSE) supplementation demonstrated notable reductions in total Fe, Ferritin, ASL, and ALT levels. Additionally, these supplements increased TIBC levels, suggesting improved iron metabolism. In contrast, quercetin and curcumin supplementation did not show a statistically significant difference compared to control groups in these outcomes
Crisis Response or Overreach? - The Role of the European Central Bank in the Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme in the Context of the Rule of Law
No full textThis paper critically examines the European Central Bank’s (ECB) Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP) as a monetary policy response to the COVID-19 crisis in the Eurozone. It evaluates the legal compliance of the PEPP with the ECB’s mandate, focusing on the demarcation between monetary and fiscal policy, and the principles of the European Union (EU), tackling its adherence in relation to aspects of the rule of law. The ECB’s adherence to its mandate under Art. 127(2) TFEU, the limits of the prohibition on monetary financing in Art. 123(1) TFEU and the no-bailout clause in Art. 125(1) TFEU will be analysed. Despite the fiscal impact and the deviations from the capital key, the programme still complies with the ECB’s mandate. Art. 123(1) TFEU is not violated, given the established safeguards and the diversification and flexibility in the specific bond purchases. Similarly, no infringement of Art. 125(1) TFEU is evident, as risk sharing is not the default scenario. While PEPP has proven to be a proportionate measure when considering the challenges of the pandemic and the established safeguards, concerns persist regarding its potential impact on fiscal discipline and the equal treatment of EU Member States. The analysis integrates relevant key judgments of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and the German Federal Constitutional Court (BVerfG) regarding bond purchase programmes. The author concludes that while PEPP can be legally justified, criteria for bond-buying programmes are essential to strengthen judicial oversight,
institutional accountability, ultimately leading to price stability and fiscal discipline across the EU Member States
Waste Printed Circuit Boards (WPCBs) of Mobile Phones in Hydrometallurgical Route: A Systematic Review
No full textDue to the lockdown and restrictions imposed to confront COVID-19 pandemic over the past, mobile phone sales spiked to reach 7.1 billion in 2021 which predicts in a massive increase of waste from mobile phones and subsequently an increase of waste printed circuit boards (WPCBs) associated with mobile phones. WPCBs contain a variety of precious and base metals such as copper, gold, nickel, zinc and many more. The recycling of these WPCBs for the recovery of those metals is extremely attractive from economic and environmental perspectives. Published studies shows that hydrometallurgical process is economical and less hazardous to the environment in recycling WPCBs compared to other techniques. This review summarises and analyses the research results of hydrometallurgical process for the recycling of WPCBs from mobile phones in recent years with focusing on two phases of the hydrometallurgical route, leaching and purification. We conducted a systematic search in three electronic databases of original full-length articles, namely Web of Science, Science Direct, and Scopus, for studies related to recycling WPCBs from mobile phones by using a hydrometallurgical process between 2015 and 2021. In total, we found 129 records. For eligibility, 121 full-text publications were reviewed; 120 were excluded, resulting in the inclusion of 9 published studies that matched the predetermined eligibility criteria. This review concludes with recommendations for future research on the selection of optimal leaching and purification techniques for metal recovery from WPCBs particularly of mobile phones
Adsorption and Thermal Stability of Ionic Liquid Multilayers on ZnO surfaces
Get PDFIonic liquids (ILs) have been explored as a way of improving the performance of ZnO-based optoelectronic devices, however, there are few fundamental studies of the IL/ZnO interface. Here, the adsorption of the IL 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [C8C1Im][BF4] on ZnO (0001) and ZnO (101̅0) has been studied using synchrotron-based soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results indicate that [C8C1Im][BF4] is deposited intact on the ZnO (0001) surface, however, there is some dissociation of [BF4] anions resulting in boron atoms attaching to the oxygen atoms in the ZnO surface and forming B2O3. In contrast, the deposition of [C8C1Im][BF4] on the ZnO (101̅0) surface at 150 °C results in the appearance of more chemical environments in the spectra. We propose that the high temperature of the IL evaporator causes some conversion of [C8C1Im][BF4] to a carbene-borane adduct, resulting in deposition of both the IL and adduct onto the ZnO surface. The adsorption and desorption of the analogous IL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [C4C1Im][BF4] was investigated on ZnO (0001) using synchrotron-based soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results indicate that [C4C1Im][BF4] is deposited largely intact at -150 °C and forms islands when heated to room temperature. When heated to over 80 °C it begins to react with the ZnO surface and decompose. This is a much lower temperature than the long-term thermal stability of the pure IL, quoted in literature as ~400 °C, and of IL on powdered ZnO, quoted in literature as ~300 °C. This indicates that the ZnO surface may catalyse the thermal decomposition of [C4C1Im][BF4] at lower temperatures. This is likely to have a negative impact on potential use of ILs in ZnO-based photovoltaic applications, where operating temperatures can routinely reach 80 °C
Exploring the importance of daily weights for patients diagnosed with chronic heart failure: A review of the literature
Get PDFAim: The importance of recording the daily weight of hospital in-patients suffering with congestive heart failure is reinforced in the European Society of Cardiology and NICE (2021) guidelines, yet inconsistencies in nursing care remain in the United Kingdom. Identifying the reasons and barriers for inconsistency is important to promote optimal fluid management and up-titrating therapy.
Methods: A review of the literature using the electronic database CINAHL Ultimate searched for research studies between 2013 and 2024, and from n=505 research studies, n=62 were reduced and n=11 appraised.
Findings: Three themes were found: first, recording congestive heart failure patients’ daily weights correlates to the effectiveness of congestive heart failure decongestion because it is a biomarker or measurable indicator to inform diuretic protocols and accurately titrate diuretics. Second, barriers and obstacles in obtaining daily weights relate to training and knowledge, poor task delegation and insufficient or broken equipment. Third, daily weighing and optimal fluid management reduces 30-day re-admissions, attendance at an emergency department and improved mortality rates.
Conclusion: The recording of a patient’s daily weight enables nurses to determine accumulated fluid retention, inform a multi-disciplinary treatment response, predict mortality, accurately titrate medications, and reduce 30-day re-admissions
A literature review on the effectiveness of prophylactic foam dressings and pressure ulcer prevention in intensive nursing care
Get PDFAim: This article reviews the literature on the strategies for mitigating pressure ulcers through the formulation and execution of minor modifications within hospital settings.
Methodology: A search of the University’s e-databases Cumulative Index, Nursing and Allied Health Ultimate, CINHAL Ultimate and Medline retrieved n=37 research studies and n=2 found to meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A hand search identified a further n=6 to total n=8 research studies.
Findings: Each research study aimed to reduce the incidence of hospital acquired pressure ulcers in intensive care units, improve routine practice and compare the effectiveness of multi layered foam dressings for prevention. Three common themes were identified: first, evaluating the effectiveness of prophylactic sacral dressings. Second, educating nurses on improving clinical outcomes and third, the use of various interventions to prevent hospital acquired pressure ulcers in intensive care units.
Discussion: Intensive care unit patients are at significant risk of developing pressure ulcers due to a variety of contributing factors such as vulnerability, lack of movement, a need to physically examine skin, medical device use, managing continence, poor nutrition, repositioning and applying prophylactic multi layered foam dressings.
Conclusion: Properly addressing risk factors and harmonising preventive protocols is essential in minimising pressure ulcer development and improving overall patient care in an intensive care unit and other cases involving at risk patients
Breastfeeding-related thoracic spine pain and correlates in postpartum Nigerian women: A cross-sectional study
No full textThoracic spine pain (TSP) is a disturbing condition associated with a decreased quality of life among postpartum women. We conducted a cross-sectional survey assessing the prevalence of TSP and associated factors among 400 conveniently recruited postpartum women from four public hospitals in Enugu, Nigeria. We collected data on thoracic spine pain, posture, and mobility using the Oswestry thoracic disability index, an inclinometer, and the tape rule(cm), respectively. We found a 22.5% prevalence of TSP, with over 65% of cases occurring during and after pregnancy. More than half (64.4%) of the participants recorded flexion hypomobility, while 37.3% had extension hypomobility. We found a significant association between TSP and age (χ2= 2.493, p= 0.013), employment status (χ2= 11.650, p= 0.003), and jobs needing repetitive spinal movements like neck bending (χ2= 9.491, p= 0.023). TSP is fairly common in postpartum women with associated factors of younger age and being in jobs that require repetitive spinal movements
Dirtbag dreams: a history of mountain, ultra and trail running.
No full textThe first book to share the untold story of this unique sport, from its origins in the Victorian era to the present day.
Over the past two decades, mountain, ultra and trail running has experienced a massive boom in participation, media attention and corporate consumerism. Once little more than an oddball recreation for mountain athletics romantics, the sport has become a mass activity in ways that were previously unimaginable.
In Dirtbag dreams, Carl Morris offers the first complete account of mountain, ultra and trail running in North America and Britain. Revealing the sport's eccentric Victorian origins, he traces its development through 200 years of history, travelling from the Sierra Nevada and the English Lake District to the streets of London and New York.
Packed with gripping races and colourful characters, Dirtbag dreams is the essential companion for anyone who wants to understand this unique endurance sport
Cancer Mortality in Individuals with a Learning Disability: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review
Get PDFBackground: Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with survival outcomes improving in the general population over recent decades. However, evidence suggests that individuals with a learning disability experience poorer cancer-related outcomes, potentially due to delayed diagnosis, barriers to screening, disparities in treatment, and differences in healthcare access. While studies have examined this disparity, the extent of the differences and the factors contributing to them remain unclear.
Objective: This mixed-methods systematic review aims to synthesise quantitative evidence on cancer-specific mortality and overall survival following diagnosis in people with a learning disability, and to integrate qualitative insights into the barriers and facilitators affecting cancer diagnosis, treatment, and end-of-life care in this population.
Methods: A comprehensive search will be conducted in Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, and Scopus, supplemented by Google searches. Eligible studies will include quantitative observational designs and qualitative research published between 2000 and 2025. Two reviewers will independently conduct screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Quantitative data will be synthesised using random-effects meta-analysis where possible; qualitative data will undergo thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke’s framework. The JBI convergent segregated approach will be used to integrate quantitative and qualitative findings.
Expected outcomes: The review will provide an up-to-date, integrated synthesis of evidence on cancer mortality in people with a learning disability, identifying disparities in survival outcomes and the key factors driving these differences. Findings will inform clinical guidelines, healthcare policy, and targeted interventions to promote equitable cancer care.
Registration: This review protocol is registered with PROSPERO