Can Humidifier Reservoir Bacteria Colonize the Circuit During Mechanical Ventilation?

Background:Although the circuit condensate, an ideal bacterial reservoir, may flow into the humidifier reservoir (HR), no study has investigated if HR-colonized bacteria colonize other circuit locations with airflow. Therefore, the objective of this study was to explore if bacterial growth in the HR leads to bacterial colonization in the ventilator circuit. Methods: A randomized controlled experiment was performed in a public tertiary hospital in Guangdong Province, China. In vitro mechanical ventilation models (n = 60), divided into sterile water samples (n = 30) and broth samples (n = 30), were established. Sterile water was used for humidification in the ventilation models. The sterile water group contained either Acinetobacter baumannii (n = 15) or Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 15) in humidifier water. The broth group was similar to the sterile water group, but brain heart infusion broth was added to the HR. After 24, 72, and 168 h of continuous ventilation, bacteria in the humidifier water and at different circuit locations were sampled and cultured, and the results were analyzed by the Chi-square test. The difference in bacterial concentration at the HR outlet was analyzed by the F test, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:Bacterial culture results of the sterile water samples were negative. Bacteria in the humidifier water continued to proliferate in the broth group, and the bacterial concentration at different times was not significantly different (P > 0.05). With prolonged ventilation, the bacterial concentration at the HR outlet increased (P < 0.05). During continuous ventilation, no bacterial growth occurred at 10 cm from the HR outlet and the Y-piece of the ventilator circuit. The bacterial concentration at the HR outlet was higher in the P. aeruginosa group than in the A. baumannii group (P < 0.05).Conclusions:Sterile water in the HR was not conducive to bacterial growth. Although bacteria grew in the HR and could reach the HR outlet, colonization of other circuit locations was unlikely.

Nano-Sized Effect on Liquid Phase and Their Energy

Regardless of the state of matter, such as solids, liquids, and gases, the smaller the matter size from bulk to nano-scale, especially in the quantum region, the more rapid is the energy increase. To this end, this study introduces the concept of a group system, in which atoms behave as one, and this system is reinterpreted as that comprising temperature–entropy (TS) energy in thermodynamic data. Based on this concept, water was passed through various mesh-like dissolved tubes, where the size and energy of the water group system were observed to change. Thereafter, as the scale and number of the meshes increased, the ozone, chlorine, and oxygen constituents, which are closely related to sterilization and washing, are generated, changing the basic water composition. Thus, this nano-size impact is not limited to solids and could facilitate in revolutionizing the future applications in fluids.

L-Theanine Protects Bladder Function by Suppressing Chronic Sympathetic Hyperactivity in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat

Chronic sympathetic hyperactivity is known to affect metabolism and cause various organ damage including bladder dysfunction. In this study, we evaluated whether L-theanine, a major amino acid found in green tea, ameliorates bladder dysfunction induced by chronic sympathetic hyperactivity as a dietary component for daily consumption. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), as an animal model of bladder dysfunction, were divided into SHR–water and SHR–theanine groups. After 6 weeks of oral administration, the sympathetic nervous system, bladder function, and oxidative stress of bladder tissue were evaluated. The mean blood pressure, serum noradrenaline level, and media-to-lumen ratio of small arteries in the suburothelium were significantly lower in the SHR–theanine than in the SHR–water group. Micturition interval was significantly longer, and bladder capacity was significantly higher in the SHR–theanine than in the SHR–water group. Bladder strip contractility was also higher in the SHR–theanine than in the SHR–water group. Western blotting of bladder showed that expression of malondialdehyde was significantly lower in the SHR–theanine than in the SHR–water group. These results suggested that orally administered L-theanine may contribute at least partly to the prevention of bladder dysfunctions by inhibiting chronic sympathetic hyperactivity and protecting bladder contractility.

Effects of Natural Reduced Water on Cognitive Function, Body Composition, and Psychological Function in Older Adults: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Natural reduced water is natural water that contains active hydrogen and reduces oxidation. It is rare in the world, and in Japan, it is produced in the Hita area of Oita Prefecture (Hita Tenryosui water). Previous studies in humans have examined the effects of natural reduced water on diabetes, which is one of the known risks for dementia. Animal studies of natural reduced water have revealed anti-obesity and anti-anxiety effects. However, the effects of natural reduced water on cognitive function, body composition, and psychological function in humans are unknown. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between these items in elderly people who continuously consume natural reduced water. In this study, we recruited participants aged between 65 and 74 years. The participants were randomly and blindly assigned to a natural reduced water (Hita Tenryosui water) group or a control (tap water) group and drank 1 L of water daily for 6 months. Cognitive function, body composition, and psychological function were measured before and after the 6-month intervention period.

Drought Stress Described by Transcriptional Responses of Picea Abies (L.) H. Karst. under Pathogen Heterobasidion Parviporum Attack

The major threats to the sustainable supply of forest tree products are adverse climate, pests and diseases. Climate change, exemplified by increased drought, poses a unique threat to global forest health. This is attributed to the unpredictable behavior of forest pathosystems, which can favor fungal pathogens over the host under persistent drought stress conditions in the future. Currently, the effects of drought on tree resistance against pathogens are hypothetical, thus research is needed to identify these correlations. Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) is one of the most economically important tree species in Europe and is considered highly vulnerable to changes in climate. Dedicated experiments to investigate how disturbances will affect the Norway spruce—Heterobasidion sp. pathosystem are important, in order to develop different strategies to limit the spread of H. annosum s.l. under the predicted climate change. Here, we report a transcriptional study to compare Norway spruce gene expressions to evaluate the effects of water availability and the infection of Heterobasidion parviporum. We performed inoculation studies of three-year-old saplings in a greenhouse (purchased from a nursery). Norway spruce saplings were treated in either high (+) or low (−) water groups: high water group received double the water amount than the low water group. RNA was extracted and sequenced. Similarly, we quantified gene expression levels of candidate genes in biotic stress and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways using qRT-PCR, through which we discovered a unique preferential defense response of H. parviporum-infected Norway spruce under drought stress at the molecular level. Disturbances related to water availability, especially low water conditions can have negative effects on the tree host and benefit the infection ability of the pathogens in the host. From our RNA-seq analysis, 114 differentially expressed gene regions were identified between high (+) and low (−) water groups under pathogen attack. None of these gene pathways were identified to be differentially expressed from both non-treated and mock-control treatments between high (+) and low (−) water groups. Finally, only four genes were found to be associated with drought in all treatments.

Drought Stress Described by Transcriptional Responses of Picea Abies under Pathogen Heterobasidion Parviporum Attack

The major threats to the sustainable supply of forest tree products are adverse climate, pests and diseases. Climate change, exemplified by increased drought, poses a unique threat to global forest health. This is attributed to the unpredictable behavior of forest pathosystems, which can favor fungal pathogens over the host under persistent drought stress conditions in the future. Currently, the effects of drought on tree resistance against pathogens are hypothetical, thus research is needed to identify these correlations. Norway spruce (Picea abies) is one of the most economically important tree species in Europe, and is considered highly vulnerable to changes in climate. Dedicated experiments to investigate how disturbances will affect the Norway spruce - Heterobasidion sp. pathosystem are important, in order to develop different strategies to limit the spread of H. annosum s.l. under the predicted climate change. Here, we report a transcriptional study to compare Norway spruce gene expressions to evaluate the effects of water availability and the infection of Heterobasidion parviporum. We performed inoculation studies of three-year-old saplings in a greenhouse (purchased from a nursery). Norway spruce saplings were treated in either high (+) or low (-) water groups: high water group received double the water amount than the low water group. RNA was extracted and sequenced. Similarly, we quantified gene expression levels of candidate genes in biotic stress and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways using qRT-PCR, through which we discovered a unique preferential defense response of H. parviporum-infected Norway spruce under drought stress at the molecular level. Disturbances related to water availability, especially low water conditions can have negative effects on the tree host and benefit the infection ability of the pathogens in the host. From our RNA-seq analysis, 114 differentially expressed gene regions were identified between high (+) and low (-) water groups under pathogen attack. None of these gene pathways were identified to be differentially expressed from both non-treated and mock-control treatments between high (+) and low (-) water groups. Finally, only four genes were found to be associated with drought in all treatments.

Evaluation of the antimicrobial effectiveness of ozonated water for handwashing in the presence of organic material contamination using the ASTM E2946-13 standard test method

Ozonated water is a possible handwashing alternative to antimicrobial soap and water. In a previous report, 4 ppm of ozonated water removed artificially contaminated bacteria from the hands of healthy volunteers as effectively as antimicrobial or non-antimicrobial soap and water. Currently, there is a lack of data on the efficacy of ozonated water in removing bacteria from hands loaded with organic materials. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ozonated water in removing bacteria from hands contaminated with organic material, according to the American Society for Testing and Materials E2946-13. Sixteen healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to the ozonated water group and antimicrobial soap and water group. Their hands were contaminated with an avirulent strain of Escherichia coli in beef broth suspension. Approximately three log10 CFU bacterial reductions between baseline and post-wash colonies were observed on the hands in both groups. Ozonated water may remove bacteria from hands contaminated with organic material with similar effectiveness as antimicrobial soap and water.

UJI AKTIVITAS ANTIULCER AIR ALKALI TERIONISASI PADA MENCIT PUTIH JANTAN (MUS MUSCULUS)

Alkaline water is water that has antioxidant content and has a structure that is rich in active hydrogen that can cure stomach ulcers. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of ionized alkaline water as an antiulcers in male white mice (mus musculus). Method of induction of gastric ulcer using aspirin, used as many as 24 male mice (mus musculus) aged 2-3 months used as mice test animals divided into 6 groups each group consisting of 3 animals all groups were given ulcer treatment for 7 days, then group I (negative control) were given aquadest group II (positive control) were given sucralfate, group III were given ph 8 alkaline water group IV was given ph 9.0 alkaline water, group V was given ph 9.5 alkaline water, and group VI was given alkaline water pH 11.5 treatment of each group for the next 7 days on the 14th day the mice were dissected and the gastric mucosa structure was observed and the mucosal damage value was determined. The results showed that alkaline water 9.5 and 11.5 had lower mucosal damage values than negative controls. It can be concluded that the alkaline water ph 9.5 and 11.5 are said to be effective in reducing gastric mucosal damage compared to the negative group given aquadest.

Differences in Histopathological Picture of Lung Organs in Sprague Dowley White Rats that Die Drowning in Salt Water and Fresh Water

This study aimed to investigate the differences in the pulmonary histopathology of the drowned victims in salt water and fresh water. By utilizing a post-test only control design, the research used Sprague Dawley lab rat as the main subject of the experiment. The subject would be drowned in two different types of water, which were salt water and fresh water. There were fifteen male rats which divided evenly into three separate groups. The first group was subjected to salt water, and the second group was subjected to fresh water. The last group was a control group. The result from the test was analyzed by comparing the lung tissue histopathological structure of the subject for the salt water group and the fresh water group. On the outcome, there was a significant difference between interalveolar haemorrhage in the lung of a mouse drowned in salt water and submerged in fresh water. In addition, there was over-distension of the alveoli, thinning of the alveolar septal wall in both groups. The result of the experiment showed that there was a significant interalveolar haemorrhage difference in the histopathological structure between the salt water group and the fresh water group. Keywords: pulmonary histopathology, drowning, alveolus, white rat

Gargling Effect of Zamzam Water on Salivary pH

Caries is a multifactorial infection disease that happened during the decrease of salivary pH caused by acids from bacterial metabolism. Bicarbonate is an important buffer component in saliva that can help neutralize salivary pH. Zamzam water has high bicarbonate content. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of gargled with Zamzam water on salivary pH. This experimental research was done with pre-test and post-test control group design involving 40 dentistry students at the University of Sriwijaya aged 18-23 years old, with DMF-T score ≤3. Samples were divided into 2 groups, the Zamzam water group, and thedistilled water group. Samples gargled their mouth with 10 ml of a 25% sucrose solution for one minute, then saliva was collected with spitting method and salivary pH was measured with digital pH meter and recorded as initial pH. Samples then gargledwith 20 ml of Zamzam water or distilled water according to each group for one minute, then saliva was collected in the same way as before, and pH was measured and recorded as final pH. Data were analyzed with paired t-test and Mann-Whitney. The result showed that salivary pH increased significantly after gargled with Zamzam water (p0,05). The mean difference of salivary pH aftergargled with Zamzam water was statistically higher than distilled water (p0,05). In conclusion, Gargled with Zamzam water can increase salivary pH.