Modification of Cotton and Leather Surfaces Using Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma and TiO2-SiO2-Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanopowders

Surface modification of textile fabrics and leathers is very versatile and allows the products quality improvement. In this work, cotton and leather substrates were pre-treated with cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) and further coated with TiO₂-SiO₂-reduced graphene oxide composites in dispersion form. By using a Taguchi scheme, this research evaluated the effect of three significant parameters, i.e., the pre-treatment with CAPP, organic dispersion coating and TiO₂-SiO₂-reduced graphene oxide (TS/GR) composites, that may affect the morpho-structural properties and photocatalytic activity of modified cotton and leather surfaces. The characteristics of cotton/leather surfaces were evaluated by morphological, structural, optical and self-cleaning ability using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), attenuated total reflection-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The self-cleaning performance of the obtained cotton and leather samples was evaluated by photocatalytic discoloration of berry juice surface stains under UV light irradiation for 12 h. The successfulness of coating formulations was proven by the SEM analysis and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The XRD patterns and ATR-FTIR spectra revealed the cellulose and collagen structures as dominant components of cotton and leather substrates. The CAPP treatment did not damage the cotton and leather structures. The photocatalytic results highlighted the potential of TiO₂-SiO₂-reduced graphene oxide composites in organic dispersion media, as coating formulations, for further use in the fabrication of innovative self-cleaning photocatalytic cotton and leather products.

Quality of life assessment before and after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE

Obesity has a negative effect on the quality of life (QoL), and therefore, the goal of bariatric surgery is not only to decrease excess weight but also to improve QoL and obesity-related comorbidities. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has become the most commonly applied bariatric procedure worldwide, although there is a lack of prospective data on QoL in patients undergoing this procedure. Therefore, this prospective study aimed to compare QoL of obese patients before, and one year after LSG, and also to analyze the weight loss process and resolution of obesity-related comorbidities.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients undergoing LSG between January 2019 and December 2019 were included. They completed the Bariatric Quality of Life index (BQL) before surgery and one year after. Anthropometric data and obesity-related comorbidities were recorded.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight patients were included in the study. The mean age was 37.9 ± 11.2 years, and the majority were women (68.4%). One year after the surgery, the mean body mass index (BMI) decreased from 45.5 ± 8.2 kg/m2 to 29.3 ± 6.1 kg/m2 (p<0.0001), and the mean percentage excess weight loss (%EWL) was 85.1 ± 22.3%. The preoperative total score of BQL was 46.05 ± 7.01 points and postoperatively it increased to 66.52 ± 5.53 points (p<0.0001). BQL total score and %EWL was positively and significantly correlated (r=0.479, p=0.002). Postoperatively, all obesity-related comorbidities were improved, although de novo gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) appeared in 7.8% of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

LSG improves QoL and allows resolution of obesity-related comorbidities, but a small proportion of patients may develop troublesome GERD postoperatively.