Correction: Naked and necked gold nanoparticles prepared by submerged alternating current arc discharge in water

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D2RA06050G.].

Necked gold nanoparticles prepared by submerged alternating current arc discharge in water

The article presents the method of producing gold nanoparticles using a high voltage arc discharge of alternating current with a frequency of 50 Hz in distilled water. The equipment necessary to carry out the process is described, including the construction of the reactor and the power source of a very simple design necessary to generate a high-voltage arc discharge between the electrodes. Arc discharge processes were carried out two times for 2 and 5 minutes, respectively, in ambient conditions without thermostating the reactor, at medium temperature varying in the range of 25-70 °C. The obtained gold nanoparticles were examined by means of various analytical techniques such as UV-vis spectroscopy, zeta potential measurement, energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD). The morphology, surface, and size of the obtained nanoparticles were carried out using transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The concentration of the obtained colloids were determined using the mass spectrometry ICP-MS technique. The results show that high-voltage AC arc discharge is a simple and effective way to obtain stable gold nanoparticles under environmentally friendly conditions at relatively low production costs, and can be considered as an alternative to arc discharge nanoparticles synthesis by means of direct current (DC) methods.

[Natural radioactivity of underground waters: surveying of alpha and beta global activity]

Two sets of measurements used in surveying of the alpha and beta global activity of drinking water drawn from 44 abyssal wells located in the Lódź cretaceous basin are discussed. The measurement method used involved the comparison between the activities of a model source and a prepared sample of water. Radioactive isotopes Am-241 were employed in alpha and K-40 in beta measurements. In order to detect radiation, a semiconducting radiation detector Si of high purity for registration of alpha molecules and a set of two G-M counters operating in the anticoincidence circuit for registration of beta radiation were used.

An analgesic effect of synthetic human calcitonin in patients with primary osteoporosis

Examinations were performed in 20 adult male and female patients (pts) suffering from acute back pain due to vertebral compression fracture secondary to osteoporosis proved by lateral X-rays of the dorso-lumbar spine (Th3-L5), and bone mineral density with the method of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The synthetic human calcitonin (SUC) (0.5 mg) was injected I.M. every day during 28 days. Analgesic effect was evaluated on 0, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28th day by patient's assessment of functional capacity, and physician's assessment of pain and mobility. On the same days biochemical variables of Ca-P homeostasis were determined. Treatment with calcitonin resulted in a positive analgesic effect. The functional capacity and mobility of pts increased with diminution of pain. No significant alterations of Ca-P homeostasis was observed. Mild and transient side effects as nausea and tachycardia were negligible. SHC appears to have a significant analgesic effect in treatment of primary osteoporosis.

Calcium/phosphate/vitamin D homeostasis and bone mass in patients after gastrectomy, vagotomy, and cholecystectomy

Sixty-two outpatients were assessed and divided into the following groups: 20 patients who had had partial gastrectomy (PG group), 22 patients who had had truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty (TV group) or high selective vagotomy (HSV group), and 20 patients who had had cholecystectomy (CH group). The patients' age ranged from 35 to 64 years (mean 45 years), and the average postoperative period was 9 years. None of the patients evidenced clinical or biochemical symptoms of malnutrition or malabsorption or of diseases affecting vitamin D metabolism. The function of the kidneys and the liver was normal. An age-matched group of volunteers served as a control group. The calcium dietary intake was determined using a standardized questionnaire; and the levels of serum calcium (Cas), phosphate (Ps), alkaline phosphatase (AP), and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and the excretion of Ca in a sample of fasting urine corrected for concurrent creatine excretion (FuCa/cr) were assessed by means of standard laboratory techniques. The bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (L2-4) and femoral neck (neck-L) was determined by means of dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The daily Ca dietary intake was lower than recommended (RDA) in 80% of the patients, with most of them ingesting less than 300 mg daily. The mean values of Cas, Ps, AP, and FuCa/cr did not differ from those in the controls. Significantly reduced 25(OH)D levels were observed in the PG group (7.0 ng/ml) (p < 0.001) and CH group (12.5 ng/ml) (p < 0.01) compared with the values in the control group (20.0 ng/ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Vitamin D deficiency in patients with chronic gastrointestinal disorders: response to UVB exposure

UVB irradiation of the skin of patients with chronic gastrointestinal disorder (CGD) and decreased serum concentrations of 25-OHD (6.8 +/- 3.0 ng/ml, n = 15) result in a subsequent increase in circulating vitamin D and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels and is associated with a marked increase in calcuria (mean increase: 82 mg/d). Before UVB irradiation the mean total 1,25-(OH)2D concentration (48 +/- 12 pg/ml) and free 1,25-(OH)2D index (2.0 +/- 0.5) in CGD was not different from the values obtained in age-matched healthy controls (51 +/- 12 pg/ml and 2.0 +/- 0.8, respectively), but the mean PTH levels were significantly higher in CGD (135 +/- 62 pg/ml) than those in controls (45 +/- 19 pg/ml, p < 0.01). During and after UVB irradiation of CGD, mean 1,25-(OH)2D levels (129 +/- 32 pg/ml) as well as free 1,25-(OH)2D index (5.5 +/- 1.5) were on the rise with a maximum reached on the 14th day and were paralleled with a drop in PTH (72 +/- 24 pg/ml) concentration. These data indicate that UVB stimulated calciuria in CGD is due to increased synthesis of 1,25-(OH)2D and suppression of PTH.

Long-term consequences of surgical treatment of peptic ulcer

Surgical treatment of peptic ulcer may lead to several late postoperative morphological and metabolic abnormalities. Forty two patients (16 females and 26 males) at mean age of 47 years after surgery for peptic ulcer (mean postoperative period of 9 years) were recruited in this study. Following methods have been used for evaluation of those patients: clinical and serum biochemical assessment, UGI tract endoscopy, histology of gastric or duodenal mucosa biopsies, test for H-pylori presence, Ca-P-Mg homeostasis and BMD using DXA-absorptiometry. No clinical and biochemical abnormalities were found. In 60% of examined pts gastritis or duodenitis with various degrees of the reflux were found endoscopicaly. In 64% of pts histology showed signs of mucosal inflammation. Recurrent ulcer was found in 3 pts. H-pylori was present in 16 pts (40%). The significant reduction of BMD, especially of the lumbar spine, in the pts after the PG resection in comparison to the pts with the vagotomy was found. Within several years after gastric operation the patient must be carefully evaluated and adequate supplementation of Ca and vitamin D is strongly recommended.

[Biochemical markers of bone remodelling and their usefulness in the diagnosis of osteoporosis]

In 65 subjects (42 women and 23 men) aged from 40 to 80 years, at risk for primary or secondary osteoporosis development without concomitant diseases affecting renal and hepatic function and vitamin D metabolism, alkaline phosphatase activity (F.A.s) and total calcium level (Cas) were determined in the blood serum, and also the excretion in the morning urine portion of hydroxyproline and calcium was measured in relation to creatinine excretion (FUHpr/kr; FUCa/kr). In each patient an X-ray was done of the thoracolumbar spine, and on its basis the X-ray vertebral index was calculated. The study has been undertaken in order to elucidate whether the above stated compounds regarded as biochemical markers of bone remodelling, and the X-ray vertebral index are useful in the diagnosis of osteoporosis. An increased F.A.s activity in the blood serum, and higher values of the X-ray vertebral index were found both in the group of patients with primary and secondary osteoporosis, in relation to normal values. It was found that FUHpr/kr and FUCa/kr were increased in patients with secondary osteoporosis in comparison to patients with primary osteoporosis. A statistically significant correlation was also noted between FUHpr/kr and FUCa/kr, and F.A.s in patients with primary and secondary osteoporosis. In both studied groups no relationship was found between the value of the X-ray vertebral index, and the levels of biochemical markers of bone remodelling.

[The role of Helicobacter pylori in the development of chronic gastritis and gastroduodenal ulcers]

To determine the correlation between Helicobacter pylori colonization of the gastric mucosa and the incidence of chronic gastritis as well as gastric and duodenal ulcer, 52 patients (26 women and 26 men) aged 19-77 years (mean 46 years) with gastrointestinal symptoms were studied. Biopsy specimens for histological and bacteriological examinations were taken during upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopies. Helicobacter pylori was found in 21 (40%) patients: 14 women and 7 men (p less than 0.05). The organisms were present more often in cases with chronic gastritis and duodenal ulcer (p less than 0.05). They were not identified in any of 7 persons with normal histologic features (p less than 0.01). Helicobacter pylori was found on the gastric mucosa in 6 (75%) of 8 patients with duodenal ulcer but in none of 5 cases after partial gastrectomy with the methods of Billroth I or Billroth II (p less than 0.05).