1. Cold plasma, a new hope in the field of virus inactivationArijana Filipić, Ion Gutiérrez-Aguirre, Gregor Primc, Miran Mozetič, David Dobnik, 2020, review article Abstract: Viruses can infect all cell-based organisms, from bacteria to humans, animals, and plants. They are responsible for numerous cases of hospitalization, many deaths, and widespread crop destruction, all of which result in an enormous medical, economical, and biological burden. Each of the currently used decontamination methods has important drawbacks. Cold plasma (CP) has entered this field as a novel, efficient, and clean solution for virus inactivation. We present recent developments in this promising field of CP-mediated virus inactivation, and describe the applications and mechanisms of the inactivation. This is particularly relevant because viral pandemics, such as COVID-19, highlight the need for alternative virus inactivation methods to replace, complement, or upgrade existing procedures.
Published in DiRROS: 06.08.2024; Views: 267; Downloads: 221
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2. Cell proliferation on polyethylene terephthalate treated in plasma created in ▫$SO_2/O_2$▫ mixturesNina Recek, Matic Resnik, Rok Zaplotnik, Miran Mozetič, Helena Motaln, Tamara Lah Turnšek, Alenka Vesel, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: Samples of polymer polyethylene terephthalate were exposed to a weakly ionized gaseous plasma to modify the polymer surface properties for better cell cultivation. The gases used for treatment were sulfur dioxide and oxygen of various partial pressures. Plasma was created by an electrodeless radio frequency discharge at a total pressure of 60 Pa. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed weak functionalization of the samples’ surfaces with the sulfur, with a concentration around 2.5 at %, whereas the oxygen concentration remained at the level of untreated samples, except when the gas mixture with oxygen concentration above 90% was used. Atomic force microscopy revealed highly altered morphology of plasma-treated samples; however, at high oxygen partial pressures this morphology vanished. The samples were then incubated with human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Biological tests to determine endothelialization and possible toxicity of the plasma-treated polyethylene terephthalate samples were performed. Cell metabolic activity (MTT) and in vitro toxic effects of unknown compounds (TOX) were assayed to determine the biocompatibility of the treated substrates. The biocompatibility demonstrated a well-pronounced maximum versus gas composition which correlated well with development of the surface morphology.
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 177; Downloads: 153
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3. Cold atmospheric plasma as a novel method for inactivation of potato virus Y in water samplesArijana Filipić, Gregor Primc, Rok Zaplotnik, Nataša Mehle, Ion Gutiérrez-Aguirre, Maja Ravnikar, Miran Mozetič, Jana Žel, David Dobnik, 2019, original scientific article Abstract: While one of the biggest problems we are facing today is water scarcity, enormous quantities of water are still being used in irrigation. If contaminated, this water can act as an effective pathway for the spread of disease-causing agents, like viruses. Here, we present a novel, environmentally friendly method known as cold atmospheric plasma for inactivation of viruses in water used in closed irrigation systems. We measured the plasma-mediated viral RNA degradation as well as the plasma-induced loss of viral infectivity using potato virus Y as a model virus due to its confirmed water transmissibility and economic as well as biological importance. We showed that only 1 min of plasma treatment is sufficient for successful inactivation of viruses in water samples with either high or low organic background. The plasma-mediated inactivation was efficient even at markedly higher virus concentrations than those expected in irrigation waters. Obtained results point to reactive oxygen species as the main mode of viral inactivation. Our laboratory-scale experiments confirm for the first time that plasma has an excellent potential as the eukaryotic virus inactivation tool for water sources and could thus provide a cost-effective solution for irrigation mediated plant virus transmission. The outstanding inactivation efficiency demonstrated by plasma treatments in water samples offers further expansions of its application to other water sources such as reused wastewater or contaminated drinking waters, as well as other plant, animal, and human waterborne viruses, ultimately leading to the prevention of water scarcity and numerous human, animal, and plant infections worldwide.
Keywords: cold atmospheric plasma, potato virus Y, virus inactivation, water decontamination
Published in DiRROS: 23.07.2024; Views: 201; Downloads: 150
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5. Inactivation of pepper mild mottle virus in water by cold atmospheric plasmaArijana Filipić, David Dobnik, Magda Tušek-Žnidarič, Bojana Žegura, Alja Štern, Gregor Primc, Miran Mozetič, Maja Ravnikar, Jana Žel, Ion Gutiérrez-Aguirre, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Water scarcity is one of the greatest threats for human survival and quality of life, and this is increasingly contributing to the risk of human, animal and plant infections due to waterborne viruses. Viruses are transmitted through polluted water, where they can survive and cause infections even at low concentrations. Plant viruses from the genus Tobamovirus are highly mechanically transmissible, and cause considerable damage to important crops, such as tomato. The release of infective tobamoviruses into environmental waters has been reported, with the consequent risk for arid regions, where these waters are used for irrigation. Virus inactivation in water is thus very important and cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is emerging in this field as an efficient, safe, and sustainable alternative to classic waterborne virus inactivation methods. In the present study we evaluated CAP-mediated inactivation of pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) in water samples. PMMoV is a very resilient water-transmissible tobamovirus that can survive transit through the human digestive tract. The efficiency of PMMoV inactivation was characterized for infectivity and virion integrity, and at the genome level, using test plant infectivity assays, transmission electron microscopy, and molecular methods, respectively. Additionally, the safety of CAP treatment was determined by testing the cytotoxic and genotoxic properties of CAP-treated water on the HepG2 cell line. 5-min treatment with CAP was sufficient to inactivate PMMoV without introducing any cytotoxic or genotoxic effects in the in-vitro cell model system. These data on inactivation of such stable waterborne virus, PMMoV, will encourage further examination of CAP as an alternative for treatment of potable and irrigation waters, and even for other water sources, with emphasis on inactivation of various viruses including enteric viruses.
Keywords: enteric viruses, pepper mild mottle virus, virus inactivation, water decontamination, cold atmospheric plasma
Published in DiRROS: 19.07.2024; Views: 211; Downloads: 147
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6. Mechanical recanalization for acute bilateral cerebral artery occlusion - literature overview with a caseMiran Jeromel, Zoran Miloševič, Janja Pretnar-Oblak, 2020, review article Abstract: Background. Acute bilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) and/or middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion is extremely rare and associated with poor clinical outcomes. There are only a few reports in the literature about mechanical thrombectomy being performed for acute bilateral occlusions. The treatment strategies and prognoses (clinical outcomes) are therefore unclear. Methods. A systematic review of the literature was performed through several electronic databases with the following search terms: acute bilateral stroke, mechanical recanalization and thrombectomy. Results. In the literature, we identified five reports of six patients with bilateral ICA and/or MCA occlusion treated with mechanical recanalization. Additionally, we report our experience with a subsequent contralateral large brain artery occlusion during intravenous thrombolytic therapy, where the outcome after mechanical thrombectomy was not dependent on the time from stroke onset but rather on the capacity of collateral circulation exclusively. Conclusions. Acute bilateral cerebral (ICA and/or MCA) occlusion leads to sudden severe neurological deficits (comas) with unpredicted prognoses, even when mechanical recanalization is available. As the collateral capacity seems to be more important than the absolute time to flow restoration in determining the outcomes, simultaneous thrombectomy by itself probably does not lead to improved functional outcomes.
Keywords: acute bilateral stroke, mechanical recanalization, thrombectomy
Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 251; Downloads: 123
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8. Kinetics of surface wettability of aromatic polymers (PET, PS, PEEK, and PPS) upon treatment with neutral oxygen atoms from non-equilibrium oxygen plasmaAlenka Vesel, Rok Zaplotnik, Gregor Primc, Miran Mozetič, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The wettability of polymers is usually inadequate to ensure the appropriate spreading of polar liquids and thus enable the required adhesion of coatings. A standard ecologically benign method for increasing the polymer wettability is a brief treatment with a non-equilibrium plasma rich in reactive oxygen species and predominantly neutral oxygen atoms in the ground electronic state. The evolution of the surface wettability of selected aromatic polymers was investigated by water droplet contact angles deposited immediately after exposing polymer samples to fluxes of oxygen atoms between 3 × 1020 and 1 × 1023 m−2 s −1 . The treatment time varied between 0.01 and 1000 s. The wettability evolution versus the O-atom fluence for all aromatic polymers followed similar behavior regardless of the flux of O atoms or the type of polymer. In the range of fluences between approximately 5 × 1020 and 5 × 1023 m−2 , the water contact angle decreased exponentially with increasing fluence and dropped to 1/e of the initial value after receiving the fluence close to 5 × 1022 m−2
Published in DiRROS: 19.06.2024; Views: 236; Downloads: 152
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9. Minimally invasive CT guided treatment of intraspinal synovial cystSergeja Kozar, Miran Jeromel, 2014, original scientific article Abstract: Background. Intraspinal synovial cysts of vertebral facet joints are uncommon cause of radicular pain as well as neurological deficits. They can be managed both conservatively and surgically.Case report. A 77-year old polymorbid patient presented with bilateral low back pain which worsened during the course of time and did not respond to the conservative treatment. A diagnosis of intraspinal synovial cyst was made using the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Percutaneous computed tomography (CT) guided injection with installation of local anesthetic together with corticosteroid and rupture of the cyst was successfully used. A month after the procedure his pain improved, the usage of analgesics diminished and his over-all quality of life improved.Conclusions. Percutaneous CT guided lumbar synovial cyst treatment is safe and reliable alternative to the surgical treatment in polymorbid patients with radiculopathy who are not able to tolerate general anesthesia and operation.
Keywords: ciste, intraspinalne sinovialne ciste, bolečina, zdravljenje, radiologija
Published in DiRROS: 11.04.2024; Views: 344; Downloads: 210
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