Deep Eutectic Solvents: Fundamental Aspect, Characterizations and Applications.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) containing bioactive have been explored as potential choices for therapeutic efficiency enhancement. DESs are regarded as superior compared to established solvents owing to accessibility, storage conditions, synthesis, and low cost. As such, intensive research has taken place in different disciplines, especially nutraceuticals, foods and pharmaceuticals. The applications of DESs, especially in nutraceuticals and pharmaceutical delivery, have shown great promise. Despite these different successes, the safety issues of these DESs need to be properly identified. A safe mixture of DESs must be developed to take its broad range of advantages to the nutraceutical industry, and, therefore, its nutraceutical applications can only be introduced if DESs are known to have profiles of negligible or minimal toxicity. This review emphasizes the fundamental aspects needed to have a better understanding of DESs. It covers the current prospects of DES, including types, properties, formulation components and characterization methods. The several characterization methods, viz., pH, density, refractive index, viscosity, surface tension, solubility, polarized optical microscopy, x-ray diffraction studies, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy are also mentioned. Further, the promising applications of DESs in different nutraceutical and pharmaceutical domains are highlighted.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Resource Utilization in the ICU.

Alcohol and drug abuse continue to be major causes of morbidity and mortality and have significant social and economic ramifications. Studies have shown that for every $1 spent on substance use disorder treatment, $4 are saved on healthcare costs. Characterizing the healthcare resource utilization of these patients may shed light on the burden of disease and opportunities for intervention. A retrospective chart review of all patients admitted to the ICU between July 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 was completed. Variables regarding demographic and clinical characteristics as well as healthcare resource utilization were collected. Of 737 admissions to the ICU, 158 (21%) were due to acute or chronic complications of alcohol or drug abuse. Even though alcohol and drug users were significantly younger (average age 50 years) than the general ICU cohort (average age 66 years), resource utilization was similar between these patients. The median length of stay in the ICU was similar. The number of patients transferred to in-patient rehab was low (8%), and all of those were due to comorbid psychiatric illness. The total hospital charges for the alcohol and drug abuse cohort was over 7 million dollars for the 6 months observed. A significant number of patients had at least one ER visit (49%) during the previous year, and most of these had numerous visits. ICU resource utilization by patients with acute and chronic sequelae of drug or alcohol abuse disorders continues to be high. These patients utilize resources at rates similar to an older group with other disease processes. Patients are unlikely to receive intervention for their disorder unless they have a comorbid psychiatric illness. Patients admitted to the ICU with alcohol or drug-related illness were frequently seen in the ER or were admitted to the hospital in the year prior to ICU admission, providing opportunities for intervention.

Antibacterial and antimitotic potential of bio-fabricated zinc oxide nanoparticles of Cochlospermum religiosum (L.).

Zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized through eco-friendly approach has gained importance among researchers due to its broad applications. In the present work, hexagonal wurtzite shape nanoparticles (below 100 nm size) were obtained using aqueous leaf extract of Cochlospermum religiosum which was confirmed through X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The synthesized ZnO-NPs showed an absorption peak at 305 nm which is one of the characteristic features of ZnO-NPs.The bio-fabricated ZnO-NPs were of high purity with an average size of ∼76 nm analyzed through Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analysis supporting the findings of XRD. The SEM images confirmed the same with agglomeration of smaller nanoparticles. The composition of aqueous leaf extract and ZnO-NPs was explored with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). The plant extract as well as bio-fabricated ZnO-NPs offered significant inhibition against Gram-positive (B. subtilis and Staph. aureus) and Gram-negative (P. aeruginosa and E. coli) bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of bio-fabricated ZnO-NPs and plant extract was found between 4.8 and 625 µg/ml against test pathogens, which was authenticated with live and dead cell analysis. Apart from antibacterial potentiality, antimitotic activity was also observed with a mitotic index of 75.42% (ID50 0.40 µg mL-1) and 61.41% (ID50 0.58 µg mL-1) in ZnO-NPs and plant extract, respectively. The results affirm that plant extract and its mediated ZnO-NPs possess biological properties.

Molecular profiling and bioactive potential of an endophytic fungus Aspergillus sulphureus isolated from Sida acuta: a medicinal plant.

CONTEXT: Sida acuta Burm.f. (Malvaceae) extracts are reported to have applications against malaria, diuretic, antipyretic, nervous and urinary diseases. No fungal endophytes of S. acuta are reported. OBJECTIVE: Isolation, identification and evaluation of antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer and haemolytic potential of fungal endophytes from the ethnomedcinal plant S. acuta. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sida acuta stem segments were placed on PDA medium to isolate endophytic fungi. The fungus was identified by genomic DNA analysis and phylogenetic tree was constructed using ITS sequences (GenBank) to confirm species. The antibacterial efficacy of Aspergillus sulphureus MME12 ethyl acetate extract was tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. DPPH free radical scavenging activity, anticancer and DNA fragmentation against EAC cells, and direct haemolytic activity (100-500 µg/mL) using human erythrocytes were determined. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The ethyl acetate extract of A. sulphureus (Fresen.) Wehmer (Trichocomaceae) demonstrated significant antibacterial potential against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi compared to streptomycin. MIC against test pathogens was in the range of 15.6-62.5 µg/mL. The antioxidant results revealed significant RSA from 12.43% to 62.02% (IC50 = 350.4 µg/mL, p ≤ 0.05). MME12 offered considerable inhibition of EAC proliferation (23% to 84%, IC50 = 216.7 µg/mL, p ≤ 0.05) supported by DNA fragmentation studies. The extract also offered insignificant haemolysis (5.6%) compared to Triton X-100. CONCLUSIONS: A single endophytic fungus, A. sulphureus MME12 was isolated and identified using molecular profiling. The above-mentioned findings support the pharmacological application of A. sulphureus MME12 extract and demand for purification of the active principle(s).

Antibacterial and antioxidant properties of biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles from Ceropegia candelabrum L. - An endemic species.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were synthesized for the first time from any of the species of Ceropegia. Presently, ZnO-NPs were synthesized from the leaf extract of Ceropegia candelabrum with zinc nitrate using a simple hydrothermal process. The synthesized ZnO-NPs showed an absorption peak at 320nm which is one of the characteristic features of ZnO-NPs. The FT-IR characterization revealed a spectrum band at 551.93cm-1 corresponding to the functional group metal oxide. SEM images showed agglomeration of nanoparticles with a hexagonal shape. XRD results are in corroboration with SEM images as the synthesized particles were of hexagonal wurtzite shape and the size of the particles was in the range of 12-35nm calculated using Scherrer's formula. The elemental analysis using EDS confirmed high zinc content of 70.48% stating that the process of biosynthesis of nanoparticles was carried out in accordance. The biosynthesized ZnO-NPs offered significant antibacterial potential against S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli and S. typhi. The antioxidant results revealed significant (p≤0.05) RSA from 0% to 55.43% (IC50=95.09µgmL-1). The results affirm that biosynthesized ZnO-NPs can be used as an alternative to present-day chemical compounds.

A 44-year-old woman with metabolic acidosis, high anion gap, and delayed neurologic deterioration.

A 44-year-old woman was brought to the ED from John F. Kennedy International Airport. The patient was returning with her son from a 3-month visit to Bangladesh. Her journey started with a 4-h flight from Dhaka, Bangladesh to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. She consumed 240 mL of whiskey during the flight. This was followed by a 14-h flight from Dubai to New York. According to the patient's son, she did not consume any alcohol during the second flight. The patient was in her usual state of health with normal mentation throughout her journey. Upon landing, she started complaining of shortness of breath. After disembarking, she was witnessed to have seizure-like activity with involuntary passage of urine, following which she collapsed. The patient was intubated by emergency medical services in the field.

Chondrosarcoma of the maxilla: A case report and review of literature.

We report a case of recurrent chondrosarcoma of the maxilla in a 29 yr old male patient. The lesion presented as a small diffuse swelling on the left maxillary anterior region which had progressed over a period of one year. On aspiration, a chondromyxoid matrix was noted with cells arranged singly or in groups. Bi and tri-nucleation was noted with a moderate degree of nuclear pleomorphism. A diagnosis of well differentiated chondrosarcoma was made which was confirmed on histopathology. The clinicopathological findings of this case and a review of chondrosarcoma is presented and discussed.

The role of stroma in the expansion of odontogenic cysts and adenomatoid odontogenic tumor: A polarized microscopy study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the polarization colors of collagen fibers of odontogenic keratocyst (OKC), radicular cyst, dentigerous cyst, and adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT) with reference to their biological behavior. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty cases each of OKC, radicular cyst, dentigerous cyst, and AOT were stained with picrosirius red stain and studied under polarized light. RESULTS: A predominance of green to greenish yellow thick fibers was noted in OKC and AOT as compared to dentigerous cyst and radicular cyst. There was no significant difference between the polarization colors of the thin fibers in all the three groups. CONCLUSION: The stroma of OKC and AOT consists of poorly packed or pathologic collagen and plays a role in its neoplastic behavior.

Cholera gravis associated with acute renal failure in a traveler from Haiti to the United States.

Cholera is a gastroenteric disease caused by epidemic or pandemic Vibrio cholerae which still is responsible for over 100,000 annual deaths worldwide. Since October 2010, Haiti experienced a cholera outbreak affecting more than 300,000 persons. Few imported cases related to the Haitian epidemic have been reported so far in the United States and Canada. We presented a patient who developed cholera gravis soon after arrival at New York City from Haiti. The patient needed admission to an Intensive Care Unit, for vigorous intravenous hydration, antibiotic therapy, and hemodialysis due to refractory oliguric renal failure. The patient was discharged the day 6 after admission and V. cholerae O1 was isolated from the stool culture. Cholera can be a life-threatening disease; early recognition based on travel history and clinical features is the corner stone for successful management.