A study to assess the relationship between vitamin D3 levels and the risk of acute exacerbation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the top three causes of mortality worldwide. Vitamin D deficiency in COPD has been associated with poor lung function and decreased muscle power, which further increases the risk of exacerbations. The role of vitamin D in preventing acute exacerbations of COPD has conflicting results in the literature. Hence, we planned this study to assess the relationship between vitamin D3 levels and the risk of acute exacerbations among COPD patients in a tertiary care center in north India. This was a prospective randomized control trial that was performed on 100 consecutive stable COPD patients attending the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College and Hospital, Solan, India. The patients with subnormal vitamin D3 levels (i.e., less than 30 ng/mL) were divided into the intervention and control groups. Baseline demographic profiles, lung function, COPD assessment test (CAT) score, modified Medical Research Council grade and chest radiology were performed and repeated after 12 months in all these patients. All these parameters were recorded and compared with the baseline values obtained at the beginning of the study. Out of 100 subjects, 96 had vitamin D deficiency, of which 48 were assigned to the intervention group and 48 to the control group. Among the 100 subjects, 74 (74%) were males and 26 (26%) were females, with a mean age of 66.9±9.4 years. The mean vitamin D level was 14.71±6.69 in these 96 patients. The vitamin D level improved after 3 months of supplementation to the mean level of 45.56±16.18 in the intervention group. Vitamin D supplementation was positively correlated with a decrease in the rate of acute exacerbations in the intervention group in terms of reduction in mean CAT score (4.17 in intervention and 1.43 in non-interventional group, p<0.001), number of acute exacerbations (1.7 in intervention and -1.05 in non-interventional group, p<0.001), and number of emergency visits (p=0.0121) during the 9-month period after attainment of a normal vitamin D level. Vitamin D supplementation plays a key role in COPD patients with D3 hypovitaminosis in decreasing COPD acute exacerbations, improving the CAT score, and reducing the number of emergency visits.

Synthesis of ZnO@CuS Core-Shell Nanocomposites by Thermal Decomposition Method and Their Photocatalytic Application.

Considerable work is being carried out recently to develop nanomaterials which can act as photocatalyst under sunlight. In the present study, ZnO@CuS core-shell nanocomposites were synthesized and their photocatalytic activity has been investigated. The nanocomposites were prepared by thermal decomposition of a single molecular precursor, cyclo-tri-µ-thioacetamide-tris(chlorocopper(I)) complex ([Cu3TAA3Cl3]), in the presence of ZnO nanorods in diphenyl ether at 200 °C. The effect of reaction time and precursor concentration on copper sulfide shell formation have been investigated. The ZnO@CuS core-shell nanocomposites were characterized using different techniques such as XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, FT-IR, UV-Vis, DRS and XPS. As compared to bare ZnO nanorods, the ZnO@CuS nanocomposites show better photocatalytic activity towards degradation of congo red in an aqueous solution under sunlight.

Synthesis of Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles by Thermal Decomposition Approach and Morphology Dependent Peroxidase-Like Activity.

Copper sulfide nanoparticles have been employed as artificial mimics for peroxidase-like activity. In the present study, copper sulfide nanoparticles with four different morphologies have been synthesized by thermal decomposition of cyclo-tri-µ-thioacetamide-tris(chlorocopper(I)) complex ([Cu3TAA3Cl3]) at 200 °C in different solvents such as diphenyl ether, ethylene glycol, 1-octadecene and also without any solvent. Hierarchical copper sulfide nanostructures are formed when the complex is decomposed in the absence of solvent, in diphenyl ether, and 1-octadecene while in the case of ethylene glycol, randomly agglomerated nanoparticles are formed. The precursor complex ([Cu3TAA3Cl3]) as well as copper sulfide nanoparticles were characterized using an array of techniques and after characterization, the peroxidase-like activity of copper sulfide nanoparticles was investigated.Morphologically different copper sulfide nanoparticles possess different exposed facets and due to this, the peroxidase-like activity was different among different morphologies.

Challenges of cancer control in developing countries: current status and future perspective.

Cancer is a global problem accounting for almost 13% of all deaths worldwide. This equates to over 7 million people a year, more than is caused by HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria combined. Now is the time to strengthen the health systems of developing countries to deal with cancer, to avoid a future crisis similar to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In this article we discuss the current state of cancer in the developing world, how we need to advocate for a change in cancer control policy with the governments of developing nations/transnational governmental bodies (e.g., the UN and WHO etc) and how we think cancer care could be improved in developing countries. We feel the only way to overcome the growing burden of cancer in the developing world is working in partnership with, nongovernmental organizations, international nongovernmental organizations, transnational governmental bodies and governmental bodies.

Rare coexistence of keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma with xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in the same kidney: report of two cases.

Squamous cell carcinoma of urinary tract is a rarely encountered tumor. It is more frequently reported in urinary bladder and male urethra than renal pelvis. Squamous cell carcinoma of renal pelvis is usually associated with nephrolithiasis. However, coexistence of keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma with xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis is exceedingly rare with only one case on record so far. We report two such cases detected incidentally in patients who have undergone nephrectomy for hydronephrosis. The post operative histological evaluation revealed unsuspected squamous cell carcinoma of renal pelvis with concomitant xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis.

Column preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of ziram and zineb in commercial samples and foodstuffs using (1,2'-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN)-naphthalene as adsorbate.

A procedure has been developed for the determination of zinc(II) bis(dimethyldithiocarbamate) (ziram) and zinc(II) ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate) (zineb) after preconcentration on a column using naphthalene-(1,2'-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) as adsorbent. Ziram and zineb are quantitatively retained on the column in the pH range of 9.0-12.5 and at a flow rate of 1-2 mL/min. The solid mass consisting of the Zn-PAN complex along with naphthalene is dissolved from the column with 5 mL of dimethylformamide (DMF). Absorbance of the complex was measured at 550 nm; Beer's law is obeyed over the concentration ranges of 2.0-22.0 microg of ziram and 5.0-19.8 microg of zineb in 10 mL of the final DMF solution. Ten replicate determinations on a sample solution containing 20 microg of ziram and 18 microg of zineb gave a mean absorbance of 0.33 with relative standard deviations of 0.80 and 0.70%, respectively. The interference of various ions has been studied. The method has been employed for the determination of ziram and zineb in commercial samples and in various foodstuffs, and the results were compared with the earlier reported methods.

A new sensitive method for the spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum using 3-hydroxy-2-(2'-thienyl)-4H-chromen-4-one.

A spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of Molybdenum (VI) using 3-hydroxy-2-(2'-thienyl)-4H-chromen-4-one as a complexing agent. The complex formed was dissolved in water in the presence of Triton X-100 and exhibits an absorption maximum at 410 nm. A large number of metal ions like Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Cr(III), Zn(II), Cu(II), Hg(II), Bi(III), Fe(II), Fe(III), Zr(IV), V(V) can be tolerated at an appreciable concentrations. Molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity of the method is 2.80 x 10(5) l mol-1cm-1 and 3.42 x 10(-4) micrograms cm-2, respectively. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 0.01-0.4 ppm Mo(VI). Aliquots containing 0.2 ppm of Mo(VI) give a mean absorbance of 0.56 with a relative standard deviation of 1.3%.