Batch versus column modes for the adsorption of radioactive metal onto rice husk waste: conditions optimization through response surface methodology.

Batch and column adsorption modes were compared for the adsorption of U(VI) ions using rice husk waste biomass (RHWB). Response surface methodology was employed for the optimization of process variables, i.e., (pH (A), adsorbent dose (B), initial ion concentration (C)) in batch mode. The B, C and C2 affected the U(VI) adsorption significantly in batch mode. The developed quadratic model was found to be validated on the basis of regression coefficient as well as analysis of variance. The predicted and actual values were found to be correlated well, with negligible residual value, and B, C and C2 were significant terms. The column study was performed considering bed height, flow rate and initial metal ion concentration, and adsorption efficiency was evaluated through breakthrough curves and bed depth service time and Thomas models. Adsorption was found to be dependent on bed height and initial U(VI) ion concentration, and flow rate decreased the adsorption capacity. Thomas models fitted well to the U(VI) adsorption onto RHWB. Results revealed that RHWB has potential to remove U(VI) ions and batch adsorption was found to be efficient versus column mode.

Chemical composition, antioxidant, antitumor, anticancer and cytotoxic effects of Psidium guajava leaf extracts.

Context Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) leaves are used in traditional medicines for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and other ailments. Objective The current study explores scientific validation for this traditional medication. Materials and methods We used ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazil (DPPH) assays to estimate antioxidant activity of P. guajava leaf extracts (methanol, hexane and chloroform). Antitumour and in vivo cytotoxic activities were determined using potato disc assay (PDA) and brine shrimp lethality assay, respectively. Three human carcinoma cell lines (KBM5, SCC4 and U266) were incubated with different doses (10-100 µg/mL) of extracts and the anticancer activity was estimated by MTT assay. NF-κB suppressing activity was determined using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Chemical composition of the three extracts was identified by GC-MS. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were measured by colorimetric assays. Results and discussions The order of antioxidant activity of three extracts was methanol > chloroform > hexane. The IC50 values ranged from 22.73 to 51.65 µg/mL for KBM5; 22.82 to 70.25 µg/mL for SCC4 and 20.97 to 89.55 µg/mL for U266 cells. The hexane extract exhibited potent antitumour (IC50 value = 65.02 µg/mL) and cytotoxic (LC50 value = 32.18 µg/mL) activities. This extract also completely inhibited the TNF-α induced NF-κB activation in KBM5 cells. GC-MS results showed that pyrogallol, palmitic acid and vitamin E were the major components of methanol, chloroform and hexane extracts. We observed significant (p < 0.05) difference in total phenolic and flavonoid contents of different solvent extracts. Conclusion The present study demonstrates that P. guajava leaf extracts play a substantial role against cancer and down-modulate inflammatory nuclear factor kB.

Dinuclear Zn-Catalytic System as Brønsted Base and Lewis Acid for Enantioselectivity in Same Chiral Environment.

Zinc (Zn) is a crucial element with remarkable significance in organic transformations. The profusion of harmless zinc salts in the Earth's outer layer qualifies zinc as a noteworthy contender for inexpensive and eco-friendly reagents and catalysts. Recently, widely recognized uses of organo-Zn compounds in the field of organic synthesis have undergone extensive expansion toward asymmetric transformations. The ProPhenol ligand, a member of the chiral nitrogenous-crown family, exhibits the spontaneous formation of a dual-metal complex when reacted with alkyl metal (R-M) reagents, e.g., ZnEt2. The afforded Zn complex possesses two active sites, one Lewis acid and the other Brønsted base, thereby facilitating the activation of nucleophiles and electrophiles simultaneously within the same chiral pocket. In this comprehensive analysis, we provide a thorough account of the advancement and synthetic potential of these diverse catalysts in organic synthesis, while emphasizing the reactivity and selectivities, i.e., dr and ee due to the design/structure of the ligands employed.

Intracerebral hemorrhage outcomes in patients using direct oral anticoagulants versus vitamin K antagonists: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this paper is to assess the clinical outcomes between non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage(ICH) in patients using direct oral anticoagulants(DOAC) versus vitamin K antagonists(VKA) for non-valvular atrial fibrillation. We also evaluated the predictors of the poor post-ICH outcomes. METHODS: We have performed pooled meta-analysis to assess long-term clinical outcomes in patients with DOAC-ICH as compared to those with VKA-ICH. A systematic literature search was conducted by searching the full-text English literature in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases for observational studies reporting outcomes on interest. MOOSE guidelines were used to collect data till December 31, 2019 and random effects analysis was carried out to account for heterogeneity. For outcomes, risk ratios(RR) and the mean differences were pooled using a random-effects model and weighted mean differences (WMDs), respectively. RESULTS: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria (n = 25,354 patients; DOAC-ICH arms = 5,631; VKA-ICH arm = 19,273). Patients with DOAC-ICH had smaller hematoma volumes (WMD=-9.59; 95%CI=-15.33--3.85; I2 = 68.6%) and reduced mortality rate at discharge (RR = 0.82; 95%CI = 0.71-0.96; I2 = 9.4%). There was no significant difference between the two groups in rate of hematoma expansion (RR = 0.79; 95%CI = 0.56-1.11; I2 = 50.9%), unfavorable functional outcome(Modified Rankin Scale) at discharge (RR = 0.82; 95%CI = 0.56-1.18; I2 = 80.2%), unfavorable outcome at 3-months (RR = 0.77; 95%CI = 0.56-1.06; I2 = 63.9), and mortality at 3-months (RR = 0.90; 95%CI = 0.73-1.10; I2 = 35∙8%). Multivariate meta-regression revealed that the average age of patient population had a significantly negative correlation with(RR=-0.202; p = 0.017) hematoma expansion. CONCLUSION: We conclude that use of DOAC is associated with reduced hematoma volume and mortality rate at discharge. Age is a predictor of the poor outcome of hematoma expansion.

Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of 6635 COVID-19 Patients: a Pooled Analysis.

An unidentified pneumonia outbreak was first observed in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, China, in December 2019. WHO officially named the disease, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and declared it as pandemic on Mar 11, 2020. Globally, there are more than 3 million confirmed cases with nearly 200,000 deaths. Hence, we aimed to perform a systematic review and pooled analysis of the current published literature on COVID-19 to provide an insight on the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 patients. A systematic search of published peer-reviewed articles that reported cases with demographical and clinical features of real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection using MOOSE guidelines was conducted from December 1, 2019, to April 27, 2020, and 50 eligible articles were included for the final analysis. Review articles, opinion articles, and letters not presenting original data as well as studies with incomplete information were excluded. We included a total of 6635 patients from 50 articles, with 54.5 % being male. The predominant symptoms were fever (80.3%), cough (64.2%), and fatigue/myalgia (36.5%) and other symptoms including dyspnea, chest pain, and sore throat. We also found patients with GI symptoms like diarrhea (9.2%) and nausea/vomiting (5.2%). Comorbidities were found in 3,435 (51.7%) patients with the most common being hypertension (22.67%) followed by diabetes mellitus (12.78%). COVID-19 pandemic is not only leading a huge burden on health care facilities but significant disruption in the world society. Patients with coexisting comorbidities are at higher risk and need more utilization of health care resources. As this virus is spreading globally, all countries have to join hands and prepare at all levels of human resources, infrastructure, and facilities to combat the COVID-19 disease.

1,4-Diazepines: A Review on Synthesis, Reactions and Biological Significance.

BACKGROUND: 1,4-Diazepines are two nitrogen containing seven membered heterocyclic compounds and associated with a wide range of biological activities. Due to its medicinal importance, scientists are actively involved in the synthesis, reactions and biological evaluation of 1,4-diazepines since number of decades. OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this review is to discuss the synthetic schemes and reactivity of 1,4- diazepines. This article also describes biological aspects of 1,4-diazepine derivatives, that can be usefully exploited for the pharmaceutical sector. CONCLUSION: This review summarizes the abundant literature on synthetic routes, chemical reactions and biological attributes of 1,4-diazepine derivatives. We concluded that 1,4-diazepines have significant importance due to their biological activities like antipsychotic, anxiolytic, anthelmintic, anticonvulsant, antibacterial, antifungal and anticancer. 1,4-diazepine derivatives with significant biological activities could be explored for potential use in the pharmaceutical industries.

British and Pakistani children's understanding of death: cultural and developmental influences.

This study explored British and Pakistani 4- to 7-year-olds' (N = 188) understanding of death. The aim was to examine possible influences on the acquisition of the subcomponents of the death concept by investigating how they are understood by children of different ages and cultural and religious backgrounds. Three groups of children were compared: White British and British Muslim living in London, and Pakistani Muslim living in rural Pakistan. In line with previous research (Slaughter, 2005, Aust. Psychol., 40(3), 179), irreversibility of death was one of the first subcomponents to be acquired, while causality was the last. The two groups of British children shared many similarities in their understanding of inevitability, applicability, irreversibility, and cessation. Pakistani Muslim children understood irreversibility earlier than did children in both British groups. In all three cultural groups, children's responses demonstrated very limited understanding of causality. Our findings support the view that aspects of a mature understanding of death develop between the ages of 4 and 7 years and that the process of understanding death as a biological event is, to a great extent, universal. They also suggest that aspects of children's reasoning are influenced by culturally specific experiences, particularly those arising from living in rural versus urban settings.

Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor, and cytotoxic activities of an important medicinal plant (Euphorbia royleana) from Pakistan.

The aim of present study was to evaluate antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities of methanol, hexane, and aqueous extracts of fresh Euphorbia royleana. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were estimated as gallic acid and querectin equivalents, respectively. Antioxidant activity was assessed by scavenging of free 2,2'- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals and reduction of ferric ions, and it was observed that inhibition values increase linearly with increase in concentration of extract. The results of ferric reducing antioxidant power assay showed that hexane extract has maximum ferric reducing power (12.70 ± 0.49 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of plant extract). Maximum phenolic (47.47 ± 0.71 µg gallic acid equivalents/mg of plant extract) and flavonoid (63.68 ± 0.43 µg querectin equivalents/mg of plant extract) contents were also found in the hexane extract. Furthermore, we examined antimicrobial activity of the three extracts (methanol, hexane, aqueous) against a panel of microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtillis, Pasteurella multocida, Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium solani) by disc-diffusion assay, and found the hexane extract to be the best antimicrobial agent. Hexane extract was also observed as to be most effective in a potato disc assay. As hexane extract showed potent activity in all the investigated assays, it was targeted for cytotoxic assessment. Maximum cytotoxicity (61.66%) by hexane extract was found at 800 µg/mL. It is concluded that investigated extracts have potential for isolation of antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds for the pharmaceutical industry.

Ethnopharmacological relevance of indigenous medicinal plants from district Bahawalnagar, Punjab, Pakistan.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Indigenous plants have played a key role in the treatment of human diseases. This study was aimed to report the indigenous medicinal plants from Bahawalnagar district of Southern Punjab, Pakistan to document the important medicinal plants and herbal preparations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Rapid appraisal approach (RAA) involved direct interaction with local people and observations during the field visits; was used to collect data during March to June and August to December 2012. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: A total of 63 plants were reported to be effective for ailments treatment in the local healthcare system of the study area, belonging to 56 genera and 34 families. Among families Fabaceae was the predominant by contributing 09 species. CONCLUSION: Plants knowledge is not uniformly distributed among the 488 informants interviewed by mean of questionnaire.

Ethnomedicinal knowledge and relative importance of indigenous medicinal plants of Cholistan desert, Punjab Province, Pakistan.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ethnomedicinal studies are significant for the discovery of new crude drugs from indigenous reported medicinal plants. The current study aimed to report the indigenous medicinal knowledge of plants and herbal remedies used as folk medicines in Cholistan desert, Punjab Province, Pakistan. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Rapid appraisal approach (RAA), semi-structured interviews, group meetings with herbalists, landowners and local people having awareness about the medicinal action of plants were employed to collect the data. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS: This study reports 70 medicinal plants belonging to 27 families that were disseminated among 60 different genera and Poaceae was the predominant family over others with 13 reported medicinal plants. Among plant parts, leaves were the dominant over others with 26.4% used in herbal preparations followed by the stem (25.2%), fruit (21.5%), flower (16.3%), seed (6.5%), bark and pod (02%). Haloxylon recurvum exhibited the highest use vale (UV) 0.83 while least UV was exhibited by Mollugo cerviana that was 0.16. CONCLUSION: Important medicinal plants, reported in this study have been screened for phytochemical and pharmaceutical activities in different parts of the globe. It is recommended that reported medicinal plants having potent action for cancer and hepatitis must be screened for pharmacological activities.