Sequestration of an Azo Dye by a Potential Biosorbent: Characterization of Biosorbent, Adsorption Isotherm and Adsorption Kinetic Studies.

This study explores the detailed characterization of a biosorbent (Hen Feather) and its efficient use in eradicating the azo dye Metanil Yellow (MY) from its aqueous solutions. Effects of a range of experimental parameters, including pH, initial dye concentration, biosorbent dosage and contact time on the adsorption, were studied. A detailed physical and chemical characterization of the biosorbent was made using SEM, XRD, XPS and FTIR. During the optimization of adsorption parameters, the highest dye uptake of almost 99% was recorded at pH 2, dye concentration 2 × 10-5 M, 0.05 g of biosorbent and a contact period of 75 min. Various adsorption isotherm models were studied to gather different adsorption and thermodynamic parameters. The linearity of the Langmuir, Freundlich and D-R adsorption isotherms indicate homogeneous, multilayer chemisorption with high adsorption affinity between the dye and biosorbent. Values of the changes in the Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) and the enthalpy (ΔH°) of the adsorption process have been calculated, these values indicate that it is a spontaneous and endothermic process. Kinetics of the adsorption were also measured, and it was established that the adsorption of MY over Hen Feather follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model at temperatures 30, 40 and 50 °C. The findings of this investigation clearly indicate that the studied biosorbent exhibits a high affinity towards the dye (MY), and it can be effectively, economically and efficiently used to sequestrate and eradicate MY from its aqueous solutions.

Lysine and citric acid based pegylated polymeric dendritic nano drug delivery carrier and their bioactivity evaluation.

The main objective of this work is to synthesize multifunctional nanodendritic structural molecules that can effectively encapsulate hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic therapeutic agents. Four different types of fourth-generation lysine-citric acid based dendrimer have been synthesized in this work: PE-MC-Lys-CA-PEG, TMP-MC-Lys-CA-PEG, PE-MS-Lys-CA-PEG, and TMP-MS-Lys-CA-PEG. The antibacterial drug cefotaxime (CFTX) was further conjugated to these dendrimers. The dendrimer and drug-dendrimer conjugate structures were characterized with the help of FTIR,1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. Zeta sizer, AFM, and HR-TEM techniques were used to investigate the particle size, surface topography, and structural characteristics of drug-dendrimer conjugates. In vitro drug release was then investigated using dialysis method. Various kinetic drug release models were examined to evaluate the type of kinetic drug release mechanism of the formulations. Cytotoxicity study revealed that the dendrimers encapsulated with CFTX exhibited 2-3% toxicity against healthy epithelial cells, indicating their safe use. Plain dendrimers show 10-15% hemolytic toxicity against red blood cells (RBC), and the toxicity was reduced to 2-3% when CFTX was conjugated to the same dendrimers. The 3rd and 4th generation synthesized drug-dendrimer conjugates exhibit a significantly effective zone of inhibition (ZOI) against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. For Gram-positive bacteria, the lower concentration of 0.1 mg/mL showed more than 98% inhibition of drug-dendrimer conjugate samples against B. subtilis and more than 50% inhibition against S. aureus using 0.2 mg/mL, respectively. Moreover, samples with concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL exhibited more than 50% inhibition against S. typhimurium and E. coli, respectively.

Global burden of respiratory infections due to seasonal influenza in young children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The global burden of disease attributable to seasonal influenza virus in children is unknown. We aimed to estimate the global incidence of and mortality from lower respiratory infections associated with influenza in children younger than 5 years. METHODS: We estimated the incidence of influenza episodes, influenza-associated acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI), and influenza-associated severe ALRI in children younger than 5 years, stratified by age, with data from a systematic review of studies published between Jan 1, 1995, and Oct 31, 2010, and 16 unpublished population-based studies. We applied these incidence estimates to global population estimates for 2008 to calculate estimates for that year. We estimated possible bounds for influenza-associated ALRI mortality by combining incidence estimates with case fatality ratios from hospital-based reports and identifying studies with population-based data for influenza seasonality and monthly ALRI mortality. FINDINGS: We identified 43 suitable studies, with data for around 8 million children. We estimated that, in 2008, 90 million (95% CI 49-162 million) new cases of influenza (data from nine studies), 20 million (13-32 million) cases of influenza-associated ALRI (13% of all cases of paediatric ALRI; data from six studies), and 1 million (1-2 million) cases of influenza-associated severe ALRI (7% of cases of all severe paediatric ALRI; data from 39 studies) occurred worldwide in children younger than 5 years. We estimated there were 28,000-111,500 deaths in children younger than 5 years attributable to influenza-associated ALRI in 2008, with 99% of these deaths occurring in developing countries. Incidence and mortality varied substantially from year to year in any one setting. INTERPRETATION: Influenza is a common pathogen identified in children with ALRI and results in a substantial burden on health services worldwide. Sufficient data to precisely estimate the role of influenza in childhood mortality from ALRI are not available. FUNDING: WHO; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Prevalence of viral infection detected by PCR and RT-PCR in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Viruses are important aetiological agents of acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). Their reported prevalence varies from region to region. This systematic review calculated the prevalence of respiratory viral infections in AECOPD. METHODS: A systematic search was performed using Medline, and references of relevant articles and conference proceedings were hand searched. Articles for review were selected based on the following criteria: (i) prospective or cross-sectional study, (ii) original research, (iii) viral detection used the highly sensitive techniques of PCR and/or Reverse Transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), (iv) viral prevalence in AECOPD defined, and (v) full paper available in English. We assessed the study quality and extracted data independently and in duplicate using a pre-defined data extraction form. Weighted mean prevalence (WMP) was calculated and a forest plot was constructed to show the dispersion. RESULTS: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The WMP of respiratory viral infection in AECOPD was 34.1% (95% CI: 23.9-44.4). picornavirus was the most commonly detected virus with WMP 17.3% (95% CI: 7.2-27.3), followed by influenza; 7.4% (95% CI: 2.9-12.0), respiratory syncytial virus; 5.3% (95% CI: 1.6-9.0), corona viruses; 3.1% (95% CI: 0.4-5.8), parainfluenza; 2.6% (95% CI: 0.4-4.8), adenovirus; 1.1% (95% CI: -1.1 to 3.3), and human metapneumovirus; 0.7% (95% CI: -0.3 to 1.8). Maximum WMP was observed in studies from Europe followed by the USA, Australia and Asia. Picorna was the most common virus detected in Western countries whereas influenza was most common in Asia. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review demonstrated that viruses are strongly associated with AECOPD, with the highest detection rates of viruses being in Europe. The geographical epidemiology of viruses may have important therapeutic implications for management of AECOPD.

Use of TaqMan Array card for the detection of respiratory viral pathogens in children under 5 years old hospitalised with acute medical illness in Ballabgarh, Haryana, India.

Historical specimens collected from hospitalized children were tested for the following 13 viruses: influenza A and B; respiratory syncytial virus (RSV); parainfluenza viruses 1-3; human metapneumovirus; rhinovirus; coronaviruses 229E, OC43, NL63 and HKU1 and Adenovirus using monoplex real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). They were retested using TaqMan Array Card (TAC), a micro-fluidic system, capable of simultaneous multi-pathogen testing, to evaluate its sensitivity and specificity against monoplex rRT-PCR. TAC showed high sensitivity (71%-100%) and specificity (98%-100%) for these viruses in comparison to monoplex rRT-PCR. Multi-specimen detection with high sensitivity and specificity makes TAC a potentially useful tool for both surveillance and outbreak investigations.