Influence of Ag on the Structural, Electrochemical, Antibacterial, and Photocatalytic Performance of the (CuO-Cu2O)Cu Nanocomposite.

The cost-effective novel Ag-doped (1-7%) (CuO-Cu2O)Cu (C3) heterostructured nanocomposites are successfully synthesized by the facile solution combustion process using the Leucas aspera extract as a green fuel. The structural properties of fabricated nanocomposites were well-characterized by specific spectral techniques for enhanced electrochemical sensor detection, antibacterial activities, and sunlight-driven photocatalytic dye decoloration studies. The existence of Ag+ ions has been confirmed by the appearance of two peaks of Ag 3d5/2 (367.9 eV) and Ag 3d3/2 (373.9 eV), with the chemical binding nature and exchange of the Ag+ state in the nanocomposite lattice as revealed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The energy band gap value of the doped nanocomposite decreases from 2.2 to 1.8 eV, as measured by the UV-visible absorption spectral technique, hindering the recombination of electron-holes pairs by trapping e- and h+. This result supports that the C3Ag5 nanocomposite has a great potential as a sunlight photocatalyst toward the Alizarin Red (AR) dye, for which an excellent degradation activity of 98% at 180 min was achieved compared to that of the host nanocomposite (78% at 180 min). The variation of redox peak potentials of the prepared graphite nanocomposite working electrode is an effective tool for paracetamol sensing activity in 0.1 M KCl using electrochemical spectral studies. In addition, the antibacterial activities of the C3Ag5 nanocomposite against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were successfully studied. The C3Ag5 nanocomposite exhibited a better performance than C3. The increase in activity is attributed to the presence of Ag as a dopant.

Comparative Evaluation of IV Paracetamol Versus IV Dexmedetomidine in Inpatient Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: A Double-Blinded Randomized Controlled Study.

PURPOSE: Reconstructive surgeries following fractures in the maxillofacial region often involve considerable bone manipulation, and paracetamol is a commonly used analgesic medication in both intraoperative and postoperative periods. Dexmedetomidine, an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist, has both sedative and analgesic properties with minimal cardiorespiratory effects and has been used primarily for its sedative properties in oral and maxillofacial surgery. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To compare the intraoperative analgesic requirements among patients undergoing oral and maxillofacial surgery who receive IV paracetamol versus IV dexmedetomidine. The time to requirement for the first postoperative analgesic dose and safety and adverse events of both medications were also assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In total, 64 patients needing primary reconstructive surgery for facial fractures were recruited and divided into two groups for this double-blinded study. Patients were randomized to receive a preinduction dose of either IV paracetamol 1 g (Group P) or IV dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg (Group D). Sedation scores (Ramsay sedation scale), maximal interincisal distance and pain scores at maximal mouth opening (visual analogue scale) were assessed in both groups just prior to and after the administration of the study drugs. After induction, Group P and Group D received a maintenance dose of normal saline and dexmedetomidine (0.5 µg/kg/h) during the intraoperative period, respectively. Standard noninvasive cardiorespiratory monitoring was done for the entire duration of surgery. Following extubation, postoperative pain scores and the time to request for first analgesic dose in either group were recorded. RESULTS: The time taken to perform the surgery was comparable in both groups. There was a significant difference between the groups in visual analogue scores and interincisal distance after the bolus dose (p < 0.05). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was significantly lower in Group D at around 150 and 175 min of surgery. While the intraoperative fentanyl consumption was comparable in both groups, the time to request for the first analgesic dose in the postoperative period was significantly delayed in Group P (p < 0.05). No adverse cardiopulmonary events were observed in either group. CONCLUSION: The intraoperative anesthetic and analgesic requirements and hemodynamic stability were comparable in IV paracetamol and dexmedetomidine groups. Dexmedetomidine did not confer any enhanced analgesia effect in the postoperative period. More research examining the role of dexmedetomidine for longer duration inpatient oral and maxillofacial surgery is needed. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: http://ClinicalTrials.gov (No. CTRI/2017/08/009468).

New blue emissive conjugated small molecules with low lying HOMO energy levels for optoelectronic applications.

Versatile conjugated small molecules bearing cyanopyridone core (CP1-5), composed of various donor/acceptor moieties at position -4 and -6 have been designed, developed and characterized. Their solvatochromic studies were conducted and analyzed using Lippert-Mataga, Kamlet-Taft and Catalan solvent scales and interesting results were obtained. The polarizability/dipolarity of the solvent greatly influenced the spectra. The electrochemical studies were carried out using cyclic voltammetry to calculate the HOMO-LUMO energy levels. The study revealed that the synthesized conjugated small molecules possess low lying HOMO energy levels which can be exploited for application in various fields of optoelectronics.

Synthesis of cyanopyridine based conjugated polymer.

This data file contains the detailed synthetic procedure for the synthesis of two new cyanopyridine based conjugated polymer P1 and P2 along with the synthesis of its monomers. The synthesised polymers can be used for electroluminescence and photovoltaic (PV) application. The physical data of the polymers are provided in this data file along with the morphological data of the polymer thin films. The data provided here are in association with the research article entitled 'Cyanopyridine based conjugated polymer-synthesis and characterisation' (Hemavathi et al., 2015) [3].

Vincristine-induced acute life-threatening hyponatremia resulting in seizure and coma.

We report a case of a four-year-old boy with stage 1 Wilms tumour, who developed Vincristine-induced acute life- threatening hyponatremia, which presented as generalized tonic clonic seizures and coma. He was intubated and mechanically ventilated. There were no localizing neurological signs. CSF study showed no cells and CSF proteins were 20 mg%. Electrocardiography, chest X-ray, echocardiography, CT scan and liver function tests were normal. Evaluation of electrolytes and arterial blood gas showed serum sodium of 113 mEq/L with mild metabolic acidosis. Serum osmolality was 260 mOsm/L (normal value 285-295 mOsm/L) and urine osmolality was 625 mOsm/L (normal range 300-900 mOsm/L), urine sodium 280 mEq/d (normal range 100-260 mEq/d), serum potassium, blood urea, blood sugars were normal. Serial blood cultures showed no bacterial growth. Patient was treated with fluid restriction, hypertonic saline (3%) and other supportive care. Patient improved clinically over three days and was extubated on the third day and shifted to the ward on the fifth day.

Comparative study on glutathione transferases of rat brain and testis under the stress of phenobarbitol and beta-methylcholanthrene.

A comparative study was made on the tissue specific expression of glutathione transferases (GST) in brain and testis after exposure of rat to phenobarbitol (PB) and b-methylcholanthrene (MC). Glutathione transferases, a family of multifunctional proteins are involved in intracellular transport processes and in detoxication of electrophilic xenobiotics by catalyzing reactions such as conjugation, isomerization, reduction and thiolysis. On purification, the yield of GST proteins by affinity chromatography was 39% in testis and 32% in brain. The affinity purified testis GSTs were resolved by chromatofocusing into six anionic and four cationic isozymes, and in brain glutathione transferases were resolved into four anionic and three cationic isozymes, suggesting the presence of multiple isozymes with Yc, Yb, Ybeta and Ydelta in both of them. In testis and brain, these isozymes at identical pI values showed variable functions with a battery of substrates and the cationic isozymes of brain and testis showed identical properties in CHP (cumene hydroperoxide) at pH values of above 7.0. Substrate specificity studies and immunoblot analysis of testis and brain proteins revealed that they play a predominant role in the detoxication of phenobarbitol or beta-methylcholanthrene. Expression of the isozymes in testis and brain on exposure to PB and MC indicated elevated subunit variation. In both testis and brain, Ydelta of pi class was expressed on PB treatment and Yc of alpha class and Ybeta of mu class was expressed in MC treated testis and only Yc was predominantly expressed in MC treated brain. Thus these subunits expression is considered as markers for carcinogenesis and specific to chemical toxicity under phenobarbitol and beta-methylcholanthrene stress.

Effect of phenobarbital on the induction of glutathione S-transferases in rat testis.

Glutathione S-transferases are a family of multifunctional proteins involved in intracellular transport processes and drug detoxication. In rats, these enzymes are dimeric proteins, and exist as cytosolic and microsomal proteins. The affinity purified rat testicular glutathione S-transferases are comprised of four subunits, Yc of alpha class, Yb and Ybeta of mu class and Ydelta of pi class. On chromatofocusing, they were resolved into six anionic and four cationic isozymes. The cationic isozymes were found to be abundant. All these isozymes on electrophoresis were found to contain heteromers except for two isozymes. The expression of individual subunits and their activity was elevated on treatment with multiple doses of phenobarbital in rat testis. Among all of these, according to the immunological studies, Ydelta, a pi class glutathione S-transferase, was induced predominantly in response to phenobarbital.

A comparative study on the effect of phenobarbitol and beta-methylcholanthrene on glutathione S-transferases of rat testis.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs; EC, 2.5.1.18) ubiquitously distributed in all life forms, are a family of multigene and multifunctional dimeric proteins, which play a main role in drug detoxication. On purification and on electrophoresis, rat testicular glutathione S-transferases showed that it comprises of four subunits, Yc of alpha class, Yb and Ybeta of mu class and Ydelta of pi class. On chromatofocusing they were resolved into six anionic and four cationic isozymes. The substrate specificity studies and immunoblot analysis of testis proteins revealed that Ydelta of pi class GST was induced predominantly in response to phenobarbitol and Yc of alpha class and Ybeta of mu class were elevated specifically on treatment with methylcholanthrene (MC). These results show that structural variation between the two carcinogens induces different types of GST subunits. Therefore, these subunits may be used as marker proteins for specific chemical toxicity of rat testis.