Silver nanoparticles decorated g-C3N4: An efficient SERS substrate for monitoring catalytic reduction and selective Hg2+ions detection.

Graphitic carbon nitride supported Ag NPs(AgNPs@g-C3N4) were synthesized by an in-situ chemical reduction using a green reducing agent, tannic acid. They were characterized by UV-Vis, FTIR, XPS, XRD, FESEM, EDAX and HRTEM. They were very much SERS sensitive, and capable of detecting methylene blue and 4-aminothiophenol at 1 × 10-12 M and 1 × 10-10 M, respectively with the corresponding SERS enhancement factor of 1.4 × 108 and 4.7 × 107. Apart from its high SERS sensitivity, it exhibited high catalytic activity for the reduction of MB with NaBH4. So, their SERS activity and catalytic activity were combined successfully to monitor catalytic reduction of MB by SERS technique. Further, the SERS activity towards MB was also employed for the detection/quantification of free Hg2+ ions in aqueous solution. The SERS intensity of MB drastically decreased in the presence of Hg2+ ions, and hence it provides novel route to detect and quantify the latter. Presence of Ca2+, Mg2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+ions showed zero interference for it. So, this study proves that Ag NPs@g-C3N4 as a unique substrate for multiple SERS applications.

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes/Gold Nanoparticles Hybrid Electrodes for Enzyme-Free Electrochemical Glucose Sensor.

We followed a facile strategy to fabricate glucose sensors using mildly oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and thiol acids including mercaptoacetic acid (MAA), mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), and mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA). The thiol acids separately bonded to MWCNTs anchored AuNPs of average diameter 14 nm, and yielded three different nanohybrids; MWCNTs-MAA-AuNPs, MWCNTs-MPA-AuNPs and MWCNTs-MSA-AuNPs. The nanohybrids after coating onto glassy carbon (GC) electrode resulted into enzyme free glucose sensors (GC-MWCNTs-MAA-AuNPs, GC-MWCNTs-MPA-AuNPs and GC-MWCNTs-MSA-AuNPs). Their electrocatalytic glucose sensing ability was examined through cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. GC-MWCNTs-MSA-AuNPs electrode showed high stability and activity in the electrocatalytic oxidation of glucose compared to other two sensors. It also showed a wide range of response for glucose concentration from 0.12 to 4.0 µM, and low detection limit of 0.036 µM (S/N = 3). The optimum rate of applied potential was 0.8 V/s, which proves the effective sensing of glucose. The selective sensing of glucose in the presence of H2O2, uric acid and blood cancer drug (imatinib mesylate) was verified through amperometry. The electrode can be a new addition to glucose sensors and bioanalytical techniques.

Association of IL-1ß +3953 C and HLA-DRB1*15 with Coronary Artery and Rheumatic Heart Diseases in South India.

Among the various candidate genes predisposing for cardiovascular diseases, HLA-DRB1* and IL-1ß +3953C/T alleles have been implicated repeatedly. To test these in South India, we carried out a case control study of 323 Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) patients, 56 Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) patients and 254 endemic controls. The polymorphisms were studied by PCR - SSP and ARMS-PCR methods and results analyzed for various clinical and demographic parameters. In CAD, HLA-DRB1*14 allele showed significant predisposition (OR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.04-4.58; p value=0.023), particularly in male patients (OR: 4.07; 95% CI: 1.20-13.81; p value=0.01) and further in males with Triple Vessel Disease (OR: 5.49; 95% CI: 1.45-20.60; p value=0.007). On the other hand, HLA-DRB1*15 predisposed for RHD (OR: 3.56; 95% CI: 1.87-6.78; p value=0.001) in both the genders. Population stratification showed this higher risk association in Vanniyar caste (OR: 5.00; 95% CI: 1.27-19.59; p value=0.022). Among the IL1-ß +3953C/T polymorphism, the ancestral allele 'C' showed a significant high risk association with CAD (OR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.24-2.70; p value=0.001), particularly in Mudaliar (OR: 6.07; 95% CI: 1.77-20.74; p value=0.003; AF=0.7) and Vanniyar castes (OR: 3.67; 95% CI: 0.92-14.57; p value=0.05; AF=0.660). Two different cardiac ailments studied, RHD & CAD thus showed varied associations in this South Indian cohorts. RHD having an infectious aetiology shared a HLA-DRB1*15 high risk association, while HLA-DRB1*14 and IL-1ß +3953C predisposed for CAD, an inflammatory disorder, reiterating the diverse genetic predisposition of the two cardiac ailments studied.

Effect of time delay on survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer--a Malaysian study.

The prognosis of lung cancer remains poor with overall five year survival figures varying between five and 10% worldwide, However, it has been shown that surgery in patients with early stage disease in non-small cell lung cancer can achieve five year survival rates up to 80%, suggesting that early or delay diagnosis can influence prognosis. Nevertheless, studies addressing this have been inconclusive and mostly derived from Western countries.

[Chronic urticaria-macroglobulinemia (Schnitzler syndrome): developing to IgM myeloma. Apropos of a case]. / Urticaire chronique-macroglobulinémie (syndrome de Schnitzler): évolution vers un myélome à IgM. A propos d'un cas.

Schnitzler's syndrome has been described in 1972. It associates a chronic urticaria with leukocytoclastic vasculitis, a macroglobulinemia, bone pains, hyperostosis. In the twenty three cases reported, the evolution is benign but three patients including the princeps case developed a Waldenström's disease or a lymphoplasmocytic lymphoma. We present the case of one patient, aged 65, with Schnitzler's syndrome, who, after 6 years evolution, presents a IgM myeloma. Schnitzler's syndrome appeared as a pre-hemopathic state which has to be taken care of regularly and for a long time.

Mycoses in India--study in Madras.

The incidence of mycoses is high in Madras accounting for over 13% of dermatoses diagnosed in a three-year period. Dermatophytoses (tinea corporis and tinea cruris) and pityriasis versicolor were most common in May and October. A correlation was observed between these infections and environmental temperature, humidity and rainfall. Most cases of all dermatophytoses except tinea capitis were recorded between 10 and 30 years of age but the latter was most common between one and 10 years. Males were predominantly affected with all except tinea axillaris, candidiasis and piedra. The incidence of piedra and deep mycoses was low.