Synthesis and characterization of Fe3O4@SiO2 -supported metal-organic framework PAEDTC@MIL-101 (Fe) for degradation of chlorpyrifos and diazinon pesticides.

In this study, a new core-shell Fe3O4@SiO2/PAEDTC@MIL-101 (Fe) photocatalyst was prepared by sol-gel method and used to degrade diazinon (DZN) and chlorpyrifos (CPS) from aqueous solutions. The characteristics analyzed by various techniques indicate that the core-shell photocatalyst with a specific surface area of 992 m2/g, pore size of 1.35 nm and saturation magnetization of nanocomposite was 12 emu/g has been successfully synthesized and can be separated from the reaction solution by a magnetic field. The maximum efficiencies of DZN (98.8%) and CPS (99.9%) were provided at pH of 5, photocatalyst dosage of 0.6 g/L, pollutant concentration of 25 mg/L, radiation intensity of 15 W, and time of 60 min. The presence of anions such as sulfate, nitrate, bicarbonate, phosphate, and chloride had a negative effect on the performance of the photocatalysis system. Compared to the adsorption and photolysis systems alone, the photocatalytic process based on Fe3O4@SiO2/PAEDTC@MIL-101 (Fe) under two UV and visible light sources showed a high efficiency of 90% in the reaction time of 60 min. The BOD5/COD ratio improved after 50 min to above 0.4 with TOC and COD removal rates >80%. Scavenging tests showed that •OH radical, hole (h+), electron (e-), and O2•- anion were produced in the reaction reactor, and the •OH radical was the dominant species in the degradation of DZN and CPS. The stability tests confirmed the recyclability of the photocatalyst in 360 min of reactions, with a minimum reduction of 7%. Energy consumption for the present system during different reactions was between 15.61 and 25.06 kWh/m3 for DZN degradation and 10-22.87 kWh/m3 for CPS degradation.

Effect of Adenotonsillectomy on Spectral and Acoustic Characteristics.

Acoustic analysis and perceptual analysis has been extensively used to assess the speech and voice among individual with voice disorders. These methods provide objective, quantitative and precise information on the speech and voice characteristics in any given disorder and help in monitoring any recovery, deterioration, or improvement in an individual's speech and also differentiate between normal and abnormal speech and voice characteristics. The present study was carried out to investigate the spectral characteristics (formant frequency parameters and formant centralization ratios) and voice characteristics (Acoustic parameters of voice) changes in individuals following adenotonsillectomy. A total of 34 participants participated in the study with a history of adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Spectral and acoustic voice parameters were analyzed across the three-time domains, before surgery (T0), 30 days (T1), and 90 days (T2) after surgery. Data was analyzed statistically using the SPSS software version-28.0.0.0. Descriptive statistics were used to find the mean and standard deviation. Repeated measures of ANOVA were used to compare the pre and post-experimental measures for spectral and acoustic, voice parameters. The derived parameter of acoustic vowel space (formant centralization ratio 3) was compared across three conditions timelines. The results revealed that acoustic vowel space measure and formant frequency measures were significantly increased in pre and post-operative conditions across the three timelines. A significant difference was obtained across the acoustic parameters across the time domains. Adenotonsillectomy has been proved to be an efficient surgical procedure in treating children with chronic adenotonsillitis. The results obtained have indicated an overall improvement in the spectral and acoustic voice parameters thereby highlighting the need for adenotonsillectomy at the right time and at the right age.

Cultivation of blue green algae (Arthrospira platensis Gomont, 1892) in wastewater for biodiesel production.

The production of biodiesel has become an important issue in the effort to reduce gas emissions due to the climate change crisis; therefore, algae have widely used to produce biodiesel for energy sustainability. The present study represented an effort to assess the ability of the alga Arthrospira platensis to produce fatty acids involved in biofuel (diesel) by cultivation in Zarrouk media enriched with different municipal wastewater concentrations. Wastewater was used in different concentrations (5, 15, 25, 35 and 100% [control]). Five fatty acids from the alga were determined and included in the present study. These were inoleic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid. Impact of different cultivation conditions were studied in terms of observed changes in growth rate, doubling time, total carbohydrate, total protein, chlorophyll a, carotenoids, phycocyanin, allophycocyanin, and phycobiliproteins. Results showed an increase in the values of growth rate, total protein content, chlorophyll a, and levels of carotenoids at all treatments except for carbohydrate content, which decreased with an increasing concentration of wastewater. The high value of doubling time (11.605 days) was recorded at treatment 5%. Fatty acids yields were increased at treatment 5% and 15%. The highest concentrations of fatty acids were 3.108 mg/g for oleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid (28.401 mg/g), docosahexaenoic acid (41.707 mg/g), palmitic acid (1.305 mg/g), and linoleic acid (0.296 mg/g). Moreover, the range of phycocyanin (0.017-0.084 mg/l), allophycocyanin (0.023-0.095 mg/l), and phycobiliproteins (0.041-0.180 mg/l) were obtained in treatment with 15-100%, respectively. Cultivation with municipal wastewater reduced the values of nitrate, phosphate, and electrical conductivity as well as increased dissolved oxygen. Maximum electrical conductivity was recorded in untreated wastewater with algae, while the highest level of dissolved oxygen was noted at 35% concentration. The use of the household wastewater is more environmentally friendly as an alternative of the traditional cultivation techniques used for long-term for biofuel production.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 RNA titer on the level of IgG antibodies in recovered patients with COVID-19 disease.

INTRODUCTION: It is important to better understand the presence of neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the population, as they potentially prevent (re)infection. AIM: To correlate the Cycle threshold (Ct value) of SARS-CoV-2 and its impact on specific Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titer, to reveal the effect of age and disease severity on antibodies titer. METHODOLOGY: A total of 153 infected participants laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases 4-11 months ago, aged 18-85 years old (mean = 43.58, SD ± 15.34) were enrolled in the study. They have not received any COVID-19 vaccine. A questionnaire was prepared including demographic data, age, gender, residence, and symptoms severity they suffered. Five mL of venous blood was taken from each participant to measure SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies against the receptor binding domain (RBD) by (VIDAS SARS-COV-2 IgG - Biomerieux kit). Ct values were measured by qRT-PCR (BIO-RAD-CFX96) kit which detected two virus genes, namely (RdRp-N genes). RESULTS: Lowest Ct values were detected significantly in age group 50-59 and 70-85 respectively. The highest mean of IgG was detected in age groups 70-85 and 50-59, and was found to be significantly correlated with disease severity. There is a direct relationship between Ct values and the titer of specific IgG, as increasing in viral load is associated with a higher level of antibodies. Antibodies were detected several months after infection with the highest mean after 10-11 months. CONCLUSIONS: Specific Anti-viral IgG are significantly associated with increasing age and disease severity, and the direct relation of IgG with viral load. Antibodies are detected several months post-infection but their protective efficacy is controversial.

Investigation of TNFα Level and Metallothionein Gene Expression in Livers of Rats Exposed to Dietary Aluminum.

Aluminum chloride is a chemical compound widely used in both pharmaceutical and industrial sectors. The present study aimed to assess the effect of aluminum chloride on TNF levels and metallothionein gene expression in rat livers. A total of 16 Wistar rats were used as an experimental model and assigned to four groups (n=4). The treated groups received aluminum chloride (Sigma/USA) at a dose of 25g/kg body weight via a feeding tube as follows: group 1: Non-treated rats as the control group, group 2 were treated with aluminum chloride for 8 weeks, group 3 were treated with aluminum chloride for 12 weeks, and group 4 received aluminum chloride for 16 weeks. The TNF-α was measured in liver tissue using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to analyze metallothionein gene expression in rat liver. To estimate TNF levels, the results revealed that levels were considerably higher (P<0.01) in all experimental groups, especially in group 4 which underwent treatment for 16 weeks (401±22.1 ng/ml), as compared to that in the control group. For the immunohistochemistry assay, a gradient intensity of staining for liver tissue was observed, ranging from zero staining in the control group to moderate, medium, and high staining in the experimental groups after 8, 12, and 16 weeks of aluminum chloride treatment, respectively. The greatest amount of methylothionine expression was observed in the livers of group 4 which received aluminum chloride for 16 weeks (15.5-fold), with a significant difference (P<0.01) from the other experimental groups. In both immunohistochemical and RT-PCR experiments, aluminum administration had a substantial influence on TNFα levels and metallothionein expression in rat livers.

COMPARISON OF THE ONSET OF SENSORY BLOCK USING LIDOCAINE 1.5% WITH ADRENALINE OR LIDOCAINE 1.5% WITH ADRENALINE AND DEXAMETHASONE IN ULTRASOUND GUIDED AXILLARY NERVE BLOCK FOR BELOW ELBOW SURGERIES.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To demonstrate the onset of dexamethasone when added to lidocaine in ultrasound regional axillary brachial block. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 30 patients participated in this study in Al-wasity hospital from June 1st to December 1st 2019; all were of ASA I-II type, aged 18-65 years old. All patients were scheduled for upper limb below elbow surgery with peripheral nerve block. They were divided randomly in to 2 groups: Group A: received 20 ml of lidocaine 1.5% with adrenaline 1:200000; Group 2 : received 20 ml of lidocaine with adrenaline and dexamethasone 8 mg. There was no significant differences among the groups regarding the change in pulse rate, MAP and Oxygen saturation. The group B was faster than group A (p value < 0.001) in both the time of cold sensory block onset and pinprick sensory block onset at all dermatome (C5,C6,C7,C8,T1). RESULTS: Results: A variety of adjuvants have been used with peripheral nerve block to decrease the onset time, improve block quality, and prolong analgesia. Steroids have been shown to be beneficial in improving block onset. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Adding dexamethasone to lidocaine enhanced the onset time of the block with no hemodynamic effect.

Functionalized graphene oxide/Fe3O4 nanocomposite: A biocompatible and robust nanocarrier for targeted delivery and release of anticancer agents.

The development of efficient drug nanocarriers has remained an important challenge in advanced drug delivery in human body. Combination of graphene-based nanomaterials and cyanuric chloride (CC), as a linker, may improve the success of drug delivery. Herein, a simple approach was used for the synthesis of superparamagnetic graphene oxide (SPMGO) nanocomposite through a chemical precipitation method. The nanocomposite was readily functionalized with cyanuric chloride as a linker for loading the drug. The FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the efficient synthesis of nanocarriers. So did the transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and thermo-gravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Subsequently, the synthesized nanocarriers were studied in terms of their potential for biomedical applications. Immobilization of methotrexate (MTX), as a drug for treatment of cancer was taken into action on the SPMGO and SPMGO/CC. The in vitro assays indicated that the drug nanocarrier systems, SPMGO/MTX and SPMGO/CC/MTX, are hemo-compatible and increase the efficiency of MTX against Caov-4, HeLa and MCF-7 cell lines. The MTX nanocarriers represented a considerably high drug loading and controlled drug release. The overall results indicated the great potential of SPMGO/CC/MTX nanocarrier for targeted drug delivery, particularly in MTX chemotherapy.

Uropathogens antibiotic susceptibility as an indicator for the empirical therapy used for urinary tract infections: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common infection affects people of different ages. It is important to explore the antibiotics susceptibility of the bacterial agents to improve the empirical antibacterial prescription because of emerging of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study including 322 patients with UTI at the largest hospital at the center of Al-Basrah Governorate in the far south of Iraq from August 2018 to November 2019. Bacterial isolates from urine samples with significant bacteria were investigated by automated VITEK® 2 compact system to determine the causative bacteria and their antibiotics susceptibility. RESULTS: Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the first and second most frequent Gram-negative isolates, whereas Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Enterococcus faecalis were the first and second most frequent Gram-positive isolates. Fosfomycin, tigecycline, colistin, meropenem, imipenem, amikacin and nitrofurantoin had high susceptibility rates against Gram-negative isolates. Nitrofurantoin, tigecycline, daptomycin, teicoplanin, vancomycin and linezolid had a high effect against Gram-positive isolates. CONCLUSION: The leading causative isolates especially the most predominant Gram-negative isolates E. coli and K. pneumoniae show high resistance rates against important antibiotics including penicillin/ß-lactamase inhibitors piperacillin/tazobactam, ceftazidime cefepime, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole which call for reconsidering them for treatment of UTI.

Outcomes of Operative Management of 96 Cases with Traumatic Retroperitoneal Hematoma: A Single-Institution Experience.

AIM: To analyse our experiences in the management of traumatic retroperitoneal hematoma (RPH), highlighting the various challenges faced and to report on the outcome of these patients. METHODS: From May 2014 to May 2017, all patients with traumatic RPH who underwent surgical treatment were retrospectively analysed. The kind of injury, intraoperative findings, sites of hematoma, postoperative morbidity and the overall outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients; 53 with blunt trauma and 43 with penetrating injury, were included in this study. The centre-medial hematoma was observed in 24 (25%) patients, lateral hematoma in 46 (47.9%) patients, pelvic hematoma in 19 (19.8%) patients, and multiple zone hematomas in 7 (7.3%) patients. All cases were managed surgically. Exploration of the retroperitoneal space was done in 72 cases. Thirty-three patients died, and the overall death rate was 34.4%. CONCLUSION: Surgical exploration should be done in RPH caused by penetrating injury, but the need for urgent exploration in blunt injury is not so high, and it depends on the anatomical site of hematoma, concomitant organ injury and the hemodynamic status of patients.

Periodicity computation of generalized mathematical biology problems involving delay differential equations.

In this paper, we consider a low initial population model. Our aim is to study the periodicity computation of this model by using neutral differential equations, which are recognized in various studies including biology. We generalize the neutral Rayleigh equation for the third-order by exploiting the model of fractional calculus, in particular the Riemann-Liouville differential operator. We establish the existence and uniqueness of a periodic computational outcome. The technique depends on the continuation theorem of the coincidence degree theory. Besides, an example is presented to demonstrate the finding.

Iso-lines and inbred-lines confirmed loci that underlie resistance from cultivar 'Hartwig' to three soybean cyst nematode populations.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars varied in their resistance to different populations of the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, called HG Types. The rhg1 locus on linkage group G was necessary for resistance to all HG types. However, the loci for resistance to H. glycines HG Type 1.3- (race 14) and HG Type 1.2.5- (race 2) of the soybean cyst nematode have varied in their reported locations. The aims were to compare the inheritance of resistance to three nematode HG Types in a population segregating for resistance to SCN and to identify the underlying quantitative trait loci (QTL). 'Hartwig', a soybean cultivar resistant to most SCN HG Types, was crossed with the susceptible cultivar 'Flyer'. A total of 92 F5-derived recombinant inbred lines (RILs; or inbred lines) and 144 molecular markers were used for map development. The rhg1 associated QTL found in earlier studies were confirmed and shown to underlie resistance to all three HG Types in RILs (Satt309; HG Type 0, P = 0.0001 R (2) = 22%; Satt275; HG Type 1.3, P = 0.001, R (2) = 14%) and near isogeneic lines (NILs; or iso-lines; Satt309; HG Type 1.2.5-, P = 0.001 R (2) = 24%). A new QTL underlying resistance to HG Type 1.2.5- was detected on LG D2 (Satt574; P = 0.001, R (2) = 11%) among 14 RILs resistant to the other HG types. The locus was confirmed in a small NIL population consisting of 60 plants of ten genotypes (P = 0.04). This QTL (cqSCN-005) is located in an interval previously associated with resistance to both SDS leaf scorch from 'Pyramid' and 'Ripley' (cqSDS-001) and SCN HG Type 1.3- from Hartwig and Pyramid. The QTL detected will allow marker assisted selection for multigenic resistance to complex nematode populations in combination with sudden death syndrome resistance (SDS) and other agronomic traits.