Pattern of Prescribing Analgesics and Their Response in Cancer Patients Attending Outpatient Department of Palliative Care Service in Two Teaching Hospitals of Bangladesh.

Palliative care is a valued aspect of clinical care which is an urgent humanitarian need for people worldwide with cancer and other chronic fatal diseases. Patients experience many different symptoms including severe pain in advanced cancer. Palliative care focuses on relief from symptoms, pain and stress by using different analgesics and adjuvant. The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life. So, this prospective observational study was carried out to assess pattern of drugs used and their response to pain in cancer patients attending out-patient department of palliative care service in two teaching hospitals of Bangladesh. One hundred forty (140) cancer patients were purposively selected who attended in out-patient department of palliative care unit in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) from July 2018 to June 2019. Outcome variables were commonly presenting complaints, pain intensity, commonly prescribed drugs and analgesic prescription according to WHO three-step analgesic ladder, etc. The mean age ±SD of the respondents was 51.30±15.38 years, male-female ratio 1:1. Common sites of cancer were alimentary origin (20.0%), genitourinary system (17.86%), hepatobiliary system (11.43%), respiratory system (10.71%). The prescribed drugs were analgesics (96.4%), PPIs (74.3%), laxatives (62.1%), anti-emetics (38.6%), multivitamins (32.9%), H2 antagonists (17.1%), sedatives (17.1%), and corticosteroids (8.6%). Level 1 analgesics (Paracetamol or other NSAIDs) were prescribed to 42.65%, level 2 analgesics (Tramadol) were prescribed to 50.00% patients and level 3 analgesics (Morphine) were prescribed to 51.42% patients. The relation between and receiving three levels of analgesic prescriptions was statistically significant. The association between level of analgesic prescription was significant with site of cancer (p<0.001) and intensity of pain (p<0.001). This study showed that morphine was prescribed to more than half of the patients. Other level of analgesics were also used either single or in combination. Younger and male patients were treated more with level III analgesics. Prescribing analgesics were dependent on sites of cancer and intensity of pain.

Multidimensional Measurement of Attitudes Toward Consensual Non-Monogamy.

Despite increased interest in consensual non-monogamy (CNM), significant stigma remains against CNM. Consequently, there is a need for scales to assess attitudes toward CNM. In response to this need we developed the Multidimensional Attitudes toward CNM Scale (MACS). Items were developed in consultation with content experts and data were collected from two samples at two different Canadian Universities. Fit indices of exploratory (Sample A) and confirmatory (Sample B) factor analysis suggested a 16-item scale with three underlying factors: CNM is Dysfunctional, CNM is Immoral, and CNM is Healthy and Satisfying. Validity analyses, conducted using the combined sample (n = 806; 79% women; 67% heterosexual), demonstrated that participants with higher MACS total scores (i.e. more negative attitudes) were less likely to have ever been involved in a CNM relationship and were more likely to report monogamy as their ideal relationship style. Higher MACS scores were also associated with more negative attitudes toward bisexuality and toward women, and higher scores on measures of homophobia and jealousy. In contrast, individuals with higher scores on the CNM is Healthy subscale tended to score higher on measures of empathy. The MACS demonstrates strong psychometric properties and can assist in better understanding attitudes toward CNM relationships in research and clinical settings.

Mechanism and kinetic of piezo-catalytic desulfurization of model and actual fuel samples over CexOy/SrO nanocomposite at room temperature.

SOx emissions are primarily caused by compounds containing sulfur in petroleum and fuels, which lead to severe air pollution. For this reason, it is necessary to develop a fast and simple desulfurization method in order to comply with ever-increasing environmental regulations. The newly discovered piezo-catalyst nanocomposite CexOy/SrO can convert mechanical energy directly into chemical energy, thereby enabling mechanically oxidative sulfur desulfurization. 320 W of bath sonication were used to polarize and activate the prepared piezo-catalyst nanocomposite CexOy/SrO for sulfur removal from thiophene and dibenzothiophene as model fuels and kerosene as a real fuel. Using uniform and spherical CeO2/SrO nanocomposites resulted in the highest desulfurization rates of 95.4 %, 97.3 %, and 59.7 %, respectively, for thiophene and dibenzothiophene. This study examined the effect of several parameters, such as sulfur concentration, pH of fuel, dosage of CexOy/SrO nanocomposite, power and time of ultrasonic, and shaking time, on the piezo-desulfurization of thiophene (TP) and dibenzothiophene (DBTP). To identify the major active species in piezo desulfurization, radical trapping experiments were conducted. This study investigated the possibility of reusing the catalyst, and the piezo-desulfurization activity that was demonstrated in the removal of TP and DBTP after 11 cycles as well as the ability of the catalyst to remove real fuel even after 14 cycles was promising. As the kinetic results show, the reaction follows the second order with K = 0.0050. Also, thermodynamic results showed the oxidation of sulfide to sulfoxide and sulfoxide is endothermic. Activation energy for second order rate constant is (3.824 Kj/mole). 0.0236 mol-1. Sec-1 was calculated for Arrhenius Constant.

Purification and characterization of α-galactosidase isolated from Klebsiella pneumoniae in the human oral cavity.

The enzyme α-Galactosidase (α-D-galactoside galactohydrolase [EC 3.2.1.22]) is an exoglycosidase that hydrolyzes the terminal α-galactosyl moieties of glycolipids and glycoproteins. It is ubiquitous in nature and possesses extensive applications in the food, pharma, and biotechnology industries. The present study aimed to purify α-galactosidase from Klebsiella pneumoniae, a bacterium isolated from the human oral cavity. The purification steps involved ammonium sulfate precipitation (70 %), dialysis, ion exchange chromatography using a DEAE-cellulose column, and affinity monolith chromatography. The sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis was used to determine the molecular weight of the purified enzyme. The kinetic constants, Michaelis constant (Km) and maximal velocity (Vmax), for this enzyme were determined by using p-nitrophenyl-α-D-galactopyranoside as substrate. The results showed that the purification fold, specific activity, and yield were 126.52, 138.58 units/mg, and 21.5 %, respectively. The SDS-PAGE showed that the molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 75 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature of the purified α-galactosidase were detected at pH 6.0 and 50 °C, respectively. The kinetic constants, Michaelis constant (Km) and maximal velocity (Vmax), for this enzyme were 4.6 mM and 769.23 U/ml, respectively. α-galactosidase from Klebsiella pneumoniae was purified and characterized. (SDS-PAGE) analysis showed that the purified enzyme appeared as single band with a molecular weight of 75 kDa.

Whole genome sequence and comparative genomics analysis of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus xylosus NM36 isolated from a cow with mastitis in Basrah city.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus xylosus is a coagulase-negative, gram-positive coccus that is found in the environment and as a commensal organism on the skin and mucosal surfaces of animals. Despite the fact that S. xylosus is considered a nonpathogenic bacterium, several studies have linked S. xylosus to opportunistic infections in both animals and humans. During an investigation of mastitis-causing agents in the governorate of Basrah, Iraq, we identified an antibiotic-resistant strain of S. xylosus NM36 from a milk sample from a cow with chronic mastitis. In addition to robust biofilm formation, multiple antibiotic resistance phenotypes were found. To further understand the genetic background for these phenotypes, the full genome of S. xylosus NM36 was analyzed. RESULTS: The genome consisted of a single circular 2,668,086 base pairs chromosome containing 32.8% G + C. There were 2454 protein-coding sequences, 4 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and 50 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes in the genome. In addition, genetic variation was studied by searching sequence data against a representative reference genome. Consequently, single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis was conducted and showed that there were 46,610 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 523 insertions, and 551 deletions. In order to overcome antibiotics, S. xylosus NM36 had been armed with several antibiotic resistance genes from several groups and families. The genome annotation service in PathoSystems Resource Integration Center (PATRIC) and Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology (RAST) annotation servers showed that there are multiple antimicrobial resistance elements, including antibiotic inactivation enzymes (BlaZ family, FosB), antibiotic resistance gene clusters (TcaB, TcaB2, TcaR), proteins involved in methicillin resistance (LytH, FmtA, FemC, HmrB, HmrA), TetR family transcriptional regulators, and efflux pumps conferring antibiotic resistance (NorA). In addition, we investigated and categorized the biofilm and quorum-sensing elements of the NM36 strain and found that it has multiple subsets of biofilm regulators, confirming its pathogenic nature. CONCLUSIONS: These findings necessitate a reevaluation of microbial and clinical interventions when dealing with coagulase-negative staphylococci, particularly in the context of studies pertaining to public health. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that the entire genome of S. xylosus has been sequenced in Iraq.

Different Types of Management for Anastomotic Leak Post Esophagectomy.

Esophagectomy is a critical surgical procedure for managing various esophageal disorders, including malignancies, strictures, and reflux disease. Nonetheless, it is associated with significant postoperative complications, with anastomotic leak being a major concern. An anastomotic leak is defined as an unintended communication failure between the proximal esophageal segment and the conduit after surgery. This review explores evolving strategies for managing anastomotic leaks after esophagectomy, including factors contributing to leaks, such as patient-related, surgical, and perioperative factors. Diagnostic advancements, encompassing clinical evaluation, radiological imaging, and endoscopy, enable rapid and accurate detection, which is crucial for timely intervention. Management approaches have evolved beyond surgical revisions and now include conservative measures, antibiotics, and endoscopic therapies, particularly for high-risk surgical cases. Novel approaches, such as endoscopic stents, tissue sealants, and regenerative therapies, hold promise in revolutionizing treatment and outcomes. Prevention strategies, encompassing patient optimization, surgical techniques, and perioperative care, are key in minimizing leak occurrence. A multidisciplinary approach involving various specialists is essential for tailored treatments and optimized outcomes. In conclusion, anastomotic leaks post esophagectomy remain a significant challenge, and this review provides a comprehensive resource on evolving management strategies, from conservative measures to innovative techniques, assisting clinicians in decision-making for leak management.

Primary Thymic Hodgkin Lymphoma Coexisting with Thymoma and Myasthenia Gravis: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular disorder that is strongly associated with thymoma. Although the presence of myasthenia gravis with other tumors is uncommon, approximately 50% of patients with thymoma have myasthenia gravis. Thymic Hodgkin lymphoma should be considered due to the multiple reported cases of patients with myasthenia gravis and Hodgkin lymphoma. In this report, we present the case of 24-year-old woman with myasthenia gravis who was incidentally found to have coexisting thymoma with thymic Hodgkin lymphoma. CASE REPORT A 24-year-old woman with a known case of vitiligo presented with a 2-year history of diplopia and incidental anterior mediastinal mass. Following investigations, myasthenia gravis was diagnosed and managed by pyridostigmine, prednisolone, and azathioprine. Regarding the anterior mediastinal mass, thymoma was suspected based on the presence of myasthenia gravis and radiological findings. She underwent extended transsternal thymectomy. The final histopathological report of the dissected thymus disclosed Hodgkin lymphoma pathology coexisting with thymoma. After the diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma nodular sclerosis type IIA was confirmed, 6 cycles of chemotherapy were administered. Four years of follow-up revealed no evidence of Hodgkin lymphoma. However, her symptoms of myasthenia gravis persisted despite Hodgkin lymphoma remission. CONCLUSIONS There is an unclear association between myasthenia gravies and Hodgkin lymphoma. Prior reports revealed regression of myasthenia gravies following Hodgkin lymphoma management, which suggests that myasthenia could be a complication of Hodgkin lymphoma. However, in our case, myasthenia gravis persisted after Hodgkin lymphoma management; therefore, further studies are needed to explore this association.

Occurrence of some common carbapenemase genes in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates collected from clinical samples in Tabriz, northwestern Iran.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the antibiotic resistance patterns and prevalence of carbapenemase genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in different clinical samples from Tabriz city, northwestern Iran. RESULTS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Islamic Azad University, Ahar Branch, Iran, in 2020. K. pneumoniae isolates were collected from different clinical samples, including blood, wounds, sputum, and urine. The isolates were identified using a series of standard bacteriological tests. Antibiotic resistance was determined by the disc diffusion method. The presence of blaVIM, blaNDM, blaKPC, blaOXA, and blaIMP genes were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 100 non-duplicated K. pneumoniae isolates were collected from 57 urine samples, 27 blood samples, 13 wound samples, and 3 sputum samples. Overall, 70.0% of the samples were from inpatients, while 30.0% were from outpatients. The most resistance rate was related to ampicillin (94.0%), while the lowest resistance rate was related to imipenem (18.0%) and meropenem (20.0%). Overall, 25.0% of the isolates were carbapenem-resistant, of which 13.0% were resistant to both imipenem and meropenem. The PCR showed the total prevalence of 23.0% for carbapenemase genes, including 18.0% for blaKPC, 3.0% for blaVIM, 1.0% for blaIMP, and 1.0% for blaOXA gene. The blaNDM gene was not detected in any isolate. The prevalence of carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae isolates was relatively lower in northwestern Iran than in other regions of the country. However, special attention should be paid to the proper use of antibiotics, particularly carbapenems, to prevent further spread of antibiotic resistance and its related genes.

The Five Basic Human Senses Evoke Electrodermal Activity.

Electrodermal activity (EDA) usually relates to variations in the electrical properties of palmar or plantar skin sites. EDA responses, namely skin conductance responses (SCRs), skin potential responses (SPRs) and skin susceptance responses (SSRs) are shown to be sensitive indexes of sympathetic nervous system activation and are studied in many research projects. However, the association between EDA responses and the five basic human senses has not been investigated yet. Our study aimed to explore the relationship between the three EDA responses (SCRs, SSRs and SPRs) and the five basic human senses. These three EDA responses were measured simultaneously at the same skin site on each of the 38 volunteers. The tested five senses were sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. The results showed that the different tested senses led to different degrees of EDA responses due to activation of the sympathetic nervous system and corresponding secretion of sweat. Although a controlled study on the degree of EDA as a function of the strength of each stimulus was not performed, we noted that the largest EDA responses were typically associated with the smell sense test. We conclude that EDA responses could be utilized as measures for examining the sensitivity of the human senses. Hence, EDA devices may have important roles in sensory systems for future clinical applications.

Preventive treatment of coronavirus disease-2019 virus using coronavirus disease-2019-receptor-binding domain 1C aptamer by suppress the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor.

The cause of the worldwide coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is known to employ the same entry portal as SARS-CoV, which is the type 1 transmembrane angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. The receptor-binding domain (RBD) is located on the spike S-protein's S1 subunit of the spike glycoprotein. The most important and effective therapy method is inhibiting the interaction between the ACE2 receptor and the S-spike RBD. An aptamer is a small, single-chain oligonucleotide that binds strongly to the target molecule. Recently, a CoV-2-RBD-1C aptamer-based system with a 51-base hairpin structure was discovered to have substantial binding affinity against the SARS-CoV-2RBD with similar binding sites at ACE. In the current study, we will study the aptamer's effect as a SARS-CoV-2 spike blocker and inhibit its ACE2 receptors' binding by studying the toxicity of aptamer for this cell line by calcein assay and the inhibition test of CoV-2-RBD-1C aptamers on spike RBD-ACE2 binding. The results show the half-maximum inhibitory concentration of CoV-2-RBD-1C aptamer is 0.08188 µM. The inhibition effect of CoV-2-RBD-1C aptamer on spike RBD-ACE2 binding was determined at half-maximal effective concentration of 0.5 µM concentration. The percentage of spike-ACE2 binding inhibition in A549-hACE2 cells in the D614G variant after 30 s was 77%. This percentage is higher than D614 and N501Y and equals 55% and 65%, respectively, at 0.15 µM of CoV-2-RBD-1C aptamer. The CoV-2-RBD-1C aptamer prevents virus entrance through spike inhibition, which results in a 90% reduction in spike D614 virus transduction at 1.28 µM. In conclusion, the CoV-2-RBD-1C aptamer might be an effective treatment against COVID-19 infection because it directly affects the virus by blocking the S-spike of SARS-CoV-2 and preventing ACE2 receptor binding.

The FDA-approved compound, pramipexole and the clinical-stage investigational drug, dexpramipexole, reverse chronic allodynia from sciatic nerve damage in mice, and alter IL-1ß and IL-10 expression from immune cell culture.

During the onset of neuropathic pain from a variety of etiologies, nociceptors become hypersensitized, releasing neurotransmitters and other factors from centrally-projecting nerve terminals within the dorsal spinal cord. Consequently, glial cells (astrocytes and microglia) in the spinal cord are activated and mediate the release of proinflammatory cytokines that act to enhance pain transmission and sensitize mechanical non-nociceptive fibers which ultimately results in light touch hypersensitivity, clinically observed as allodynia. Pramipexole, a D2/D3 preferring agonist, is FDA-approved for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and demonstrates efficacy in animal models of inflammatory pain. The clinical-stage investigational drug, R(+) enantiomer of pramipexole, dexpramipexole, is virtually devoid of D2/D3 agonist actions and is efficacious in animal models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. The current experiments focus on the application of a mouse model of sciatic nerve neuropathy, chronic constriction injury (CCI), that leads to allodynia and is previously characterized to generate spinal glial activation with consequent release IL-1ß. We hypothesized that both pramipexole and dexpramipexole reverse CCI-induced chronic neuropathy in mice, and in human monocyte cell culture studies (THP-1 cells), pramipexole prevents IL-1ß production. Additionally, we hypothesized that in rat primary splenocyte culture, dexpramixole increases mRNA for the anti-inflammatory and pleiotropic cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10). Results show that following intravenous pramipexole or dexpramipexole, a profound decrease in allodynia was observed by 1 hr, with allodynia returning 24 hr post-injection. Pramipexole significantly blunted IL-1ß protein production from stimulated human monocytes and dexpramipexole induced elevated IL-10 mRNA expression from rat splenocytes. The data support that clinically-approved compounds like pramipexole and dexpramipexole support their application as anti-inflammatory agents to mitigate chronic neuropathy, and provide a blueprint for future, multifaceted approaches for opioid-independent neuropathic pain treatment.

Determination of lindane in surface water samples and its degradation by hydrogen peroxide and persulfate assisted TiO2-based photocatalysis.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been used extensively as insecticides and herbicides. This study investigates the occurrence of lindane in surface water from the Peshawar valley (i.e., Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan and Swabi districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan). Out of 75 samples tested (i.e., 15 samples from each district), 13 samples (including 2 from Peshawar, 3 from Charsadda, 4 from Nowshera, 1 from Mardan, and 3 from Swabi) are found to be contaminated with lindane. Overall, the detection frequency is 17.3%. The maximum concentration of lindane is detected in a water sample from Nowshera and found to be 2.60 µg L-1. Furthermore, the degradation of lindane in the water sample from Nowshera, containing the maximum concentration, is investigated by simulated solar-light/TiO2 (solar/TiO2), solar/H2O2/TiO2 and solar/persulfate/TiO2 photocatalysis. The degradation of lindane by solar/TiO2 photocatalysis is 25.77% after 10 h of irradiation. The efficiency of the solar/TiO2 process is significantly increased in the presence of 500 µM H2O2 and 500 µM persulfate (PS) (separately), represented by 93.85 and 100.00% lindane removal, respectively. The degradation efficiency of lindane is lower in natural water samples as compared to Milli-Q water, attributed to water matrix effect. Moreover, the identification of degradation products (DPs) shows that lindane follows similar degradation pathways in natural water samples as the one in Milli-Q water. The results show that the occurrence of lindane in surface waters of Peshawar valley is a matter of great concern for human beings and the environment. Interestingly, H2O2 and PS assisted solar/TiO2 photocatalysis is an effective method for the removal of lindane from natural water.

Chromium removal from aqueous solution using bimetallic Bi0/Cu0-based nanocomposite biochar.

Chromium (Cr), due to its greater contamination in aquifers and distinct eco-toxic impacts, is of greater environmental concern. This study aimed to synthesize nanocomposites of almond shells biochar (BC) with zerovalent bismuth and/or copper (Bi0/BC, Cu0/BC, and Bi0-Cu0/BC) for the removal of Cr from aqueous solution. The synthesized nanocomposites were investigated using various characterization techniques such as XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, SEM, and EDX. The Cr removal potential by the nanocomposites was explored under different Cr concentrations (25-100 mg/L), adsorbent doses (0.5-2.0 g/L), solution pH (2-8), and contact time (10-160 min). The above-mentioned advanced techniques verified successful formation of Bi0/Cu0 and their composite with BC. The synthesized nanocomposites were highly effective in the removal of Cr. The Bi0-Cu0/BC nano-biocomposites showed higher Cr removal efficiency (92%) compared to Cu0/BC (85%), Bi0/BC (76%), and BC (67%). The prepared nanocomposites led to effective Cr removal at lower Cr concentrations (25 mg/L) and acidic pH (4.0). The Cr solubility changes with pH, resulting in different degrees of Cr removal by Bi0-Cu0/BC, with Cr(VI) being more soluble and easier to adsorb at low pH levels and Cr(III) being less soluble and more difficult to adsorb at high pH levels. The experimental Cr adsorption well fitted with the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model (R2 > 0.99) and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Among the prepared nanocomposites, the Bi0-Cu0/BC showed greater stability and reusability. It was established that the as-synthesized Bi0-Cu0/BC nano-biocomposite showed excellent adsorption potential for practical Cr removal from contaminated water.

A Boolean Network Approach to Study the Mechanism Associated with Inflammatory Response Induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Anaerobic Porphyromonas gingivalis is a rod-shaped bacterium and is a primary agent of periodontal inflammation and thus periodontitis. This bacterium disturbs the normal flora of the oral cavity and causes dysbiosis. Databases including Google Scholar Scopus and PubMed were employed to find the evidence by using keywords like 'Porphyromonas gingivalis,' 'Boolean network,' 'inflammatory response and Porphyromonas gingivalis,' 'inflammation and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Only articles that reviewed the role of Porphyromonas gingivalis in oral inflammation were selected. Porphyromonas gingivalis promotes and reorganizes host immune systems against normal host flora, which causes a dysbiotic state. A reorganized immune system induces dysbiosis and periodontitis. Specifically, the role of the C5a receptor in the complement system is vital in this mechanism. P. gingivalis can change the metabolic pathways of phagocytic cells without impeding inflammation. Toll-like receptor and complement signaling are inverted by Porphyromonas gingivalis, which aids them in overcoming immunological responses. However, they sustain the inflammation process, which promotes dysbiosis. Instead of a subjective approach, a systems perspective is required to comprehend this intricate process. A Boolean network is a system approach that seems to be a better approach to understanding this complicated interaction process of Porphyromonas gingivalis with the immune system and inflammation. In short, attempts to understand the complex process using the Boolean network will ultimately help in the early detection of periodontitis, and immediate treatment can prevent soft tissue destruction and dentition loss.

Catalytic degradation of carbamazepine by surface-modified zerovalent copper via the activation of peroxymonosulphate: mechanism, degradation pathways and ecotoxicity.

In this research work, surface-modified nano zerovalent copper (nZVC) was prepared using a simple borohydride reduction method. The spectroscopic and crystallographic results revealed the successful synthesis of surface-modified nano zerovalent copper (nZVC) using solvents such as ethanol (ETOH), ethylene glycol (EG) and tween80 (T80). The as-synthesized material was fully characterized for morphological surface and crystal structural properties. The results indicated that EG provides an excellent synthesis environment to nZVC compared to ETOH and T80 in terms of good dispersion, high surface area and excellent catalytic properties. The catalytic efficiency of nZVC/EG was investigated alone and with peroxymonosulphate (PMS) in the absence of light. The degradation results demonstrated that the involvement of PMS synergistically boosted the catalytic efficiency of synthesized nZVC/EG material. Furthermore, the degradation products (DPs) of CBZ were determined by GC-MS and subsequently, the degradation pathways were proposed. The ecotoxicity analysis of the DPs was also explored. The proposed (nZVC/EG/PMS) system is economical and efficient and thus could be applied for the degradation of CBZ from an aquatic system after altering the degradation pathways in such a way that results in harmless products.

Comparison of As removal efficiency and health risks from aqueous solution using as-synthesized Fe0 and Cu0: modelling, kinetics and reusability.

Batch scale removal of arsenic (As) from aqueous media was explored using nano-zero valent iron (Fe0) and copper (Cu0) particles. The synthesized particles were characterized using a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analyzer, a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The BET result showed that the surface area (31.5 m2/g) and pore volume (0.0415 cm3/g) of synthesized Fe0 were higher than the surface area (17.56 m2/g) and pore volume (0.0287 cm3/g) of Cu0. The SEM results showed that the morphology of the Fe0 and Cu0 was flowery microspheres and highly agglomerated with thin flakes. The FTIR spectra for Fe0 showed broad and intense peaks as compared to Cu0. The effects of the adsorbent dose (1-4 g/L), initial concentration of As (2 mg/L to 10 mg/L) and solution pH (2-12) were evaluated on the removal of As. Results revealed that effective removal of As was obtained at pH 4 with Fe0 (94.95%) and Cu0 (74.86%). When the dosage increased from 1 to 4 g L-1, the As removal increased from 70.59 to 93.02% with Fe0 and from 67 to 70.59% with Cu0. However, increasing the initial As concentration decreased the As removal significantly. Health risk indices, including estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard quotient (HQ), and cancer risk (CR) were employed and a significant decline (up to 99%) in risk indices was observed in As-treated water using Fe0/Cu0. Among the adsorption isotherm models, the values of R2 showed that isothermal As adsorption by Fe0 and Cu0 was well explained by the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model (R2 > 0.98) while the kinetic experimental data was well-fitted with the Pseudo second order model. The Fe0 showed excellent stability and reusability over five sorption cycles, and it was concluded that, compared to the Cu0, the Fe0 could be a promising technology for remediating As-contaminated groundwater.

Studying the mechanism and kinetics of fuel desulfurization using CexOy/NiOx piezo-catalysts as a new low-temperature method.

In order to advance desulfurization technology, a new method for excellent oxidative desulfurization of fuel at room temperature will be of paramount importance. As a novel desulfurization method, we developed piezo-catalysts that do not require adding any oxidants and can be performed at room temperature. A microwave method was used to prepare CeO2/Ce2O3/NiOx nanocomposites. Model and real fuel desulfurization rates were examined as a function of synthesis parameters, such as microwave power and time, and operation conditions, such as pH and ultrasonic power. The results showed that CeO2/Ce2O3/NiOx nanocomposites demonstrated outstanding piezo-desulfurization at room temperature for both model and real fuels. Furthermore, CeO2/Ce2O3/NiOx nanocomposites exhibited remarkable reusability, maintaining 79% of their piezo-catalytic activity even after 17 repetitions for desulfurization of real fuel. An investigation of the mechanism of sulfur oxidation revealed that superoxide radicals and holes played a major role. Additionally, the kinetic study revealed that sulfur removal by piezo-catalyst follows a second-order reaction kinetic model.

Clinical and Liver Enzymes among the Patients with Metabolic Syndrome with or without Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease attending a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by central obesity, dyslipidemia, raised blood pressure and impaired blood sugar levels. Patients with metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This cross-sectional observational study was carried out from January 2019 to December 2019 at the inpatient and outpatient department of BIRDEM General Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Adult subjects aged ≥18 years with metabolic syndrome (IDF criteria, 2006) were included and purposive sampling was done. A total of 242 participants were included and the mean age was 40.2±14.1 years ranging from 18-70 years. Among them, 140(57.85%) were female and 102(42.15%) were male. Out of 242 participants, 170(70.25%) subjects had Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFLD) and 72(29.75%) subjects had metabolic syndrome without NAFLD. In the male participants, the mean waist-hip ratio (WHR) of MetS with NAFLD and MetS without NAFLD was 1.01±0.07 vs. 0.96±0.08 respectively (p-value 0.003). In female subjects, the mean waist-hip ratio (WHR) of MetS with NAFLD and MetS without NAFLD group was 0.90±0.10 vs. 0.86±0.08 respectively (p-value 0.026). MetS with NAFLD subjects were more hypertensive than MetS without NAFLD subjects (61.2% vs. 42.7%). In the MetS with NAFLD group (n=170), 11.8% was normoglycemic, 43.5% was prediabetic and 44.7% was diabetic. In the MetS without NAFLD group (n=72), 19.5% was normoglycemic, 50% was prediabetic and 30.5% was diabetic. SGPT value was significantly raised in MetS with NAFLD subjects (56.4%) than MetS without NAFLD (38.9%) subjects (p-value 0.038). SGOT value was significantly raised in MetS with NAFLD subjects (58.8%) than MetS without NAFLD subjects (41.7%); (p-value 0.005). Mean Total Cholesterol and Triglyceride were significantly raised in MetS with NAFLD subjects than MetS without NAFLD subjects (p-value 0.01). In Subjects with grade I fatty liver, mean SGPT and SGOT were 42.27±22.31 vs. 39.59±16.93 respectively. In Subjects with grade II fatty liver, mean SGPT and SGOT were 62.13±32.42 vs. 52.45±28.56 respectively. In grade III fatty liver, mean SGPT and SGOT were 51.50±32.19 vs. 41.00±17.52 respectively (p value <0.001). More than two-third of participants with metabolic syndrome had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and a significant elevation of liver enzymes than metabolic syndrome without NAFLD participants. About 85.0% of metabolic syndrome participants had glucose intolerance in the form of prediabetes and diabetes.

ENPP4 and HOXA3 as potential leukaemia stem cell markers in acute myeloid leukaemia.

INTRODUCTION: Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a heterogeneous malignant disease with a high degree of treatment failure using chemotherapy. Leukaemia stem cells (LSCs) are CD34+CD38- early progenitors associated with poor prognosis in AML. A unique LSC phenotype that excludes rare normal haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) is still elusive. This study aimed to determine expression of selected potential LSC markers in normal and leukaemic myeloid cells and correlate prognosis in AML patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Flow cytometry and RT-qPCR measured expressions of ALDH, IL3RA/CD123, CLEC12A/CLL-1/CD371, HOXA3 and ENPP4. Normal cord blood (n=3) and blood monocytes (n=5) represented HSC and mature cells, respectively. Myeloid leukaemia cell lines (THP-1, KG-1a, K562 and HL-60) represented progenitor cells at various stages of maturation. AML samples included chemo-resistant (n=8), early relapse (n=2) and late relapse (n=18). RESULTS: Combining protein/gene expressions, CD34+CD38- was a feature of immature cells seen in cord blood, KG-1a, and K562 but not more mature cells (blood monocytes and HL-60). Normal cells expressed CD371 while mature cells (blood monocytes and HL-60) lacked CD123. ENPP4 was not expressed on normal cells while HOXA3 was expressed only on cord blood and THP-1. In AML, CD123, HOXA3, ENPP4 (but not CD371) were significantly increased in the CD34+CD38- fraction of chemo-resistant patients while ALDH was associated with chemo-resistance. CONCLUSION: CD34+CD38- presented an immature phenotype and with ALDH were associated with poor prognosis. CD123, HOXA3 and ENPP4 further enriched the LSC population. ENPP4 has not been reported and has the advantage of not being expressed on HSC and normal monocytes.

Toll-like receptor 10 is down-regulated in serum of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis but not associated with Epstein-Barr virus.

In this study, toll-like receptor 10 (TLR10) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) were determined in the peripheral blood of 43 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and 41 age- and gender-matched controls. Serum TLR10 levels were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. EBV DNA and viral load were detected using a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay kit. Results revealed that median TLR10 levels were significantly lower in patients than in controls (318 vs. 574 pg/mL; p < 0.001). Most patients were classified as low producers of TLR10 (≤ median of controls) compared to controls (84.0 vs. 51.0%; p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that participants with low TLR10 production had an odds ratio of 4.52. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that TLR10 is a good predictor of multiple sclerosis (area under the curve = 0.778; p < 0.001). Prevalence of EBV was less frequent in patients than in controls but the difference was not significant (23.3 vs. 41.5%; p = 0.102), while median EBV load was significantly higher in patients compared to controls (8.55 vs. 1.29 DNA copy/100 cells). When TLR10 levels were stratified according to age group, gender, EBV positivity, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), or therapy, no significant differences were found in each stratum. Further, no significant correlation was found between TLR10 levels and EDSS or EBV load. In conclusions, TLR10 was down-regulated in serum of multiple sclerosis patients, and this down-regulation was not affected by age, gender, EBV load, EDSS, or therapy.