Development of Iron Nanoparticles (FeNPs) Using Biomass of Enterobacter: Its Characterization, Antimicrobial, Anti-Alzheimer's, and Enzyme Inhibition Potential.

Nanotechnology is a new field that has gained considerable importance due to its potential uses in the field of biosciences, medicine, engineering, etc. In the present study, bio-inspired metallic iron nanoparticles (FeNPs) were prepared using biomass of Enterobacter train G52. The prepared particles were characterized by UV-spectroscopy, TGA, XRD, SEM, EDX, and FTIR techniques. The crystalline nature of the prepared FeNPs was confirmed by XRD. The SEM techniques revealed the particles size to be 23 nm, whereas in FTIR spectra the peaks in the functional group region indicated the involvement of bioactive compounds of selected bacterial strains in the capping of FeNPs. The EDX confirmed the presence of iron in the engineered FeNPs. The FeNPs were then evaluated for its antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-Alzheimer's, anti-larvicidal, protein kinase inhibition, anti-diabetic, and biocompatibility potentials using standard protocols. Substantial activities were observed in almost all biological assays used. The antioxidant, anti-cholinesterase, and anti-diabetic potential of the prepared nanoparticles were high in comparison to other areas of biological potential, indicating that the FeNPs are capable of targeting meditators of oxidative stress leading to diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. However, the claim made needs some further experimentation to confirm the observed potential in in vivo animal models.

Facile Synthesis and Electrochemical Studies of Mn2O3/Graphene Composite as an Electrode Material for Supercapacitor Application.

A simplified sol-gel method that can be scaled up for large-scale production was adopted for the preparation of manganese oxide nanocrystals. Prepared Mn2O3 exhibited micron-sized particles with a nanoporous structure. In the present study, a simple and low-cost strategy has been employed to fabricate nanoporous Mn2O3 with an increased surface area for an electrode/electrolyte interface that improved the conduction of Mn2O3 material. The crystal phase and morphology of the prepared material was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The prepared electrode materials were deposited on a nickel foam substrate to investigate the electrochemical properties. The galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and complex impedance studies confirmed excellent specific capacitance and capacitive behavior of the prepared material. The synthesized Mn2O3/graphene composites exhibited an excellent specific capacitance of 391 F/g at a scan rate of 5 mV/S. Moreover, a specific capacitance of 369 F/g was recorded at a current density of 0.5 A/g using the galvanostatic charge/discharge test. The high porosity of the materials provided a better electrolyte-electrode interface with a larger specific area, thus suggesting its suitability for energy storage applications.

First study of pattern of anaphylaxis in a large tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that may cause death. The signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis have not been examined in the Saudi population before. OBJECTIVE: The present study examined the signs, symptoms, triggers, and demographic patterns of patients treated for anaphylaxis at a large tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS: All the patients who were prescribed new prescriptions of adrenaline auto-injectors (AAs) between February 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011 were included in this study. Information was collected using a standardized form. RESULTS: There were 238 patients who were analyzed. The median age at the time of first AA prescription was 15.5 years. Female to male ratio was 52:48 and 54% of the subjects were more than 18 years of age. There were some differences in the presenting signs and symptoms observed in our study compared with similar studies from around the world. Urticaria and angioedema were the most common at about 70% across all ages, followed by shortness of breath at 28%. Some triggers were found to be more common in our region. Food was the commonest trigger for anaphylaxis including tree nuts, egg, and sesame. Drug allergy was also a common trigger, with penicillins and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs being the commonest. Regarding insect allergy, samsam ant was the commonest trigger in our study. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first study on anaphylaxis in Saudi Arabia. Some of the manifestations of anaphylaxis are significantly different in our population study compared to previously published data from other parts of the world. While managing anaphylaxis, we should be mindful of these differences. This improved understanding should help reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with anaphylaxis in our region.