Potential application of Allium Cepa seeds as a novel biosorbent for efficient biosorption of heavy metals ions from aqueous solution.

Abatement of pollutants i.e. heavy metals by using green biomaterials is an emerging area of interest due to its cost-effective and renewability. In the present study, the potential of Alium Cepa seed biomass (ACSB) as a novel biosorbent for the adsorption of Cr(VI), Cd(II), Zn(II), Cu(II) and Pb(II) was investigated. The FTIR spectrum of ACSB confirmed a presence of surface OH bond, an essential functional group for metal uptake. Biosorption factors such as pH (2-10), time (15-190 min), dosage (1-5 g/L) and initial metal concentration (50-200 mg/L) were optimized at the ambient conditions. The equilibrium adsorption time was obtained at 90 min for Cd(II), Cu(II) and Pb(II), as well as 120 min for Cr(VI) and Zn(II), respectively, for the mentioned metal ions removal. The maximum removal efficiency was obtained at 4 g/L of ASCB for 50 mg/L adsorbate and a neutral pH. Under this condition, the maximum uptake was 0.67, 1.50, 1.68, 1.03 and 1.75 mg/L for Cr(VI), Cd(II), Zn(II), Cu(II) and Pb(II), respectively. Monolayer biosorption was determined for the studied heavy metals. The removal of the metal ions by ACSB followed a pseudo 2nd order sorption kinetics. The results suggested that ACSB is more suitable to remove (99%) Pb(II), Cu(II), Cd(II) as compared to Zn(II) and Cr(VI).

Pleuritic chest pain in a young asylum seeker.

It is important to note that a negative serological test result does not exclude a diagnosis of cystic Echinococcus, particularly in cases of extra hepatic disease http://bit.ly/2JRAk6H.

Pericardial effusion with Mycobacterium avium complex in HIV-infected patients.

Disseminated atypical Mycobacterium infection is a well-known opportunistic infection in HIV-infected patients with advanced immune deficiency before the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy. Although the disseminated infection is now rare, few cases of localised infections are reported. A 38-year-old man was diagnosed with HIV infection during asymptomatic sexual health screening. Although he was asymptomatic on diagnosis, he had advanced immunodeficiency; therefore, combination antiretroviral therapy was started immediately. After 5 months of treatment, he developed pericardial effusion. Mycobacterium was detected from a culture of the pericardial fluid and Mycobacterium avium complex was identified using a gene probe test. He was treated with combination therapy for Mycobacterium infection and he fully recovered. Treatment continued for 4 years until he achieved adequate immune recovery.