Nationwide registry-based trial of risk-stratified cervical screening.

In well-screened populations, most cervical cancers arise from small groups of women with inadequate screening. The present study aims to assess whether registry-based cancer risk assessment could be used to increase screening intensity among high-risk women. The National Cervical Screening Registry identified the 28,689 women residents in Sweden who had either no previous cervical screening or a screening history indicating high risk. We invited these women by SMS and/or physical letter to order a free human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling kit. The Swedish national HPV reference laboratory performed extended HPV genotyping and referred high-risk HPV-positive women to their regional gynecologist. A total of 3691/28,689 (12.9%) women ordered a self-sampling kit and 10.0% (2853/28,689) returned a sample for testing. Participation among women who had never attended screening was low, albeit improved. Up to 22.5% of women in other high-risk groups attended. High-risk HPV types were detected in 8.3% of samples. High-risk HPV-positive women (238/2853) were referred without further triaging and severe cervical precancer or cancer (HSIL+) in histopathology were detected in 36/158 (23%) of biopsied women. Repeat invitations gave modest additional participation. Nationwide contacting of women with high risk for cervical cancer with personal invitations to order HPV self-sampling kits resulted in high yield of detected CIN2+. Further efforts to improve risk-stratified screening strategies should be directed to improving (i) the precision of the risk-stratification algorithm, (ii) the convenience for the women to participate and, (iii) ensuring that screen-positive women are followed-up.

Radiolabeling and preclinical animal model evaluation of DTPA coupled 99mTc-labelled flutamide complex ([99mTc]DTPA-FLUT) as a potential radiotracer for cancer imaging.

BACKGROUND: Advances in molecular imaging strategies have had an effect on precise diagnosis and treatment. Research has been intensified to develop more effective and versatile radiopharmaceuticals to uplift diagnostic efficiency and, consequently, the treatment. PURPOSE: To label the flutamide (FLUT) coupled with diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA) with technetium-99 m (99mTc) and to evaluate its binding efficiency with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cancer cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Radiolabeling of FLUT with 185 MBq freshly eluted 99mTcO4-1 was carried out via DTPA bifunctional chelating agent using stannous chloride reducing agent at pH 5. The labeled compound was assessed for its purity using chromatography analysis, stability in saline and blood serum, AND charge using paper electrophoresis. Normal biodistribution was studied using a mouse model, while binding affinity with RMS cancer cells was studied using an internalization assay. The in vivo accumulation of RMS cancer cells in a rabbit model was monitored using a SPECT gamma camera. RESULTS: Radiolabeling reaction displayed a pharmaceutical yield of 97% and a stability assay showed >95% intact radiopharmaceutical up to 6 h in saline and blood serum. In vitro internalization studies showed the potential of [99mTc]DTPA-FLUT to enter into cancer cells. This biodistribution study showed rapid blood clearance and minimum uptake by body organs, and scintigraphy displayed the [99mTc]DTPA-FLUT uptake by lesion, induced by RMS cancer cell lines in rabbit. CONCLUSION: Stable, newly developed [99mTc]DTPA-FLUT seeks its way to internalize into RMS cancer cells, indicating it could be a potential candidate for the diagnosis of RMS cancer.

The International Human Papillomavirus Reference Center: Standardization, collaboration, and quality assurance in HPV research and diagnostics.

The International Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Reference Center (IHRC) confirms and assigns type numbers to novel HPV types, maintains a reference clone repository, and issues international proficiency panels for HPV screening and genotyping. Furthermore, the Center coordinates the Global HPV Reference Laboratory Network that promotes collaboration and international exchange of experiences among national HPV reference laboratories, to further international standardization and quality assurance in the HPV field. The established HPV types (n = 225) belong to 5 different genera: alpha (n = 65), beta (n = 54), gamma (n = 102), mu (n = 3) and nu (n = 1). Since the last published IHRC overview in 2018, 6 novel types have been established, with 5/6 belonging to the gamma genus and 1/6 to beta genus. Also, 474 reference clones have been provided to 55 different research laboratories and the global proficiency program for HPV genotyping has seen an increasing proficiency (despite a decrease seen in 2019), from 68% proficiency in 2017 to 77.3% in 2022. The first proficiency study for HPV screening found an international proficiency of up to 77%. In summary, increasing complexity of the HPVs and demands on quality assurance in the era of cervical cancer elimination requires international efforts to support proficiency and recognized quality and order among HPV types.

Structural and Electronic (Absorption and Fluorescence) Properties of a Stable Triplet Diphenylcarbene: A DFT Study.

A triplet diphenylcarbene, bis[3-bromo-5-(trifluoromethyl)[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl]methylidene (B3B), with exceptional stability was discovered by chemists from Japan's Mie University. To investigate its different quantum chemical features, a theoretical analysis was predicated on Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time Dependent-DFT (TD-DFT) based technique. According to the findings, the singlet-triplet energy gap (ES-T), as well as HOMO-LUMO energy bandgap (EH-L), was found to be diminished when nucleophilicity (N) rose. We looked at the geometrical dimensions, molecular orbitals (MOs), electronic spectra, electrostatic potential, molecular surfaces, reactivity characteristics, and thermodynamics features of the title carbene (B3B). Its electronic spectra in different solvents were calculated using TD-DFT and Polarizable Continuum Model (PCM) framework. The estimated absorption maxima of B3B were seen between 327 and 340 nm, relying on the solvents, and were attributed to the S0 → S1 transition. Estimated fluorescence spectral peaks were found around 389 and 407 nm with the S1 and S0 transitions being identified. Its fluorescence/absorption intensities revealed a blue shift change when the solvent polarity was increased. The least exciting state has been discovered to be the π → π* charge-transfer (CT) phase. According to the Natural Bonding Orbital (NBO) exploration, ICT offers a significant role in chemical system destabilization. Furthermore, several hybrid features were used to determine the NLO (nonlinear optical) features (polarizability, first-order hyperpolarizability, and dipole moment). The calculated values suggest that B3B is a promising candidate for further research into nonlinear optical properties.

Improving the Thermal Behavior and Flame-Retardant Properties of Poly(o-anisidine)/MMT Nanocomposites Incorporated with Poly(o-anisidine) and Clay Nanofiller.

The synthesis of MMT and poly(o-anisidine) (MMT/POA) clay nanocomposites was carried out by using the chemical oxidative polymerization of POA and MMT clay with POA, respectively. By maintaining the constant concentration of POA, different percentage loads of MMT clay were used to determine the effect of MMT clay on the properties of POA. The interaction between POA and MMT clay was investigated by FTIR spectroscopy, and, to reveal the complete compactness and homogeneous distribution of MMT clay in POA, were assessed by using scanning-electron-microscope (SEM) analysis. The UV-visible spectrum was studied for the optical and absorbance properties of MMT/POA ceramic nanocomposites. Furthermore, the horizontal burning test (HBT) demonstrated that clay nanofillers inhibit POA combustion.

High Amounts of SARS-CoV-2 Precede Sickness Among Asymptomatic Health Care Workers.

BACKGROUND: Whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positivity among asymptomatic subjects reflects past or future disease may be difficult to ascertain. METHODS: We tested 9449 employees at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibodies, linked the results to sick leave records, and determined associations with past or future sick leave using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Subjects with high amounts of SARS-CoV-2 virus, indicated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cycle threshold (Ct) value, had the highest risk for sick leave in the 2 weeks after testing (odds ratio [OR], 11.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.29-22.80) whereas subjects with low amounts of virus had the highest risk for sick leave in the 3 weeks before testing (OR, 6.31; 95% CI, 4.38-9.08). Only 2.5% of employees were SARS-CoV-2 positive while 10.5% were positive by serology and 1.2% were positive in both tests. Serology-positive subjects were not at excess risk for future sick leave (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, .71-1.57). CONCLUSIONS: High amounts of SARS-CoV-2 virus, as determined using PCR Ct values, was associated with development of sickness in the next few weeks. Results support the concept that PCR Ct may be informative when testing for SARS-CoV-2. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT04411576.

Correction: Development of a chromium oxide loaded mesoporous silica as an efficient catalyst for carbon dioxide-free production of ethylene oxide.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D3RA05858A.].

Development and optimization of a sustainable polyoxometalate-kaolinite-based catalyst for efficient desulfurization of model and real fuel using Box-Behnken design.

The oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophene in model and real fuel has been investigated by developing an environmentally sustainable catalyst H4SiW12O40@f-kaolinite. The catalyst was synthesized by modifying kaolinite clay with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (f-kaolinite) followed by immobilizing silicotungstic acid hydrate (H4SiW12O40) onto its surface. The successful synthesis of the catalyst was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The influence of variables i.e., catalyst dosage, temperature, and oxidant concentration on the conversion of dibenzothiophene was optimized by Box-Behnken design. The highest sulfur reduction (from 1000 to 78.3 ppm, with a conversion rate of 92.17%) was achieved at 70 °C, using a catalyst dosage of 70 mg and 8 mL of H2O2 in a model fuel. ANOVA analysis indicated that the quadratic model (R 2 = 0.99) was well-fitted for dibenzothiophene conversion, with a p-value of 0.2302 suggesting no statistically significant lack of fit compared to pure error. Furthermore, the H4SiW12O40@f-kaolinite demonstrated a reduction of dibenzothiophene concentration from 354 ppm to 224 ppm in a real fuel oil sample. The heterogeneous nanocatalyst showed remarkable stability, maintaining its elemental structure after five cycles without significant efficiency loss, promoting environmental sustainability.

Detection of toxic cypermethrin pesticides in drinking water by simple graphitic electrode modified with Kraft lignin@Ni@g-C3N4 nano-composite.

The detrimental effects of widespread pesticide application on the health of living organisms highlight the urgent need for technological advancements in monitoring pesticide residues at trace levels. This study involves the synthesis of a distinctive sensing material, KL@Ni@g-C3N4, which comprises nanocomposites of graphitic carbon nitride with Kraft lignin and nickel. The prepared samples were characterized using FT-IR, PXRD, TEM, SEM, and EDX techniques. The KL@Ni@g-C3N4 nanocomposite was drop-cast on a graphite electrode. Subsequently, this fabricated electrode was used to detect cypermethrin (CYP) residues in drinking water. The redox properties of the fabricated sensors were evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The limit of detection (LOD) of the fabricated sensor was determined to be 0.026 µg mL-1, which is below the maximum residual limits of CYP in the environment (0.5 µg mL-1) and within the acceptable range for food products (∼0.05 to 0.2 µg mL-1). Therefore, this study proposes a promising alternative to conventional methods for detecting pesticides in drinking water.

Chia seed-mediated fabrication of ZnO/Ag/Ag2O nanocomposites: structural, antioxidant, anticancer, and wound healing studies.

Plant extract-mediated fabrication of metal nanocomposites is used in cell proliferation inhibition and topical wound treatment, demonstrating significant effectiveness. Salvia hispanica L. (chia) seed extract (CE) is used as the reaction medium for the green fabrication of ecofriendly ZnO(CE) nanoparticles (NPs) and Ag/Ag2O(CE) and ZnO/Ag/Ag2O(CE) nanocomposites. The resultant nanoparticles and nanocomposite materials were characterized using UV-visible, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques. In the context of antioxidant studies, ZnO/Ag/Ag2O(CE) exhibited 57% reducing power and 86% 2,2, diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging. All three materials showed strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Escherichia coli (E.coli), and Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) bacterial strains. Additionally, ZnO(CE), Ag/Ag2O(CE), and ZnO/Ag/Ag2O(CE) also revealed 64.47%, 42.56%, and 75.27% in vitro Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF7) cancer cell line inhibition, respectively, at a concentration of 100 µg/mL. Selectively, the most effective composite material, ZnO/Ag/Ag2O(CE), was used to evaluate in vivo wound healing potential in rat models. The study revealed 96% wound closure in 10 days, which was quite rapid healing compared to wound healing using clinically available ointment. Therefore, in conclusion, the ZnO/Ag/Ag2O(CE) nanocomposite material could be considered for further testing and formulation as a good anticancer and wound healing agent.

CO2-Free Ethylene Oxide Production via Liquid-Phase Epoxidation with Fe2O3/MSM Catalyst.

In this study, we present an approach for ethylene oxide (EO) production that addresses environmental concerns by eliminating greenhouse gas emissions. Our catalyst, Fe2O3/MSM, was synthesized using a hydrothermal method, incorporating Fe2O3 nanoparticles into a well-structured mesoporous silica matrix (MSM). We selected peracetic acid as the oxidant, enabling CO2-free EO production while yielding valuable by-products such as acetic acid, monoethylene glycol, and diethylene glycol. X-ray diffraction (XRD), X- ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses confirmed the heteroatom structure of the catalysts and porosity, while Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis provided insights into its morphology. Then, the synthesized catalyst was used in the liquid-phase epoxidation of ethylene for EO production. Our systematic experiments involved varying critical parameters such as temperature, ethylene to oxidant ratio, catalyst dosage, and solvent to optimize EO selectivity and ethylene conversion. The results of this study demonstrated an 80.2 % ethylene conversion to EO with an EO selectivity of 87.6 %. The production process yielded valuable by-products without CO2 emissions, highlighting its environmental friendliness.

Concomitant human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and screening for elimination of HPV and cervical cancer.

HPV vaccination with concomitant HPV-based screening of young women has been proposed for faster cervical cancer elimination. We describe the baseline results of a population-based trial of this strategy to reduce the incidence of HPV. All 89,547 women born 1994-1999 and resident in the capital region of Sweden were personally invited to concomitant HPV vaccination and HPV screening with 26,125 women (29.2%) enrolled between 2021-05-03 and 2022-12-31. Baseline HPV genotyping of cervical samples from the study participants finds, compared to pre-vaccination prevalences, a strong decline of HPV16 and 18 in birth cohorts previously offered vaccination, some decline for cross-protected HPV types but no decline for HPV types not targeted by vaccines. Our dynamic transmission modelling predicts that the trial could reduce the incidence of high-risk HPV infections among the 1994-1998 cohorts by 62-64% in 3 years. Baseline results are prevalences of HPV infection, validated transmission model projections, and power estimates for evaluating HPV incidence reductions at follow-up (+/-0.1% with 99.9% confidence). In conclusion, concomitant HPV vaccination and HPV screening appears to be a realistic option for faster cervical cancer elimination. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT04910802; EudraCT number: 2020-001169-34.

Development of a chromium oxide loaded mesoporous silica as an efficient catalyst for carbon dioxide-free production of ethylene oxide.

Ethylene oxide (EO) is a significant raw material used in many commodities for consumers, particularly ethoxylates, polymers, and certain other glycol derivatives. We synthesized a catalyst by incorporation of chromium oxide into a mesoporous silica material (Cr/MSM) via the hydrothermal method, an effective catalyst for partial ethylene oxidation for producing carbon dioxide (CO2) free EO. Subsequently, XRD, BET, XPS, and TEM were used to analyse the structural characteristics of the Cr/MSM catalyst. The catalytic performance of the synthesized catalyst was assessed in the liquid-phase epoxidation (LPE) of ethylene, utilizing peracetic acid (PAA) as an oxidant. This approach not only circumvented the generation of CO2 but also mitigated the risk of metal leaching. Confirmation of the successful production of EO was achieved through GC chromatography, where the presence of a peak with a retention time (RT) of 8.91 minutes served as conclusive evidence. We systematically explored a range of reaction parameters, including temperature, catalyst concentration, the molar ratio of ethylene to PAA, and solvent effect. This comprehensive investigation aimed to fine-tune the reaction conditions, ultimately improving ethylene conversion and enhancing the selectivity of the catalyst for EO production. This approach can effectively resolve the issues of greenhouse gas emissions and metal leaching that had been associated with previously reported catalysts.

Investigating catalytic oxidative desulfurization of model fuel using hollow PW12/TiO2@MgCO3 and performance optimization via box-behnken design.

A facile and eco-friendly synthesis of PW12/TiO2@MgCO3 hollow tubes (PW12·âˆ¼· H3[PW12O40] = polyoxometalate) using a soluble and reusable MgCO3·3H2O micro-rods template was reported for the first time. The resultant hollow tubes were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-visible spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which indicated that the [PW12O40]3- structure remained intact within the hollow tubes. Furthermore, the specific surface area (88.982 m2/g) and average pore size (2.6 nm) of the PW12/TiO2@MgCO3 hollow tubes were calculated using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis. This study explored the catalytic performance of PW12/TiO2@MgCO3 hollow tubes using a three-level Box-Behnken design (BBD), through which optimization curves were designed. The desulfurization of model fuel using hollow tubes was optimally performed when the catalyst dose, time, temperature, and oxidant/sulfur (O/S) were 20-80 gm, 80-120 min, 25-80 °C and 3-8 molar ratio, respectively. These results were further processed, and the experiments were replicated twenty-nine times using a model based on two quadratic polynomials to create a response surface methodology (RSM). This permits a mathematical correlation linking the desulfurization and experimental parameters. The optimal performance of reaction mixture was evaluated to be 80 mg for catalyst concentration, 25 °C of temperature, reaction time of 100 min, and 5.5 for oxidant/sulfur molar ratio from 20 mL of octane simulation oil containing 350 ppm dibenzothiophene (DBT). The predicted desulfurization rate of the model fuel under these optimal conditions was 95.3%. The correspondence between the experimental results and predicted values was verified based on regression analysis, with an R2 value greater than 0.99. These hollow tubes could be used for their desulfurization properties ten times a row without significantly reducing catalytic activity.

Bismuth-Rich Co/Ni Bimetallic Metal-Organic Frameworks as Photocatalysts toward Efficient Removal of Organic Contaminants under Environmental Conditions.

Active photocatalysts with an efficiency of 99% were prepared for the degradation of the industrial dye, methylene blue (MB), under visible light irradiation. These photocatalysts comprised Co/Ni-metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), to which bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) was added as a filler to prepare Co/Ni-MOF@BiOI composites. The composites exhibited remarkable photocatalytic degradation of MB in aqueous solutions. The effects of various parameters, including the pH, reaction time, catalyst dose, and MB concentration, on the photocatalytic activity of the prepared catalysts were also evaluated. We believe that these composites are promising photocatalysts for the removal of MB from aqueous solutions under visible light.

Photocatalytic degradation of industrial dye using hybrid filler impregnated poly-sulfone membrane and optimizing the catalytic performance using Box-Behnken design.

Mixed Matrix Membranes have gained significant attention over the past few years due to their diverse applications, unique hybrid inorganic filler and polymeric properties. In this article, the impregnation of nano-hybrid filler (polyoxometalates (∼POMs) encapsulated into the metal-organic framework (MOF) âˆ¼ PMOF) on the polysulfone membrane (∼PSF) was done, resulting in a mix matrix membrane (∼PMOF@PSF). The developed structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopes (TEM). The results confirmed that the nano-hybrid filler was successfully fabricated on the surface of PSF. Different loading ratios of nano-hybrid filler (5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) were used for impregnation. The study's objective was to enhance catalytic performance using optimization curves designed using a three-level Box-Behnken Design (BBD) simulation. The photodegradation of Methylene Blue (∼MB) was studied against PMOF@PSF30% and was found to perform optimally when the concentration of catalyst, time of degradation, and temperature were 0.05-0.15 gm, 40-120 min, and 30-70 °C respectively. These experiments were replicated 15 times, and obtained results were further processed using a two-quadratic polynomial model to develop response surface methodology (RSM), which allowed for a functional relationship between the decolorization and experimental parameters. The optimal performance of the reaction mixture was calculated to be 0.15 gm for concentration, 70 °C for temperature, with an 80 min reaction time. Under these optimal conditions, the predicted decolorization of MB was 98.09%. Regression analysis with R2 > 0.99 verified the fit of experimental results with predicted values. The PMOF@PSF PSF30% demonstrated excellent reusability as its dye degradation properties were significantly unaffected after ten cycles.

Fabrication of Guided Tissue Regeneration Membrane Using Lignin-Mediated ZnO Nanoparticles in Biopolymer Matrix for Antimicrobial Activity.

Periodontal disease is a common complication, and conventional periodontal surgery can lead to severe bleeding. Different membranes have been used for periodontal treatment with limitations, such as improper biodegradation, poor mechanical property, and no effective hemostatic property. Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membranes favoring periodontal regeneration were prepared to overcome these shortcomings. The mucilage of the chia seed was extracted and utilized to prepare the guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membrane. Lignin having antibacterial properties was used to synthesize lignin-mediated ZnO nanoparticles (∼Lignin@ZnO) followed by characterization with analytical techniques like Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-visible spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). To fabricate the GTR membrane, extracted mucilage, Lignin@ZnO, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were mixed in different ratios to obtain a thin film. The fabricated GTR membrane was evaluated using a dynamic fatigue analyzer for mechanical properties. Appropriate degradation rates were approved by degradability analysis in water for different intervals of time. The fabricated GTR membrane showed excellent antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterial species.

A series of lanthanide-quinoxaline-2,3(1H,4H)-dione complexes containing 1D chiral Ln2O3 (Ln = Eu, Tb, Sm, Dy) chains: luminescent properties and response to small molecules.

Five new isostructural lanthanide-organic complexes, [Ln2O2(OH)(HQXD)(H2QXD)2]·H2O (Ln = Eu 1, Tb 2, Sm 3 Dy 4 and Gd 5; H2QXD = quinoxaline-2,3(1H,4H)-dione), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. These complexes are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), elemental analysis (EA), thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) and photo-luminescent spectroscopy. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of complex 1 revealed that the structure featured in 1D chiral "Eu2O3" chains surrounded by coordinating organic ligands. These chains are interconnected via hydrogen bonding and offset π⋯π stacking interactions of the ligands to form the 3D supramolecular frameworks. The photo-luminescence studies for complexes 1-5 disclosed that the ligand (H2QXD) showed an antenna effect to transfer energy toward the lanthanide cations. The energy transfer mechanism investigations show that the energy transition from the triplet energy level (3ππ*) of ligand H2QXD to the Tb3+ cation is more effective than to the Eu3+, Sm3+ and Dy3+ ions; therefore it has been selected as a representative to examine the potential for sensing small molecules. Complex 2', which was obtained by the heating treatment of 2 at 150 °C, displayed a high luminescence sensitivity towards small solvent molecules. Tertiary butanol (t-butanol) was found to be an excellent sensitizer, while tetrahydrofuran (THF) was a highly quenching species. Complex 2' could regain a higher photo-luminescence intensity after treating for 5 cycles with t-butanol, revealing a prospect for reusability.

Electrocardiographic Abnormalities in Patients With Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article was to determine the frequency of different electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. PLACE AND DURATION: The study was conducted at the medicine department at Civil Hospital Karachi, Pakistan, between November 2018 and May 2019. METHOD:  Both female and male participants aged 18-60 years with acute exacerbation of COPD (as per the operational definition) for more than three days who did not receive any treatment for exacerbation were included in the study. Twelve-lead ECG was recorded (Schiller AG, Baar, Switzerland) for 10 minutes after the supine rest, with a 50 mm/s of paper speed, 10 mm/mV of gain, and filter default settings. RESULTS:  In total, 140 participants (male: n = 124 [88.6%] and female: n = 16 [11.4%]) were included the research. The mean age of the participants was 40.43 ± 11.51 years. In terms of severity, 46 (32.95) patients presented with mild, 46 (32.9%) with moderate, and 48 (34.4%) with severe exacerbation. Moreover, 33 (23.65%) participants had ECG abnormalities, i.e., 13 (9.3%) patients presented with right atrial enlargement, and eight (5.7%) with right ventricular hypertrophy. Patients with a longer smoking duration (years) were likely to present with ECG abnormalities. CONCLUSION:  Patients with COPD who had severe acute exacerbation and a long smoking duration have a high prevalence of ECG abnormalities. Hence, ECG may be a valuable tool for detecting ischemic abnormalities among patients with COPD, independent of previously known heart disease, in clinical settings.

Iron and Manganese Codoped Cobalt Tungstates Co1-(x+y)Fe x Mn y WO4 as Efficient Photoelectrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Photoelectrocatalysts are robust materials for the production of energy through different ways such as water splitting. Narrow optical band gaps and high overpotentials are limiting the development of photoelectrocatalysts. In this study, a series of Co1-(x+y)Fe x Mn y WO4 solid solutions of cobalt tungstate codoped with iron and manganese have been synthesized hydrothermally. The synthesized solid solutions have been characterized by powder XRD, UV-visible spectra, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). They all crystallize in a wolframite-type monoclinic crystal system with space group P2/c. Doping of iron and manganese leads to narrowing of the optical band gap of Co1-(x+y)Fe x Mn y WO4 from 2.60 to 2.04 eV. The electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen evolution reaction of all of the samples has been evaluated through LSV measurements. It is found that the sample named C5, which is codoped with manganese and iron, has the lowest onset potential and needs the lowest overpotential to attain the targeted 5 mA cm-2 and standard 10 mA cm-2 current densities as compared with all other synthesized samples. This study shows that the synthesized tungstates can be good candidates for the photoelectrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction.