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Laccases are a family of oxidoreductases with copper centres found in bacteria, insects, fungi, and plants, and they catalyse the oxidation of a wide range of substrates with the conversion of molecular oxygen to water. They possess immense potential in the degradation of dyes, crude oil, pollutants, phenolic compounds and pharmaceuticals. Fungi laccases have unusual enzyme machinery which enables them to catalyze several complex chemical reactions. Fungi as well as their enzymes have been found to be of immense value in pollution management and control such as peroxidases, tyrosinases, laccases and cytochrome monooxidases. Pharmaceuticals are a broad class of emerging recalcitrant contaminants that have found their way into water bodies through different means and have become a major source of pollution and concerns to pollution management agencies. In this review, we looked at the structure and function of fungi laccases and their potential application in the biodegradation of emerging pollutants like pharmaceuticals used as analgesics, antibiotics, antiepileptic, antihypertensive, antidepressants. antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory drugs. We concluded that laccases hold a lot of promise in their application in degrading pharmaceuticals but there is the need for its application outside the laboratory and translation into large industrial use. Engineering laccases for improved yield and efficiency is another area that can be explored in the degradation of pharmaceuticals micropollutants.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) as diagnostic adjunct tests for early-onset neonatal sepsis (EOS). Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included 80 full-term neonates with confirmed EOS and 80 healthy newborns. All examinations were done 24 hours after birth. Neonatal sepsis (NS) was characterized as a positive blood culture with symptoms of infection. Positive diagnostic indicators, including I/T ratio > 0.2, total leukocytes [WBCs] of either 5109/L or > 15109/L, thrombocytopenia [150,000/mm3], CRP > 1 mg/dL, and procalcitonin >0.5 ng/mL were considered as NS. Results: As the predictors of EOS, the sensitivity of NLR and PLR was 67% and 70%, and their specificity was 99% and 73%, respectively. Also, positive predictive value (PPV) of NLR and PLR was 98% and 72%, respectively. We found a weak correlation between platelets and sepsis, Strong correlation between WBCs and PLR with sepsis, and a moderate correlation among the ratio of immature to total neutrophil counts (I/T ratio), all of which were significant. Besides, concerning NLR with sepsis, we found an inverse correlation between lymphocytes and sepsis. Conclusions: PLR and NLR are important predictive markers for EOS (PPV of NLR and PLR was 98% and 72%, respectively). Moreover, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, high c-reactive protein (CRP), high procalcitonin, and positive blood culture were correlated with the risk of NS. NLR and PLR showed more specificity than CRP and procalcitonin.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of the platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in term neonates and its impact on management of Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis (EOS).Materials and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 40 term neonates diagnosed with EOS compared with 40 healthy controls. Exclusion criteria were prematurity, post- maturity, small or large for gestational age according to week of pregnancy, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, chorioamnionitis, congenital major anomalies, and cyanotic congenital heart disease. Results: A total of 80 term neonates were included in the study. Of these, 40 were diagnosed with EOS and 40 were healthy controls. NLR and PLR as predictors of early-onset neonatal sepsis, sensitivity of NLR was 67% and PLR was 70% and specificity of NLR was 99% and PLR was 73% and PPV of NLR was 98%, PLR was 72%. There is a significant weak positive correlation between platelets and sepsis, significant fair positive correlation between WBCs and PLR with sepsis, significant moderate positive correlation between immature neutrophils, I.T and NLR with sepsis, finally a significant negative fair correlation between lymphocytes and sepsis.Conclusions: NLRs and PLRs were positively correlated with EOS in term neonates, and these ratios can be used as diagnostic adjunct tests for neonate EOS workups.

Chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride) (CPVC)/calcium carbonate nanocomposites were successfully prepared by the incorporation of calcium carbonate (CaCO$_{3})$ nanoparticles into the CPVC matrix. The compatibility between the two phases was obtained by surface modification of the CaCO$_{3}$ nanoparticles with stearic acid, leading to improved material performance. The effects of the addition of different amounts of CaCO$_{3}$ nanoparticles to the CPVC on the thermal, mechanical, and morphological characteristics of the CPVC/CaCO$_{3}$ nanocomposites were investigated. The thermal stability of the CPVC/CaCO$_{3}$ nanocomposites was evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis~and differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, the surface texture of the CPVC and the dispersion of the CaCO$_{3}$ were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. Important enhancements in the thermal and mechanical properties of the modified CPVC/CaCO$_{3}$ nanocomposites were obtained by incorporating different amounts (2.00%, 3.75%, and 5.75%) of surface-modified CaCO$_{3}$ nanoparticles within the CPVC polymer matrix. The results reveal that 3.75% of CaCO$_{3}$ was the optimum amount, where the CPVC/CaCO$_{3}$ nanocomposite shows the highest impact strength, the highest tensile strength, the highest thermal stability, and the lowest elongation percentage$. $Replacement of the commercial impact modifier used in industry with the prepared surface-modified CaCO$_{3}$ nanoparticles for the development of CPVC was successfully achieved.