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This study explored the alteration of naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs: 226 Ra (≈ 238 U), 232 Th, 40 K) in an anthropogenically disrupted urban river-basin (Turag, Bangladesh) in terms of constitutional substances (Sc, Ti, V, Fe, La, Ce, Sm, Eu, Tb, Dy, Ho, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Th, U) of heavy-minerals. Average activity concentrations of 226 Ra (≈ 238 U), 232 Th, and 40 K were 41.5 ± 12.9, 72.1 ± 27.1, and 639 ± 100 Bqkg -1 , respectively which were relatively higher compared to crustal origin. ∑REEs, Ta, W, Th, and U were ~2 times higher compared to crustal values with Ce and Eu-anomalies. APCS-MLR and PMF receptor models were used to determine the various anthropogenic and/or geogenic sources of NORMs and elements. Layer-wise variations of NORMs and elements were observed to trace the response of sedimentary processes towards the incoming pollution load. Presence of REEs indicates moderate degree of ecological risk to aquatic biota. However, carcinogenic risk (3.84 × 10 -4  Sv -1 ) were significantly higher than threshold limit., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Formation of inclusion complexes between riboflavin and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) with both 1:1 and 1:2 stoichiometry has been established by fluorimetric titration. However, in absorption spectrometric experiment, spectral change of riboflavin in the visible range could be observed only by taking beta-CD at a much higher concentration (about 100 times) than riboflavin and under such condition only 1:2 complexes could be detected. Its formation constant (K) was determined by a multiple linear regression analysis of the absorption data. The reliability of the K value was confirmed by the consistency achieved on analyzing the data at two different wavelengths.

Charge transfer complexes of 1:1 stoichiometry have been found to form between vitamin B(6) (pyridoxine hydrochloride) and a series of electron acceptors including p-chloranil. Since vitamin B(6) is soluble in water while the electron acceptors are insoluble in water but soluble in ethanol, the medium chosen for study is water-ethanol mixture. From the trends in the CT absorption bands the vertical ionization potential of vitamin B(6) has been determined to be 8.12 eV. The enthalpy and entropy of formation of the complex between p-chloranil and vitamin B(6) have been determined by estimating the formation constant (K) spectroscopically at four different temperatures in 75% ethanol-water mixture. Again, the magnitude of K has been found to decrease noticeably with decrease in dielectric constant of the medium (as the percentage of ethanol in the aqueous-ethanol mixture is increased). A plausible explanation for this has been given in terms of hydrolysis of pyridoxine hydrochloride.

Cloxacillin sodium has been shown to form a charge transfer complex of 2:1 stoichiometry with riboflavin (Vitamin B(2)) in aqueous ethanol medium. The enthalpy and entropy of formation of this complex have been determined by estimating the formation constant spectrophotometrically at five different temperatures in pure water medium. Pronounced effect of dielectric constant of the medium on the magnitude of K has been observed by determining K in aqueous ethanol mixtures of varying composition. This has been rationalized in terms of ionic dissociation of the cloxacillin sodium (D(-)Na(+)), hydrolysis of the anion D(-) and complexation of the free acid, DH with riboflavin.

The patient's own palm is used as a template in assessing small patchy burns and is traditionally believed to be 1% of body surface area. This does alter with the patient's age, sex and BMI and there have been suggestions that it can also differ between ethnic groups. We undertook this study to see if there were any differences in the hand surface area between Caucasians, Orientals and Asians. It was done by tracing the hand outline and calculating the surface area. The study showed that there was no significant difference between the three ethnic groups in terms of hand surface area.

Osteoporosis is an important clinical and public health problem because of its association with fractures. Osteoporotic fractures result in significant morbidity, mortality and health and social care costs. Hip fracture is the major adverse health consequence associated with the disease, although other fractures are also linked with significant adverse outcomes. Because of current demographic trends, the number of men and women with osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures is set to increase dramatically over the next 50 years unless effective preventive measures are adopted. Over and above this demographic trend there is evidence that the age-specific rates of fractures have increased during the last century. This chapter reviews the epidemiology of osteoporotic fractures, including their occurrence, descriptive epidemiology and impact.

Cloxacillin sodium has been shown to form charge transfer (CT) complexes of 1:1 stoichiometry with a number of electron acceptors in 50% (v/v) aqueous ethanol medium. From the trends in the CT absorption bands, the vertical ionization potential of the drug molecule (cloxacillin sodium) has been estimated to be 7.89 eV. The enthalpies and entropies of formation of two such complexes have been determined by estimating the formation constants spectrophotometrically at five different temperatures. The oscillator strengths and transition dipole moments of these complexes have been determined. It has further been noted that the reduction of o-chloranil by aqueous ethanol is completely inhibited by cloxacillin sodium, a phenomenon that makes the present study of formation equilibrium possible.

In estimating small areas of burns, it is traditionally taught that the patient's palm is 1% of the body surface area. Whether the palm means the palmar surface of the whole hand or palm excluding the fingers, has not been very clear and is a source of confusion to many junior doctors. The ATLS teaching has been in contradiction to the evidence from literature and hence we undertook a study to examine the evidence and practices regarding this issue. It was done through a literature search, telephonic interviews and a review of Web-pages related to burns area estimation. The results highlighted the existing confusion on the topic and the need for educating junior doctors.

Recent studies have indicated a role for nitric oxide (NO) in alloimmune responses and in allograft rejection. iNOS mRNA, protein and enzyme activity are induced in myocardium during cardiac allograft rejection. NO produced by iNOS is negatively inotropic and has the potential to be cytotoxic to cardiac myocytes. To investigate whether immunosuppressive agents would alter the expression of iNOS during cardiac allograft rejection, hearts from Wistar-Furth rats were transplanted into the abdomen of Lewis recipients. At day 5 allografts from treated and untreated animals were removed for pathological and biochemical examination. At day 5 the untreated allografts exhibited histological evidence of marked rejection (edema, infiltration with macrophages and lymphocytes, necrosis of cardiac muscle fibers). Abundant iNOS mRNA was apparent in Northern blots and iNOS enzyme activity was increased in ventricular homogenates and in cardiac myocytes purified from the untreated rejecting allografts. Incubation of isolated purified cardiac myocytes from normal rats for 24 h with cytokines known to be present during allograft rejection (IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma) was also associated with increased iNOS mRNA and enzyme activity. When Wistar-Furth to Lewis allografts were treated from time of transplantation with FK 506, cyclosporine A, dexamethasone or a combination of all three drugs, histological evidence of rejection and the levels of iNOS mRNA and enzyme activity in ventricular homogenates were reduced significantly below those observed in the untreated allografts. The data in a rat model indicate that immunosuppressive drugs reduce myocardial iNOS mRNA and enzyme activity in rejecting cardiac allografts. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the alloimmune response and cytokine release are involved in the expression of iNOS during cardiac transplantation rejection.

The effects of multiple intraperitoneal doses of Furadan (0.125 mg/kg, 0.25 mg/kg and 0.50 mg/kg, respectively) for the 2nd week, 4th week and 6th week of treatment on the concentrations of total lipid and its different fractions and lipase activity in mice were studied. The following were measured in liver, kidney, brain and serum; total lipid, cholesterol (total and free), phospholipid (total and its fractions--lecithin, lysolecithin, phosphatidyl ethanolamine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine), triglyceride, free fatty acid. Lipase activity was measured in liver and serum. Furadan caused biochemical disorders of the tissues. All the aforesaid lipid fractions (except free fatty acid) are elevated significantly in liver, kidney and serum of Furadan-treated mice. Free fatty acid increased significantly in serum and remain constant in other tissues of pesticide-treated mice. All the lipid fractions except phospholipid and its fractions remained constant in brain of treated mice; total phospholipid and its fractions decreased significantly in brain of treated mice. Lipase activity decreased significantly in liver and serum of treated mice. Such disorders of lipid levels in the aforesaid tissues might be associated with CNS depressant action and structural and functional toxicity of other tissues induced by Furadan.