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Recently emerging pandemic SARS CoV-2 conquered our world since December 2019. Continuous efforts have been done to find out effective immunization and precise treatment stetratigies. A way from therapeutic options that were tried in SARS CoV-2, an increased attention is directed to predict natural products and mainly phytochemicals as collaborative measures for this crisis. In this review, most of the mentioned compounds specially flavonoids (biacalin, hesperidin, quercetin, luteolin, and phenolic (resveratrol, curcumin, and theaflavin) exert their effect through interfering with the action of one or more of this proteins (spike protein, papain-like protease, 3-chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase) that are involved in viral life cycle beside the anti-inflammatory effect of these compounds. The triterpenoids (celastrol, escin and glycyrrhizin) and the alkaloids (lycorine and cepharanthine) mediated their effect mainly through anti-inflammatory activity. Glycyrrhetinic acid (glycyrrhizin metabolite) dawn regulates ACE-2, and reduces protease expression, thus reduce viral entry. This review may be representing an initial step in long path for designing the successful and effective treatment or vaccine for this pandemic. © 2021 University of Baghdad - College of Pharmacy. All rights reserved.

Objective: Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices are being implanted more commonly now compared to the past. Due to the rise in implantation rate complication have also considered to increase. One of the dreadful complications is devices infection. This study was conducted to assess retrospectively the rate of device infection and risk factors associated with it. Study Design: Observational study. Place and Duration of Study: AFIC/NIHD, Rawalpindi, from Jan 2018 to Jan 2019. Methodology: A total of 356 patients who underwent cardiac devices implantation. Their records were studied and all the patients who developed device infections were further reviewed in detail. Demographic details, clinical, laboratory data and imaging records were evaluated. Patients were classified into different categories of infections based on predefined criteria according to the guidelines. Risk factors were also taken into account. Results: Out of 356 devices 14 got infected and infection rate was 3.9%. Generator site infection was seen in 6 followed by generator erosion in 5 while 2 had pocket site infection with bacteremia and 1 developed pocket site infection with lead/valvular endocarditis. Dual chamber permanent pacemakers were infected the most. Denovo devices had high infection rate compared to replacement. Microbes were identified in 3 patients. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the increasing incidence of Cardiac Implantable electronic devices infection in current clinical settings was multifactorial. Care should be taken at every step starting from preoperative, intraoperative to postoperative stage for prevention of device infection.

Objective: To assess adequacy of anticoagulation in Warfarin treated patients with atrial fibrillation Study Design: Prospective observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology/National Institute of Heart Diseases, Rawalpindi, from Nov 2019 to Apr 2020. Methodology: All individuals fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study after their consent. Based upon their serial International Normalized Ratio (INR) values, Time in Therapeutic Range (TTR) was calculated using Rosendaal method. A TTR>70% was a marker of adequate anticoagulation. Factors associated with TTR 70% was observed in 29 (41.4%) of study participants. Poly-pharmacy and multiple co-morbidities were identified as statistically significant factors associated with subtherapeutic anticoagulation (TTR

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and significance of different endocrinopathies in children and adolescents with transfusion-dependent thalassemia and sickle-cell anemia. Methods: This is a descriptive, retrospective study between January 2010 and July 2018 in King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data was collected through reviewing electronic hospital medical records then filling out data collection sheets and was interpreted through the IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows version 20.0 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA). Results: The total sample size was 119 patients, gender equality was almost achieved with 55.5% being male and 45.5% being female. The most common endocrinopathies were identified in the following order of short stature (39.5%), diabetes mellitus (29.4%), hypogonadism (12.6%), osteopenia (12.6%), osteoporosis (9.2%), hypothyroidism (9.2%), hypocortisolism (3.4%), and hypoparathyroidism (2.5%). All of which were statistically significant in their relationship to hemoglobinopathies with the exception of osteopenia and osteoporosis. Hypogonadism and hypocortisolism were found to be statistically significant in their relationship to a positive history of splenectomy at p =0.026 and p =0.012. Short stature was found to be statistically significant in its relationship to the male gender with a p =0.001. Conclusion: Endocrinopathy is a frequent complication of hemoglobinopathies, for which the most common were found to be short stature, diabetes mellitus, and low bone mineral density. Saudi Med J 2020; Vol. 41 (2): 138-143 doi: 10.15537/smj.2020.2.24845 How to cite this article: Abdulmoein E. Al-Agha, Noor S. Bawahab, Sarah A. Nagadi, Shaimaa A. Alghamdi, Dalia A. Felemban, Asmaa A. Milyani. Endocrinopathies complicating transfusion-dependent hemoglobinopathy. Saudi Med J 2020; 41: 138-14. doi: 10.15537/smj.2020.2.24845

Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the opportunistic bacteria firstly related with the hospital acquired infection influencing primarily to weakening the patient in the ICU. It is sometimes transferred to the patient by transient colonization of hands of the workers of healthcare, and persistence on eco-surfaces. Acinetobacter baumannii inhalation aerosolized through endo-tracheal suctioning of the ventilated patient is widespread among ventilator-related pneumonia (VAP). It is infections mainly associated with ventilator-related pneumonia (VAP), community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), invasive bacterial infections (IBIs) and UTI (urinary tract infection). It is one of the prominent uropathogens problematic with antibiotic resistance especially carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB). Their colonization of urinary tract and establishment of infection may attributed mainly to set of virulence factors like: Acinetobactin-assisted iron acquisition system, Bap (biofilm-related protein), phospholipase D, Ata (Acinetobacter trimeric autotransporter), chaperone-usher type pilus (Csu), OmpA (outer membrane protein A), and Plasminogen-binding protein (CipA). The common drugs used for treatment Acinetobacter baumannii infections involve polymyxins, glycylcyclines, tetracyclines, mono-bactams, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, antipseudomonal carbapenems, antipseudomonal cephalosporins, and sulbactam. The rates of MDR isolation or also comprehensively the resistant Acinetobacter baumannii are significantly increased and so the combination of two or more (colistin, tigecycline, or colistin-rifampicin combination therapy) drugs is sometimes used to treat infections of MDR-AB. As a conclusion the Acinetobacter baumannii engagement in urinary tract infections attributed mainly to their adhesins, invasins and intrinsic antibiotic resistance.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) was put as the development of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT). The purpose of the present study is to compare the dosimetric analysis of two techniques of radiotherapy (IMRT) and 3D-CRT, which include target volume and organ at risk for both plans. The present study enrolled that nine patients with different types of brain cancer which previously irradiated from November 2018 to May 2019 were selected in Zhianawa Cancer Center in Sulaymaniyah; all cases were planned again by both techniques 3D-CRT and IMRT. IMRT planning provides reducing the dose of both right and left optic nerve mean dose for right optic nerve 13.70 Gy and left 14.93 Gy compared with the 3D-CRT plan (right optic nerve 23.54 Gy and left 19.13 Gy). P = 0.2 for the right optic nerve and P = 0.56 for the left optic nerve were statistically significant. IMRT plan reduces dose to the optic chiasm compared to 3D-CRT plan, the mean dose of optic chiasm for IMRT was 33.37 Gy relative to 3D-CRT which was 34.28 Gy and P = 0.92. IMRT plan was better than 3D-CRT for many organs at risk, especially for optic chiasm and both optic nerve deliver less dose than 3D-CRT.

In this study, activated carbon (AC) and nano-zerovalent copper (nZVCu) functionalized hydroxyapatite (HA) and alginate beads were synthesized and used for the removal of As3+ from aqueous solution. The characterization by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, BET surface area analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed successful formation of the AC/nZVCu/HA-alginate, nZVCu/HA-alginate, AC/HA-alginate, and HA-alginate beads. The scanning electron microscopy and surface analysis revealed the prepared beads to be highly mesoporous which led to the maximum adsorption of As3+, i.e., 13.97, 29.33, 30.96, and 39.06 mg/g by HA-alginate, AC/HA-alginate, nZVCu/HA-alginate, and AC/nZVCu/HA-alginate beads, respectively. The thermogravimteric analysis showed the nZVCu/HA-alginate beads to be highly stable while the AC composite beads as the least stable to heat treatment. The HA-alginate beads achieved 39% removal of As3+, however, removal efficiency was promoted to 95% by coupling AC and nZVCu with HA-alginate beads at a reaction time of 120 min. The removal of As3+ by the prepared AC & nZVCu coupled HA-alginate beads was promoted with increasing [As3+]0 and [AC/nZVCu/HA-alginate]0. The pH of aqueous solution significantly influenced the removal of As3+ by AC/nZVCu/HA-alginate beads and maximum removal was achieved at pH 5.8. Freundlich adsorption isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models were found to best fit the removal of As3+ by the synthesized beads. The high performance of AC/nZVCu/HA-alginate beads in the removal of As3+ even after seven cyclic treatment as well as least leaching of Cu ions into aqueous solution suggest enhanced reusability and stability of HA-alginate beads by coupling with AC and nZVCu. The results suggest that the synthesized beads have good potential for the removal of As3+ from aqueous solutions.

In this study, mesoporous silica MCM-41 material was synthesized using simple method at room temperature, and then loaded it with amine group by grafting method. MCM-41 was characterized by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET surface area; Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Then the ability of MCM-41 as adsorbents to treat NO3 anion as inorganic pollutant from synthetic wastewater was investigated. Batch adsorption was employed to determine the effects of initial concentration (25-150 mg/L), pH (2-11), temperature (297,313,333 K), adsorbent dose (0.1-2g), and contact time (0–140 min). The results indicated that the kinetic data for nitrate anion adsorption with MCM-41 was fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2=1). It was found that the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model for nitrate anion had the best fit with the experimental data. Various adsorbents (activated carbon, SBA-15, MCM-48) have been utilized to investigate their ability to remove nitrate anion and the results show that MCM-48 could be used to remove NO3 better than other adsorbents.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci(VRE) were common among Enterococcus. faecalis and Enterococcus faecium. Teicoplanin resistance or sensitivity can determine the VRE phenotypes whether VanA (VanR/TecR) or VanB (VanR/TecS). Linezolid resistance among VRE regards an newly emerged health problem. Infection with LRVRE or TRLRVRE pushan hazardous alert for hard to heal illness. Twenty eight Enterococcus spp. isolates were recovered from children diarrhea after their inoculation on m-EI chromogenic agar. Antibiotics susceptibility and phenotypic detection of antibiotics resistance were performed according to CLSI 2016. The results revealed 92.86% resistance to rifampin, 85.71% to erythromycin. VRE were 46.42%, TRE were 25% and LRE were 35.71% while co-existed resistance for Vancomycin/Teicoplanin/Linezolid(TRLRVRE) were detected 25% in. concern antibiotics resistant patterns, the MDR compile (85.7%) while XDR compile (10.7%) and there is no PDR among Enterococcus. spp. isolates were PDR. The presentstudy conclude that VanA and VanB phenotypes were common among MDR and XDR and although there is no using of linezolid but the emergence of TRLRVRE isolates were stated.

Nano zerovalent manganese (nZVMn, Mn0) materials have been synthesized in this study and used for degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP), an emerging water pollutant. The investigation of physiological characteristics of Mn0 by different characterization techniques proved successful formation of Mn0 by the chemical reduction method and found it to be highly crystalline. The Mn0 was highly efficient and resulted in 63% degradation of CIP using [CIP]0 = 10 mg/L and [Mn0]0 = 1.0 g/L at a reaction time of 80 min. Addition of S2O82− to Mn0 promoted removal efficiency of CIP from 63 to 95% at a reaction time of 80 min using the conditions of [CIP]0 = 10 mg/L, [Mn0]0 = 1.0 g/L, and [S2O82−]0 = 50 mg/L. The presence of OH and SO4 − scavengers inhibited the degradation of CIP by Mn0/S2O82−. The comparable second-order rate constants of CIP with OH and SO4 − were calculated to be 2.35 × 109 and 2.10 × 109 M−1 s−1, respectively. High S2O82− and Mn0 concentrations and low pH accelerated the degradation of CIP. However, removal efficiency of CIP by Mn0 with the added S2O82− was inhibited using high CIP concentration, high pH, inorganic anions, and NOM. Degradation pathways from OH and SO4 − based degradation of CIP were developed. Acute and chronic toxicities of CIP and its products were estimated, showing the final product to be non-toxic. The as-synthesized Mn0 was found to be stable as well as environmentally friendly for treating CIP. This study suggests that Mn0 with the added S2O82− is a promising alternative for potential remediation and detoxification of CIP and other emerging water pollutants.

Background Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae represent the most relevant reservoir of resistance genes such as metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) and AmpC genes that give them the undue advantage to resist antimicrobial onslaught. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of MBL (blaIMP-1, blaIMP-2, blaVIM-1, blaVIM-2) and AmpC (blaFOX, blaDHA, blaCMY, blaACC) resistance genes in aforementioned GNB collected from abattoir and poultry sources in Nigeria. Results In total, 370 isolates were collected from abattoir tables (n = 130), anal region of cows (n = 120), and the cloacae of poultry birds (n = 120). The test isolates showed high rate of resistance to cephalosporins and carbapenems. The MBLs were phenotypically detected in 22 E. coli, 22 P. aeruginosa, and 18 K. pneumoniae isolates using combined disc test (CDT). However, only 11 E. coli, 24 P. aeruginosa, and 18 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were phenotypically confirmed to be AmpC producers using cefoxitin-cloxacillin double disk synergy test (CC-DDST). MBL encoding genes (particularly the blaIMP-1 genes and blaIMP-2 genes) were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 12 (54.6%) E. coli, 15 (83.3%) K. pneumoniae, and 16 (72.7%) P. aeruginosa isolates. AmpC genes (particularly the blaCMY genes and blaFOX genes) were found in a total of 5 (29.4%) E. coli isolates, 5 (27.8%) isolates of K. pneumoniae, and 10 (41.7%) isolates of P. aeruginosa. Conclusions Our study showed the circulation of MBL and AmpC genes in GNB from abattoir and poultry origin in Nigeria. Adoption of regular control policies is necessary to reduce the spread of these species as soon as possible, especially in poultry and slaughterhouses.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to detect the existence of developments in resistance to biocide ofPseudomonas aeruginosa resist of colistin and in multi-drug resistance Klebsiella pneumonia in the hospitalenvironment. Materials and Methods: The study included 25 isolates of K. pneumoniae and 30 isolates ofP. aeruginosa. Isolated from different clinical and environmental samples in Baghdad hospitals. Antibioticsensitivity tests and their susceptibility to multiple antibiotic resistance and sensitivity tests were studied forthe most commonly used antiseptics at the preventive level (benzalkonium chloride). The test was carriedout using the micro dilution broth method, following Institution of Clinical and Laboratory Standardsguidelines, PCR was performed for detection of blaTEM, blaSHV , blaCTX-M , qacC/D, qac?E1and qacE betalactamase and antiseptic genes. Results: A high rate of multiple resistance to the most used antibioticswas observed, so the rate of resistance to all antibiotics that was used was 16.0% of P. aeruginosa and 4%of K. pneumoniae possesses comprehensive resistance to all antibiotics that were used and the resiste ofcolistin in P. aeruginosa was 36% .The prevalence of ESBLs was 36.0% and 48.0 % of P.aeruginosa andK.penomoniea respectively ,in addition to their strong ability to form biofilms 80 % in P.aeruginosa and94% in k.pneumoniea and their ability to resist Antiseptics . The percentage of resistance to antiseptic ofbenzilkonium chloride showed the highest concentration of P.aeruginosa was 33.3% and K. pneumoniae37.5% . The result of ESBL and antiseptic genes detection clarify, the percent of production genes were(10%), (40%) blaTEM; (6.66%),(56%)blaSHV ;(33%),(64%) blaCTX-M ;(70%),(44%) qacC/D; ( 80% ),(56%)qac?E1 in P.aeruginosa and K.pneumoniea respectively and no any isolate carried qacE gene. production ofextended spectrum ?-lactamase genes in addition to their strong ability to form biofilms 80 % in p.aeroginosaand 94% in k.pneumoniea and their ability to resist a antiseptics . The percentage of resistance to antisepticof benzilkonium chloride showed the highest concentration of P. aeruginosa was 33.3% and K. pneumoniae37.5%, the result of beta lactamase and antiseptic genes detection clarify PCR was performed for detectionof blaTEM, blaSHV , blaCTX-M , qacC/D, qac?E1and qacE beta lactamase and antiseptic genes . Conclusion:Our observations indicate that there is a significant correlation between the ability of bacteria to resistmultiple antibiotics in addition to their ability to resist the most commonly used antiseptics, due to theirphysiological nature and increased virulence factors.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is Gram negative bacteria that can adapt to extreme environmental conditions and withstand to different antibacterial agents. It si responsible for arrays of infections both community and hospital acquired especially ICU infections. Respiratory tract infection, blood stream infection, wound infection, burn infection, and urinary tract infections ware top five P. aeruginosa infections. Additionally as an opportunistic bacteria, it may be associated with healthcare infections in intensive care units (ICUs), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), central line-associated blood stream infections, surgical site infections, otitis media, and keratitis. P. aeruginosa can form biofilms as self-produced extracellular matrix to protects the cells from antibiotics and the host immune response. Antibiotic resistance was an prominent feature of this pathogen and can donate it one of the three resistance patterns: Multidrug (MDR), extensive drug (XDR) and pan drug resistance. It exploit many resistance mechanisms ranged from overexpression of drug efflux systems protein, modifying enzyme production, reducing the permeability and using shelters like biofilms.

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is the most oldest edible oil, extracted from fresh and mature kernel using wetor dry methods, therefor the resulting oil is a pure, clear, and colorless with a scent of fresh coconut, thesecharacteristics make VCO has the preferableness in medical and health applications, over refining coconutoil (RCO) that is extract from kernel of coconut after drying by methods makes the oil refining, bleaching anddeodorizing. In spite of that, the chemical compositions particularly the fatty acids in both VCO and RCOare the same with no significant difference. MCFAs which are classified as MCTs, are the basic componentsin both VCO and RCO, these MCFAs particularly lauric acid (LA) following by capric and caprylic acidsplaying a great role in antimicrobial activity of coconut oil, therefor the extraction of these fatty acids areshow more antibacterial activity on pathogenic bacteria more than lipolyzed VCO or VCO itself that maynot show inhibition effect. Gram positive bacteria is more sensitive than gram negative one towards LAand other fatty acids, therefor these fatty acids at high concentrations showed inhibition effect on gramnegative bacteria, while at low concentration showed resistance. This study attempts to review the chemicalcomponents in both VCO and RCO based on their extraction methods, also the antibacterial activity andthe mechanism of action, also suggests that RCO has the same effect as antibacterial as VCO based on theirchemical compositions.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is rapidly expanding across the world, with more than 100,000 new cases each day as of end-June 2020. Healthcare workers are struggling to provide the best care for COVID-19 patients. Approaches for invasive ventilation vary widely between and within countries and new insights are acquired rapidly. We aim to investigate invasive ventilation practices and outcome in COVID-19 patients in the Netherlands.Methods: PRoVENT-COVID ('study of PRactice of VENTilation in COVID-19') is an investigator-initiated national, multicenter observational study to be undertaken in intensive care units (ICUs) in The Netherlands. Consecutive COVID-19 patients aged 18 years or older, who are receiving invasive ventilation in the participating ICUs, are to be enrolled during a 10-week period, with a daily follow-up of 7 days. The primary outcome is ventilatory management (including tidal volume expressed as mL/kg predicted body weight and positive end-expiratory pressure expressed as cmH2O) during the first 3 days of ventilation. Secondary outcomes include other ventilatory variables, use of rescue therapies for refractory hypoxemia such as prone positioning and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, use of sedatives, vasopressors and inotropes; daily cumulative fluid balances; acute kidney injury; ventilator-free days and alive at day 28 (VFD-28), duration of ICU and hospital stay, and ICU, hospital and 90-day mortality.Discussion: PRoVENT-COVID will be the largest observational study to date, with high density ventilatory data and major outcomes. There is urgent need for a better understanding of ventilation practices, and the effects of ventilator settings on outcomes in COVID-19 patients. The results of PRoVENT-COVID will be rapidly disseminated through electronic presentations, such as webinars and electronic conferences, and publications in international peer-reviewed journals. Access to source data will be made available through local, regional and national anonymized datasets on request, and after agreement of the PRoVENT-COVID steering committee.Trial Registration: PRoVENT-COVID is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (identifier NCT04346342).

Introduction Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) is one of the most common congenital abnormalities encountered by pediatric ophthalmologists, occurring in 20-30% of all neonates (range: 6-84%). The majority of the cases (up to 90%) resolve within the first year of birth. Many syndromes, such as Down syndrome, are associated with congenital lacrimal anomalies. The prevalence of nasolacrimal anomalies in Down syndrome has been reported to be 22%. Methods This was a retrospective study of all children diagnosed with Down syndrome at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between 2010 and 2015. Result The total sample size was 175 patients; 15 patients were diagnosed with CNLDO with a prevalence of 8.57%. The prevalence among the gender was 53.3% male and 46.7% female, with a median age of eight years. Regarding ocular disorders, 20.0% cases were diagnosed with refractive error, 13.3% with nystagmus, and 13.3% with blepharitis. Myopia, strabismus, conjunctivitis, and cataract were observed in four different patients, and the remaining four cases reported no other ocular disorders. Tearing, alone or associated with other symptoms, was the main presentation of CNLDO (86.7%). Bilateral CNLDO was the most commonly observed abnormality, alone or associated with others. The median age at diagnosis was one year. Of the cases, 53.3% were treated medically, 26.7% by surgical correction, and 13.3% required both. Conclusion Bilateral CNLDO is the most observed disease pattern among children with Down syndrome. In our study, tearing was the most common clinical presentation and most cases were treated medically. Down syndrome patients should be carefully examined for nasolacrimal duct obstructions and treated medically.

This study presents the synthesis of a novel Mn2+ and Co2+ co-doped TiO2 (Mn-Co-TiO2) for the photocatalytic degradation of enoxacin (ENX) under solar light irradiation. The as-synthesized photocatalysts were fully characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and UV-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-DRS). The structural appearance of the Mn-Co-TiO2 suggests porous cylindrical type morphology. Moreover, the co-doping of Mn2+ and Co2+ has successfully reduced the band gap of TiO2 from 2.81 eV to 2.10 eV. Applying Langmuir Hinshelwood kinetic model, the photocatalytic degradation of ENX by Mn-Co-TiO2 followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. A total of twelve (12) DPs of ENX were identified by UPLC/MS-MS. The natural water constituents such as CO32−, HCO3−, Cl− and Fe3+ had great influence on the photocatalytic degradation of ENX by Mn-Co-TiO2 under solar light irradiation. The as-synthesized Mn-Co-TiO2 showed appreciable results for the photocatalytic degradation of ENX in synthetic wastewater (SWW) and real wastewater (RWW) samples. Furthermore, the toxicity assessment of ENX and its DPs towards aquatic organisms (i.e., fish, daphnia and green algae) was measured which are helpful for the practical implementation of this technology for wastewater treatment. The Mn-Co-TiO2 materials also showed good peroxidase-like activity towards the oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2 and followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics.

Soil contamination with heavy metals is a global issue confronting the environmental pollution and human/animal health. Much work has been done on physiological and antioxidant responses of wheat in hydroponic experiments and health risks from individual heavy metal contamination to human, but limited information is available on their combined application in soil. Therefore, this pot study delineates the uptake of lead and cadmium, as well as physiological responses of wheat and associated health risks under different levels of alone and combined Cd and Pb treatments. Metal uptake increased with their increasing applied levels. The highest Cd (4.24, 1.38, and 0.92 mg kg−1) and Pb (763.33, 39.63, and 16.35 mg kg−1) concentrations in root, shoot, and grain, respectively, were observed at highest applied levels (0.4 mM Cd and 10 mM Pb). Furthermore, all the treatments increased lipid peroxidation and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and peroxidase, while decreased total chlorophyll contents and membrane stability index. Under combined application of Cd and Pb, the toxicity and detoxification responses of wheat increased compared to alone treatments. Multivariate analysis further confirmed the toxicity and accumulation pattern of metals under alone and combined treatments. Target hazard quotient values of Cd and Pb were

The removal of brilliant green (BG), a toxic organic and cationic dye, has been examined by UV/S2O82− (PS), UV/HSO5− (PMS) and UV/H2O2 processes. BG showed insignificant direct photolysis at 254 nm (i.e., 8.6% after 30 min). However, enhanced BG degradation was observed in UV/PS, UV/PMS and UV/H2O2 systems as revealed from 63.1, 47.0 and 34.8% BG degradation, respectively, at 30 min of reaction time, using 0.05 mM BG and 1.0 mM oxidant initial concentration. The bimolecular rate constants of OH and SO4 − with BG were determined to be 2.35 × 109 and 2.21 × 109 M−1 s−1, respectively. Electrical energy per order (EE/O) values for UV/PS, UV/PMS and UV/H2O2 processes were calculated to be 5.4, 6.8, and 7.8 KWh/m3/order, respectively. The addition of humic acid (HA) and inorganic anions inhibited the degradation of BG by UV/PS in the order of NO2− > HA > HCO3− > Cl− > NO3− ≈ SO42−. The results of frontier electron densities (FEDs) showed that C-atom holding the three rings (C7), and C-atoms at para positions to N-alkyl groups of the two rings (C4 and C14) are the predominant sites for radical addition. Furthermore, nine degradation products (DPs) of BG were detected experimentally using LC/MS/MS.

Carbamazepine (CBZ), a widely used antiepileptic drug, was removed by UV–254 nm based advanced oxidation processes. CBZ was found to be stable under sole UV, however, removal of CBZ was promoted using Fe3+ and Fe2+ with UV. Further, removal efficiency of CBZ was significantly enhanced by coupling H2O2 with UV and Fe3+/Fe2+. At 3600 mJ cm−2, 7.5, 60.2, 74.3 and 90.6% CBZ degradation was achieved in UV, UV/H2O2, UV/H2O2/Fe3+ and UV/H2O2/Fe2+, using CBZ, H2O2, Fe2+ and Fe3+ at 21.16, 1060.00, 17.91 and 17.91 μM, respectively. Higher CBZ degradation in the presence of H2O2 was attributed to HO whose second-order rate constant with CBZ was calculated to be (8.83 ± 0.27) × 109 M−1 s−1. Removal of CBZ by UV/H2O2/Fe2+ system was optimum at pH 3.0, as 80.8, 90.6 and 70.4% CBZ degradation was observed at pH 2.0, 3.0 and 6.5, respectively. The removal of CBZ by UV/H2O2/Fe2+ was retarded in the presence of Cl− and humic acid as revealed from 84.5 and 56.7% CBZ degradation in the presence of Cl− and humic acid, respectively, compared to 90.6% in their absence at 3600 mJ cm−2. The CBZ degradation products were found to be less toxic than the parent compound, suggesting important role of UV-assisted AOPs in efficient removal and toxicity reduction of CBZ and their degradation products.

Wound infections regards one of the most common infections encountered in hospital records. Pseudomonas aeruginosa regard the 3rd common pathogen among healthcare-related infections. Their ability to adapt to different conditions and presence of pool of virulence factors may render their infections delay in healing. During a period of six months 114 wound swabs were collected and inoculated on Pseudomonas chromogenic agar and then Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated confirmed by PCR using specific primer for 16S rDNA gene of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Molecular investigation of some virulence factor like ExoA, OprL, OprI, LasI and LasB were performed using a sets of specific primer pairs. The results revealed that only 26 (22.8%) isolates were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the coexistence of more than one virulence factors within the same isolates was also recorder. OprI and LasB were most common followed by LasI, ExoA and OprL. Occurrence of virulence factor genes were 12(46.15%) for exoA, oprL was 11(42.3%), oprI was 22(84.61%), lasI was 14(53.84%) and lasB was 18(69.23%). Results of this study can lead us to conclude that P. aeruginosa have an arrays of virulence traits via which can adapt to different conditions and so cause a wide-ranging of hard to cured infections and the delay in healing and worseness degree may be attributed to owning multivirulence factors.

Objectives: Cholecystectomy is the established treatment for symptomatic gall stones and cholecystitis. In our locality, all cholecystectomy specimens are routinely sent for histopathological examination regardless of the presence or absence of preoperative or intraoperative suspicion of malignancy. This has led to an increased workload for the histopathologists. This study was conducted to assess the necessity for routine histopathological examination of all cholecystectomy specimens and to call attention to a selective criteria for sending gallbladders to the histopathological examination. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of computerized histopathological reports of 1176 cholecystectomy specimens and the available patients clinical data for the last ten years. Results: Analysis of 1176 cholecystectomy specimens during the last ten years, revealed five cases of primary invasive adenocarcinoma (0.42%) and one case of carcinoma in situ. Of the five invasive adenocarcinomas, three were stage pT3. One case was stage pT2 and one case was stage pT1b. In all cases of invasive adenocarcinoma, there was a clinical suspicion of malignancy before or during surgery with detectable macroscopical abnormalities that encouraged the surgeon to send the gall bladder for histopathological examination. Conclusion: Invasive adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder is associated with detectable macroscopical abnormalities in all cases. Hence histopathological examination could be restricted to the macroscopically abnormal looking gall bladders. Such a selection will save time, cost and burden on the histopathologists without affecting the patients’ safety.

Escherichia coli clones, designated as extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), are responsible for extraintestinal infections. Phylogenetic analysis has shown that E. coli is composed of four main phylogenetic groups (A, B1, B2 and D) and six subgroups (i.e. A0, A1, B22, B23, D1 and D2). Group A and B1 are generally associated with commensals, whereas group B2,D is associated with extra-intestinal pathotypes. In the present study, a total of 53 E. coli isolates, isolated from human clinical samples, were used. Phylogenetic grouping was done based on the PCR method using primers targeted at three genetic markers, chuA, yjaA and TspE4.C2. According to PCR-based phylotyping, subgroup B23 contained the majority of the collected isolates ( 40 isolates, 75.47 %), followed by subgroups A1and B22 (4 isolates for each subgroup, 7.55 %), followed by subgroups D2( 3 isolates, 5.66 %) and A0, D1 (1 isolate for each subgroup, 1.88 %). No isolates were found to belong to group B1 . Based on the results, the majority of isolates were extra-intestinal pathotypes. Therefore, the role of E. coli in human infections including urinary tract infections, septicemia, vaginitis and meningitis should be considered for further research.