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The controlled synthesis of porous nanostructure materials and their use as active materials for cholesterol sensing are of key importance in current research due to their exceptionally high surface area, their optical and electrical properties, and their good electron transport characteristics. In the present study we have synthesized a microtubular ZnO@ZnS heterostructure from the corresponding ZnO microtubes by a simple aqueous chemical sulphidation process. ZnS microtubes have also been synthesized by removal of ZnO from the ZnO@ZnS heterostructure using acetic acid. Both ZnO@ZnS and ZnS microtubes have a high surface area (56 and 68 m2 g-1, respectively) and a modified electronic structure. A ZnO@ZnS heterostructure-modified electrode has excellent amperometric cholesterol-sensing performance, with sensitivity 52.67 mA M-1 cm-2, signal to noise (S/N) ratio = 15, and limit of detection (LOD) 0.02 mM with S/N = 3. The sensing performance of the ZnO@ZnS heterostructure, including both sensitivity and LOD, is superior to that reported either for ZnO-based or Au- or Pt-modified sensors. Its superior performance originates both from its high microstructure-based surface area and its modified electronic structure, which facilitate electron transport to the electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle-related disorder that affects around 422 million individuals in India. Integration of AYUSH (Ayurveda) with the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) was conceived on pilot basis at Gaya, Bihar, to provide integrative treatment for non-communicable disease patients and to manage the burden of non-communicable diseases in India., Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of Ayurveda intervention, lifestyle modification and Yoga in the management of type 2 diabetes under NPCDCS-AYUSH integration project., Materials and Methods: A multi-centric, open-labeled, prospective, comparative clinical study was conducted at 17 community health centers and 1 district hospital. Population over 30 years of age was screened and prediabetic or type 2 diabetic individuals were enrolled in two cohorts, i.e., pre-diabetic (Cohort A) and type 2 diabetic (Cohort B). Each cohort was further divided into two groups: Group A1 was advised for lifestyle modification and Yoga and group A2 was given Ayurveda medication in addition to lifestyle modification and Yoga . Similarly, group B1 was advised for lifestyle modification and Yoga along with allopathic medication and group B2 was given Ayurveda medication, i.e., Mamajjaka , Amalaki and Guduchi powder in addition to lifestyle modification and Yoga along with allopathic medication. Treatment was given for 6 months. Data were analyzed through paired t -test., Results: A significant reduction was observed in fasting blood sugar level in groups A2 and B2 ( P = 0.001) and also in the postprandial blood sugar level in Groups A2 and B2 ( P = 0.001). Further, improvement in subjective symptoms such as polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, blurred vision and weakness was found in all the groups, while non-healing ulcer does not show any improvement., Conclusion: The study reveals that Ayurveda intervention, i.e., Mamajjaka Churna (1 g), Amalaki Churna (3 g) and Guduchi Churna (3 g) two times a day effectively controls blood sugar level in pre-diabetic and type 2 diabetic patients and improves the disease management with lifestyle modification and Yogasana as well as with allopathic treatment., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2019 AYU (An International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda).)