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Modified Irvingia gabonensis nut waste (MIg) was used for malachite green (MG) removal from aqueous solution. Adsorption operational parameters such as pH, adsorbent load, concentration with contact time were investigated to establish the behavior of MIg for subsequent applications in a complex media. The potency of MIg in the effective treatment of binary and ternary mixture of MG/rhodamine B (RhB) dyes and MG/RhB/Cu2+ solution was also studied. Optimum MG adsorption was obtained at pH of 6.0. MG-MIg kinetics adsorption data was best described by the Pseudo second order kinetic model. MG adsorption onto MIg was predominantly onto a uniform site and the maximum monolayer adsorption capacity was obtained to be 250mg/g. MG and RhB synergistically aided the removal of each other both in binary and ternary solutions hence 99.99% removal was observed for the two dyes after treatment with MIg. Cu2+ showed no change in concentration after treatment with MIg. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17807/orbital.v12i2.1431

CHOP chemotherapy remains the standard treatment regimen for most aggressive T-cell lymphomas, but survival rates are only 30–35% at 5 years [1]. The addition of anti-CD20 immunotherapy to CHOP has...

A novel adsorbent prepared from the waste of Irvingia gabonensis nut (ADN) was used for scavenging of Cu 2 + from aqueous solution. Various adsorption operational parameters were investigated in order to establish the behavior of ADN before further studies. The efficacy of ADN in concurrent removal of rhodamine B (RhB) dye and Cu 2 + in a binary solution of RhB/Cu 2 + was also investigated. Finally the potency of ADN in the treatment of real textile effluent was ascertained. Optimum adsorption of Cu 2 + occurred at pH of 5.5 and high temperature favored Cu 2 + removal. Pseudo second order kinetic best described the uptake of Cu 2 + onto ADN. Maximum monolayer adsorption capacity was obtained to be 103.09 mg/g. The Dubinin Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm as well as thermodynamic parameter suggests that adsorption of Cu 2 + onto ADN was chemical in nature. Percentage removal of Cu 2 + in single solution at optimum time was 94.70 % while synergistic effect of RhB moved this to 99.54 % removal in the binary solution. ADN was highly efficient for the removal of dye and other organic pollutants in the real textile effluent with 100 % removal of some organic pollutant.

The environment is continuously threatened with various kind of pollutants, which have detrimental effects not only on human health, but also on eco-systems. In general, the water body is an easy route to wastewater disposal where many contaminants of emerging concerns, such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products etc. are present. Very recently, other classes of novel water pollutants occur which include nanoplastics and nanoparticles. Here, we discuss both classical and newly emerging water pollutants categories with their possible consequences. In addition, treatments and tackling techniques of these water pollutants are summarized. Ten different areas of concern to solve these problems and challenges of emerging water pollutants are highlighted.

The adsorption mechanisms and capacity of adsorbent derived from banana stalks in removing ciprofloxacin (CIP) from aqueous solutions were investigated in this study. The Banana Stalk Activated Carbon (BSAC) was prepared through acid activation and were characterised via SEM, FTIR and pHpzc. The SEM micrograph of BSAC revealed prominent well-developed pores which aid the adsorption process. The FTIR spetra shows the presence of various functional groups for efficient CIP adsorption. The effects of temperature (30 – 70 oC), adsorbent dosage (0.01 – 0.05 g/L), pH (2 - 10),initial adsorbate concentration (1 - 5 mg/L) and contact time (10 - 360 min) were evaluated using batch operations. Optimum CIP adsorption was obtained at pH 6. The maximum monolayer adsorptive capacity of the acid-treated banana stalk was 222.22 mg/g at 30 oC. Langmuir isotherm was the most appropriate isotherm model while pseudo second order kinetics best describe the kinetic process. Its thermodynamic studies indicated endothermic and spontaneous process. The cost implication of BSAC preparation (12.35 USD/kg) indicates that it is about 21 times cheaper than Commercial activated carbon (270.8 USD/kg) while the desorption studies reflects the reusability efficiency of the spent adsorbent. BSAC was found to be effective, efficient and economically viable for ciprofloxacin removal from aqueous solution.

Very few prospective clinical trials have been conducted in advanced cardiac AL amyloidosis due to the rarity of the disease and challenging clinical course of the condition. With a median survival...

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that remains incurable for the majority of patients. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) produces long-term disease-free remissions for around 30-40% patients, however it is reserved for the treatment of relapsed disease. This study examined the use of front line transplantation for young patients in an attempt to improve outcomes. Twenty-five patients received an alloSCT using BEAM [BCNU (carmustine), etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan)-Campath conditioning following permissive induction therapy from both related and unrelated donors. This was a multi-centre prospective trial. Twenty-four of 25 patients engrafted with no non-relapse mortality events by day 100. With a median follow-up of 60·5 months, there have been six deaths (3 from MCL). The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival were 68% and 80% at 2 years and 56% and 76% at 5 years. PFS was very similar for both sibling and unrelated transplants and there was no difference in PFS between patients with respect to remission status prior to transplantation. Nine (38%) patients experienced acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and 14 (58%) experienced chronic GVHD, of which 8 were extensive. Front line alloSCT is feasible but should only be considered for patients at high risk of early progression following conventional therapy.

Improving outcomes in multiple myeloma will involve not only development of new therapies but also better use of existing treatments. We performed RNA sequencing on samples from newly diagnosed patients enrolled in the phase 2 PADIMAC (Bortezomib, Adriamycin, and Dexamethasone Therapy for Previously Untreated Patients with Multiple Myeloma: Impact of Minimal Residual Disease in Patients with Deferred ASCT) study. Using synthetic annealing and the large margin nearest neighbor algorithm, we developed and trained a 7-gene signature to predict treatment outcome. We tested the signature in independent cohorts treated with bortezomib- and lenalidomide-based therapies. The signature was capable of distinguishing which patients would respond better to which regimen. In the CoMMpass data set, patients who were treated correctly according to the signature had a better progression-free survival (median, 20.1 months vs not reached; hazard ratio [HR], 0.40; confidence interval [CI], 0.23-0.72; P = .0012) and overall survival (median, 30.7 months vs not reached; HR, 0.41; CI, 0.21-0.80; P = .0049) than those who were not. Indeed, the outcome for these correctly treated patients was noninferior to that for those treated with combined bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone, arguably the standard of care in the United States but not widely available elsewhere. The small size of the signature will facilitate clinical translation, thus enabling more targeted drug regimens to be delivered in myeloma.

Introduction: The role of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as first line treatment for newly diagnosed patients with myeloma is currently under evaluation given the high response rates to novel induction treatment. The outcomes for patients that do not proceed to ASCT following induction remain unclear and are likely to be determined by genetic risk and response to therapy. In order to evaluate this further, this single arm phase 2 clinical trial conducted at 13 sites in the UK was designed to determine the 2 year progression free survival for patients that achieved ≥ very good partial response (VGPR) following induction therapy without ASCT. Those achieving partial response (PR) were consolidated with ASCT according to routine practice. In this first analysis we report secondary endpoints: disease response and regimen-related toxicity in patients completing induction, including minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity by multiparameter flow cytometry. Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed myeloma eligible for ASCT received PAD (bortezomib 1.3mg/m2 days 1, 4, 8, 11; doxorubicin 9mg/m2 days 1-4 and dexamethasone 40mg days 1-4 (and days 8-11 and 15-18 for the first cycle only)) for up to 6 cycles (minimum of 4). Bortezomib was initially given intravenously (IV), but once approved this was switched to sub-cutaneous (SC). Those failing to achieve PR were offered salvage therapy off protocol. All others had peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilisation using cyclophosphamide + GCSF, followed by MRD assessment on bone marrow aspirates using multi-parameter flow cytometry. Depending on disease response, patients were then stratified to ASCT (PR) or no further treatment (≥VGPR). Responses were assessed using International uniform response criteria (Durie 2006) by intent-to-treat and toxicity scored according to CTCAE version 4.0. High risk disease was defined by the presence of one or more adverse FISH lesions (t(4;14), t(14;16), t(14;20), del(17p13), +1q21) as described in the MRC Myeloma IX trial. Results: Between March 2011 and January 2014, 153 patients were enrolled (median age of 55, range 28-71 years). 139 (91%) received between 4-6 cycles of PAD. The majority (135, 88%) received SC only bortezomib and 18 (12%) received at least 1 cycle IV. The overall response rate to PAD was 81% with 46% achieving ≥VGPR (sCR: 6 (4%), CR: 13 (8%), VGPR: 51 (33%), PR: 54 (35%)). FISH data was available for 122 patients, 91 (75%) patients were standard risk and 31 (25%) were adverse. Responses were similar irrespective of ISS or genetic risk (standard, ≥VGPR 44%, PR 34%; adverse, ≥VGPR 55%, PR 29%). MRD results are currently available in 70 of the 124 patients achieving PR post PBSC harvest. Of this group 41 achieved ≥VGPR post-harvest (22 MRD+ and 19 MRD-) and hence did not proceed to ASCT, 13 patients achieved CR of which 8 were MRD negative. Toxicity was as expected for PAD and predominantly haematological. Notably the incidence of neuropathy was lower than that previously reported with IV bortezomib. Grade 3-4 events were: neutropenia: 18%; thrombocytopenia 7%. Grade 2-4 peripheral neuropathy was reported in 27% compared to 40% in the HOVON-65/ GMMG-HD4 Trial using IV bortezomib. Grade 1-2 neuropathy was similar for patients who received IV (55.6%) or SC (60%) bortezomib; however only 7% of patients receiving SC bortezomib developed grade 3 neuropathy compared to 28% with the IV route. Conclusions: SC PAD is a highly effective induction regimen for patients with newly diagnosed myeloma achieving a ≥VGPR of 46%. Of the 41 patients achieving ≥VGPR post-harvest with MRD result available, 46% were MRD negative. Response rates were similar across ISS and with adverse FISH. The use of SC bortezomib improved tolerability and substantially reduced neurotoxicity. ISRCTN no: 03381785. Disclosures Popat: Janssen: Honoraria. Cavenagh:Janssen: Honoraria. Schey:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria. Cook:Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Cook:Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding. Yong:Janssen: Honoraria.