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Photovoltaic modules (PVMs) are already accepted as renewable energy sources to fulfill future energy demand. E-waste from end-of-life (EoL) PVMs will pose significant challenges for both the recovery of valuable materials and the environmental hazards in the near future. Delamination of photovoltaic modules for recycling typically involves separating the solar cell from various layers of PVM that are; glass, encapsulant ethylene-vinyl acetate, and backsheet. The solar cell is encapsulated by ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) layers; the photovoltaic module can be delaminated by a swelling encapsulant layer using organic solvents. The recyclability of organic solvents is investigated in this work, with an emphasis on possible contamination by encapsulated EVA during EoL PVM delamination. To investigate the interactions of encapsulant EVA with solvents, it was extracted from EoL PVMs. This work investigates contamination of organic solvents in the temperature range of 25-55 °C and suggests solvent recyclability for reuse and waste reduction. Organic solvents Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra after a 24-hour encapsulant EVA interaction were compared to study organic solvent contamination. This study focused on two different types of solvents: aromatic hydrocarbons (like xylene) and chlorinated hydrocarbons (like CH2Cl2). Xylene demonstrated resistance to EVA contamination, making it a preferred organic solvent for recycling EoL PVMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria has protean clinical manifestations and renal complications, particularly acute renal failure that could be life threatening. To evaluate the incidence, clinical profile, out-come and predictors of mortality in patients with malarial acute renal failure, we retrospectively studied the last two years records of malaria induced acute renal failure in patients with peripheral smear positive for malarial parasites. One hundred (10.4%) (63 males, 37 females) malaria induced acute renal failure amongst 958 cases of acute renal failure were evaluated. Plasmodium (P). falciparum was reported in 85%, P. vivax in 2%, and both in 13% patients. The mean serum creatinine was 9.2 ± 4.2 mg%, and oligo/anuria was present in 82%; 78% of the patients required hemodialysis. Sixty four percent of the patients recovered completely, 10% incompletely, and 5% developed chronic kidney failure; mortality occurred in 21% of the patients. Low hemoglobin, oligo/anuria on admission, hyperbilirubinemia, cerebral malaria, disseminated intravascular coa-gulation, and high serum creatinine were the main predictors of mortality. We conclude that ma-laria is associated with acute renal failure, which occurs most commonly in plasmodium falci-parum infected patients. Early diagnosis and prompt dialysis with supportive management can reduce morality and enhance recovery of renal function.

Transplantation is accepted therapy for chronic kidney disease. However the essential immuno-suppressive agents for graft survival have their own side-effects. Renal biopsy is a reliable tool for diagnosing cyclosporine (CsA) nephrotoxicity. To present our observations on CsA toxicity in renal allograft biopsies, we studied prospectively 207 renal allograft biopsies performed for graft dysfunction as per Ahmedabad Tole-rance Induction Protocol (ATIP) and compared them to 50 controls from January to October 2007. The ATIP comprised donor specific leucocyte infusions, low dose target specific irradiation; non-myeloablative condi-tioning with Anti-T ± B cell antibodies followed by intraportal administration of cultured donor bone marrow (BM) ± adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells. Renal transplantation was performed following nega-tive lymphocytotoxicity cross-matching. The post-transplant immunosuppressive agents included CsA 2.5 ± 0.5 mg/kg BW/day and prednisone 0.2 mg/kg BW/day. The controls were transplanted using standard triple immunosuppressive agents including CsA 5 ± 1 mg/Kg BW/day, prednisone 0.6 mg/kg BW/day, and MMF/ Azathioprine. The Institutional Review Board approved the ATIP. The biopsies were categorized into 2 groups; group A (N=97): performed < 6 months, group B (N= 160), > 6 months posttransplant. Acute CsA toxicity was observed in group A: 2.5% ATIP and 11.1% controls; group B: 16.2% ATIP and 8.8% controls. Chronic CsA toxicity was observed in group B: 10.8 % ATIP and 17.6 % controls. Acute toxicity was more in the ATIP, while chronic toxicity was more in the controls. CsA doses were reduced post-biopsy and resulted in improved graft function evaluated by serum creatinine. We conclude that CsA nephrotoxicity evaluated by allograft biopsy resulted in allograft function recovery by decreasing the cyclosporine dose, and the ATIP decreased the incidence of CsA nephrotoxicity.

Collapsing glomerulopathy (CG), characterized histologically by segmental/global glomerular capillary collapse, podocyte hypertrophy and hypercellularity and tubulo-interstitial injury; is characterized clinically by massive proteinuria and rapid progressive renal failure. CG is known to recur in renal allograft and rarely de novo. We report de novo CG 3 years post-transplant in a patient who received renal allograft from haplo-identical type donor.