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The fabrication of a heteroatom-doped nanocomposite based on cobalt oxide modified sulfur, phosphorus co-doped carbon nitride (Co3O4/SP-CN) with increased active sites is reported. The synthesized nanocomposite offers surprisingly high electrocatalytic oxidation efficacy toward human albumin (HA) despite its agglomeration. This improved efficacy of Co3O4/SP-CN nanocomposite could be attributed to its increased adsorption sites and surface defects, fast charge transportation capability, and conductivity. Additionally, morphological and compositional analysis of the fabricated Co3O4/SP-CN material has been performed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. The fabricated electrode shows remarkable amperometric response against the HA with a limit of detection of 8.39 nM and linear range of 20–4000 nM at applied potential of 0.25 V versus Ag/AgCl in 0.1 M PBS (pH 8.2). The designed Co3O4/SP-CN electrode has been successfully applied to monitor HA in urine samples of diabetic patient with recovery percentage from 94.1 and 92.1% and with relative standard deviation (RSD) values of 5.8 and 7.8%. According to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to use a Co3O4/SP-CN–based graphitic pencil (GP) electrode for monitoring of HA for early diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sinusitis is the inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the paranasal sinuses, and if symptoms and signs of sinusitis last for more than 12 weeks, it is categorized to be chronic. In this work, the characterization of cell mass/pellets of three bacterial strains, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus, which cause chronic sinusitis, was performed by surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). These bacteria that induce chronic sinusitis were cultured and isolated from the nasal swab of a patient and identified by the 16S rRNA sequences performed on isolated strains. The bacteria were characterized by their SERS characteristics, showing the potential of this method. SERS features at 594, 822, 831, 944, 1030, 1170, and 1268 cm−1 were the differentiating features of these bacteria. Moreover, multivariate data analysis was performed by principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares—discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) and shown to be suitable for the differentiation and classification of these bacteria. The spectral features were characterized by PCA for classification. PLS-DA was applied for further validation of differentiation which provides accuracy and sensitivity above 90% in all of the models. The area under curve (AUC) was near 1 for all PLS-DA models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel electrode based on orange peel derived C‐dots decorated CuO nanorods (CR@C‐dot) modified lead pencil (LP) electrode has been fabricated for highly sensitive and selective monitoring of dopamine (DA). Prior to the functionalization with C‐dot, electrochemical efficacy of CR was evaluated and compared with CuO nano‐needles (CN) and nano‐spheres (CS). The morphology, surface area and composition of synthesized nanoparticles was confirmed through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), N2‐adsorption‐desorption isotherm, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Our results indicated that CR has high electrocatalytic activity compared to CN and CS by expositing greater fraction of catalytic active sites, large surface area and short diffusion pathways. The electrochemical efficacy of CR is further enhanced by decorating with orange peel derived C‐dots, which surprisingly lead to the integrations of surface‐active sites with current collectors with minimum resistance by acting as an electron transport mediator and providing more surface defects. The developed CR@C‐dot sensor enables highly sensitive and selective recognition of DA detection (0.0007 μM), over good linear range (5–2250 μM) with rapid response time. the developed CR@C‐dot sensor was successfully used to monitor the DA from deboned chicken, thus suggesting reliability of the developed electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives: To record frequency of factors responsible for genital tract trauma in pregnant females undergoing vaginal delivery. Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional trial. Period: 18-11-2015 to 17-02-2016 (3 months). Settings: Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi. Material & methods: 100 cases with genital tract trauma during delivery (at hospital or referral) in the form of tears or laceration, which may be cervical, vaginal or perineal were included in the study. After third stage of labour, we examined vulva, vagina and cervix for presence of any tears/lacerations. The causative factors of lacerations/tears including mode of delivery (assisted/spontaneous) birth weight of the neonate (<4kg/>4kg), multiparous / primiparous and place of labour (referral/institutional) were recorded. Results: Mean age 28.88+3.41 years, cervical injury in 26% (n=26) cases, vaginal injury was present in 36% (n=36) and 38% (n=38) and findings of perineal injury. Risk factors causing genital tract trauma were recorded as 10%(n=10) had institutional place of labour while 90%(n=90) were delivered outside hospital through untrained health care providers, 24%(n=24) were primiparous while 76%(n=76) were multiparous, 69%(n=69) were delivered spontaneously, 31%(n=31) had assisted delivery, 67%(n=67) had >4kg fetal weight at birth while 33%(n=33) had <4kg weight of fetus at birth. Conclusion: Un-booked and birth outside hospital by unskilled health care workers was the significant risk factor responsible for genital tract trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To record the rate of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant females. Period: November 2015 to February 2016. Settings: Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi. Material & Methods: 200 pregnant females for regular pre-natal visits during 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy between 18-50 years of age were included. Sterile bottles were used to collect the urine sample from the patients and sent to the hospital laboratory for the evaluation of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant females. Results: We recorded most of the cases between 18-30 years of age i.e. 56%(n=112) whereas 44%(n=88) were between 31-50 years of age, mean+sd: 28.76+5.42 years. Frequency of asymptomatic bacteriuria was recorded in 22%(n=44). We found 21(23.86%) out of 88 cases had lower class, 15(23.44%) out of 64 cases had middle class, 7(17.95%) out of 39 cases had upper middle class while 1(11.11%) out of 9 cases had higher class. Conclusion: Asymptomatic bacteriuria is not an uncommon complication during pregnancy, however, regular screening may help to prevent and reduce this morbidity at early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]