Comparison of Urinary Biomarkers in Diagnosis of Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction and Differentiation from Nonobstructive Dilatation

Background and Aims

Differentiation of nonobstructive dilatation (NOD) from ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is a challenge in children with antenatally detected hydronephrosis. The aim of this study is to compare the utility of urinary biomarkers: carbohydrate antigen (CA 19-9), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and kidney injury molecule (KIM) in diagnosing UPJO.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted after obtaining ethical clearance between 2021 and 2022. Group 1 - control group (n = 30): children with normal antenatal ultrasound with no urinary symptoms. Group 2 - study group (n = 48): children with unilateral hydronephrosis: Group 2a - NOD (n = 24): children stable on ultrasound and diuretic renogram and Group 2b - UPJO (n = 24): children who worsened to Grade 4 hydronephrosis on ultrasound/worsening of differential renal function (10% drop) on renogram who underwent pyeloplasty. Urinary biomarkers NGAL, KIM-1, and CA 19-9 were measured using the enzyme-linked immune absorbent assay method.

Results

The urine CA 19-9 level was 128.05 ± 4.08 U/mL in the UPJO group, and this was significantly higher (P = 0.001) than NOD, 70.29 ± 4.41, and controls, 1.91 ± 1.57. The urine NGAL level was 21.41 ± 4.44 pg/mL in UPJO, and this was significantly higher than controls, 2.669 ± 0.513, but not NOD, 24.55 ± 2.67. The urine KIM level was 817 ± 15.84 pg/mL in the UPJO group, and this was significantly higher than controls, 285 ± 8.10, but not NOD, 768.23 ± 15.12. Receiver operating characteristic analysis of CA 19-9 revealed a urine biomarker cutoff of 95 U/mL for diagnosing UPJO (sensitivity 95%; specificity 96%; and area under the curve 0.99).

Conclusions

CA 19-9 is a superior marker compared to NGAL and KIM in differentiating UPJO from NOD. Further studies with larger numbers are warranted.

Solar-activated and hydrothermally synthesized effective rGO/Ag2S composites for the destruction of naphthol green B dye and antibacterial applications

Graphene-based nanocomposites are developing as a new class of materials with several uses. The varied weight percentages of rGO on Ag2S catalysts were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal process and employed for the decomposition of anionic dye naphthol green B (NGB) under solar light. The reduced graphene oxide-based silver sulfide (rGO/Ag2S) nanoparticles were then examined using XRD, SEM, EDS, HR-TEM, XPS, UV-DRS, and PL analysis. Using solar light, the photocatalytic activity of the produced catalyst was examined for the degradation of naphthol green B (NGB) in an aqueous solution. At pH 9, rGO/Ag2S is discovered to be more effective than the other catalysts for the NGB dye mineralization. Analyses have been conducted on the influence of operational parameters on the photo-mineralization of NGB, including the initial pH, initial dye concentration, and catalyst dosage. The dye concentration increased; the efficiency of photocatalytic degradation tended to decrease. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) studies have verified the NGB dye mineralization. Active species trapping revealed that holes, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide radicals all played major roles in the photocatalytic deterioration of NGB processes. Additionally, a potential mechanism of NGB dye degradation by rGO/Ag2S catalyst is presented. The synthesized compound was further evaluated for antibacterial activity, and the results indicated that rGO/Ag2S were potentially effective antibacterial agents.

Rational construction of MOF derived α-Fe2O3/g-C3N4 composite for effective photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction

In recent years, researchers have been actively investigating metal oxide-based materials with narrow bandgaps due to their potential applications toward wastewater treatment and oxygen evolution reactions (OER). In this study, we successfully synthesized g-C3N4 (GCN), Fe2O3, and Fe2O3/g-C3N4 (FGCN) using thermal polymerization and hydrothermal methods. We characterized the physicochemical and structural properties of these materials through various analytical techniques including XRD, FT-IR, UV-DRS, XPS, FE-SEM, and HR-TEM analyses, confirming the effective construction of the FGCN composite catalyst. We evaluated the photocatalytic activity of Fe2O3, GCN, and FGCN composite catalysts by assessing their ability to degrade rhodamine B (RhB) and crystal violet (CV) by exposing them to sunlight for 150 min. Among these catalysts, the FGCN composite demonstrated excellent photocatalytic performance, achieving 93 % and 95 % degradation of RhB and CV, respectively, under 150 min of sunlight exposure. The developed Fe2O3/g-C3N4@Nickel foam (FGCN@NF) composite catalyst exhibits remarkable OER performance, with a reduced Tafel slope of 64 mV/dec and a low overpotential of 290 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm2 and shows excellent durable performance over a long time (15 h). Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analysis confirmed the mineralization of both dyes. The photocatalytic performance remained largely unchanged after five consecutive experiments, demonstrating excellent reusability and photostability. Trapping experiments revealed that O2●- is the main species responsible for the photocatalytic decomposition of various dyes by the FGCN composite catalyst. Therefore, the development of a versatile photo/electrocatalytic system that can efficiently promote energy conversion in environmental applications has attracted great attention.

Improved Thermal Performance and Distillate of Conventional Solar Still via Copper Plate, Phase Change Material and CuO Nanoparticles

BACKGROUND

The world is currently facing a growing concern regarding freshwater scarcity, which has arisen as a result of a complex interplay of various factors. Renewable energy-powered water desalination is a feasible solution to address freshwater scarcity.

METHODS

This study presents a comprehensive investigation of the performance of a conventional solar still (CSS) and its modified versions, such as a still with copper plates, a still with PCM and a still with PCM and 3 wt% CuO nanoparticles blend. The experiments were carried out concurrently under identical circumstances for the CSS and the proposed stills. Prior to usage, the CuO nanoparticles and their blend with PCM were characterized through various analyses.

RESULTS

The investigation showcased the copper plate attached solar still with 3 wt% CuO nanoparticles blended with PCM significantly improved the distillate production, achieving approximately 6.85 kg/m2/day. This represents an increment of approximately 23.42% compared to the still with copper plate and PCM and 69.14% related to the CSS.

CONCLUSION

Moreover, the solar still with 3 wt% CuO nanoparticles blended with PCM demonstrated a thermal efficiency of 74.23% and an exergy efficiency of 9.75%. The production cost of distillate for all four stills remained at $0.03 per kg. These findings highlight the effectiveness of the proposed copper plate attached solar still with 3 wt% CuO nanoparticles blended with PCM as a viable method for producing potable water.

Fabrication of Bi2O3/Bismuth Titanates Modified with Metal-Organic Framework-In2S3/CdIn2S4 Materials for Electrocatalytic H2 Production and Its Photoactivity

Compositional and structural elucidation of the materials is important to know their properties, chemical stability, and electro-photoactivity. The heterojunction electrocatalyst and photocatalyst activity could open a new window for solving the most urgent environmental and energy problems. Here, for the first time, we have designed and fabricated Bi2O3/bismuth titanates modified with MOF-In2S3/CdIn2S4 materials by a stepwise process. The detailed structural elucidation and formation of mixed composite phases were studied in detail. It has been found that the formed composite was efficiently utilized for the electrocatalytic H2 production reaction and the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline. XRD patterns for the metal-organic framework-In2S3 showed a main compound of MOF, and it was assigned to a MIL-53 MOF phase, with a monoclinic structure. The addition of CdCl2 onto the MOF-In2S3 phase effectively produced a CdIn2S4 flower platform on the MOF rods. The uniform dispersion of the bismuth titanates in MOF-In2S3/CdIn2S4 materials is detected by mapping of elements obtained by dark-field HAADF-STEM. Finally, the predictions of how to integrate experiments and obtain structural results more effectively and their common development in new heterojunctions for electro-/photocatalytic applications are presented.

Highly Efficient Solar-Light-Active Ag-Decorated g-C3N4 Composite Photocatalysts for the Degradation of Methyl Orange Dye

In this study, we utilized calcination and simple impregnation methods to successfully fabricate bare g-C₃N₄ (GCN) and x% Ag/g-C₃N₄ (x% AgGCN) composite photocatalysts with various weight percentages (x = 1, 3, 5, and 7 wt.%). The synthesized bare and composite photocatalysts were analyzed to illustrate their phase formation, functional group, morphology, and optical properties utilizing XRD, FT-IR, UV-Vis DRS, PL, FE-SEM, and the EDS. The photodegradation rate of MO under solar light irradiation was measured, and the 5% AgGCN composite photocatalyst showed higher photocatalytic activity (99%), which is very high compared to other bare and composite photocatalysts. The MO dye degradation rate constant with the 5% AgGCN photocatalyst exhibits 14.83 times better photocatalytic activity compared to the bare GCN catalyst. This photocatalyst showed good efficiency in the degradation of MO dye and demonstrated cycling stability even in the 5th successive photocatalytic reaction cycle. The higher photocatalytic activity of the 5% AgGCN composite catalyst for the degradation of MO dye is due to the interaction of Ag with GCN and the localized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of Ag. The scavenger study results indicate that O₂^●- radicals play a major role in MO dye degradation. A possible charge-transfer mechanism is proposed to explain the solar-light-driven photocatalyst of GCN.

Layered KTO/BiOCl nanostructures for the efficient visible light photocatalytic degradation of harmful dyes

Novel KTO/BiOCl nanostructured photocatalysts with various weight proportions were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal process. The as-prepared nanostructured composite catalysts were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-vis diffused reflectance spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy with high resolution, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL). The photocatalytic activity of prepared catalysts was examined using Rhodamine B (RhB) and Congo Red (CR) as the aimed pollutants. BiOCl nanoparticles were distributed uniformly on the surface of the K₂Ti₄O₉ nanobelts. The optical properties showed that the layered titanate with BiOCl nanostructured photocatalyst displayed improved photoresponsivity due to the narrowed bandgap. The PL results showed that the greater inhibition of the electron-hole recombination process and KTO/BiOCl with a mass proportion of 20% revealed the most favorable photocatalytic behavior. The rate constant of RhB and CR degradation was five times as high as that of the bare BiOCl and titanate. The superior photocatalytic performance was attributed to the advancement of heterojunction between the KTO nanobelt and BiOCl. The KTO/BiOCl nanostructure is a promising visible, active photocatalyst, and the photocatalytic mechanism is discussed using the possible band structures of BiOCl and KTO.

Convenient and ultrasensitive detection of live Salmonella using ratiometric electrochemical molecular substrates

Salmonella contamination is a major concern in food and public health safety, and carrying out episodic monitoring of Salmonella contamination in food and water bodies is essential for safeguarding public health and the economy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an easy-to-operate Salmonella-targeting point-of-care detection platform. To this end, we designed two activity-based latent ratiometric electrochemical molecular substrates, denoted as Sal-CAF and Sal-NBAF, specifically for achieving easy, rapid, and selective profiling of Salmonella esterase (a Salmonella biomarker) under physiological conditions. The octyl esters of the substrates were cleaved by the esterase and triggered the trimethyl lock to eject the electron-rich aminoferrocene derivatives (CAF and NBAF), and the corresponding electrochemical signals were tracked at the negative region (-0.08 V vs Ag/AgCl) of the voltammetric spectrum. The Sal-CAF substrate was used to determine the concentration of Salmonella in a wide dynamic range (1.03 × 10⁵-1.1 × 10¹⁰ CFU mL^-1) with a low detection limit of 39.27 × 10³ CFU mL^-1. The developed probes were tested against various bacteria but were only activated by live Salmonella. Furthermore, the Sal-CAF probe was used directly in quantifying spiked live Salmonella spiked in milk samples and also used to effectively monitor and quantify Salmonella production in real-time. These achievements indicated the Sal-CAF probe to be a promising platform for point-of-care Salmonella analysis.

Utility of urinary biomarkers neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and kidney injury molecule-1 as a marker for diagnosing the presence of renal scar in children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR): A cross-sectional study

Aim:

To explore the possibility of using urinary biomarkers neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) to assess the presence of renal scars in children with Vesicoureteric Reflux (VUR).

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 94 children aged 0–16 years diagnosed with VUR in the Department of Pediatric Surgery, JIPMER. Urinary biomarkers were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits, normalized with urinary creatinine (Cr) and compared with severity of VUR (low grade [I and II] and high grade [III, IV, and V]), presence or absence of renal scar in VUR patients and severity of renal scar. Independent Student's t-test, Mann–Whitney U-test, and analysis of variance Kruskal–Wallis test were used for comparison, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for predicting the accuracy of biomarkers in detecting the presence of renal scars.

Results:

The median urinary NGAL (uNGAL) value was higher in children with renal scar (1.49 ng/mL) than those without renal scar (0.58 ng/mL) and was statistically significant (<0.001). Whereas median uNGAL/Cr was higher in children with renal scar (0.07) than those without renal scar (0.03) but was not statistically significant (P = 0.06). Urinary KIM-1 and urinary KIM-1/urinary Cr (uKIM-1/Cr) was not found to be a significant predictor of renal scar. The difference of uNGAL/Cr was comparable between the grades of renal scar but was not statistically significant. On ROC curve analysis, uNGAL had area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.769 with 71% of both specificity and sensitivity, whereas uNGAL/Cr was found to be a poor predictor of renal scar with AUC of 0.611, 60% sensitivity, and 61.2% specificity.

Conclusion:

uNGAL can serve as a noninvasive marker for diagnosing the presence of renal scar in children with VUR and a multicentric more extensive cohort study may be needed to strengthen or negate its role.

Ru/TiO₂ Nanostructured Catalysts: Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Activity Towards Hydrogenation of Ethyl Levulinate

Pristine TiO₂ and x% Ru/TiO₂ catalysts with different wt.% of Ru (x%= 1.5%, 2%, 2.5% and 3%) were synthesized using sol-gel and simple impregnation methods. Different characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), High-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and Thermogravimetry/Differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) were used to study the physicochemical and morphological properties. The XRD patterns of the as-prepared pristine TiO₂ catalyst showed high crystalline nature. The HR-TEM images revealed that the Ru nanoparticles (NPs) were evenly dispersed on the TiO₂ surface. The prepared catalysts were evaluated for their catalytic activity towards the liquid phase hydrogenation of ethyl levulinate under mild reaction conditions (ambient H2 pressure). Among the various catalysts, 2.5% Ru/TiO₂ catalyst showed the maximum catalytic activity of 79% ethyl levulinate (EL) conversion with 82% selectivity of γ-valerolactone (GVL). The recyclability test revealed that the most active 2.5% Ru/TiO₂ also showed the highest stability of the catalyst under optimized experimental conditions.

Degradation of Harmful Organics Using Visible Light Driven N-TiO₂/rGO Nanocomposite

Nitrogen doped titania over reduced form of graphene oxide (N-TiO₂/rGO) catalysts were synthesized by adopting single step hydrothermal route. All the prepared photocatalysts were thoroughly characterized by using different analytical tools such as XRD, Raman, UV-DRS, FE-SEM and HRTEM. The photocatalytic activities of bare and composite catalysts were evaluated towards the photocatalytic decolourisation/degradation of Methylene blue dye (MB) and Metronidazole antibiotic (MTZ) under visible electromagnetic radiation. Among all the synthesized catalysts, N-TiO₂/rGO composite catalyst showed the highest decolourisation/degradation activity towards both the dye and the antibiotic. The most active catalyst was also tested under UV and solar light irradiations which showed promising results. The stability of the most active catalyst (N-TiO₂/rGO) was examined by recyclability test. The possible photocatalytic mechanism was proposed for the composite catalyst.

3D Flower-like NiCo Layered Double Hydroxides: An Efficient Electrocatalyst for Non-Enzymatic Electrochemical Biosensing of Hydrogen Peroxide in Live Cells and Glucose in Biofluids

Herein, a hierarchical structure of flower-like NiCo layered double hydroxides (NiCo LDH) microspheres composed of three-dimensional (3D) ultrathin nanosheets was successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal approach. The formation of NiCo LDH was confirmed by various physicochemical studies, and the NiCo LDH-modified glassy carbon electrode was used as an efficient dual-functional electrocatalyst for non-enzymatic glucose and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) biosensor. The host matrix of hydrotalcite NiCo LDH exhibits the enhanced electrocatalytic sensing performances with a quick response time (<3 s), wide linear range (50 nM-18.95 mM and 20 nM-11.5 mM) and lowest detection limits (S/N = 3) (10.6 and 4.4 nM) toward glucose and H₂O₂, and also it exhibits good stability, selectivity, and reproducibility. In addition, this biosensor was successfully utilized to the real-time detection of endogenous H₂O₂ produced from live cells and glucose in various biological fluids, and demonstrates that the as synthesized NiCo LDH may provide a successful pathway for physiological and clinical pathological diagnosis.

Calyx to Parenchymal Ratio (CPR): An unexplored tool and its utility in the follow-up of pyeloplasty

INTRODUCTION

Antero-posterior trans pelvic diameter (APD) and renal scintigraphy play a significant role in the diagnosis of pelvi-ureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction and postoperative follow-up following pyeloplasty. However, the APD varies irrespective of improvement, deterioration, or preserved function in a hydronephrotic kidney and is not a reliable parameter due to various factors (hydration status, compliance, and reduction pyeloplasty). Calyx to Parenchymal Ratio (CPR) is the ratio of the depth of the calyx and parenchymal thickness measured on ultrasound (USG) in coronal image. We assessed the utility of CPR in the follow up of pyeloplasty and compared it with the commonly used APD of the pelvis and renal scintigraphy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective cohort study was done from July 2016 to October 2017. During this period 73 pyeloplasties were done, and 62 cases meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled. All the children underwent ultrasound and Technetium-99 m Ethylene dicysteine isotope renogram (EC) scan before and after pyeloplasty. APD and CPR values were measured on USG and compared with isotope renogram outcomes in these children in the preoperative versus postoperative period. Two defined objective variables ΔAPD, percent ΔAPD and ΔCPR, percent ΔCPR were compared with categorical variables that would predict the surgical outcome as - failed, successful or equivocal. Multinomial logistic regression analysis and receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was used to identify predictive accuracy.

RESULTS

The mean (range) APD value recorded in the preoperative period was 3.67 cm (1.40-8.00 cm), which decreased to 1.67 cm (0.40-6.50) postoperatively, which was 54.2% lower (P=<0.001). The mean (range) CPR value decreased from 5.96 (1.20-20.00) in the preoperative period to 2.57 (0.43-10.90) postoperatively, which was 56.8% lower (P=<0.001). On multinomial logistic regression analysis, ΔCPR was found to be a significant predictor of outcome with an overall accuracy of 95.1%, change in CPR was a better predictor of success after pyeloplasty as compared to change in APD, which had an overall accuracy of 85.2% (p = 0.01). Further, on ROC curve analysis, we observed that ΔCPR and %ΔCPR can strongly predict successful pyeloplasty with a sensitivity of each with 96% and 98% respectively and AUC of 0.897 and 0.799 respectively.

DISCUSSION

USG (APD) and renogram are the most widely used investigation in follow-up of pyeloplasty; however, APD has its own limitations like operator variability and slower improvement. CPR has the advantages that neither calyceal depth nor parenchymal thickness is directly altered during the surgery, and early resolution of calyceal dilatation and rapid parenchymal growth following pyeloplasty and thus a surgeon independent parameter. Our results have shown that ΔCPR can identify successful pyeloplasty with strong prediction than ΔAPD and thus renal scans can be avoided if there is visible improvement in CPR on follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study identified a change in CPR, i.e., ΔCPR as a strong predictor of surgical outcome, as it is not influenced by extent of pelvis reduction during pyeloplasty and early to change. Using this parameter, we can avoid unnecessary repeated nuclear scans based on persistent high APD values and optimize resource utilization. We recommend the use of CPR in routine practice in the preoperative and postoperative follow-up of PUJ obstruction following pyeloplasty.

Studies on physiochemical modifications on biologically important hydroxyapatite materials and their characterization for medical applications

Crystalline Hydroxyapatite (Ca10 (PO₄)₆(OH)₂) non linear optical crystal plays a major role in biomedical applications. Crystalline Hydroxyapatite was synthesized using natural human bone sample by thermal methods. This Hydroxyapatite was characterized by Fourier Transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope, UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and conductivity studies. It was found that compared to bovine bone, the changes to the molecular structure associated with the mineral (carbonate) and the organic content (collagen) was good. The sintering methods showed that the synthesized Hydroxyapatite has remarkable heat stability up to 750 °C. The XRD and FTIR results showed a high purity of the synthesized HA powders, in terms of the electronic transitions, in UV-Vis which require a certain amount of energy it is proportional to the wavelength absorbed and absorption coefficient, the optical band energy of the natural human bone is found to be 4.65 eV and the electrical conductivity of the bone material is 9.11 × 10^-6 Ω ^-1 cm^-1. Natural bone Hydroxyapatite gives superior results.

Electrochemical substrate for active profiling of cellular surface leucine aminopeptidase activity and drug resistance in cancer cells

Leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) is an essential proteolytic enzyme and potential biomarker for liver malignancy. Overexpression of LAP is directly linked with some fatal physiological and pathological disorders. In this regard, we have designed an activity based electrochemical substrate leucine-benzyl ferrocene carbamate (Leu-FC) for selective profiling of LAP activity in live cells. In practice, LAP instantaneously hydrolyze the Leu residue of the substrate Leu-FC to eliminate the unmasked electrochemical reporter amino ferrocene via predefined self-immolative cascade. The electrochemical signal is distinctly specific for LAP and free of other electroactive biological interference. The substrate Leu-FC empowered sensor displayed broad dynamic range with admirable detection limits. On top of this, the probe Leu-FC was employed in real-time active profiling of cellular LAP activity in HepG2 cells and effect of LAP inhibitor. In extent, the substrate Leu-FC can effectively monitor cisplatin induced overexpression of LAP activity in HepG2 cells in presence and absence of bestatin. The sensor showcased an excellent reliability towards monitoring cellular LAP activity in HepG2 cells. Unlike the traditional antibody-based immunoassays, our approach is capable of monitoring in-situ activity of LAP in live cells.

Correction: Catalytic transfer hydrogenation of biomass-derived levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone over Sn/Al-SBA-15 catalysts

Correction for ‘Catalytic transfer hydrogenation of biomass-derived levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone over Sn/Al-SBA-15 catalysts’ by Sakthivel Kumaravel et al., New J. Chem., 2020, 44, 8209–8222, DOI: 10.1039/D0NJ01288B.

Photocatalytic performance of visible active boron nitride supported ZnFe2O4 (ZnFe2O4/BN) nanocomposites for the removal of aqueous organic pollutants

ZnFe₂O₄/BN nanocomposites were synthesized using  solvothermal method. The microscopic images revealed uniform dispersion of ZnFe₂O₄ nanospheres on the surface of BN nanosheets. PL studies showed lower e⁻/h⁺ pair recombination.  ZnFe₂O₄/9.3% BN showed outstanding photocatalytic activity.

Catalytic transfer hydrogenation of biomass-derived levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone over Sn/Al-SBA-15 catalysts

The synthesized inexpensive catalysts show high catalytic transfer hydrogenation activity at ambient N₂ pressure under non-corrosive conditions. The Sn/Al-SBA-15 (25) catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic activity with 99% conversion of levulinic acid and 100% selectivity towards GVL.

FeMn layered double hydroxides: an efficient bifunctional electrocatalyst for real-time tracking of cysteine in whole blood and dopamine in biological samples

A peculiar clock-regulated design of FeMn-LDHs (FMH) with specific physiochemical attributes has been developed and used for highly sensitive detection of cysteine (CySH) and dopamine (DA).

Liquid Phase Esterification of Levulinic Acid into Ethyl Levulinate Over Sulphobenzylated Nanoporous Al-SBA-15 Catalyst

Value added chemicals, fuels, and fuel additives can be obtained from cheap bio masses such as levulinic acid. Levulinic acid is the dehydration and hydrolysis products of pentoses and hexoses. The present work deals with the synthesis of sulphobenzylated Al-SBA-15, [SO₃H-Bz-Al-SBA-15], characterization by various analytical techniques such as XRD, BET, FT-IR, TGA, DTA, FE-SEM/EDS and HR-TEM/EDX techniques and evaluation of catalytic activity towards esterifi-cation of levulinic acid to ethyl levulinate under mild and non corrosive conditions. Sulphonation of the aromatic ring of the benzyl group has been done in different amounts to get nanoporous x% SO₃H-Bz-Al-SBA-15 catalysts where (x ═ 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.10% w/w). Among them 0.08% SO₃H-Bz-Al-SBA-15 catalyst showed the highest conversion of levulinic acid (100%) with the highest selectivity towards ethyl levulinate (100%). Esterification of levulinic acid has been carried out with different primary alcohols and all of them yielded 100% selectivity towards alkyl levulinate. However conversion level of levulinic acid was found to be different with different alcohols. Reaction conditions have been optimized. The results were compared with other supported catalysts and discussed.

Facile Synthesis, Characterization and Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities of NiWO₄/Nitrogen Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites

In this study, we report the synthesis of NiWO₄/nitrogen doped reduced graphene oxide nano composite by one-pot hydrothermal method. The NiWO₄ nano particles were dispersed uniformly on graphene sheets. The as prepared NiWO₄, NiWO₄/5% rGO and NiWO₄/N-5% rGO composites were analytically characterized by Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS-UV), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherm. The photocatalytic performances of the synthesized composites were evaluated towards the photo degradation of congo red (CR) under visible light radiation. The synthesized catalysts showed remarkable photocatalytic activity in the degradation of CR. Among the catalysts NiWO₄/N-5% rGO showed the highest decolourization of congo red (92%) under visible light irradiation. This high activity is attributed to its high e^- transport property. Our results provide an invaluable methodology for designing high-performance photo-catalysts for new energy applications.

Facile synthesis of copper sulfide decorated reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite for high sensitive detection of toxic antibiotic in milk

The development of an effective technique for detecting antibiotic drugs remains a serious task due to their toxicity to public health. For this purpose, herein, we report an electrochemical detection based on Cu₂S nanosphere decorated reduced graphene oxide (RGO@Cu₂S NC) nanocomposite. A sonochemical-assisted method was adopted to prepare the nanocomposite. Subsequently, its morphological, elemental, and crystal structural aspects were analysed. The electrochemical properties were examined in order to ensure the material's suitability in electrocatalytic sensing. RGO@Cu₂S NC affixed screen-printed electrode was found to exhibit tremendous electrocatalytic capability toward chloramphenicol (CAP) reduction. A sensitive and reproducible amperometric CAP sensor was fabricated which was able to detect concentration at the nanomolar level. The method worked well even in real samples (fresh milk samples) and the results are evaluated by HPLC method and amperometric methods.

Solvent Free Transesterification of Glycerol Into Glycerol Carbonate Over Nanostructured CaAl Hydrotalcite Catalyst

Drastic increase in green house gases due to fossil fuels usage urges the mankind to look for alternative fuel resources. Biodiesel is one of the alternative fuels which attracted the attention of many researchers. In recent years, bio-diesel drags much attention as an alternative clean fuel. Glycerol is an unavoidable byproduct in the transesterification process of vegetable oils into bio diesel and therefore market is flooded with glycerol. So it is high time to find ways of utilizing the abundant glycerol into value added products. Herein we report the catalytic transesterification of glycerol using dimethyl carbonate over MgAl-hydrotalcite (MgAl-HT), CaAl-hydrotalcite (CaAl-HT) and nano structured CaAl-HT catalysts. All the catalysts were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TPD-CO2, BET, SEM and HR-TEM techniques. Among them Ca4Al-HT was found to be best in terms of conversion of glycerol (82.4%) and selectivity (95.9%) towards glycerol carbonate. The effect of CTAB template concentration in the nano synthesis of Ca4Al-HT on conversion and selectivity was studied and Ca4Al-HT synthesized with 0.4 moles of CTAB showed the best conversion of glycerol (98.7%) and the highest selectivity towards glycerol carbonate (97.9%). The recyclability test performed with the best catalyst showed that the catalyst was recyclable even after 5 cycles. Valorization of glycerol yields glycerol carbonate (GC) which is a very good polar solvent with high boiling point, building block in several organic syntheses and used in the production of surfactants, poly urethanes etc.

Bowel Lymphoma in Children: Management and Outcome

Background: Primary bowel lymphoma is an uncommon neoplasm in children and not well documented in literature with regard to its outcome and management. Materials and Methods: A case record review of children with bowel lymphoma was undertaken in a tertiary care institute, from 2010 to 2016 and the relevant data were recorded. Results: 21 children were managed with bowel lymphoma over a period of 7 years. Pain abdomen was the most common presenting symptom (19/21). Ileum was the site of involvement in most children (17/21). Localised disease was seen in 13/21 while 8 had diffuse involvement. Predominantly (13/21) children presented at an advanced stage (III/IV). Surgical intervention was needed in 14/21 while 7/21 were managed only with chemotherapy. Majority (15/21) had Burkitt's lymphoma on histology. 13 of 21 (61.9%) have completed chemotherapy and on regular follow up. Among 8 who died, 6 were directly related to disease progression despite aggressive management. Conclusion: Bowel lymphoma in children is distinctly different in the site of presentation from that of the adults. Advanced stage at presentation portends poor prognosis. Bowel lymphoma is to be considered in case of recurrent intussusception in children.

Delay and misdiagnosis of basidiobolomycosis in tropical South India: case series and review of the literature

Basidiobolomycosis caused by Basidiobolus ranarum is a rare infection of the subcutaneous tissues in immune-competent patients which occurs predominantly in children and young adults. Primary physicians often misdiagnose the condition owing to its slow, painless, relentless growth, absence of response to antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs and unfamiliarity with this lesion. All cases of subcutaneous basidiobolomycosis in children aged between 1 and 12 years presenting at a tertiary hospital in Pondicherry over a period of 4 years (2007-2011) were analysed. Eight cases were seen and confirmed by histopathology and microbiology. Referral diagnoses varied widely from chronic abscess to tuberculosis to malignancy, including testicular tumour. Lesion sites include the gluteal region, thigh and scrotum (extremely rare). Four weeks of oral itraconazole in seven children and fluconazole (5 mg/kg) in one cured them completely. During follow-up for over 1 year, no recurrence or new lesions were noted. Basidiobolomycosis is a rare, often misdiagnosed infection in children which responds well to triazole antifungals such as itraconazole and fluconazole.

Oxidative esterification of furfural over Au–Pd/HAP-T and Au–Ag/HAP-T bimetallic catalysts supported on mesoporous hydroxyapatite nanorods

Core–shell (Au–Pd) and alloy (Au–Ag) architectured bimetallic mesoporous hydroxyapatite nano rods in the oxidative esterification of furfural.

Identification, quantification of bioactive constituents, evaluation of antioxidant and in vivo acute toxicity property from the methanol extract of Vernonia cinerea leaf extract

CONTEXT

Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less [Compositae (Asteraceae)] is used traditionally for several medical purposes such as inflammation, pain, fever, and cancer.

OBJECTIVES

The present study identified the bioactive constituents in the methanol extract of Vernonia cinerea leaf and evaluated its antioxidant activity and acute toxicity.

METHODS

The identification of phytochemicals was accomplished by GC-MS and the major antioxidant phenolic compounds in the extract were quantified by HPTLC analysis. To quantify the essential elements, atomic absorption spectrophotometeric analysis was carried out. Total phenol and flavonoid content was measured by Folin-Ciocalteau reagent and 2% aluminium chloride, respectively.

RESULTS

GC-MS analysis identified the presence of 27 phytoconstituents. The predominant phenolic compound in the extract as quantified by HPTLC was gallic acid (1.92 mg/g) followed by rutin (0.705 mg/g), quercetin (0.173 mg/g), caffeic acid (0.082 mg/g) and ferulic acid (0.033 mg/g). The following elements were quantified: Fe (0.050 ppm), Mn (0.022 ppm), Co (0.0180 ppm), Pb (0.029 ppm), Hg (3.885 ppm) and Se (4.5240 ppm). The antioxidant activity of the extract increased with increasing concentration and the correlation (r²) for all in vitro assays were satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONS

V. cinerea extract has significant (p < 0.05) antiradical activity. Hence, V. cinerea may have potential medicinal value and can be used in the formulation of pharmacological products for degenerative diseases.

Chronic nonhealing ulcer in a finger of a toddler--a rare presentation of the hair thread tourniquet syndrome

BACKGROUND

Hair-thread tourniquet syndrome is caused by a strand of hair or thread tightly wrapped around an appendage. Affected parts include toes, phallus, fingers, clitoris, labia and even uvula. This disorder can be quite serious if not promptly recognized and treated; permanent tissue damage or even loss of the appendage can occur.

MATERIAL

A rare and delayed presentation of hair-thread tourniquet syndrome as a non-healing, discharging ulcer in a two-year-old child is presented.

RESULTS

Identification of the fiber with loupes, complete removal of the fiber, and a dorsal longitudinal incision made to ensure complete release of any fibrotic constriction bands were the components of successful management in this child.

CONCLUSIONS

Successful treatment depends on prompt recognition of the problem and alleviation of constriction, be it simple removal of the offending agent or surgical exploration and release. Medical professionals caring for children and parents should be made aware of the signs and symptoms of this rare but dangerous condition to ensure early diagnosis and prompt appropriate management.

Successful treatment of extensive basidiobolomycosis with oral itraconazole in a child

BACKGROUND

Basidiobolomycosis is a rare chronic subcutaneous infection caused by Basidiobolus ranarum, which is usually treated with potassium iodide. Extensive deforming lesions in children can occur owing to lack of early diagnosis and/or inappropriate treatment.

CASE REPORT

An 8-year-old girl child presented to us with extensive deforming plaque-like lesions over the left thigh and leg with multiple ulcerations of 1 year's duration. Histopathology was suggestive of subcutaneous zygomycosis with Splendore Hoeppli phenomenon. Microscopic examination of the tissue showed branching, sparsely septate fungal hyphae on a 10%KOH mount, and culture yielded Basidiobolus ranarum. The patient was initially treated with potassium iodide for 6 weeks to which only a poor response was observed. Itraconazole therapy resulted in rapid regression of the lesions and complete resolution after 15 weeks of therapy. She continues to be disease-free at 1 year of follow up.

CONCLUSIONS

This case report highlights that in an older child even longstanding extensive basidiobolomycosis can be safely treated with itraconazole. Surgery is not usually necessary in these patients.

Y-type urethral duplication: an unusual variant of a rare anomaly

Urethral duplications are rare anomalies. We present a 3-year-old continent boy passing urine since birth per anus while voiding from penis. Micturating cystourethrogram, retrograde urethrogram and cystoscopy revealed a Y connection between the posterior urethra and anal canal. The accessory channel was excised by a perineal approach. Histopathology revealed that the tract was lined by transitional epithelium, proving that it was indeed a case of urethral duplication; hence, we suggest that all urethroanal fistulas are not variants of anorectal malformations. Certain of these fistulas should be considered as variants of Y-type urethral duplication even if the orthotopic urethra is normal.

Neoplastic transformation of chronic ulcers in leprosy patients--a retrospective study of 23 consecutive cases

A retrospective analysis of chronic ulcers among leprosy patients seen over the last 20 years yielded 23 cases of neoplastic transformation. It showed a peak at the sixth decade, an incidence of 3.66/100 among hospitalised ulcer cases and male/female ratio of 1.6:1. Borderline tuberculoid was the most common type of leprosy involved (40%). Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common neoplasia. Its usual site was plantar ulcers. Heel ulcers showed relatively greater predeliction for malignancy (38.5%). Histopathological proof of malignancy is desirable and that may require multiple biopsies. Metastasis is rare but potentially fatal. The surgical treatment must provide a functional, trouble-free limb. Forefoot or Lisfranc's amputation for distal third ulcers and below-knee amputation for large midfoot and ulcers are procedures of choice. Wide excision may be used in select cases.

Structural organization, amplification, deletion and rearrangements of DNA sequences associated with an unstable region of the chromosome of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

The chromosome of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) carries unstable DNA sequences hybridising with DNA sequences from an unstable chromosomal region of the related species S. lividans. These S. coelicolor sequences are nearly identical to those of S. lividans TK23 in organisation but differ from those of S. lividans 66 TK64 which harbours a tandem duplication of these sequences. Southern hybridisations using heterologous probes and S. coelicolor DNA cleaved with a variety of restriction enzymes permitted us to construct a partial restriction map of the unstable region of the chromosome of S. coelicolor. Genetic analysis shows that the unstable region yields distinguishable variants with several distinct DNA rearrangements.

Deamplification and deletion of amplified DNA in Streptomyces lividans and S. fradiae

Streptomyces lividans arginine auxotrophs which show amplification of a 5.7-kb DNA sequence, arose at a very high frequency, varying from 10% to 25% of Cmls spores. The amplifiable DNA sequence was shown to be stable over many generations. However, treatment of Cmls arg mutants with subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics such as spectinomycin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, thiostrepton and kanamycin, either during sporulation or during vegetative growth of mycelia, led to the deletion of the entire amplified DNA sequence, including the left and right junction sequences. Depending upon the method of antibiotic treatment a reduction in the copy number of the amplified DNA was also observed. This reduction in copy number apparently occurred without drastically affecting the basic structure of the amplifiable unit of DNA. This phenomenon appears to be universal since deamplification and deletion were observed also in S. fradiae. Further, spontaneous arg mutants arose at much lower frequency from spectinomycin-pretreated Cmls cells compared to untreated cells. These arg mutants isolated in the presence of spectinomycin did not show amplification of the 5.7-kb sequence. Southern blot analysis using the 5.7-kb probe showed that the entire DNA sequence homologous to the amplifiable DNA sequence had been deleted.