Search

Mushrooms are an important aspect of the human diet, and their popularity has increased over the years. Pleurotus ostreatus (P. ostreatus) is the most commonly consumed mushroom by rural dwellers in South Western Nigeria, perhaps based on their nutritive value and health-enhancing benefits. Pleurotus is a genus of about 40 mushroom species popularly referred to as "oyster mushrooms." P. ostreatus is one of several Pleurotus species widely consumed for their flavour, nutritional value, and medicinal properties. Polysaccharides, proteins, peptides, triterpenoids, lectins, lipids, and their derivatives are all found in the P. ostreatus mushroom, in addition to its essential therapeutic components. P. ostreatus, commonly consumed as food or food supplement, has been reported in folklore for its antihypertensive property with limited scientific proof. This review emphasizes the excellent nutritional value of P. ostreatus mushroom.

Background: Probiotics constitute the viable and beneficial microbes, which offer a dietary means to sustain the balance of gastro-intestinal (GI) microflora. Owing to their multiple health benefits, these have recently gained wide attention among researchers for exploring their potential in safeguarding the health of humans and animals. Probiotics could also modulate host-immune responses, thereby help in counteracting the immunological dysfunctions. Probiotics can inhibit the systemic invasion of pathogens entering through the GI mucosa/ oral cavity and have been found to possess effective prophylactic and therapeutic utilities against various infectious pathogens as well as non-infectious diseases and disorders. Objective: The present review expedites the role of probiotics in curing the ailments related to allergic and inflammatory disease conditions. Method: A thorough reviewing of the literature and patents available on probiotics and their role in countering inflammation and allergy was conducted using authentic published resources available on Medline, PubMed, PubMed Central, Science Direct and other scientific databases. The information retrieved has been compiled and analysed pertaining to the theme of the study. Results: Various micro-organisms have been evaluated for their probiotic efficacy, among these, the lactic acid bacteria viz. Lactobacillus sp. and Bifidobacterium sp. have extensively been studied and widely exploited. In the current post-globalized era of self and complementary medicines, the concept of probiotics and their therapeutic as well as prophylactic usage is gaining wide acceptance. As more and more bacterial strains are being proven for their pronounced influence on down regulation of immune regulation, atopic, inflammatory conditions, the use of probiotics is getting increased especially in the developed countries where such indications are high in prevalence. Apart from usage in immune related disorders, probiotics have been found to be effective in treating pouchitis, infantile diarrhoea due to infections, bacterial vaginosis, urinary tract infections, dental carries, diabetes, cancers as well augmenting the gut mucosal tolerance to various antibiotics and lactose intolerance. Conclusion: The resent review gives an insight towards potent utility of this branch of beneficial microbial therapy in allergy and inflammations, which is still in the emerging phase and more scientific evidences need to be explored regarding exploration of the mechanisms of action, further experimental trials and validation of controlled clinical studies in humans along with designing novel strategies for monitoring the possible microbial changes in their composition and metabolism associated with their interaction upon host immune system.

Background: Research in to transparent super-hydrophobic surfaces is of considerable interest in the present scenario, as it finds plenty of applications in both fundamental research and industry. An extensive scattering of propagated light may take place through super hydrophobic surfaces because of very high surface roughness. Transparency and super hydro-phobicity are general conflicting properties whereby; the main requirement to satisfy both these properties is the precise control of roughness. Further, the wettability of the surface is another important property of the material that depends on both the surface composition and its roughness. Methods: Approaches for fabrication of transparent super-hydrophobic surfaces may be categories as; bottom-up, top-down, and combination of bottom-up with top-down approaches. Bottom-up approaches encompass mostly self-assembly and self-organization such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition, hydrogen bonding and colloidal assemblies. Top-down approaches involve lithographic and template-based techniques, as well as surface plasma treatment. Methods combining bottom-up with top-down approaches include casting of polymer solution, phase separation, and electro-spinning. Results: Present work reviews the preparation of transparent superhydrophobic surfaces by following different techniques and the developments over the years. This paper deals with the detailed discussion regarding the origins of water-repellent surfaces, examining how the surface characteristics can be controlled by using the shape and size of surface features, in particular, how techniques have progressed to create multiscaled roughness to mimic the lotus leaf effect. Conclusion: With the availability of several methods to fabricate superhydrophobic surfaces and coatings, important applications for super-hydro-phobicity have been identified but the use of super-hydrophobic surfaces at the large scale is still lacking due to the poor wear resistance. Artificial superhydrophobic surfaces are not able to recover and heal the damages, due to abrasion. Further, the fabrication of robust surfaces is one of the major points to be focused with super- hydrophobic and other functional surfaces, which can withstand in wearing conditions. Long-term durability and wear resistance, which are the key issues with super-hydrophobic cotton clothes, is another major challenge with super-hydrophobic surfaces. However, the use of paper products in superhydrophobic coatings is quite different from cotton fabrics due to the difference in their quality and manufacturing. Therefore, the varied nature of the substrate materials, demands to seek new methods which are suitable for mass production of super- hydrophobic surfaces than to focus on the durability of surface.

Vertically aligned Pd 2Si nanowires with Pd on tip have been grown using microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition system in hydrogen atmosphere with high degree of reproducibility. High resolution scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy show the growth of nanowire structures via root growth in vapor−liquid−solid (VLS) mechanism where hydrogen acts as catalyst for silicide formation with Pd-hydride being the dominant moving species in the microwave environment.

Palladium nanostructures with variation in shape and size have been synthesized using an electrochemical deposition method. Cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry have been used to study the growth of Pd nanoparticles on Si substrates and tungsten wire. Different sets of solutions containing PdCl2, Pd(NO3)2, and PdSO4,respectively, have been used to grow the Pd nanoparticles. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to visualize the Pd nanostructures on various substrates. The Pd nanostructures were used as a catalyst to grow the multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) by a microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition method. Dependence of the Pd nanoparticle shape on the architecture of MWCNTs is discussed. Carbon nanotubes were also grown on the tungsten tips. Development of Pd into Pd2Si during growth of MWCNT on Pd-coated Si has been studied. The nanotubes were observed to be filled by Pd2Si. Raman spectroscopy has been used to study the structure of the Pd2Si filled carbon nanotubes.

Molecular conductance λm, relative viscosity and density of oxalicacid at different concentration in dilute aqueous solution were measured at 293 K.The conductance data were used to calculate the value association constant.Viscosity and density data were used to calculate the A and B coefficient ofJone-Dole equation and apparent molar volume respectively. The viscosityresults were utilized for the applicability of Modified Jone-Dole equation andStaurdinger equations. Mono oxalate anion acts, as structure maker and thesolute-solvent interaction were present in the dilute aqueous oxalic acid.

A fractured central venous catheter (CVC) with embolization of the distal fragment may lead to life-threatening complications. We had inserted a right subclavian CVC in a 68-year-old female which upon a follow-up chest X-ray appeared to have been sheared. A guidewire was inserted through the CVC until the J-tip was just beyond the tip of the CVC which were then withdrawn as a single assembly. We suspected that the tip of the guidewire might have been entrapped in the opening of the middle port, which upon withdrawal of the guidewire could have led to CVC folding upon itself and shearing.

The trivalent derivatives (B, Al, As, Sb & Fe) and tetravalent derivatives (Si, Ti & Se) of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acid have been prepared by the interaction of their corresponding isopropoxide with letter in different molar ratio viz. 1:3 &1:4 in benzene medium. The prepared compounds generally obtained as coloured solids and amongst them those containing isopropoxy groups were found to be hygroscopic. All these compound were characterized by azeotrope and elemental analysis as well as by IR, PMR and mass spectral measurements. These spectral data have facilitated in elucidating the mode of bonding of the said metals and non-metals in these compounds with 2-hydroxy-1-naphthoic acid.

Study Design: This retrospective study reviewed the screening practice and seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) among all mothers with live births at a teaching hospital in Montreal between November 1, 1990 and April 30, 1991.Results: Most women (94%) were screened prenatally and 5.2% postnatally. Screening status could not be determined for 0.8% of women. One-quarter of all postnatal screening results were available only at 48 h or more postdelivery. No infants born to women with postnatal screening or to women with unknown screening status were immunized expectantly. The maternal seroprevalence was 1.08% (95% confidence interval from 0.6, 1.4). All 22 infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers had received hepatitis B immune globulin within 12 h of birth and the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine within 24 h. Follow-up of infants revealed that only 50% had received the second and third doses according to the recommended protocol, with 83% completing the immunization series.Conclusion: These results indicate that a program of prenatal HBsAg screening and neonatal prophylaxis against hepatitis B can be successfully instituted in a high volume obstetric hospital, and that better monitoring of infants is required to ensure completion of vaccination.