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Environmental remediation is challenged by the removal of harmful heavy metal contaminants from industrial waste streams. Because of its low cost and great effectiveness, adsorption is a commonly used separation method, particularly in environmental cleanup. Inexpensive, biodegradable orange peel-chitosan and Fe3O4 magnetic particles (Fe3O4-OP-CS) were combined in a simple process to create an innovative composite. Their structure and morphology were studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analyses. At room temperature, adsorption experiments were conducted, and variables such pH, initial metal ion concentration, and contact time were tuned to maximize Cd(II) removal. The results of harmful Cd(II) sorption using the synthesized composite showed that its adsorption kinetics and sorption isotherm confirm to the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, respectively. The thermodynamic analysis showed that Cd(II) adsorption is exothermic and spontaneous. In comparison to previously reported materials, the new composite also displayed a high adsorption capacity (qmax) of 251.88 mg/g. The composite showed three cycles of reuse and might still be able to promise a maximum saturated adsorption capacity of more than 92%, and tolerance to related metal ions (Mn, Fe, Pb, and Cr) present in Cd (II). In addition to Cd(II) sorption for preconcentration and remediation before Cd testing from waste, digested tobacco, and battery samples, the proposed method is also credible for Cd(II) sorption.

Purpose: To detect and identify the aetiological agent in the peripheral blood from the cases of neonatal sepsis., Materials and Methods: Four neonates from geographically different regions of South India presented with signs of neonatal sepsis and all the routine clinical and laboratory investigations were performed. Blood culture by Bac T Alert 3D was negative. To establish the aetiology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for eubacterial genome and subsequent amplification with Gram positive and Gram negative primers were performed followed by deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing., Results: PCR for the detection of eubacterial genome was positive in all the four neonates and further amplification with designed Gram positive and Gram negative primers revealed the presence of Gram negative bacteria. The amplicons were identified as Orientia tsutsugamushi in three neonates and Coxiella burnetti in the other neonate. Multalin analysis was done to further characterise the strain variation among the three strains., Conclusion: PCR-based DNA sequencing is a rapid and reliable diagnostic tool to identify the aetiological agents of neonatal sepsis. This is the first case series of emerging Rickettsial neonatal sepsis in India .

Purpose: To present the first 3 cases of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), unresponsive to medical treatment, that were successfully treated with a novel adjunctive therapy using ultraviolet light A (UVA) and riboflavin (B2)., Design: Interventional case series., Participants: Two patients with confirmed AK and 1 patient with presumptive AK, which were all refractive to multidrug conventional therapy., Intervention: Two treatment sessions involving topical application of 0.1% B2 solution to the ocular surface combined with 30 minutes of UVA irradiation focused on the corneal ulcer., Main Outcome Measures: Clinical examination by slit lamp, confocal microscopy, and histopathology, when available., Results: All patients in these series showed a rapid reduction in their symptoms and decreased ulcer size after the first treatment session. The progress of the clinical improvement began to slow after 1 to 3 weeks of the first application and was then renewed after the second application. All ancillary signs of inflammation mostly resolved after the second treatment session. The ulcers in all patients continued to decrease and were closed within 3 to 7 weeks of the first application. Two patients developed dense central corneal scars, and penetrating keratoplasty was performed for visual rehabilitation. Histopathologic examination of the excised tissue revealed no Acanthamoeba organisms. The remaining patient had no symptoms or signs of infection, both clinically and by confocal microscopy, and was left with a semitransparent eccentric scar that did not affect visual acuity., Conclusions: The adjunctive use of UVA and B2 therapy seems to be a possible alternative for selected cases of medication-resistant AK., (Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of Nicorandil in preventing no-flow/slow reflow phenomenon in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary PCI., Materials and Methods: From September 2004 to October 2005, 29 patients underwent a primary percutaneous coronary intervention and stenting with nicor-andil as a protocol drug at a dose of 1 mg/hour - this drug was titrated upwards to maximum tolerated dose, with a 2 mg intracoronary bolus given after balloon inflation during PCI. LAD was the infarct related artery in 62% of cases. 72.4% of them had a TIMI thrombus grade of 5. The corrected TIMI frame count following primary percutaneous intervention in the Nicorandil arm was 19.54 + 8.7. None of the patients had a no flow or slow reflow phenomenon with this protocol. One patient developed a subacute stent thrombosis necessitating a revascularization. At a mean follow up of 251 +/- 96.7% days, MACE was not reported in the other patients. Thirty four patients underwent a primary percutaneous coronary intervention and stenting without nicorandil as an adjuvant drug. Some of these patients were retrospectively assessed. They have been followed up for 285.4 +/- 264.6 days. LAD was the infarct related artery in 61.8% of cases while 79.5% of them had a TIMI thrombus grade of 5. The corrected TIMI frame count in this group was 23.9 +/- 17.5 (p <0.56). MACE was reported in 5 of these patients. The mean TIMI frame count for these 5 patients was 40.5 +/- 29.2. Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors were given to all patients in both groups. The choice of the agent used was left to the discretion of the operator., Conclusion: Nicorandil prevents no-flow/slow reflow phenomenon in patients undergoing primary PCI for acute myocardial infarction. This is shown by a lower corrected TIMI frame count in the nicorandil arm (p < 0.56). Reduction in the incidence of no-flow/slow reflow phenomenon translates into a lower MACE. The drug is safe and does not require intensive monitoring. It must be started early and electively in patients undergoing a primary PCI as a strategy to prevent no-flow rather than to treat this phenomenon.

Saksenaea vasiformis is an emerging human pathogen, most often associated with cutaneous or subcutaneous lesions following trauma. This is the report of a case of subcutaneous zygomycosis from which Saksenaea vasiformis was isolated on culture. As the patient developed acute interstitial nephritis, amphotericin B could not be administered in full dose. Surgical debridement was carried out, but the patient deteriorated gradually and died. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Zygomycosis due to Saksenaea vasiformis from Visakhapatnam.