Search

Introduction: Neonatal death due to infections is still a great concern worldwide. Umbilical cord related infections play significant role in the neonatal mortality specially in very low birth weight infants, mother chorioamnionitis and premature rupture of membranes. It is associated with umbilical colonization, delayed separation and poor hygiene. In the current study, effect of topical breast milk usage with dry cord care on separation time, complications and colonization were compared. Methods This is a randomized clinical-trial on 150 very low birth weight neonates in 2016-18. Patients' were divided in two groups; Group-M (N = 73) (3–4 drops of maternal breast milk were dropped on the umbilical cord stump within eight hours of birth and went on every eight hours until 48-hours after cord separation) and Group-D (N = 77) (the umbilical cord was drought gradually in open air). Umbilical cord culturing was performed from cord stump within 2–4 hours after delivery, three days after birth and at the day of separation. Cords were assessed considering omphalitis, bad smell, exudates formation and granulation tissue. Results Neonates of two groups were not statistically different regarding separation time (P = 0.09), incidence of omphalitis (P = 0.16), bad odor (P > 0.99), exudative secretions (P = 0.97), granulation tissue (P = 0.96) and sepsis (P = 0.13). In addition, hospitalization duration (P = 0.71), time to reach full enteral feeding (P = 0.31) and death (P > 0.99) were not statistically different. Three times cultures derived from two groups presented no significant difference (P > 0.05). Conclusion Based on findings of the current study, neither topical breast milk nor dry cord care was superior considering separation, associated complications and colonization. As neonatal death is still a serious concern worldwide and lacking of unanimous approach for prevention of cord related complications, further studies are strongly recommended.

The objective of this study was to investigate the adsorption of diclofenac (DF) and cephalexin (CPX) by Anthriscus sylvestris-derived activated biochar. The raw biochar (R-BC) and activated biochar (ACT-B) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy and elemental analyses techniques to obtain information regarding the morphology, functional groups and elements of the adsorbents. Batch studies were carried out to examine the effect of various operational parameters. The maximum adsorption capacity of ACT-B was 392.94 mg g−1 for DF and 724.54 mg g−1 for CPX. The removal of DF and CPX was influenced by temperature and the co-existing ions. The kinetic data fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, whereas the isotherm data showed the best correlation with Langmuir isotherm model. Electrostatic adsorption, hydrophobic interaction and π-π bonding play a key role in adsorption of both adsorbates by ACT-B. Additionally, column studies were conducted using ACT-B at different flow rates and different concentrations of DF and CPX to investigate the practical applicability of ACT-B in removal of the target contaminants. Thus, this study provides a feasible approach to synthesize activated biochar that can minimize pharmaceuticals pollution in water bodies.

In the present study, biosorption of chromium (Cr(VI)) ions and Naphthol blue black (NBB) dye using Moringa oleifera seed pods powder (MPP) as green biosorbent was investigated. Three different sizes of MPP viz. fine fraction (53 μm), coarse fraction (250 μm) and mixed fraction were investigated. The biosorbent was characterized by pHzpc, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to get an insight of the surface charge, functional groups, and morphology of the biosorbent, respectively. The biosorption studies were conducted with Cr(VI) and NBB dye and different parameters, such as solution pH, contact time, initial concentration of the pollutant, adsorbent dosage and co-existing ions were examined. Experimental results revealed that the maximum removal of Cr(VI) and NBB dye was observed at pH 1 and 2, respectively and the equilibrium was achieved in ca. 180 min. The removal efficiency of Cr(VI) by fine, mixed and coarse fraction was 91.8, 74.9, 52.6%, respectively, whereas for NBB dye, the removal efficiency for the same fractions was 97.5, 33.6, 18.9%, respectively. The removal efficiency of Cr(VI) and NBB dye was influenced in the presence of competing ions. The biosorption isotherm and kinetic data were best correlated with Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetic model, respectively. Column studies were also conducted with MPP by studying different flow rates and adsorbates concentrations to check the practical applicability of MPP in removing target metal and dye pollutants.

Objective: This study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of enteral supplementation of a prebiotic mixture (SCGOS/LCFOS) on faecal microbiota in very premature infants who fed exclusively with human-milk. Methods: This double-center randomized control trial was conducted from December 2012 to November 2013 in the tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Units of the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Fifty preterm infants (birth weight ≤1500 g who were not fed with formula) were randomly allocated to have enteral (tube feeding) supplementation with a prebiotic mixture (SCGOS/LCFOS; 9:1) or receive no prebiotics. Findings: The primary outcome (e.g., the effect of the prebiotic mixture on fecal microbiota pattern) was clearly different between the two groups. Despite greater coliforms colony counts in first stool cultures in the prebiotic group (Group P) (P = 0.67), coliforms were significantly lower in the third stool cultures in the Group P (P < 0.001). Furthermore, despite the much higher Lactobacillus colony counts, in the first stool cultures, in the control group (Group C) (P = 0.005); there was a trend toward significantly increased Lactobacillus colony counts in the Group P during the study, but the difference between Lactobacillus colony counts, in the third stool cultures, between two groups was no longer statistically significant (P = 0.11). Interestingly, the median length of hospital stay was significantly less in the Group P (16 [12.50–23.50] vs. 25 [19.50–33.00] days; P = 0.003). Conclusion: This suggests that it might have been “the complete removal of formula” which manifests a synergistic effect between nonhuman neutral oligosaccharides (prebiotics) and human oligosaccharides, which in turn, led to the rapid growth of beneficial Lactobacillus colonies in the gut of breast milk-fed preterm infants, while decreasing the number of pathogenic coliforms microorganisms. Therefore, further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to investigate the issue.

The reaction between (4-nitrobenzoylmethylene)triphenylphosphorane Pd(II) complex [Pd{κ(2)(C,C)-C₆ H₄PPh₂C(H)CO(C₆ H₄NO₂-4)}(μ-Cl)]₂ and excess of NaN₃ resulted in the μ-N₃ bridged Pd(II) complex [Pd{κ(2)(C,C)-C₆H₄PPh₂C(H)CO(C₆ H₄NO₂-4)}(μ-N₃)]₂ (1), which underwent bridge cleavage reactions with monodentate ligands to afford the monomeric, neutral complexes [Pd{κ(2)(C,C)-C₆ H₄PPh₂C(H)CO(C₆ H₄NO₂-4)}N₃(L)] (L=Me₃Py (1a), PPh₃ (1b)). The complexes were identified and characterized by elemental analyses, infrared (IR), ((1))H, ((13))C{((1))H} and ((31))P{((1))H} NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structure of 1b was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The interactions of complexes with FS-DNA were investigated using UV absorption and fluorescence spectra. The results suggested that both complexes could interact with FS-DNA through the intercalation mode and follow the binding affinity order of 1a1b. The reactivity toward protein BSA revealed that the quenching of BSA fluorescence by the two complexes are static quenching, and complex 1a exhibits a higher BSA-binding ability than the complex 1b.

Six secondary amine palladacycles bearing monodentate ligands (1a, 2a), 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) and 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp) containing bridging and bidentate ligands (1b, 2b–d), and four C,C-type phosphorus ylide complexes containing thiourea (tu) (3a), phenyl isothiocyanate (4a), and bridging and terminal azide groups (5 and 5a) have been synthesized. Resulting complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR, 1H-, 13C{1H}-, and 31P{1H}-NMR spectroscopy with single crystal X-ray structure determination of 1a and 2a. The Pd in 1a and 2a occupies the center of a slightly distorted square planar environment formed by Caryl, Namine, Npyridine, and Cl. The catalytic efficiency of complexes showed that in most cases, amine palladacycles display better catalytic activities than the phosphorus ylide Pd(II) complexes. Comparison between bidentate and bridging dppe complexes showed that dppe-bridged dimer 2d has higher catalytic activity than dppe bidentate complex.