Challenges and opportunities of utilizing municipal solid waste as alternative building materials for sustainable development goals: A review

Strict environmental concern, depletion, and price hike of building construction materials are driving scientific studies for the search of alternative materials for building construction. To this end sustainable building materials could be a fruitful solution. This review aims to discern the environmental efficacy of solid waste management (SWM) and its relationship with four stimuli i.e., economic structure, regulatory structure, science, and time. The study also highlights the investigation of governance network to figure out the regulatory structure and governance of waste management. Extensive details on solid waste with their sources, recycling potential and their current utilization for substantial development are outlined. A throughout of the production process, properties, advantages, disadvantages, and the global economy of building material developed through recycling of solid waste are discussed. This article also deals with the sustainability, social, and environmental impact of green building materials. The study identifies the future direction for the effective utilization of solid waste for developing building materials. Further, the scope of the present also focusses on the concept of circular economy for developing construction materials through recycling of solid waste, which provides an easy reference for solid waste processing towards sustainability.     

Nigella sativa seeds based antibacterial composites: A sustainable technology for water cleansing - A review

The presence of pollutants such as organic dyes and heavy metals in water has become a serious problem for aquatic environment. These pollutants that reach the human body through drinking water pose a serious threat to human life. These pollutants can be responsible for diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, cardiovascular, neurological arteriosclerosis, and many other serious diseases in the human body. The elimination of such water pollutants is an urgent need of the society. But the present adsorption techniques available are costly and out of reach of the masses. The biofilm formation by bacterial cells onto the solid surface is also a subject of concern. In this regard, many efforts have been made to achieve an effective adsorption technology. Adsorption technology using Nigella Sativa and its composites has gained attention because of the biofilm resistance activities of the Nigella Sativa. Owning to its unique physicochemical characteristics, antibacterial properties of Nigella Sativa based composites provide a preferred material for water treatment. This review puts in a nutshell the application of Nigella Sativa based composites for water treatment. The methods of synthesis and physio-chemical properties Nigella Sativa based materials by making use of various techniques have been discussed in depth. Pollutants removals from water have been discussed in light of various parameters that affect it. The implementing and reusing of the adsorbent are also detailed out. The comparative cost, antibacterial activity, adsorption capacities and partition coefficients have also been discussed. This review will definitely be useful for the scientific community to develop the more sustainable material for water purification with high quality.     

Technological tools for sustainable development in developing countries: The example of Africa,a review

The development of Africa including industrialization such as chemical production, urbanization, agriculture, waste disposal, and electric power generation has a direct and diverse effect on the environment. These activities require effective planning, consultation, evaluation, risk assessment and monitoring techniques. Diverse environmental impacts can arise out of planning, construction, operation, and end-life of such activities. Impacts of global climate change, photochemical smog, and radioactive emissions have a direct link to development projects. Nevertheless, there is intensive research and innovation geared towards integrating development activities and the environment so as to achieve sustainable development. Herein, we review some of the technological innovation breakthroughs in various fields that include the built environment, chemical production, toxicants, municipal wastes, and electricity. The concept of sustainable chemistry is also discussed. It is found that Africa is at an advantage towards achieving sustainable development as it can easily adopt refined technological tools from developed countries. For instance, the use of comprehensive strategic environmental assessment tools for proposed policies plans and programs and environmental impact assessment for projects can see Africa achieve sustainable development. Mitigation measures for problems such as hazardous waste from chemical industries can be minimized using technological tools such as incineration of solid wastes, biological treatment of wastewater, batch and semi-batch conventional distillation, entrainer-based distillation, physical adsorption, and extraction etc. However, it is noted that although Africa should adopt some of these technological tools to help accelerate its sustainable development agenda, regional and cultural differences must be incorporated in the adoption process.     

临床药师参与1例慢性肾功能不全伴尿路感染的治疗实践

目的通过临床药师参与1例慢性肾功能不全伴尿路感染的治疗实践,探讨药师在合理用药中发挥的作用。方法临床药师积极参与了该患者的抗感染,控制高血压,纠正贫血,抗凝的治疗实践,针对患者的治疗方案,药品的选择、剂量、相互作用、不良反应、注意事项等提出了一些合理化的建议,同时对患者实施了药学监护,健康教育和用药教育。结果临床药师参与治疗实践,提高了临床治疗效果。患者住院用药期间无相关不良反应发生,出院时尿路感染已经控制,血压平稳,无电解质紊乱,病情控制尚可。结论临床药师参与临床药物治疗,为病人提供个体化药学服务,可使用药更合理、有效和经济;临床药师只有参与临床实践与临床医师密切配合,才能有助于更好地开展临床药学服务工作,更好地为病人服务。     

Applying health technology assessment to pharmaceutical care: pitfalls and future directions

It has been argued in previous issues of this journal that health technology assessment can be used as a tool to assess the efficiency of pharmaceutical care by linking its impact on clinical and humanistic outcomes to the resources required to achieve these outcomes. Additionally, as policy-makers appreciate the need to evaluate projects on the basis of their costs and benefits, the application of health technology assessment to pharmaceutical care may serve as a way of communicating with policy-makers and informing policy on pharmaceutical care.This article elaborates on this idea by arguing that policy-makers will be more likely to appreciate the value of pharmaceutical care if researchers pay more attention to some methodological principles underlying health technology assessment in the context of pharmaceutical care, and if they take into account the decision-making context facing policy-makers. In order to raise the methodological quality of studies, researchers need to take care to define better the pharmaceutical care intervention; to evaluate the costs of the intervention and its impact on the utilization of other health services; and to aggregate the various clinical and humanistic outcome measures that are commonly used in this type of research. In order to increase the usefulness of study findings to policy-makers, researchers need to identify the multiple objectives that policy-makers pursue, and show how study findings will aid policy-makers in attaining these objectives.     

Environmental and health impact of unrecovered API from pharmaceutical manufacturing wastes: A review of contemporary treatment,recycling and management strategies

Pharmaceutical industries are imminent for the survival of any contemporary society as their products are valuable for the populace's health and wellness. However, the wastes of these industries have become a nuisance with severe implications on human health and ecosystem, especially in many developing countries where they are discharged indiscriminately into the environment, either untreated or poorly treated. Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Waste (PMW) effluents have been reported to possess a high BOD and COD, as well as recoverable APIs of various classes of pharmaceuticals. Moreover, antibiotic residues in these effluents are implicated in the progression and spread of antibiotic resistance in the aquatic and agroecosystem. Globally, the diverse activities of various pharmaceutical industries, owing to their diverse products, have resulted in difficulty in developing universal management and treatment protocols. Consequently, regulatory bodies/institutions find it challenging to monitor waste disposal practices of these industries adequately, primarily owing to their non-disclosure policies of intellectual properties. Hence, to a large extent, the onus for a sustainable society regarding PMWs lies in the decision and policies of these industries. Therefore, this review aims to foster informed policy-making decisions regarding waste management practices of pharmaceutical industries.     

Advances in the quest for substitute for synthetic organic polyelectrolytes as coagulant aid in water and wastewater treatment operations

In order to optimize the performance efficiency and reduce the process economy of coagulation-flocculation (CF) based water treatment operations, coagulant aids (CA) are used as an auxiliary to the primary coagulant. Synthetic polyelectrolytes are widely used as CA but the use are synonymous with negative human and environmental challenges. As an antidote to the challenges associated with the use of synthetic polyelectrolytes, natural and eco-friendly materials have been studied as substitutes for the synthetic polyelectrolytes. At present, a comprehensive review on the efforts that have been made in the quest for substitutes for synthetic polyelectrolytes has been conducted. The justifications for the choice of the materials, the operational performance efficiency, the operational shortcomings and the underlying reaction mechanism of the process were expounded. The prospects and the limitations of the advances made in the quest for substitutes for the synthetic polyelectrolytes were also highlighted     

Environmental risk assessment for excipients from galenical pharmaceutical production in wastewater and receiving water

Many different excipients are used in galenical pharmaceutical production, in addition to the active pharmaceutical ingredients. Excipients are little investigated regarding their environmental fate and impact, even though some of them are used in appreciable quantities. For 35 excipients used in galenical production at Roche Basle and Roche Kaiseraugst, both in Switzerland, in the years 2013 and 2014, the environmentally relevant properties were collated. A predicted environmental concentration (PEC) was calculated for the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and the receiving water, the River Rhine for both sites, based on maximum daily losses of the single excipients to wastewater, derived by mass balance, and the site-specific dilution factor. Predicted no effect concentrations (PNECs) were derived for the WWTPs and the River Rhine. PECs and PNECs were compared for the WWTPs and the receiving water, in an environmental risk assessment. Additionally, to simulate a worst case scenario, certain galenical productions where given excipients are used in the highest amounts were assumed to take place in parallel on the same day, resulting in theoretical maximum excipient losses to wastewater. All PEC/PNEC risk characterisation ratios for the excipients currently used by Roche in Switzerland are well below 1 throughout. Together with the fact that based on biodegradability data many excipients will be removed in the WWTP, this indicates that the excipients currently used do not present a risk to the environment.     

From green biowaste to water treatment applications: Utilization of modified new biochar for the efficient removal of ciprofloxacin

Water pollution caused by antibiotics is a serious environmental problem in recent years. Using biochar to remove such pharmaceutical pollutants has recently emerged as a promising option. After H₃PO₄ modification, a new waste-based biochar (MPCWSB500) from sour cherry stalk was successfully synthesized to remove ciprofloxacin (CFX) from aquatic media, and modification of feedstock has significantly improved the adsorption capacity of biochar. MPCWSB500 is suitable for both batch and continuous treatment systems. The CFX sorption was systematically studied using various kinetics and isotherm models. The surface characteristics of the modified biochar and the possible CFX?biochar interactions were investigated by BET, FT?IR, and SEM?EDX analysis. Short operation time, high sorption capacity (410.06 mg g^?1), and nearly 100% removal efficiency were recorded as significant findings at optimum experimental conditions (pH: 6.3, contact time: 40 min, MPCWSB500 dose: 15 mg). Furthermore, the modified biochar exhibited more than 95% CFX removal efficiency in continuous mode at all flow rates (1–10 mL min^?1). Its sorption performance was minimally affected by the presence of Cl^?, K⁺, Na⁺, and NO₃^? ions in the adsorption medium. In addition, up to 5 sorption-desorption cycles, biochar regeneration and recycling produced satisfactory results. The proposed biochar was also successfully used to remove CFX from simulated hospital wastewater and synthetic urine samples. These features are all important advantages for its real applications. Overall, our research offers a practical approach for removing CFX from the polluted aquatic environment.     

Pharmacological interventions for stroke: failures and future

Given the few options currently available for patients following ischaemic stroke, the recent disappointing failures of several large-scale Phase III clinical trials has made the search for novel therapeutic approaches even more critical. Experimental evidence has suggested that the majority of stroke patients have a slow evolution of brain injury which can occur over several hours. Progressive microcirculatory failure following the initial onset of ischaemia may contribute to the expansion of brain injury. Included among the pathophysiological changes that are speculated to occur as a secondary response to the initial ischaemia are free radical production, excitotoxicity (for example, glutamate) disruption of ionic homeostasis (for example, sodium and calcium influx), enzymatic changes, stimulation of the inflammatory process, endothelin release, activation of platelets and leukocytes, delayed coagulation and endothelial dysfunction. All of these pathophysiological reactions could contribute to an increase in local vascular resistance and therefore cause progressive hypoperfusion of the brain following the onset of stroke. The scope of this review will focus on recent clinical failures in addition to agents currently in clinical development, comparing vascular targets to the common neuroprotective strategies.     

Effect of wastewater intake on antioxidant and marker enzymes of tissue damage in rat tissues: Implications for the use of biochemical markers

In the present study, alteration in antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and marker enzymes of tissue damage alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) with laboratory exposure to wastewaters from Aligarh (AWW) and Saharanpur (SWW) were investigated in rat liver and kidney. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) were also determined.A profound enhancement of 5 and 2.5-folds in MDA level was recorded in the liver and kidney respectively as a result of oral administration of SWW to the rats. Exposure to both AWW and SWW resulted in 3–4-fold increase in GR activity and 3-fold increase in SOD and ALT activity in the hepatic tissue compared to control values. Ingestion of AWW and SWW resulted in 3.5-fold rise in renal AST levels whereas AWW caused 75% decline in GST activity in kidney of treated rats.Results indicate that wastewater (AWW/SWW) caused severe damage to renal and hepatic tissues and the effect seems in part to be mediated by suppression of antioxidant system with GR and SOD as potential candidates for hepatic toxicity biomarkers of wastewaters.     

Membrane filtration of Sudan orange G on a cellulose acetate membrane filter for separation–preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination in water,chili powder,chili sauce and tomato sauce samples

A simple membrane filtration procedure for separation–enrichment of Sudan orange G is presented. The method is based on the adsorption of Sudan orange G on a cellulose acetate filter and its elution from the membrane with 10 mL of ethanol. Sudan orange G in the eluent was determined by UV–visible spectrophotometry at 388 nm. The effect of analytical conditions, including pH, flow rates and eluent, sample volume, type of membrane for quantitative preconcentration and separation of Sudan orange G were examined. The influences of matrix components on Sudan orange G recoveries were studied. The preconcentration factor was 125. The detection limit was 4.9 μg L⁻¹. The relative standard deviation was 4.3%. The presented procedure was applied to chili powder, chili sauce, tomato sauce, powdered beverage and water samples.     

Intrathecal drug delivery for pain management: recent advances and future developments

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Chronic pain conditions of malignant and non-malignant etiology afflict a large group of the population and pose a vast economic burden on society. Intrathecal drug therapy is a viable treatment option in such patients who have failed conservative medical measures and less invasive pain management procedures. However, the clinical growth of intrathecal therapy in managing intractable chronic pain conditions continues to face many challenges and is likely underutilized secondary to its high-complexity and lack of understanding.

Areas covered: This review will briefly discuss the history of intrathecal drug delivery systems (IDDS), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow dynamics, types of IDDS, indications and patient profile suitable for this therapy, and risks and complications related to IDDS. We will also discuss challenges faced by physicians utilizing this therapy and the future changes that are needed for making this treatment modality more efficacious.

Expert opinion: IDDS offer an effective therapy for pain control in patients suffering from chronic intractable pain conditions. These devices provide a safer alternative to oral opioid medications with reduced systemic side effects. Adherence to best practices and continued clinical and basic science research is important to ensure continuing success of this therapy.     

Lake Zirahuen,Michoacan, Mexico: An approach to sustainable water resource management based on the chemical and bacterial assessment of its water body

This paper analyses the water quality of Lake Zirahuen and the pressures it is facing. The analysis was made using 32 samples of water taken at 8 defined sites in the lake in different months of the year, following protocol established by Mexican standards. The results showed that the lake water has acceptable physicochemical and microbiological qualities for the protection of aquatic life. The K-Means method was used to regionalise the lake into clusters. The distribution of the variables is seen to differ in the rainy and dry seasons and it is also seen that the cluster pattern reflects the dominant direction of lake currents, thus providing easily accessed identification of the areas in which changes in water quality are greatest. To assess the activities taking place in the basin readily available public information was consulted. The pressures faced by the lake were identified applying a Pressure–State–Response framework. The results showed that the pressures on the lake are mainly caused by anthropogenic activities and that while the water quality is within the range “good to excellent”, it is important to establish stricter criteria, closer to international standards, in order to maintain and conserve this quality. Thus a series of strategies and recommendations are given in the article, which should lead towards sustainability. The methodology presented can easily be used in other places where little data exists and where it is hoped to exploit available freshwater as well as preserving its optimal quality.     

Oral delivery of proteins and peptides: Challenges,status quo and future perspectives

Proteins and peptides (PPs) have gradually become more attractive therapeutic molecules than small molecular drugs due to their high selectivity and efficacy, but fewer side effects. Owing to the poor stability and limited permeability through gastrointestinal (GI) tract and epithelia, the therapeutic PPs are usually administered by parenteral route. Given the big demand for oral administration in clinical use, a variety of researches focused on developing new technologies to overcome GI barriers of PPs, such as enteric coating, enzyme inhibitors, permeation enhancers, nanoparticles, as well as intestinal microdevices. Some new technologies have been developed under clinical trials and even on the market. This review summarizes the history, the physiological barriers and the overcoming approaches, current clinical and preclinical technologies, and future prospects of oral delivery of PPs.     

Developments in pharmacotherapy for tobacco dependence: past, present and future

In the mid-1970s there were no effective pharmacological treatments for tobacco dependence. The invention of nicotine gum was a major treatment advance and also greatly helped our understanding of the nature of tobacco dependence. There are now eight effective pharmacotherapies (nicotine gum, patch, nasal spray, inhaler, lozenge/tablet, bupropion, nortriptyline and clonidine) available to aid smoking cessation. Other non-nicotine agents that show promise are under investigation, including glucose, rimonabant, selegiline and varenicline. Greater knowledge of the mechanisms of action of the effective non-nicotine agents should lead to better understanding of the nature of tobacco dependence. Future research into optimal treatments should examine long-term combination pharmacotherapy combined with improved psychosocial support that is partly designed to enhance medication compliance. In addition, there is a need for studies designed to evaluate the efficacy of pharmacotherapies in populations such as youth, pregnant smokers and smokers with co-occurring mental health problems. [Foulds J, Steinberg MB, Williams JM, Ziedonis DM. Developments in pharmacotherapy for tobacco dependence: past, present and future. Drug Alcohol Rev 2006;25:59-71]     

基于物联网和云技术构建医院药品供应链协同管理平台

目的：建立供应链信息交互平台，对药品进行信息化、精细化的全程管理，保证用药安全。方法：依托物联网和云技术开发信息化集成平台。结果：平台包涵了药品采购计划制订、信息发送、入库验收、储存养护、发放使用等全程化信息管理。结论：平台采用物联网和云技术结合，实现了药品信息各环节交互共享，形成了一套科学的质量管理体系。     

达托霉素治疗皮肤及软组织感染的快速卫生经济技术评估研究

目的通过利用快速卫生经济技术评估的工具对达托霉素治疗皮肤及软组织感染进行有效性、安全性、经济性评估,为医院药物遴选提供参考。方法通过计算机检索Pub Med、the Cochrane Library、CNKI、CBM、万方等数据库。2名评价者独立通过数据提取表的方法提取数据结果。根据纳入研究的类型,采用描述性分析对研究结论进行分类汇总。结果共纳入8篇文献,4篇为系统评价,4篇为药物经济学研究。达托霉素的有效性和安全性研究显示,其与万古霉素无显著差异;经济学研究显示,达托霉素可以作为万古霉素的替代药物。结论通过对达托霉素治疗皮肤及软组织感染的评估发现,快速卫生经济技术评估工具可作为一种简洁、快捷、易行的方法,为医院的药物遴选提供参考。     

Green Chemistry: Some important forerunners and current issues

In this essay some important forerunners of green chemistry will be discussed and compared with the present state. The relationship to ethics will be considered. Starting from the new movement of green chemistry by Anastas, some important highlights will be presented. The new activities of IUPAC and other institutions on the concepts of metrics for green syntheses will be discussed. The prime importance of the inclusion of developing African countries into the concepts will also be covered. Green chemistry philosophy has become part of sustainable chemistry which emphasizes the implementation of the concept of sustainability in the production and use of chemicals and chemical products for sustainable development and, some sustainable development concepts are included under the section on Africa.     

Microplastics in cosmetics: Environmental issues and needs for global bans

Despite the microbeads from cosmetic products do not contribute with high percentages to the microplastic pollution, they can pose a threat to the environment, being discharged into the water bodies and just partially blocked by the wastewater treatment plants. As environmental associations have been fighting for the abolition of microplastics in PCCPs, in many countries measures have been taken and bans are already operational or in process. Some cosmetic companies have voluntarily renounced the use of microbeads and some voluntary certifications of PCCPs prohibit their use.PCCPs recently analysed can contain levels of microbeads reaching 50,391 per g and can contribute with every single use to the introduction of 229,000 microbeads into the domestic sewage. Given the spread and danger of these pollutants, the problem is global and unthinkable to be solved by banning microplastic-containing products only in some countries, thus a general ban would be necessary.