Cobalt–carbon/silica nanocomposites prepared by pyrolysis of a cobalt 2,2′-bipyridine terephthalate complex for remediation of cationic dyes

Recently, carbon nanostructures have attracted interest because of their unique properties and interesting applications. Here, CoC@SiO₂-850 (3) and CoC@SiO₂-600 (4) cobalt–carbon/silica nanocomposites were prepared by solid-state pyrolysis of anthracene with Co(tph)(2,2′-bipy)·4H₂O (1) complex in the presence of silica at 850 and 600 °C, respectively, where 2,2′-bipy is 2,2′-bipyridine and tph is the terephthalate dianion. Moreover, Co(μ-tph)(2,2′-bipy) (2) was isolated and its X-ray structure indicated that cobalt(ii) has a distorted trigonal prismatic coordination geometry. 2 is a metal–organic framework consisting of one-dimensional zigzag chains within a porous grid network. 3 and 4 consist of cobalt(0)/cobalt oxide nanoparticles with a graphitic shell and carbon nanotubes embedded in the silica matrix. They were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS revealed that the nanocomposites are functionalized with oxygen-containing groups, such as carboxylic acid groups. In addition, the presence of metallic cobalt nanoparticles embedded in graphitized carbon was verified by XRD and TEM. The efficiency of 3 for adsorption of crystal violet (CV) dye was investigated by batch and column experiments. At 25 °C, the Langmuir adsorption capacity of 3 for CV was 214.2 mg g⁻¹ and the fixed-bed column capacity was 36.3 mg g⁻¹. The adsorption data were well fitted by the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic.

A cobalt–carbon@silica nanocomposite was synthesized from a cobalt 2,2′-bipyridine terephthalate complex and its adsorption behavior towards crystal violet dye was tested using batch and column techniques.     

Screening for coronary heart disease and diabetes risk in a dental setting

Objectives

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and heart disease, among the most prevalent chronic conditions worldwide, are increasing among younger adults who are unaware of their risk status. Previous studies in the United States have shown the efficacy of screening for risk of heart disease and diabetes in a dental setting. A screening strategy was applied to facilitate early identification of individuals at increased disease risk in a single Indian dental institute.

Methods

158 patients >30 years old, with no reported heart disease or diabetes, and unaware of any increased disease risk were enrolled. Blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein levels and body mass index were collected. The Framingham Risk Score (FRS) was calculated as an indication of global risk of developing a coronary heart disease (CHD) event within 10 years; hemoglobin A1c level was used to determine DM risk.

Results

Eleven percent had increased risk of heart disease (FRS >10 %) and 32 % had abnormal A1c levels (>5.7 %). At least one risk factor was present in 61 and 39 % presented with two or more risk factors. Hypertension and obesity were the most common risk factors.

Conclusions

The use of a dental setting in a developing country could serve as a resource for early identification of patients at increased risk of developing CHD and DM, yet unaware of their increased risk. The dental setting can also serve as an entry point into the medical care system by identifying asymptomatic patients at increased risk of disease and referring these individuals to a primary care provider.     

Antihyperglycaemic effect of Casearia esculenta root extracts in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antihyperglycaemic effect of Casearia esculenta root extract and to study the activities of liver hexokinase and gluconeogenic enzymes such as glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase in liver and kidney of normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of aqueous extract of root (300 mg/kg body weight) for 45 days resulted in a significant reduction in blood glucose from 250.79 +/- 12.65 to 135.70 +/- 8.90 and in a decrease in the activities of glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bishosphatase and an increase in the activity of liver hexokinase. However, in the case of 200 mg/kg body weight of extract, less activity was observed. The study clearly shows that the root extract of C. esculenta possesses potent antihyperglycaemic activity but weaker than that of glibenclamide.     

Influence of Casearia esculenta root extract on glycoprotein components in streptozotocin diabetic rats

The present study was aimed to evaluate the role of the indigenous antidiabetic medicinal plant Casearia esculenta on glycoprotein components in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats in plasma, liver, kidney and cardiac tissues. Streptozotocin injection (50 mg/kg body weight) caused massive elevation of glycoprotein components such as hexose, hexosamine, sialic acid and fucose in plasma and tissues of diabetic control and experimental animals. Oral administration of C. esculenta root extract (200 and 300 mg/kg body weight) for 45 days significantly reverted the hexose, hexosamine, sialic acid and fucose levels to near normal values. These results suggest a normalizing effect of C. esculenta on glycoprotein components in STZ diabetic rats.     

Hypolipidaemic effect of Casearia esculenta root extracts in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

The hypolipidaemic effect of an aqueous extract of Casearia esculenta root, an indigenous antidiabetic medicine popularly used in rural South India was investigated. Administration of the extract of C. esculenta (200 and 300 mg/kg body wt.) for 45 days resulted in significant reduction in serum and tissue cholesterol, phospholipids, free fatty acids and triglycerides in streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. In addition to that, significant (p < 0.05) decrease in high density lipoprotein (HDL) whereas significant increase (p < 0.05) in low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) were observed in STZ diabetic rats, which was normalized after 45 days of C. esculenta root extract treatment. The root extract at dose of 300 mg/kg body wt. showed much significant hypolipidaemic effects than the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight.     

Potential for hepatitis C transmission among non-needle/syringe sharing Sheffield drug injectors through the sharing of drug preparation paraphernalia

This study aimed to investigate possible means by which hepatitis C virus (HCV) might be transmitted between drug injecting individuals without the sharing of needles and syringes. A questionnaire-based survey of 143 (out of 287) attendees was conducted at an Infectious Diseases Unit-based HCV clinic. Those patients (all of whom were positive for antibodies to HCV) who asked about risk activities and those that admitted to a history of recreational drug injecting were questioned in detail about their past and current drug preparation practices. Ten per cent denied any history of needle and/or syringe sharing and had no other apparent source of their HCV infection, but instead admitted to having shared drug preparation eqiupment. The existence among drug injectors of such practices with the potential to transmit blood borne viruses is important as it may explain how HCV, which is capable of being spread via very small quantities of blood, can be passed between drug injecting individuals who might otherwise never come into contact with another drug injector's blood. Clinical and public health messages regarding the prevention of the spread of HCV may need to be revised and strengthened.