Influence of lattice strain on Fe3O4@carbon catalyst for the destruction of organic dye in polluted water using a combined adsorption and Fenton process

In this study, 8, 25 and 50 wt% Fe₃O₄@activated carbon (AC) catalysts were prepared by simple coprecipitation method. The efficiency of the catalysts for the advanced Fenton''s oxidation process using methylene blue (MB) as a model substrate was tested. Both modified and unmodified activated carbon catalysts exhibited similar activity towards the Fenton''s oxidation process. Therefore, it is difficult to identify the role of the catalyst in this dye removal process. Hence, we proposed a new methodology to remove the MB by adopting the adsorption process initially, followed by the Fenton''s oxidation process. The proposed process significantly improved the methylene blue decomposition reaction over the 25 wt% Fe₃O₄@AC catalyst. However, this trend was not seen in pure activated carbon and Fe₃O₄@AC (8 and 50 wt%) catalysts due to the instability of the material in the oxidizing medium. The possible reason for the deactivation of the catalysts was evaluated from lattice strain calculations, as derived from the modified W–H models (Uniform Deformational Model (UDM), Uniform Stress Deformation Model (USDM) and Uniform Deformation Energy Density Model (UDEDM)). These results provided a quantitative relationship between the experimentally calculated lattice strain values and Fenton''s catalytic activity. Furthermore, the optimized strain value and crystalite size of Fe₃O₄ on the activated carbon matrix are responsible for the high catalytic activity.

The activity of the catalyst was directly correlated using lattice strain calculations, as derived from the W–H model.     

Association of sleep problems and sleep duration with self-rated health and grip strength among older adults in India and China: results from the study on global aging and adult health (SAGE)

Background

Sleep is an important predictor of health and quality of life. This study examined the association between sleep problems and sleep duration with self-rated poor health and grip strength among respondents aged 50 years and above in India and China.Methods: The data for this study were derived from the first wave of WHO’s Study on Global Aging and Adult Health (SAGE), a nationally representative panel survey conducted in six LMICs. Grip strength and poor self-rated health were the main outcome variables, while sleep problems and sleep duration were the main predictors. Multivariate logistic regression models and ordinary least squares regression models were used to understand the association between sleep problems and sleep duration with poor self-rated health and grip strength.

Results

Sleep problems and sleep duration were strongly and significantly associated with poor self-rated health and grip strength in India and China. Compared to older adults with no sleep problems, the odds ratio for poor self-rated health among older adults with sleep problems was 4.86 (95% CI?=?4.12, 5.73, p?<?0.01) and 5.06 (95% CI?=?3.93, 6.51, p?<?0.01) higher for India and China, respectively. The likelihood of reporting poor health was higher among older adults who got ≤ 6 or 10+ h of sleep in both India and China. A negative and significant association was found between longer sleep duration and grip strength only in China (β?=??1.19, 95% CI?=??1.78, ?0.60, p?<?0.01).

Conclusion

We observed a significant association between sleep problems and sleep duration with poor self-rated health and grip strength. Results suggested that sleep problems are important factors in determining the health of older adults in low- and middle-income countries.

     

Transient asymptomatic bradycardia in patients on infusional 5-fluorouracil

The incidence of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-related cardiotoxicity seems to be dosage and schedule dependent. Although various other cardiac events have been reported in literature, a series of patients having transient asymptomatic bradycardia has not been reported in the literature as yet. We report such a series of patients who had transient asymptomatic bradycardia after being treated with continuous infusion 5-FU. We plan to do a Holter study during the period of bradycardia in subsequent patients and this may throw more light on the issue.     

Thymoquinone inhibits cell proliferation through regulation of G1/S phase cell cycle transition in N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced experimental rat hepatocellular carcinoma

Dysregulated cell proliferation and tumorigenesis is frequently encountered in several cancers including hepatocellular carcinogenesis (HCC). Thus, agents that inhibit cell proliferation and restrain hepatic tumorigenesis through cell cycle regulation have a beneficial effect in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinogenesis. The present study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of thymoquinone (TQ), an active compound derived from the medicinal plant Nigella sativa, on N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) [0.01% in drinking water for 16 weeks]-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in experimental rats. After experimental period, the hepatic nodules, liver injury markers and tumor markers levels were substantially increased in NDEA induced liver tumors in rats. However, TQ (20 mg/kg body weight) treatment greatly reduced liver injury markers and decreased tumor markers and prevented hepatic nodule formation and reduced tumor multiplicity in NDEA induced hepatic cancer bearing rats and this was evident from argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNORs) staining. Moreover, the uncontrolled cell proliferation was assessed by specific cell proliferative markers [proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki67] by immunofluorescence, immunoblot and analysis of mRNA expression. Simultaneously, we assessed the activity of TQ on G1/S phase cell cycle regulation with specific cell cycle proteins (p21^WAF1/CIP1, CDK4, Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E) by immunoprecipitation in experimental rats. Treatment with TQ significantly reduced the detrimental alterations by abrogating cell proliferation, which strongly induced G1/S arrest in cell cycle transition. In conclusion, our results suggest that TQ has a potent anti proliferative activity by regulating the G1/S phase cell cycle transition and exhibit a beneficial role in the treatment of HCC.     

Baicalein Abrogates Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)‐mediated Mitochondrial Dysfunction during Experimental Pulmonary Carcinogenesis In Vivo

Our current study aimed to evaluate the chemotherapeutic efficacy of baicalein (BE) in Swiss albino mice, which is exposed to benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] for its ability to alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction and systolic failure. Here, we report that oral administration of B(a)P (50 mg/kg body weight)‐induced pulmonary genotoxicities in mice was assessed in terms of elevation in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and DNA damage in lung mitochondria. MDA‐DNA adducts were formed in immunohistochemical analysis, which confirmed nuclear DNA damage. mRNA expression levels studied by RT‐PCR analysis of voltage‐dependent anion channel (VDAC) and adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) were found to be significantly decreased and showed a marked increase in membrane permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening. Accompanied by up‐regulated Bcl‐xL and down‐regulated Bid, Bim and Cyt‐c proteins studied by immunoblot were observed in B(a)P‐induced lung cancer–bearing animals. Administration of BE (12 mg/kg body weight) significantly reversed all the above deleterious changes. Moreover, assessment of mitochondrial enzyme system revealed that BE treatment effectively counteracts B(a)P‐induced down‐regulated levels/activities of isocitrate dehydrogenase, α‐ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase, NADH dehydrogenase, cytochrome‐C‐oxidase and ATP levels. Restoration of mitochondria from oxidative damage was further confirmed by transmission electron microscopic examination. Further analysis of lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione‐S‐transferase, glutathione reductase, reduced glutathione, vitamin E and vitamin C in lung mitochondria was carried out to substantiate the antioxidant effect of BE. The overall data conclude that chemotherapeutic efficacy of BE might have strong mitochondria protective and restoration capacity in sub‐cellular level against lung carcinogenesis in Swiss albino mice.     

Lobular carcinoma metastasis to endometrial polyp unrelated to tamoxifen. Report of a case and review of the literature

Endometrial polyps are rare sites for metastatic breast carcinoma. Such cases have mostly been reported in tamoxifen-related polyps. We report a case of lobular carcinoma with metastasis to an endometrial polyp in a patient with no history of tamoxifen therapy. The histological features of the polyp in our case closely mimicked those of tamoxifen-related polyps, emphasizing the fact that although characteristic-these features are not specific for tamoxifen. This case also reiterates the need for careful evaluation of endometrial polyps, since inconspicuous deposits of lobular carcinoma can easily be missed.     

Capsaicin inhibits benzo(a)pyrene-induced lung carcinogenesis in an in vivo mouse model

Objective

Lung cancer is a serious health problem in most developed countries and its incidence rate is profusely increasing. Capsaicin, a component of red chilli and red pepper has been studied widely for its chemopreventive properties. The aim of the present study is to explore the anti-tumor activity of capsaicin against benzo(a)pyrene-induced lung tumorigenesis in Swiss albino mice.

Materials and methods

Benzo(a)pyrene was administered orally (50?mg/kg body weight) to induce lung cancer in Swiss albino mice. Hematological study (hemoglobin content, RBC, WBC count and differential count), histochemical analysis of mast cells and Western blot analysis of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) were carried out.

Results

Hematological parameters and the histochemical analysis of mast cells showed abnormal changes, and the immunoblotting analysis revealed increased protein expression of TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2 and NF-κB in lung cancer-challenged mice administered with benzo(a)pyrene. Capsaicin (10?mg/kg body weight) supplementation to lung cancer bearing mice considerably prevented all the above abnormalities.

Conclusion

The results of the present study indicate the protective effect of capsaicin against benzo(a)pyrene-induced lung carcinogenesis in mice.