Facile synthesis and antimicrobial activity of CdS-AgS nanocomposites.

In this study CdS-AgS nanocomposites for antibacterial activity were synthesized via facile co-precipitation method using PVP as capping agent. The prepared nanocomposites have particle sizes in the range of 50-100 nm (SEM) and PVP addition has good influence on the morphology of nanocomposites. The antimicrobial activity of pure AgS, CdS and CdS-AgS composites was evaluated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Leiomyoma: Its Variants And Secondary Changes A Five-Year Study.

Background: Abnormal uterine bleeding is a common problem encountered by the gynaecologists, leiomyoma being one of the most common causes. An accurate knowledge of the different variants and secondary changes occurring in leiomyoma is essential as some of these may mimic malignancy clinically, radiologically and histologically. Some important examples being atypical, cellular and mitotically active leiomyoma.

Impact of age and gender matching on long-term graft function and actual graft survival in live-related renal transplantation: Retrospective study from Sindh Institute of Urology and transplantation, Pakistan.

In renal transplantation, donor and allograft age are known to have an important influence on the outcome of the graft, reflecting functional renal mass. We evaluated the impact of gender and age matching in living-donor renal transplantation on long-term graft survival and actual graft function over five years from the day of transplantation. We retrospectively analyzed 500 primary live-related donor renal transplants performed from August 2007 to December 2008 at Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi, Pakistan.

Inorganic and Layered Perovskites for Optoelectronic Devices.

Organic-inorganic halide perovskites are making breakthroughs in a range of optoelectronic devices. Reports of >23% certified power conversion efficiency in photovoltaic devices, external quantum efficiency >21% in light-emitting diodes (LEDs), continuous-wave lasing and ultralow lasing thresholds in optically pumped lasers, and detectivity in photodetectors on a par with commercial GaAs rivals are being witnessed, making them the fastest ever emerging material technology. Still, questions on their toxicity and long-term stability raise concerns toward their market entry.

Enhancement of fuel characteristics of rice husk via torrefaction process.

Torrefaction, is a pretreatment process in the conversion of various biomass feedstocks into an efficient solid fuel. In the present research, rice husk was torrefied at 200°C, 250°C, and 300°C for 10, 30, 90, and 150 minutes under a non-oxidative environment. The energy yield and mass yield of torrefied solid residues ranged from 51.

The Safety and Tolerability of a Potential Alginate-Based Iron Chelator; Results of A Healthy Participant Study.

Evidence supporting the ferro-toxic nature of iron in the progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is becoming well established. A microbial dysbiosis is observed in IBD patients, and intra-luminal colonic-iron is able to support a more pathogenic community of bacteria; whether this is attributed to the development of IBD and how iron could be mediating these microbial changes is still unknown. Dietary fibres are commonly used in pre-biotic supplements to beneficially affect the host by improving the viability of bacterial communities within the colon.

Novel and facile synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Albizia procera leaf extract for dye degradation and antibacterial applications.

This project is focuses on novel, cost effective and simple plant mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) using leaf extract of Albizia procera. The optical, structural and physical properties of green synthesized Ag-NPs have been investigated by UV-Visible spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), respectively. Prepared Ag-NPs are spherical in shape and crystalline in nature with an average size of 6.

Serum Hepcidin Levels Predict Intestinal Iron Absorption in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Hepcidin has been shown to be inversely associated with iron absorption and the expression of iron transport proteins in healthy females and patients with iron deficiency. Data describing the relationship between hepcidin expression and iron absorption in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are lacking. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between serum concentrations of hepcidin and iron absorption in patients with IBD and iron deficiency by means of an oral iron absorption test.

Automated anomalous behaviour detection in soil radon gas prior to earthquakes using computational intelligence techniques.

In this article, three computational intelligence (CI) models were developed to automatically detect anomalous behaviour in soil radon gas (Rn) time series data. Data were obtained at a fault line and analysed using three machine learning techniques with the aim at identifying anomalies in temporal radon data prompted by seismic events. Radon concentrations were modelled with corresponding meteorological and statistical parameters.

2019 update of the WSES guidelines for management of () infection in surgical patients.

In the last three decades, infection (CDI) has increased in incidence and severity in many countries worldwide. The increase in CDI incidence has been particularly apparent among surgical patients. Therefore, prevention of CDI and optimization of management in the surgical patient are paramount.

The detoxification of heavy metals from aqueous environment using nano-photocatalysis approach: a review.

Heavy metals are discharged into aquatic environment and causes serious problems to the environment, human's health, and other organisms. The industrial effluents contain high concentration of heavy metals that should be treated by different technologies. Numerous technologies have been widely used for the remediation of heavy metals such as chemical precipitation, ion exchange, membrane filtration, adsorption, coagulation-flocculation, floatation, electrochemical treatment, bioremediation, and photocatalysis.

Incidence of metallo-beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from hospital setting in Pakistan.

The aim of this study was monitoring and surveillance in different wards of the PIMS hospital, Islamabad, to understand emerging challenges of antibiotic resistance in particular association with most virulent serotypes of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The study was conducted during March 2015 to September 2015. The study showed that rate of isolation of K.

The application of omics techniques to understand the role of the gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease.

The aetiopathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) involves the complex interaction between a patient's genetic predisposition, environment, gut microbiota and immune system. Currently, however, it is not known if the distinctive perturbations of the gut microbiota that appear to accompany both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the cause of, or the result of, the intestinal inflammation that characterizes IBD. With the utilization of novel systems biology technologies, we can now begin to understand not only details about compositional changes in the gut microbiota in IBD, but increasingly also the alterations in microbiota function that accompany these.

Key characteristics and modelling of bigels systems: A review.

Bigels are interesting semisolid formulations with better properties for different applications such as cosmetics and pharmaceutical systems. Due to the mixing of two phases of different nature (polar and apolar), bigels possess some interesting features like ability to deliver hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, better spreadability and water washability, improved permeability of drugs, enhanced hydration of stratum corneum and ability to manipulate the drug release rate. The main objective of this review article is to provide a thorough insight into the important characteristics of bigels together with the discussion on modelling of bigel systems to relate their properties with individual constituents and different parameters.

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding: a guide for nurses.

This article outlines latest evidence-based care for patients with acute upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. It aims to help gastroenterology and general medical ward nurses plan nursing interventions and understand the diagnostic treatment options available. Acute upper GI bleeding can present as variceal or non-variceal bleeding and has a high death rate.

Effect of using fidaxomicin on recurrent Clostridium difficile infection.

Fidaxomicin is a macrocyclic antibiotic licensed for treating Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). In the UK, fidaxomicin is often reserved for severe CDI or recurrences. At Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, all courses of fidaxomicin during 2017/2018 were reviewed.

Seroprevalence of human infection among pregnant women in Charsadda, KP, Pakistan.

Toxoplasmosis is a very common and asymptomatic infection caused by Pregnant women can develop serious complications if the infection passes to the developing fetus. Primary infection in the pregnant women during the gestation period will result in the development of severe systemic disease with temporary parasitemia and will affect the developing fetus. Several clinical complications can be observed in the congenitally infected children which include mild disease to serious health defects such as mental retardation.

Arginase-1 Variants and the Risk of Familial Coronary Artery Disease in Subjects Originating from Pakistan.

Background: Genetic polymorphisms in the human arginase-1 (ARG1) gene locus and their effects on cardiovascular disease have not been thoroughly elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of the variant ARG1 alleles rs2781666 and rs2781667 with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: ARG1 rs2781666G/T and rs2781667C/T polymorphisms were characterized in a case-control study consisting of 200 complex Pakistani families with CAD history.

Validation of epigenetic markers to identify colitis associated cancer: Results of module 1 of the ENDCAP-C study.

Background: Chronic inflammation caused by ulcerative colitis (UC) causes a pro-neoplastic drive in the inflamed colon, leading to a markedly greater risk of invasive malignancy compared to the general population. Despite surveillance protocols, 50% of cases proceed to cancer before neoplasia is detected. The Enhanced Neoplasia Detection and Cancer Prevention in Chronic Colitis (ENDCaP-C) trial is an observational multi-centre test accuracy study to ascertain the role of molecular markers in improving the detection of dysplasia.

PVDF based ionogels: applications towards electrochemical devices and membrane separation processes.

Ionogels have emerged as one of the most interesting and captivating form of composites which credits to the outstanding characteristics. One of the most important constituent of ionogels is ionic liquid, which show many attractive properties notably non-volatility, in-flammability, negligible vapor pressure, tunability, thermal stability and solvating ability. A large variety of matrix materials have been under consideration for ionogels, presently, polymer/ionic liquid based ionogels have attracted much attention.

Parry-Romberg syndrome in a patient with scleroderma.

Parry-Romberg syndrome (PRS) is characterised by progressive but self-limiting facial hemiatrophy. We describe a 48-year-old woman with a 3-year history of gradually worsening right facial hemiatrophy on a background of scleroderma. Her initial primary concern was alopecia.

Synthesis, design and sensing applications of nanostructured ceria-based materials.

Cerium-based materials possess redox properties due to the presence of dual valence states of Ce3+ and Ce4+. In the last few years, the scientific community has paid much attention to designing and synthesizing cerium-based materials through advantageous routes for widespread catalytic and sensing applications in many fields. Cerium materials have been synthesized in many different forms, shapes and sizes.

Safety and preliminary efficacy of orally administered lyophilized fecal microbiota product compared with frozen product given by enema for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) via colonoscopy or enema has become a commonly used treatment of recurrent C. difficile infection (CDI).

Aims: To compare the safety and preliminary efficacy of orally administered lyophilized microbiota product compared with frozen product by enema.

Membrane biofouling behaviors at cold temperatures in pilot-scale hollow fiber membrane bioreactors with quorum quenching.

In this study, the seasonality of the biofouling behavior of pilot-scale membrane bioreactors (MBRs) run in parallel with vacant sheets and quorum quenching (QQ) sheets using real municipal wastewater was investigated. QQ media delayed fouling, but low temperatures caused severe biofouling. The greater amount of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) produced in cold weather was responsible for the faster biofouling of a membrane, even with QQ media.