Green sporopollenin supported cyanocalixarene based magnetic adsorbent for pesticides removal from water: Kinetic and equilibrium studies.

In this study, magnetic sporopollenin supported cyanocalixarene (MSP-CyCalix) nanocomposite was synthesized and introduced as an adsorbent material for the removal of pesticides from aqueous media. MSP-CyCalix was characterized by different analytical techniques FTIR, SEM, EDX, BET, VSMand TEM. Chlorpyrifos and hexaconazole pesticides were chosen as model analytes solutions for testing the adsorption efficiency of MSP-CyCalix adsorbent.

Sonodecoration of magnetic phosphonated-functionalized sporopollenin as a novel green nanocomposite for stir bar sorptive dispersive microextraction of melamine in milk and milk-based food products.

The novel green magnetic phosphonated-functionalized sporopollenin nanocomposite (MPSP-nanocomposite) was synthetized and used for stir bar sorptive dispersive microextraction (SBSDME) of melamine in milk and milk-based food products. TEM, SEM-EDX, FT-IR, VSM techniques were applied for characterization of MPSP-nanocomposite. The influential parameters including pH, extraction time, stirring rate, elution solvent type and volume, sample volume, desorption time, and ionic strength were studied and at optimum conditions, the linear range of 1-500 (µg L), the LOD (S/N = 3) of 0.

Chromium Exposure in the Adult Population, Consuming Different Types of Smokeless Tobacco Products in Pakistan.

The pervasive smokeless tobacco (SLT) consumption and diseases related to its use is a hot topic for the public discussion. In this study, concentrations of chromium (Cr) were measured in different SLT products [snuff (dry and moist), mainpuri, and gutkha] offered and used in Pakistan. The current study was also designed to assess the Cr levels in the biological (scalp hair and blood) samples of male and female subjects, age ranged from 25 to 60 years, chewing different SLT products.

Exposure of children to arsenic in drinking water in the Tharparkar region of Sindh, Pakistan.

Humans can be exposed to arsenic (As) through air, drinking water, and food. The aim of this study was to calculate the hazard quotient (HQ) of As, based on its concentration in drinking water and the scalp hair of children (males) belonging to two age groups (5-10 and 11-14 years) who consumed water contaminated with different concentrations of As. The water samples were collected from As-exposed and nonexposed areas, which were classified as low-exposed (LE), high-exposed (HE), and nonexposed (NE) areas.

Toxic Risk Assessment of Arsenic in Males Through Drinking Water in Tharparkar Region of Sindh, Pakistan.

Humans are exposed to arsenic (As) through air, drinking water, and food. The arsenic (As) hazardous quotient was calculated on the basis of its concentration in drinking water of different origin and scalp hair of male subjects (n = 313), residents of different exposed and non-exposed areas of Sindh, Pakistan. The total As was determined in water and scalp hair samples, while As species were determined in water samples by advance extraction methodologies.

Development of new portable miniaturize solid phase microextraction of silver-APDC complex using micropipette tip in-syringe system couple with electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.

An innovative and simple miniaturized solid phase microextraction (M-SPME) method, was developed for preconcentration and determination of silver(I) in the fresh and waste water samples. For M-SPME, a micropipette tip packed with activated carbon cloth (ACC) as sorbent, in a syringe system. The size, morphology and elemental composition of ACC before and after adsorption of analyte have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy.

Evaluation of calcium and lead interaction, in addition to their impact on thyroid functions in hyper and hypothyroid patients.

There is compelling evidence in support of interaction between calcium (Ca) and lead (Pb) in thyroid disorders. The aim of present study was to compare the level of Ca and Pb with thyroid hormones such as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxin (FT4) in serum samples of hyperthyroid (HPRT) and hypothyroid (HPOT) patients of both genders. For comparative purpose, age-matched (25-50 years) subjects having no thyroid disorders were selected as referents/controls.

Correlation of cadmium and aluminum in blood samples of kidney disorder patients with drinking water and tobacco smoking: related health risk.

The combined exposure to aluminum (Al) and cadmium (Cd) causes more pronounced adverse health effects on humans. The kidneys are the main organs affected by internal exposure to Cd and Al via food and non-food items. The objective of present study was to measure the Al and Cd concentrations in cigarettes tobacco (branded and non-branded) and drinking water (domestic treated, ground and lake water) samples in southern part of Pakistan, to assess the risk due to ingestion of water and inhalation of cigarettes smoke containing high concentrations of both elements.

Estimation of calcium, magnesium, cadmium, and lead in biological samples from paralyzed quality control and production steel mill workers.

The determination of trace and toxic metals in the biological samples of human beings is an important clinical screening procedure. The aim of the present study was to compare the level of essential trace and toxic elements cadmium (Cd), calcium (Ca), lead (Pb), and magnesium (Mg) in biological samples (whole blood, urine, and scalp hair) of male paralyzed production (PPW) and quality control workers (PQW) of a steel mill, age ranged (35-55 years). For comparison purposes, healthy age-matched exposed referent subjects (EC), working in steel mill and control subjects (NEC), who were not working in industries and lived far away from the industrial areas, were selected as control subjects.

Preconcentration and determination of lead and cadmium levels in blood samples of adolescent workers consuming smokeless tobacco products in Pakistan.

The present study was aimed to evaluate the cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) levels in the blood samples of adolescent boys, chewing different smokeless tobacco (SLT) products in Pakistan. For comparative purpose, boys of the same age group (12-15 years), not consumed any SLT products were selected as referents. To determine trace levels of Cd and Pb in blood samples, a preconcentration method, vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (VLLME) has been developed, prior to analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

Assessment of selenium and mercury in biological samples of normal and night blindness children of age groups (3-7) and (8-12) years.

The causes of night blindness in children are multifactorial and particular consideration has been given to childhood nutritional deficiency, which is the most common problem found in underdeveloped countries. Such deficiency can result in physiological and pathological processes that in turn influence biological sample composition. This study was designed to compare the levels of selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg) in scalp hair, blood, and urine of night blindness children age ranged (3-7) and (8-12) years of both genders, comparing them to sex- and age-matched controls.

Comparative evaluation of essential and toxic elements in the blood of kidney failure patients and healthy referents.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the comparative distribution, correlation, and apportionment of selected elements-aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), cadmium (Cd), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and lead (Pb)-in the blood samples of male kidney failure patients (KFP) and healthy subjects of age ranged 30-60 years. The blood samples were digested with nitric acid and perchloric acid mixture (2:1), followed by the quantification of elements by atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentration of essential elements in blood samples of KFP were found in the range of Ca (97-125), Mg (18-36), Na (2971-3685), and K (177-270) mg/L while, the levels of Al, Cd, and Pb were found in the range of (475-1275), (0.

Arsenic content in smokeless tobacco products consumed by the population of Pakistan: related health risk.

Extensive investigation has shown that smokeless tobacco (SLT) may cause inflammation of the oral cavity. In this study, the concentration of arsenic (As) was determined in SLT products (gutkha, mainpuri, and dry and moist snuff). Scalp hair samples of males aged 20-30 years who consumed different types of SLT products available in Pakistan were analyzed for As contents.

Temperature-controlled ionic liquid-based ultrasound-assisted microextraction for preconcentration of trace quantity of cadmium and nickel by using organic ligand in artificial saliva extract of smokeless tobacco products.

A new approach was developed for the preconcentration of cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) in artificial saliva extract of dry snuff (brown and black) products using temperature-controlled ionic liquid-based ultrasound-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (TIL-UDLLμE) followed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). The Cd and Ni were complexed with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC), extracted in ionic liquid drops, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [C4MIM][PF6]. The multivariate strategy was applied to estimate the optimum values of experimental variables influence the % recovery of analytes by TIL-UDLLμE method.

Scalp hair and blood cadmium levels in association with chewing gutkha, mainpuri, and snuff, among patients with oral cancer in Pakistan.

Background: It has been reported that smokeless tobacco (SLT) chewing can lead to caners of oral cavity. In this study, the relationship between cadmium exposure via consumption of different SLT products by patients with oral cancer with related to referents belongs to different cities of Pakistan are investigated.

Methods: The cadmium in different types of SLT products (gutkha, mainpuri and snuff) consumed by studied population and biological samples (scalp hair and blood) of cancerous and healthy subjects were analyzed.

Evaluation of fresh and stored rainwater quality in fluoride and arsenic endemic area of Thar Desert, Pakistan.

In the current study, the chemistry of fresh and stored rainwater of Thar Desert, Pakistan, was estimated during two consecutive monsoon periods. The present research deals with the variation in physicochemical parameters, total arsenic (As(t)), inorganic arsenic species (As(i), As(V), As(III)), and fluoride (F(-)) in stored rainwater (SRW) at different time intervals (1 week to 3 months). The pH of fresh rainwater (FRW) samples showed slightly acidic to neutral in nature (6.

Evaluation of chromium and manganese in biological samples (scalp hair, blood and urine) of tuberculosis and diarrhea male human immunodeficiency virus patients.

Background: The consequence of trace elements deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) disease progression and mortality. This study examined the association between high concentrations of chromium (Cr) and manganese (Mn) in scalp hair, blood, and urine and opportunistic infections in hospitalized patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Methods: The study was performed on 62 male HIV+ patients (HIV-1) from different cities of Pakistan.

Distribution of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and nickel levels in biological samples of Pakistani hypertensive patients and control subjects.

Background: The abnormal metabolism of metal ions plays an important role in health and disease conditions, and studies about them have been attracting significant interest. The aim of our study was to assess the toxic elements arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) in biological samples (scalp hair, blood, urine) of 387 hypertensive males and females, aged between 30 and 60 years, from an urban population together with 439 non-hypertensive subjects, of the same age group and residential areas.

Methods: The element concentrations were measured by means of an electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometer after microwave-induced acid digestion.

Estimation of copper and iron burden in biological samples of various stages of hepatitis C and liver cirrhosis patients.

There is accumulative evidence that the metabolism of iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) is altered in human due to infections, indicating that both elements have roles in pathogenesis and progress of viral diseases. In the present study, the correlation of Cu and Fe was evaluate in biological samples (serum and scalp hair) of hepatitis C (hepatitis C virus (HCV)) patients of both genders at different stages. For comparative study, the scalp hair and serum samples of healthy individuals of same age group (30-50 years) and socioeconomic status were collected.

Interaction between essential elements selenium and zinc with cadmium and mercury in samples from hypertensive patients.

The abnormal metabolism of metal ions plays an important role in health and disease conditions; hence, the studies about them have received much interest. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between trace and toxic elements zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), selenium (Se), and mercury (Hg) in biological samples (scalp hair, blood, and urine) of hypertensive patients (n = 257), residents of Hyderabad, Pakistan. For comparison purpose, the biological samples of age-matched healthy controls were selected as referents.

Determination of nickel in blood and serum samples of oropharyngeal cancer patients consumed smokeless tobacco products by cloud point extraction coupled with flame atomic absorption spectrometry.

Oropharyngeal cancer is a significant public health issue in the world. The incidence of oropharyngeal cancer has been increased among people who have habit of chewing smokeless tobacco (SLT) in Pakistan. The aim of present study was to evaluate the concentration of nickel (Ni) in biological samples (whole blood, serum) of oral (n = 95) and pharyngeal (n = 84) male cancer patients.

Interaction between selenium and mercury in biological samples of Pakistani myocardial infarction patients at different stages as related to controls.

It has been speculated that trace elements may a play role in the pathogenesis of heart diseases. In the present study, we aimed to assess the levels of selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg) in biological samples (whole blood, urine, and scalp hair) of myocardial infarction (MI) patients of both genders (age range 45-60 years) at the first, second, and third heart attack (n = 130), hospitalized in a cardiac ward of a civil hospital of Hyderabad City (Pakistan). For comparison, healthy age-matched referent subjects (n = 61) of both genders were also selected.