Novel green nano composites films fabricated by indigenously synthesized graphene oxide and chitosan.

Graphene oxide (GO) was indigenously synthesized from graphite using standard Hummers method. Chitosan-graphene oxide green composite films were fabricated by mixing aqueous solution of chitosan and GO using dilute acetic acid as a solvent for chitosan. Chitosan of different viscosity and calculated molecular weight was used keeping amount of GO constant in each composite film.

Ultrathin GaN quantum disk nanowire LEDs with sub-250 nm electroluminescence.

By quantum confining GaN at monolayer thickness with AlN barriers inside of a nanowire, deep ultraviolet LEDs are demonstrated. Full three-dimensional strain dependent energy band simulations are carried out within multiple quantum disk (MQD) GaN/AlN nanowire superlattice heterostructures. It is found that, even within the same nanowire MQD, the emission energy of the ultrathin GaN QDs varies from disk to disk due to the changing strain distribution and polarization charge induced energy band bending along the axial nanowire direction.

Mortality risk from comorbidities independent of triple-negative breast cancer status: NCI-SEER-based cohort analysis.

Purpose: A comparatively high prevalence of comorbidities among African-American/Blacks (AA/B) has been implicated in disparate survival in breast cancer. There is a scarcity of data, however, if this effect persists when accounting for the adverse triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype which occurs at threefold the rate in AA/B compared to white breast cancer patients.

Methods: We reviewed charts of 214 white and 202 AA/B breast cancer patients in the NCI-SEER Connecticut Tumor Registry who were diagnosed in 2000-2007.

Semiconductor Nanowire Light-Emitting Diodes Grown on Metal: A Direction Toward Large-Scale Fabrication of Nanowire Devices.

Bottom-up nanowires are attractive for realizing semiconductor devices with extreme heterostructures because strain relaxation through the nanowire sidewalls allows the combination of highly lattice mismatched materials without creating dislocations. The resulting nanowires are used to fabricate light-emitting diodes (LEDs), lasers, solar cells, and sensors. However, expensive single crystalline substrates are commonly used as substrates for nanowire heterostructures as well as for epitaxial devices, which limits the manufacturability of nanowire devices.

Fabrication of tethered carbon nanotubes in cellulose acetate/polyethylene glycol-400 composite membranes for reverse osmosis.

In this study pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were surface engineered (SE) in strong acidic medium by oxidation purification method to form SE-MWCNT. Five different amount of SE-MWCNT ranging from 0.1 to 0.

Fluoride estimation and its correlation with other physicochemical parameters in drinking water of some areas of Balochistan, Pakistan.

The fluoride level in drinking water is an important parameter and has to be controlled in order to prevent dental and skeletal fluorosis. The objective of this study is to assess fluoride content and other water quality parameters in the samples taken from open wells, tube wells, and karezes of Mastung, Mangochar, and Pringabad areas of Balochistan province. A total number of 96 drinking water samples out of 150 were found unfit for human consumption.

Utility of liver biopsy in predicting clinical outcomes after percutaneous angioplasty for hepatic venous obstruction in liver transplant patients.

Aim: To determine utility of transplant liver biopsy in evaluating efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for hepatic venous obstruction (HVOO).

Methods: Adult liver transplant patients treated with PTA for HVOO (2003-2013) at a single institution were reviewed for pre/post-PTA imaging findings, manometry (gradient with right atrium), presence of HVOO on pre-PTA and post-PTA early and late biopsy (EB and LB, < or > 60 d after PTA), and clinical outcome, defined as good (no clinical issues, non-HVOO-related death) or poor (surgical correction, recurrent HVOO, or HVOO-related death).

Results: Fifteen patients meeting inclusion criteria underwent 21 PTA, 658 ± 1293 d after transplant.

A Pilot Study of a Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Parkinson Disease.

Anxiety and depression often remain unrecognized or inadequately treated in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective, but limited evidence supports its use for anxiety and depression in patients with PD. Sixteen patients with PD having significant anxiety and/or depressive symptoms were assigned to CBT or enhanced usual care.

Regioselective Sequential Modification of Chitosan via Azide-Alkyne Click Reaction: Synthesis, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Activity of Chitosan Derivatives and Nanoparticles.

Recently, the attention of researchers has been drawn toward the synthesis of chitosan derivatives and their nanoparticles with enhanced antimicrobial activities. In this study, chitosan derivatives with different azides and alkyne groups were synthesized using click chemistry, and these were further transformed into nanoparticles by using the ionotropic gelation method. A series of chitosan derivatives was successfully synthesized by regioselective modification of chitosan via an azide-alkyne click reaction.

Spermicidal activity of the hexane extract of Piper longum: an in vitro study.

This study was carried out to assess the spermicidal action of hexane extract from the fruits of Piper longum Linn. The sperm immobilisation studies showed that 20 mg/mL of hexane extract was able to immobilise sperms completely within 20 s. The sperm revival test revealed that the effects were spermicidal as sperm immobilisation effect was irreversible.

Metrics for Radiologists in the Era of Value-based Health Care Delivery.

Accelerated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, health care delivery in the United States is poised to move from a model that rewards the volume of services provided to one that rewards the value provided by such services. Radiology department operations are currently managed by an array of metrics that assess various departmental missions, but many of these metrics do not measure value. Regulators and other stakeholders also influence what metrics are used to assess medical imaging.

Optical control of internal electric fields in band gap-graded InGaN nanowires.

InGaN nanowires are suitable building blocks for many future optoelectronic devices. We show that a linear grading of the indium content along the nanowire axis from GaN to InN introduces an internal electric field evoking a photocurrent. Consistent with quantitative band structure simulations we observe a sign change in the measured photocurrent as a function of photon flux.

Deep ultraviolet emitting polarization induced nanowire light emitting diodes with AlxGa₁-xN active regions.

In this report, we demonstrate band gap tuning of the active region emission wavelength from 365 nm to 250 nm in light emitting diodes fashioned from catalyst-free III-nitride nanowires. Optical characteristics of the nanowire heterostructures and fabricated devices are studied via electroluminescence (EL) and photoluminescence spectroscopy over a wide range of active region compositions. It is observed that for typical nanowire plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy growth conditions, tuning of emission to wavelengths shorter than 300 nm is hampered by the presence of an optically active defect level.

Short-term outcomes following the use of self-expanding metallic stents in acute malignant colonic obstruction--a single centre experience.

Background: Colonic self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) may provide prompt relief of acute malignant colorectal obstruction (AMCO) and are increasingly used either palliatively or as a bridge to surgery (BTS) in patients in whom a definitive surgical approach is unsuitable. We evaluated short-term outcomes of malignant colorectal obstructive patients who underwent SEMS insertion in our institution over a 3-year period.

Methods: A prospectively maintained database was reviewed to identify all patients who presented to our institution with AMCO between August 2010 and 2013 and who were treated with a SEMS either temporarily or permanently.

Graphic representation of clinical symptoms: a tool for improving detection of subtle fractures on foot radiographs.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess changes in accuracy, degree of confidence, and evaluation time in radiography of subtle foot fractures when the text history is supplemented by a graphic indicating the site of pain.

Materials And Methods: Radiographs from 226 foot examinations (three views), including 126 examinations showing one subtle fracture (< 1-mm displacement) and 100 examinations with normal findings were selected. In the first interpretation session, only a text history was given for 112 examinations, and both text and a graphic indicating the site of pain for 114 examinations.

GC-MS characterisation and antibacterial activity evaluation of Nigella sativa oil against diverse strains of Salmonella.

Salmonella resistance is becoming a worldwide serious health issue in these days; therefore, it is an urgent need to develop some alternative approaches to overcome this problem. Twenty bacterial strains were isolated and purified from different environmental sources and confirmed as Salmonella by morphological and biochemical analyses. Further confirmation was done by 16s rRNA sequencing.

Shaping magnetic fields to direct therapy to ears and eyes.

Magnetic fields have the potential to noninvasively direct and focus therapy to disease targets. External magnets can apply forces on drug-coated magnetic nanoparticles, or on living cells that contain particles, and can be used to manipulate them in vivo. Significant progress has been made in developing and testing safe and therapeutic magnetic constructs that can be manipulated by magnetic fields.

Low likelihood of intracranial hemorrhage in patients with cirrhosis and altered mental status.

Background & Aims: Given the myriad causes of altered mental status (AMS), patients with cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy often present a diagnostic dilemma. In light of the perceived bleeding tendency of patients with cirrhosis, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is often feared, so these patients frequently undergo non-contrast computed tomography (CT) of the head. However, little is known about the diagnostic yield of CT for patients with cirrhosis presenting with AMS.

Blood lead levels and health problems of lead acid battery workers in Bangladesh.

Introduction: Use of lead acid battery (LAB) in Bangladesh has risen with sharp rise of motor vehicles. As result, manufacture of LAB is increasing. Most of the lead used by these industries comes from recycling of LAB.

Boswellia serrata extract attenuates inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress in collagen induced arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease which leads to destruction of joints. Current treatment modalities for RA either produce symptomatic relief (NSAIDs) or modify the disease process (DMARDs). Though effective, their use is also limited by their side effects.

Comparing clinical features of young onset, middle onset and late onset Parkinson's disease.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) affects 1-2% of the population over 65 years. There is evidence that the clinical features differ with age at symptom onset, but published information is scarce.

Methods: We reviewed the charts of 593 PD patients and divided them into young onset (≤49 years), middle onset (50-69 years) and late onset (≥70 years) groups.

Bilateral pallidal deep brain stimulation for X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism.

Background: X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism (XDP) is a progressively debilitating movement disorder that begins with focal dystonia and eventually generalizes. It exclusively affects Filipino inhabitants of the island of Panay. We report a case of XDP successfully treated by deep brain stimulation (DBS) and review the literature.

Medical Tourism in Malaysia: Prospect and Challenges.

Background: Tourism, combined with the phrase medical, seems to be a new form of tourism which has gained huge popularity in recent decades. Though, a number of literatures available with regard to the tourism industry and the competitiveness of the destination, however, the major aspects which determine the satisfaction of medical tourists are hardly focused specifically on Malaysia. There is a lack of empirical evidence in this area of study which needs to be bridged.