Evaluation of Activated Carbon Treatment in the Decolourization of Starch Hydrolysates

Starch hydrolysates, typically produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of starch from different raw materials, are presented as glucose syrups with a brownish colour due to colour compounds formed during the processing. The colour must be removed for further commercial use, usually done by activated carbon (AC) downstream treatment. This research studied the decolourization of starch hydrolysates with AC to evaluate better optimum process conditions, thus help reducing resource consumption and waste generation in the actual downstream systems. Adsorption by powdered NORIT GBSP AC was carried out in a lab-scale batch process at a constant temperature (70 °C) for different contact times in a range of 5 to 90 minutes, AC dosages from 0.1 to 0.8 g / 100 ml solution and sugar concentrations of 16, 20, 30, and 40 Brix. The results showed that the adsorption time to reach equilibrium decreases with higher dilution (10, 20, 30 and 60 min for 16, 20, 30 and 40 Brix solution). All dilutions achieved decolourization from 85 % to 90 %, with colour reduced to nearly 50 ICUMSA Units. Regarding the obtained product sugar, a lower amount of AC is required for higher sugar concentration (0.020, 0.021, 0.021, and 0.010 g AC per g decolourised sugar for 16, 20, 30, and 40 Brix). For better determination of best decolourization conditions, further investigation of the correlation between faster adsorption with higher water and energy consumption and lower dilution for less required AC is required. Additional studies in other separation techniques are proposed, especially membranes, showing high AC waste reduction potential

Usporedba dvaju inhibitora cikooksigenaze u eksperimentalnom modelu suhog oka u albino kunića

The purpose of this study was to compare the topical anti-inflammatory effects of the nonselective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, ketorolac, with the selective COX-2 inhibitor, nimesulide, in an animal model of dry eye in albino rabbits. All animals were examined by the Schirmer test, tear break-up time (TBUT) and fluorescein corneal staining test. Dry eye model showed significant reduction in tear volume, TBUT, corneal staining and histopathological signs of dryness and inflammation. On treating dry eye model with nimesulide 0.1% eye drops and ketorolac 0.5% eye drops, there were improvements in Schirmer test values, TBUT and fluorescein corneal staining and histopathologically reduced inflammatory reaction, with signs of healing and regeneration. Both nimesulide and ketorolac ameliorate atropine sulphate induced dry eye in albino rabbits. The use of selective COX-2 inhibitor, nimesulide, is preferred to avoid local and systemic side effects which may occur with the use of the nonselective COX inhibitor, ketorolac.Cilj istraživanja bila je usporedba topičkog protuupalnog učinka neselektivnog inhibitora ciklooksigenaze (COX), ketorolaka i selektivnog COX-2 inhibitora, nimesulida na animalnom modelu suhog oka u albino kunića. Na životinjama je proveden Schirmerov test, vrijeme prestanka suzenja oka tear break-up time (TBUT) i test bojenja rožnice fluoresceinom. U animalnom modelu suhog oka značajno je smanjen volumen suza, TBUT, bojenje rožnice i histopatološki simptomi suhoće i upale. Obradom suhog oka s kapima za oči koje sadrže 0,1% nimesulida, odnosno 0,5% ketorolaka, poboljšane su vrijednosti u Schirmerovom testu, TBUT i bojanje rožnice fluoresceinom, smanjena je upalna reakcija, a na oku su se pokazali simptomi ozdravljenja i regeneracije. I nimesulid i ketorolak smanjuju suhoću oka induciranu atropin sulfatom u albino kunića. Uporaba selektivnog COX-2 inhibitora, nimesulida, se preferira jer se izbjegavaju lokalne i sistemske nuspojave koje se mogu pojaviti uz uporabu neselektivnog COX inhibitora, ketorolaka

HLA-DRB1 alleles in Egyptian rheumatoid arthritis patients: Relations to anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, disease activity and severity

AbstractBackgroundHuman leukocyte antigen HLA-DRB1 alleles encoding a common amino acid sequence called shared epitope in the third hypervariable region of DRB1 molecule have been identified as risk alleles for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Aim of the workThe aim was to study HLA-DRB1 01, 04 and 10 alleles in Egyptian RA patients and determine their relation with anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody level, disease activity, clinical and radiological severity.Patients and methodsThe study involved 40 RA patients and 20 control. Simplified disease activity index (SDAI) was calculated, clinical severity was assessed using the mechanical joint score (MJS) and radiological severity evaluated using the simple erosion narrowing score (SENS). HLA-DRB1 genotyping and anti-CCP antibodies were detected.ResultsThe mean patients’ age was 41.6±12.7years and disease duration 8.9±7.7years. The frequency of HLA DRB1 01, 04 and 10 in patients was 42.5%, 60% and 25% respectively. Of them 04 was significantly higher than in controls (p=0.013) and was associated with anti-CCP positive cases (p=0.0008) while the absence of HLA-DRB1 alleles was significantly associated with negative anti-CCP negative RA (p=0.0008). There were significant associations between HLA-DRB1 01 and 04 with SDAI (p=0.0002 and p=0.005, respectively); between HLA-DRB1 04 and 10 with SENS (p=0.002 and p=0.001 respectively) and between HLA-DRB1 01, 04 and 10 with MJS (p=0.02, p=0.03 and p=0.02, respectively).ConclusionHLA-DRB1 04 is associated with RA in Egyptian patients and is strongly associated in the production of elevated titers of anti-CCP antibodies which contribute to the development, severity and activity of the disease

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population