Removing Thallium (I) Ion from Aqueous Solutions Using Modified ZnO Nanopowder

In this study, the adsorption of thallium (I) ion as a dangerous pollutant from aqueous solution onto modified ZnO nanopowder as a fairly cheap adsorbent has been examined in batch mode. It was known that modification of the adsorbent was necessary to reach a significant adsorption percentage. The adsorbent used here was modified by sodium phosphate solution. The effect of experimental conditions such as initial pH of solution, contact time, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration of thallium and temperature is studied. The results showed the dependence of the adsorption percentage to these conditions specially its pH. The maximum adsorption percentage of Tl (I) ions at 25±1oC was 92.8%. Freundlich isotherm model provided a better fit with the experimental data than Langmuir and Temkin isotherm models by high correlation. Separation factor, RL, values showed that modified ZnO nanopowder was favorable for the adsorption of Tl (I) ion. The negative value of ΔH0 showed that Tl (I) sorption is an exothermic process and the negative value of ΔS0 represented that there is a little decrease of randomness at the solid-solution interface during sorption

Evaluation of Body Mass Index of 3–10-year-old Children with Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy, who Referred to Khatamolanbia Hospital during 2017–2018

BACKGROUND: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is a common disorder in the children’s population that can lead to growth disorders. Chronic adenotonsillar hypertrophy can cause a break in the normal growth of children, weight loss, and decreased growth hormone secretion. AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate adenotonsillar hypertrophy in the growth rate of children with height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: In this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study, after examining 312, 3–10-year-old children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, who met the inclusion criteria, growth scales were evaluated and entered into the patient evaluation form. RESULTS: There was a significant relationship between BMI, height, weight, and severity of tonsillar hypertrophy at Brodsky’s scale (P <0.001). Our studies showed well that with increasing severity of adenotonsillar hypertrophy disease, the growth indicators are also decreased in children. CONCLUSION: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy decreases growth indicators in children. There was also a relationship between growth indicators and severity of adenotonsillar hypertrophy in patients

Highly selective potentiometric determination of Fe(III) ions using Tris-(1,2-diiminocyclohexylmethyl-5-Cl-2-hydroxyl benzaldehyde) based membrane electrode

A novel ion-selective poly(vinyl chloride) membrane sensor for Fe(III) ions based on Tris-(1,2-diiminocyclohexylmethyl-5-Cl-2-hydroxyl benzaldehyde) are reported in this paper. The electrode exhibits a good potentiometric response for Fe(III), response time ≤ 20 s, over a wide concentration range 1.0 × 10-5 to 1.0 × 10-1 M with a slope 19.4 ± 0.5 mV/decade. The potentiometric response is independent on the pH of solution in the range of 1.5-5.0. The proposed electrode can be used for at least two months without any considerable divergence in potentials.It exhibits very good selectivity relative to a wide variety of alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. The electrode assembly was also used as indicator electrode in the potentiometric titration of Fe(III) with EDTA

Improvement of knowledge, attitude and perception of healthcare workers about ADR, a pre- and post-clinical pharmacists' interventional study

Purpose: Healthcare workers have a main role in detection, assessment and spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and improvement of their related knowledge, attitude and perception is essential. The goal of this study was evaluation of clinical pharmacists' interventions in improvement of knowledge, attitude and perception of healthcare workers about ADRs in a teaching referral hospital, Tehran, Iran. Method: Changes in knowledge, attitude and perception of healthcare workers of Imam teaching hospital about ADRs were evaluated before and after clinical pharmacists' interventions including workshops, meetings and presentations. Results: From the 100 participated subjects, 82 of them completed the study. 51 of the health workers have been aware of the Iranian Pharmacovigilance Center at the ministry of health before intervention and after that all the participants knew this centre. About awareness and detection of ADRs in patients, 69 (84.1) healthcare workers recognised at least one, and following interventions, it was improved to 73 (89). Only seven (8.5) subjects have reported ADRs in before intervention phase that were increased significantly to 18 (22) after intervention. Conclusion: Clinical pharmacists' interventions were successful in improvement of healthcare workers' knowledge, attitude and perception about ADRs and spontaneous reporting in our hospital

Adsorption Characteristics of Amoxicillin on Activated Carbon from Eucalyptus Leave and Wheat Straw

In this study, amoxicillin from aqueous solutions was adsorbed by activated carbons from eucalyptus leave and wheat straw through adsorption process. The effects of varying parameters such as initial pH of amoxicillin solution, initial concentration of amoxicillin solution, adsorbent dosage, contact time and temperature on the adsorption process were examined. Under optimum conditions containing pH 11, amoxicillin initial concentration 10 mgL-1, adsorbent dosage 0.07 g, contact time 30 and 60 min for eucalyptus leave and wheat straw, respectively, and temperature 25±1oC, maximum adsorption percentages for amoxicillin on eucalyptus leave and wheat straw were obtained 72.4% and 79.2% respectively. In addition, comparison of the experimental results with Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin adsorption isotherms, showed that the Langmuir isotherm have better fitting with the equilibrium data than the Freundlich isotherm but the fitting with Temkin isotherm is weaker for both adsorbents. Also, thermodynamic parameters of the adsorption such as 〖∆H〗^0 and 〖∆S〗^0 were calculated that theirs negative values showed that the amoxicillin adsorption on eucalyptus leave and wheat straw is an exothermic process and along with decrease of randomness, respectively. Meanwhile, the more negative value of 〖∆G〗^0 at 25oC compared to higher temperatures is a sign of more spontaneous adsorption process at this temperature. In addition, the study of adsorption kinetics showed that the amoxicillin adsorption on both adsorbents is pseudo-second order

Effects of vitamin D supplementation on the bone specific biomarkers in HIV infected individuals under treatment with efavirenz

BACKGROUND: It was reported that antiretroviral drugs such as efavirenz can increase the catabolism of vitamin D in HIV infected individuals. We have not found any study that evaluated effects of vitamin D supplementation on the bone specific biomarkers in HIV positive patients under treatment with antiretroviral regimen containing efavirenz. FINDINGS: Vitamin D deficiency was detected in 88.4 % of included patients. Baseline osteocalcin, but not collagen telopeptidase, serum levels were lower than normal range in all of these individuals. Both bone biomarkers’ concentrations increased significantly (p < 0.001 for both of them) after supplementation of vitamin D and it was more predominant for osteocalcin. CONCLUSION: In the HIV-infected patients under treatment with efavirenz, vitamin D deficiency is prevalent. After supplementation with single dose of 300,000 IU vitamin D in this population, the activation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts stimulates bone formation and resorption respectively with favorable bone formation without any adverse event. Significant percent of HIV infected individuals are vitamin d deficient that could benefit from vitamin D supplementation

A quick algorithmic review on management of viral infectious diseases in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients

Pediatric solid organ transplant is a life-saving procedure for children with end-stage organ failure. Viral infections are a common complication following pediatric solid organ transplantation (SOT), which can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Pediatric solid organ transplant recipients are at an increased risk of viral infections due to their immunosuppressed state. The most commonly encountered viruses include cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), adenoviruses, and BK polyomavirus. Prevention strategies include vaccination prior to transplantation, post-transplant prophylaxis with antiviral agents, and preemptive therapy. Treatment options vary depending on the virus and may include antiviral therapy and sometimes immunosuppression modification. This review provides a Quick Algorithmic overview of prevention and treatment strategies for viral infectious diseases in pediatric solid organ transplant recipient

Effect of Recommended Dietary Intake versus Higher Doses of Supplemental Zinc on Iron and Copper Deficiency Anemia Among Patients with Chronic Kidney Diseases, A Double-Blinded, Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Complex interplays happen in absorption and function of iron, zinc and copper. Both zinc deficiency and excess may lead to anemia. In Iran, commonly available supplements for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients contain 25 mg-zinc (Zn). This study compared 25 mg versus 7.5 mg dose of zinc in anemia of CKD patients, the latter dose approximates to recommended dietary intake (RDI) of zinc. Methods: In this double-blinded clinical trial, 51 non-dialysis CKD patients were randomized to continue previous formulation (25 mg-Zn group) or change to a new preparation (7.5 mg-Zn group) for three months. Blood counts and serum iron, zinc and copper status were compared between and within the groups. Results: At the end of the study, serum copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations were significantly higher in 7.5 mg-Zn group compared with those in 25 mg-Zn arm (115.04± 23.05 vs. 102.48±14.98 µg/dL; P= 0.02 and 29.97±7.94 vs. 25.42±4.23 mg/dL; P= 0.01, respectively). Serum zinc levels did not differ between two groups (76.73±15.35 vs. 77.68±18.07 µg/dL for 7.5 mg-Zn and 25 mg-Zn groups, respectively; P= 0.84). After three months, patients in 7.5 mg-Zn group experienced increase in their Hb (11.11±1.17 vs. 10.72±1.03 g/dL; P= 0.04), HCT (35.28± 4.01 vs. 33.96± 3.74%; P= 0.03), MCV (86.30 (81.40-90.82) vs. 86.00 (80.35-88.77) ¦L; P= 0.01) and ferritin (202.60 (79.29-298.97) vs. 129.07 (42.25-225.87) ng/mL; P<0.001) compared to their baseline values. Conclusion: Reducing zinc content to its RDI value in supplement for CKD patients led to increased serum copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations. Moreover, patients who switched to RDI zinc-containing formula experienced a significant rise in blood hemoglobin. hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and ferritin concentration

Risk factors for delayed graft function in deceased donor kidney transplantation; A potential preventive role for intraoperative thymoglobulin

Introduction: Delayed graft function (DGF) is associated with significant adverse outcomes in deceased donor kidney transplantation (KT) including lower graft survival. However, risk factors and potential preventive strategies like intraoperative rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG; thymoglobulin) have not yet been fully evaluated. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate DGF risk factors and determine the association of intraoperative rATG with the risk of DGF in deceased donor kidney recipients. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively examined medical records of 163 first time deceased donor kidney transplant recipients at two major kidney transplant centers from 2014 to 2016. All the donors were standard heart-beating, brain death donors. Risk factors for DGF in recipients were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The mean recipients' age was 43±13 years and the majority of participants were male (64). The overall rate of DGF was 27. Intraoperative rATG was significantly associated with a lower rate of DGF (adjusted odds ratio AOR, 0.33, 95% CI, 0.11-0.95). Intraoperative transfusion (AOR, 3.7, 95% CI, 1.4-9.9) and diabetes mellitus (AOR, 3.7, 95% CI, 1.5-8.9) were significantly associated with higher risk of DGF. Conclusion: This study showed that intraoperative blood transfusion and diabetes mellitus were associated with increased risk of DGF. Meanwhile, administration of intraoperative rATG was associated with reduced odds ratio of DGF. Future studies are needed to evaluate the potential role of rATG in DGF-related renal outcomes. © 2019 The Author(s)

Impact of neuraminidase inhibitors on influenza A(H1N1)pdm09‐related pneumonia: an individual participant data meta‐analysis

BACKGROUND: The impact of neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) on influenza‐related pneumonia (IRP) is not established. Our objective was to investigate the association between NAI treatment and IRP incidence and outcomes in patients hospitalised with A(H1N1)pdm09 virus infection. METHODS: A worldwide meta‐analysis of individual participant data from 20 634 hospitalised patients with laboratory‐confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 (n = 20 021) or clinically diagnosed (n = 613) ‘pandemic influenza’. The primary outcome was radiologically confirmed IRP. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated using generalised linear mixed modelling, adjusting for NAI treatment propensity, antibiotics and corticosteroids. RESULTS: Of 20 634 included participants, 5978 (29·0%) had IRP; conversely, 3349 (16·2%) had confirmed the absence of radiographic pneumonia (the comparator). Early NAI treatment (within 2 days of symptom onset) versus no NAI was not significantly associated with IRP [adj. OR 0·83 (95% CI 0·64–1·06; P = 0·136)]. Among the 5978 patients with IRP, early NAI treatment versus none did not impact on mortality [adj. OR = 0·72 (0·44–1·17; P = 0·180)] or likelihood of requiring ventilatory support [adj. OR = 1·17 (0·71–1·92; P = 0·537)], but early treatment versus later significantly reduced mortality [adj. OR = 0·70 (0·55–0·88; P = 0·003)] and likelihood of requiring ventilatory support [adj. OR = 0·68 (0·54–0·85; P = 0·001)]. CONCLUSIONS: Early NAI treatment of patients hospitalised with A(H1N1)pdm09 virus infection versus no treatment did not reduce the likelihood of IRP. However, in patients who developed IRP, early NAI treatment versus later reduced the likelihood of mortality and needing ventilatory support