Biocatalytic performance of carbonic anhydrase immobilized within polyurethane foam in water-miscible organic solvents

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, Biotechnology, Izmir, 2013Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 69-73)Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and Englishxi, 73 leavesThe effects of water-miscible organic solvents such as acetonitrile and ethanol on the activity of free and immobilized bovine carbonic anhydrase (CA) were investigated. The CA was covalently immobilized within polyurethane (PU) foam by cross-linking. Although PU foam holds water almost 12 times of its weight, it was found that adsorption isotherm of moisture on PU foam was a Type III indicating that water and PU foam were non-interacting to each other. The activities for the free and immobilized CA were estimated using para-nitrophenyl acetate (p-NPA) as the substrate. The enzyme activities were estimated in increasing volume percents of organic solvent in Tris buffer (10-90%). p-NP, which is one of the products of the hydrolysis reaction of p-NPA, was characterized in the presence of organic solvents and it was observed that its aborptivities were decreased significantly as the organic solvent percentages were increased indicating that p-NP and the water-miscible organic solvent form a complex through mostly a hydrogen bonding. The free CA showed decreasing activity up to critical percentages of organic solvent (40-60%), and then exhibited an increasing activity. The immobilized CA showed decreasing activity in acetonitrile at percentages up to 50%, and then lost its total activity at higher acetonitrile percentages, however, the immobilized CA exhibited no activity in ethanol at percentages above 10%. Stability tests showed that the immobilized CA was dramatically inactivated in the organic solvents at percentages above 30% in shorter times. It was concluded that the water-miscible organic solvents severely perturbed the active site of the enzyme, thus denaturating the enzyme

Exposure to aflatoxin B1 and associated risk factors in hepatitis C patients in cosmopolitan city of Pakistan: facility-based study

Introduction: population-based follow-up study has been designed to investigate the contributing factors to high exposure to Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and the subsequent associated risk factors among hepatitis C-infected patients at a referral centre, Karachi. Pakistan. Hepatitis C infection affects millions of individuals worldwide and confers high morbidity and mortality, especially in lower middle-income countries (LMICs) including Pakistan. A literature review of recent studies has revealed that a number of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) cases are markedly increased in Pakistan, where one of the potential causes of HCC is hepatitis C virus. The objectives of this study were to determine frequency of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure and other associated characteristics among hepatitis C patients at a referral centre, Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: a semi-structured pre-coded pro forma designed to collect socio-demographic, Pharmacological, biochemical and clinical information from patients and hospital records. Patient´s pre and post polymerase chain reaction (PCR), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and other blood parameters were analysed. AFB1 exposure was determined using an ELISA kit and validated through HPLC. Results: AFB1 exposure was found in 30 (34%) patients. Post treatment responders were 49 (55.6%). More than 37% of study participants had a family history of hepatitis C. About 74% had a history of surgical procedure, and around 36% of study participants had a blood transfusion history. Up to 36% participants were fond of spicy food and around 25% study participants were eating roadside food on daily basis. Conclusion: high frequency of AFB1 exposure due to risky dietary habits, low level of formal education and awareness are contributing factors may be responsible for high exposure of AFB1. Effective and multidimensional strategies are needed to prevent advance stage progression of disease and associated complications

Complications of Intrathecal Baclofen Pump Therapy: An Institutional Experience from Saudi Arabia.

The intrathecal baclofen pump (ITB) is one of the advanced treatment options in the management of spasticity. This retrospective cohort study was conducted to identify the complications of ITB treatment at a tertiary care rehabilitation facility. Various demographic and technical factors were analyzed, which are less often reported in the literature. All patients with ITB who had their refill at the ITB clinic between November 2019 and March 2020 were included. Of 48 patients, 17 patients had 18 (37.5%) ITB-related complications. Catheter-related complications were most common, whereas loss of efficacy (16.7%) and baclofen withdrawal (14.5%) were the most common outcomes of complications. Only catheter occlusion had a significant relationship with the pattern of spastic quadriparesis ( = 0.001). Gender, rehabilitation diagnosis, patients' residence, and facility of ITB placement did not have significant association. Similarly, age, distance from hospital, disease onset, ITB therapy duration, and baclofen dose were not statistically significant in relation to ITB-related complications

Dimethyl fumarate in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) inhibits inflammasome-mediated inflammation and has been proposed as a treatment for patients hospitalised with COVID-19. This randomised, controlled, open-label platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing multiple treatments in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 (NCT04381936, ISRCTN50189673). In this assessment of DMF performed at 27 UK hospitals, adults were randomly allocated (1:1) to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus DMF. The primary outcome was clinical status on day 5 measured on a seven-point ordinal scale. Secondary outcomes were time to sustained improvement in clinical status, time to discharge, day 5 peripheral blood oxygenation, day 5 C-reactive protein, and improvement in day 10 clinical status. Between 2 March 2021 and 18 November 2021, 713 patients were enroled in the DMF evaluation, of whom 356 were randomly allocated to receive usual care plus DMF, and 357 to usual care alone. 95% of patients received corticosteroids as part of routine care. There was no evidence of a beneficial effect of DMF on clinical status at day 5 (common odds ratio of unfavourable outcome 1.12; 95% CI 0.86-1.47; p = 0.40). There was no significant effect of DMF on any secondary outcome

Dimethyl fumarate in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) inhibits inflammasome-mediated inflammation and has been proposed as a treatment for patients hospitalised with COVID-19. This randomised, controlled, open-label platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing multiple treatments in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 (NCT04381936, ISRCTN50189673). In this assessment of DMF performed at 27 UK hospitals, adults were randomly allocated (1:1) to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus DMF. The primary outcome was clinical status on day 5 measured on a seven-point ordinal scale. Secondary outcomes were time to sustained improvement in clinical status, time to discharge, day 5 peripheral blood oxygenation, day 5 C-reactive protein, and improvement in day 10 clinical status. Between 2 March 2021 and 18 November 2021, 713 patients were enroled in the DMF evaluation, of whom 356 were randomly allocated to receive usual care plus DMF, and 357 to usual care alone. 95% of patients received corticosteroids as part of routine care. There was no evidence of a beneficial effect of DMF on clinical status at day 5 (common odds ratio of unfavourable outcome 1.12; 95% CI 0.86-1.47; p = 0.40). There was no significant effect of DMF on any secondary outcome

Biocatalytic performance of carbonic anhydrase immobilized within polyurethane foam in water-miscible organic solvents

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, Biotechnology, Izmir, 2013Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 69-73)Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and Englishxi, 73 leavesThe effects of water-miscible organic solvents such as acetonitrile and ethanol on the activity of free and immobilized bovine carbonic anhydrase (CA) were investigated. The CA was covalently immobilized within polyurethane (PU) foam by cross-linking. Although PU foam holds water almost 12 times of its weight, it was found that adsorption isotherm of moisture on PU foam was a Type III indicating that water and PU foam were non-interacting to each other. The activities for the free and immobilized CA were estimated using para-nitrophenyl acetate (p-NPA) as the substrate. The enzyme activities were estimated in increasing volume percents of organic solvent in Tris buffer (10-90%). p-NP, which is one of the products of the hydrolysis reaction of p-NPA, was characterized in the presence of organic solvents and it was observed that its aborptivities were decreased significantly as the organic solvent percentages were increased indicating that p-NP and the water-miscible organic solvent form a complex through mostly a hydrogen bonding. The free CA showed decreasing activity up to critical percentages of organic solvent (40-60%), and then exhibited an increasing activity. The immobilized CA showed decreasing activity in acetonitrile at percentages up to 50%, and then lost its total activity at higher acetonitrile percentages, however, the immobilized CA exhibited no activity in ethanol at percentages above 10%. Stability tests showed that the immobilized CA was dramatically inactivated in the organic solvents at percentages above 30% in shorter times. It was concluded that the water-miscible organic solvents severely perturbed the active site of the enzyme, thus denaturating the enzyme

Intraarticular Giant Size Angiolipoma of the Knee Causing Lateral Patellar Dislocation

Background: Angiolipomas are benign tumors usually seen in patients during their 2nd and 3rd decades. The subcutaneous region of the trunk, neck and extremities are the places where they generally settle. There is only one case report on angiolipoma in the knee joint that was resected by arthroscopic procedure in the English literature. Case Report: We present a case of a giant-size multilobular non-infiltrating angiolipoma, extending outside of the right knee joint and causing lateral patellar dislocation in a thirteen-year-old boy. A large encapsulated mass with fatty and soft-tissue components on magnetic resonance imaging was suggestive of a liposarcoma. However, the diagnosis after the tru-cut biopsy was angiolipoma. The Quadriceps angle was 25°. Complete resection of the tumoral mass and repair of the medial retinaculum were performed with open surgery. Patellofemoral alignment was provided by transferring the tibial tuberosity medially. One year after the surgery, there was no evidence of recurrence. Conclusion: Intra-articular angiolipomas are rarely seen masses in the knee joint. To our knowledge, this case report is the first to demonstrate that angiolipoma causes patellar dislocation

Plummer Vinson syndrome: A rare occurrence in pediatrics

Background: Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS) is characterized by a triad of symptoms consisting of microcytic hypochromic anaemia, oesophageal webs, and dysphagia. PVS is commonly found in women in the fourth and fifth decades of life and is rarely reported in the paediatric population.Case presentation: We report the case of a 1-year-old male South Asian child who presented with dysphagia and anaemia for 4 months and frequent episodes of vomiting after ingesting semisolid and solid food. A complete blood analysis revealed microcytic hypochromic anaemia. An oesophagogram revealed circumferential narrowing of the upper thoracic oesophagus. Based on these findings, our suspicion was that the patient had an oesophageal web and vascular ring. Oesophageal dilation was performed with a Savary-Gilliard dilator; initially, 5 mm and 7 mm probes were used, and final dilation with a 9 mm probe was performed.Conclusion: Although rare in paediatric patients, a high suspicion of this syndrome is necessary in these patients to provide relief to the patient for better growth and development. Iron supplements increase the haemoglobin level but do not subside dysphagia, and oesophageal dilation is needed to open the blocked enteral pathway