COMPARATIVE INVESTIGATION OF TOTAL ANTIOXIDANT AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITIES OF TWO ALLIUM SPECIES

ABSTRACTObjective: The main intention of this study was to assess the comparative free radical scavenging and total antioxidant capacities (TAC) of freshAllium sativum (garlic) bulbs and Allium cepa cultivar (green onion) leaves and bulbs for aqueous and methanolic extracts.Methods: The antioxidant ability of the different plant extracts were assessed using TAC method as well as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) free radicalscavenging method.Results: H2O2 free radical scavenging assay showed that the methanolic extracts of garlic bulbs, green onions leaves, and green onion bulbs produceda maximum percentage scavenging of 89%, 85.4%, and 66.4% respectively at 1000 μg/ml. The methanolic extract of garlic showed the minimumvalue for 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 257.54 μg/ml followed by the aqueous extract of green onion leaves with IC50 of 258.33 μg/ml. TACrevealed that garlic bulbs and green onions leaves exhibited high percentage antioxidant capacity of 91.66% and 91.21% respectively at 1000 μg/ml.The minimum IC50 values for methanolic extracts of garlic and green onion leaves were found to be 64.033 μg/ml and 69.965 μg/ml respectively. TheIC50 value for ascorbic acid was found to be 88.321 μg/ml.Conclusion: Based on this aspect, we propose that this investigation can lead to the establishment of new and more potent drugs from cheaper nativeplants from natural origin since lacunae still remain in scrutinizing the various cultivars of green onions. Further studies are recommended for thein vivo investigations to commercialize their use as a cure to cancer.Keywords: Green onion, Garlic, Total antioxidants capacity, Hydrogen peroxide free radical scavenging assay, Free radicals, Cancer

Comparative study on biosorption of Zn(II), Cu(II) and Cr(VI) from textile dye effluent using activated rice husk and activated coconut fibre

61-66This paper reports the results of the study on the performance of the low cost adsorbents such as activated rice husk (ARH) and activated coconut fibre (ACF) in removing the heavy metals such as Zn(II), Cu(II) and Cr(VI) from textile dye effluent. Biosorption studies are carried out through various parameters such as adsorbent dosage, pH and contact time. Removal of heavy metal ions from the textile dye effluent increases with increase in adsorbent dosage. In ARH, at 50 g/L the maximum of 62%, 68% and 65% removal of Zn(II), Cu(II) and Cr(VI) are obtained respectively, whereas, in ACF, at 50 g/L the maximum of 64%, 67% and 72% removal of Zn(II), Cu(II) and Cr(VI) are obtained respectively. In the effect of pH, the maximum removal of metal ions occurs at pH 1-3 for both the adsorbents. In contact time, the maximum removal of heavy metal ions is observed at optimum time of 300 min. The maximum removal of heavy metal ions from the textile dye effluent using ARH and ACF is evaluated successfully through the percentage of seed germination of Vigna mungo L with the treated adsorbents. On comparison, ACF is good adsorbent when compared with ARH

A logistic challenge - use of electromyographic endotracheal tube in an extremely narrowed airway

J. Jeyadoss, R. Lea, J. Horwoo

Comparative Study on Biosorption of Zn(II), Cu(II) and Cr(VI) from Textile Dye Effluent Using Sawdust and Neem Leaves Powder

The performance of the low cost adsorbents such as sawdust and neem leaves powder in removing the heavy metals like Zn(II), Cu(II) and Cr(VI) from textile dye effluent are reported. Adsorbent dosage, pH and contact time were taken as parameters for biosorption study. Removal of heavy metal ions from the textile dye effluent increases with increase in adsorbent dosage. The influence of pH and contact time was maximum for removal of heavy metal ions. The presence of the decreased heavy metal toxicity in the treated textile dye effluent was evaluated through the percentage of seed germination of Vigna mungo L. On comparison, sawdust was found to be good adsorbent compared to neem leaves powder

Cardiac pacing in patients with a cervical spinal cord injury

Study design: Retrospective medical record review. Objectives: To compare patients, admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with an acute cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and documented motor deficit, who did, with those who did not, require a cardiac pacemaker. Setting: South Australian Tertiary Referral Intensive Care and Spinal Injury Unit. Methods: Retrospective medical record review and data set linkage. Results: From 1995 to 2007, 465 patients sustained a cervical SCI. Of these, 30 (6.5%) were admitted to ICU with a clinically assessable motor deficit and 3 (0.6% of all patients, or 10% of those admitted to ICU) required a cardiac pacemaker. All three patients had a cervical SCI, C5 (American Spinal Injury Association A) tetraplegia, and required invasive mechanical respiratory and inotropic support and a tracheostomy for weaning. Two patients (66%) were discharged alive to rehabilitation. Patients requiring a pacemaker had bradycardic episodes over a longer period (11 vs 4 days, P¼0.01), a trend towards a later onset of bradycardia (8 vs 1.5 days, P¼0.05) and a longer ICU length of stay (37 vs 10 days, P¼0.02). Conclusion: Patients with a cervical SCI requiring a cardiac pacemaker are characterized by a higher level of SCI injury and motor loss, require mechanical respiratory and inotropic support, a tracheostomy to wean, and bradycardic episodes of a later onset and over a longer period of time. These findings suggest that such patients should be managed at hospitals with specialized acute spinal injury, intensive care and cardiac pacemaker services.P Rangappa, J Jeyadoss, A Flabouris, JM Clark and R Marshal

Association between emergency department length of stay and outcome of patients admitted either to a ward, intensive care or high dependency unit

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association of ED length of stay (EDLOS) and outcome of patients admitted to a ward, intensive care (ICU) or stepdown (high dependency) unit (SDU).MethodsDesignRetrospective cohort study using linked administrative and clinical data.Setting650-bed, university-affiliated, tertiary referral hospital, whose ED has approximately 60 000 patient presentations per annum.ParticipantsAdult patients admitted via the ED, to a ward (ED to ward), ICU (ED to ICU) or SDU (ED to SDU), and whose EDLOS was Outcome measuresHospital outcome and LOS.ResultsA total of 43 484 patients over 4 years. Median EDLOS was 2:36 h for ICU, 5:07 h for SDU and 7:19 h for ward (P ConclusionsEDLOS was greater for ED to ward patients, and of the ED to ward patients who died. At an EDLOS of 4 h there were fewer ICU, in comparison with ward, patients remaining in the ED. Future studies that report on EDLOS should differentiate for patients admitted from the ED to the ward, ICU or SDU.Arthas Flabouris, Jellsingh Jeyadoss, John Field and Tom Soulsb

Direct and delayed admission to an intensive care or high dependency unit following discharge from the emergency department: associated patient characteristics and hospital outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To compare patients admitted from the emergency department (ED) directly to a ward (EDWard), the intensive care unit (EDICU) or stepdown (high dependency) unit (EDSDU) with patients admitted via the ED, but whose admission to an ICU (EDWardICU) or SDU (EDWardSDU) was preceded by a ward stay. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Administrative and clinical data linkage; 650-bed, tertiary referral hospital, whose ED has about 60 000 patient presentations per annum; adult patients admitted via the ED to a ward, ICU or SDU and whose ED length of stay (LOS) was < 24 h. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Hospital outcome and stay. Results: From January 2004 to December 2007, there were 43 484 patients, of whom 40 609 (93.4%) were EDWard, 1020 (2.3%) were EDICU, 873 (2.0%) were EDSDU, 503 (1.2%) were EDWardSDU, and 479 (1.1%) were EDWardICU. Hospital mortality for EDWardICU patients exceeded that of EDICU patients (34.9% v 23.3%; P < 0.01), as did EDWardSDU exceed EDSDU (12.3% v 7.8%; P < 0.01). Median ward stay for EDWardICU patients was 47 h 37min (IQR, 14 h 48min – 131 h 53min) and for EDWardSDU patients, 46 h 18min (IQR, 18h 28 min – 140h 12 min) (P=0.75). Compared with patients admitted to the ICU from the operating theatre, EDWardICU patients had a longer median ward stay (58 h 35min v 34 h 36min; P = 0.03) and hospital mortality (42.8% v 20.2%; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients discharged from the ED to a general ward and subsequently to an ICU or SDU had a mortality that exceeded that of ED patients admitted directly to the ICU or SDU. Further investigations are warranted to explain this excess mortality and ascertain the extent of potential preventability.Arthas Flabouris, Jellsingh Jeyadoss, John Field and Tom Soulsbyhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2296321