Development of Electrochemical Nanosensor for the Detection of Malaria Parasite in Clinical Samples

In this study, electrochemical nanosensors were developed from the synthesized metal oxide (MO) nanoparticles by supporting it on a gold electrode (Au). The activity of the developed nanosensor toward the detection of malaria biomarker (β-hematin) was determined and the optimum conditions at which the maximum detection and quantification occurred were established. β-Hematin current response at the sensors was higher when compared with the bare Au electrode and followed the order Au-CuO (C) > Au-CuO (M) > Au-Fe2O3 (M) > Au-Fe2O3 (C) > Au-Al2O3 (M) > Au-Al2O3 (C) > bare Au. The developed sensors were stable with a relatively low current drop (10.61–17.35 %) in the analyte. Au-CuO sensor had the best performance toward the biomarker and quantitatively detected P. berghei in infected mice's serum samples at 3.60–4.8 mM and P. falciparum in human blood serum samples at 0.65–1.35 mM concentration

A Comparative Study of the Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Synthetic Wastewaters Using Different Adsorbents

A comparison has been made of the efficiency of heavy metal ion adsorption from synthetic wastewaters by charcoal prepared locally from the burnt remnants of plantain peel with more conventional adsorbents such as industrial activated wood charcoal, technical charcoal animal powder and Amberlite resin. Thus, mixed standard solutions (100 mg/ℓ) of copper and lead ions adjusted by buffer solutions to pH values of 5, 7 and 9, respectively, were allowed to flow through adsorbent columns which were 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 cm in length. The concentrations of the heavy metal ions in the mixed standard solutions were determined before and after contact with the adsorbents via atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The adsorption capacities of the various adsorbents based on the overall percentage removal of Cu 2+ ions at pH 9 employing a column of 50 cm length were in the order: Amberlite resin (98.89 ± 7.59%) > plantain peel charcoal (98.56 ± 6.72%) > technical charcoal animal powder (96.87 ± 5.78%) > activated wood charcoal (93.64 ± 7.29%). The corresponding order for Pb 2+ ions at a pH value of 7 employing a column of 50 cm length was: Amberlite resin (99.98 ± 7.53%) > plantain peel charcoal (98.37 ± 7.95%) > technical charcoal animal powder (97.91 ± 6.83%) > activated wood charcoal (96.39 ± 7.06%)

The 8p12 myeloproliferative syndrome

The occurrence of a myeloproliferative disorder in association with an aggressive lymphoproliferative disorder is a distinctly unusual phenomenon. We report a case of concurrent leukaemia-lymphoma syndrome characterized by a BCR/ABL-negative myeloproliferative disease, eosinophilia and a lymphoma. The bone marrow chromosome analysis showed the karyotype 46, XY, t(8;9) (q12; p33), which indicated presence of FGFR1 gene translocations. 8p12 myeloproliferative syndrome (EMS) / stem cell leukaemia-lymphoma syndrome (SCLL) belongs to the tyrosine kinase fusion genes chronic myeloproliferative diseases. The patient was managed conservatively with hydroxyurea, allopurinol and blood component therapy. The patient eventually died of intracerebral haemorrhage due to severe thrombocytopaenia. Based on our experience the overlap in the clinical presentation of this disease with lymphomas, can lead to a delay in diagnosis of EMS/SCLL. Given the aggressive nature of this disease, an accurate clinical and molecular diagnosis of this entity has become increasingly important

The 8p12 myeloproliferative syndrome

The occurrence of a myeloproliferative disorder in association with an aggressive lymphoproliferative disorder is a distinctly unusual phenomenon. We report a case of concurrent leukaemia-lymphoma syndrome characterized by a BCR/ABL-negative myeloproliferative disease, eosinophilia and a lymphoma. The bone marrow chromosome analysis showed the karyotype 46, XY, t(8;9) (q12; p33), which indicated presence of FGFR1 gene translocations. 8p12 myeloproliferative syndrome (EMS) / stem cell leukaemia-lymphoma syndrome (SCLL) belongs to the tyrosine kinase fusion genes chronic myeloproliferative diseases. The patient was managed conservatively with hydroxyurea, allopurinol and blood component therapy. The patient eventually died of intracerebral haemorrhage due to severe thrombocytopaenia. Based on our experience the overlap in the clinical presentation of this disease with lymphomas, can lead to a delay in diagnosis of EMS/SCLL. Given the aggressive nature of this disease, an accurate clinical and molecular diagnosis of this entity has become increasingly important.Keywords: Eightp myeloproliferative syndrome, stem cell leukaemia lymphoma syndrom

Adaptation of the Wound Healing Questionnaire universal-reporter outcome measure for use in global surgery trials (TALON-1 study): mixed-methods study and Rasch analysis

BackgroundThe Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling and measurement properties of the WHQ. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated using a modified, exploratory, instrumental design model.ResultsIn the qualitative phase, 10 structured interviews and six focus groups took place with a total of 47 investigators across six countries. Themes related to comprehension, response mapping, retrieval, and judgement were identified with rich cross-cultural insights. In the quantitative phase, an exploratory Rasch model was fitted to data from 537 patients (369 excluding extremes). Owing to the number of extreme (floor) values, the overall level of power was low. The single WHQ scale satisfied tests of unidimensionality, indicating validity of the ordinal total WHQ score. There was significant overall model misfit of five items (5, 9, 14, 15, 16) and local dependency in 11 item pairs. The person separation index was estimated as 0.48 suggesting weak discrimination between classes, whereas Cronbach's α was high at 0.86. Triangulation of qualitative data with the Rasch analysis supported recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ items 1 (redness), 3 (clear fluid), 7 (deep wound opening), 10 (pain), 11 (fever), 15 (antibiotics), 16 (debridement), 18 (drainage), and 19 (reoperation). Changes to three item response categories (1, not at all; 2, a little; 3, a lot) were adopted for symptom items 1 to 10, and two categories (0, no; 1, yes) for item 11 (fever).ConclusionThis study made recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ for use in global surgical research and practice, using co-produced mixed-methods data from three continents. Translations are now available for implementation into remote wound assessment pathways