Removal of Zinc Metal Ions from Electroplating Industrial Waste Water by Using Bio-Sorbent

The adsorption of Zinc from electroplating industrial effluent by banana peel powder was investigated. The influence of pH of sample, adsorbent dosage, temperature and contact time were evaluated on the bio-sorption studies. The present study aims to investigate efficiency of banana peel as an absorbent for removal of zinc from effluent by batch experiments. In order to investigate the bio-sorption isotherms, two equilibrium models, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were analyzed. This study focuses on optimization of contact time, pH, temperature and adsorbent dosage of banana peel for removal of heavy metals from effluent of electroplating industry

Crystal structure of N-[(2-hydroxy-naphthalen-1-yl)(4-methylphenyl)- Methyl]acetamide

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Caesarean section scar pregnancy: case report, literature review and illustrative images

A case report of exogenic caesarean section scar pregnancy which ruptured into the utero-vesical pouch causing hemoperitoneum is presented with very illustrative images. Literature regarding importance of early diagnosis of caesarean scar pregnancy is reviewed

Effect of tianeptine on seizure threshold and anticonvulsant activity of valproate, phenobarbitone and phenytoin in mice

Background: Depression is a common psychiatric comorbidity in patients with epilepsy and often remains untreated due to concern of antidepressant induced seizures. Tricyclic antidepressants, norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and bupropion have been shown to increase the risk of seizures. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and venlafaxine have shown both anticonvulsant and proconvulsant activity. The information on anticonvulsant effects of tianeptine, a newer antidepressant, is limited to few animal studies. In view of this, the present study was undertaken to investigate the anticonvulsant activity of tianeptine and its interaction with conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) viz. valproate, phenobarbitone and phenytoin in mice.Methods: The study was carried out in 3 phases using healthy adult male mice. In phase I, effect of oral administration of tianeptine on seizure threshold was studied using electroconvulsive threshold method. In phase II and phase III, effect of tianeptine on median effective dose (ED50) of valproate, phenobarbitone and phenytoin was studied using maximal electroshock seizure (MES) test after administering tianeptine with these AEDs in various combinations. In phase II, drugs were administered orally once while in phase III, these were daily administered orally for 28 days.Results: In phase I, tianeptine increased electroconvulsive threshold in dose dependent manner but effect was significant only at 20 and 40 mg/kg (P<0.05 and 0.001 respectively). In phase II and III, tianeptine exhibited dose dependent reduction in ED50 of all the studied AEDs, however, significant reduction of ED50 of valproate and phenobarbitone (P<0.05 for both) was observed only when tianeptine was administered at 40 mg/kg, while significant reductions in ED50 of phenytoin were observed when tianeptine was administered as 20 and 40 mg/kg (P<0.05 and 0.01 respectively) and in phase III, significant reduction of ED50 value of valproate (P<0.01) and phenobarbitone (P<0.05) was observed with tianeptine at 40 mg/kg while reduction in ED50 of phenytoin was significant at all the studied doses of tianeptine with P<0.05 at 10 and 20 mg/kg and P<0.01 at 40mg/kg..Conclusions: Tianeptine exhibits anticonvulsant action which is synergistic with anticonvulsant effects of valproate, phenobarbitone and phenytoin suggesting that tianeptine may be a safe option in patients of epilepsy concurrently suffering from depression

Minimally Invasive Augmented Fixation for Anatomical Reduction of Grade 2 and Grade 3 Listhesis in Patients with Osteoporosis

Study Design A retrospective study. Purpose To study the efficacy of augmented fixation for anatomical reduction of grade 2 and grade 3 listhesis in patients with osteoporosis. Overview of Literature Spondylolisthesis in osteoporotic patients requiring spinal fixation are associated with complications such as loss of surgical construct stability, screw pulling out, and screw loosening. Augmented fixation is a novel strategy to achieve necessary construct integrity. Methods Thirteen consecutive patients with grade 2 or grade 3 listhesis, with proven osteoporosis on dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, and who underwent augmented fixation for reduction of listhesis were retrospectively analyzed. In all patients, surgical access was achieved with a fixed 22 mm tubular retractor. A modified technique of bilateral, sequential, transforaminal decompression and discectomy, followed by reduction of listhesis using unilaterally placed augmented screws was employed in all the cases. Patients were followed up with plain X-rays at regular intervals to assess for implant stability and fusion status. All patients were started on medical treatment for osteoporosis. Results The mean age of the patients was 52.46 years, with 12 females and one male. The median T-score on DEXA scan was −3.0. Of the 13 patients, listhesis was at L4–L5 in five and at L5–S1 in eight. Nine patients had grade 2 listhesis, while four patients had grade 3 listhesis. Complete reduction was achieved in 10 patients. The median duration of follow-up was 18 months. Postoperative outcomes were satisfactory in all cases. Conclusions Augmented fixation is a useful technique for achieving anatomical reduction of listhesis in patients with osteoporosis

A multiscale hybrid model for pro-angiogenic calcium signals in a vascular endothelial cell

Cytosolic calcium machinery is one of the principal signaling mechanisms by which endothelial cells (ECs) respond to external stimuli during several biological processes, including vascular progression in both physiological and pathological conditions. Low concentrations of angiogenic factors (such as VEGF) activate in fact complex pathways involving, among others, second messengers arachidonic acid (AA) and nitric oxide (NO), which in turn control the activity of plasma membrane calcium channels. The subsequent increase in the intracellular level of the ion regulates fundamental biophysical properties of ECs (such as elasticity, intrinsic motility, and chemical strength), enhancing their migratory capacity. Previously, a number of continuous models have represented cytosolic calcium dynamics, while EC migration in angiogenesis has been separately approached with discrete, lattice-based techniques. These two components are here integrated and interfaced to provide a multiscale and hybrid Cellular Potts Model (CPM), where the phenomenology of a motile EC is realistically mediated by its calcium-dependent subcellular events. The model, based on a realistic 3-D cell morphology with a nuclear and a cytosolic region, is set with known biochemical and electrophysiological data. In particular, the resulting simulations are able to reproduce and describe the polarization process, typical of stimulated vascular cells, in various experimental conditions.Moreover, by analyzing the mutual interactions between multilevel biochemical and biomechanical aspects, our study investigates ways to inhibit cell migration: such strategies have in fact the potential to result in pharmacological interventions useful to disrupt malignant vascular progressio

Tube-assisted Minimally Invasive versus Open Posterior Decompression for Multilevel Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Prospective Comparative Study

Objective There have been several reports of minimally invasive decompression for cervical canal stenosis and degenerative myelopathy. Most of these reports are for less than 4 levels and there have not been any comparative studies between Open and MIS cervical decompression for multilevel (≥4) degenerative cervical myelopathy. Methods Twenty consecutive patients were allotted to undergo either ‘Open’ cervical laminectomy (n=10) or MIS posterior cervical decompression (n=10). All patients were evaluated for 1. Clinical, (JOA, MDI, NDI, Nurick grade, Blood loss, Duration of surgery); 2. Radiological (CSA of dural sac and Spinal cord, Muscle edema on post-op T2W MRI); 3. Laboratory (TLC, CRP, ESR, CPK) and 4. Physical (Isometric neck extensor muscle strength). Differences between Open and MIS groups were calculated with respect to above parameters. Results The mean number of levels decompressed was 4.4 (range, 4–6). MIS group had significantly longer duration of surgery and lesser blood loss as compared to open group. The patients in open group were more disabled than MIS group pre-operatively, as evidenced by higher MDI and NDI. However, proportionate improvements were seen in both groups post-operatively in terms of all clinical parameters. Postoperative increase in CSA of spinal cord was also identical in both groups. Elevations in CRP and ESR were significantly higher in Open group post-operatively as compared to MIS group. Post-operative extensor neck muscle strength improved to a higher extent in MIS group as compared to open group though this was not statistically significant. No patient had any major post-operative complications. Conclusion MIS posterior cervical decompression is safe and effective, can achieve similar extent of decompression and degree of clinical improvement as compared to open surgery. MIS has definite advantages of lesser blood loss, reduced tissue injury and better improvement in post-operative neck muscle strength as compared to open surgery