Degradation of Mononitrotoluene by Electrochemical Method

Present paper deals with studies on the degradation of Mononitrotoluene (MNT) by electrochemical method. The Electro-Fenton and Electro-Peroxide methods are explored to degrade MNT upto its drain discharge limit of 1 ppm. Effects of some important parameters which ultimately decide the rate of degradation of MNT viz. oxidizer, pH, catalyst and voltage etc. have been critically studied. The detailed studies have been carried out which includes variation in different parameters viz. pH from acidic range to basic range, catalyst concentration from 10 ppm to 50 ppm, Oxidizer concentration from 5 mM to 40 mM and potential across electrodes from 4 V to 24 V for efficient degradation of MNT. It is observed that optimised values of precursors viz. catalyst (FeSO4 ) concentration of 40 ppm, pH of 3, potential across electrodes of 12V and oxidizer (H2 O2 ) concentration of 25 mM; Electro-Fenton reaction has been carried out to degrade 50 ppm MNT solution up to its drain discharge limit of 1 ppm and on other hand under Electro-Peroxide reaction results in degradation of MNT from 50 ppm to 12 ppm. The comparative studies of Electro-Fenton and Electro-Peroxide reactions have been carried out for MNT solution and the treated solution has been characterised by using UV-Visible spectrophotometer and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyzer and the obtained data on MNT effluent studies may be applicable to explore the efficient mineralisation of 2-Methyl-1, 3, 5-trinitrobenzene effluent. The observed results have been interpreted and reported in the present study

Anti Urolithiatic and anti hyperlipidemic activity of Coleus aromaticus An explanation of the underlying mechanisms

Leaves paste of Coleus aromaticus is used as a traditional remedy for urolithiasis in India. In the present study, the anti urolithiatic activity of Coleus aromaticus was investigated in ethylene glycol induced urolithiatic rats. There was a significant increase in the levels of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys as well as lipid levels in the blood serum. Treatment with hydro alcoholic extract of C.aromaticus leaves (CALHAE) significantly reduced cholesterol levels at 300 and 600 mg/kg, and triglyceride levels at 600 mg/kg in urolithiatic rats. Histopathalogical reports confirmed that chronic administration of CALHAE (300 and 600 mg/kg) diminished number of calcium oxalate crystals in kidneys. CALHAE has shown reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in urolithiatic rats. Moreover, CALHAE showed potent in vitro antioxidant activity in DMPD, ABTS radicals (MnO2 method). Results from these studies support the safe and effective use of C.aromaticus leaves for urolithiasis treatment.Keywords: Coleus aromaticus, Calcium oxalate crystals, Hypolipidemic activity, Antioxidant activit

Anti Urolithiatic and anti hyperlipidemic activity of Coleus aromaticus An explanation of the underlying mechanisms

Leaves paste of Coleus aromaticus is used as a traditional remedy for urolithiasis in India. In the present study, the anti urolithiatic activity of Coleus aromaticus was investigated in ethylene glycol induced urolithiatic rats. There was a significant increase in the levels of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys as well as lipid levels in the blood serum. Treatment with hydro alcoholic extract of C.aromaticus leaves (CALHAE) significantly reduced cholesterol levels at 300 and 600 mg/kg, and triglyceride levels at 600 mg/kg in urolithiatic rats. Histopathalogical reports confirmed that chronic administration of CALHAE (300 and 600 mg/kg) diminished number of calcium oxalate crystals in kidneys. CALHAE has shown reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in urolithiatic rats. Moreover, CALHAE showed potent in vitro antioxidant activity in DMPD, ABTS radicals (MnO2 method). Results from these studies support the safe and effective use of C.aromaticus leaves for urolithiasis treatment.Keywords: Coleus aromaticus, Calcium oxalate crystals, Hypolipidemic activity, Antioxidant activit

Bronchiectasis in India:results from the European Multicentre Bronchiectasis Audit and Research Collaboration (EMBARC) and Respiratory Research Network of India Registry

BACKGROUND: Bronchiectasis is a common but neglected chronic lung disease. Most epidemiological data are limited to cohorts from Europe and the USA, with few data from low-income and middle-income countries. We therefore aimed to describe the characteristics, severity of disease, microbiology, and treatment of patients with bronchiectasis in India. METHODS: The Indian bronchiectasis registry is a multicentre, prospective, observational cohort study. Adult patients ( 6518 years) with CT-confirmed bronchiectasis were enrolled from 31 centres across India. Patients with bronchiectasis due to cystic fibrosis or traction bronchiectasis associated with another respiratory disorder were excluded. Data were collected at baseline (recruitment) with follow-up visits taking place once per year. Comprehensive clinical data were collected through the European Multicentre Bronchiectasis Audit and Research Collaboration registry platform. Underlying aetiology of bronchiectasis, as well as treatment and risk factors for bronchiectasis were analysed in the Indian bronchiectasis registry. Comparisons of demographics were made with published European and US registries, and quality of care was benchmarked against the 2017 European Respiratory Society guidelines. FINDINGS: From June 1, 2015, to Sept 1, 2017, 2195 patients were enrolled. Marked differences were observed between India, Europe, and the USA. Patients in India were younger (median age 56 years [IQR 41-66] vs the European and US registries; p<0\ub70001]) and more likely to be men (1249 [56\ub79%] of 2195). Previous tuberculosis (780 [35\ub75%] of 2195) was the most frequent underlying cause of bronchiectasis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common organism in sputum culture (301 [13\ub77%]) in India. Risk factors for exacerbations included being of the male sex (adjusted incidence rate ratio 1\ub717, 95% CI 1\ub703-1\ub732; p=0\ub7015), P aeruginosa infection (1\ub729, 1\ub710-1\ub750; p=0\ub7001), a history of pulmonary tuberculosis (1\ub720, 1\ub707-1\ub734; p=0\ub7002), modified Medical Research Council Dyspnoea score (1\ub732, 1\ub725-1\ub739; p<0\ub70001), daily sputum production (1\ub716, 1\ub703-1\ub730; p=0\ub7013), and radiological severity of disease (1\ub703, 1\ub701-1\ub704; p<0\ub70001). Low adherence to guideline-recommended care was observed; only 388 patients were tested for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and 82 patients had been tested for immunoglobulins. INTERPRETATION: Patients with bronchiectasis in India have more severe disease and have distinct characteristics from those reported in other countries. This study provides a benchmark to improve quality of care for patients with bronchiectasis in India. FUNDING: EU/European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations Innovative Medicines Initiative inhaled Antibiotics in Bronchiectasis and Cystic Fibrosis Consortium, European Respiratory Society, and the British Lung Foundation

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Virulina® along with standard treatment as per hospital protocol for the treatment of novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

Background: There is a high priority for the treatment of mild or moderate COVID-19 in an outpatient setting. Objective:  To test the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Virulina® in mild or moderate COVID-19 patients. Methods: We carried out a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial involving adult (18-70yrs) mild or moderate COVID-19 patients, randomized 1:1 on Virulina® (3 gm, maximum 14 days) or placebo respectively along with standard-of-care. The primary endpoint was the time taken for nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR to test negative. And the average change in the ordinal scale from the baseline scores on the eight-point WHO ordinal scale was assessed. Results: 30 outpatients were selected between 13 July 2020 to 13 August 2020.  93.33% of Virulina® treated patients were virologically cured compared to 53.33% in the placebo group (p= 0.001). The disappearance rates of major symptoms were significantly high in Virulina® plus standard treatment group compared with standard treatment alone. Conclusion: Virulina® meets the primary and secondary endpoint criteria and exhibits statistically significant efficacy for mild or moderate COVID-19 patients. It is efficacious, safe, and well-tolerated at the tested dosage of 3gm for a maximum of 14 days. Keywords: COVID-19; herbal medicine; immunomodulation; clinical trial

Balancing Out of Black Cotton Soil Using Polypropylene Fiber and Stone Powder

Black cotton soil is spread all over the entire area in Maharashtra and some parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Black cotton soil have the characteristic to swelling or shrinking with the change in moisture content which affect the pavement base course and structural elements. For stabilizing expansive soil the UCS, SPT, CBR tests are carried out with the addition of Stone Powder (8% and 16%) and Polypropylene fibers (0.8%, 1.6% and 2.4%). Tests are carried out for determining the compressive strength of soil is increasing with the increasing in admixtures

Observation of phase transformations in cement during hydration

We report the phase transformations in Portland cement before and after hydration. The hydration mechanism was studied in detail by using a full Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, Fourier Transformed Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Mossbauer spectroscopy at room temperature. From the Rietveld refinement of XRD data, alite, belite, celite, brown-millerite and low quartz phases were detected and quantified as major phases in dry cement powder. After hydration, calcium carbonate, portlandite and ettringite phases were found to form. A large reduction in the amounts of alite and belite phases were observed suggesting the formation of amorphous C-S-H phase and emphasizing the role of alite phase in flash setting of cement, as justified by the XRD and FTIR spectroscopy. Mossbauer spectra of all the unset samples showed quadrupole split doublets corresponding to the brownmillerite phase which remains unchanged even after about one week of hydration, suggesting that brownmillerite did not transform to other phases during initial stage of hydration process. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved