Studies of Physicochemical and Some Heavy Metals in Soil and Lake Sediments

The present work attempts to establish the distribution of Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Boron and molybdenum and physic-chemical properties of the soil and lake sediments in Bijapur district. The area under study receives domestic raw sewage from surrounding populated neighborhoods through rain water, main tributary of the lake. Concentrations of heavy metals in soil are compared with many guidelines to predict status of pollution. KEYWORDS: Heavy Metals, Lake sediments, Pollution, Soil Samples, etc INTRODUCTION In many developing countries, the expansion of urban centers is of considerable importance for socio-economic growth and this continuously modifies the physical, chemical and biological composition of our living environment MATERIAL AND METHODS Data collection and analysis-10 soil samples (three replicates) were collected at surface level (0-10 cm in depth) were collected from various locations. The collected samples were air dried and sieved into course and fine fractions. Well mixed samples of 2 g each were taken in 250 mL glass beakers and digested with 8 mL of aqua regia on a sand bath for 2 hour

In vitro antioxidant and anticancer activity of Leea indica leaf extracts on human prostate cancer cell lines

Background: To determine the phytochemical constituents, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of Leea indica leaf extracts on DU-145 and PC-3 human prostate cancer cell lines. Methods: Leaf sample was subjected to Soxhlet extraction method with increasing polarity of solvents, namely, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, ethanol, and aqueous. Phytochemical screening was done using different biochemical tests. Quantitative analysis for phenol was determined by Folin–Ciocalteu reagent method. The antioxidant activity was tested using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ferric ion reducing power assay, and phosphomolybdenum assay. In vitro anticancer activity on DU-145 and PC-3 human prostate cancer cell lines was evaluated by (3-(4, 5-dimethyl thiazole-2yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) MTT assay. Results: Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of phyto-constituents like alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, lignins, saponins, sterols, tannins, anthraquinone, and reducing sugar. Methanol and ethanol extracts exhibited higher phenolic content as compare to aqueous extract. Antioxidant capacities were shown highest in methanol and ethanol extracts based on the test performed. The methanol and ethanol leaf extracts were found to be selectively cytotoxic in vitro to (DU-145 and PC-3) prostate cancer cell lines with IC50 values 529.44 ± 42.07 μg/mL and 677.11 ± 37.01 μg/mL for DU-145 and 547.55 ± 33.52 μg/mL and 631.99 ± 50.24 μg/mL for PC-3 respectively, while it had no cytotoxic effect on normal mice embryo fibroblast cells. Conclusion: The results indicate that Leea indica was a promising antioxidant and anticancer agent for DU-145 and PC-3 human prostate cancer cell lines. However, further studies are needed to conclude its therapeutic use

Roxadustat (FG-4592): Correction of Anemia in Incident Dialysis Patients

Safety concerns with erythropoietin analogues and intravenous (IV) iron for treatment of anemia in CKD necessitate development of safer therapies. Roxadustat (FG-4592) is an orally bioavailable hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor that promotes coordinated erythropoiesis through HIF-mediated transcription. We performed an open-label, randomized hemoglobin (Hb) correction study in anemic (Hb≤10.0 g/dl) patients incident to hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). Sixty patients received no iron, oral iron, or IV iron while treated with roxadustat for 12 weeks. Mean±SD baseline Hb was 8.3±1.0 g/dl in enrolled patients. Roxadustat at titrated doses increased mean Hb by ≥2.0 g/dl within 7 weeks regardless of baseline iron repletion status, C-reactive protein level, iron regimen, or dialysis modality. Mean±SEM maximal change in Hb from baseline (ΔHb(max)), the primary endpoint, was 3.1±0.2 g/dl over 12 weeks in efficacy-evaluable patients (n=55). In groups receiving oral or IV iron, ΔHb(max) was similar and larger than in the no-iron group. Hb response (increase in Hb of ≥1.0 g/dl from baseline) was achieved in 96% of efficacy-evaluable patients. Mean serum hepcidin decreased significantly 4 weeks into study: by 80% in HD patients receiving no iron (n=22), 52% in HD and PD patients receiving oral iron (n=21), and 41% in HD patients receiving IV iron (n=9). In summary, roxadustat was well tolerated and corrected anemia in incident HD and PD patients, regardless of baseline iron repletion status or C-reactive protein level and with oral or IV iron supplementation; it also reduced serum hepcidin levels

Fumarate-loaded electrospun nanofibers with anti-inflammatory activity for fast recovery of mild skin burns

This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article published in Biomedical Materials. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The Version of Record is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-6041/11/4/041001In the biomedical sector the availability of engineered scaffolds and dressings that control and reduce inflammatory states is highly desired, particularly for the management of burn wounds. In this work, we demonstrate for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that electrospun fibrous dressings of poly(octyl cyanoacrylate) (POCA) combined with polypropylene fumarate (PPF) possess anti-inflammatory activity and promote the fast and effective healing of mild skin burns in an animal model. The fibers produced had an average diameter of (0.8  ±  0.1) µm and they were able to provide a conformal coverage of the injured tissue. The application of the fibrous mats on the burned tissue effectively reduced around 80% of the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the first 48 h in comparison with un-treated animals, and enhanced skin epithelialization. From histological analysis, the skin thickness of the animals treated with POCA : PPF dressings appeared similar to that of one of the naïve animals: (13.7  ±  1.4) µm and (14.3  ±  2.5) µm for naïve and treated animals, respectively. The density of dermal cells was comparable as well: (1100  ±  112) cells mm−2 and (1358  ±  255) cells mm−2 for naïve and treated mice, respectively. The results demonstrate the suitability of the electrospun dressings in accelerating and effectively promoting the burn healing process