Preparation, characterization and antibacterial effects of eco-friendly gold nanorods

Purpose: To synthesize and characterize eco-friendly gold nanorods (Au-NRs) and to assess their effects against two bacterial strains.Methods: Synthesis of eco-friendly gold nanorods was done from an aqueous solution of chloroauric acid and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide by mixing Olea europaea fruit and Acacia nilotica husk extracts with the latter as a reducing agent. The synthesis was monitored by ultraviolet–visible (UV) spectrophotmetry and a zetasizer, while the morphology of the resulting nanorods was assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with an energy-dispersive spectrophotometer (EDS). The effect of the prepared eco-nanorods on growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria were investigated by agar diffusion method.Results: The synthesized Au-NRs were mostly rod-shaped, with mean size of 96 nm. They exhibited a potent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and  Gram-negative microorganisms (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus).Conclusion: The findings suggest that the nanoformulation of the biomaterial mix of Olea europaea fruit and Acacia nilotica husk extracts is a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and non-toxic synthesis of Au- NRs which has therpeautic potential.Keywords: Olea europaea, Acacia nilotica, Gold nanorods, Eco-friendly synthesis, Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganism

ZAP-70 Expression in B-Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in Sudanese Patients

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is the most common form of leukemia in adults. The prognostic impact of ZAP-70 in CLL has been reported in several studies. The aim of conducting this study was to investigate the prevalence of ZAP-70 in Sudanese patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia attending Khartoum Oncology Hospital.Materials and Methods: A total of 93 newly diagnosed patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia were enrolled in this study. Lymphadenopathy and organomegaly were assessed in all participants using clinical examination, chest radiography, and abdominal ultrasound. Full blood count was carried out by an automated hematology analyzer. ZAP-70 was evaluated using flowcytometry on peripheral blood samples. ZAP-70 was defined as positive expression at a cutoff level of 20%. Results: There were 63 (67.7%) males and 30 (32.3%) females and the median age of the group was 63 years; 68 patients (73.1%) were presented with anemia and 66(70.9%) had lymphadenopath;y. Majority of our patients 35 (37.6%) were in Rai stage IV. ZAP-70 positivity was detected in 21 patients (22.6%). There was no statistically significant association of ZAP-70 with age, sex, lymphadenopathy, organomegaly, hemoglobin concentration, total white blood cell count, platelet count and Rai staging system (p-value > 0.05). Conclusion: Only 21 patients (22.6%) were ZAP-70 positive. There was no association between ZAP-70 and the study variables. Further studies to evaluate prognostic role of ZAP-70 in Sudanese patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia are recommended

Anterior T-Wave Inversion in Young White Athletes and Nonathletes: Prevalance and Significance

BACKGROUND: Anterior T-wave inversion (ATWI) on electrocardiography (ECG) in young white adults raises the possibility of cardiomyopathy, specifically arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Whereas the 2010 European consensus recommendations for ECG interpretation in young athletes state that ATWI beyond lead V1 warrants further investigation, the prevalence and significance of ATWI have never been reported in a large population of asymptomatic whites. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the prevalence and significance of ATWI in a large cohort of young, white adults including athletes. METHODS: Individuals 16 to 35 years of age (n = 14,646), including 4,720 females (32%) and 2,958 athletes (20%), were evaluated by using a health questionnaire, physical examination, and 12-lead ECG. ATWI was defined as T-wave inversion in ≥2 contiguous anterior leads (V1 to V4). RESULTS: ATWI was detected in 338 individuals (2.3%) and was more common in women than in men (4.3% vs. 1.4%, respectively; p < 0.0001) and more common among athletes than in nonathletes (3.5% vs. 2.0%, respectively; p < 0.0001). T-wave inversion was predominantly confined to leads V1 to V2 (77%). Only 1.2% of women and 0.2% of men exhibited ATWI beyond V2. No one with ATWI fulfilled diagnostic criteria for ARVC after further evaluation. During a mean follow-up of 23.1 ± 12.2 months none of the individuals with ATWI experienced an adverse event. CONCLUSIONS: ATWI confined to leads V1 to V2 is a normal variant or physiological phenomenon in asymptomatic white individuals without a relevant family history. ATWI beyond V2 is rare, particularly in men, and may warrant investigation

Green Synthesis, Characterization, and Antibacterial Activity of Silver/Polystyrene Nanocomposite

A novel, nontoxic, simple, cost-effective and ecofriendly technique was used to synthesize green silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The AgNPs were synthesized using orange peel extract as a reducing agent for silver nitrate salt (AgNO3). The particle size distribution of AgNPs was determined by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). The average size of silver nanoparticles was 98.43 nm. The stable dispersion of silver nanoparticles was added slowly to polystyrene solution in toluene maintaining the temperature at 70°C. The AgNPs/polystyrene (PS) nanocomposite solution was cast in a petri dish. The silver nanoparticles encapsulated within polymer chains were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) in addition to Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The green AgNPs/PS nanocomposite film exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella, and Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Thus, the key findings of the work include the use of a safe and simple AgNPs/PS nanocomposite which had a marked antibacterial activity which has a potential application in food packaging

Abnormal ECG Findings in Athletes: Clinical Evaluation and Considerations.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pre-participation cardiovascular evaluation with electrocardiography is normal practice for most sporting bodies. Awareness about sudden cardiac death in athletes and recognizing how screening can help identify vulnerable athletes have empowered different sporting disciplines to invest in the wellbeing of their athletes. RECENT FINDINGS: Discerning physiological electrical alterations due to athletic training from those representing cardiac pathology may be challenging. The mode of investigation of affected athletes is dependent on the electrical anomaly and the disease(s) in question. This review will highlight specific pathological ECG patterns that warrant assessment and surveillance, together with an in-depth review of the recommended algorithm for evaluation

Cartilage repair in an osteochondral defect in a rabbit model

Despite the fact that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) offer clinical potential for osteoarthritis applications, retaining sufficient numbers of functional MSC at the site of injury for optimal repair still continues to be a major challenge. One method of overcoming this limitation is to create an artificial extracellular matrix or scaffold to hold the cells in place. Previous research suggests that biomaterials possessing an elastic modulus between 2-50MPa are suitable for functional cartilage repair. To this end, the main aim of this study was to examine the effect of scaffold mechanical properties on cartilage repair in a rabbit model in vivo

Differentiation between athlete's heart and dilated cardiomyopathy in athletic individuals.

OBJECTIVE: Distinguishing early dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) from physiological left ventricular (LV) dilatation with LV ejection fraction 11% from baseline to peak exercise compared with 23% of patients with DCM (p63% in 92% grey-zone athletes compared with 17% patients with DCM (p11% from baseline to peak exercise or achieve a peak LV ejection fraction >63% had sensitivity of 77% and 83%, respectively, and specificity of 96% and 92%, respectively, for predicting DCM. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive assessment using a cascade of routine investigations revealed that exercise stress echocardiography has the greatest discriminatory value in differentiating between grey-zone athletes and asymptomatic patients with DCM. Our findings require validation in larger studies