Role of interventional radiology in the management of peripheral vascular malformations: a tertiary care center experience.

Peripheral vascular malformations (PVMs) represent a wide spectrum of vascular abnormalities occurring due to anomalous connections between arteries, veins, capillaries, and lymphatic channels at the microscopic level, in different combinations. They are rare and challenging to treat. Different operators may have different approaches based on their experience and expertise. Sclerotherapy either alone or in combination with embolization has been used as an independent method for the treatment of PVMs. Purpose The aim of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of sclerotherapy and embolization, with or without surgery, for the treatment of peripheral vascular malformations, based on our approach. Materials and methods A retrospective review of all patients with PVMs treated in our interventional radiology department from 2011 to 2017 was carried out. Medical records, imaging, and follow-up notes were reviewed to evaluate the response to treatment and post-procedure complications. Results Thirty-four sessions were performed in 15 patients (eight male, seven female) with PVMs. Low-flow lesions were identified in 10, intermediate flow in one, and high flow in four patients. Sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) was used as the sclerotherapeutic agent in 10 (66.67%), glue with lipoidal in three (20.0%), and bleomycin in one patient (6.67%). Coils with PVA and a covered stent were used in one and a combination of coil, PVA, and gel foam was used in one patient. A marked response was seen in 11 and a partial response in four patients. One patient developed foot gangrene. Stent thrombosis was noted in one patient with no clinical consequences. Recurrence was seen in two patients, who were lost to follow up. Conclusion PVMs are complex lesions. Sclerotherapy with or without embolization is a safe and effective treatment modality, with clinical response approaching 100

Synthesis of 5-Fluorouracil Cocrystals with Novel Organic Acids as Coformers and Anticancer Evaluation against HCT-116 Colorectal Cell Lines

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) being a mainstream anticancer drug is under keen and detailed investigation for prodrugs formulations in order to minimize the associated side effects. Cocrystallization of 5-FU is an innovative technique for the synthesis of 5-FU prodrugs to improve its anticancer effectiveness. The present study is based on the synthesis of 5-FU supramolecular synthons with four coformers: succinic acid, cinnamic acid, malic acid, and benzoic acid utilizing acetone as a solvent. Solid state grinding followed by a slow evaporation solution method was applied. Colorless clear crystals were obtained in all the cases. The cocrystal formation was supported with the help of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Through FTIR, the main peaks of interest in the spectrum of 5-FU were N–H (3409.02 cm–1) and carbonyl group (1647.80 cm–1), which were prominently shifted in all spectra of the cocrystals demonstrating the replacement as well as the development of already present interactions with the new ones. For 5-FU–cinnamic acid cocrystals, the anticipated peaks were observed at 1673.13 cm–1 (−C═O) and 3566.89 cm–1 (N–H) manifesting a significant change in comparison to 5-FU. Furthermore, with the help of PXRD characterization, the representative peak of 5-FU was recorded at 2θ = 28.80°. The shifting of this specific peak and development of many new ones in the spectra of cocrystals proved the development of new structural entities. Finally, the anticancer activity of all cocrystals was evaluated in comparison to that of API. All cocrystals manifest significantly greater growth inhibition potential than the main active pharmaceutical ingredient. 5-FU–Cinnamic acid (3C) was the one that proved to be the most potent anticancer agent at all four concentrations: 4.82% (12 μg/mL), 34.21% (25 μg/mL), 55.08% (50 μg/mL), and 67.29% (100 μg/mL). In short, this study proved to be a true example to enhance the anticancer potential of 5-FU following fairly easy fabrication requirements of the cocrystallization phenomenon. After the successful synthesis of these supramolecular synthons and subsequent enhancement of growth inhibition potential of 5-FU, these cocrystals can further be evaluated for in vivo trials and membrane crossing potentials in the future

Green synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 5-fluorouracil derivatives as potent anticancer agents

This study reports the formation of 5-FU co-crystals with four different pharmacologically safe co-formers; Urea, Thiourea, Acetanilide and Aspirin using methanol as a solvent. Two fabrication schemes were followed i.e., solid-state grinding protocol, in which API and co-formers were mixed through vigorous grinding while in the other method separate solutions of both the components were made and mixed together. The adopted approaches offer easy fabrication protocols, no temperature maintenance requirements, no need of expensive solvents, hardly available apparatus, isolation and purification of the desired products. In addition, there is no byproducts formation, In fact, a phenomenon embracing the requirements of green synthesis. Through FTIR analysis; for API the Nsingle bondH absorption frequency was recorded at 3409.02 cm−1 and that of single bondCdouble bondO was observed at 1647.77 cm−1. These characteristics peaks of 5-FU were significantly shifted and recorded at 3499.40 cm−1 and 1649.62 cm−1 for 5-FU-Ac (3B) and 3496.39 cm−1 and 1659.30 cm−1 for 5-FU-As (4B) co-crystals for Nsingle bondH and single bondCdouble bondO groups respectively. The structural differences between API and co-crystals were further confirmed through PXRD analysis. The characteristic peak of 5-FU at 2θ = 28.79918o was significantly shifted in the graphs of co-crystals not only in position but also with respect to intensity and FWHM values. In addition, new peaks were also recorded in all the spectra of co-formers confirming the structural differences between API and co-formers. In addition, percent growth inhibition was also observed by all the co-crystals through MTT assay against HCT 116 colorectal cell lines in vitro. At four different concentrations; 25, 50, 100 and 200 µg/mL, slightly different trends of the effectiveness of API and co-crystals were observed. However; among all the co-crystal forms, 5-FU-thiourea co-crystals obtained through solution method (2B) proved to be the most effective growth inhibitor at all the four above mentioned concentrations

PERENCANAAN BANGUNAN TALANG JEMBATAN PADA DAERAH IRIGASI OPIYANG

Talang merupakan saluran irigasi yang dibuat dari pasangan beton bertulang, kayu atau baja maupun beton ferrocement, didalamnya air mengalir dengan permukaan bebas, talang dibuat melintas lembah, saluran pembuang, sungai, jalan atau rel kereta api. Saluran talang minimum ditopang oleh 2 (dua) pilar atau lebih dari konstruksi pasangan batu dengan tinggi kurang dari 3 m untuk beton bertulang dan konstruksi pilar dengan beton bertulang untuk tinggi lebih 3 m. Pada penelitian ini talang berfokus pada perhitungan analisa hidrolis dan struktur atas bangunan talang, di mana talang yang direncankan dengan panjang 29,5 m dan ditopang oleh 2 pilar dan 2 abutmen. Dari hasil perhitungan analisa hidrolis didapat dimensi struktur talang dengan tinggi saluran H = 1,1 m, lebar saluran B = 1,1 m, tinggi muka air h = 0,46 m dan tinggi jagaan w = 0,2 m. Di mana kecepatan aliran air pada talang V = 0,26 m/det, dengan kemiringan dasar saluran pada talang I = 0,000364. Adapun dalam perencanaan ini beton yang digunakan adalah mutu beton K-300 dengan jenis tulangan yang dipakai adalah BjTP 280 dan BjTS 420 dengan rencana penampang struktur box talang adalah masing-masing setebal 150 mm untuk pelat lantai jembatan, 200 mm untuk dinding saluran dan 200 mm untuk lantai saluran. Untuk tulangan pada pelat lantai jembatan menggunakan BjTP Ø12-150 mm untuk tulangan lentur dan BjTP Ø10-260 mm untuk tulangan susut dan suhu. Untuk dinding saluran digunakan tulangan lentur tumpuan dan lapangan BjTS 5-Ø16 per dinding saluran, tulangan sengkang tumpuan menggunakan BjTP Ø10-150 dan tulangan sengkang lapangan BjTP Ø10-200, dengan tulangan sisi BjTP Ø12-250. Sedangkan untuk tulangan pelat lantai saluran digunakan BjTS Ø14-150 mm untuk tulangan lentur dan BjTP Ø10-250 mm untuk tulangan susut dan suhu. Kata kunci : Talang Irigasi, Hidrolis, D.I.  Opiyang

Public Finance and Revenue Mobilization of Union Parishads: A Case of Four Union Parishads

Publication supported by SDC and HELVETAS, Banglades

Aroma Component Analysis Using HS/SPME-FID Gas Chromatograph in Basmati Rice Varieties of Punjab, Pakistan

Aroma is a promising quality factor for rice grain that impacts consumer acceptability. The principal volatile compound that adds Basmati rice fragrance is 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP). Milled White rice of 04 promising varieties i.e., Super Basmati, Basmati-515, Basmati 2000and Basmati 370 were evaluated for volatile compounds by gas chromatography (GC) coupled with Solid Phase Micro Extraction unit (SPME) using Flame Ionizing Detector (FID). Six volatile compounds (nonanal, decanal, and alcohols such as benzyl alcohol, indole) were identified in the tested varieties, among them 2-AP is only present in aromatic rice varieties. This study confirmed the occurrence of 2-AP in all studied varieties with highest concentration in Super Basmati followed by Basmati-515, Basmati 2000 and Basmati 370

Environmental remediation and generation of green electricity using constructed wetlands coupled with microbial fuel cell model system

Antibiotic residues in wastewater are considered lethal to the crops and aquatic life. One of the promising way to treat this kind of wastewater is the use of constructed wetlands coupled with microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC). In this treatment, bacterial action and redox operation occurs at anaerobic anode and aerobic cathode respectively. Four different configurations of CW-MFCs was applied for comparison. This study focusses on the investigation of the removal of Co-trimoxazole (CMX), other co-existing pollutants and furthermore, the generation of green electricity with low hydraulic retention time (HRT) was studied. Results revealed that the effluent from configuration 1 (gravel based) had lower (CMX) concentration. This removal performance may be associated to greater electrode absorption capacity for (CMX). The removal efficiency was 92.58% at HRT of 3d and effluent concentration was 4 mg/L. On the other hand, CW-MFC1 exhibited the BOD removal (60.60%) regardless of the increasing effluent antibiotic concentration. Pure strain of Geobactor sulfereducens, adjusted with anaerobic sludge increased the bio-film growth. Maximum power density of 480.2 mW/m−3 observed for CW-MFC1. Electricity generation characteristic were also found to be effected with HRT

Nano-Silica Bubbled Structure Based Durable and Flexible Superhydrophobic Electrospun Nanofibrous Membrane for Extensive Functional Applications

Nanoscale surface roughness has conventionally been induced by using complicated approaches; however, the homogeneity of superhydrophobic surface and hazardous pollutants continue to have existing challenges that require a solution. As a prospective solution, a novel bubbled-structured silica nanoparticle (SiO2) decorated electrospun polyurethane (PU) nanofibrous membrane (SiO2@PU-NFs) was prepared through a synchronized electrospinning and electrospraying process. The SiO2@PU-NFs nanofibrous membrane exhibited a nanoscale hierarchical surface roughness, attributed to excellent superhydrophobicity. The SiO2@PU-NFs membrane had an optimized fiber diameter of 394 ± 105 nm and was fabricated with a 25 kV applied voltage, 18% PU concentration, 20 cm spinning distance, and 6% SiO2 nanoparticles. The resulting membrane exhibited a water contact angle of 155.23°. Moreover, the developed membrane attributed excellent mechanical properties (14.22 MPa tensile modulus, 134.5% elongation, and 57.12 kPa hydrostatic pressure). The composite nanofibrous membrane also offered good breathability characteristics (with an air permeability of 70.63 mm/s and a water vapor permeability of 4167 g/m2/day). In addition, the proposed composite nanofibrous membrane showed a significant water/oil separation efficiency of 99.98, 99.97, and 99.98% against the water/xylene, water/n-hexane, and water/toluene mixers. When exposed to severe mechanical stresses and chemicals, the composite nanofibrous membrane sustained its superhydrophobic quality (WCA greater than 155.23°) up to 50 abrasion, bending, and stretching cycles. Consequently, this composite structure could be a good alternative for various functional applications