Biodegradation of malathion and evaluation of kinetic parameters using three bacterial species

Efficacy of three different bacterial species for biodegradation of malathion and its secondary products have been investigated. The concentration range of malathion under investigation was 25-200 mg·L−1. It has been observed that Pseudomonas putida was found to be most efficient for degradation of malathion. The removal of malathion was 72% at its concentration of 125 mg·L−1. The optimum parameters were studied for all three bacterial species in batch mode. The average values of Ks and μmax were obtained for all these species for degradation of malathion. Results indicate that P. putida has high degradation potential than Rhodoccocus rhodochrous and Sphingomonas sp. The degradation of P. putida was maximum at concentration of 125 mg·L−1, pH and temperature at 7 ± 0.2, 80 °C respectively. Metabolites were obtained using GCMS analysis. © 2016 Tomsk Polytechnic University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license

Removal of aqueous benzene in the immobilized batch and continuous packed bed bioreactor by isolated Bacillus sp. M1

Benzene biodegradation was studied in batch and continuous packed bed bioreactors using polyurethane foam (PUF) as packing media by isolated Bacillus sp. M1. The values of optimized process parameters were found to be 800 × 106CFU·mL−1, 400 mg·L−1, 7.0 and 37 °C for inoculum size, substrate concentration, pH and temperature respectively. Continuous packed bed bioreactor (CPBBR) was operated and monitored for 69 days on laboratory scale at various flow rates (10-60 mL·h−1). The steady state removal efficiency was observed more than 90% up to the inlet load of 288 mg·L−1.d−1 and elimination capacity was found to be 91.2-266.4 mg·L−1·day−1. Monod growth model was applied for the removal of benzene and values were found to be (Ks: 215.07 mg·L−1; μmax: 0.314 day−1)

Severe hypophosphatemia induced after first cycle of the ESHAP protocol for Hodgkin's lymphoma: a case report

Shereen Elazzazy,1 Hager A El-Geed,2 Sumaya Al Yafei11Pharmacy Department, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, 2College of Pharmacy, Qatar University, Doha, QatarAbstract: The effect of the ESHAP (etoposide, methylprednisolone, cytarabine, cisplatin) salvage protocol on serum electrolytes has been previously reported by individual observational studies. The most commonly described electrolyte affected by the ESHAP protocol is magnesium. In addition, hypophosphatemia has been studied and reported as a complication of cisplatin therapy, although it is usually asymptomatic. This is a case report of a 51-year-old woman with relapsed Hodgkin's lymphoma who developed severe hypophosphatemia following administration of the first cycle of the ESHAP protocol. The patient started to develop gradually decreasing phosphate levels 2 weeks after receiving chemotherapy, which needed to be corrected by phosphate supplementation. This case report raises concern regarding hypophosphatemia as a possible side effect of the ESHAP protocol and points to a need for close monitoring, taking into consideration vitamin D levels, urinary phosphate excretion, parathyroid hormone levels, and arterial blood gas analysis to rule out other contributing factors. Health care providers should be made aware of this possible toxicity. Critical monitoring of phosphate levels and considering supplementation is warranted with the ESHAP protocol, especially when it is used in combination with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and diuretics, to prevent such possible hypophosphatemia. Further investigations may be required to confirm and evaluate the significance of this type of toxicity.Keywords: hypophosphatemia, ESHAP, salvage protocol, relapsed Hodgkin's lymphom

Original Article - Comparison of traditional hand wash with alcoholic hand rub in ICU setup

Background: Nosocomial infection rate are often higher for intensive care unit (ICU) than other units of hospitals, and hands of health-care workers (HCWs) play a major role in the transmission of the infections. Aim: To compare the efficacy of conventional hand wash with the hand rub in reducing the transient bacterial flora on the hands of nurses in ICU. Subject and Methods: The 34 nurses posted in our ICU during January-March 2003 were included. A total of 204 samples were collected for the residual bacterial flora on fingers using impression method on MacConkey agar plates. The subjects then used alcoholic hand rub or conventional hand wash and the residual bacterial flora rechecked by testing impression of fingers on MacConkey agar. Results: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., nonlactose fermenting Gram-negative bacilli, staphylococci, and streptococci formed the transient bacterial flora on the hands. Moderate to heavy bacterial density was seen in more than 92.2% of the hands before washing or hand rub application. Conventional hand wash resulted in drastic reduction in the transient bacterial flora on hands in 50% cases whereas alcoholic hand rub achieved the effect in 95% of the samples. Conclusion: Compared with conventional hand wash, alcoholic hand rub is far more efficient in reducing transient bacterial flora on the hands of HCWs and it is more convenient and time saving. It is recommended as a hand hygiene practice in critical areas such as ICU

Biodegradation of reactive orange 16 (RO-16) dye in packed bed bioreactor using seeds of Ashoka and Casuarina as packing medium

216-221The main objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of Ashoka and Casuarina (abundantly available in India as agrowaste) seeds as packing material with immobilized mixed culture of microorganisms for biodegradation of reactive orange dye (RO-16) in the continuous packed bed bioreactor. The percent removal of RO-16 was increased with time in both cases and attained constant value on the 10th d of operation with maximum removal 63.5±5% and 69.27±5%, respectively for Ashoka and Casuarina seeds, at inlet flow rate of 1.0 LPH and initial concentration of 500 ppm. The second order of kinetics applied and it fitted well for both packing materials. The results demonstrate that the selected seeds have potential as to be used as packing material for biodegradation application in bioreactors

Exploring the Influence of Language on Assessment Given a Mismatch Between Language of Instruction and Language of Practice

A phenomenon is occurring in international settings where the language of program delivery and assessment does not match the primary language of practice. It is unknown whether determining competence in English disadvantages students for practice in non-English settings. As such, we conducted a pilot study to determine student performance and perceptions after completion of two Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) examinations, one conducted in English and one conducted in Arabic within an Arabic-speaking Middle Eastern setting. Twenty-two students completed both OSCEs. Overall scores were similar but student rankings differed. Students were more confident performing in Arabic, felt that the Arabic examination was more reflective of practice, and believed that use of Arabic OSCEs can promote better patient care. Findings support the notion that student success may be influenced by language of assessment and that we may need to rethink how we determine assessment validity in these emerging international education settings