Gamma Radiolytic Degradation of 4-Chlorophenol Determination of Degraded Products with HPLC and GC-MS

Contamination by chlorophenols of surface water and groundwater is an emerging issue in environmental science and engineering. After their usage as pesticide, herbicide and disinfectant, these organic compounds subsequently enter the aquatic environment through a number of routes. Some of the chlorophenols are slightly biodegradable, while others are more persistent and mobile in the aquatic environment especially chlorophenols. Gamma radiolytic degradation is one of advance oxidation process that has been thought to be one of the promising treatments to deal with this problem. This radiolytic study was carried out in methanolic 4-CP (4-chlorophenol) samples. Among several factors effecting radiolytic degradation of 4-CP, dose and concentration are important that were evaluated under atmospheric conditions. A degradation yield (G –value) for 4-CP of 0.38 and 1.35 was achieved in 20 and 100mg/dm3 solution. It was observed that degradation yield decreases with increasing 4-CP concentration. Gamma radiolysis produce free radicals in solvent which further react with 4-CP molecules to generate different products. The identification of degradation products was proposed using HPLC and GC-MS

Amplified Loci on Chromosomes 8 and 17 Predict Early Relapse in ER-Positive Breast Cancers

Adjuvant hormonal therapy is administered to all early stage ER+ breast cancers, and has led to significantly improved survival. Unfortunately, a subset of ER+ breast cancers suffer early relapse despite hormonal therapy. To identify molecular markers associated with early relapse in ER+ breast cancer, an outlier analysis method was applied to a published gene expression dataset of 268 ER+ early-stage breast cancers treated with tamoxifen alone. Increased expression of sets of genes that clustered in chromosomal locations consistent with the presence of amplicons at 8q24.3, 8p11.2, 17q12 (HER2 locus) and 17q21.33-q25.1 were each found to be independent markers for early disease recurrence. Distant metastasis free survival (DMFS) after 10 years for cases with any amplicon (DMFS  = 56.1%, 95% CI  = 48.3–63.9%) was significantly lower (P  = 0.0016) than cases without any of the amplicons (DMFS  = 87%, 95% CI  = 76.3% –97.7%). The association between presence of chromosomal amplifications in these regions and poor outcome in ER+ breast cancers was independent of histologic grade and was confirmed in independent clinical datasets. A separate validation using a FISH-based assay to detect the amplicons at 8q24.3, 8p11.2, and 17q21.33-q25.1 in a set of 36 early stage ER+/HER2- breast cancers treated with tamoxifen suggests that the presence of these amplicons are indeed predictive of early recurrence. We conclude that these amplicons may serve as prognostic markers of early relapse in ER+ breast cancer, and may identify novel therapeutic targets for poor prognosis ER+ breast cancers

Measuring progress and projecting attainment on the basis of past trends of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are grounded in the global ambition of “leaving no one behind”. Understanding today’s gains and gaps for the health-related SDGs is essential for decision makers as they aim to improve the health of populations. As part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 (GBD 2016), we measured 37 of the 50 health-related SDG indicators over the period 1990–2016 for 188 countries, and then on the basis of these past trends, we projected indicators to 2030

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

SummaryBackground Azithromycin has been proposed as a treatment for COVID-19 on the basis of its immunomodulatoryactions. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of azithromycin in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19.Methods In this randomised, controlled, open-label, adaptive platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19Therapy [RECOVERY]), several possible treatments were compared with usual care in patients admitted to hospitalwith COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 176 hospitals in the UK. Eligible and consenting patients wererandomly allocated to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus azithromycin 500 mg once perday by mouth or intravenously for 10 days or until discharge (or allocation to one of the other RECOVERY treatmentgroups). Patients were assigned via web-based simple (unstratified) randomisation with allocation concealment andwere twice as likely to be randomly assigned to usual care than to any of the active treatment groups. Participants andlocal study staff were not masked to the allocated treatment, but all others involved in the trial were masked to theoutcome data during the trial. The primary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treatpopulation. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936.Findings Between April 7 and Nov 27, 2020, of 16 442 patients enrolled in the RECOVERY trial, 9433 (57%) wereeligible and 7763 were included in the assessment of azithromycin. The mean age of these study participants was65·3 years (SD 15·7) and approximately a third were women (2944 [38%] of 7763). 2582 patients were randomlyallocated to receive azithromycin and 5181 patients were randomly allocated to usual care alone. Overall,561 (22%) patients allocated to azithromycin and 1162 (22%) patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days(rate ratio 0·97, 95% CI 0·87–1·07; p=0·50). No significant difference was seen in duration of hospital stay (median10 days [IQR 5 to >28] vs 11 days [5 to >28]) or the proportion of patients discharged from hospital alive within 28 days(rate ratio 1·04, 95% CI 0·98–1·10; p=0·19). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, nosignificant difference was seen in the proportion meeting the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilationor death (risk ratio 0·95, 95% CI 0·87–1·03; p=0·24).Interpretation In patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, azithromycin did not improve survival or otherprespecified clinical outcomes. Azithromycin use in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 should be restrictedto patients in whom there is a clear antimicrobial indication

Hepatoprotective effects of red cabbage in hypercholesterolemic diet-induced oxidative stressed rabbits

Background: Diet-disease linkages are getting immense attention of the scientific fraternity. In this regard, red cabbage was assessed against hypercholesterolemic and related oxidative damage. Nowadays, plant bioactives are gaining immense attention among the masses to mitigate lifestyle related malfunctions. Considering phytochemistry and cost-effectiveness, the current project was designed to probe the bioefficacy red cabbage against hypercholesterolemic diet related oxidative stress in the liver. Methods: The red cabbage and its aqueous extract were tested on male white New Zealand rabbits for 12 weeks. Two studies were conducted based on dietary regimens; normal and hypercholesterolemic diet (1% cholesterol). At termination, overnight fasted rabbits were sacrificed to assess serum specific and tissues biomarkers of hepatic oxidative stress alongside, hepatosomatic index and histopathology were studied. Results: In hypercholesterolemic diet induced oxidative stressed rabbits, the supplementation of red cabbage and its aqueous extract suppressed the leakage of liver functioning enzymes in sera up to 15.63 and 12.70% (alanine transaminase), 13.88 and 9.55% (alkaline phosphatase), 12.96 and 8.82% (ɤglutamyl transferase) and 10.77 and 6.15% (total bilirubin). Besides, the respective diets also portrayed considerable reduction in hepatic lipid peroxidation up to 29.60 and 23.63% thus improved endogenous antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase (17.97 and 15.92%) and catalase (24.39 and 20.98%). Furthermore, hepatosomatic index expounded a significant impact of treatments on oxidative stressed rabbits alongside mild degree of fibrotic and necrotic changes in their hepatic parenchyma was rectified by red cabbage, whereas red cabbage extract demonstrated slower rate of amelioration. Conclusion: In the nutshell, dietary inclusions based on red cabbage have shown higher restorative potential against hepatic oxidative stress as compared to red cabbage aqueous extract

Comparative assessment of free radical scavenging ability of green and red cabbage based on their antioxidant vitamins and phytochemical constituents

Background: Nowadays, bioactive moieties of plants are gaining attention amongst the masses to mitigate lifestyle related dysfunctions owing to their safe nature and functional properties. Objective: Considering phytochemistry and cost-effectiveness of cabbage, the current project was designed to probe the antioxidant capacity of locally grown green and red cabbage. Methods: The total polyphenols and free radical scavenging ability of red and green cabbage were determined using spectrophotometer while HPLC analysis was carried out to further fractionate phenolic acids and flavonoid constituents. Apart from this, antioxidant vitamins including vitamin C tocopherol and β-carotene were also detected using HPLC system. Results: The red cabbage showed higher amount of total polyphenols and flavonoids (224.37±6.96 & 219.15±10.30 mg/100g F.W.) than green cabbage (58.41±3.01 & 34.04±1.06 mg/100g F.W.) along with the existence of anthocyanins (69.86±4.12 mg/100g F.W.) in red cabbage. Comparative HPLC analysis regarding antioxidant moieties showed significant proportion of kempferol (171.10±5.99 mg/100g F.W.) followed by vitamin C (139.07±2.23 mg/100g F.W.) in red cabbage however, vitamin C (121.46±3.28 mg/100g F.W.) was found as the major antioxidant in green cabbage. The red cabbage depicted higher free radical quenching and reducing ability in contrast to green cabbage using DPPH (1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS [2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)], FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) and PFRAP (potassium ferricyanide reducing antioxidant power) and HO scavenging ability assays. Conclusion: In the nutshell, red cabbage showed better free radical scavenging ability as compared to green cabbage based on variation and quantification of antioxidant indices

Exploring the free radical trapping ability of green tea extracts by optimizing extraction conditions

Background: The importance of polyphenols to curb lifestyle related disorders has also raised the worth of green tea polycatechins. Besides, optimization of extraction conditions is gaining wide acceptance to attain maximum polyphenols out of plant matrix. Methods: Considering the fact, in the present study, nine green tea solvent extracts were prepared by optimizing solvents; aqueous ethanol, aqueous acetone and aqueous ethyl acetate in 1:1 ratio and extraction time; 35, 50 & 65 min at constant temperature 50ºC to achieve an optimal quantity of green tea polycatechins. Results: The results indicated significant impact of extraction solvents and time on phytochemistry and free radical scavenging potential with maximum potential attained by acetone extracts of green tea at 50 min i.e. total polyphenols 1325.81±64.85 mg GAE/100g, flavonoids 139.78±5.42 mg/100g, DPPH (1,1- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) inhibition 86.69±4.01%, β-carotene & linoleic acid assay 78.47±3.57%, FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) value 19.36±0.94 mM/L Fe+2, ABTS [2, 2'-azino-bis(3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)] value 11.10±0.49 μM Trolox Eq/g and metal chelating activity 16.93±0.81 mg EDTA/g. Conclusion: Conclusively, acetone as solvent and 50 min extraction time have proven optimized extraction conditions for green tea polycatechins. <br

Hepatoprotective effects of red cabbage in hypercholesterolemic diet-induced oxidative stressed rabbits

Background: Diet-disease linkages are getting immense attention of the scientific fraternity. In this regard, red cabbage was assessed against hypercholesterolemic and related oxidative damage. Nowadays, plant bioactives are gaining immense attention among the masses to mitigate lifestyle related malfunctions. Considering phytochemistry and cost-effectiveness, the current project was designed to probe the bioefficacy red cabbage against hypercholesterolemic diet related oxidative stress in the liver. Methods: The red cabbage and its aqueous extract were tested on male white New Zealand rabbits for 12 weeks. Two studies were conducted based on dietary regimens; normal and hypercholesterolemic diet (1% cholesterol). At termination, overnight fasted rabbits were sacrificed to assess serum specific and tissues biomarkers of hepatic oxidative stress alongside, hepatosomatic index and histopathology were studied. Results: In hypercholesterolemic diet induced oxidative stressed rabbits, the supplementation of red cabbage and its aqueous extract suppressed the leakage of liver functioning enzymes in sera up to 15.63 and 12.70% (alanine transaminase), 13.88 and 9.55% (alkaline phosphatase), 12.96 and 8.82% (γ-glutamyl transferase) and 10.77 and 6.15% (total bilirubin). Besides, the respective diets also portrayed considerable reduction in hepatic lipid peroxidation up to 29.60 and 23.63% thus improved endogenous antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase (17.97 and 15.92%) and catalase (24.39 and 20.98%). Furthermore, hepatosomatic index expounded a significant impact of treatments on oxidative stressed rabbits alongside mild degree of fibrotic and necrotic changes in their hepatic parenchyma was rectified by red cabbage, whereas red cabbage extract demonstrated slower rate of amelioration. Conclusion: In the nutshell, dietary inclusions based on red cabbage have shown higher restorative potential against hepatic oxidative stress as compared to red cabbage aqueous extract. <br