Biomimetic of hydroxyapatite with Tridax procumbens leaf extract and investigation of antibiofilm potential in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

In the last few decades, hydroxyapatite (HA) has become one of the most highly prized biominerals in the biomedical industry for orthopedic and dental applications. The focus of this research was to synthesize biomimetic HA from Tridax procumbens (TP) leaf extract and investigate their antibiofilm properties. The HA was made using the sol-gel method and the HA-TP biocomposite was made by precipitation method. The d.nm size of HA and HA-TP biocomposite was determined as 193.28 and 258.14 d.nm, respectively. The zeta potential of HA and HA-TP biocomposite was determined as −21.2 and −18.3 mV, respectively, and found highly stable. The FTIR study revealed that phytochemicals of TP were successfully impregnated into HA-TP biocomposite. The HA and HA-TP biocomposite were found spherical and agglomerated from SEM analysis. In HR-TEM analysis, the average diameter of the HA and HA-TP biocomposite were 16.57 – 64.22 nm and 51.71 – 138.68 nm, respectively. According to the EDX analysis, HA is primarily composed of calcium, oxygen, and phosphate, whereas, HA-TP biocomposite is primarily composed of calcium, phosphate, oxygen, and carbon. In the antioxidant assay, the IC50 value (concentration required to scavenge 50% of free radicals) of HA-TP biocomposite was determined as 156.69 ± 14.02 and 180.21 ± 12.84 µg/mL in DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging assays, respectively. The MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) of as-synthesized HA-TP biocomposite against Staphylococcus aureus – ATCC 13565 and Escherichia coli – MTCC 41 were observed as 181.09 ± 21.47 and 317.30 ± 41.03, and 157.59 ± 32.18 and 264.03 ± 21.58 µg/mL, respectively. The as-synthesized HA-TP biocomposite has detrimentally affected the biofilm formation of both the tested bacteria S. aureus – ATCC 13565 and E. coli – MTCC 41. The study concluded that the as-synthesized HA-TP biocomposite could be highly helpful in the biomedical field for alleviating oxidative-stress-related disorders and inhibiting microbial biofilm formation

Dapsone-induced methemoglobinemia: "Saturation gap"-The key to diagnosis

Two cases of Acquired Methemoglobinemia are presented. The significance of a high index of suspicion for diagnosisis emphasized, especially in the presence of a "saturation gap". The various causes of acquired methemoglobinemia are enumerated and the management reviewed

Desire for Information and Preference for Participation in Treatment Decisions in Patients With Cancer Presenting to the Department of General Surgery in a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

Purpose: Providing appropriate information to patients about their illness helps them to cope with the diagnosis. Shared decision making is a key concept in managing patients with cancer. There are no data available about the desire for information and preference for participation in treatment decisions among Indian patients with cancer. The objective of this study was to estimate the proportion of patients who have information needs and to study the patient preference for participation in treatment decisions and the factors associated with them. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among patients with cancer older than 18 years. They were interviewed with a questionnaire after signing an informed consent. The association of sex, educational level, residence, diagnosis (type of cancer), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, and treatment status with information needs and decision-making preference was analyzed using χ2 test Results: Approximately 81% of patients said that they had an absolute need to know if the illness was cancer, and > 70% of patients either had an absolute need to know or would like to know about the prognosis, treatment options, and adverse effects. Regarding the decision-making preferences, 97% wanted their treating physicians to make the decision regarding their treatment, and 66% preferred to share decision making with their family. Conclusion: The majority of the patients with cancer expressed a need for knowing whether they had cancer. When it comes to treatment decisions, most of them preferred a passive role, and the majority wanted to involve their families in the decision-making process. We recommend that the treating physician should elicit the patient’s preference in participating in treatment decisions and their preference about involving their family in making treatment decision

Biomimetic of hydroxyapatite with Tridax procumbens leaf extract and investigation of antibiofilm potential in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

755-766In the last few decades, hydroxyapatite (HA) has become one of the most highly priced biominerals in the biomedical industry for orthopedic and dental applications. The focus of this research was to synthesize biomimetic HA from Tridax procumbens (TP) leaf extract and investigate their antibiofilm properties. The HA was made using the sol-gel method and the HA-TP biocomposite was made by precipitation method. The d.nm size of HA and HA-TP biocomposite was determined as 193.28 and 258.14 d.nm, respectively. The zeta potential of HA and HA-TP biocomposite was determined as −21.2 and −18.3 mV, respectively, and found highly stable. The FTIR study revealed that phytochemicals of TP weresuccessfully impregnated into HA-TP biocomposite. The HA and HA-TP biocomposite were found spherical andagglomerated from SEM analysis. In HR-TEM analysis, the average diameter of the HA and HA-TP biocomposite were16.57 – 64.22 nm and 51.71 – 138.68 nm, respectively. According to the EDX analysis, HA is primarily composed ofcalcium, oxygen, and phosphate, whereas, HA-TP biocomposite is primarily composed of calcium, phosphate, oxygen, andcarbon. In the antioxidant assay, the IC50 value (concentration required to scavenge 50% of free radicals) of HA-TPbiocomposite was determined as 156.69 ± 14.02 and 180.21 ± 12.84 μg/mL in DPPH and ABTS free radical scavengingassays, respectively. The MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) of as-synthesized HA-TP biocomposite against Staphylococcus aureus – ATCC 13565 and Escherichia coli – MTCC 41 wereobserved as 181.09 ± 21.47 and 317.30 ± 41.03, and 157.59 ± 32.18 and 264.03 ± 21.58 μg/mL, respectively. The as-synthesized HA-TP biocomposite has detrimentally affected the biofilm formation of both the tested bacteria S. aureus –ATCC 13565 and E. coli – MTCC 41. The study concluded that the as-synthesized HA-TP biocomposite could be highlyhelpful in the biomedical field for alleviating oxidative-stress-related disorders and inhibiting microbial biofilm formation

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by C ytobacillus firmus Isolated from the Stem Bark of Terminalia arjuna and Their Antimicrobial Activity

This work reports an eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using endophytic bacteria, Cytobacillus firmus isolated from the stem bark of Terminalia arjuna. The synthesis of AgNPs was confirmed by visual observation as a change in color of the bacterial solution impregnated with silver. Further, the morphology of the AgNPs, average size, and presence of elemental silver were characterized by UV–Visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering spectroscopy. The roles of endophytic secondary metabolites in the metal reduction, stabilization, and capping of silver nanoparticles were studied by qualitative FTIR spectral peaks. The antimicrobial ability of AgNPs was evaluated against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria and pearl millet blast disease-causing fungi (Magnoporthe grisea). The biosynthesized AgNPs showed good antibacterial and antifungal activities. AgNPs effectively inhibited the bacterial growth in a dose-dependent manner and presented as good antifungal agents towards the growth of Magnoporthe grisea