Investigation of Lanthanide-Doped Anatase TiO2 Core-Shell Nanoparticles For Photocatalysis and Gas Sensing

Anatase TiO2 has been shown to be potential applications for photo-remediation of chemical waste as well as for photocatalytic splitting of water. The catalytic properties of TiO2 materials can be modified by doping with lanthanide (Ln) ions. In order to minimize the distortion and/or change of the structure of TiO2 nanoparticles, surface doping of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles (~ 14 nm) with several Ln ions (Nd3+, Gd3+, Eu3+, Yb3+) has been successfully made. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman characterization shows that the anatase phase of treated nanoparticles is well preserved. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows that the majority of the nanoparticles exhibit nanocrystalline shape and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows TiO2 core and Ln-TiO2 shell structure having a uniform phase consistent with the anatase atomic-scale structure. Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy confirms the presence of Ln ions within the Ln-TiO2 nanoparticles. Temperature dependent in situ optical measurements show an increase in photoluminescence (PL) in forming gas (5% H2 + 95% Ar) at 520 °;C which is attributed to nanoparticle modification (i.e. core-shell structure) induced by doping and use of the hydrothermal treatment. The increase in the distinguishable features in the PL spectrum at low and high (near IR) wavelength regions are attributed to various contributions from oxygen-vacancies and trapped electrons, respectively. Furthermore, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) has been performed to observe the shift in the local chemical states due to Ln incorporation into the anatase TiO2 structure

Silent Myocardial Ischemia (SMI) and its Association with Microalbuminuria in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM)

Background: As silent myocardial ischemia (SMI) is more common in diabetic population leading to the development of future coronary artery disease (CAD), so its early diagnosis is important. SMI can be diagnosed by conventional cardiac stress testing. Presence of SMI can also be suspected by microalbuminuria (MAU) because recently it is claimed that MAU is one of the important predictor for cardiovascular disease. Objective: The study was designed to explore the association between SMI & MAU in type 2 DM. Methods: It was a cross sectional study carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, BSMMU during the period of July 2006 to June 2008. One hundred diagnosed type 2 DM patients were selected from out patient department of BIRDEM. Enrolled study subjects were advised to do ETT and then categorized as ETT +ve & ETT-ve on the basis of ETT findings. Urinary micro albumin was measured in all study subjects. Unpaired t test, , chi square test, odds ratio were used to see the level of significance Results: Among the 100 type 2 diabetic subjects of both sexes 50 (male -24, female- 26) were ETT +ve designated as type 2 DM with silent MI and rest 50 ( male- 25 , female-25) were ETT ve designated as type 2 DM without silent MI. 21 patients (42%) out of 50 type 2 DM with silent MI & 16 patients (32%) out of 50 type 2 DM without silent MI found to have microalbuminuria. Calculated odds ratio was 1.5. Conclusion: Microalbuminuria is a possible risk factor for SMI in type 2 DM. Urinary micro albumin can be used particularly as a screening test for early detection of SMI.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bsmmuj.v5i1.11016 BSMMU J 2012; 5(1):42-4

Silent Myocardial Ischemia (SMI) and its Association with Microalbuminuria in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM)

Background: As silent myocardial ischemia (SMI) is more common in diabetic population leading to the development of future coronary artery disease (CAD), so its early diagnosis is important. SMI can be diagnosed by conventional cardiac stress testing. Presence of SMI can also be suspected by microalbuminuria (MAU) because recently it is claimed that MAU is one of the important predictor for cardiovascular disease. Objective: The study was designed to explore the association between SMI & MAU in type 2 DM. Methods: It was a cross sectional study carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, BSMMU during the period of July 2006 to June 2008. One hundred diagnosed type 2 DM patients were selected from out patient department of BIRDEM. Enrolled study subjects were advised to do ETT and then categorized as ETT +ve & ETT-ve on the basis of ETT findings. Urinary micro albumin was measured in all study subjects. Unpaired t test, , chi square test, odds ratio were used to see the level of significance Results: Among the 100 type 2 diabetic subjects of both sexes 50 (male -24, female- 26) were ETT +ve designated as type 2 DM with silent MI and rest 50 ( male- 25 , female-25) were ETT ve designated as type 2 DM without silent MI. 21 patients (42%) out of 50 type 2 DM with silent MI & 16 patients (32%) out of 50 type 2 DM without silent MI found to have microalbuminuria. Calculated odds ratio was 1.5. Conclusion: Microalbuminuria is a possible risk factor for SMI in type 2 DM. Urinary micro albumin can be used particularly as a screening test for early detection of SMI. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bsmmuj.v5i1.11016 BSMMU J 2012; 5(1):42-4

Acromegaly Presenting as Cardiac Failure - A Case Report

Acromegaly is characterized by chronic hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) and is associated with increased mortality rate because of the potential complications such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, or malignancy, which are probably caused by the long-term exposure of tissues to excess GH, for at least 10 years, before diagnosis and treatment. Here we are reporting a case of acromegaly who initially presented with features of left ventricular failure for which she got herself admitted in CCU and was treated conservatively. Later on, after clinical examination and investigations she was diagnosed as a case of mitral regurgitation due to cardiomyopathy caused by acromegaly. After the successful transsphenoidal resection of the pituitary microadenoma, the level of GH was normalized and heart failure improved. Key words: acromegaly; heart failure; Pituitary microadenoma. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bsmmuj.v4i2.8644 BSMMU J 2011; 4(2):122-12