149 research outputs found

    Optimization of process variables for phyllanthin extraction from Phyllanthus amarus leaves by supercritical fluid using a Box-Behnken experimental design followed by HPLC identification

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    The response surface methodology using the Box-Behnken design was established to describe supercritical carbon dioxide assisted extraction of phyllanthin from Phyllanthus amarus Schum and Thonn leaves prior to HPLC analysis. The effects of extraction pressure, temperature, modifier concentration and extraction time on the yield of phyllanthin were investigated. By solving the regression equation, the optimum conditions were as follows: extraction pressure 23.2 MPa, temperature 40 °C, methanol as modifier at a concentration 10 % and time 90 min. Under these conditions, the phyllanthin yield was 12.83 ± 0.28 mg g-1, which was in good agreement with the predicted values. Modifier concentration and extraction time showed a significant effect on the phyllanthin yield

    Correlation of status of thyroid antibodies and thyrotropin hormone with prevalence of thyroid autoimmune disease in pregnancy

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    Background: Thyroid antibodies alterations were observed because of physiological and immunological changes occurring during pregnancy and after delivery. The aim was to evaluate serum anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO-Ab), anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-TG-Ab) and total triiodothyronine (total T3), total thyroxine (total T4), thyrotropin hormone (TSH) levels in pregnant women of resident of Western India.Methods: Samples for 100 pregnant women with no apparent thyroid disorders were analyzed, using enzyme amplified chemiluminescent immune assay detection technology, in order to determine levels of total T3, total T4, TSH, anti-TPO-Ab and anti-TG-Ab in sera sample.Results: Of these women 24% gave biochemical evidence of hypothyroidism and remaining 76 % subjects were euthyroid in pregnant study group. In study group, 90% had normal values for anti-TPO-Ab and anti-TG-Ab and 10% had results revealing the presence of autoimmune diseases of the thyroid.Conclusions: n the present study, it was found that the level of anti-TG-Ab was found unaltered but it was found to be detected along with anti-TPO-Ab. These investigations should be performed routinely during pregnancy. Otherwise, lack of appropriate and early diagnosis and treatment can lead to neurological impairment of fetal brain as well as maternal cardiovascular diseases

    Effect of nutrition on copper and zinc concentrations in human milk

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    Background: The gross composition of human milk is remarkably constant among women of varying nutritional status. Reliable information is now available on the content, and the principal factor affecting it, of most of the trace elements on human milk. However, for some of the trace elements, there is still a wide variation in reported values in the literature, which is due at least in part, to analytical difficulties. Hence this study was taken up to find out if maternal nutritional status influences the copper and zinc concentrations in colostrum of mother.Methods: Total of 100 mothers were enrolled in the study after obtaining prior informed consent. They were divided into 2 groups - group I had 50 malnourished mothers and group II had 50 well-nourished mothers. Sample digestion was attempted with different quantities of various acids. Analysis of digested colostrum was carried out for copper and zinc.Results: The mean levels of copper and zinc were slightly more among well-nourished than malnourished women. Values of copper were significantly higher in the colostrum of well-nourished as compared to that of the malnourished mothers.Conclusions: The parameters of weight, height weight/height ratio and hemoglobin varied significantly between the well-nourished and malnourished mothers. The difference in milk content of malnourished and well-nourished mothers is not significant for zinc. However, copper levels were significantly higher in well-nourished mothers

    A study of assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of antibiotic stewardship among healthcare providers in a tertiary care hospital of Sangli

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    Background: Antimicrobials are routinely used for variety of clinical conditions but are also misused leading to drug resistance bacteria in clinical practice. Consultants can gain the knowledge about it and can also have the depth of problem faced, their prescribing behavior mainly depends on their attitude and understanding of condition. Our aim of this study is to evaluate the knowledge and beliefs about antibiotics prescribing among health care workers in a tertiary care hospital of Sangli. Methods: Our present study was conducted in the Bharati hospital, BV (DU) medical college and hospital, Sangli. Ethical clearance from the institutional ethics committee was obtained and it was, cross-sectional questionnaire-based study carried out in the form of a survey in which a pretested, semi-structured, validated questionnaire was provided to junior residents, senior residents and faculty of different specialties and responses were recorded. Questionnaire comprises of 9 in knowledge, 10 in attitude and 10 in practice section. Results: Out of all participants 84.5% believed that no need of antibiotics for running and blocked nose. Majority 89.6% were expressed that sample culture should be sent before starting antibiotics. 90.4% participants believed that education of patients will help. Only 76.8% strictly adhere to the antibiotic policy of our hospital. Conclusions: The present study on antibiotic usage gives useful information about the knowledge, attitudes and practices of prescribers and help plan suitable educational modifications that aim at improving the antimicrobial prescribing and minimizing the development of drug resistance in our developing country

    Assessment of carbon loss related to Soil loss in the tropical watershed of Maharashtra, India

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    Soil carbon pools have a significant impact on the global carbon cycle and soil erosion caused by natural or human activities is one of the main drivers of changes in soil carbon sequestration. The present study aimed to estimate the carbon loss associated with soil loss in the watershed using remote sensing and GIS techniques. The study was carried out at the Central MPKV Campus Watershed, Rahuri, located in the rain shadow region of the Maharashtra state, India. The soil loss from the watershed was estimated using USLE model. The soil loss and carbon loss from the watershed were estimated before the implementation of conservation measures and after the implementation of conservation measures. It was found that the average annual soil loss from the watershed before and after conservation measures was 18.68 t/ha/yr and 9.41 t/ha/yr, respectively. Carbon loss was determined by soil loss rate, organic carbon content and the carbon enrichment ratio. The carbon loss from the watershed before and after conservation measures was 348.71 kgC/ha/yr and 205.52 kgC/ha/yr. The findings revealed that soil and carbon erosion was very severe on steep slopes without conservation measures and with limited vegetation cover. It was found that by reducing the carbon loss associated with soil loss, soil conservation measures not only aid in the conservation of natural resources but also serve as a climate change mitigation measure

    Implementing Dopant-Free Hole-Transporting Layers and Metal-Incorporated CsPbI2Br for Stable All-Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells

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    Mixed-halide CsPbI2Br perovskite is promising for efficient and thermally stable all-inorganic solar cells; however, the use of conventional antisolvent methods and additives-based hole-transporting layers (HTLs) currently hampers progress. Here, we have employed hot-air-assisted perovskite deposition in ambient condition to obtain high-quality photoactive CsPbI2Br perovskite films and have extended stable device operation using metal cation doping and dopant-free hole-transporting materials. Density functional theory calculations are used to study the structural and optoelectronic properties of the CsPbI2Br perovskite when it is doped with metal cations Eu2+ and In3+. We experimentally incorporated Eu2+ and In3+ metal ions into CsPbI2Br films and applied dopant-free copper(I) thiocyanate (CuSCN) and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)-based materials as low-cost hole transporting layers, leading to record-high power conversion efficiencies of 15.27% and 15.69%, respectively, and a retention of >95% of the initial efficiency over 1600 h at 85 °C thermal stress

    Implementing dopant-free hole-transporting layers and metal-incorporated CsPbI2Br for stable all-inorganic perovskite solar cells

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    Mixed-halide CsPbI2Br perovskite is promising for efficient and thermally stable all-inorganic solar cells; however, the use of conventional antisolvent methods and additives-based hole-transporting layers (HTLs) currently hampers progress. Here, we have employed hot-air-assisted perovskite deposition in ambient condition to obtain high-quality photoactive CsPbI2Br perovskite films and have extended stable device operation using metal cation doping and dopant-free hole-transporting materials. Density functional theory calculations are used to study the structural and optoelectronic properties of the CsPbI2Br perovskite when it is doped with metal cations Eu2+ and In3+. We experimentally incorporated Eu2+ and In3+ metal ions into CsPbI2Br films and applied dopant-free copper(I) thiocyanate (CuSCN) and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)-based materials as low-cost hole transporting layers, leading to record-high power conversion efficiencies of 15.27% and 15.69%, respectively, and a retention of >95% of the initial efficiency over 1600 h at 85 °C thermal stress

    Photocatalytic behavior of Ba(Sb/Ta)2O6 perovskite for reduction of organic pollutants: Experimental and DFT correlation

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    We have synthesized closely packed hexagonal 2D plates and clustered nanoparticle morphologies of Ba(Sb/Ta)2O6 (BSTO) perovskite via the polymerizable complex method for photocatalytic dye degradation activities. The BSTO crystallized in a hexagonal structure. The presence of Ba2+, Sb5+, Ta5+, and O2− chemical states identified from XPS confirmed the formation of mixed Ba(Sb/Ta)2O6 phase accompanied with a minor amount of TaOx. Furthermore, BSTO showed excellent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of various organic dyes. The kinetic studies revealed 65.9%, 77.3%, 89.8%, and 84.2%, of Crystal Violet (CV), Methylene Blue (MB), Rhodamine blue (RhB), and Methylene Orange (MO), respectively, after irradiation of 180 min without using a cocatalyst. The formation of and OH−surface radicals, which are believed to facilitate the degradation of the dyes, are unveiled through first-principles Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations and scavenging studies. Our results suggest that BSTO holds promise as an excellent photocatalyst with better degradation efficiency for various organic dyes

    Therapeutic Outcomes of Isatin and Its Derivatives against Multiple Diseases: Recent Developments in Drug Discovery

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    Isatin (1H indole 2, 3-dione) is a heterocyclic, endogenous lead molecule recognized in humans and different plants. The isatin nucleus and its derivatives are owed the attention of researchers due to their diverse pharmacological activities such as anticancer, anti-TB, antifungal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, anti-HIV, and so on. Many research chemists take advantage of the gentle structure of isatins, such as NH at position 1 and carbonyl functions at positions 2 and 3, for designing biologically active analogues via different approaches. Literature surveys based on reported preclinical, clinical, and patented details confirm the multitarget profile of isatin analogues and thus their importance in the field of medicinal chemistry as a potent chemotherapeutic agent. This review represents the recent development of isatin analogues possessing potential pharmacological action in the years 2016–2020. The structure–activity relationship is also discussed to provide a pharmacophoric pattern that may contribute in the future to the design and synthesis of potent and less toxic therapeutics
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