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3 Biotech Aug 2021This work reports the fast and effective bio-fabrication of novel platinum-palladium bimetallic nanoparticles (Pt-Pd BNPs) along with their counterparts Pt and Pd...
UNLABELLED
This work reports the fast and effective bio-fabrication of novel platinum-palladium bimetallic nanoparticles (Pt-Pd BNPs) along with their counterparts Pt and Pd monometallic NPs (MNPs) through aqueous leaf extract. The bio-fabrication of the NPs was achieved within 2 h at 100 °C and pH 7 which was established by the occurrence of dark brown color for Pt MNPs and black color for Pd MNPs and Pt-Pd BNPs. NPs were evaluated for their catalytic activity in the reduction of methyl orange (MO), rhodamine-B (rh-B), and methylene blue (MB) textile dyes in presence of sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. Pt-Pd (1:3) BNPs showed higher MO dye degradation (96.84 ± 2.05% in 50 min) followed by Pd MNPs (97.07 ± 1.46% in 60 min), Pt-Pd (3:1) BNPs (97.34 ± 1.17% in 70 min) and Pt-Pd (1:1) BNPs (98.12 ± 1.04% in 80 min). Pd MNPs showed significant catalytic activity in the reduction of rh-B dye by 97.27 ± 1.14% in 12 min followed by Pt-Pd (3:1) BNPs (96.76 ± 2.17% in 18 min), Pt-Pd (1:3) BNPs (96.53 ± 1.97% in 33 min) and Pt-Pd (1:1) BNPs (97.11 ± 2.09% in 39 min). Pt-Pd (1:3) BNPs also showed higher MB dye degradation (96.95 ± 1.57% in 40 min) followed by Pd MNPs (96.22 ± 2.36% in 55 min), Pt-Pd (3:1) BNPs (97.29 ± 1.22% in 75 min) and Pt-Pd (1:1) BNPs (96.45 ± 2.19% in 105 min). However, Pt MNPs showed no catalytic activity. Standard disc diffusion method was used to evaluate the NPs toxicity towards and , which showed no inhibitory zones. NPs showed less toxicity compared to potassium dichromate (control) against . Among the NPs studied, Pt-Pd (1:1) BNPs showed less toxicity with 100% mortality only at 100 µg/mL concentration followed by Pt MNPs (≥ 80 µg/mL), Pt-Pd (1:3) BNPs (≥ 60 µg/mL), Pt-Pd (3:1) BNPs (≥ 60 µg/mL) and Pd MNPs (≥ 40 µg/mL) after 72 h exposure. These evaluations support the application of bio-fabricated Pt-Pd BNPs as nano-catalysts in textile dyes degradation.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02935-0.
PubMed: 34350090
DOI: 10.1007/s13205-021-02935-0 -
Scientific Reports Jul 2021This study employed in vivo 7-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate the postnatal ocular growth patterns under normal development or neonatal impairments in...
This study employed in vivo 7-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate the postnatal ocular growth patterns under normal development or neonatal impairments in Sprague-Dawley rats. Using T2-weighted imaging on healthy rats from postnatal day (P) 1 (newborn) to P60 (adult), the volumes of the anterior chamber and posterior chamber (ACPC), lens, and vitreous humor increased logistically with ACPC expanding by 33-fold and the others by fivefold. Intravitreal potassium dichromate injection at P1, P7, and P14 led to T1-weighted signal enhancement in the developing retina by 188-289%. Upon unilateral hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy at P7, monocular deprivation at P15, and monocular enucleation at P1, T2-weighted imaging of the adult rats showed decreased ocular volumes to different extents. In summary, in vivo high-field MRI allows for non-invasive evaluation of early postnatal development in the normal and impaired rat eyes. Chromium-enhanced MRI appeared effective in examining the developing retina before natural eyelid opening at P14 with relevance to lipid metabolism. The reduced ocular volumes upon neonatal visual impairments provided evidence to the emerging problems of why some impaired visual outcomes cannot be solely predicted by neurological assessments and suggested the need to look into both the eye and the brain under such conditions.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Anterior Chamber; Brain; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Retina; Vision, Ocular; Vitreous Body
PubMed: 34330952
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93991-2 -
BioMed Research International 2021Melatonin (ML) is a potent antioxidant that reduces oxidative stress. This study was designed to examine the protective effect of melatonin on potassium dichromate-...
Melatonin (ML) is a potent antioxidant that reduces oxidative stress. This study was designed to examine the protective effect of melatonin on potassium dichromate- (PDC-) induced male reproductive toxicity. Forty rats were divided into five groups: the control group, rats administered PDC orally (10 mg/kg body weight) for eight weeks, rats administered ML intraperitoneally at doses of either 2.5 or 5 mg/kg followed by the administration of PDC, and rats administered 5 mg/kg ML only. The treatment of rats with PDC led to a decrease in the levels of plasma sex hormones, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, carnitine, sperm count, and motility. Testicular malondialdehyde levels, nitric oxide concentrations, and abnormalities increased significantly in the PDC group. Melatonin administration to the PDC-treated rats reduced the increase of malondialdehyde and restored the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and catalase), glutathione, and sex hormone levels. Moreover, ML attenuated PDC-induced increase in levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha or interleukin-6. ML alleviated histopathological changes and an increase of p53-positive immune reaction due to PDC. Furthermore, ML inhibited PDC-induced decrease in the DNA content of spermatogenic cells. This study proposed that melatonin may be useful in mitigating oxidative stress-induced testicular damage due to potassium dichromate toxicity.
Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Body Weight; Catalase; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Glutathione; Gonadal Steroid Hormones; Inflammation; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Melatonin; Organ Size; Oxidative Stress; Potassium Dichromate; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa; Superoxide Dismutase; Testis
PubMed: 34222468
DOI: 10.1155/2021/3565360 -
Heliyon Jun 2021The activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway regulates cellular antioxidant stress and exerts anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects against acute lung injury...
The activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway regulates cellular antioxidant stress and exerts anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects against acute lung injury (ALI). The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic role of L-carnitine (LC) against potassium dichromate (PD) - induced acute lung injury in adult male albino rats via modulation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. For this purpose, forty rats were randomly allocated into 5 groups (8 rats each). The normal group received intranasal (i.n.) saline, while the ALI group received intranasal instillation of PD as a single dose of 2 mg/kg. The 3d - 5th groups received PD then after 24 h administered L-carnitine (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg; orally) for 3 consecutive days. The therapeutic effect of L-carnitine was evaluated by assessment of serum levels of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) along with measurement of lung contents of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1), protein kinase B (AKT), Nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 enzyme (NQO1) and glutathione cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM) expression. Post-treatment with L-carnitine effectively increased the levels of GSH and AKT, elevated Nrf2 and its target genes and decreased the levels of MDA and TGFβ1 in comparison with PD control rats. Additionally, L-carnitine effectively reduced the number of goblet cell, inhibited the mucus formation in bronchioles and interstitial inflammatory infiltrate as well as alleviated the destruction of alveolar walls, and the congestion of blood vessels in lung tissue induced by PD. Our findings showed that L-carnitine may be a promising therapeutic agent against PD-induced acute lung injury.
PubMed: 34169163
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07207 -
Contact Dermatitis Sep 2021Allergic contact dermatitis caused by shoes is common and new relevant allergens have been identified.
BACKGROUND
Allergic contact dermatitis caused by shoes is common and new relevant allergens have been identified.
OBJECTIVES
To investigate the pattern of type IV sensitization in patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis of the feet related to shoes as a presumed culprit trigger.
METHODS
Retrospective analysis of data of the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK), 2009-2018.
RESULTS
Six hundred twenty-five patients with presumed shoe dermatitis were identified in a cohort of 119 417 patients. Compared to patients with suspected contact sensitization from other allergen sources (n = 118 792), study group patients were more frequently sensitized to potassium dichromate (10.8% vs 3.5%), colophony (7.2% vs 3.7%), mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT; 4.0% vs 0.6%), mercapto mix (4.6% vs 0.6%), and p-tert-butylphenol formaldehyde resin (1.6% vs 0.5%). Sensitizations to urea formaldehyde resin, melamine formaldehyde resin, glutaraldehyde, tricresyl phosphate, and phenyl glycidylether were rare. Moreover, reactions to compounds in the leather or textile dyes test series were scarce.
CONCLUSION
A distinct sensitization pattern was observed in patients with suspected allergy to shoe materials. Although substances with low sensitization rates should be removed from the leather and shoe patch test series, novel potential allergens should be added.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Allergens; Austria; Child; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact; Dermatitis, Occupational; Female; Foot Dermatoses; Germany; Humans; Male; Manufactured Materials; Middle Aged; Patch Tests; Retrospective Studies; Shoes; Switzerland; Tanning; Textiles; Young Adult
PubMed: 33882155
DOI: 10.1111/cod.13868 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Apr 2021The extensive recorded environmental and occupational dispersal of hexavalent chromium (CrVI) dust contributes to an increased interest in its toxicological...
The extensive recorded environmental and occupational dispersal of hexavalent chromium (CrVI) dust contributes to an increased interest in its toxicological consequences. A previous study of our team described a brain injury induced by acute intranasal instillation of Cr(VI) in rats, which was characterized by oxidative stress and inflammation. This proposed a high risk of brain damage among Cr(VI) exposed individuals either environmentally or occupationally especially through the nasal cavity. Accordingly, the main aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of subacute/subsubacute/subchronic exposure to intranasal potassium dichromate (inPDC) solution in three dose levels (0.125, 0.25, or 0.5 mg/kg/day for five successive days/week) for 3 different intervals/dose: two weeks, one month, and two months, on the brain of rats. The rats were sacrificed 24 h following the last inPDC dose. The locomotor activity, motor coordination, and object recognition behavior of the rats have been measured. Evaluation of oxidative stress; evidenced by lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione, and inflammatory markers; evidenced by interleukin 1-beta in the brain tissues, as well as the brain PI3K and PKB contents were performed. Furthermore, the brain anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); marker of neurotoxicity was assessed immunohistochemically. Brain histopathological alterations were also studied. The findings of the current study revealed a dose- and time-dependent inPDC-induced brain toxicity in rats, as displayed by the biochemical, immunohistochemical and histopathological evaluation. Behaviorally, the major toxic effects of inPDC were observed on the locomotor and cognition functions, however, minor effects were observed on the motor coordination. The results suggest that short-term exposure to intranasal Cr(VI), in theses doses, does not trigger a major brain injury in rats; however, observation of more toxic alterations in a time-dependent manner is a threat of more sever toxicity upon longer exposure.
PubMed: 33845363
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112220 -
PeerJ 2021Soil degradation is one of the main problems in agricultural production and leads to decreases in soil quality and productivity. Improper farming practices speed this...
BACKGROUND
Soil degradation is one of the main problems in agricultural production and leads to decreases in soil quality and productivity. Improper farming practices speed this process and are therefore not conducive to food security. The North China Plain (NCP) is a key agricultural area that greatly influences food security in China. To explore the effects of different tillage measures on aggregate-associated organic carbon (AOC), the accumulation and transport of dry matter, and maize yield, and to identify the most suitable tillage method for use on the NCP, a field experiment was conducted at Shandong Agricultural University from 2016-2017 using plots that have been farmed using conservation tillage since 2002.
METHODS
In this study, Zhengdan 958 summer maize was used as the test material and undisturbed soil and plant samples were obtained under four tillage methods-no-tillage (NT, tillage depth: 0 cm); rotary tillage (RT, tillage depth: 10 cm); conventional tillage (CT, tillage depth: 20 cm); subsoiling (SS, tillage depth: 40 cm)-which were used to determine the AOC and dry matter contents, as well as the yields of two summer maize growing seasons. Each sample was replicated three times and the AOC content was determined via potassium dichromate oxidation colorimetry. Potassium dichromate oxidized organic carbon in organic matter was employed to reduce hexadecent chromium into green trivalent chromium. Colorimetry was then used to determine the amount of reduced trivalent chromium and calculate the organic matter content.
RESULTS
The resulting data were statistically analyzed and the results showed that, compared with CT, the AOC contents with NT and SS increased by 5.65% and 9.73%, respectively, while that with RT decreased by 0.12%. Conventional tillage resulted in the highest mean dry matter weight when the maize reached maturity, which was 19.19%, 9.83%, and 3.38% higher than those achieved using NT, RT, and SS, respectively. No significant difference was found between CT and SS treatments, both of which tended to increase the accumulation of dry matter as well as its contribution of assimilates to grain yield post-anthesis. Compared with CT, the mean yield increased at a rate of 0.18% with SS, while yields declined at rates of 17.17% and 11.15 with NT and RT, respectively. The yield with NT was the lowest, though the harvest indices with NT and SS were higher than those with RT and CT. Overall, SS increased the accumulation of dry matter and its contribution of assimilates to grain yields post-anthesis, as well as the AOC content and yields, making it the ideal tillage method for the NCP.
PubMed: 33828919
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11099 -
International Journal For Parasitology Aug 2021Molecular studies of gastrointestinal infections or microbiotas require either rapid sample processing or effective interim preservation. This is difficult in remote...
Molecular studies of gastrointestinal infections or microbiotas require either rapid sample processing or effective interim preservation. This is difficult in remote settings in low-income countries, where the majority of the global infectious disease burden exists. Processing or freezing of samples immediately upon collection is often not feasible and the cost of commercial preservatives is prohibitive. We compared fresh freezing (the 'gold standard' method), with low-cost chemical preservation in (i) a salt-based buffer consisting of DMSO, EDTA and NaCl (DESS) or (ii) 2.5% potassium dichromate (PD), for soil-transmitted helminth detection and microbiota characterisation in pre-school and school-aged children from north-western Thailand. Fresh frozen samples were frozen at -20°C on collection and maintained at -80°C within ~3 days of collection until molecular analysis, with international shipping on dry ice. In contrast, chemically preserved samples were collected and stored at ~4°C, transported on wet ice and only stored at -20°C on arrival in Australia ~8 weeks after collection, with international shipping on wet ice. DESS and PD provided better sensitivity for STH diagnosis, estimating higher infection rates (>80% for Ascaris lumbricoides and >60% for Trichuris trichiura; versus 56% and 15% for these parasites in fresh frozen samples) and egg abundance (inferred as gene copy number estimates). All methods performed similarly for microbiota preservation, showing no significant differences in alpha-diversity based on overall richness or inverted Simpson's Index. All three methods performed similarly for RNA and protein preservation in a small subset of samples. Overall, DESS provided the best performance, with the added benefit of being non-toxic, compared with PD, hence making it particularly applicable for studies in remote and resource-poor settings.
Topics: Animals; Child; Feces; Helminths; Humans; Microbiota; Soil; Trichuris
PubMed: 33774039
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.01.002 -
BMJ Case Reports Mar 2021We present a rare case of single pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) with multiple metal allergies, including for platinum. A 47-year-old woman presented to our...
We present a rare case of single pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) with multiple metal allergies, including for platinum. A 47-year-old woman presented to our hospital without any symptoms. Enhanced computed tomography showed a single PAVM in S6 of the right lung. Interviews prompted us to suspect a history of palmoplantar pustulosis associated with metal dental filling. Dermatology patch tests for metal allergy were positive for platinum, cobalt, tin and potassium dichromate. The first choice of treatment for PAVM is endovascular treatment using a metal coil. Since the coil is composed of platinum alloy, we performed partial lung resection for PAVM without metal implants. Although metal allergy is rare for endovascular treatment, it causes an additional stress of removal of causative metal or long-term steroidal treatment. Therefore, for single PAVM with multiple metal allergies to the implants, surgical treatment without metal implants should be considered.
Topics: Arteriovenous Fistula; Arteriovenous Malformations; Female; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Middle Aged; Pulmonary Artery; Pulmonary Veins
PubMed: 33692060
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2020-240275 -
PloS One 2021Aquatic organisms have been used to investigate the safety of chemicals worldwide. One such assessment is an algal growth inhibition test. Algal growth inhibition tests...
Aquatic organisms have been used to investigate the safety of chemicals worldwide. One such assessment is an algal growth inhibition test. Algal growth inhibition tests are commonly performed using a growth chamber with fluorescent lamps as the lighting source, as test guidelines require continuous uniform fluorescent illumination. However, fluorescent lamps contain mercury, which has been identified as hazardous to humans and other organisms. The Minamata Convention (adopted in 2013) requires reduction or prohibition of products containing mercury. On the other hand, light-emitting diodes do not contain mercury and provide a photosynthetically effective wavelength range of 400-700 nm which is an adequate light intensity for algal growth. Light-emitting diodes are thus preferable to fluorescent lamps as a potential light source in algal growth inhibition tests. In this study, we investigated if light-emitting diodes could be substituted for fluorescent lamps in growth inhibition studies with green alga (Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata), diatom (Navicula pelliculosa), and cyanobacteria (Anabaena flos-aquae). Algal growth inhibition tests were performed using five different chemicals known to have different modes of action and are assigned as reference substances in the test guidelines. The results of each algal test showed similar values between light-emitting diodes and fluorescent lamps in terms of conditions for the growth inhibition rate and percent inhibition in yield of each chemical. It was therefore concluded that using light-emitting diodes instead of fluorescent lamps as a lighting source had no effect on the algal growth inhibition test results.
Topics: Cadmium Chloride; Chlorophenols; Chlorophyta; Cyanobacteria; Diatoms; Fluorescence; Light; Microbiological Techniques; Osmotic Pressure; Oxidative Phosphorylation; Pentachlorophenol; Photosynthesis; Potassium Dichromate; Sodium Chloride
PubMed: 33606832
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247426