Neem extract-blended nanocellulose derived from jackfruit peel for antibacterial packagings

The use of jackfruit peel as a source for natural and fully biodegradable "nanocellulose" (NC) for the production of bioplastics with Azadirachta indica (A. indica) extracts and polyethylene glycol (PEG) for the antibacterial properties is investigated. The characterization of the biocomposite using FT-IR and WXRD was reported. The physicochemical properties including thickness, moisture content, water holding capacity, swelling, porosity, and biodegradability in soil were investigated. The incorporation of A. indica extract revealed an increased shelf life due to the strong antibacterial activity, and these biocomposites were degraded in soil within 60 days after the end use without any harm to the environment. Jackfruit-derived nanocellulose film blended with A. indica extract exhibited strong antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative food spoilage bacteria. Disc diffusion assay, live/dead assay, and CFU analysis confirmed the antibacterial property of the synthesized film. Moreover, the films clearly prevented the biofilm formation in bacteria. Thus, the developed bioplastics can be utilized as appropriate substitutes to food packaging materials and also for biomedical applications such as wound dressings.

Enhancement of mechanical and thermal properties of Ixora coccinea L. plant root derived nanocellulose using polyethylene glycol-glutaraldehyde system

Nanocellulose fibers are widely acknowledged as a more sustainable alternative to polyimide and polyethylene terephthalate-based plastic films derived from petrochemicals. Cellulose is also utilised in packaging, tissue engineering, electronic, optical, and sensor applications, pharmaceutical applications, cosmetic applications, insulation, water filtration, and hygiene applications, as well as vascular grafts. In the present study to improve the tensile and thermal properties of cellulose nanofibers, polyethylene glycol (PEG 600) with varying concentrations was produced by solvent casting and chemically crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GA). The effects of various PEG 600 concentrations on nanofibers and the morphology of the resulting nanofibers were investigated. The effects of GA on PEG-nanocellulose morphology, average diameter, tensile strength, elongation, and thermal characteristics were investigated. Strong (GA)-based acetal linkages are used to substitute secondary hydrogen bonds in nanocellulose films. The 1% PEG 600 plasticized nanocellulose scaffolds cross-linked with GA showed a higher tensile modulus (93 MPa) than its GA untreated nanocellulose scaffolds (69 MPa). The Young's modulus of the scaffold is increased up to 83.62 MPa. The crystallinity index values of GA-treated scaffolds were increased, and the mechanical characteristics were greatly improved, according to Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and XRD analysis on the films. The thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG/DSC) of the GA treated plasticized nanocellulose scaffold showed maximum decomposition temperature (T_max) at 360.01 °C.

Nanocellulose as green material for remediation of hazardous heavy metal contaminants

Heavy metal pollution generated by urban and industrial activities has become a major global concern due to its high toxicity, minimal biodegradability, and persistence in the food chain. These are the severe pollutants that have the potential to harm humans and the environment as a whole. Mercury, chromium, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, and nickel are the most often discharged hazardous heavy metals. Nanocellulose, reminiscent of many other sustainable nanostructured materials, is gaining popularity for application in bioremediation technologies owing to its many unique features and potentials. The adsorption of heavy metals from wastewaters is greatly improved when cellulose dimension is reduced to nanometric levels. For instance, the adsorption efficiency of Cr³⁺ and Cr⁶⁺ is found to be 42.02% and 5.79% respectively using microcellulose, while nanocellulose adsorbed 62.40% of Cr³⁺ ions and 5.98% of Cr⁶⁺ ions from contaminated water. These nanomaterials are promising in terms of their ease and low cost of regeneration. This review addresses the relevance of nanocellulose as biosorbent, scaffold, and membrane in various heavy metal bioremediation, as well as provides insights into the challenges, future prospects, and updates. The methods of designing better nanocellulose biosorbents to improve adsorption efficiency according to contaminant types are focused.

Lignocellulose in future biorefineries: Strategies for cost-effective production of biomaterials and bioenergy

Lignocellulosic biomass has been emerging as a biorefinery precursor for variety of biofuels, platform chemicals and biomaterials because of its specific surface morphology, exceptional physical, chemical and biological characteristics. The selection of proper raw materials, integration of nano biotechnological aspects, and designing of viable processes are important to attain a cost-effective route for the development of valuable end products. Lignocellulose-based materials can prove to be outstanding in terms of techno-economic viability, as well as being environmentally friendly and reducing effluent load. This review should facilitate the identification of better lignocellulosic sources, advanced pretreatments, and production of value-added products in order to boost the future industries in a cleaner and safer way.

Microbial valorization of lignin: Prospects and challenges

Lignin is the world's second most prevalent biomaterial, but its effective value-added product valorization methods are still being developed. The most common preparation processes for converting lignin to platform chemicals and biofuels are fragmentation and depolymerization. Due to its structural diversity, fragmentation generally produces a variety of products, necessitating tedious separation and purifying methods to isolate the desired products. Bacterial-based techniques are commonly utilized for lignin fragmentation due to their high metabolitic activity. Recent advancements in lignin valorization utilizing bacteria, such as lignin decomposing microbes and major pathways involved that can breakdown lignin into various valuable products namely lipids, furfural, vanillin, polyhydroxybutyrate, poly lactic acid blends were discussed in this review. This review also covers the genetic and fermentation methodologies to enhance lignin decomposition, challenges and future trends of microbe based lignin valorization.

Bacterial nanocellulose: engineering, production, and applications

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) has been emerging as a biomaterial of considerable significance in a number of industrial sectors because of its remarkable physico-chemical and biological characteristics. High capital expenses, manufacturing costs, and a paucity of some well-scalable methods, all of which lead to low BNC output in commercial scale, are major barriers that must be addressed. Advances in production methods, including bioreactor technologies, static intermittent, and semi-continuous fed batch technologies, and innovative outlay substrates, may be able to overcome the challenges to BNC production at the industrial scale. The novelty of this review is that it highlights genetic modification possibilities in BNC production to overcome existing impediments and open up viable routes for large-scale production, suitable for real-world applications. This review focuses on various production routes of BNC, its properties, and applications, especially the major advancement in food, personal care, biomedical and electronic industries.

Nanobiocatalysts: Advancements and applications in enzyme technology

Nanobiocatalysts are one of the most promising biomaterials produced by synergistically integrating advanced biotechnology and nanotechnology. These have a lot of potential to improve enzyme stability, function, efficiencyand engineering performance in bioprocessing. Functional nanostructures have been used to create nanobiocatalystsbecause of their specific physicochemical characteristics and supramolecular nature. This review covers a wide range of nanobiocatalysts including polymeric, metallic, silica and carbon nanocarriers as well as their recent developments in controlling enzyme activity. The enormous potential of nanobiocatalysts in bioprocessing in designing effective laboratory trials forapplications in various fields such as food, pharmaceuticals, biofuel, and bioremediation is also discussed extensively.

Potential of nanocellulose for wastewater treatment

Wastewater management has significant interest worldwide to establish viable treatment techniques to ensure the availability of clean water. The specialities of nanocellulose for this particular application is due to their high aspect ratio and accessibility of plenty of -OH groups for binding with dyes, heavy metals and other pollutants. This review aggregates the application of nanocellulose for wastewater treatment particularly as adsorbents of dyes and heavy metals, and also as membranes for filtering various other contaminants including microbes. The membrane technologies are proven to be effective relating to their durability and separation effectiveness. The commercial scale application of nanocellulose based materials in water treatment processes depend on various factors like routes of synthesis, surface modifications, hydrophilic/hydrophobic, porosity, durability etc. The recent developments on production of novel adsorbents or membranes encourage the implementation of nanocellulose based cleaner technologies for wastewater treatment.

Advanced biomaterials for sustainable applications in the food industry: Updates and challenges

Maintaining the safety and quality of food are major concerns while developing biomaterial based food packaging. It offers a longer shelf-life as well as protection and quality control to the food based on international standards. Nano-biotechnology contributes to a far extent to make advanced packaging by developing multifunctional biomaterials for potential applications providing smarter materials to consumers. Applications of nano-biocomposites may thus help to deliver enhanced barrier, mechanical strength, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties to novel food packaging materials. Starch derived bioplastics, polylactic acid and polyhydroxybutyrate are examples of active bioplastics currently in the food packaging sector. This review discusses the various types of biomaterials that could be used to improve future smarter food packaging, as well as biomaterials' potential applications as food stabilizers, pathogen control agents, sensors, and edible packaging materials. The regulatory concerns related to the use of biomaterials in food packaging and commercially available biomaterials in different fields are also discussed. Development of novel biomaterials for different food packaging applications can therefore guarantee active food packaging in future.

Development of an eco-friendly biodegradable plastic from jack fruit peel cellulose with different plasticizers and Boswellia serrata as filler

Pure nanocellulose was extracted from agricultural waste material namely jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) peel through acid hydrolysis. The extraction method utilizes soapnut solution as an eco-friendly bleaching agent in order to avoid environment polluting chlorinated chemicals. Various thin films were prepared by solvent casting nanocellulose and different plasticizers namely glycerol, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, triethyl citrate along with novel filler, Boswellia serrata commonly known as frankincense. Thin films were characterized by FT-IR, XRD and the surface modifications were investigated using FESEM. The physical, mechanical, thermal properties and biodegradability of the film were also reported. The surface morphology was improved by different plasticizers and a self-assembly was obtained due to more stable hydrogen bonding between the nanocellulose, plasticizers and filler during the film formation. Thermal investigations of plasticizers/Boswellia serrata incorporated thin films revealed an increase in glass transition temperature of nanocellulose. Results indicate that these films are biodegradable and compostable in nature and could be used as substitute for petroleum derived plastics.

Malaria situation analysis and stratification in bandar abbas county, southern iran, 2004-2008

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was that the past five years data were collected to analyze the situation of malaria and health facilities in this area for better understanding malaria problem and to find solutions.

METHODS

In this retrospective study data of the last 5 years were obtained from health center of Bandar Abbas, published papers and reports, weather forecasting organization of the city and annual reports of Hormozgan official authorities. An excel databank was created and analysis was conducted using this software.

RESULTS

According to the national health system, Bandar Abbas also has referral net work system from periphery to the district health center. The maximum and minimum Annual Parasitic Index (API) were observed in 2005 (1.31) and 2008 (0.17), respectively. The prevalence of cases in villages was more than city, except for 2008. More than 97.6% of indigenous malaria cases were caused by Plasmodium vivax, although P. falciparum, P. ovale and mix infection were also reported. Anopheles stephensi, An. dthali and An. fluviatilis are the main malaria vectors in rural area, while only the first species is distributed in the urban area.

CONCLUSION

According to results and many variables including API, Bandar Abbas is divided in two strata. From the situation analysis of Bandar Abbas it is postulated that the main activities of this district could be accuracy of data, and malaria vector control.

[Isolated non-compaction of the left ventricle]

Isolated non compaction of the left ventricle is a rare congenital cardiomyopathy linked to an arrest of normal myocardial embryogenesis. We report two cases of isolated non compaction of the left ventricle discovered by echocardiography in 2 males of 30 and 55 years. The first had progressively worsening cardiac insufficiency, the second was being followed for an unexplained cardiomyopathy. In both cases, the diagnosis was able to be confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography, supported by MRI data. Although present from birth, this condition can become apparent at various ages and is complicated by sudden death (principal cause of mortality), severe cardiac insufficiency, or thrombo-embolic accidents. The diagnosis of left ventricular non compaction should be considered when faced with unexplained cardiac insufficiency in the adult.

Comparison of clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of Streptococcus bovis endocarditis with that caused by other pathogens

The aim of our study was to compare the clinical, echographic, and prognostic features of Streptococcus bovis (S. bovis) endocarditis with those caused by other streptococci and pathogens in a large sample of patients with definite endocarditis by Duke criteria, using transesophageal echocardiography. Two hundred six patients (149 men, mean age 57 +/- 15 years) with a diagnosis of infective endocarditis formed the study population. All patients underwent multiplane transesophageal echocardiography and blood cultures. Cerebral, thoracoabdominal computed tomographic scan was performed in almost all patients (95%). All patients with S. bovis endocarditis underwent colonoscopy. Incidence of S. bovis endocarditis in our sample was 19%. Patients with S. bovis endocarditis were older than other groups. Multiple valve involvement, native valves, and large vegetations (>10 mm) were more frequent in patients with S. bovis. There was a significantly higher occurrence of embolism in the S. bovis group. Splenic embolism and multiple embolisms were significantly more frequent in patients with S. bovis. Gastrointestinal lesions, anemia, and spondylitis were observed more frequently with S. bovis endocarditis. In addition to the requirement for gastrointestinal examination for S. bovis endocarditis, our study underlines the need for systematic screening for vertebral and splenic localizations, and suggests the use of early surgery to prevent the high risk of embolism in these patients.

Echocardiography predicts embolic events in infective endocarditis

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to assess the value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in predicting embolic events (EEs) in a large group of patients with definite endocarditis according to the Duke criteria, including silent embolism.

BACKGROUND

The value of echocardiography in predicting embolism in patients with endocarditis remains controversial. Some studies reported an increased risk of embolism in patients with large and mobile vegetations, whereas other studies failed to demonstrate such a relationship.

METHODS

Multiplane transesophageal echocardiograms of 178 consecutive patients with definite infective endocarditis (IE) were analyzed. The incidence of embolism was compared with the echocardiographic characteristics (localization, size and mobility) of the vegetations. To detect silent embolism, cerebral and thoraco-abdominal scans were performed in 95% of patients.

RESULTS

Among 178 patients, 66 (37%) had one or more EEs. There was no difference between patients with and without embolism in terms of age, gender and left valve involved. On univariate analysis, Staphylococcus infection, right-side valve endocarditis and vegetation length and mobility were significantly related to EEs. A significant higher incidence of embolism was present in patients with vegetation length >10 mm (60%, p < 0.001) and in patients with mobile vegetations (62%, p < 0.001). Embolism was particularly frequent among 30 patients with both severely mobile and large vegetations (> 15 mm) (83%, p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, the only predictors of embolism were vegetation length (p = 0.03) and mobility (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that the presence of vegetations on TEE is predictive of embolism and that the morphologic characteristics of vegetations are helpful in predicting EEs in both mitral and aortic valve IE. It also suggests that early operation may be recommended in patients with vegetations > 15 mm and high mobility, irrespective of the degree of valve destruction, heart failure and response to antibiotic therapy.

[Use of echocardiography in the diagnosis of carcinoid tumors. Report of 4 cases]

Carcinoid tumours are the most common neuro-endocrine tumours but cardiac involvement is rarely symptomatic although often observed at post-mortem and rarely revelatory of the disease. The authors report 4 cases in which echocardiographic detection of characteristic right ventricular involvement led to the confirmation of the diagnosis of carcinoid tumour leading to the secondary diagnosis of the primary carcinoid tumour. The clinical, physiopathological echocardiographic and therapeutic characteristics of this condition are discussed.

[RMI of dysfunctional temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Value of gradient-echo T1 sequences in the evaluation of bony structures]

PURPOSE

To identify and classify the different types of bony changes of the condyles in patients with disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Since 1993, we have imaged over 600 patients with 0.5T MR unit by using gradient-echo T1-weighted sequences in the sagittal and coronal planes.

RESULTS

We will first describe the appearance of the normal TMJ. Then, we will introduce the concept of "Condylo-diskal disunion" using a three grade classification system. We will then describe three patterns of condylar changes: adaptive remodeling, either anterior or more frequently posterior, degenerative lesions with subchondral sclerosis, erosive lesions due to synovial hyperplasia.

CONCLUSION

Using a 0.5T MR unit, a GRE T1 sequence is useful to identify lesions of the disk and detect bony changes. In addition, the tissues posterior to the disk can also be assessed on postcontrast images.

Cell lines from kidney proximal tubules of a patient with Lowe syndrome lack OCRL inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase and accumulate phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate

The protein product of the gene that when mutated is responsible for Lowe syndrome, or oculocerebrorenal syndrome (OCRL), is an inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase. It has a marked preference for phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate although it hydrolyzes all four of the known inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase substrates: inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate. The enzyme activity of this protein is determined by a region of 672 out of a total of 970 amino acids that is homologous to inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase II. Cell lines from kidney proximal tubules of a patient with Lowe syndrome and a normal individual were used to study the function of OCRL. The cells from the Lowe syndrome patient lack OCRL protein. OCRL is the major phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate 5-phosphatase in these cells. As a result, these cells accumulate phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate even though at least four other inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase isozymes are present in these cells. OCRL is associated with lysosomal membranes in control proximal tubule cell lines suggesting that OCRL may function in lysosomal membrane trafficking by regulating the specific pool of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate that is associated with lysosomes.

Trivandrum Developmental Screening Chart

The Trivandrum Developmental Screening Chart (TDSC) was designed by selecting 17 test items from BSID (Baroda Norms). It was validated both at the hospital and community level against the standard DDST. TDSC had a sensitivity of 66.7% and specificity of 78.8%, which makes it an acceptable simple screening tool even for the community level worker.

The first attack of acute rheumatic fever in childhood--clinical and laboratory profile

One hundred consecutive cases of 'first attack' of acute rheumatic fever were studied. There were 52 males and 48 females, constituting 1.12% of total hospital admissions. Nearly 10% of children were below the age of 5 years, stressing the early onset of rheumatic fever in tropics. Only 47% gave a definite history of overcrowding at home. Sore throat was present in 67%, overt arthritis in 66%, carditis in 57%, arthralgia alone in 22% of which 45.45% had carditis. Small joint involvement was noticed in 23% of cases of which 73.91% had carditis. Only 33.33% had congestive cardiac failure. Ten per cent of children had chorea, while subcutaneous nodules were seen in 4% of cases, all of whom had associated carditis. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) showed good correlation with clinical profile. Throat cultures were positive for beta hemolytic streptococci only in 12% of cases. Anti-streptolysin 'O' (ASO) titre showed significant titres on 68% of cases, anti-deoxyribonuclease "B" (ADN-B) in 69.32%, antibody to group A carbohydrate (ACHO) in 70.65%. ASO, ADN-B, and ACHO titres together gave 87.5% positivity while estimations in paired sera showed ASO 79.54%, ADN-B 82.27% and ASO, ADN-B together 99.92% significant titres. Study of blood groups showed A group children to be more vulnerable to rheumatic fever (37.5%) and rheumatic carditis (47.37%). Mortality in the present study was nil.

[Salsolinol, an endogenous molecule. Possible implications in alcoholism, Parkinson's disease and pain]

Salsolinol can be formed either by condensation of dopamine with acetaldehyde, or by condensation of dopamine with pyruvic acid followed by decarboxylation. Salsolinol has a complex pharmacologic profile. Its opium-like activity may be related to alcohol dependency and to the effectiveness of naloxone during acute alcohol intoxication. Because they had noticed that alcoholism and Parkinson's disease rarely coexist, the authors undertook a study to confirm this fact and attempt to explain it by implicating salsolinol. Urinary excretion of salsolinol was found to increase following ingestion of alcohol, as well as in Parkinson patients under L-dopa treatment. The authors also found that urinary salsolinol was very low in untreated patients with Parkinson's disease. Salsolinol was detected in a number of foods and beverages. Separate assays of enantiomeres showed that the S enantiomere predominates in some foods whereas the R enantiomere is more abundant in humans. Lastly, the antinociceptive effects of salsolinol and its enantiomeres were studied in mice and antidepressant effects were evidenced using predictive tests.

Accidental dapsone poisoning in children

Accidental poisoning in children shows a trend towards poisoning with various newer drugs and chemicals used in the household. Sixty-one cases of accidental poisoning in children were seen in Sree Avittam Thirunal Hospital, (S.A.T.H.), Trivandrum, South India during the year 1982, constituting 0.61% of the total pediatric admissions. Dapsone poisoning constituted 9.8% of the total accidental poisonings, emphasising the need for safe storage of drugs out of the reach of young children. Dapsone poisoning with resultant methaemoglobinaemia responded well to intravenous ascorbic acid and other supportive measures.