Leiomyoma is a smooth muscle tumour that can arise in any part of the body especially the uterus. Even though it is traditionally linked with hormonal influence, it can also develop in extrauterine organs with a slight female predominance. It is indistinguishable with gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) histologically. We report a case of a 30-year-old gentleman who presented with a huge painful mass in the right iliac fossa. Computed tomography revealed a 10 × 10 cm homogeneous mass arising from the terminal ileum; he subsequently underwent an open right hemicolectomy. Histology showed a well-circumscribed lesion composed of interlacing bundles of smooth muscle fibres of the submucosa with positive smooth muscle actin and H-Caldesmon stains but negative for DOG-1 and CD117 (c-kit) stains which were consistent with leiomyoma. Despite its rarity, this hormone-related tumour needs to be considered regardless of gender. Immunohistochemistry is paramount as it is histologically identical to GIST.
In this paper, the newly explored TiO(2)-Chitosan/Glass was suggested as a promising alternative material to conventional means of wastewater treatment. Characterization of TiO(2)-Chitosan/Glass photocatalyst was studied with SEM-EDX, XRD, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The combination effect of photodegradation-adsorption process for the removal of methyl orange (MO), an acid dye of the monoazo series occur promisingly when four layers of TiO(2)-Chitosan/Glass photocatalyst was used for MO removal. Approximately, 87.0% of total MO removal was achieved. The reactive -NH(2), -OH, and metal oxide contents in the prepared photocatalyst responsible for the photodegradation-adsorption effect were confirmed by FTIR study. Similarly, MO removal behavior was well supported by SEM-EDX and XRD analysis. Significant dependence of MO removal on the TiO(2)-Chitosan loading can be explained in terms of relationship between quantum yield of photocatalytic reactions and photocatalyst structure/activity. Hence, the research work done thus far suggests a new method, having both the advantages of photodegradation-adsorption process in the abatement of various wastewater pollutants.
Mixed dye consists of six commercial dyes and textile effluents from cotton dyeing process were treated by electrochemical-assisted photodegradation under halogen lamp illumination. Two types of effluents were collected which are samples before and after undergone pre-treatment at the factory wastewater treatment plant. The photodegradation process was studied by evaluating the changes in concentration employing UV-vis spectrophotometer (UV-vis) and total organic carbon (TOC) analysis. The photoelectrochemical degradation of mixed dye was found to follow the Langmuir Hinshelwood pseudo-first order kinetic while pseudo-second order kinetic model for effluents by using TOC analyses. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) values of mixed dye and raw effluents were reported. Photoelectrochemical characteristic of pollutants was studied using the cyclic voltammetry technique. Raw effluent was found to exhibit stronger reduction behaviour at cathodic bias potential but slightly less photoresponse at anodic bias than mixed dye.
Electrochemical-assisted photodegradation of methyl orange has been investigated using TiO2 thin films. The films were prepared by sol-gel dip-coating method. Several operational parameters to achieve optimum efficiency of this electrochemical-assisted photodegradation system have been tested. Photoelectrochemical degradation was studied using different light sources and light intensity. The light sources chosen ranged from ultraviolet to visible light. The effect of agitation of the solution at different speeds has also been studied. Slight improvement of photodegradation rate was observed by applying higher agitation speed. Investigation on the electrode after repeated usages show the electrode can be reused up to 20 times with percentage of deficiency less than 15%. The study on the effect of solution temperature indicated that the activation energy of the methyl orange degradation is 18.63 kJ mol(-1).
The photodegradation of various dyes in aqueous solution was studied. Experiments were carried out using glass coated titanium dioxide thin film as photocatalyst. Photodegradation processes of methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), indigo carmine (IC), chicago sky blue 6B (CSB), and mixed dye (MD, mixture of the four mentioned single dye) were reported. As each photodegradation system is pH dependent, the photodegradation experiment was carried out in each dye photodegradation reactive pH range at approximately 28 degrees C. The dyes removal efficiency was studied and compared using UV-vis spectrophotometer analysis. The total removal of each dye was: methylene blue (90.3%), methyl orange (98.5%), indigo carmine (92.4%), chicago sky blue 6B (60.3%), and mixed dyes (70.1%), respectively. The characteristic of the photocatalyst was investigated using X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The amount of each dye intermediate produced in the photodegradation process was also determined with the help of total organic carbon (TOC) analysis.
This paper reports the wireless Shape-Memory-Polymer actuator operated by external radio frequency magnetic fields and its application in a drug delivery device. The actuator is driven by a frequency-sensitive wireless resonant heater which is bonded directly to the Shape-Memory-Polymer and is activated only when the field frequency is tuned to the resonant frequency of heater. The heater is fabricated using a double-sided Cu-clad Polyimide with much simpler fabrication steps compared to previously reported methods. The actuation range of 140 μm as the tip opening distance is achieved at device temperature 44 °C in 30 s using 0.05 W RF power. A repeatability test shows that the actuator's average maximum displacement is 110 μm and standard deviation of 12 μm. An experiment is conducted to demonstrate drug release with 5 μL of an acidic solution loaded in the reservoir and the device is immersed in DI water. The actuator is successfully operated in water through wireless activation. The acidic solution is released and diffused in water with an average release rate of 0.172 μL/min.
This study investigates the effects of stirring duration on the synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) using an improved Hummers' method. Various samples are examined under different stirring durations (20, 40, 60, 72, and 80 h). The synthesized GO samples are evaluated through X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy. The GO sample with 72 h stirring duration (GO72) has the highest d-spacing in the XRD results, highest atomic percentage of oxygen in EDX (49.57%), highest intensity of oxygen functional group in FTIR spectra, and highest intensity ratio in Raman analysis (ID/IG = 0.756). Results show that GO72 with continuous stirring has the highest degree of oxidation among other samples. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis shows that GO72-titanium dioxide (TiO2) exhibits smaller charge transfer resistance and higher electron lifetime compared with the TiO2-based photoanode. The GO72 sample incorporating TiO2 nanocomposites achieves 6.25% photoconversion efficiency, indicating an increase of more than twice than that of the mesoporous TiO2 sample. This condition is fully attributed to the efficient absorption rate of nanocomposites and the reduction of the recombination rate of TiO2 by GO in dye-sensitized solar cells.
A microscope slide acting as a passive waveguide was coated by three separate poly(vinyl alcohol) films that were doped with Coumarin 460, Disodium Fluorescein, and Rhodamine 640 perchlorate. On collinear pumping by a nitrogen laser, these dyes furnished primary red-green-blue laser emissions that were collected and waveguided by the microscope slide but exited from both ends. Frosting the waveguide exit introduced light scattering at the glass-air interface and spatially overlaid the red-green-blue laser emissions that emerged as a uniform white-light beam.
This study aimed to develop a novel electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber membrane with the enhanced antibacterial property. The PAN nanofiber membrane was first subjected to alkaline hydrolysis treatment, and the treated membrane was subsequently grafted with chitosan (CS) to obtain a CS-modified nanofiber membrane (P-COOH-CS). The modified membrane was then coupled with different dye molecules to form P-COOH-CS-Dye membranes. Lastly, poly(hexamethylene biguanide) hydrochloride (PHMB) was immobilized on the modified membrane to produce P-COOH-CS-Dye-PHMB. Physical characterization studies were conducted on all the synthesized nanofiber membranes. The antibacterial efficacies of nanofiber membranes prepared under different synthesis conditions were evaluated systematically. Under the optimum synthesis conditions, P-COOH-CS-Dye-PHMB was highly effective in disinfecting a high concentration of Escherichia coli, with an antibacterial efficacy of approximately 100%. Additionally, the P-COOH-CS-Dye-PHMB exhibited an outstanding wash durability as its antibacterial efficacy was only reduced in the range of 5%-7% even after 5 repeated cycles of treatment. Overall, the experimental results of this study suggested that the P-COOH-CS-Dye-PHMB is a promising antibacterial nanofiber membrane that can be adopted in the food, pharmaceutical, and textile industries.
An effective hydrothermally prepared chitosan-benzaldehyde/SiO2 adsorbent (CTA-BZA/SiO2) employed functionalization of a CTA biopolymer with SiO2 nanoparticles and BZA. CTA-BZA/SiO2 is an adsorbent that was utilized for the adsorption of an acidic dye (acid red 88, AR88) from synthetic wastewater. The fundamental adsorption variables (A: CTA-BZA/SiO2 dosage (0.02-0.1 g); B: pH (4-10); and C: duration (10-60)) were optimized via the Box-Behnken design (BBD). The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms (coefficients of determination R2 = 0.99) agreed well with empirical data of AR88 adsorption by CTA-BZA/SiO2. The pseudo-first-order model showed reasonable agreement with the kinetic data of AR88 adsorption by CTA-BZA/SiO2. The maximal AR88 adsorption capacity (qmax) for CTA-BZA/SiO2 was identified to be 252.4 mg/g. The electrostatic attractions between both the positively charged CTA-BZA/SiO2 adsorbent and the AR88 anions, plus the n-π, π-π, and H-bond interactions contribute to the favourable adsorption process. This study reveals that CTA-BZA/SiO2 has the capacity to be a suitable adsorbent for the removal of a wider range of organic dyes from industrial effluents.
Purple urine bag syndrome (PUBs) is a rare and startling phenomenon of purple discolouration
in the urine or urinary catheter and bag. It is reported in chronically debilitated elderly patients,
mostly in women on long-term urinary catheters. Its prevalence is strikingly more common in
nursing home residents. Several factors contribute to the formation of indigo (blue) and indirubin
(red) pigments from a breakdown of dietary tryptophan, which stains the urine purple. These
factors include constipation, dysmotility of the bowel, bowel bacterial overgrowth, dehydration, and
urinary tract infection. The presence of purple urine may cause undue alarm to both the patient and
the doctor. Thus, we present this case report on an 86-year-old woman, a nursing home resident
on a long-term urinary catheter, who presented to the primary care clinic. Her urine cleared
after antibiotic therapy, replacement of her urinary catheter, and supportive management, which
included hydration and nutrition. In addition to these measures, reducing the time between urinary
catheter changes was recommended to prevent recurrence of this condition.
Purple urine bag syndrome (PUBs) is a rare and startling phenomenon of purple discolouration in the urine or urinary catheter and bag. It is reported in chronically debilitated elderly patients, mostly in women on long-term urinary catheters. Its prevalence is strikingly more common in nursing home residents. Several factors contribute to the formation of indigo (blue) and indirubin (red) pigments from a breakdown of dietary tryptophan, which stains the urine purple. These factors include constipation, dysmotility of the bowel, bowel bacterial overgrowth, dehydration, and urinary tract infection. The presence of purple urine may cause undue alarm to both the patient and the doctor. Thus, we present this case report on an 86-year-old woman, a nursing home resident on a long-term urinary catheter, who presented to the primary care clinic. Her urine cleared after antibiotic therapy, replacement of her urinary catheter, and supportive management, which included hydration and nutrition. In addition to these measures, reducing the time between urinary catheter changes was recommended to prevent recurrence of this condition.
Nerve crush injury is a well-established axonotmetic model in experimental regeneration studies to investigate the impact of various pharmacological treatments. Hericium erinaceus is a temperate mushroom but is now being cultivated in tropical Malaysia. In this study, we investigated the activity of aqueous extract of H. erinaceus fresh fruiting bodies in promoting functional recovery following an axonotmetic peroneal nerve injury in adult female Sprague-Dawley rats by daily oral administration. The aim was to investigate the possible use of this mushroom in the treatment of injured nerve. Functional recovery was assessed in behavioral experiment by walking track analysis. Peroneal functional index (PFI) was determined before surgery and after surgery as rats showed signs of recovery. Histological examinations were performed on peroneal nerve by immunofluorescence staining and neuromuscular junction by combined silver-cholinesterase stain. Analysis of PFI indicated that return of hind limb function occurred earlier in rats of aqueous extract or mecobalamin (positive control) group compared to negative control group. Regeneration of axons and reinnervation of motor endplates in extensor digitorum longus muscle in rats of aqueous extract or mecobalamin group developed better than in negative control group. These data suggest that daily oral administration of aqueous extract of H. erinaceus fresh fruiting bodies could promote the regeneration of injured rat peroneal nerve in the early stage of recovery.
An optical biosensor consisting of a chromoionophore (ETH5294) (CM) doped sol-gel film interfaced with another sol-gel film immobilized with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was employed to detect the insecticide dichlorvos. The main advantage of this optical biosensor is the use of a sol-gel layer with immobilized CM that possesses lipophilic property. The highly lipophilic nature of the CM and its compatibility with the sol-gel matrix has prevented leaching, which is frequently a problem in optical sensor construction based on pH indicator dyes. The immobilization of the indicator and enzyme was simple and need no chemical modification. The CM layer is pH sensitive and detects the pH changes of the acetylcholine chloride (AChCl) substrate when hydrolyzed by AChE layer deposited above. In the absence of the AChE layer, the pH response of the CM layer is linear from pH 6 to 8 (R(2)=0.98, n=3) and it showed no leaching of the lipophilic chromoionophore. When the AChE layer is deposited on top, the optical biosensor responds to AChCl with a linear dynamic range of 40-90mM AChCl (R(2)=0.984, n=6). The response time of the biosensor is 12min. Based on the optimum incubation time of 15min, a linear calibration curve of dichlorvos against the percentage inhibition of AChE was obtained from 0.5 to 7mg/L of dichlorvos (17-85% inhibition, R(2)=0.991, n=9). The detection limit for dichlorvos was 0.5mg/L. The results of the analysis of 1.7-6.0mg/L of dichlorvos using this optical biosensor agreed well with a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry detection method.
Textile industries consume large volumes of water for dye processing, leading to undesirable toxic dyes in water bodies. Dyestuffs are harmful to human health and aquatic life, and such illnesses as cholera, dysentery, hepatitis A, and hinder the photosynthetic activity of aquatic plants. To overcome this environmental problem, the advanced oxidation process is a promising technique to mineralize a wide range of dyes in water systems. In this work, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was prepared via an advanced chemical reduction route, and its photocatalytic activity was tested by photodegrading Reactive Black 5 (RB5) dye in aqueous solution. rGO was synthesized by dispersing the graphite oxide into the water to form a graphene oxide (GO) solution followed by the addition of hydrazine. Graphite oxide was prepared using a modified Hummers' method by using potassium permanganate and concentrated sulphuric acid. The resulted rGO nanoparticles were characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to further investigate their chemical properties. A characteristic peak of rGO-48 h (275 cm-1) was observed in the UV spectrum. Further, the appearance of a broad peak (002), centred at 2θ = 24.1°, in XRD showing that graphene oxide was reduced to rGO. Based on our results, it was found that the resulted rGO-48 h nanoparticles achieved 49% photodecolorization of RB5 under UV irradiation at pH 3 in 60 min. This was attributed to the high and efficient electron transport behaviors of rGO between aromatic regions of rGO and RB5 molecules.
Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is the third generation of thin film solar cell. In this work, carrot fruit dye was prepared and used in DSSC as a sensitizer. TiO2–ZrO2 fine binary oxide was mechanochemically prepared and made paste. TiO2–ZrO2 paste (colloidal) was deposited onto FTO/glass in two ways, i.e. as single and double coatings by rolling method. It was immersed in the carrot solution to get dyed cell. The dyed TiO2-ZrO2-FTO/glass cell was offset with the FTO/glass cell coated with adhesive carbon paste. Photovoltaic properties of prepared TiO2–ZrO2 DSSC cell were measured. Results showed that the efficiency of double coating cell was greater than that of the single coating cell. According to the fill factor from the experiments, both the DSSC cells were acceptable for industrial requirement. Hence, it can be concluded that the results obtained were acceptable in the use of cost-effective and eco-favourable dye-sensitized solar cell.
Aim: Time-based microfluidic absorption sampling was proposed using cotton fiber-based device made in swab stick. The assay was optimized and compared with conventional pipetted drop sampling using the same device. Materials & methods: Reagents were integrated into cotton fiber device for assessing concentration of analytes by the colorimetric detection method through time-based absorption sampling microfluidic system. All assay parameters were first optimized using conventional pipette-based drop sampling. Results: The color intensity is linear in the relevant concentration range of the analytes. The LOD are 0.189 mM for glucose and 6.56 μM for nitrite, respectively. These values are better than conventional drop sampling. The fiber-containing swab itself functions as sampling, assay and calibration device. Conclusion: Microfluidic cotton fiber-based assay device was fabricated and can determine analyte concentration in artificial salivary samples, colorimetrically, by time-based absorption sampling without the need of complex equipments.
One hundred and ninety-eight single-rooted teeth from individuals aged 21-90 yr of Caucasian, Malay, Chinese Malay and Indian Malay origin were studied. Single or serial longitudinal sections of extracted teeth were cut following dye imbibition of patent dentinal tubules. The extent of sclerosis of apical dentinal tubules was assessed and correlated with the age of the individual. Correlation with age was higher in the Caucasian than the Malay races and within the Malaysian racial groups correlation with age was highest in the Malays and lowest in the Chinese. It is concluded that factors other than age may be important in the formation of sclerotic apical dentine in teeth of different racial origin. The effect of racial origin should be considered when using sclerosis as a means of age determination in forensic cases.
Bronchopulmonary lophomoniasis is rare but immunocompromised individual is susceptible to this infection. We reported a case of bronchopulmonary lophomoniasis in a Malaysian female with systemic lupus erythromatosus. She presented with productive cough, shortness of breath and high-grade fever for 2 weeks. Physical examination revealed bronchial sound and crackles over the left lung with, reduced expansion and dull percussion in lower left lobe. Chest radiography showed consolidation of the left lung. Routine laboratory tests revealed general low cell count. Blood and sputum culture were negative. Bronchoalveolar lavage stain and culture for bacterial and fungal were negative. Bronchoalveolar lavage for Lophomonas blattarum was positive. Patient was treated with antiprotozoal drug, metronidazole. All her clinical problems resolved and she was discharged 14 days after admission.
In this study, magnetite carboxymethylcellulose (CMC@Fe3O4) composite as magnetic biological molecules were synthetized for the use as adsorbent to remove four types of cationic dyes, namely Methylene Blue, Rhodamine B, Malachite Green, and Methyl Violet from aqueous solution. The characteristic of the adsorbent was achieved by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), X-ray Diffraction, Vibrating Sample Magnetometer and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis techniques. Besides, essential influencing parameters of dye adsorption; the solution pH, solution temperature, contact time, adsorbent concentration and initial dye dosage were studied. FESEM analysis showed the magnetic Fe3O4-TB, Fe3O4@SiO2, Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2 and CMC@Fe3O4 composites were in spherical shape, with average size of 43.0 nm, 92.5 nm, 134.0 nm and 207.5 nm, respectively. On the saturation magnetization (Ms), the results obtained were 55.931 emu/g, 34.557 emu/g, 33.236 emu/g and 11.884 emu/g. From the sorption modelling of Isotherms, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics, the adsorption capacity of dyes is (MB = 103.33 mg/g), (RB = 109.60 mg/g), (MG = 100.08 mg/g) and (MV = 107.78 mg/g). With all the adsorption processes exhibited as exothermic reactions. The regeneration and reusability of the synthetized biological molecules-based adsorbent was also assessed.