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State of the Art and New Directions on Electrospun Lignin/Cellulose Nanofibers for Supercapacitor Application: A Systematic Literature Review

Adam AA, Ojur Dennis J, Al-Hadeethi Y, Mkawi EM, Abubakar Abdulkadir B, Usman F, et al.

Polymers (Basel), 2020 Dec 01;12(12).
PMID: 33271876 DOI: 10.3390/polym12122884

Supercapacitors are energy storage devices with high power density, rapid charge/discharge rate, and excellent cycle stability. Carbon-based supercapacitors are increasingly attracting attention because of their large surface area and high porosity. Carbon-based materials research has been recently centered on biomass-based materials due to the rising need to maintain a sustainable environment. Cellulose and lignin constitute the major components of lignocellulose biomass. Since they are renewable, sustainable, and readily accessible, lignin and cellulose-based supercapacitors are economically viable and environmentally friendly. This review aims to systematically analyze published research findings on electrospun lignin, cellulose, and lignin/cellulose nanofibers for use as supercapacitor electrode materials. A rigorous scientific approach was employed to screen the eligibility of relevant articles to be included in this study. The research questions and the inclusion criteria were clearly defined. The included articles were used to draw up the research framework and develop coherent taxonomy of literature. Taxonomy of research literature generated from the included articles was classified into review papers, electrospun lignin, cellulose, and lignin/cellulose nanofibers for use as supercapacitor electrode materials. Furthermore, challenges, recommendations, and research directions for future studies were equally discussed extensively. Before this study, no review on electrospun lignin/cellulose nanofiber-based supercapacitors has been reported. Thus, this systematic review will provide a reference for other researchers interested in developing biomass-based supercapacitors as an alternative to conventional supercapacitors based on petroleum products.
Fulltext Acetone Vapor-Sensing Properties of Chitosan-Polyethylene Glycol Using Surface Plasmon Resonance Technique

Usman F, Dennis JO, Mkawi EM, Al-Hadeethi Y, Meriaudeau F, Fen YW, et al.

Polymers (Basel), 2020 Nov 04;12(11).
PMID: 33158093 DOI: 10.3390/polym12112586

To non-invasively monitor and screen for diabetes in patients, there is need to detect low concentration of acetone vapor in the range from 1.8 ppm to 5 ppm, which is the concentration range of acetone vapor in diabetic patients. This work presents an investigation for the utilization of chitosan-polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor in the detection of trace concentration acetone vapor in the range of breath acetone in diabetic subjects. The structure, morphology, and elemental composition of the chitosan-PEG sensing layer were characterized using FTIR, UV-VIS, FESEM, EDX, AFM, and XPS methods. Response testing was conducted using low concentration of acetone vapor in the range of 0.5 ppm to 5 ppm using SPR technique. All the measurements were conducted at room temperature and 50 mL/min gas flow rate. The sensor showed good sensitivity, linearity, repeatability, reversibility, stability, and high affinity toward acetone vapor. The sensor also showed better selectivity to acetone compared to methanol, ethanol, and propanol vapors. More importantly, the lowest detection limit (LOD) of about 0.96 ppb confirmed the applicability of the sensor for the non-invasive monitoring and screening of diabetes.
Fulltext Boron-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide with Tunable Bandgap and Enhanced Surface Plasmon Resonance

Junaid M, Khir MHM, Witjaksono G, Tansu N, Saheed MSM, Kumar P, et al.

Molecules, 2020 Aug 11;25(16).
PMID: 32796504 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25163646

Graphene and its hybrids are being employed as potential materials in light-sensing devices due to their high optical and electronic properties. However, the absence of a bandgap in graphene limits the realization of devices with high performance. In this work, a boron-doped reduced graphene oxide (B-rGO) is proposed to overcome the above problems. Boron doping enhances the conductivity of graphene oxide and creates several defect sites during the reduction process, which can play a vital role in achieving high-sensing performance of light-sensing devices. Initially, the B-rGO is synthesized using a modified microwave-assisted hydrothermal method and later analyzed using standard FESEM, FTIR, XPS, Raman, and XRD techniques. The content of boron in doped rGO was found to be 6.51 at.%. The B-rGO showed a tunable optical bandgap from 2.91 to 3.05 eV in the visible spectrum with an electrical conductivity of 0.816 S/cm. The optical constants obtained from UV-Vis absorption spectra suggested an enhanced surface plasmon resonance (SPR) response for B-rGO in the theoretical study, which was further verified by experimental investigations. The B-rGO with tunable bandgap and enhanced SPR could open up the solution for future high-performance optoelectronic and sensing applications.
FOXP3 regulatory T cells on prognosis of breast cancer

Usman AN, Ahmad M, Sinrang AW, Natsir S, Takko AB, Ariyandy A, et al.

Breast Dis, 2023;42(1):213-218.
PMID: 37458005 DOI: 10.3233/BD-239002

BACKGROUND: FOXP3 Tregs have been found in breast cancer patients, both humoral and tumor. Survival or prognosis of breast cancer patients seems to correlate with the increase and decrease in FOXP3 Treg.
OBJECTIVES: This review aims to provide insights regarding the FOXP3 Tregs involved and their mechanisms in breast cancer prognosis.
METHODS: The literature study method is used from primary and secondary libraries. The library search used online-based search instruments such as NCBI-PubMed, Google Scholar, and Elsevier. The data obtained were then arranged according to the framework, data on the relationship between FOXP3 Regulatory T Cells and breast cancer, and writing a journal review was carried out according to the given format. Regulators (Tregs) can inhibit anti-tumor immunity and promote tumor growth. Tregs also play a role in inhibiting cytotoxic T lymphocyte cells by inhibiting the release of granules from CD8+, where CD8+ is important in killing tumor cells. FOXP3 is a Treg-specific biomarker and plays an important role in the development and function of Tregs.
RESULTS: Studies on the presence of FOXP3+ Tregs in tumors have shown controversial results. Studies in some tumors reported the presence of FOXP3+, indicating a poor prognosis, whereas studies in other tumors found that FOXP3+ correlated with a good prognosis.
CONCLUSION: Regulatory T lymphocytes and TILs in invasive breast carcinoma are still not established. Therefore, further research on the Effect of FOXP3 expression of regulatory T lymphocytes on breast cancer is still important.
Biochar-based geopolymer nanocomposite for COD and phenol removal from agro-industrial biorefinery wastewater: Kinetic modelling, microbial community, and optimization by response surface methodology

Jagaba AH, Lawal IM, Ghfar AA, Usman AK, Yaro NSA, Noor A, et al.

Chemosphere, 2023 Oct;339:139620.
PMID: 37524265 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139620

Agro-industrial biorefinery effluent (AIBW) is considered a highly polluting source responsible for environmental contamination. It contains high loads of chemical oxygen demand (COD), and phenol, with several other organic and inorganic constituents. Thus, an economic treatment approach is required for the sustainable discharge of the effluent. The long-term process performance, contaminant removal and microbial response of AIBW to rice straw-based biochar (RSB) and biochar-based geopolymer nanocomposite (BGC) as biosorbents in an activated sludge process were investigated. The adsorbents operated in an extended aeration system with a varied hydraulic retention time of between 0.5 and 1.5 d and an AIBW concentration of 40-100% for COD and phenol removal under standard conditions. Response surface methodology was utilised to optimize the process variables of the bioreactor system. Process results indicated a significant reduction of COD (79.51%, 98.01%) and phenol (61.94%, 74.44%) for BEAS and GEAS bioreactors respectively, at 1 d HRT and AIBW of 70%. Kinetic model analysis indicated that the Stover-Kincannon model best describes the system functionality, while the Grau model was better in predicting substrate removal rate and both with a precision of between R2 (0.9008-0.9988). Microbial communities examined indicated the abundance of genera, following the biosorbent addition, while RSB and BGC had no negative effect on the bioreactor's performance and bacterial community structure of biomass. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were abundant in BEAS. While the GEAS achieved higher COD and phenol removal due to high Nitrosomonas, Nitrospira, Comamonas, Methanomethylovorans and Acinetobacter abundance in the activated sludge. Thus, this study demonstrated that the combination of biosorption and activated sludge processes could be promising, highly efficient, and most economical for AIBW treatment, without jeopardising the elimination of pollutants or the development of microbial communities.
Fulltext Recent advances in catalytic and non-catalytic epoxidation of terpenes: a pathway to bio-based polymers from waste biomass

Mukhtar Gunam Resul MF, Rehman A, Saleem F, Usman M, López Fernández AM, Eze VC, et al.

RSC Adv, 2023 Nov 07;13(47):32940-32971.
PMID: 38025849 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra04870e

Epoxides derived from waste biomass are a promising avenue for the production of bio-based polymers, including polyamides, polyesters, polyurethanes, and polycarbonates. This review article explores recent efforts to develop both catalytic and non-catalytic processes for the epoxidation of terpene, employing a variety of oxidizing agents and techniques for process intensification. Experimental investigations into the epoxidation of limonene have shown that these methods can be extended to other terpenes. To optimize the epoxidation of bio-based terpene, there is a need to develop continuous processes that address limitations in mass and heat transfer. This review discusses flow chemistry and innovative reactor designs as part of a multi-scale approach aimed at industrial transformation. These methods facilitate continuous processing, improve mixing, and either eliminate or reduce the need for solvents by enhancing heat transfer capabilities. Overall, the objective of this review is to contribute to the development of commercially viable processes for producing bio-based epoxides from waste biomass.
Review on demulsification techniques for oil/water emulsion: Comparison of recyclable and irretrievable approaches

Low JY, Khe CS, Usman F, Hassan YM, Lai CW, You KY, et al.

Environ Res, 2024 Feb 15;243:117840.
PMID: 38081342 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117840

Since the establishment of the first global refinery in 1856, crude oil has remained one of the most lucrative natural resources worldwide. However, during the extraction process from reservoirs, crude oil gets contaminated with sediments, water, and other impurities. The presence of pressure, shear forces, and surface-active compounds in crude oil leads to the formation of unwanted oil/water emulsions. These emulsions can take the form of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions, where water droplets disperse continuously in crude oil, or oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions, where crude oil droplets are suspended in water. To prevent the spread of water and inorganic salts, these emulsions need to be treated and eliminated. In existing literature, different demulsification procedures have shown varying outcomes in effectively treating oil/water emulsions. The observed discrepancies have been attributed to various factors such as temperature, salinity, pH, droplet size, and emulsifier concentrations. It is crucial to identify the most effective demulsification approach for oil/water separation while adhering to environmental regulations and minimizing costs for the petroleum sector. Therefore, this study aims to explore and review recent advancements in two popular demulsification techniques: chemical demulsification and magnetic nanoparticles-based (MNP) demulsification. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique are assessed, with the magnetic approach emerging as the most promising due to its desirable efficiency and compliance with environmental and economic concerns. The findings of this report are expected to have a significant impact on the overall process of separating oil and water, benefiting the oil and gas industry, as well as other relevant sectors in achieving the circular economy.
Fulltext Discovering Knee Osteoarthritis Imaging Features for Diagnosis and Prognosis: Review of Manual Imaging Grading and Machine Learning Approaches

Teoh YX, Lai KW, Usman J, Goh SL, Mohafez H, Hasikin K, et al.

J Healthc Eng, 2022;2022:4138666.
PMID: 35222885 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4138666

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a deliberating joint disorder characterized by cartilage loss that can be captured by imaging modalities and translated into imaging features. Observing imaging features is a well-known objective assessment for knee OA disorder. However, the variety of imaging features is rarely discussed. This study reviews knee OA imaging features with respect to different imaging modalities for traditional OA diagnosis and updates recent image-based machine learning approaches for knee OA diagnosis and prognosis. Although most studies recognized X-ray as standard imaging option for knee OA diagnosis, the imaging features are limited to bony changes and less sensitive to short-term OA changes. Researchers have recommended the usage of MRI to study the hidden OA-related radiomic features in soft tissues and bony structures. Furthermore, ultrasound imaging features should be explored to make it more feasible for point-of-care diagnosis. Traditional knee OA diagnosis mainly relies on manual interpretation of medical images based on the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading scheme, but this approach is consistently prone to human resource and time constraints and less effective for OA prevention. Recent studies revealed the capability of machine learning approaches in automating knee OA diagnosis and prognosis, through three major tasks: knee joint localization (detection and segmentation), classification of OA severity, and prediction of disease progression. AI-aided diagnostic models improved the quality of knee OA diagnosis significantly in terms of time taken, reproducibility, and accuracy. Prognostic ability was demonstrated by several prediction models in terms of estimating possible OA onset, OA deterioration, progressive pain, progressive structural change, progressive structural change with pain, and time to total knee replacement (TKR) incidence. Despite research gaps, machine learning techniques still manifest huge potential to work on demanding tasks such as early knee OA detection and estimation of future disease events, as well as fundamental tasks such as discovering the new imaging features and establishment of novel OA status measure. Continuous machine learning model enhancement may favour the discovery of new OA treatment in future.
Fulltext Impact of hydrogen concentrations on the impedance spectroscopic behavior of Pd-sensitized ZnO nanorods

Kashif M, Ali ME, Ali SM, Hashim U, Hamid SB

Nanoscale Res Lett, 2013;8(1):68.
PMID: 23399029 DOI: 10.1186/1556-276X-8-68

ZnO nanorods were synthesized using a low-cost sol-gel spin coating technique. The synthesized nanorods were consisted of hexagonal phase having c-axis orientation. SEM images reflected perpendicular ZnO nanorods forming bridging network in some areas. The impact of different hydrogen concentrations on the Pd-sensitized ZnO nanorods was investigated using an impedance spectroscopy (IS). The grain boundary resistance (Rgb) significantly contributed to the sensing properties of hydrogen gas. The boundary resistance was decreased from 11.95 to 3.765 kΩ when the hydrogen concentration was increased from 40 to 360 ppm. IS gain curve showed a gain of 6.5 for 360 ppm of hydrogen at room temperature. Nyquist plot showed reduction in real part of impedance at low frequencies on exposure to different concentrations of hydrogen. Circuit equivalency was investigated by placing capacitors and resistors to identify the conduction mechanism according to complex impedance Nyquist plot. Variations in nanorod resistance and capacitance in response to the introduction of various concentrations of hydrogen gas were obtained from the alternating current impedance spectra.
1,4-Methano-11a-methyl-4,4a,11,11a-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[b]fluoren-11-one

Usman A, Razak IA, Chantrapromma S, Ghorai SK, Mal D, Fun HK, et al.

Acta Crystallogr C, 2001 Sep;57(Pt 9):1118-9.
PMID: 11588390

The title compound, C(19)H(16)O, crystallizes with two molecules of opposite chirality in the asymmetric unit. In both molecules, the naphthalene and cyclopentanone moieties are individually planar. The two cyclopentane rings adopt envelope conformations, while the cyclohexane ring adopts a boat conformation.
Methyl (SR)-10-chloro-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydro-6-hydroxy-8-methoxy-1-methyl-1,9-phenanthroline-6-carboxylate

Usman A, Razak IA, Chantrapromma S, Fun HK, Sarkar TK, Basak S, et al.

Acta Crystallogr C, 2001 Sep;57(Pt 9):1116-7.
PMID: 11588389

In the title compound, C(16)H(19)ClN(2)O(4), the pyridine ring is nearly planar, the piperidine ring is non-planar and the cyclohexane ring adopts a screw-boat conformation. The carboxylate group makes a dihedral angle of 80.9 (2) degrees with the least-squares plane through the cyclohexane ring.
Diethyl 1-(p-fluorophenyl)-5-oxo-3-(2-thienyl)pyrrolidine-2,2-dicarboxylate

Usman A, Razak IA, Chantrapromma S, Fun HK, Ray JK, Das Adhikari S, et al.

Acta Crystallogr C, 2001 Dec;57(Pt 12):1441-2.
PMID: 11740111

In the title compound, C20H20FNO5S, the pyrrolidine ring adopts an envelope conformation. The fluorophenyl and thiophene rings are individually planar. The molecular and crystal structures are stabilized by intra- and intermolecular C-H...O interactions.
Fulltext Pharmacist-led counselling intervention to improve antiretroviral drug adherence in Pakistan: a randomized controlled trial

Chatha ZF, Rashid U, Olsen S, Din FU, Khan A, Nawaz K, et al.

BMC Infect Dis, 2020 Nov 23;20(1):874.
PMID: 33228562 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-020-05571-w

BACKGROUND: Pakistan is facing a growing population of people living with human immunodeficiency (HIV). In this randomized controlled trial, we investigate if a pharmacist-led intervention can increase adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people living with HIV (PLWH).
METHODS: Adults with HIV, who have been taking ART for more than 3 months were randomly assigned to receive either a pharmacist-led intervention or their usual care. Measures of adherence were collected at 1) baseline 2) just prior to delivery of intervention and 3) 8 weeks later. The primary outcomes were CD4 cell count and self-reported adherence measured with the AIDS Clinical Trial Group (ACTG) questionnaire.
RESULTS: Post-intervention, the intervention group showed a statistically significant increase in CD4 cell counts as compared to the usual care group (p = 0.0054). In addition, adherence improved in the intervention group, with participants being 5.96 times more likely to report having not missed their medication for longer periods of time (p = 0.0086) while participants in the intervention group were 7.74 times more likely to report missing their ART less frequently (p
Fulltext Optimization and Characterization of Mesoporous Sulfonated Carbon Catalyst and Its Application in Modeling and Optimization of Acetin Production

Nda-Umar UI, Ramli I, Muhamad EN, Azri N, Taufiq-Yap YH

Molecules, 2020 Nov 10;25(22).
PMID: 33182532 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25225221

In this study, an optimized mesoporous sulfonated carbon (OMSC) catalyst derived from palm kernel shell biomass was developed using template carbonization and subsequent sulfonation under different temperatures and time conditions. The OMSC catalyst was characterized using acid-base titration, elemental analysis, XRD, Raman, FTIR, XPS, TPD-NH3, TGA-DTA, SEM, and N2 adsorption-desorption analysis to reveal its properties. Results proved that the OMSC catalyst is mesoporous and amorphous in structure with improved textural, acidic, and thermal properties. Both FTIR and XPS confirmed the presence of -SO3H, -OH, and -COOH functional groups on the surface of the catalyst. The OMSC catalyst was found to be efficient in catalyzing glycerol conversion to acetin via an acetylation reaction with acetic acid within a short period of 3 h. Response surface methodology (RSM), based on a two-level, three-factor, face-centered central composite design, was used to optimize the reaction conditions. The results showed that the optimized temperature, glycerol-to-acetic acid mole ratio, and catalyst load were 126 °C, 1:10.4, and 0.45 g, respectively. Under these optimum conditions, 97% glycerol conversion (GC) and selectivities of 4.9, 27.8, and 66.5% monoacetin (MA), diacetin (DA), and triacetin (TA), respectively, were achieved and found to be close to the predicted values. Statistical analysis showed that the regression model, as well as the model terms, were significant with the predicted R2 in reasonable agreement with the adjusted R2 (<0.2). The OMSC catalyst maintained excellent performance in GC for the five reaction cycles. The selectivity to TA, the most valuable product, was not stable until the fourth cycle, attributable to the leaching of the acid sites.
Goat milk attenuates mimetic aging related memory impairment via suppressing brain oxidative stress, neurodegeneration and modulating neurotrophic factors in D-galactose-induced aging model

Safdar A, Zakaria R, Aziz CBA, Rashid U, Azman KF

Biogerontology, 2020 04;21(2):203-216.
PMID: 31792648 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-019-09854-x

One of the most significant hallmarks of aging is cognitive decline. D-galactose administration may impair memory and mimic the effects of natural aging. In this study, the efficiency of goat milk to protect against memory decline was tested. Fifty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: (i) control group, (ii) goat milk treated group, (iii) D-galactose treated group, and (iv) goat milk plus D-galactose treated group. Subcutaneous injections of D-galactose at 120 mg/kg and oral administrations of goat milk at 1 g/kg were chosen for the study. Goat milk and D-galactose were administered concomitantly for 6 weeks, while the control group received saline. After 6 weeks, novel object recognition and T-maze tests were performed to evaluate memory of rats. Following behavioral tests, the animals were sacrificed, and right brain homogenates were analyzed for levels of lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes and neurotrophic factors. The left brain hemisphere was used for histological study of prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. There was a significant memory impairment, an increase in oxidative stress and neurodegeneration and a reduction in antioxidant enzymes and neurotrophic factors levels in the brain of D-galactose treated rats compared to controls. Goat milk treatment attenuated memory impairment induced by D-galactose via suppressing oxidative stress and neuronal damage and increasing neurotrophic factors levels, thereby suggesting its potential role as a geroprotective food.
Increased burden of disease and role of health economics: Asia-pacific region

Shah S, Abbas G, Hanif M, Anees-Ur-Rehman, Zaman M, Riaz N, et al.

Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res, 2019 Oct;19(5):517-528.
PMID: 31401898 DOI: 10.1080/14737167.2019.1650643

Background: Health-care systems in Asian countries are diverse. The economic evaluation provides information on how to make efficient use of the resources available to obtain the maximum benefits. In Asia, diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), diabetes mellitus (DM), tuberculosis (TB) and epilepsy generate a heavy economic burden. The objective of this article is to provide a review of the economic burden of health to patients in Asian countries. Areas covered: All data were collected from already published research article and review papers. The databases searched were Science Direct, PubMed, MEDLINE and Google scholar. We found a total of 4456 articles on health economics. After reviewing the title, only 876 relevant articles were considered. Only 92 (n = 92) articles were considered on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Expert opinion: Available data give evidence that diseases are linked to the low socio-economic status of the Asian population. The cost per capita is high in Asian countries due to insufficient health-care facilities. The cost per capita in Asian countries ranges from $23 (Pakistan) to $1775 (Taiwan). The per capita cost of Malaysia, China, Singapore, and Thailand is $27 $83, $75, and $27, respectively.
Fulltext A low latency and low power indirect topology for on-chip communication

Gulzari UA, Khan S, Sajid M, Anjum S, Torres FS, Sarjoughian H, et al.

PLoS One, 2019;14(10):e0222759.
PMID: 31577809 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222759

This paper presents the Hybrid Scalable-Minimized-Butterfly-Fat-Tree (H-SMBFT) topology for on-chip communication. Main aspects of this work are the description of the architectural design and the characteristics as well as a comparative analysis against two established indirect topologies namely Butterfly-Fat-Tree (BFT) and Scalable-Minimized-Butterfly-Fat-Tree (SMBFT). Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed topology outperforms its predecessors in terms of performance, area and power dissipation. Specifically, it improves the link interconnectivity between routing levels, such that the number of required links isreduced. This results into reduced router complexity and shortened routing paths between any pair of communicating nodes in the network. Moreover, simulation results under synthetic as well as real-world embedded applications workloads reveal that H-SMBFT can reduce the average latency by up-to35.63% and 17.36% compared to BFT and SMBFT, respectively. In addition, the power dissipation of the network can be reduced by up-to33.82% and 19.45%, while energy consumption can be improved byup-to32.91% and 16.83% compared to BFT and SMBFT, respectively.
Fulltext Impact of Medication Regimen Simplification on Medication Adherence and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Long-Term Medical Conditions

Elnaem MH, Irwan NA, Abubakar U, Syed Sulaiman SA, Elrggal ME, Cheema E

Patient Prefer Adherence, 2020;14:2135-2145.
PMID: 33173282 DOI: 10.2147/PPA.S268499

Background: This study aims to identify interventions used to reduce medication regimen complexity and to assess their impact on medication adherence and clinical outcomes.
Methods: A literature search was conducted using pre-defined search terms in three scientific databases, including ScienceDirect, ProQuest and MEDLINE. Original research articles published in English between 2009 and 2020 that assessed the impact of medication regimen simplification on medication adherence in patients with long-term medical conditions were eligible for inclusion. Review articles, meta-analysis studies and conference proceedings were excluded. Data charting was done in an iterative process using a study-specific extraction form.
Results: Of the 684 studies identified through initial searches, 17 studies were included in the review. Nine studies involved simplification of medication regimen related to HIV, while three studies focused on patients with diabetes with or without coronary artery disease. The remaining five studies included medications used among elderly patients or medications related to hypertension, psychiatric disorders, glaucoma and kidney diseases. Three medication regimen simplification strategies were identified; fixed-dose combination (n = 7), once-daily dosing (n = 4) and the combination of both fixed-dose and once-daily dosing (n = 6). Overall, most of the regimen simplification strategies (14 out of 17) were found to be useful in improving medication adherence. There was no assessment of clinical outcomes in four out of 17 studies. Furthermore, more than half of the studies that assessed clinical outcomes did not show any additional impact on clinical outcomes.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that there was an equal utilization of the three main approaches of regimen simplifications; fixed-dose combination, once-daily dosing and a combination of both. Overall, most of the regimen simplification strategies were found to be effective in improving medication adherence. However, the associated improvement in medication adherence did not extend to improvement in the clinical outcomes.
Knowledge and self-confidence of antibiotic resistance, appropriate antibiotic therapy, and antibiotic stewardship among pharmacy undergraduate students in three Asian countries

Abubakar U, Muhammad HT, Sulaiman SAS, Ramatillah DL, Amir O

Curr Pharm Teach Learn, 2020 03;12(3):265-273.
PMID: 32273061 DOI: 10.1016/j.cptl.2019.12.002

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Training pharmacy students in infectious diseases (ID) is important to enable them to participate in antibiotic stewardship programs. This study evaluated knowledge and self-confidence regarding antibiotic resistance, appropriate antibiotic therapy, and antibiotic stewardship among final year pharmacy undergraduate students.
METHODS: A cross-sectional electronic survey was conducted at universities in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan. A 59-item survey was administered between October 2017 and December 2017.
FINDINGS: The survey was completed by 211 students (response rate 77.8%). The mean knowledge score for antibiotic resistance, appropriate antibiotic therapy, and antibiotic stewardship was 5.6 ± 1.5, 4.7 ± 1.8 (maximum scores 10.0) and 3.1 ± 1.4 (maximum score 5.0), respectively. Significant variations were noted among the schools. There was poor awareness about the consequences of antibiotic resistance and cases with no need for an antibiotic. The knowledge of antibiotic resistance was higher among male respondents (6.1 vs. 5.4) and those who had attended antibiotic resistance (5.7 vs. 5.2) and antibiotic therapy (5.8 vs. 4.9) courses (p
Fulltext Floating ZnO QDs-Modified TiO2/LLDPE Hybrid Polymer Film for the Effective Photodegradation of Tetracycline under Fluorescent Light Irradiation: Synthesis and Characterisation

Iqbal A, Saidu U, Adam F, Sreekantan S, Yahaya N, Ahmad MN, et al.

Molecules, 2021 Apr 25;26(9).
PMID: 33923041 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26092509

In this work, mesoporous TiO2-modified ZnO quantum dots (QDs) were immobilised on a linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) polymer using a solution casting method for the photodegradation of tetracycline (TC) antibiotics under fluorescent light irradiation. Various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques were used to investigate the physicochemical properties of the floating hybrid polymer film catalyst (8%-ZT@LLDPE). The highest removal (89.5%) of TC (40 mg/L) was achieved within 90 min at pH 9 due to enhanced water uptake by the LDDPE film and the surface roughness of the hybrid film. The formation of heterojunctions increased the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The QDs size-dependent quantum confinement effect leads to the displacement of the conduction band potential of ZnO QDs to more negative energy values than TiO2. The displacement generates more reactive species with higher oxidation ability. The highly stable film photocatalyst can be separated easily and can be repeatedly used up to 8 cycles without significant loss in the photocatalytic ability. The scavenging test indicates that the main species responsible for the photodegradation was O2●-. The proposed photodegradation mechanism of TC was demonstrated in further detail based on the intermediates detected by LC-time-of-flight/mass spectrometry (LC/TOF-MS).

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