Relevance of patch testing in patients of chronic spontaneous urticaria and its correlation with serum IgE level

Objectives: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is defined as short lived (< 24h) wheals occurring spontaneously without any triggering factors, daily or almost daily for at least 6 weeks. Though CSU is mainly a Type 1 hypersensitivity reaction, earlier studies suggested contact allergy may have some role to play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of CSU. The objective of the study is to find out the relevance of patch test in the etiopathogenesis of and its correlation with serum IgE level. Materials and Methods: Thirty-one patients of CSU were thoroughly evaluated for clinical and laboratory parameters. We conducted patch testing with Indian Standard Series (ISS) in all of them and tried to find out the relevance of every positive reaction. Relevant positive cases were asked to avoid exposure for 2 months and were maintained only in breakthrough antihistamines. Furthermore, correlation of positive patch test reaction with high IgE and eosinophil count were studied. Results: Seventeen (55%) cases came positive for patch test. Potassium dichromate, lanolin, benzocaine, and fragrance mix were the most common offenders. Patients with very high IgE count had patch test positivity with multiple allergens. Seven of the fifteen patients who had relevant positive patch results could be followed up to remission; three were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: Patch test with ISS may give important clue to in a subset of patients of CSU and thus may be considered an important part of routine investigations of CSU.

Selenium-Enriched Yeast Relieves Hexavalent Chromium Toxicity by Inhibiting NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Broiler Spleens

This study was conducted to investigate the molecular mechanisms of selenium (Se) antagonism of hexavalent chromium (Cr6+)-induced toxicity. Potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and selenium-enriched yeast (SeY) were used to construct the single Cr6+ and combined Se/Cr6+ exposure broiler models, and then the broilers were randomly divided into four groups (C group, Se group, Se/Cr6+ group, and Cr6+ group). After a 42-day experiment, the spleen tissues of broilers were excised and weighted. The antagonistic mechanisms of Se and Cr6+ were evaluated using histopathological assessment, serum biochemical tests, oxidative stress kits, ELISA, qPCR, and Western blotting. On the whole, there were no significant changes between the C and Se groups. The spleen organ index in the Cr6+ group was significantly decreased, but SeY increased spleen organ index to a certain extent. The levels of SOD and GSH were reduced, and the MDA content was elevated by Cr6+; however, these changes were mitigated by Se/Cr6+ exposure. Importantly, Cr6+ exposure induced a series of histopathological injuries in broiler spleen tissues, while these symptoms were significantly relieved in the Se/Cr6+group. Furthermore, Cr6+ significantly decreased the levels of T-globulin, IgA, IgM, and IgG in serum. Contrarily, dramatically more T-globulin IgA, IgM, and IgG were found in the Se/Cr6+group than in the Cr6+ group. Revealed by the results of qPCR and WB, the expressions of NF-κB, IκBα, and p-IκBα were upregulated in Cr6+ groups, while they were downregulated in Se/Cr6+ group compared to that in Cr6+ group. Besides IFN-γ and IL-2, the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly increased by Cr6+ exposure, but the SeY supplement relived the expression levels mediated by Cr6+ exposure. In conclusion, our findings suggest SeY has biological activity that can protect broiler spleens from immunosuppression and inflammation induced by Cr6+, and we speculate that the NF-κB signaling pathway is one of its mechanisms.

Multivariate analysis of images in spectrophotometric methods: Quantification of soil organic matter

Soil organic matter (SOM) is usually quantified by Walkley-Black titration method or using a spectrophotometric method. This study proposes an alternative method for quantification of SOM using digital image from scanner and mathematical algorithms to replace titration and spectrophotometry procedures. For this, after SOM oxidation by potassium dichromate, digital images were acquired. Posteriorly, extraction of RGB color histograms from images have occurred, followed by the use of multivariate calibration method: partial least squares (PLS). Six soil samples were analyzed. We used the Walkley-Black method as reference. SOM was estimated by images using the PLS tool. The new method, besides being a fast, low cost, and more operational alternative, presented statistically equal results in relation to the reference method, as assessed by the Student t-test and F-test at 95 % confidence.

Cost-Effective Foam-Based Colorimetric Sensor for Roadside Testing of Alcohol in Undiluted Saliva

A novel foam-based colorimetric alcohol sensor was developed for the detection of alcohol in saliva. Detection was based on the color change of a potassium dichromate-sulfuric acid solution absorbed by melamine foam. In the presence of alcohol, the orange colorimetric sensor changed color to brown, green and, ultimately, blue, depending on the concentration of alcohol in the sample. The response of the proposed sensor toward alcohol was linear from 0.10 to 2.5% v/v. The limit of detection was 0.03% v/v. Alcohol concentration could be determined using the naked eye in the range of 0.00 to 10% v/v. The developed alcohol sensor presented good operational accuracy (RSD = 0.30–1.90%, n = 8) and good stability for 21 days when stored at 25 °C and 75 days when stored at 4 °C. The results of alcohol detection with the developed sensor showed no significant difference from the results of spectrophotometric detection at a 95% confidence level (p > 0.05). The sensor was easy to use, small, inexpensive and portable, enabling drivers to accurately measure their own blood alcohol level and providing convenient speed in forensic applications.

Bioethanol production from pineapple peels waste by heat treatment and enzyme hydrolysis: An eco-friendly and economical method

Bioethanol is a renewable energy source with reduced CO2 emission and a better alternate for fossil fuels. The production of bioethanol using low cost agricultural wastes such as fruits waste always remains a better solution for the present environmental and energy problems. The present study focusses on the production of bioethanol from pineapple peel wastes by simultaneous scarification and fermentation process in a completely eco-friendly manner and economical manner. The fruit wastes are rich sources of sugars and can be utilized for the production of second generation fuel. Initially, cellulase producing potent bacterial isolate was isolated from soil sample collected from fruit market (Uzhavar Santhai), R.S. Puram, Coimbatore district, Tamilnadu, India. Further, the bacterial isolate was identified by 16S rDNA sequencing and the sequence was submitted in GenBank with the accession number MW227436. The phylogenetic tree was constructed and the bacterial isolate was identified as Bacillus cereus strain JK79. Pineapple peel waste was processed, heat pretreated and was utilized for enzymatic saccharification with crude cellulase enzyme to hydrolyze cellulose into simple sugars. The enzyme hydrolyzed content was allowed to undergo fermentation simultaneously (Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation) utilizing Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce bioethanol. The yield of bioethanol was determined by potassium dichromate method. About 10.07 g/l of bioethanol was obtained by fermenting the enzymatically hydrolyzed pineapple peel waste using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The production of bioethanol was confirmed by GC-MS.

Major-Ion Chemistry and Quality of Water in Rivers of Northern West Siberia

This study reports a synthesis of years-long hydrogeochemical monitoring in northern West Siberia, performed by the Russian Meteorological Service (Rosgidromet) and several academic institutions. Natural factors and intensive human economic activity lead to the disruption of the ecosystems of the northern territories of Western Siberia. The aim of this study is to estimate the background water chemistry parameters in the rivers of northern West Siberia in the beginning of the 21st century. The mean values hydrochemical and geochemical indicators were determined with STATISTICA software, which can be used as background values in assessing the actual and allowable anthropogenic impact on water bodies. We revealed four water chemistry provinces: western Ob Gulf and Ob estuary catchments (I); eastern Ob Gulf and Taz Gulf catchments, except for the Taz River and its tributaries (II); Taz River catchments (III); Yenisei River catchments, right bank (IV). The major-ion chemistry of the sampled river waters records a combination of geological, geomorphological, and hydrological conditions in the four provinces. The features typical of the northern West Siberian Plain are especially prominent in province II, which has the lowest average total of major ions (Σmi), the highest chemical oxygen demand (potassium dichromate COD), and the highest contents of Fe and phosphates. The Σmi value is the highest in province IV. The river waters from four provinces share similarity in quite high organic contents (both potassium dichromate and permanganate COD), as well as high NH4+ and Fe. The long-term average Σmi of the waters is predicted not to change much in the coming one or two decades, though it may decrease slightly in the winter season but increase in the fall and spring time.

Light scattering detector based on light-emitting diodes-Solar cells for a flow analysis of Warfarin in pure form and pharmaceutical formulations

Continuous turbidimetric analysis (CTA) for a distinctive analytical application by employing a homemade analyser (NAG Dual & Solo 0-180°) which contained two consecutive detection zones (measuring cells 1 & 2) is described. The analyser works based on light-emitting diodes as a light source and a set of solar cells as a light detector for turbidity measurements without needing further fibres or lenses. Formation of a turbid precipitated product with yellow colour due to the reaction between the warfarin and the precipitation reagent (Potassium dichromate) is what the developed method is based on. The CTA method was applied to determine the warfarin in pure form and pharmaceutical formulations in the concentration range from 2.0-16& 0.7-16 mmol/L with 0.58 and 0.55 mmol/L of the limit of detections. The correlation coefficients (r) of the developed method were 0.9977 and 0.9981 for cell 1 and 2 respectively. For validation of proposed method, the ICH guidelines were followed. The developed method was successfully applied for the determination of Warfarin in pure and pharmaceutical preparations. In addition, the method can be considered as a quality control method and conveniently used for routine analysis in laboratories since the method permits quantitatively determination of 60 samples/h.

Proposing a new strategy to minimize domestic wastewater under the influence of human factor in Antananarivo, Madagascar

Water pollution happens when organic or inorganic materials, even solid materials are poured into the water which degrades its physicochemical quality. The purpose of this study is, to identify, to describe and to highlight the major source of wastewater, and proposing a new strategy for minimization in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Antananarivo is one of the dirtiest cities on the African continent according to the classification made by Forbes magazine and Afrikmag. To know the current situation, an in-situ analysis of the physical parameters: colour, odour, turbidity and electrical conductivity using the turbidimeter and the conductometer are measurable parameters in the field. Major elements analyses, BOD5 using Oxytop method analysis, COD using Potassium dichromate, suspended solids using membrane filtration are measured in the laboratory. The turbidity of the discharges fluctuates from 127 NTU to 421 NTU). For electrical conductivity, it varies from 217 to 977μS.cm−1, BOD5 is of the order 3 to 88mg.L−1, while COD diverges from 279mg.L−1 to 730mg.L−1 and suspended matter oscillates from 400mg.L−1 to 60mg.L−1. Some parameters and concentrations exceeded the discharge standard Malagasy and the international Standard. The best solution for the management of water quality in the face of domestic pollution is the treatment of wastewater before discharge into receiving environments and the sensibilization of the population to take their responsibility.