Improving the Mould and Blue-Stain-Resistance of Bamboo through Acidic Hydrolysis

Bamboo is much more easily attacked by fungus compared with wood, resulting in shorter service life and higher loss in storage and transportation. It has been long accepted that the high content of starch and sugars in bamboo is mainly responsible for its low mould resistance. In this paper, acetic acid, propionic acid, oxalic acid, citric acid, and hydrochloric acid were adopted to hydrothermally hydrolyze the starch in bamboo, with the aims to investigate their respective effect on the mould and blue-stain resistance of bamboo, and the optimized citric acid in different concentrations were studied. The starch content, glucose yields, weight loss, and colour changes of solid bamboo caused by the different acidic hydrolysis were also compared. The results indicated that weak acidic hydrolysis treatment was capable of improving mould-resistant of bamboo. The mould resistance increased with the increased concentration of citric acid. Bamboo treated with citric acid in the concentration of 10% could reduce the infected area ranging to 10–17%, the growth rating of which could reach 1 resistance. The content of soluble sugar and starch remained in bamboo decreased significantly from 43 mg/g to 31 mg/g and 46 mg/g to 23 mg/g, respectively, when the citric acid concentration varied from 4% to 10%. Citric acid treatments of 10% also caused a greatest surface colour change and weight loss. The results in this study demonstrated citric acid treatment can effectively reduce the starch grain and soluble sugars content and improve mould resistance of bamboo, which can be attributed to the reduction of starch grain and soluble carbohydrates (such as glucose, fructose, and sucrose, etc.) in bamboo.

Hemosiderin-Laden Macrophages in Bronchoalveolar Lavage: Predictive Role for Acute Exacerbation of Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias

Background. Hemosiderin-laden macrophages (HLMs) have been identified in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). This retrospective study examined the ability of HLMs in BALF to predict the acute exacerbation (AE) of chronic idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs). Methods. Two hundred and twenty-one patients with IIP diagnosed by bronchoscopy were enrolled in the study (IPF, n = 87; IIPs other than IPF, n = 134). Giemsa stain was used to detect HLMs in BALF specimens. Prussian blue stain was used to quantify HLMs in BALF, and a hemosiderin score (HS) was given to the specimens containing HLMs. Results. Twenty-four patients had a positive HS (range: 7‒132). The receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis identified the cutoff HS value for predicting the AE of IIPs to be 61.5. Seven cases had a higher HS (≥61.5) and 214 had a lower HS. AE occurred significantly earlier in the higher HS group (4/7 cases) than in the lower HS group (41/214 cases) during a median observation period of 1239 days (log-rank test, p = 0.026). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that a higher HS was a significant predictor of AE in addition to IPF, percent predicted forced vital capacity, and modified Medical Research Council score. The C-statistics for the prediction of AE did not significantly improve by all the above parameters with HS as compared without HS. Conclusions. A higher HS was a significant predictor of AE in IIPs but did not significantly improve the predictive ability of other parameters.

Biogenic silver nano sol–loaded spunlace fabric for wound dressing; mechanical and functional characterization

The biogenic silver nano sol (AgNS) is most suitable for biomedical applications due to its inherent properties. In the present investigation polyester (P), viscose (V) and polyester/viscose blend (50:50) (PV) spunlaced fabrics were coated with AgNS prepared using organic honey, manuka honey. The dip-coated fabric samples were found suitable for wound dressing purposes when evaluated layered wise for their mechanical properties. The layer-wise dispersion behavior of the V sample was found better than the P/V and P samples. In the case of the air permeability sample, P/V performed better compared to V and P samples. Water sorption ability of P/V and V are found suitable for wound dressing. The ultraviolet protection factor value of treated fabric found excellent when coated with only honey. Further, the AgNS loaded fabric exhibited good resistance against microbial organisms as revealed by the bromophenol blue stain.

Isolation and identification of some pathogenic species of Fungi from Shatt-al-Arab River

This study aimed to isolation and identification of pathogenic fungi from Shatt – al-Arab River in Basra city, Fourteen water samples were collected from different area from Shatt-al-Arab River (AL Ashar, AL Tnoma, AL Makal, AL Qurna, AL Karma, AL Jabiluh, AL-Hartha), from October to December in 2017, with 250 ml volume, this samples centrifuged at 5000 rpm for 10 min at room temperature, the floating was removed and then take the precipitate and pour directly into the center of the media of SDA and PDA and then incubation in a temperature range25-27c for 4 days after that the growth on the media made pure culture and each fungi species diagnosed based on the cultural and microbiological phenotypes, smear prepared with lacto phenol cotton blue stain and the results show 57.1% of growth was Aspergillus niger, 85.7% Aspergillus flavus and 42.8% was Aspergillus candidus and 14.2% was Rhizopus, while the results show 42.8% of growth was Penicillium..

EFFICACY OF KOH AND LACTO PHENOL BLUE STAIN FOR EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF RHINOORBITOCEREBRAL MUCORMYCOSIS

BACKGROUND: Rhino orbito cerebral mucormycosis has emerged as a complication after covid infection and in immunocompromised nd patients after 2 wave of covid infection in April to July 2021. This complication needs to be diagnose as early as possible to halt its spread to important nasal and orbital strucures. AIMS: This study aim to detect the sensitivity of different primary microbiological stain like KOH and lacto phenol blue. OBJECTIVE: Objective of study is to compare the efcacy of different microbiological stain to detect mucormycosis METHODOLOGY: Retrospective observational study CONCLUSION:Lactophenol blue should be the rst laboratory investigations to detect mucormycosis with higher efcacy than KOH stain

Fraxin prevents knee osteoarthritis through inhibiting chondrocyte apoptosis in an experimental rat osteoarthritis model

Background: Current treatments of osteoarthritis are unsatisfied, a new approach towards the treatment of osteoarthritis is urged considering the state at present. Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of fraxin on knee OA in a rat model and probe into the possible molecular mechanism. Methods: Primary Murine Chondrocytes were isolated and cell apoptosis analyses were performed. Rat OA models were established using meniscectomy method and allocated into three groups. Knee joint specimens were collected for qRT-PCR, western blotting and histological analysis. Statistical analyses were processed by using a SPSS. Results: The apoptosis rate of fraxin group is significantly reduced compared with the OA group or the control group. Fraxin remarkably down-regulated the expression of cleaved-Caspase-3 while significantly up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2, both on mRNA and protein levels. Toluidine blue stain results show relatively lighter articular cartilage damage compared with OA group. Conclusion: Fraxin prevents knee osteoarthritis by inhibiting chondrocyte apoptosis, which makes it a potential candidate as an anti-OA drug for clinical use.

Assessment of Nerve Repair Augmented with Adipose-Derived Mast Cells in an Animal Model

We aimed to analyze the involvement of adipose-sourced mast cells in nerve repair. Sixteen Wistar rats underwent complete transection of the sciatic nerves followed by either direct neurorrhaphy or neurorrhaphy and processed abdominal fat. Four animals were used as controls. Specimens were obtained at 4 and 10 weeks and analyzed using luxol fast blue stain, mast cell tryptase and CD34 (for angiogenesis) per microscopic field ×200. When assessed by luxol fast blue, normal nerves showed an average of 2–3 mast cells/field. At 4 weeks, there were 9.25 for the simple nerve sutures and 16 for the augmented repairs. At 10 weeks, there were 23 and 27.6. When assessed by mast cell tryptase, there were no positives in the controls. At 4 weeks, we found an average of 4 in the simple sutures and 2.5 in the augmented repairs. At 10 weeks, there were 4.5 and 0.2. In controls, there were 1–2 CD34+ blood vessels per field. At 4 weeks, simple repairs showed an average of 4 and, in those with adipose addition, 5.5. At 10 weeks, there were 7 and 12. Mechanically processed adipose tissue augmented nerve repair does not seem to increase mast cell expression but may support angiogenesis in an experimental model.

Evaluation of Cements Curing Modes Regarding Microleakage During Cementation of E-max Laminate Veneers

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the curing modes of two adhesive resin cements (Light cure mode of the Variolink Veneer, the self-cure mode and dual cure mode of the Multilink Automix) on the marginal leakage of lithium disilicate ceramic laminate veneers. Methods: A total number of forty eight extracted natural central incisors were prepared to receive ceramic laminate veneers, constructed using E-max ceramic divided into three groups cemented using three curing modes of two adhesive resin cements {light-cure mode of Variolink Veneer, self-cure mode of Multilink Automix and dual-cure mode of Multilink Automix adhesive resin cements} . Die penetration test was done using the methylene blue stain {qualitative assessment} for testing the die penetration along the tooth/ceramic interface. Results: Descriptive statistical analysis revealed that the self-curing mode recorded the significantly least degree of leakage compared to the light and dual cure modes. The self-cure mode recorded (0.1±0.3) which was significantly lower than light cure (1.2 ±0.9) and dual cure mode (1.2 ±0.4), there was no statistical significant difference between the later two curing modes. The self-cure mode of the resin cement is considered a more effective method for having the least marginal leakage at the tooth/ceramic interface. There was no difference between the light cure mode and the dual cure mode.