Removal of azo dyes from aqueous solutions using activated carbon as an adsorbent.

The potentiality of commercially available activated carbon has been investigated as an effective adsorbent to remove the dyes from aqueous solutions. The effects of pH of the solution, adsorbent dose, solute concentration and temperature on activated carbon for azo dyes such as acid orange 7 and direct red 31 have been evaluated. The percentage removal of the dyes has been found to be high at neutral pH. The dynamics of adsorption has been studied at different temperatures. The adsorption data follow Langmuir model as well as Freundlich model in the case of acid orange 7 whereas the data for direct red 31 fit into only Langmuir model.

Use of complement receptor 1 (CD35) assay in the diagnosis and prognosis of immune complex mediated glomerulopathies.

Complement Receptor 1 (CR1) is a polymorphic glycoprotein expressed on erythrocytes, leukocytes and glomerular podocytes and has a major role in immune complex processing. In addition, it regulates the complement cascade activation by preventing formation of classical and alternative pathway convertases and by acting as a cofactor for Factor I mediated cleavage of C3. In this study, we have examined the expression of erythrocyte CR1 (E-CR1) and glomerular CR1 (G-CR1) in different kinds of nephropathies using ELISA and immunofluorescence microscopy to understand their role in immune complex (IC) mediated renal diseases. E-CR1 was significantly reduced in all categories of lupus nephritis in comparison to normal subjects and non-IC renal diseases. However, other IC mediated diseases like IgA nephropathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis had normal E-CR1 levels. G-CR1 showed distinct differences between IC and non-IC mediated diseases. G-CR1 was virtually absent in lupus kidneys. In other IC mediated diseases, there was a correlation of G-CR1 expression to the IC and complement fragment deposition. G-CR1 serves as a useful diagnostic marker for IC mediated diseases while E-CR1 is useful as a prognostic marker to monitor the course of disease after the treatment has initiated.