Correction: Ultrafast conversion of carcinogenic 4-nitrophenol into 4-aminophenol in the dark catalyzed by surface interaction on BiPO4/g-C3N4 nanostructures in the presence of NaBH4.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D1RA02852A.].

Ultrafast conversion of carcinogenic 4-nitrophenol into 4-aminophenol in the dark catalyzed by surface interaction on BiPO4/g-C3N4 nanostructures in the presence of NaBH4.

The heterogeneous catalytic conversion of pollutants into useful industrial compounds is a two-goals at once process, which is highly recommended from the environmental, economic, and industrial points of view. In this regard, design materials with high conversion ability for a specific application is required to achieve such a goal. Herein, the synthesis conditions for the fabrication of BiPO4 nanorod bundles supported on g-C3N4 nanosheets as heterojunction composites was achieved using a facile ex situ chemical deposition for the reductive conversion of carcinogenic 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) into 4-aminophenol (4-AP). To better understand the mechanistic reduction pathways, BiPO4/g-C3N4 composites with varying ratios where obtained. The morphology and structure of BiPO4/g-C3N4 composites were checked using several methods: XRD, FE-SEM, HRTEM, XPS, and FT-IR, and it was found that hexagonal phase BiPO4 nanorod bundles were randomly distributed on the g-C3N4 nanosheets. Overall, the reduction ability of BiPO4/g-C3N4 composites was far better than bare BiPO4 and g-C3N4. A total reductive conversion of 4-NP at a concentration of 10 mg L-1 into 4-AP was found with 50% BiPO4/g-C3N4 composite within only one minute of reaction. Moreover, the presence of reducing agent (NaBH4) enhanced the kinetic rate constant up to 2.914 min-1 using 50% BiPO4/g-C3N4, which was much faster than bare BiPO4 (0.052 min-1) or g-C3N4 (0.004 min-1). The effects of some operating parameters including the initial concentration of 4-NP and catalyst dosage were also evaluated during the experiments. BiPO4/g-C3N4 showed great stability and recyclability, wherein, the catalytic reduction efficiency remains the same after five runs. A plausible 4-NP reduction mechanism was discussed. The high catalytic activity with the good stability of BiPO4/g-C3N4 make it a potential candidate for the reduction of nitroaromatic compounds in real wastewaters.

One-pot fabrication of BiPO4/Bi2S3 hybrid structures for visible-light driven reduction of hazardous Cr(VI).

For the first time, a novel BiPO4/Bi2S3 heterostructures with different morphologies have been fabricated through a facile and rapid one pot precipitation route followed by anion-exchange strategy for the photoreduction of toxic Cr(VI) to harmless Cr (III). The hybrid structures systematically investigated using XRD, FE-SEM, EDS, TEM, HRTEM, XPS, FT-IR, UV-vis DRS, and PL. Changing the solvent type has a significant role for controllable morphologies of BiPO4/Bi2S3 hybrid as well as the catalytic activity. The BiPO4/Bi2S3 hybrid synthesized in diethylene glycol (DEG) performed the highest reduction efficiency of Cr(VI) within 20 min, compared with pure hexagonal phase of BiPO4 under visible light. The rate constant for BiPO4/Bi2S3 synthesized in DEG found to be 20.3 times larger than that for pure BiPO4. In addition, the presence of tartaric acid as hole scavenger could enhance the Cr(VI) reduction efficiency to 97.9%. No significant decrease in the catalytic efficiency after recycling up to four cycles. This promising study could present a significant approach towards Cr(VI) photoreduction from water through the novel BiPO4/Bi2S3 photocatalyst.

Facile fabrication of a novel BiPO4 phase junction with enhanced photocatalytic performance towards aniline blue degradation.

A novel BiPO4 photocatalyst has been fabricated via a facile precipitation route using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as a solvent. The physical and chemical properties of the BiPO4 photocatalyst material were analyzed using XRD, Rietveld refinements XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, HR-TEM, EDS, XPS, FT-IR, Raman spectra, UV-Vis (DRS), and PL. The results confirm that hexagonal phase BiPO4 (HBIP) nanorods were successfully synthesized. FE-SEM images reveal that the addition of surfactant "CTAB" during preparation can control the surface morphology of BiPO4. The Rietveld refinement technique revealed the formation of a monazite monoclinic (nMBIP) and monoclinic (mMBIP) phase junction resulting from the calcination of HBIP at 500 °C. The photocatalytic behavior of the as-synthesized hexagonal and monoclinic BiPO4 nanostructures towards aniline blue (AB) degradation under UV light was systematically investigated. Among all catalysts, the phase junction (nMBIP-mMBIP) structure demonstrated the highest photocatalytic activity. The degradation rate of AB over the (nMBIP-mMBIP) phase junction structure was 3.4 times higher than that by HBIP. These results suggested that the surface-phase junction provides a synergistic effect for the electron-hole transfer process.

Tuning the redox potential of vitamin K3 derivatives by oxidative functionalization using a Ag(i)/GO catalyst.

We propose herein initial results to develop optimum redox mediators by the combination of computational simulation and catalytic functionalization of the core structure of vitamin K3. We aim to correlate the calculated energy value of the LUMO of different vitamin K3 derivatives with their actual redox potential. For this, we optimized the catalytic alkylation of 1,4-naphthoquinones with a designed Ag(i)/GO catalyst and synthesized a series of molecules.

The use of onestep nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) and tumour related factors in the treatment of axillary breast cancer: A predictive model.

AIMS: We aimed to determine the effectiveness of CK19 mRNA copy number and tumour related factors in predicting non-sentinel axillary nodal involvement, in order to facilitate the formulation of local treatment guidelines for axillary clearance (ANC) following intra-operative analysis of the sentinel node biopsy (SNB) using one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA). METHODS: Patients due to have (SNB) at our institution for breast cancer as well as patients with high grade ductal carcinoma in situ with pre-operative negative assessment of the axilla were included. Alternate slices of each node were sent for assessment by either OSNA or histopathology. Immediate ANC was performed if OSNA was positive. The CK19 mRNA nodal copy number, the total tumour load (TTL) measured by summation of mRNA copy numbers of all positive nodes, the nodal status at ANC and tumour characteristics for each patient were recorded. A model of risk probability was constructed using TTL and tumour related factors. RESULTS: 664 nodes were analysed from 425 patients who had SNB performed between 2011 and 2014. ANC was performed on 105 of these patients. The concordance between OSNA and histology was 91.4% and negative predictive value (NPV) was 97%. TTL (p = 0.003) and LVI (p = 0.04) were identified as risk factors for non-sentinel nodal involvement. The risk probability model identified all patients with pN2 disease for ANC. CONCLUSION: In the future a decision to perform ANC will be based on a risk stratification model based on TTL and tumour related factors.

Novel coronavirus infections in Jordan, April 2012: epidemiological findings from a retrospective investigation

In April 2012, an outbreak of acute respiratory illness occurred in a public hospital in Zarqa city, in Jordan; 8 health care workers were among the 11 people affected, 1 of who later died. The cause of the outbreak was unknown at the time and an epidemiological investigation including laboratory testing carried out immediately after the outbreak was inconclusive. Following the discovery of novel coronavirus infection [nCoV] in the Arabian peninsula in September 2012, stored respiratory and serum samples of patients from this outbreak were retested and the diagnosis of nCoV was confirmed in 2 deceased patients. This paper describes the epidemiological findings of retrospective investigation carried out in November 2012 and highlights the likelihood of nosocomial transmission of nCoV infection in a health-care setting. A total of 2 laboratory-confirmed and 11 probable cases were identified from this outbreak of whom 10 were HCWs and 2 were family members of cases

Contributions of multipolar polarizabilities to the isotropic and anisotropic light scattering induced by molecular interactions in gaseous methane.

The binary isotropic and anisotropic collision-induced light scattering spectra of gaseous methane at room temperature are analyzed in terms of a recent ab initio intermolecular potential and interaction-induced pair polarizability trace and anisotropy models, using quantum line-shapes computations. The translational spectra at relatively low frequencies are determined largely by the effects of bound and free transitions. At intermediate frequencies the spectra are sensitive to both the attractive part of the potential and the short-range part of the polarizability trace and anisotropy. The high frequency wings are discussed in terms of the collision-induced rotational Raman effect and estimates for the dipole-quadrupole polarizability A and the dipole-octopole polarizability E are obtained and checked with recent ab initio theoretical values.

Cell-cycle-phase progression analysis identifies unique phenotypes of major prognostic and predictive significance in breast cancer.

Multiparameter analysis of core regulatory proteins involved in G1-S and G2-M cell-cycle transitions provides a powerful biomarker readout for assessment of the cell-cycle state. We have applied this algorithm to breast cancer to investigate how the cell cycle impacts on disease progression. Protein expression profiles of key constituents of the DNA replication licensing pathway (Mcm2, geminin) and mitotic machinery (Plk1, Aurora A and the Aurora substrate histone H3S10ph) were generated for a cohort of 182 patients and linked to clinicopathological parameters. Arrested differentiation and genomic instability were associated with an increased engagement of cells into the cell division cycle (P<0.0001). Three unique cell-cycle phenotypes were identified: (1) well-differentiated tumours composed predominantly of Mcm2-negative cells, indicative of an out-of-cycle state (18% of cases); (2) high Mcm2-expressing tumours but with low geminin, Aurora A, Plk1 and H3S10ph levels (S-G2-M progression markers), indicative of a G1-delayed/arrested state (24% cases); and (3) high Mcm2-expressing tumours and also expressing high levels of the S-G2-M progression markers, indicative of accelerated cell-cycle progression (58% of cases). The active cell-cycle progression phenotype had a higher risk of relapse when compared with out-of-cycle and G1-delayed/arrested phenotypes (HR=3.90 (1.81-8.40, P<0.001)), and was associated with Her-2 and triple negative subtypes (P<0.001). It is of note that high-grade tumours with the G1-delayed/arrested phenotype showed an identical low risk of relapse compared with well-differentiated out-of-cycle tumours (HR=1.00 (0.22-4.46), P=0.99). Our biomarker algorithm provides novel insights into the cell-cycle state of dynamic tumour cell populations in vivo. This information is of major prognostic significance and may impact on individualised therapeutic decisions. Patients with an accelerated phenotype are more likely to derive benefit from S- and M-phase-directed chemotherapeutic agents.

Phase transitions of methane using molecular dynamics simulations.

Using a short ranged Lennard-Jones interaction and a long ranged electrostatic potential, CH4 under high pressure was modeled. Molecular dynamics simulations on small clusters (108 and 256 molecules) were used to explore the phase diagram. Regarding phase transitions at different temperatures, our numerical findings are consistent with experimental results to a great degree. In addition, the hysteresis effect is displayed in our results.

Importance of Helicobacter pylori eradcation for maintenance of remission of drug associated peptic ulcer disease.

BACKGROUND: The role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication in non-steroidal anti inflammatory drug (NSAID) users with peptic ulcer disease is controversial especially in countries with a high prevalence of the infection. Furthermore the value of low dose omeprazole for maintenance of remission is not yet known. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 138 symptomatic out-patients receiving continuous COX 1 NSAID therapy, were treated with omeprazole 40 mg/day upon endoscopic confirmation of gastro-duodenal ulceration or erosions while those infected with H. pylori received in addition clarithromycin 500 mg and amoxycillin 1000 mg twice daily during the first week of treatment. After endoscopic confirmation of healing at the end of week 5, the patients were randomized to receive omeprazole 10 mg (n=50) or 20 mg once daily (n=66) and endoscopy repeated after 20 weeks. RESULTS: The overall healing rate (per protocol) at five weeks (116/128) was 90.6% while in 85.5% (65/76) eradication was successful. The healing rate for the H. pylori eradicated patients (58/65) was 89.2%. For those who failed eradication (8/11) it was 72.7% (NS), while for patients not infected with H. pylori at entry to the study (50/52) it was 96.2% (NS). An intention to treat analysis showed that after 20 weeks of omeprazole prophylaxis with the 10mg dose 86% (43/50) had maintained healing while for the 20mg dose a similar figure was observed (87.9; 58/66). Only three patients in the two groups (pp) had persistent H. pylori infection, all of whom relapsed. No patients discontinued treatment because of adverse effects of the drugs. CONCLUSION: H. pylori eradication was not associated with impaired ulcer healing in a Middle Eastern population with symptomatic NSAID induced gastro/duodenal lesions, when a high healing dose of omeprazole (40 mg) was used. After eradication, omeprazole 10 or 20 mg per day were highly and equally effective for maintenance of gastroduodenal mucosal integrity during continued NSAID use. H. pylori should be eradicated from symptomatic Middle Eastern NSAID users with peptic ulcer disease.

Study of erythrocyte shape changes in schistosomiasis.

The aim of this work was to study the red cell morphology in different stages of schistosomiasis. Patients were divided into three groups according to the stage of the disease. For each patient, complete clinical examination, liver function tests, renal function tests, complete blood picture, scanning electron microscopy for erythrocytes (SEM) and abdominal ultrasonography were done. Abnormal morphologic changes of a total discoid flat cells of 70.14%, margin changes of 12.34% and 3.55% of cup forms were found. To our knowledge, these marked changes were not reported in any other disease. No statistical differences were found between red cell shape changes and stage of liver disease. There was a positive correlation between portal vein diameter and percentage of flat discoid forms and a negative correlation between surface changes and clinical stage of liver disease. These changes are known to be accompanied by reduction of red cell deformability and impaired capillary flow.

Epstein-Barr virus in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

We compared 50 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (cases) and 45 matched healthy controls. Biopsy specimens were taken from tumours and normal tissue of the cases and controls respectively and serial paraffin embedded sections were processed to detect Epstein-Barr (EB) viral antigen. We found EB viral proteins in 38% of cases and none in controls, which suggests a positive correlation. Serum samples were also tested for the presence of EB virus IgG by ELISA for comparison with immunohistochemical findings. Patients with positive immunohistochemical staining results had significantly higher mean antibody titres compared with those with negative results. ELISA may be useful in determining the etiology of head and neck cancers, but the results are not unequivocally reliable.

Epstein-Barr virus in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

We compared 50 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas [cases] and 45 matched healthy controls. Biopsy specimens were taken from tumours and normal tissue of the cases and controls respectively and serial paraffin embedded sections were processed to detect Epstein-Barr [EB] viral antigen. We found EB viral proteins in 38% of cases and none in controls, which suggests a positive correlation. Serum samples were also tested for the presence of EB virus IgG by ELISA for comparison with immunohistochemical findings. Patients with positive immunohistochemical staining results had significantly higher mean antibody titres compared with those with negative results. ELISA may be useful in determining the etiology of head and neck cancers, but the results are not unequivocally reliable

Prevalence of viral, bacterial and parasitic enteropathogens among young children with acute diarrhoea in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The prevalence of viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens among children of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was investigated. During December 1995-October 1996, 576 faecal samples were collected from children (0-5 year(s) old) suffering from acute diarrhoea and attending hospitals and outpatient clinics in Jeddah. One or more enteropathogen(s) were identified in 45.6% of the stool specimens. Mixed infections were detected in 12.2% of the diarrhoeal cases. Rotavirus was detected in 34.6% of the specimens of the hospitalized patients and in 5.9% of the specimens of the outpatients. Fifty-one percent of the rotavirus-positive specimens were long electropherotype, 26% were short electropherotype, and 23% could not be electropherotyped specifically. Among those of the long electropherotype, there were six patterns; and of the short electropherotypes, there were four patterns. Serotyping of these specimens revealed a distribution of 39.6%, 4.2%, 6.3%, and 15.6% for rotavirus serotype 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Mixed serotypes were found in 3.1%, and 31.3% of the specimens were untypeable. Other aetiologic agents recognized included Escherichia coli (13%), of which 3.8% were enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and 1.9% enterohaemorrhagic E. coli. Among the E. coli (EPEC) serotypes, O111:K58:B4, O55:K59:B11, and 0127:K63:B8 were found in 31.8%, 18.2%, and 13.6% of the cases respectively. Serotype 026:K60:B6, 0124:K72:B17, and 0112:K66:B11 each was found in 9.1% of the EPEC cases. 0128:K67:B12 and 0125:K70:B13 each was found in one case only. Other detected pathogens were: Klebsiella pneumoniae (4%), Giardia lamblia (3.1%), Salmonella sp. (3%), Shigella flexneri (2.6%), Entamoeba histolytica (2.2%), Trichuris trichiura, Hymenolepis nana, and Ascaris lumbricoides (0.7% each), and Candida albicans (0.5%). Based on the results of this study, it is concluded that the high prevalence of the various enteropathogens among young children is a significant public health problem.

Cyclooxygenase-2: a possible target in schistosoma-associated bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse and compare the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes in schistosoma-associated bladder cancer, and to determine any association with tumour grade or stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty paired samples of tumour and adjacent nonmalignant urothelium were identified. There were 25 squamous and 28 transitional cell carcinomas, and seven adenocarcinomas. Serial sections were obtained and a standard three-layer immunohistochemistry protocol, using COX-1- and COX-2-specific mouse monoclonal antibodies, applied. RESULTS: COX-1 was expressed mostly in nonvascular smooth muscle with weak reactivity in malignant and nonmalignant urothelium. Nonmalignant urothelium expressed COX-2 weakly, notably in areas of dysplasia and squamous metaplasia whereas there was a significant increase in COX-2 (P < 0.001) with moderate to strong granular cytoplasmic expression in all three malignant histological types. The COX-2 reactivity was higher in transitional and adenocarcinomas than in squamous cell carcinoma (P < 0.001). Areas of carcinoma in situ showed COX-2 reactivity comparable with that in invasive areas and more intense than that detected in dysplastic or metaplastic urothelium (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant positive correlation between COX-2 expression and tumour grade (P = 0.0052). CONCLUSION: COX-2 is over-expressed in schistosoma-associated bladder cancer, consistent with a potential role for COX-2 inhibitors in the prevention and management of this disease.

Bacteria and viruses that cause respiratory tract infections during the pilgrimage (Haj) season in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and type of RTI-causing bacteria and viruses during a period of epidemic infections. METHOD: A total of 395 sputum specimens and 761 throat swabs were collected during the 1991 and 1992 pilgrimage seasons (Haj to Makkah Al-Mukarama, Saudi Arabia) from patients referred to one hospital and three dispensaries with symptoms of respiratory tract infections. All 761 throat swabs of both Haj seasons were also screened for the presence of viral pathogens with monoclonal antibodies specific for 7 viruses known to cause respiratory infections. RESULTS: Bacterial pathogens were detected in 118 (29.9%) specimens. During the 1991 Haj season Haemophilus influenzae was the most frequent bacterial pathogen detected (10%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (5.2%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (4.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (3.8%) and Streptococcus pyogenes (2.4%). In the 1992 Haj season Klebsiella pneumoniae was predominant (15.1%), followed by Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae (12.3%). Screening of all sputum specimens for acid-fast bacteria showed that the overall incidence rate of tuberculosis was 1%. Cultures from the 761 throat swabs were largely negative for bacteria except for Streptococcus pyogenes isolated from 7 patients. Viruses were detected in 148 (19.5%) specimens with influenza A and adenovirus being the most common viruses. CONCLUSION: The pattern of virus prevalence in the 1991 and 1992 pilgrimage seasons was identical: influenza A and adenovirus predominated. Thus these two viruses should be targeted in future prophylactic measures.

The distal splenorenal shunt in patients with variceal bleeding due to schistosomal hepatic fibrosis.

Twenty consecutive patients classified as Child's A and B with variceal bleeding from schistosomal hepatic fibrosis were electively managed by the distal splenorenal shunt. Patients were assessed clinically by angiography and were observed for up to 16 months. The over-all survival rate was 85 per cent with an operative mortality rate of 10 per cent. All of the patients had patent shunts as confirmed angiographically and all maintained hepatic perfusion; there was also a 40 per cent immediate reduction in the size of the spleen postoperatively as measured on the angiograms. None of the patients had encephalopathy and only two patients had postoperative ascites.