The Right Hand Must Know What the Left Hand is Doing: A False-Positive Hotspot on the Sestamibi Scan.

Objective: Imaging studies in the setting of primary hyperparathyroidism are performed to rule out an ectopic parathyroid adenoma. Although rare, false-positive scans can cause confusion and possibly more extensive procedures. Method: A 68-year-old woman with parathyroid hormone-dependent hypercalcemia was found to have uptake in the left midclavicular area on the parathyroid scan with sestamibi. Retention of the isotope was considered a possibility, and the sestamibi scan was repeated after injecting the isotope in the right hand and this did not show uptake in the left midclavicular area. Results: Sestamibi is taken up by the mitochondrial-rich adenoma cells and can help identify an ectopic location of the adenoma. Sestamibi scans are commonly performed before neck exploration to rule out an ectopic adenoma and to localize the parathyroid adenoma. Thyroid adenoma and thyroid cancer can also cause retention of isotopes. Retention of the isotope in the vein can also give an illusion of an ectopic parathyroid adenoma. Injecting the isotope in the contralateral hand can overcome this retention issue. Conclusion: Uptake on parathyroid scan outside of normal embryologic decent of the parathyroid gland should raise the possibility of a false-positive uptake.

Peak insulin drip rate associated with decreased infections post-solid organ transplant.

Infection and rejection outcomes were retrospectively analyzed in patients following liver transplant and separately following heart transplant with patients being stratified by their severity of immediate postoperative insulin resistance as measured by the peak insulin drip rate that was required to reduce glucose levels. For each group, these peak insulin drip rates were divided into quartiles (Q). In liver transplant patients (n = 207), those in Q4 (highest infusion rate) had significantly fewer infections up to 6 months post-transplant (42.3% vs. 60.0%, p = .036) and borderline fewer rejection episodes (25.0% vs. 40.0%, p = .066) compared to Q1-Q3 patients. To confirm these unexpected results, a subsequent similar analysis in heart transplant (n = 188) patients again showed that Q4 patients had significantly fewer infections up to 6 months (19.1% vs. 53.9%, p < .0001) compared to Q1-Q3 patients. Logistic regression in a subset of 103 cardiac transplant patients showed that the maximum glucose during surgery, prior MI, and hypertension were associated with severe insulin resistance (SIR) status, while the presence of pre-existing diabetes and BMI were not. We hypothesize that patients are who are able to mount a more robust counter-regulatory response that causes the insulin resistance may be healthier and thus able to mount a better response to infections.

The Art of Building Living Tissues: Exploring the Frontiers of Biofabrication with 3D Bioprinting.

The scope of three-dimensional printing is expanding rapidly, with innovative approaches resulting in the evolution of state-of-the-art 3D bioprinting (3DbioP) techniques for solving issues in bioengineering and biopharmaceutical research. The methods and tools in 3DbioP emphasize the extrusion process, bioink formulation, and stability of the bioprinted scaffold. Thus, 3DbioP technology augments 3DP in the biological world by providing technical support to regenerative therapy, drug delivery, bioengineering of prosthetics, and drug kinetics research. Besides the above, drug delivery and dosage control have been achieved using 3D bioprinted microcarriers and capsules. Developing a stable, biocompatible, and versatile bioink is a primary requisite in biofabrication. The 3DbioP research is breaking the technical barriers at a breakneck speed. Numerous techniques and biomaterial advancements have helped to overcome current 3DbioP issues related to printability, stability, and bioink formulation. Therefore, this Review aims to provide an insight into the technical challenges of bioprinting, novel biomaterials for bioink formulation, and recently developed 3D bioprinting methods driving future applications in biofabrication research.

Hyper-Immunoglobulin E (IgE) Syndrome: A Diagnostic Dilemma.

Hyper-immunoglobulin E (IgE) syndrome (HIES) is an immunodeficiency syndrome characterized by atopic dermatitis, recurrent skin abscesses, and sinopulmonary infections with elevated serum IgE. In addition, patients also present with other skeletal and non-immune symptoms. We present a six-year-old boy with severe atopic dermatitis, multiple food allergies, mild asthma, and recurrent sinopulmonary infections, who presented to the ER with left ankle pain, fever, and inability to bear weight. Physical examination showed generalized eczematous lesions, significant left ankle ecchymosis, swelling, and tenderness. Investigations were pertinent for leukocytosis with neutrophilia and markedly elevated IgE levels with normal IgM, IgG, and IgA levels. HIES genetic panel was negative. MRI with contrast of the affected limb was consistent with osteomyelitis that responded to antimicrobial therapy. This case highlights a diagnostic challenge for allergists and clinicians when evaluating patients with severe atopic dermatitis, recurrent infections, and markedly elevated serum IgE without positive genetic results.

Comprehensive technological assessment for different treatment methods of leather tannery wastewater.

The leather-making process necessitates large amounts of water and consequently generates tons of liquid waste as leather tannery wastewater (TWW) is disposed of directly in the open environment. Open disposal of untreated TWW into the natural environment causes an accumulation of various polluting compounds, including heavy metals, dyes, suspended solids inorganic matter, biocides, oils, tannins, and other toxic chemicals. It thus poses potential hazards to the environment and human health. This study primarily focuses on providing in-depth insight into the characteristics, treatment strategies, and regulatory frameworks for managing TWW in leather processing industries. Different technologies of conventional physico-chemical (equalization, coagulation, and adsorption), advanced approaches (Fenton oxidation, ozonation, cavitation), thermo-catalytic and biological treatments available to treat TWW, and their integrative approaches were also highlighted. This review also sheds light on the most frequently applied technologies to reduce contaminant load from TWW though there are several limitations associated with it such as being ineffective for large quantities of TWW, waste generation during treatment, and high operational and maintenance (O&M) costs. It is concluded that the sustainable alternatives applied in the current TWW technologies can minimize O&M costs and recirculate the treated water in the environment. The exhaustive observations and recommendations presented in this article are helpful in the industry to manage TWW and recirculate the water in a sustainable manner.

The physio-chemical properties and applications of 2D nanomaterials in agricultural and environmental sustainability.

Global hunger and nutritional deficiency demand the advancement of existing and conventional approaches to food production. The application of nanoenabled strategies in agriculture has opened up new avenues for enhancing crop yield and productivity. Recently, two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials (NMs) have manifested new possibilities for increasing food production and nutrition. Graphene nanosheets, the 2D form of graphene has been exemplary in enhancing the loading capacity of agro-active ingredients, their target-specific delivery, bioavailability, and controlled release with slow degradation, resulting in the increased shelf-life/active time of the agro-active components. Also, the development of novel formulations/composites of MXenes and Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDs) can foster plant growth, metabolism, crop production, protection and improvement of soil quality. Additionally, the 2D NM-based biosensors can monitor the nutrient levels and other parameters affecting agronomical traits in plants. This review provides an insight into the details of 2D NM synthesis and functionalization methods. Notably, the review highlights the broad-range of 2D NM applications and their suitability in the development of nanotechnology-based agriformulations. The 2D NM-based derivatives have shown immense potential in enhancing the pedologic parameters, crop productivity, pest-protection and nutritional value. Thus, assisting in achieving food and environmental sustainability goals.

Anaerobic digestion of sugarcane bagasse for biogas production and digestate valorization.

Sugarcane bagasse is an abundantly available agricultural waste having high potential that is still underutilized and mostly burnt as fuel. There are various processes available for bagasse utilization in improved ways and one such process is anaerobic digestion (AD) of bagasse for biogas production. The complex structure of biomass is recalcitrant to degradation and is a major hindrance for the anaerobic digestion, so different pretreatment methods are applied to deconstruct the bagasse for microbial digestion. In this review, different processes developed for the pretreatment of bagasse and their effect on biogas production have been extensively covered. Moreover, combination of pretreatment methods, co-digestion of bagasse with other waste (nitrogen rich or easily digestible) for enhanced biogas production and biomethane generation along with other value-added products has also been reviewed. The digestate contains a significant amount of organics with partial recovery of energy and products and is generated in huge amount that further creates disposal problem. Therefore, integration of digestate valorization with AD through gasification, pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization and use of microalgae for maximum recovery of energy and value-added products have also been evaluated. Thus, this review highlights major emerging area of research for improvement in bagasse based processes for enhanced biogas production along with digestate valorization to make the overall process economical and sustainable.

Hypoglycemia symptoms are reduced in hospitalized patients with diabetes.

AIMS: Hospitalized patients with diabetes are have an impaired ability to detect hypoglycemia events. The purpose of this study was to compare hypoglycemia symptom scores (HSS) in hospitalized patients with diabetes after a documented blood glucose (BG) <70mg/dl with recalled HSS with outpatient hypoglycemia events. METHODS: Non-critically ill hospitalized patients with diabetes grouped as symptomatic (n=23) or asymptomatic (n=32) at time of index hypoglycemia completed a standardized HSS-Questionnaires (HSS-Q) related to the inpatient event and to recall of symptoms with outpatient hypoglycemia. RESULTS: After controlling for BG at time of index hypoglycemia (49.8±11.4 vs. 57.4±6.8mg/dl, p=0.02), symptomatic patients reported higher HSS than asymptomatic patients with the inpatient event (11.6±7.3 vs. 1.5±3.4, p<0.001) and in the outpatient setting (13.9±8.6 vs. 10.1±10.6, p<0.01). Recurrent hypoglycemia was more frequent in asymptomatic patients (13% vs. 44%, p=0.015) during the hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to symptomatic patients, asymptomatic patients had lower inpatient and outpatient HSS and more frequent recurrent hypoglycemia events. These results suggest modification of glycemic management strategies in high risk patients to reduce risk for hypoglycemia events.

Bio-synthesized Cu-ZnO hetro-nanostructure for catalytic degradation of organophosphate chlorpyrifos under solar illumination.

In present study, a simple, effective and rapid green method using leaf extract of Melia azedarach was explored for the synthesis of Cu-ZnO nano heterojunction particles. The leaf extract of Melia azedarach acts as a reducing agent and prevents the agglomeration of nanoparticles. Different standard analytical techniques were used to study the morphology and size of synthesized nanocomposite. The efficiency of the synthesized material was tested as a photocatalyst for the degradation of simulated wastewater having chlorpyriphos pesticide. The different factors have been investigated such as pH of the solution, catalyst dosage and conact time. Approximately, 81% of chlorpyrifos was degraded after 240 min of solar illumination. The generation of hydroxyl radicals at the catalysts surface owing to photo-irradiation contributed to the chlorpyrifos degradation. The maximum photo-degradation (91%) of pesticides was observed at 6.0 pH. The pathway for the degradation of chlorpyriphos has been checked by LC-MS and this hinting the absence of any harmfull side product. The COD removal and TOC was found to be 32.4% and 28.5%, respectively. The photodegradation of chlorpyriphos using Cu-ZnO nanocomposite was followed the pseudo-first-order kinetic with higher value of regressiuon coefficient (0.99).

The role of conductive nanoparticles in anaerobic digestion: Mechanism, current status and future perspectives.

In the current scenario, alternative energy sources are the need of the hour. Organic wastes having a larger fraction of biodegradable constituents present a sustainable bioenergy source. It has been reported that the calorific value of biogas generated by anaerobic digestion (AD) is 21-25 MJ/m3 with the treatment which makes it an excellent replacement of natural gas and fossil fuels and can reduce more than 80% greenhouse gas emission to the surroundings. However, there are some limitations associated with the AD process for instance ammonia build-up at the first stage reduces the rate of hydrolysis of biomass, whereas, in the last stage it interferes with methane formation. Owing to special physicochemical properties such as high activity, high reactive surface area, and high specificity, tailor-made conductive nanoparticles can improve the performance of the AD process. In the AD process, H2 is used as an electron carrier, referred as mediated interspecies electron transfer (MIET). Due to the diffusion limitation of these electron carriers, the MIET efficiency is relatively low that limits the methanogenesis. Direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET), which enables direct cell-to-cell electron transport between bacteria and methanogen, has been considered an alternative efficient approach to MIET that creates metabolically favorable conditions and results in faster conversion of organic acids and alcohols into methane. This paper discusses in detail the application of conductive nanoparticles to enhance the AD process efficiency. Interaction between microbes in anaerobic conditions for electron transfer with the help of CNPs is discussed. Application of a variety of conductive nanomaterials as an additive is discussed with their potential biogas production and treatment enhancement in the anaerobic digestion process.

An Overview of Morpho-Physiological, Biochemical, and Molecular Responses of Sorghum Towards Heavy Metal Stress.

Heavy metal (HM) contamination is a serious global environmental crisis. Over the past decade, industrial effluents, modern agricultural practices, and other anthropogenic activities have significantly depleted the soil environment. In plants, metal toxicity leads to compromised growth, development, productivity, and yield. Also, HMs negatively affect human health due to food chain contamination. Thus, it is imperative to reduce metal accumulation and toxicity. In nature, certain plant species exhibit an inherent capacity of amassing large amounts of HMs with remarkable tolerance. These plants with unique characteristics can be employed for the remediation of contaminated soil and water. Among different plant species, Sorghum bicolor has the potential of accumulating huge amounts of HMs, thus could be regarded as a hyperaccumulator. This means that it is a metal tolerant, high biomass producing energy crop, and thus can be utilized for phytoremediation. However, high concentrations of HMs hamper plant height, root hair density, shoot biomass, number of leaves, chlorophyll, carotenoid, and carbohydrate content. Thus, understanding the response of Sorghum towards different HMs holds considerable importance. Considering this, we have uncovered the basic information about the metal uptake, translocation, and accumulation in Sorghum. Plants respond to different HMs via sensing, signaling, and modulations in physico-chemical processes. Therefore, in this review, a glimpse of HM toxicity and the response of Sorghum at the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels has been provided. The review highlights the future research needs and emphasizes the extensive molecular dissection of Sorghum to explore its genetic adaptability towards different abiotic stresses that can be exploited to develop resilient crop varieties.

Towards sustainable agriculture with carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas mitigation using algal biochar.

With the increase in the world's population, demand for food and other products is continuously rising. This has put a lot of pressure on the agricultural sector. To fulfill these demands, the utilization of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has also increased. Consequently, to overcome the adverse effects of agrochemicals on our environment and health, there has been a shift towards organic fertilizers or other substitutes, which are ecofriendly and help to maintain a sustainable environment. Microalgae have a very high potential of carbon dioxide (CO2) capturing and thus, help in mitigating the greenhouse effect. It is the most productive biological system for generating biomass. The high growth rate and higher photosynthetic efficiency of the algal species compared to the terrestrial plants make them a wonderful alternative towards a sustainable environment. Moreover, they could be cultivated in photobioreactors or open ponds, which in turn reduce the demand for arable land. Biochar derived from algae is high in nutrients and exhibits the property of ion exchange. Therefore, it can be utilized for sustainable agriculture by partial substituting the chemical fertilizers that degrade the fertility of the soil in the long run. This review provides a detailed insight on the properties of algal biochar as a potential fertilizer for sustainable agriculture. Application of algal biochar in bio-refinery and its economic aspects, challenges faced and future perspective are also discusses in this study.

Remediation strategies for mitigation of phthalate pollution: Challenges and future perspectives.

Phthalates are a group of emerging xenobiotic compounds commonly used as plasticizers. In recent times, there has been an increasing concern over the risk of phthalate exposure leading to adverse effects to human health and the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to not only understand the current status of phthalate pollution, their sources, exposure routes and health impacts, but also identify remediation technologies for mitigating phthalate pollution. Present review article aims to inform its readers about the ever increasing data on health burdens posed by phthalates and simultaneously highlights the recent advancements in research to alleviate phthalate contamination from environment. The article enumerates the major phthalates in use today, traces their environmental fate, addresses their growing health hazard concerns and largely focus on to provide an in-depth understanding of the different physical, chemical and biological treatment methods currently being used or under research for alleviating the risk of phthalate pollution, their challenges and the future research perspectives.

Green technology for sustainable biohydrogen production (waste to energy): A review.

Perceiving and detecting a sustainable source of energy is very critical issue for current modern society. Hydrogen on combustion releases energy and water as a byproduct and has been considered as an environmental pollution free energy carrier. From the last decade, most of the researchers have recommended hydrogen as one of the cleanest fuels and its demand is rising ever since. Hydrogen having the highest energy density is more advantageous than any other fuel. Hydrogen obtained from the fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide as a byproduct and creates environment negative effect. Therefore, biohydrogen production from green algae and cyanobacteria is an attractive option that generates a benign renewable energy carrier. Microalgal feedstocks show a high potential for the generation of fuel such as biohydrogen, bioethanol and biodiesel. This article has reviewed the different methods of biohydrogen production while also trying to find out the most economical and ecofriendly method for its production. A thorough review process has been carried out to study the methods, enzymes involved, factors affecting the rate of hydrogen production, dual nature of algae, challenges and commercialization potential of algal biohydrogen.

Cell density, Lipidomic profile, and fatty acid characterization as selection criteria in bioprospecting of microalgae and cyanobacterium for biodiesel production.

Selection of indigenous and potential algal strain with high lipid content is paramount challenge in the avenues of microalgal biodiesel production. Particularly, hyper lipid producing algae with maximal triacyglycerols (TAGs) content and preferable fatty acid composition is of interest for sustainable biodiesel. Hence, the present study on comparative assessment of Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus sp. and Synechococcus sp. was done in terms of cell density, lipid, TAGs and fatty acid. Higher biomass yield was obtained in Chlorella vulgaris (0.54 gL-1) on 13th day while maximal lipid content of 36% was observed in Scenedesmus sp. followed by Chlorella vulgaris (33%). Lipidomic analysis revealed higher non-polar lipids inChlorella vulgaris (57%) and Scenedesmus sp. (54%), whereas in Synechococcus sp. 69% polar lipids were present. In fatty acid profile, C24:0 (22.11%) was predominant in Chlorella vulgaris, while C20:0 (31.72%) and C18:2 (22.26%) was prevalent in Scenedesmus sp. and Synechococcus sp. respectively.

Upgrading of microalgal consortia with CO2 from fermentation of wheat straw for the phycoremediation of domestic wastewater.

Algae have been considered as a best feedstock for combating CO2. In the present study, two mixed microalgal cultures i.e. MAC1 and MAC2 were evaluated in batch mode with an extraneous supply of CO2 from the fermentation of wheat straw. Both the mixed cultures displayed promising CO2 sequestration potentials of 287 and 263 mg L-1d-1, respectively. The removal efficiencies in terms of ammonium, phosphate, chemical oxygen demand, and nitrate were found to be 87%, 78%, 68% and 65%, respectively. Enriching the tolerance of the microalgal consortia to CO2 supply and wastewater as the nutrient source significantly enhanced the lipid production for both the microalgae consortia. Lipid contents of MAC1 and MAC2 were observed to be 12.29 & 11.37%, respectively while the biomass yield from both the consortia was 0.36 g L-1. Total chlorophyll and protein contents of MAC1 and MAC2 were 14.27 & 12.28 µgmL-1 and 0.13 & 0.15 mgmL-1, respectively. Both the consortia found to have significant potential for CO2 sequestration, wastewater remediation and biofuel production.

Lead Toxicity: Health Hazards, Influence on Food Chain, and Sustainable Remediation Approaches.

Lead (Pb) toxicity has been a subject of interest for environmental scientists due to its toxic effect on plants, animals, and humans. An increase in several Pb related industrial activities and use of Pb containing products such as agrochemicals, oil and paint, mining, etc. can lead to Pb contamination in the environment and thereby, can enter the food chain. Being one of the most toxic heavy metals, Pb ingestion via the food chain has proven to be a potential health hazard for plants and humans. The current review aims to summarize the research updates on Pb toxicity and its effects on plants, soil, and human health. Relevant literature from the past 20 years encompassing comprehensive details on Pb toxicity has been considered with key issues such as i) Pb bioavailability in soil, ii) Pb biomagnification, and iii) Pb- remediation, which has been addressed in detail through physical, chemical, and biological lenses. In the review, among different Pb-remediation approaches, we have highlighted certain advanced approaches such as microbial assisted phytoremediation which could possibly minimize the Pb load from the resources in a sustainable manner and would be a viable option to ensure a safe food production system.

Alkalinity and salinity favor bioelectricity generation potential of Clostridium, Tetrathiobacter and Desulfovibrio consortium in Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) treating sulfate-laden wastewater.

Clostridium, Tetrathiobacter and Desulfovibrio species are identified as suitable biocatalysts for treating organic-rich and sulfate-laden wastewater. Results from this study show that the power generation was much higher under alkaline conditions, i.e., pH of 8 when compared to neutral and acidic conditions. The effect of salinity was studied by varying the sodium chloride concentration at (1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, and 7.5 g/L NaCl) in anolyte. The highest power density of 1188 mW/m3 was produced at a sodium chloride concentration of 6 g/L in the anolyte. Results from cyclic voltammetry and linear scan voltammetry analysis suggested the direct electron transfer mechanism favored by cytb and cytc, Redox peaks observed for the biogenic synthesis of sulfite and sulfide support the complete one-step mineralization of sulfate. Bioelectrochemical behavior of the selectively enriched microbial consortium confirms its use for the treatment of wastewaters high in salinity and sulfate concentrations.

Valorization of agricultural waste for biogas based circular economy in India: A research outlook.

Environmental deterioration and the need for energy security are intrinsic problems linked with the linear economy based on fossil fuels. Recently, a transformation to a sustainable circular bio-economy is being experienced where biomass waste is being valorized for energy production as well as minimization of waste and greenhouse gas emissions. The agricultural waste, generated in vast quantities in India is a prospective feedstock for biogas production. Agri-waste to biogas based circular economy requires an integration of agri-waste management, biogas production and utilization and policy support. This paper comprehensively discusses the potential of biogas production from agricultural waste, its upgradation and utilization along with the government initiatives, policy regulations. In addition, barriers that impede the development of an efficient agri-waste to biogas based circular economy, and the future research opportunities to meet the growing needs for agri-waste management, energy production and climate change mitigation are discussed.

3D Bioprinting in Plant Science: An Interdisciplinary Approach.

Here we highlight advances and opportunities for using 3D bioprinting in plant biology research that could lead to low-cost solutions for biomedical and other applications. For example, the development of plant cell-based and plant-inspired 3D-printed constructs could provide information about single-cell, tissue, and whole-plant interactions with the surrounding environment.