Asphaltene-derived nanocomposites for the removal of emerging pollutants and its antimicrobial effects: batch and continuous column studies.

Emerging contaminants are diverse ecotoxic materials requiring unique treatment for removal. Asphaltenes are environmentally hazardous carbon-rich solid waste product of the petroleum industry. In the current work, asphaltene-derived activated carbon (AC) was loaded with silver (Ag/AC) and used to remove amoxicillin (AMX) and tetracycline (TC) from aqueous phase. The prepared Ag/AC was characterised using FESEM, FTIR, XRD and surface area analysis. The FESEM micrographs confirmed the spherical silver nanoparticle-laden porous AC, and the BET surface area was found to be 213 m2/g. Batch adsorption studies were performed, and the equilibrium data were fit into adsorption isotherm and kinetic models. The Ag/AC exhibited superior monolayer adsorption capacity of 1012 mg/g and 770 mg/g for AMX and TC, respectively. The continuous column studies were also performed to evaluate the breakthrough parameters. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of the adsorbent was evaluated using zone of inhibition studies. Ag/AC was found to have an 8-mm-diameter zone of microbial inhibition. The obtained results showed that Ag/AC was a promising material for the removal of antibiotics and inhibition of resistance-developed mutated microbes in effluent water.

APPLICATIONS OF THREE DIMENSIONAL FACIAL COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN HEAD AND NECK REGION - A REVIEW. / ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ ТРИВИМІРНОЇ КОМП'ЮТЕРНОЇ ТОМОГРАФІЇ ОБЛИЧЧЯ ПРИ ВІЗУАЛІЗАЦІЇ ОБЛАСТІ ГОЛОВИ ТА ШИЇ ­ ОГЛЯД.

3D facial CT has evolved and revolutionized diagnosis leading to better management. The limitations of conventional 2D methods limit the therapeutic options related to leading to an erroneous treatment. Although 3D facial CT is expensive, its advantages outweigh the cons. They are used in surgery, prosthetic replacement, orthodontics and forensics.

A Review of Episiotomy and Modalities for Relief of Episiotomy Pain.

Episiotomy is a surgically planned incision of the perineum and the posterior vaginal wall in the second stage of labour. It is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the world. In episiotomy, the vaginal orifice is made larger to facilitate the birth of a baby. The postnatal period is very crucial in every mother's life, especially those who had a vaginal delivery and underwent episiotomy. Maternal benefits of episiotomy include reduced risk of perineal trauma, subsequent pelvic floor dysfunction and prolapse, urinary incontinence, faecal incontinence, and sexual dysfunction. Potential benefits for the foetus are thought to include a shortened second stage of labour. However, an episiotomy can also lead to potential adverse consequences, including the extension to a third- or fourth-degree tear, anal sphincter dysfunction, and dyspareunia. Different approaches can be adopted to reduce these complications in the postpartum period, including cleanliness, cold packs, sitz baths, kegel exercises, perineal care, and topical application of dry heat-infrared lamp therapy. Of all these approaches, infrared lamp therapy and sitz baths are the two most effective and commonly used for episiotomy pain relief and wound healing. In infrared lamp therapy, radiant heat or infrared rays are used to produce heat that is then applied to the episiotomy wound to facilitate pain relief and wound healing, while a sitz bath is a moist heat application process that is also effective for episiotomy pain relief and wound healing. This review aims to offer the most thorough understanding of episiotomy, its current concept, and episiotomy pain relief, with a particular focus on infrared lamp therapy and sitz baths.

Assessment of Quality of Life in Patients of Mastectomy With Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in India as well as the world. In India, 48% of patients with breast cancer are below 50 years of age, indicating a huge age shift in the last 25 years. Breast cancer in an early age group increased the five-year survival rate and increased life expectancy has created a large group of breast cancer survivors who battle scars of disease as well as treatment. Standardized multimodal treatment is either not affordable or not available, so the breast conservation surgery rate is very low. Mastectomy is still the most common modality of treatment, particularly in rural areas. In addition to psychological, social, economic, and family barriers to obtaining the diagnosis and treatment needed, economic barriers like the cost of travel and lost wages are important factors influencing the choice of treatment. Mastectomy represents a deep burden for women with breast cancer. Very little is known about the psychological consequences over time and the quality of life (QOL) of women so treated, with or without breast reconstruction. Conflicting literature is available regarding QOL after mastectomy. The survival rates of breast cancer are increasing. They are reported in the range of 80-90% in western countries while in the range of 60% in the Indian scenario. With high survival rates in cancer, the focus needs to shift from mortality indicators to QOL indicators. The QOL that these survivors experience is a comparatively newer domain of study. Though there are many instruments for assessment of breast QOL of breast cancer patients with numerous studies in western literature, QOL studies in Indian rural population are far less, and urban studies cannot be extrapolated because the method of treatment differs, with breast conservation being more common in urban population. Hence, the present study is undertaken to assess the QOL in patients who have undergone mastectomy and ongoing chemotherapy or completed chemotherapy recently using a relatively newer instrument, i.e., the Quality of Life Instrument - Breast Cancer Patient version. METHODOLOGY: The present study was a cross-sectional study conducted at a rural tertiary healthcare center on mastectomy patients attending the outpatient department and admitted to the hospital. All the female patients of carcinoma breast treated with a mastectomy who were receiving the adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy or were within one year of completion of chemotherapy irrespective of age at diagnosis were included in this study. The assessment was performed by interview method using a questionnaire. RESULTS: In this study, 44.90% of the patients were <50 years old and 55.10% were more than 50 years old. Among them, 28.57% were illiterate while only 20.41% had graduate education. The majority (61.22%) were from the low socioeconomic class. Majority of women presented in the late stages of the disease, with 61.22% presenting in the third stage and only three (6.12%) presenting in the first stage of the disease. The overall global QOL score was 49 ± 2.6 and fear was assessed. Patients scored better in the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual domains, with an average score of more than 50. The worst scores were observed among distress of illness or treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that the average QOL scores in rural Indian women after mastectomy are moderate. Global scores and other indicators show moderate QOL.

Assessment of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use pattern using World Health Organization indicators: A cross-sectional study in a tertiary care teaching hospital of Chhattisgarh.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to assess drug utilization pattern of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in a tertiary care teaching hospital, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the outpatient department during 2-month period. After informed consent, the patients visiting pharmacy shop with a prescription were enrolled in the study. Their demographic details and prescription data were recorded in a case record form. The data were analyzed to determine the drug utilization pattern of NSAIDs, using the World Health Organization (WHO) prescribing indicators. RESULTS: A total of 600 prescriptions were analyzed. Of them, NSAIDs were prescribed in 30.83% encounters. In general, nonselective COX inhibitors were most commonly prescribed. The most commonly prescribed form of NSAID was paracetamol (39.45%). The percentage of NSAIDs prescribed with generic names were almost identical (91.15%), whereas the percentage of NSAIDs prescribed from the National List of Essential Medicine (India) - 2015 (49.72%) was not identical with the WHO standard (100%) which serves as an ideal. In 13.51% encounters, a fixed-dose combination (FDC) of NSAIDs was prescribed. Co-administration of gastroprotective agent with NSAIDs was observed in 24.32% encounters. CONCLUSION: The prescribing practices of NSAIDs indicate some deviation from the WHO standard. In addition, FDCs of NSAIDs with gastroprotective agents as well as other NSAIDs was also prescribed, which are irrational. This baseline data will be useful to plan further targeted research and to improve prescribing practices at the center. Various strategies such as face-to-face periodic training programs of prescribers, establishing drug and therapeutic committee; drug information centers; and drug bulletins can serve beneficial in improving prescribing practices.