Home-based Application of Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block for Head and Neck Cancer Pain Management.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer pain is intractable and difficult to manage. Many a times it is difficult to treat with oral opioids and adjuvants. AIM: This study aims to study the effects of transnasal sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB), administered using cotton swab/ear bud by patients' caretaker, at home, for pain management. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective, single-arm observational study conducted on 100 head and neck cancer patients, from January 2014 to December 2015. Patients and caretaker were given a demonstration of the procedure using sterile cotton swab/ear buds. They were advised to repeat the procedure when their visual analog score (VAS) was more than 5. They continued with the oral analgesics. They kept the records of pre- and post-procedure pain score (VAS), the frequency of repetition, ease of performance of procedure, and morphine requirement. A paired t-test (SPSS software) was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A significant reduction in pain was noted by a decrease in mean VAS from 8.57 ± 1.31 to 2.46 ± 1.23 (P < 0.0001), immediately on first administration. The mean duration of analgesia was 4.95 ± 3.43 days. Pre- and post-procedure mean morphine requirement were 128.2 ± 84.64 and 133.8 ± 81.93 (P > 0.05) mg per day, at the end of 2 months. Ease of performance was observed in 88 patients. CONCLUSION: The home-based application of SPGB is an easy, safe, and cost-effective method to manage cancer pain. It provides excellent immediate pain relief with a minimum side effect. It can be performed bilaterally, repeatedly and even with a feeding tube in place.

Spectrophotometric determination of 4-acetamidophenyl N'-(sulphanilamide) acetate in biological fluids.

A simple, accurate and low cost spectrophotometric method is proposed for the determination of the synthesized paracetamol derivative; 4-acetamidophenyl N'-(sulphanilamide) acetate (APSA) in biological fluids. The spectrophotometric method is based on a condensation reaction between the alcoholic solution of APSA and acidic solution of p-dimethylaminobenzaldeyde (DPMK) to generate a yellow colored product. The linear range for the determination of APSA was 1-10 µg mL(-1) with molar absorptivity of 3.6877 × 10(4) L mol(-1) cm(-1) and Sandell's sensitivity of 0.001 µg cm-2/0.001 absorbance unit. During the inter-day and intra-day analysis, the relative standard deviation for replicated determination of APSA was found to be less than 2.0% and accuracy was 99.20-101.60% and 99.10-101.30% in blood and urine samples, respectively. There was no interference with commonly used blood and urine sample. The developed spectrophotometric method was successfully applied to assess APSA in biological fluids.

High-value zeolitic material from bagasse fly ash: utilization for dye elimination.

Bagasse fly ash (BFA), a sugar industry waste, was used to prepare zeolitic material (ZFA) by means of alkaline hydrothermal treatment. ZFA showed improved morphology as a result of this treatment. The adsorption of the reactive dyes turquoise blue (TB) and brilliant magenta (BM), on both BFA and ZFA, was investigated in a batch contact system. A series of batch experiments revealed that optimal dye removal occurs at a 200 mg/L to 300 mg/L solute concentration, 60 minutes of agitation time, 5 g/L to 10 g/L adsorbent dose, a pH level of 2 to 4, and a temperature of 298 K. ZFA showed enhanced adsorption capacity as compared to BFA. According to the Langmuir equation, the maximum adsorption capacity was 12.66 mg/g and 45.45 mg/g for turquoise blue and brilliant magenta dyes, respectively, on BFA; and 21.74 mg/g and 100.00 mg/g for turquoise blue and brilliant magenta dyes, respectively, on ZFA. Kinetic studies showed that the correlation coefficients best fit with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, confirming that the adsorption rate was controlled by a hemisorptions process.

Seizure modeling of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solution by chemically modified sugarcane bagasse fly ash: isotherms, kinetics, and column study.

Heavy metal pollution is a common environmental problem all over the world. The purpose of the research is to examine the applicability of bagasse fly ash (BFA)-an agricultural waste of sugar industry used for the synthesis of zeolitic material. The zeolitic material are used for the uptake of Pb(II) and Cd(II) heavy metal. Bagasse fly ash is used as a native material for the synthesis of zeolitic materials by conventional hydrothermal treatment without (conventional zeolitic bagasse fly ash (CZBFA)) and with electrolyte (conventional zeolitic bagasse fly ash in electrolyte media (ECZBFA)) media. Heavy metal ions Pb(II) and Cd(II) were successfully seized from aqueous media using these synthesized zeolitic materials. In this study, the zeolitic materials were well characterized by different instrumental methods such as Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, XRF, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopic microphotographs. The presence of analcime, phillipsite, and zeolite P in adsorbents confirms successful conversion of native BFA into zeolitic materials. Seizure modeling of Pb(II) and Cd(II) was achieved by batch sorption experiments, isotherms, and kinetic studies. These data were used to compare and evaluate the zeolitic materials as potential sorbents for the uptake of heavy metal ions from an aqueous media. The Langmuir isotherm correlation coefficient parameters best fit the equilibrium data which indicate the physical sorption. Pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion model matches best which indicates that the rate of sorption was controlled by film diffusion. The column studies were performed for the practical function of sorbents, and breakthrough curves were obtained, which revealed higher sorption capacity as compared to batch method. Synthesized zeolitic material (CZBFA and ECZBFA), a low-cost sorbent, was proven as potential sorbent for the uptake of Pb(II) and Cd(II) heavy metal ions.

Zeolitic bagasse fly ash as a low-cost sorbent for the sequestration of p-nitrophenol: equilibrium, kinetics, and column studies.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the research is to investigate the application of bagasse fly ash, a sugar industry solid waste for the synthesis of zeolites and their behavior for the sorption of p-nitrophenol (p-NP). METHODS: Zeolitic materials were prepared from bagasse fly ash using alkaline hydrothermal (CZBFA) and fusion (FZBFA) treatment. Comparative batch sorption studies of prepared zeolitic material and virgin material were undertaken to determine their capacities for removal of p-nitrophenol. RESULTS: PXRD patterns revealed that zeolite P and analcime were the dominant contents of synthesized zeolitic material. Chemical composition, morphology, and crystalline nature of CZBFA and FZBFA were characterized by XRF, FTIR, and SEM. The Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin Redushkwich, and Temkin sorption isotherms were applied to compare the sorption nature and capacity of synthesized CZBFA and FZBFA with virgin BFA. For each sorbent-p-NP system, a pseudo-second-order kinetic model described the sorption kinetics accurately. The thermodynamics of the p-NP-sorbent systems exhibit an exothermic sorption process. Intraparticle diffusion model shows that the sorption rate was controlled by film diffusion followed by pore diffusion. Regeneration of sorbents was carried out by desorption studies with HCl, NaOH, and SDS detergent. The column studies were performed for the practical utility of sorbents, and breakthrough curve were obtained, which exhibit higher sorption capacity than batch method. CONCLUSION: The sorption capacities of the synthesized zeolites had improved sorption capacities for the sequestration of p-NP and can be utilized as low-cost sorbents for treatment of p-nitrophenolic wastewater.

Sorptive removal of nickel onto weathered basaltic andesite products: kinetics and isotherms.

The suitability of weathered basaltic andesite products (WBAP) as a potential sorbent was assessed for the removal of Ni (II) from electroplating industrial wastewater. A model study based on the batch mode of operation was carried out for Ni (II) removal from aqueous solution. The effect of various parameters such as hydronium ion concentration, shaking time, sorbent dose, initial Ni (II) concentration, and temperature on the sorption process was studied. At optimised conditions of the various parameters, the industrial wastewater loaded with Ni (II) was sorbed onto WBAP. Thermodynamic parameters for the sorption process were evaluated. Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, and Dubinin-Kaganer-Radushkevich isotherms were applied to the sorption pattern on the WBAP. The sorption dynamics of the process was evaluated by applying Lagergren, Bangham, and Weber & Morris equations. The sorption process follows Pseudo-second-order rate of surface diffusion which is identified as the predominating mechanism. The sorption process was found to be reversible by the recovery of sorbed Ni (II) upon extraction with 0.5 MHNO3. The sorbent before and after sorption, was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Powder X-Ray diffraction PXRD), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) methods. The change in surface morphology and crystallanity of the mineral after sorption was analyzed by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Based on the previous model study, an electroplating industrial effluent was successfully treated with WBAP to minimize the pollution load caused by Ni (II).