Studies on batch adsorptive removal of cadmium and nickel from synthetic waste water using silty clay originated from Balochistan-Pakistan

The potentials of silty clay(SC),acquired from Chaman,Balochistan,were investigated as adsorbent for Ni(Ⅱ)and Cd(Ⅱ)removal from contaminated media.The influence of different operating factors like dose,pH,temperature,and time of contact was explored,and optimum values were noted under batch adsorption method.Isothermal study was conducted with varying concentrations of solutions on optimized conditions and different adsorption models i.e.,Langmuir,Freundlich,Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich(D-R)isotherm,which were employed to interpret the process.The isothermal data of both Ni(Ⅱ)and Cd(Ⅱ)were well fitted to Langmuir isotherm suggesting the formation of monolayer of metal ions on silty clay.The values of adsorption capacity noted for Ni(Ⅱ)and Cd(Ⅱ)were 3.603 mg·g^-1 and 5.480 mg·g^-1,respectively.Kinetic studies affirmed that pseudo second order(PSO)kinetics was being obeyed by the removal of Ni(Ⅱ)and Cd(Ⅱ).Thermodynamic variables like free energy change(ΔG°),enthalpy change(ΔH°)and entropy change(ΔS°)were calculated.The negative value ofΔG°and the positive values ofΔH°andΔS°unfolded that the removal process of both metal ions of by SC was spontaneous,endothermic and feasible.

Synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles reinforced clay and their applications for removal of Pb(II)ions from aqueous media

The aim of the study was to synthesize zinc oxide nanoparticles(ZnONPs)composite with clay by a novel route and then to explore the capability of composite of ZnONPs and silty clay(SC)as adsorbents for Pb(II)eradication from aqueous media by batch adsorption method.The effect of different operating factors like temperature,pH,dose and time of contact on the adsorption process were studied to optimize the conditions.Langmuir,Freundlich,Dubinin-Radushkevich(DR)and Temkin isotherms were applied for the interpretation of the process.The R^(2)and q values obtained from Langmuir model suggested that the process is best interpreted by this model.The values of adsorption capacity(qm)noted were 12.43 mg·g^(-1) and 14.54 mg·g^(-1)on SC and ZnONPsSC respectively.The kinetic studies exposed that pseudo second order(PSO)kinetics is followed by the processes suggesting that more than one steps are involved to control the rate of reactions.Various thermodynamic variables such as change in free energy(AGe),change in enthalpy(AH9)and change in entropy(ASe)were calculated.Thermodynamic data suggested that Pb(II)adsorption on SC and ZnONPsSC are spontaneous,endothermic and feasible processes.

Synovial Neuronal Changes in Knee Joint Osteoarthritis

Purpose: The purpose is to study whether pain and inflammation in knee joint osteoarthritis (OA) are associated with local synovial neuronal changes. Methods: Synovial biopsies were harvested from the medial and lateral knee compartments from OA patients undergoing total joint replacement surgery. All patients had predominant pain at the medial joint compartment. Pain and knee joint function were evaluated by knee society score (KSS). Synovial inflammation was analyzed by histopathological analysis and expression of growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43), sensory (SP, CGRP) and autonomic (NPY, VIP, TH) neuropeptides was studied by single and double immunohistochemistry techniques. Results: We observed reduced KSS and increased inflammatory score in synovial membrane of medial knee compartment. A significant increase in GAP-43 [P = 0.001], SP [P = 0.05], CGRP [P = 0.05] and TH [P = 0.05] expression was observed and SP, CGRP and NPY were found to be co-existed predominantly with GAP-43 in synovial membrane collected from medial compared to the lateral knee compartment. Conclusions: Regenerating nerve fibers containing sensory and autonomic neuropeptides are associated with pain and inflammation in knee joint OA.

Qualification of Atomic Absorption Spectrometer in Prospective View of Pharmaceutical Analysis

AAS was qualified as per pharmacopoeia requirements. Copper, manganese, mercury and cadmium hallow cathode lamps were used for qualification purposes. Design qualification and installation qualification met the criteria of user requirements. Wavelength accuracy and reproducibility, resolution and baseline stability are in compliance with user requirements. Characteristics concentration or sensitivity, detection limit and characteristics mass were performed as a part of operational qualification which is 0.062 μg/mL, 0.00354 μg/mL, 1.41 pg respectively. Results of % RSD for precision study is 0.352 and 0.487 for flame and graphite furnace mode respectively fulfilled criteria of qualification. Performance qualification results of 20 consecutive days demonstrate the predetermined specification. Analytical instrument qualification and method validation relationship is also described by assay performed on haemodialysis concentrate. Good precision (2) greater than 0.9997 for potassium, magnesium and calcium linear curves, lower detection limits for all three ingredients and robust assay data as a part of validation studies conform the qualified AAS for its intended application.

Validation of Reference Genes for mRNA Quantification in Adjuvant Arthritis

Real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) requires a method to normalize the expression of target genes against an en- dogenous reference gene. It is known that commonly used housekeeping genes (HKGs) vary tremendously in inflam- matory conditions;however information about the stability and expression of HKGs in chronic inflammatory joint dis- ease such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is scarce. The expressional stability of 10 commonly used HKGs was analyzed in the neuronal (spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia) and in the musculoskeletal tissues (tendon, muscle, epiphysis, capsule, periosteum and ankle joint) using RT-qPCR in the rat model of RA. In individual tissues, suitable HKGs were selected by | △Ct| (│Ct control-Ct arthritis│) and further analyzed by using software programs;geNorm and normfinder. We found hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl tranferase (HPRT) as the most stable gene except ankle joint while glyce-raldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was found as the least stable gene in musculoskeletal tissues. In in-flamed ankle joint where no reference gene was found to be stably expressed, an inflammatory cell marker CD3 was used to normalize peptidylprolyl isomerase B (PPIB), the most homogenous HKG identified among the 10 HKGs. The normalized PPIB was then used to analyze the gene expression of neurokinin 1 (NK1), receptor of substance P, a potent pro-inflammatory mediator. We observed a 3.5 fold increase (p = 0.009) in NK1 expression in inflamed ankle joint compared to control. Our results indicate that reference genes stability should be evaluated before using them as refer- ence during inflammatory conditions. In tissues with intense inflammatory cell infiltration, an inflammatory cell marker should be used to normalize the selected reference gene to avoid erroneous results.