This contribution reports on the synthesis and the main physical properties of n-type SnO2 nanoparticles synthesized for the first time by a completely green chemistry process using Aspalathus ...linearis’s natural extract as an effective chelating agent. Their surface/interface and volume properties by X-rays diffraction, Raman, X-rays photoemission & photoluminescence spectroscopies are reported. Their average diameter ranging from 2.1 to 19.3 nm follows a thermal governed equation of 〈Øparticles〉 = 1.048 10−5 T2 – 4.92 10−3 T + 2.84. The smallest SnO2 nanoparticles exhibit effective photocatalytic responses to Methylene blue, Congo red and Eosin Y.
•1st time synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticles by a green process via Aspalathus linearis extract.•Pure Cassiterite crystallographic nature was confirmed via HRTEM, XRD, XPS and PL.•SnO2 is photocatalytically active for decomposition of MB, Eosin Y & a median for Congo red.
IntroductionCommunity engagement has been considered a fundamental component of past outbreaks, such as Ebola. However, there is concern over the lack of involvement of communities and ‘bottom-up’ ...approaches used within COVID-19 responses thus far. Identifying how community engagement approaches have been used in past epidemics may support more robust implementation within the COVID-19 response.MethodologyA rapid evidence review was conducted to identify how community engagement is used for infectious disease prevention and control during epidemics. Three databases were searched in addition to extensive snowballing for grey literature. Previous epidemics were limited to Ebola, Zika, SARS, Middle East respiratory syndromeand H1N1 since 2000. No restrictions were applied to study design or language.ResultsFrom 1112 references identified, 32 articles met our inclusion criteria, which detail 37 initiatives. Six main community engagement actors were identified: local leaders, community and faith-based organisations, community groups, health facility committees, individuals and key stakeholders. These worked on different functions: designing and planning, community entry and trust building, social and behaviour change communication, risk communication, surveillance and tracing, and logistics and administration.ConclusionCOVID-19’s global presence and social transmission pathways require social and community responses. This may be particularly important to reach marginalised populations and to support equity-informed responses. Aligning previous community engagement experience with current COVID-19 community-based strategy recommendations highlights how communities can play important and active roles in prevention and control. Countries worldwide are encouraged to assess existing community engagement structures and use community engagement approaches to support contextually specific, acceptable and appropriate COVID-19 prevention and control measures.
This contribution reports for the 1st time on the synthesis and the main physical properties of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by an entirely green physical-chemistral process using Aspalathus ...linearis's natural extract as an efficient reduction/oxidizing agent. Their structural and optical properties by electron microscopy, X-rays diffraction, Raman and X-rays photoemission spectroscopies as well as room temperature photoluminescence are reported.
•1st time report on synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles by a green process via Aspalathus linearis extract.•A. linearis's natural extract was used as an effective reduction/oxidizing agent.•Wurtzite nature of ZnO nanoparticles was confirmed via XRD, Raman, XPS and PL.
This contribution reports on the synthesis and the main physical properties of CeO2 nanoparticles (which can be as small as 〈ϕCeO2〉 ∼ 3.9 nm in diameter) engineered for the first time by a completely ...green process using Hibiscus Sabdariffa natural extract as an effective chelating agent. Their morphological, structural and optical properties were investigated using various complementary surface/interface characterization techniques.
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•1st time report on synthesis of CeO2 nanoparticles by a green process via Hibiscus Sabdariffa flower extract.•Hibiscus Sabdariffa's natural extract was used as an effective reduction/oxidizing agent.•Pure CeO2 nanoparticles were confirmed via HRTEM, XRD, ATR-FTIR, Raman, and XPS.
Background
To evaluate the effect of a 1 mg/dl reduction in uric acid (UA) on cardiovascular events and mortality in patients treated with sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors.
Research ...Design and Methods
We performed a systematic review of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases searched up to 30 June 2023 (PROSPERO, CRD42022355479) to identify large‐scale SGLT2 inhibitor trials. Random‐effects meta‐analyses were used to pool the estimates.
Results
In total, five SGLT2 inhibitor trials (31 535 patients, 54% with heart failure) were analysed. Over a median follow‐up of 2.2 years, the mean reduction in UA was −0.79 mg/dl (95% confidence interval (CI), −1.03 to −0.54). Every 1 mg/dl reduction in UA was associated with a significantly lower risk of a composite of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure hazard ratio, 0.64 (95% CI, 0.46–0.88) and hospitalization for heart failure (0.68; 95% CI, 0.62–0.74), with a similar risk of mortality.
Conclusions
SGLT2 inhibitors reduced UA levels and cardiovascular events independently of heart failure status.
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This contribution reports for the first time, room temperature biosynthesis of p-type CuO nanoparticles carried out using Callistemon viminalis’ flower extracts as a chelating agent ...in a process that is entirely green. Room temperature X-ray diffraction, attenuated IR total reflection spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopy investigations confirmed the formation of single phase Tenorite bcc monoclinic CuO nanocrystals post annealing in air, at 500°C. Photoluminescence spectroscopy with UV emissions at 356nm (3.47eV) and broad visible emissions at 418nm, 561nm, and 664nm, support the formation in air, at 200°C, of CuO nanoparticles with high surface-to-volume ratios and defects. As a direct application, the biosynthesized CuO nanoplatelet-containing powder dispersed in de-ionized water showed an enhancement of the thermal conductivity from 6% to 34% and a significant stability of the PVP stabilized CuO-water nanofluid.
Previous studies have shown that in areas of seasonal malaria transmission, intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in children (IPTc), targeting the transmission season, reduces the incidence ...of clinical malaria. However, these studies were conducted in communities with low coverage with insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). Whether IPTc provides additional protection to children sleeping under an ITN has not been established.
To assess whether IPTc provides additional protection to children sleeping under an ITN, we conducted a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of IPTc with sulphadoxine pyrimethamine (SP) plus amodiaquine (AQ) in three localities in Kati, Mali. After screening, eligible children aged 3-59 mo were given a long-lasting insecticide-treated net (LLIN) and randomised to receive three rounds of active drugs or placebos. Treatments were administered under observation at monthly intervals during the high malaria transmission season in August, September, and October 2008. Adverse events were monitored immediately after the administration of each course of IPTc and throughout the follow-up period. The primary endpoint was clinical episodes of malaria recorded through passive surveillance by study clinicians available at all times during the follow-up. Cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 150 randomly selected children weekly and in all children at the end of the malaria transmission season to assess usage of ITNs and the impact of IPTc on the prevalence of malaria, anaemia, and malnutrition. Cox regression was used to compare incidence rates between intervention and control arms. The effects of IPTc on the prevalence of malaria infection and anaemia were estimated using logistic regression. 3,065 children were screened and 3,017 (1,508 in the control and 1,509 in the intervention arm) were enrolled in the study. 1,485 children (98.5%) in the control arm and 1,481 (98.1%) in the intervention arm completed follow-up. During the intervention period, the proportion of children reported to have slept under an ITN was 99.7% in the control and 99.3% in intervention arm (p = 0.45). A total of 672 episodes of clinical malaria defined as fever or a history of fever and the presence of at least 5,000 asexual forms of Plasmodium falciparum per microlitre (incidence rate of 1.90; 95% confidence interval CI 1.76-2.05 episodes per person year) were observed in the control arm versus 126 (incidence rate of 0.34; 95% CI 0.29-0.41 episodes per person year) in the intervention arm, indicating a protective effect (PE) of 82% (95% CI 78%-85%) (p<0.001) on the primary endpoint. There were 15 episodes of severe malaria in children in the control arm compared to two in children in the intervention group giving a PE of 87% (95% CI 42%-99%) (p = 0.001). IPTc reduced the prevalence of malaria infection by 85% (95% CI 73%-92%) (p<0.001) during the intervention period and by 46% (95% CI 31%-68%) (p<0.001) at the end of the intervention period. The prevalence of moderate anaemia (haemoglobin Hb <8 g/dl) was reduced by 47% (95% CI 15%-67%) (p<0.007) at the end of intervention period. The frequencies of adverse events were similar between the two arms. There was no drug-related serious adverse event.
IPTc given during the malaria transmission season provided substantial protection against clinical episodes of malaria, malaria infection, and anaemia in children using an LLIN. SP+AQ was safe and well tolerated. These findings indicate that IPTc could make a valuable contribution to malaria control in areas of seasonal malaria transmission alongside other interventions.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00738946. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary.
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