Cadmium Reduction Research Articles

Continuous-flow analysis of nitrogen compounds in environmental water using a copper–zinc reduction coil

The copper–cadmium reduction method has been applied to determine nitrogen compounds in heavily contaminated environmental water. However, there is an international demand to reduce the use of cadmium because it is harmful to humans and environment. Hence, a copper–zinc reduction continuous flow analysis system without using cadmium was developed for nitrogen‐compound determination. However, the effects of seawater contaminants on this analytical method remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, the effects of contaminants on the developed method are investigated, and the applicability of the method to environmental water analysis is examined. Resultantly, interference due to magnesium precipitation is confirmed; however, this could be prevented by adjusting the concentration of the analytical reagent, i.e,. ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium. The measurement of certified reference materials under the new conditions, with precipitation countermeasures, show good results, with an accuracy of over 96%. Additionally, a recovery study using actual environmental water afforded good results, with recovery of >95% for all samples. These results indicate that the proposed method is an excellent, cadmium-free analytical method capable of analyzing environmental water as effectively as conventional methods.

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF OGUTA LAKE WATER AND ITS EFFECT ON PHYTOPLANKTON POPULATION

Samples were collected from the three sampling stations namely; Up, Mid and Downstream respectively to investigate the effect of nutrients concentration on the phytoplankton in Oguta Lake. The methods used were electrometric, argentometric titration, phenate spectrophotometric, colorimetric, cadmium reduction and acetone extraction spectrophotometric methods were used to determine the pH of water sample, chlorides, sulphate, ammonia, phosphorus, nitrate, nitrite, chlorophyll-A, conductivity, turbidity, chemical oxygen demand, copper, colour, total dissolved solid, respectively. However, serial dilution was carried out using the spread plate or pour plate method was used to determine the microbial analysis of the sample. At the end of these researches, the Physico-chemical parameters analysed showed that Oguta Lake had total dissolved solids values of 6.50 ± 0.06mg/l, 6.50 ± 0.14 and 6.50 for upstream, mid stream and downstream respectively. The result showed there was no significance total dissolved solids difference between the various stream points (P0.05). the colour of the Lake showed significant difference ranging from 17.00 ± 1.41 and76.00 V 1.41 in upstream and downstream and the lowest value at upstream. The pH range in this study indicates that the water may be acidic (5.54-7.31). Phytoplankton assemblages obtain across the three stream points showed only three divisions and 78 species. The identified divisions and species are comprised of Eurcharyta (44), Cyanophyta (25) and Chlorophyta (9). Eurkaryta recorded 100%, 5% and 15% abundance in upstream, midstream and downstream respectively, while Cyanophyta recorded the highest abundance at downstream with 75%, Chlorophyta only was identified at the midstream and was least abundance with 23%. The phytoplankton diversity indices done showed that downstream was most diverse having the highest Shannon Weiner Index and Evenness Index of 3.631 and 1.212 respectively. In relation to physicochemical and phytoplankton abundance, the findings in this study is contradictory to some researches. They reported positive correlation of phytoplankton with phosphate and nitrate. There was negative correlation of phosphate with Eurkaryta and Chlorophyta, except for Cyanophyta that showed positive correlation with phytoplankton but not very significant. These low levels of phosphate and nitrate may be the cause of low phytoplankton levels.

Effects of silicate stabilizers on cadmium reduction and the quality of rice grains in acidic paddy soil

Silicate has been proven to be highly-effective at immobilizing soil heavy metals, but the effects of silicate stabilizers on rice grain cadmium (Cd) reduction and rice quality under field conditions are not clear. In this study, a field experiment was conducted over three consecutive years was conducted to examine the Cd reduction in rice grains and to reveal the potential effects of silicate stabilizers on rice grain nutrients, by setting different amounts of bentonite (B), silica‒calcium fertilizer (SC) and zeolite powder (ZP). The results revealed that the application of the B, SC and ZP significantly decreased the soil CaCl2‒Cd concentration (> 39%) and significantly reduced the grain Cd concentration in both early rice (> 70%) and late rice (> 18%) under field conditions; the silicate stabilizers reduced the soil available iron (Fe) but did not limit rice grain Fe nutrition. Additionally, the three silicates promoted rice yield and improved the rice grain Ca and Mg contents; and the application of B increased the amylose concentration of the late rice grains. In conclusion, high amounts of silicate stabilizers did not adversely influence the soil conventional nutrient indices, rice minerals or rice taste, but changes in rice selenium content need attention. Overall, in comparison with lime, silicate stabilizers can improve not only the safety of rice but also the nutritional and taste qualities of rice and are more eco-friendly for long-term use in soil.

Comparison of soil addition, foliar spraying, seed soaking, and seed dressing of selenium and silicon nanoparticles effects on cadmium reduction in wheat (Triticum turgidum L.)

Wheat cadmium (Cd) contamination is a critical food security issue worldwide, and selenium (Se) and silicon (Si) are widely reported to reduce Cd accumulation in cereal crops. However, few studies have compared the most effective pathway to reduce Cd accumulation in crops using Se nanoparticles (nano-Se), Si nanoparticles (nano-Si), and their mixtures. Here, we investigated the concentrations of Cd in wheat using four application modes: soil addition, foliar spraying, seed soaking, and seed dressing combined with three different materials. The concentration of Cd in wheat grains can be significantly reduced by 31.30–62.99% and 36.96–51.04% through four applications of nano-Se and soil application and seed soaking of nano-Si, respectively. However, all treatments involving mixtures of nano-Si and nano-Se did not show a reduction in Cd concentration. The applications of both nano-Se and nano-Si can enhance antioxidant enzyme systems and regulate Cd-related gene expression to safeguard wheat tissues from Cd stress. Downregulation of the influx transporter from soil to root (TaNramp5) and from root to shoot (TaLCT1), along with the upregulation of the efflux transporter from cytoplasm to vacuole (TaHMA3), contributed to the nano-Si/nano-Se dependent Cd transport and reduced Cd accumulation in wheat grains. Overall, the application of nano-Se instead of nano-Si, and soil addition rather than foliar spraying, seed soaking, and seed dressing, can be efficiently utilized to reduce grain Cd accumulation from Cd-contaminated soils.

Formulating new types of rice husk biochar‐based fertilizers for the simultaneous slow‐release of nutrients and immobilization of cadmium

AbstractChina, as a significant global consumer of chemical fertilizers and a leading producer of rice, faces challenges associated with low fertilizer efficiency and fewer utilization options of rice husks. The development of rice husk biochar‐based fertilizers (RHBF) offers a strategic solution to address these issues. In this study, diverse biochar fertilizer production techniques were used to develop four types of fertilizers: blended RHBF, soaked RHBF, high‐pressure soaked RHBF, and pure rice husk biochar coated fertilizer. The nutrients slow‐releasing performance of these four RHBF were compared by hydrostatic and soil column intermittent leaching methods. Effects of their application on rice growth, yield, and cadmium reduction potential were analyzed and compared by the pot trial. Results demonstrated that nutrients of the four RHBF were generally released slower in the soil compared with the conventional compound fertilizer (CK). The slow nutrient release effect was more pronounced under high‐pressure soaked RHBF. Notably, in the soil column leaching experiment, the cumulative leaching rates of nitrogen and K2O for RHBF3 (12.0% and 13.9%) were greatly lower than those of CK (42.3% and 51.3%). Moreover, the application of RHBF induced a marked enhancement in the nutrient use efficiency, grain yield, harvest index, and photosynthetic characteristics compared to CK. The average agronomic efficiency of P2O5 for the four RHBF increased by 102.8% compared with CK, while the average grain yield of the four RHBF increased by 20.6%. In addition, RHBF showed a significant reduction in Cd mobilization by an average of 80.1% compared to CK. This study offers a promising model for enhancing the comprehensive performance of RHBF and optimizing traditional fertilizer application practices.

An Electrochemical Approach to in-Situ Continuous Soil Nitrate Monitoring

Soil nitrogen is the most limiting nutrient affecting plant growth. However, due to poor soil management due to lack of soil health information, high-N fertilizer use increased exponentially. The UN has labeled nitrogen pollution one of the most important pollution issues facing humanity[1]. Not only does it affect life on land and underwater, it is also 300 times more potent at heating the climate than carbon dioxide while remaining active for 100 years in the atmosphere. Currently, soil nitrogen assessment techniques require destructive sampling where a soil core is collected then shipped to a lab to measure nitrogen content. Not only does this technique have high costs, it only measures nitrogen levels at that specific time point. In this work, we utilized commercially available screen printed electrodes (SPE) with a nitrate ionophore for low cost real-time continuous tracking of soil nitrate levels. The ionophore coating utilizes tetradodecylammonium nitrate (TDDA) as the selective reagent as it’s highly specific to nitrate ions. Previous work done using TDDA used open circuit potential (OCP) to measure nitrate concentration. Soil water content, pH, environmental noise, and other ions impact OCP thus making it unreliable for long term continuous measurements. This work utilizes electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) instead as it is more robust against the previously mentioned parameters. By opting to use a higher frequency of 1 kHz to extract nitrate concentration, we avoid environmental noise that are dominant at lower frequencies. The sensor output was calibrated in three different soil textures from 2 – 512 ppm presented in Fig. 1(a) for Clay soil. Then the sensor accuracy was validated to the gold standard cadmium reduction method presented in Fig. 1(b) showing non-significant differences with one sample only having a *p-value of 0.049. Lastly, the sensor stability was measured for 7 days continuously in soil with a coefficient of variation of 17% which is under the acceptable standard 20%.Figure 1 (a) Calibrated dose response for Clay soil with 50% water content. (b) vaidation of proposed sensor against gold standard in various soil types. (c) longitudinal study showing stablity and consistency of sensor performance in-situ Figure 1

A novel slow-release selenium approach for cadmium reduction and selenium enrichment in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

In this study, a novel slightly-soluble selenium (Se) fertilizer (SSF) was successfully applied to address the problems of Cd pollution in paddy soil and rice, and Se deficiency in human beings. The pot and field experiments showed that Cd content in the rice grains was reduced by 48.4%–82.89% and Se content was increased nearly by 30-fold comparing the control group. The application of SSF increased the soil pH and significantly reduced the DGT-extracted Cd in the soil. Moreover, DCB-extractable Fe content on the surface of roots was prompt by SSF, which formed a physical barrier, namely iron plaque (IP), to inhibit Cd translocation to the above-ground tissues of the rice plants. The Cd content in the IP was also decreased before the filling period, possibly contributing to the reduction in major Cd accumulation in the rice grains. In addition, the continuous Se increase and Cd reduction in the IP by the SSF gradually exceeded that of water-soluble Se during the three periods of rice plant growth. This suggests that SSF has high potential to be an effective Se fertilizer for inhibiting Cd uptake and enriching Se in rice.

ELECTROCHEMICAL REDUCTION OF CADMIUM IONS FROM ETHYLENE GLYCOL ELECTROLYTE

The work is devoted to the study of the process of cathodic reduction of Cd ions from anhydrous ethylene glycol electrolyte. The mechanism of the process of cadmium reduction was studied by taking linear and cyclic potentiodynamic polarization curves. The influence of cadmium chloride concentration, potential sweep rate and temperature on the process of electrochemical deposition of cadmium ions was studied. With an increase in the concentration of cadmium in the electrolyte, the rate of its release at the cathode increases. Precipitates of good quality are obtained at current densities of 25 mA/sm2. It has been established that the cadmium deposition potential almost does not change with increasing potential sweep rate. The dependence of cadmium electrodeposition from ethylene glycol electrolyte on temperature was studied, which made it possible to establish the optimal deposition temperature, which was 363–373 K, and to conclude that the deposition process is controlled by electrochemical polarization. The diffusion coefficient of cadmium ions to the cathode surface has been calculated

Effect of VIT1/VIT2 overexpression on Fe and Cd accumulation in rice endosperm

Iron (Fe) deficiency and excess cadmium (Cd) in rice grain are important problems to be solved in agricultural production. Previous studies have shown that OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 are vacuolar iron transporters. In this study, wild-type ZH11 was selected as the background material and OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 were overexpressed in endosperm by using endosperm specific promoter Glb-1. Field experiments were conducted to study the effect of OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 overexpression on Fe and Cd accumulation in different parts of rice. The results showed that OsVIT1 overexpression in endosperm significantly reduced Fe content in grain by about 50%, while significantly increased zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) contents in straw and Cu content in grain. OsVIT2 overexpression in endosperm significantly decreased Fe and Cd contents in grain by about 50%, and significantly increased Fe content in straw by 45%-120%. Overexpression of OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 in endosperm did not affect the agronomic traits of rice. In conclusion, OsVIT1 and OsVIT2 overexpression in endosperm reduced Fe accumulation in rice grain, which did not achieve the expected effect. OsVIT2 overexpression in endosperm also decreased Cd accumulation in grain and increased Fe accumulation in straw, which provided reference for iron biofortification and cadmium reduction in rice.

The Use of the DRASTIC-LU/LC Model for Assessing Groundwater Vulnerability to Nitrate Contamination in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania

Groundwater is a useful source of water for various uses in different places. The major challenge in the use of this resource is how to manage and protect it from contamination. The current study was conducted in Morogoro Municipality to identify vulnerable groundwater areas by using DRASTIC-LU/LC model. The study applied eight input parameters, i.e., depth to water table, net recharge, aquifer media, soil media, topography, impact of vadose zone, hydraulic conductivity and land use/land cover patterns, which were overlaid in GIS to generate groundwater vulnerable map. The model used rating (R = 1–10) and weighting (W = 1–5) techniques to assess the effect of each parameter on groundwater contamination. The DRASTIC-LU/LC Vulnerability Index map was classified into low- (area = 29.2 km2), moderate- (area = 120.4 km2) and high-vulnerability zones (area = 124.4 km2). Nitrate analysis was conducted using the cadmium reduction method (DR 890) to assess the validity of the model and it was observed that 55%, 15% and 50% of the samples with unacceptable (>50 mg/L), high (29–50 mg/L) and moderate (14–28 mg/L) nitrate concentrations, respectively, fall into the high-vulnerability zone. Furthermore, 45%, 70% and 50% of the samples with unacceptable, high and moderate nitrate concentrations, respectively, fall into the moderate-vulnerability zone. In the low-vulnerability zone, only 15% of samples were found with a high nitrate concentration.

Bioremediation Potential of Native Bacillus sp. Strains as a Sustainable Strategy for Cadmium Accumulation of Theobroma cacao in Amazonas Region

Cacao plant cadmium accumulation has become a major concern, especially for small Amazonian producers. A sustainable alternative to address its toxicity is the use of cadmium removal bacteria. In this regard, 138 rhizosphere isolates from cacao were examined. Supported by their phenotypic characterization and in vitro cadmium tolerance, three hypertolerant bacteria were selected and identified as members of the Bacillus (S1C2, R1C2) and Pseudomonas (V3C3) genera. They were able to grow normally and reduce the cadmium content under in vitro conditions. However, only S1C2 and R1C2 evidenced to employ intracellular Cd2+ accumulation, suggesting the variability of bacterial detoxification mechanisms. Their bioremediation capacity for Theobroma cacao CCN51 was also analyzed. Surprisingly, we found high detectable levels of Cd2+ in the non-cadmium supplemented control, suggesting an extra source of cadmium in the pot. Moreover, despite their cadmium reduction performance under in vitro conditions, they exerted highly variable outcomes on stem cadmium accumulation. While S1C2 and R1C2 showed a considerable reduction of Cd content in cacao stems, the strain V3C3 did not show any effect on Cd content. This highlights the complexity of the plant-bacteria interactions and the importance of the in vivo test for the selection of promising PGPR bacteria. Overall, our results suggest the cadmium alleviation potential and promising prospects of native Bacillus strains associated with Amazonian cacao.

Zinc glycerolate (Glyzinc): A novel foliar fertilizer for zinc biofortification and cadmium reduction in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Sustainable strategies are essential for zinc (Zn) biofortification and cadmium (Cd) reduction in staple food crops. Herein, we evaluated the phytotoxicity of Glyzinc under foliar and root application (FA&RA) in a lab-scale experiment, and then investigated its Zn efficiency and Cd reduction through foliar application on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under field conditions. Compared to RA, FA of Glyzinc exhibited no adverse effect on wheat growth and oxidative stresses at all doses. In field conditions, FA of Glyzinc remarkably increased Zn (28.7 %), S (10.4 %), Cu (17.3 %) and crude protein (9.1 %) content in wheat grain at 100 mg/L without damaging wheat yield. Furthermore, FA of Glyzinc significantly reduced the grain phytic acid (PA) (23.7 %) and Cd level (19.5 %), as well as PA to Zn molar ratio (32.3 %). Overall, our results indicate that Glyzinc has great potential as a high-efficiency foliar fertilizer for Zn biofortification and safe crop production in nano-enabled agriculture.

Metarhizium robertsii as a promising microbial agent for rice in situ cadmium reduction and plant growth promotion

The toxic chemical element cadmium (Cd) in paddy fields triggered increasing problems of growth inhibition and food security in rice consistently. In this study, we found Metarhizium robertsii, which is widely used as a bioinsecticide and biofertilizer in agriculture and recently found to be resistant to Cd, developed intraradical and extraradical symbiotic hyphae in rice seedlings, and successfully colonized in the rice rhizosphere soil to more than 103 CFUs g−1 soil at harvesting. M. robertsii colonization significantly reduced Cd accumulations in both hydroponically cultured seedlings and the matured rice cultured in Cd contaminated potting soil (2 ppm). Notably, Cd accumulation reduction of the roots, stems, leaves, husks and grains of the matured rice induced by the fungus were 44.3%, 32.1%, 35.3%, 31.9% and 24.7%, respectively. It was caused by the M. robertsii-induced suppression of Cd intake transporter gene osNramp5 in the rice roots, and the chemical stabilizing of Cd to the residual fraction in the rhizosphere soil. In addition, the colonization of M. robertsii significantly promoted the growth characters and the photosynthesis of the rice plants. This is achieved by the increase of endogenous hormone levels of indole-3-acetic, gibberellin A3 and brassinolide induced by M. robertsii. Furthermore, the fungus enhanced the antioxidative capacities via increasing enzyme activities of catalase, peroxidase and the production of glutathione, ascorbic acid, proline in the rice plants. Our work provides theoretical basis for expanding the use of M. robertsii as in situ Cd accumulation reduction and detoxification agents for rice in contaminated paddy fields.

Effectiveness of Lead and Cadmium Reduction with Adsorption Method using a Combination of Chitosan and Coffee Grounds (Case Study of Industrial Wastewater PT.X Indonesia)

PT. X Indonesia (PXI) is a company engaged in laboratory services in Bekasi Regency. Based on a preliminary study, the concentration of cadmium and lead in wastewater shows that it exceeds the quality standard of PerMenLHK No. P12 of 2020. The presence of cadmium and lead in PXI's wastewater must be resolved immediately to avoid dangerous human activities and polluting the environment. The research was initiated by taking wastewater samples and synthesizing the adsorbent from the combination of chitosan and activated carbon from coffee grounds. The method used in this study is an experimental approach with quantitative descriptive methods based on laboratory data using FT-IR, SEM EDX and AAS instruments. The results showed that chitosan biosorbent and 1.4-gram coffee grounds activated carbon resulted in the highest cadmium metal reduction efficiency of 94.35% and led to a metal reduction efficiency of 90.86%. The results concluded that the adsorbent of chitosan-activated carbon coffee grounds is very effective in reducing cadmium and lead metals in the wastewater of PXI. This research needs to follow up by increasing the mass of activated carbon of coffee grounds to meet quality standards.

Screening of Foliar Barrier Agents and Reduces the Absorption and Transport of Cd in Wheat.

Different foliar barrier agents (FBA) were used by foliar spraying in first season field and pot experiments to compare their effects on Cadmium (Cd) reduction in wheat grains. The best two FBA (50 µM SNP and 2 mM Na2EDTA) can significantly reduce Cd concentration in wheat grains, and the filling period was the most effective period for FBA application. Compared with the control (H2O), foliar spraying 50 µM SNP or 2 mM Na2EDTA inhibited the moving of Cd from the lower tissue to upper tissue in stem and also significantly reduced the Cd accumulation in grains. Furthermore, compared with normal wheat variety (AK58), foliar spraying 50 µmol SNP or 2 mM Na2EDTA as the best two FBA significantly reduced Cd concentration in shoots of Cd low accumulation varieties (HZB and HJBY), which can be used for the safe production of wheat in Cd-contaminated farmlands.

The effect of chelating agents including potassium tartrate and citrate on the maximum reduction of lead and cadmium during soaking and cooking from some different varieties of rice available in Iran.

This study aimed to determine the percentage of reduction of lead and cadmium by chelating agents (potassium tartrate and potassium citrate) in the steps of soaking, cooking, and simultaneous soaking and cooking in some varieties of rice for the first time. Each chemical experiment was performed in ten replications. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Agilent‐7700X ICP‐MS) was used to assess the complete Cd and Pb content in rice samples acid‐digested (500 mg dry‐sample, 9 ml HNO3: 3 ml HCl). The cooking‐only treatment was more successful in terms of lead reduction than the soaking‐only treatment in chelating agent‐containing solutions (either potassium tartrate or potassium citrate), though it had the same effect on cadmium reduction. Simultaneous soaking and cooking in chelating agents such as potassium tartrate and potassium citrate significantly reduced lead (reduction rate compared to control 99.43% with potassium tartrate and 98.96% with potassium citrate) and cadmium (reduction rate compared to control 95.13% with potassium tartrate and 92.77% with potassium citrate). Potassium tartrate outperforms potassium citrate in terms of lead reduction, but potassium tartrate is equivalent to potassium citrate in terms of cadmium reduction. Up to 200 ppm applicable chelating agents, sensory analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the treatments. In general, rice cookers are advised to use levels up to 200 ppm of citrate or potassium tartrate in combination in the 3‐hr rinsing period and then in the 15‐min cooking period to reduce the percentage of dangerous heavy metals, especially lead 99%–99.4% and cadmium 92.8%–95.1%.

Factors influencing the effectiveness of liming on cadmium reduction in rice: A meta-analysis and decision tree analysis

Lime is widely applied as a soil amendment to reduce the grain cadmium (Cd) content in rice production. However, the effectiveness of liming on grain Cd reduction is inconsistent and often cannot meet the safety requirements established for rice production. To identify the factors causing the effectiveness of liming to vary, we collected data from peer-viewed articles regarding lime application in paddy soils that were published during the last ten years. The average Cd reduction rates in rice grains after liming were -44% across all the studies considered, which could be broken down into -48% for pot experiments only and -42% for field trials only. The results of a meta-analysis and decision tree analysis indicated that the experiment type (field or pot), lime dosage, lime type (CaCO3, Ca(OH)2, or CaO), soil environment factors (soil pH, soil available Cd content, soil total Cd, and Zn content), and rice cultivar all influenced the effectiveness of liming. Recommendations were made to guide future liming practice, e.g., (1) using a larger lime dosage when applied to soil with pH<5.5, or soil with total Cd>1mg/kg or total Zn>200mg/kg; (2) using CaCO3 when applied with large dosages; and (3) planting low-Cd accumulation rice cultivars while applying lime. CAPSULE: A meta-analysis showed that the effectiveness of liming on rice grain Cd reduction was affected by the experiment type (field or pot), lime dosage, lime type, soil pH, rice cultivar, and soil total Cd and Zn content.

Periferik Vasküler Hastalığın Tedavisinde İloprost’tun Nitrik Oksit, Asimetrik Dimetilarjinin ve Serotonin’e Etkisi

Aim: In this study, it is aimed to investigate the efficacy of iloprost use in peripheral artery disease patients on the parameters involved in endothelial functions such as circulating acetyl dimethyl arginine (ADMA), serotonin and nitric oxide (NO).&#x0D; Patients and Methods: 30 patients (19 male, 11 female, age interval 60.7 ± 13.7) who were followed-up with the diagnosis of Fontaine III-IV disease and decided to receive a medical treatment were included in the study. Iloprost infusion was initiated as a 16-hour intravenous infusion at the dose of 0.5-1.5 ng / kg / min from the forearm veins and was given for 7 days. Blood was taken for ADMA, Serotonin and NO results before and after the treatment (8th day). Total nitrite (nitrite + nitrate) concentration was measured by the modified cadmium reduction method, ADMA and serotonin levels were measured by High Performance Liquid Chromotography (HPLC) method.&#x0D; Results: ADMA value before and after the iloprost treatment was decreased after the treatment and while this was statistically significant (p=0.001), the changes in serotonin (p=0.82) and NO (P= 0.16) values were found statistically insignificant. &#x0D; Conclisions: Peripheral arterial disease may be a parameter that can be taken into account in the evaluation of treatment for peripheral arterial disease and ADMA, which is considered to be an endothelial dysfunction indicator after iloprost treatment.

Correlation of HbA1c with atherogenic index of plasma and endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetic subjects

Introduction: Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is a well known initial stage of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in general population. Recently studies shown increased HbA1c is a marker for cardiovascular risk in subjects with diabetes and without diabetes. Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is another risk factor for cardiovascular events. Hence, the study has been designed to assess the correlation of HbA1c with AIP and ED in type-2 diabetic subjects to forecast risk of cardiovascular events. Materials and Methods: Hundred subjects are enrolled into study with the age of 38 to 58 years, among these 50 were type 2 diabetic subjects and 50 were healthy controls. HbA1c was estimated by immuno-turbidimetric method. Nitric oxide (NO) was measured by kinetic cadmium reduction method and AIP was calculated by standard formula Log (triglyceride/HDL-c). ‘Kruskal Wallis’ test was used to perform statistical variables between the study groups. The association between the variables was executed by “Pearson correlation test”. Result: HbA1c level was shown to be significantly higher in type-2 diabetic subjects than healthy controls. Significant lower level of NO was observed in type-2 diabetic subjects than healthy controls. AIP level was significantly higher in type-2 diabetic subjects than healthy controls. The present study also observed significant correlation of HbA1c with NO and AIP. Conclusion: We have found that HbA1c has significant correlation with NO and AIP. Therefore, estimation of HbA1c may be a predictable marker for cardiovascular events in type-2 diabetic subjects. Keywords: Glycated hemoglobin, Atherogenic index of plasma, Nitric oxide, Cardiovascular disease.

Development of a low-cost colorimeter and its application for determination of environmental pollutants

Herein, a novel colorimeter based on the Beer-Lambert law was designed for detection of environmental pollutants in water with a high precision, simple, and miniaturized device using a tetracycline-Eu3+ complex, cadmium reduction, diazotization, 1,10-phenanthroline, and periodate oxidation. The newly developed colorimeter could detect many environmental pollutants including tetracycline, nitrate, nitrite, Fe, and Mn, which were used to evaluate its performance. Simultaneously, a modified algorithm was applied to extend the linear response range. The colorimeter was comprised of an Red Green Blue Light Emitting Diode (RGB LED) light, focusing len, 3D printed stand for the cuvette, and light-sensitive photodiode detector. Microcontroller Arduino Uno processing technology was used to form a stable integrated structure. With the use of a novel algorithm, the device exhibited a wide linear response, ranging from 0–20, 0–17, 0–0.3, 0–1.75, and 0–15 mg/L for tetracycline, N-NO3-, N-NO2-, Fe, and Mn, respectively, and low limits of detection (0.88, 0.34, 0.031, 0.08, and 0.47 mg/L for tetracycline, N-NO3-, N-NO2-, Fe, and Mn, respectively). The advantages of high precision and low cost allow the novel design to be used for the detection of environmental pollutants.