Novel feature of nano‐titanium dioxide on textiles: Antifelting and antibacterial wool

In this study, the antifelting and antibacterial features of wool samples treated with nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) were evaluated. To examine the antifelting properties of the treated samples, the fabric shrinkage after washing was determined. The antimicrobial activity was assessed through the calculation of bacterial reduction against Escherichia coli (Gram‐negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram‐positive) bacteria. TiO₂ was stabilized on the wool fabric surface by means of carboxylic acids, including citric acid (CA) and butane tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA). Both oxidized samples with potassium permanganate and nonoxidized wool fabrics were used in this study. The relations between both the TiO₂ and carboxylic acid concentrations in the impregnated bath and the antifelting and antibacterial properties are discussed. With increasing concentration in the impregnated bath, the amount of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the surface of the wool increased; subsequently, lower shrinkage and higher antibacterial properties were obtained. The existence of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the surface of the treated samples was proven with scanning electron microscopy images and energy‐dispersive spectrometry. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Enhanced biosurfactant production with low-quality date syrup by Lactobacillus rhamnosus using a fed-batch fermentation

Food Science and Biotechnology - Novel strategies toward the use of low-cost media to produce food-grade microbial products have been considerably attended in recent years. In this study, date...     

Uremic pleuritis in chronic hemodialysis patients

Chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients are predisposed to several complications associated with pleural effusion. In addition, uremia can directly cause pleuritis. However, there are inadequate data about pathogenesis and natural course of uremic pleuritis. In this study, 76 chronic HD patients with pleural effusion admitted to the Respiratory Center of Masih Daneshvari Hospital, in Tehran, Iran between June 2005 and May 2011 were evaluated to figure out the etiology of their pleural disease. Among these patients, patients with uremic pleuritis were identified and studied. The rate of uremic pleuritis was 23.7%. Other frequent etiologies of pleural effusion were parapneumonic effusion (23.7%), cardiac failure (19.7%), tuberculosis (6.6%), volume overload, malignancy, and unknown. In patients with uremic pleuritis, dyspnea was the most common symptom, followed by cough, weight loss, anorexia, chest pain, and fever. Compared to patients with parapneumonic effusion, patients with uremic effusion had a significantly higher rate of dyspnea and lower rate of cough and fever. Pleural fluid analysis showed that these patients had a significantly lower pleural to serum lactic dehydrogenase ratio, total pleural leukocytes, and polymorphonuclear count compared to patients with parapneumonic effusion. Improvement was achieved in 94.1% of patients with uremic pleuritis by continuation of HD, chest tube insertion or pleural decortication; an outcome better than the previous reports. Despite the association with an exudative effusion, inflammatory pleural reactions in patients with uremic pleuritis may not be as severe as infection‐induced effusions. Owing to the advancement in HD technology and other interventions, outcome of uremic pleuritis may be improved.