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Germanium (Ge) is one of the critical elements that lack an efficient economic recovery process from dilute sources. An improved catechol-based adsorbent, catechol-functionalized chitosan (C–Cat), was synthesized to recover germanium (Ge) from dilute acidic solutions. The adsorbent was also compared with an N-methylglucamine-based commercial adsorbent (Purolite S108) for optimum pH conditions, ion selectivity, adsorption isotherm, adsorption kinetics, and regeneration ability. The newly synthesized C–Cat exhibited higher selectivity against various competing ions than the commercial one (their respective Langmuir capacity was 22.72 and 79.66 mg/g at pH 3) and was more selective for Ge than other adsorbents reported in the literature. Linear free-energy relationships between the distribution coefficients and the metal hydrolysis constants were developed for both C–Cat and S108 at pH 3 and can be used for preliminary prediction of the selectivity of the adsorbents. Adsorptions data followed Langmuir isotherm for both adsorbents, and the kinetics data were well-fitted with pseudo-second-order kinetics. The C–Cat was proven to be completely reusable for multiple cycles after initial re-equilibration.

Sickle cell disease is a major public health problem in India. Lack of rapid and reliable diagnostic methods result in many avoidable deaths in affected population. Current diagnostic tools are laboratory based, expensive and need trained manpower. Here, we evaluated the performance of a microchip-based cellulose acetate electrophoresis test, “Gazelle” in the tribal-dominated Indian states of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. A total of 1,050 patients were screened by sickle cell solubility, hemoglobin (cellulose acetate) electrophoresis, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Gazelle. Of the total 1,027 test results obtained, 960 tests were “Valid” (93.5%) and included in the analysis. Gazelle identified all patients with disease (HbSS and Thalassemia Major) with 100% accuracy. Gazelle demonstrated 100% sensitivity when comparing sickle cell disease (SCD) vs. sickle cell trait and SCD vs. normal. Specificity was 98.9% and 99.5% when comparing SCD vs. trait and trait vs. normal, respectively. Specificity was 99.8% when comparing SCD vs. normal and sensitivity was 99.3% when comparing trait vs. normal. Overall, Gazelle yielded a high accuracy (99.0%) compared to reference standard tests (hemoglobin electrophoresis and HPLC). Gazelle is a low-cost, rapid diagnostic test with high accuracy for detecting SCD both quantitatively and qualitatively. Gazelle can be a potential screening tool for the rapid diagnosis in resource limited settings and developing countries with high burden of hemoglobin disorders.

Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS) presents with the classic triad of iron-deficiency anemia, dysphagia, and esophageal webs. The mainstay treatment of PVS is iron supplementation and the dysphagia usually responds to iron supplementation before the hematologic abnormalities are corrected. This syndrome classically affects middle-aged Caucasian women and very few cases have been reported in African Americans. We present a rare case of PVS in an African-American woman. A 63-year-old woman presented with shortness of breath, dysphagia, and lightheadedness for several weeks. Chest X-ray was negative for any acute abnormalities. Initial hemoglobin was 7.0 g/dL, which improved to 7.5 g/dL after 1 unit of packed red blood cells. She had a mean corpuscular volume of 62 fL, a ferritin level of 6 ng/mL, and an iron level of 12 μg/dL. Fecal occult blood test was negative and barium swallow revealed a proximal esophageal web. Her dysphagia did not significantly improve despite intravenous iron supplementation and esophageal web dilation. Video-fluoroscopic swallow study revealed esophageal and pharyngeal phase dysphagia with food entrapment. She was discharged with plans to follow up with a primary care physician and repeat esophagogastroduodenoscopy in 1 year. This case report highlights a rare case of PVS in an African-American woman and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a comprehensive and broad differential diagnosis.

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