The diagnosis of iron disturbances usually includes the evaluation of serum parameters. Serum iron is assumed to be entirely bound to transferrin, and transferrin saturation-the ratio between the ...serum iron concentration and serum transferrin-usually reflects iron availability. Additionally, serum ferritin is commonly used as a surrogate of tissue iron levels. Low serum ferritin values are interpreted as a sign of iron deficiency, and high values are the main indicator of pathological iron overload. However, in situations of inflammation, serum ferritin levels may be very high, independently of tissue iron levels. This presents a particularly puzzling challenge for the clinician evaluating the overall iron status of the patient in the presence of an inflammatory condition. The increase in serum ferritin during inflammation is one of the enigmas regarding iron metabolism. Neither the origin, the mechanism of release, nor the effects of serum ferritin are known. The use of serum ferritin as a biomarker of disease has been rising, and it has become increasingly diverse, but whether or not it contributes to controlling the disease or host pathology, and how it would do it, are important, open questions. These will be discussed here, where we spotlight circulating ferritin and revise the recent clinical and preclinical data regarding its role in health and disease.
Osteopenia has been associated to several inflammatory conditions, including mycobacterial infections. How mycobacteria cause bone loss remains elusive, but direct bone infection may not be required.
...Genetically engineered mice and morphometric, transcriptomic, and functional analyses were used. Additionally, inflammatory mediators and bone turnover markers were measured in the serum of healthy controls, individuals with latent tuberculosis and patients with active tuberculosis.
We found that infection with
impacts bone turnover by decreasing bone formation and increasing bone resorption, in an IFNγ- and TNFα-dependent manner. IFNγ produced during infection enhanced macrophage TNFα secretion, which in turn increased the production of serum amyloid A (SAA) 3.
expression was upregulated in the bone of both
- and
-infected mice and SAA1 and 2 proteins (that share a high homology with murine SAA3 protein) were increased in the serum of patients with active tuberculosis. Furthermore, the increased SAA levels seen in active tuberculosis patients correlated with altered serum bone turnover markers. Additionally, human SAA proteins impaired bone matrix deposition and increased osteoclastogenesis
. Overall, we report a novel crosstalk between the cytokine-SAA network operating in macrophages and bone homeostasis. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms of bone loss during infection and open the way to pharmacological intervention. Additionally, our data and disclose SAA proteins as potential biomarkers of bone loss during infection by mycobacteria.
This study embarks on the synthesis of activated carbon (AC) from cashew nut shells using a potassium carbonate (K2CO3) activation process, with a specific focus on its practical application in ...high-pressure gas adsorption. Among the synthesized samples, MCAK85 emerged as the most efficient, demonstrating a specific surface area of 1693 m2/g and total and micropore volumes of 0.839 cm3/g and 0.641 cm3/g, respectively. Importantly, this bioorganic activated carbon exhibited high sorption capacities for CO2 and CH4, with uptake values of 11.0 mmol/g and 5.5 mmol/g at 10 bar at 25°C, and a CO2/CH4 selectivity range between 9.1 and 1.8. A comprehensive range of characterization techniques were employed to analyze the structural and chemical properties of the synthesized AC, providing valuable insights into the functional groups and molecular structure. The morphology of the AC was examined using SEM, while the point of zero charge was determined to understand the surface charge characteristics. Additionally, TGA was utilized to assess the thermal stability and composition of the AC. This study underscores the potential of utilizing agricultural waste, specifically cashew nut shells, in the creation of effective materials for gas storage and purification applications. The high-pressure adsorption capacity of the produced AC, coupled with its sustainable and eco-friendly nature, underscores its suitability for environmental and industrial applications, particularly in areas focusing on greenhouse gas capture and air purification, thereby inspiring further research and development in this field.
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•Cashew shells transformed into activated carbon, optimizing waste utilization.•MCAK85: Outstanding textural features - 1693 m2/g surface, 0.839 cm3/g pore volume.•MCAK85 shows high adsorption: 11.0 mmol/g CO2, 5.5 mmol/g CH4 uptake at 25°C, 10 bar.•MCAK85's attributes suggest environmental viability in gas storage and air purification.•Activated carbons exhibits CO2/CH4 selectivity from 9.1 to 1.8.
Cystic fibrosis is a monogenic disease with a multisystemic phenotype, ranging from predisposition to chronic lung infection and inflammation to reduced bone mass. The exact mechanisms unbalancing ...the maintenance of an optimal bone mass in cystic fibrosis patients remain unknown. Multiple factors may contribute to severe bone mass reduction that, in turn, have devastating consequences in the patients' quality of life and longevity. Here, we will review the existing evidence linking the CFTR dysfunction and cell-intrinsic bone defects. Additionally, we will also address how the proinflammatory environment due to CFTR dysfunction in immune cells and chronic infection impairs the maintenance of an adequate bone mass in CF patients.
The article deals with a class of Boussinesq system coupling two higher-order Benjamin–Bona–Mahony (BBM)-type equations. Introducing appropriate damping mechanisms, we study the asymptotic behavior ...in time of the corresponding damped models. This is done both in the case of internal and boundary damping. We first prove the global well-posedness of the systems and the convergence towards a solution which is null on a band. Then, applying a unique continuation property it follows that the origin is asymptotically stable for the damped models. Our proofs rely on the approach developed in Rosier (J Math Study 49:195–204, 2016) to study similar problems for the scalar BBM equation.
Biogas is a renewable fuel produced from modern biomass, yet biogas contains traces of hydrogen sulfide, a toxic compound, that must be removed before biogas usage. Here we review the removal of ...hydrogen sulfide by biological treatment, chemical treatment, porous solid treatment and photocatalysis. Adsorption and photocatalysis methods are compared by figures of merit calculations. Adsorption is used commercially but is limited by the lifespan of adsorbent materials. Photocatalysis appears as an affordable alternative, and the combination of adsorption and photocatalysis is promising. The figure of merit calculation appears as a good indicator of the performance of adsorbent materials and photocatalysts.
A jejunal diverticular haemorrhage is the second most common complication of jejunum diverticula. It can manifest clinically as acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding and is common to imitate acute ...rectal bleeding. Bleeding is usually associated with or without haemodynamic stability. Its diagnosis is challenging, requiring imaging examinations. Treatment is conservative management or surgery.
Cobalt–sarcophagine complexes exhibit high kinetic inertness under various stringent conditions, but there is limited literature on radiolabeling and in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) ...imaging using no carrier added 55Co. To fill this gap, this study first investigates the radiolabeling of DiAmSar (DSar) with 55Co, followed by stability evaluation in human serum and EDTA, pharmacokinetics in mice, and a direct comparison with 55CoCoCl2 to assess differences in pharmacokinetics. Furthermore, the radiolabeling process was successfully used to generate the NTSR1-targeted PET agent 55CoCo-NT-Sarcage (a DSar-functionalized SR142948 derivative) and administered to HT29 tumor xenografted mice. The 55CoCo-DSar complex can be formed at 37 °C with purity and stability suitable for preclinical in vivo radiopharmaceutical applications, and 55CoCo-NT-Sarcage demonstrated prominent tumor uptake with a low background signal. In a direct comparison with 64CuCu-NT-Sarcage, 55CoCo-NT-Sarcage achieved a higher tumor-to-liver ratio but with overall similar biodistribution profile. These results demonstrate that Sar would be a promising chelator for constructing Co-based radiopharmaceuticals including 55Co for PET and 58mCo for therapeutic applications.
