Conventionally, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients are categorized into good-, intermediate- and poor-risk groups according to cytogenetic changes. However, patients with intermediate-risk ...cytogenetics represent a largely heterogeneous population regarding treatment response and clinical outcome. In this study, we integrated cytogenetics and molecular mutations in the analysis of 318 patients with de novo non-M3 AML who received standard chemotherapy. According to the mutation status of eight genes, including NPM1, CEBPA, IDH2, RUNX1, WT1, ASXL1, DNMT3A and FLT3, that had prognostic significance, 229 patients with intermediate-risk cytogenetics could be refinedly stratified into three groups with distinct prognosis (P<0.001); patients with good-risk genotypes had a favorable outcome (overall survival, OS, not reached) similar to those with good-risk cytogenetics, whereas those with poor-risk genotypes had an unfavorable prognosis (OS, 10 months) similar to those with poor-risk cytogenetics (OS, 13.5 months), and the remaining patients with other genotypes had an intermediate outcome (OS, 25 months). Integration of cytogenetic and molecular profiling could thus reduce the number of intermediate-risk AML patients from around three-fourth to one-fourth. In conclusion, integration of cytogenetic and molecular changes improves the prognostic stratification of AML patients, especially those with intermediate-risk cytogenetics, and may lead to better decision on therapeutic strategy.
Blood proteins adsorb onto the surface of nanoparticles after intravenous injection to form a protein corona. The underlying organization and binding function of these adsorbed proteins remain ...unclear. This can impact how the corona mediates cell and tissue interactions. Here, we investigated the function and structural organization of the protein corona using an immunoassay approach. We discovered that only 27% of the adsorbed proteins examined are functional for binding to their target protein. This is because the corona architecture is not a monolayer, but an assembly of proteins that are bound to each other. We further demonstrated that we can control the binding functionality of a protein by changing the organization of proteins in the assembly. We show that manipulation of the corona protein composition and assembly can influence their interactions with macrophage cells in culture. This study provides detailed functional and structural insights into the protein corona on nanomaterials and offers a new strategy to manipulate it for controlled interactions with the biological system.
•An overview of the fast-developing research field of MOF-derived catalysis is presented.•Design and synthesis of highly active MOF-derived catalysts are introduced.•The relation between the ...structure of MOF-derived catalysts and their reactivity is well reviewed.•MOF-derived catalysis for oxidation, epoxidation, reduction, cross-coupling reactions are presented.
Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and MOF-derived materials receive growing attention for fine chemical synthesis due to their versatile tunability and high catalytic activity, further, the MOF-derived materials allow high controllability in the design of catalyst systems for organic reactions. This review provides an overview of this fast-developing research field and presents how catalysts can be designed, and synthesis conditions can be adjusted to obtain highly active MOF-derived catalysts. Although diverse reactions are carried out using MOFs and MOF-derived catalysts such as oxidations and reductions of various functional groups, coupling reactions, acid- and base-catalysis, the understanding of the structure–reactivity relation is a major issue which needs to be addressed for the future development of competent MOF-derived catalysts. Especially in terms of sustainable and energy-efficient processes, catalysts are desired to perform under mild reaction conditions with high selectivity and stability. The chemical composition and the structural properties, such as surface area, porosity, and the dispersion of metal species on the MOF-derived support can be modified according to the desired applications. Thus, MOF-derived materials offer a versatile platform for the synthesis of efficient catalysts in the production of fine chemicals and their intermediates. In this review, an overview of contributions in the progress of the applications of MOF-derived materials in the field of fine chemicals and selected key intermediates, are presented and discussed.
The association between aging-related testosterone deficiency and late-onset hypogonadism in men remains a controversial concept. We sought evidence-based criteria for identifying late-onset ...hypogonadism in the general population on the basis of an association between symptoms and a low testosterone level.
We surveyed a random population sample of 3369 men between the ages of 40 and 79 years at eight European centers. Using questionnaires, we collected data with regard to the subjects' general, sexual, physical, and psychological health. Levels of total testosterone were measured in morning blood samples by mass spectrometry, and free testosterone levels were calculated with the use of Vermeulen's formula. Data were randomly split into separate training and validation sets for confirmatory analyses.
In the training set, symptoms of poor morning erection, low sexual desire, erectile dysfunction, inability to perform vigorous activity, depression, and fatigue were significantly related to the testosterone level. Increased probabilities of the three sexual symptoms and limited physical vigor were discernible with decreased testosterone levels (ranges, 8.0 to 13.0 nmol per liter 2.3 to 3.7 ng per milliliter for total testosterone and 160 to 280 pmol per liter 46 to 81 pg per milliliter for free testosterone). However, only the three sexual symptoms had a syndromic association with decreased testosterone levels. An inverse relationship between an increasing number of sexual symptoms and a decreasing testosterone level was observed. These relationships were independently confirmed in the validation set, in which the strengths of the association between symptoms and low testosterone levels determined the minimum criteria necessary to identify late-onset hypogonadism.
Late-onset hypogonadism can be defined by the presence of at least three sexual symptoms associated with a total testosterone level of less than 11 nmol per liter (3.2 ng per milliliter) and a free testosterone level of less than 220 pmol per liter (64 pg per milliliter).
Core–shell Fe3O4@silica magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with a strong base, triazabicyclodecene (TBD), were successfully synthesized for harvesting microalgae and for one‐pot ...microalgae‐to‐fatty acid methyl ester (FAME, or so‐called biodiesel) conversion. Three types of algae oil sources (i.e., dried algae, algae oil, and algae concentrate) were used and the reaction conditions were optimized to achieve the maximum biodiesel yield. The results obtained in this study show that our TBD‐functionalized Fe3O4@silica nanoparticles could effectively convert algae oil to biodiesel with a maximum yield of 97.1 %. Additionally, TBD‐Fe3O4@silica nanoparticles act as an efficient algae harvester because of their adsorption and magnetic properties. The method presented in this study demonstrates the wide scope for the use of covalently functionalized core–shell nanoparticles for the production of liquid transportation fuels from algal biomass.
Harvesting and fuelling: Core–shell Fe3O4@silica magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with a strong base, triazabicyclodecene (TBD), were successfully synthesized for harvesting microalgae and for one‐pot microalgae‐to‐fatty acid methyl ester (FAME, or so‐called biodiesel) conversion. Covalently functionalized core–shell nanoparticles have a large potential for the production of liquid transportation fuels from algal biomass.
Mesoporous carbon can be synthesized with good control of surface area, pore‐size distribution, and porous architecture. Although the relationship between porosity and supercapacitor performance is ...well known, there are no thorough reports that compare the performance of numerous types of carbon samples side by side. In this manuscript, we describe the performance of 13 porous carbon samples in supercapacitor devices. We suggest that there is a “critical pore size” at which guest molecules can pass through the pores effectively. In this context, the specific surface area (SSA) and pore‐size distribution (PSD) are used to show the point at which the pore size crosses the threshold of critical size. These measurements provide a guide for the development of new kinds of carbon materials for supercapacitor devices.
Designing supercapacitor materials: Several porous carbon samples were tested in supercapacitor devices. There is a “critical pore size” at which guest molecules can pass through the pores effectively. Measurements of specific surface area (SSA) and pore‐size distribution (PSD) provide a guide for the development of new kinds of carbon materials for supercapacitor devices (see figure).
Plastic waste is an emerging environmental issue for our society. Critical action to tackle this problem is to upcycle plastic waste as valuable feedstock. Thermochemical conversion of plastic waste ...has received growing attention. Although thermochemical conversion is promising for handling mixed plastic waste, it typically occurs at high temperatures (300–800 °C). Catalysts can play a critical role in improving the energy efficiency of thermochemical conversion, promoting targeted reactions, and improving product selectivity. This Review aims to summarize the state‐of‐the‐art of catalytic thermochemical conversions of various types of plastic waste. First, general trends and recent development of catalytic thermochemical conversions including pyrolysis, gasification, hydrothermal processes, and chemolysis of plastic waste into fuels, chemicals, and value‐added materials were reviewed. Second, the status quo for the commercial implementation of thermochemical conversion of plastic waste was summarized. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives of catalytic thermochemical conversion of plastic waste including the design of sustainable and robust catalysts were discussed.
Thermochemical conversion: Plastic waste is one of the most critical issues in recent years. Upcycle plastic waste as valuable feedstock has attracted huge attention. This Review summarizes thermochemical conversion methods that can convert plastic waste into energy, chemicals, and value‐added materials. It also highlights the recent development of catalytic thermochemical conversions and the current challenges of catalytic thermochemical conversion of plastic waste.
Nanoporous carbons with high surface area are achieved through direct carbonization of a commercially available zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) without any additional carbon sources. The ...resultant nanoporous carbons exhibit high electrochemical capacitances in an acidic aqueous electrolyte.
Fracture liaison services (FLS), implemented in different ways and countries, are reported to be a cost-effective or even a cost-saving secondary fracture prevention strategy. This presumed favorable ...cost-benefit relationship is encouraging and lends support to expanded implementation of FLS per International Osteoporosis Foundation Best Practice Standards. This study summarizes the economic impact and cost-effectiveness of FLS implemented to reduce subsequent fractures in individuals with osteoporosis. This systematic review identified studies reporting economic outcomes for FLS in osteoporotic patients aged 50 and older through a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, and PubMed of studies published January, 2000 to December, 2016. Grey literature (e.g., Google scholar, conference abstracts/posters) were also hand searched through February 2017. Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts and conducted full-text review on qualified articles. All disagreements were resolved by discussion between reviewers to reach consensus or by a third reviewer. In total, 23 qualified studies that evaluated the economic aspects of FLS were included: 16 cost-effectiveness studies, 2 cost-benefit analyses, and 5 studies of cost savings. Patient populations varied (prior fragility fracture, non-vertebral fracture, hip fracture, wrist fracture), and FLS strategies ranged from mail-based interventions to comprehensive nurse/physician-coordinated programs. Cost-effectiveness studies were conducted in Canada, Australia, USA, UK, Japan, Taiwan, and Sweden. FLS was cost-effective in comparisons with usual care or no treatment, regardless of the program intensity or the country in which the FLS was implemented (cost/QALY from $3023–$28,800 US dollars (USD) in Japan to $14,513–$112,877 USD in USA. Several studies documented cost savings. FLS, implemented in different ways and countries, are reported to be cost-effective or even cost-saving. This presumed favorable cost-benefit relationship is encouraging and lends support to expanded implementation of FLS per International Osteoporosis Foundation Best Practice Standards.
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