Esters of fatty acids, derived from vegetable oils or animal fats, and known as biodiesel, are a promising alternative diesel fuel regarding the limited resources of fossil fuels and the ...environmental concerns. In this work, methanolysis of soybean oil was investigated using Mg–Al hydrotalcites as heterogeneous catalyst, evaluating the effect of Mg/Al ratio on the basicity and catalytic activity for biodiesel production. The catalysts were prepared with Al/(Mg
+
Al) molar ratios of 0.20, 0.25 and 0.33, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), textural analysis (BET method) and temperature-programmed desorption of CO
2 (CO
2-TPD). When the reaction was carried out at 230
°C with a methanol:soybean oil molar ratio of 13:1, a reaction time of 1
h and a catalyst loading of 5
wt.%, the oil conversion was 90% for the sample with Al/(Mg
+
Al) ratio of 0.33. This sample was the only one to show basic sites of medium strength. We also investigated the reuse of this catalyst, the effect of calcination temperature and made a comparison between refined and acidic oil.
Aim
To evaluate the effectiveness of isopropyl alcohol, saline or distilled water to prevent the precipitate formed between sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and chlorhexidine (CHX) and its effect on the ...bond strength of an epoxy‐based sealer in radicular dentine.
Methodology
The root canals of 50 extracted human canines (n = 10) were instrumented. In G1, root canals were irrigated with 17% EDTA and 2.5% NaOCl; G2, as G1, except that 2% CHX was used as the final irrigant. In the other groups, intermediate flushes with isopropyl alcohol (G3), saline (G4) or distilled water (G5) were used between NaOCl and CHX. The specimens were submitted to SEM analysis to evaluate the presence of debris and smear layer, in the apical and cervical segments. In sequence, fifty extracted human canines were distributed into five groups (n = 10), similar to the SEM study. After root filling, the roots were sectioned transversally to obtain dentine slices, in the cervical, middle and apical thirds. The root filling was submitted to a push‐out bond strength test using an electromechanical testing machine. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn's tests (α = 5%).
Results
All groups had similar amounts of residue precipitated on the canal walls (P > 0.05). The push‐out bond strength values were similar for all groups, independently of the root third evaluated (P > 0.05).
Conclusions
Isopropyl alcohol, saline and distilled water failed to prevent the precipitation of residues on canal walls following the use of NaOCl and CHX. The residues did not interfere with the push‐out bond strength of the root filling.
The benefit of adding the antiangiogenic drug aflibercept to FOLFIRI regime in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients resistant to or progressive on an oxaliplatin-based therapy has been ...previously demonstrated. However, the absence of validated biomarkers to predict greater outcomes is a major challenge encountered when using antiangiogenic therapies. In this study we investigated profiles of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) to build predictive models of response to treatment and survival. Plasma was obtained from 98 metastatic CRC patients enrolled in a clinical phase II trial before receiving FOLFIRI plus aflibercept treatment, and the circulating levels of 754 individual miRNAs were quantified using real-time PCR. A distinct signature of circulating miRNAs differentiated responder from non-responder patients. Remarkably, most of these miRNAs were found to target genes that are involved in angiogenic processes. Accordingly, some of these miRNAs had predictive value and entered in predictive models of response to therapy, progression of disease, and survival of patients treated with FOLFIRI plus aflibercept. Among these miRNAs, circulating levels of hsa-miR-33b-5p efficiently discriminated between responder and non-responder patients and predicted the risk of disease progression. Moreover, the combination of circulating VEGF-A and miR-33b-5p levels improved clinical stratification of metastatic CRC patients who were to receive FOLFIRI plus aflibercept treatment. In conclusion, our study supports circulating miRNAs as valuable biomarkers for predicting better outcomes in metastatic CRC patients treated with FOLFIRI plus aflibercept.
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•Predict response to treatment is a challenge when using antiangiogenic therapies.•Aflibercept is an antiangiogenic VEGF-targeted agent for colorectal cancer.•Circulating miRNAs discerned responder from non-responder patients.•Combining VEGF-A and miR-33b-5p improves patient selection for aflibercept therapy.
This work aims at the soybean free fatty acid deoxygenation using palladium supported (1wt.%) on different clays as catalysts. The results presented a promising technology for the single-stage ...production of hydrocarbons in the diesel fuel range. Clays used as palladium support were a natural Brazilian Montmorillonite (BM), this same clay in its pillared form (PILCBM) and two commercial clays (K10 and KSF). Catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), FTIR spectra of adsorbed pyridine, CO chemisorption and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Reactions were carried out in batch mode, under different H2 pressures (10, 20, 30 and 40bar) at 300°C. Reactions performed using Pd/K10 as catalyst at 30bar of H2 presented interesting results: 74.5% conversion after 6h and selectivities to n- and i-alkanes equal to 69% and 29%, respectively.
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•Pd/clays were used as catalysts to transform free fatty acids in hydrocarbons.•n- and i-alkanes were obtained as main products when Pd/K10 was used as catalyst.•Efficient method to obtain high quality fuel from renewable raw material•Pd/K10 shows high activity–selectivity to produce hydrocarbons in the diesel range.
Injured patients with lung contusion (LC) are at risk of developing bacterial pneumonia (PNA) followed by sepsis and death. A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) showed FER gene expression ...positively correlating with survival rates among individuals with above conditions. We sought to determine whether electroporation (EP)-mediated delivery of FER gene could indeed improve survival, in a lethal model of combined LC and PNA. C57BL/6 mice sustained unilateral LC, which preceded a 500 Klebsiella colony forming unit (CFU) inoculation by 6 h. In-between these insults, human FER plasmid (pFER) was introduced into the lungs followed by eight EP pulses applied externally (10 ms at 200 V cm
). Control groups included EP of empty vector (pcDNA3) or Na
/K
-ATPase genes (pPump) and no treatment (LC+PNA). We recorded survival, histology, lung mechanics, bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, FER and inflammatory gene expression and bacteriology. The data show that 7-day survival was significantly improved by pFER compared with control groups. pFER increased BAL monocytes and activated antibacterial response genes (nitric oxide synthase (NOS), Fizz). pFER treatment showed decreased lung and blood Klebsiella counts reaching, in some cases, complete sterilization. In conclusion, FER gene delivery promoted survival in LC+PNA mice via recruitment of activated immune cells, improving efficiency of bacterial clearance within contused lung.
•Patients with COPD and controls underwent a sympathoexcitotary manoeuvre.•Microvascular blood flow and conductance decreased only in patients with COPD.•The decrease was similar between intercostal ...and vastus lateralis muscles.
Patients with COPD present with systemic vascular malfunctioning and their microcirculation is possibly more fragile to overcome an increase in the sympathetic vasoconstrictor outflow during sympathoexcitatory situations. To test the skeletal muscle microvascular responsiveness to sympathoexcitation, we asked patients with COPD and age- and sex-matched controls to immerse a hand in iced water Cold Pressor Test (CPT). Near-infrared spectroscopy detection of the indocyanine green dye in the intercostal and vastus lateralis microcirculation provided a blood flow index (BFI). BFI divided by mean blood pressure (MBP) provided an index of microvascular conductance (BFI/MBP). The CPT decreased BFI and BFI/MBP in the intercostal (P = 0.01 and < 0.01, respectively) and vastus lateralis (P = 0.08 and 0.03, respectively) only in the COPD group, and the per cent BFI and BFI/MBP decrease was similar between muscles (P = 0.78 and 0.85, respectively). Thus, our findings support that sympathoexcitation similarly impairs intercostal and vastus lateralis microvascular regulation in patients with COPD.
Scrap tyres are a growing environmental problem because they are not biodegradable and their components cannot readily be recovered. In this investigation, the thermochemical recycling of rubber from ...old tyres by pyrolysis and the value of the products obtained have been studied. First, thermobalance experiments were carried out, studying the influence of the following variables: heating rate, flow rate, particle size and temperature. These thermobalance results were extended by performing experiments in a fixed bed reactor, studying the effect of the main process variables on yields of derived products: oils, gases and solid residue. The oils have been characterized using a combination of analytical techniques (TLC–FID, GC–MS and simulated distillation). No relationship between functional group composition of the oils determined by TLC–FID and process variables was found. The carbonaceous material obtained was characterized by N
2 and CO
2 adsorption. The possible uses of this char have been analyzed taking into account and calculating the emissions that would be produced if the char were burnt.
Previously, we reported that electroporation-mediated (EP) delivery of the FER gene improved survival in a combined trauma-pneumonia model. The mechanism of this protective effect is unknown. In this ...paper, we performed a pneumonia model in C57/BL6 mice with 500 CFU of Klebsiella pneumoniae. After inoculation, a plasmid encoding human FER was delivered by EP into the lung (PNA/pFER-EP). Survival of FER-treated vs. controls (PNA; PNA/EP-pcDNA) was recorded. In parallel cohorts, bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) and lung were harvested at 24 and 72 h with markers of infection measured. FER-EP-treated animals reduced bacterial counts and had better 5-day survival compared to controls (80 vs. 20 vs. 25%; p < 0.05). Pre-treatment resulted in 100% survival. With FER, inflammatory monocytes were quickly recruited into BAL. These cells had increased surface expression for Toll-receptor 2 and 4, and increased phagocytic and myeloperoxidase activity at 24 h. Samples from FER electroporated animals had increased phosphorylation of STAT transcription factors, varied gene expression of IL1β, TNFα, Nrf2, Nlrp3, Cxcl2, HSP90 and increased cytokine production of TNF-α, CCL-2, KC, IFN-γ, and IL-1RA. In a follow-up experiment, using Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) similar bacterial reduction effects were obtained with FER gene delivery. We conclude that FER overexpression improves survival through STAT activation enhancing innate immunity and accelerating bacterial clearance in the lung. This constitutes a novel mechanism of inflammatory regulation with therapeutic potential in the setting of hospital-acquired pneumonia.
Objectives This study sought to evaluate the use of a continuous-flow rotary left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as a bridge to heart transplantation. Background LVAD therapy is an established ...treatment modality for patients with advanced heart failure. Pulsatile LVADs have limitations in design precluding their use for extended support. Continuous-flow rotary LVADs represent an innovative design with potential for small size and greater reliability by simplification of the pumping mechanism. Methods In a prospective, multicenter study, 281 patients urgently listed (United Network of Organ Sharing status 1A or 1B) for heart transplantation underwent implantation of a continuous-flow LVAD. Survival and transplantation rates were assessed at 18 months. Patients were assessed for adverse events throughout the study and for quality of life, functional status, and organ function for 6 months. Results Of 281 patients, 222 (79%) underwent transplantation, LVAD removal for cardiac recovery, or had ongoing LVAD support at 18-month follow-up. Actuarial survival on support was 72% (95% confidence interval: 65% to 79%) at 18 months. At 6 months, there were significant improvements in functional status and 6-min walk test (from 0% to 83% of patients in New York Heart Association functional class I or II and from 13% to 89% of patients completing a 6-min walk test) and in quality of life (mean values improved 41% with Minnesota Living With Heart Failure and 75% with Kansas City Cardiomyopathy questionnaires). Major adverse events included bleeding, stroke, right heart failure, and percutaneous lead infection. Pump thrombosis occurred in 4 patients. Conclusions A continuous-flow LVAD provides effective hemodynamic support for at least 18 months in patients awaiting transplantation, with improved functional status and quality of life. (Thoratec HeartMate II Left Ventricular Assist System LVAS for Bridge to Cardiac Transplantation; NCT00121472 )
For intertidal fishes belonging to three species, the herbivore Scartichthys viridis (Blenniidae), the omnivore Girella laevifrons (Kyphosidae) and the carnivore Graus nigra (Kyphosidae), mass and ...body size relationships were higher in individuals from an upwelling zone compared with those from a non‐upwelling zone. RNA:DNA were higher in the herbivores and omnivores from the upwelling zone. Higher biomass and RNA:DNA in the upwelling intertidal fishes may be a consequence of an increased exposure to higher nutrient availability, suggesting that increased physiological conditioning in vertebrates from upwelling areas can be detected and measured using intertidal fishes of different trophic levels.
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