We investigated the effects of obesity on metabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress parameters in the adipose tissue of patients with fatal COVID‐19. Postmortem biopsies of subcutaneous adipose ...tissue were obtained from 25 unvaccinated inpatients who passed from COVID‐19, stratified as nonobese (N‐OB; body mass index BMI, 26.5 ± 2.3 kg m−2) or obese (OB BMI 34.2 ± 5.1 kg m−2). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that body composition was responsible for most of the variations detected in the metabolome, with greater dispersion observed in the OB group. Fifteen metabolites were major segregation factors. Results from the OB group showed higher levels of creatinine, myo‐inositol, O‐acetylcholine, and succinate, and lower levels of sarcosine. The N‐OB group showed lower levels of glutathione peroxidase activity, as well as higher content of IL‐6 and adiponectin. We revealed significant changes in the metabolomic profile of the adipose tissue in fatal COVID‐19 cases, with high adiposity playing a key role in these observed variations. These findings highlight the potential involvement of metabolic and inflammatory pathways, possibly dependent on hypoxia, shedding light on the impact of obesity on disease pathogenesis and suggesting avenues for further research and possible therapeutic targets.
To investigate the adhesion of Acanthamoeba to scleral contact lens (ScCL) surface according to lens shape.
Two strains of A. polyphaga (CDC:V062 and ATCC 30461) and one clinical Acanthamoeba ...isolate, were inoculated onto five contact lens (CL): one first-generation silicone hydrogel (SHCL; lotrafilcon B; adhesion control) containing plasma surface treatment; two ScCL (fluorosilicone acrylate) one containing surface treatment composed of plasma and the other containing plasma with Hydra-PEG, and two CL designed with a flat shape having the same material and surface treatments of the ScCL. Trophozoites that adhered to the lens's surfaces were counted by inverted optical light microscopy. Possible alterations of the lens surface that could predispose amoeba adhesion and Acanthamoeba attached to these lens surfaces were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
All strains revealed greater adhesion to the ScCL when compared with the flat lenses (P < 0.001). The clinical isolate and the ATCC 30461 had a higher adhesion (P < 0.001) when compared with the CDC:V062. A rough texture was observed on the surface of the lenses that have been examined by SEM. Also, SEM revealed that the isolates had a rounded appearance on the surface of the ScCL in contrast with an elongated appearance on the surface of the silicone hydrogel.
The findings revealed that the curved shape of the ScCL favors amoeba adhesion.
Research on the use of biomass resources for the generation of energy and chemical compounds is of great interest worldwide. The development and growth of the biodiesel industry has led to a parallel ...market for the supply of glycerol, its main by-product. Its wide availability and relatively low cost as a raw material make glycerol a basic component for obtaining various chemical products and allows for the development of a biorefinery around biodiesel plants, through the technological integration of different production processes. This work proposes a review of one of the reactions of interest in the biorefinery environment: the hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,2-propylene glycol. The article reviews more than 300 references, covering literature from about 20 years, focusing on the heterogeneous catalysts used for the production of glycol. In this sense, from about 175 catalysts, between bulk and supported ones, were revised and discussed critically, based on noble metals, such as Ru, Pt, Pd, and non-noble metals as Cu, Ni, Co, both in liquid (2-10 MPa, 120-260 °C) and vapor phase (0.1 MPa, 200-300 °C). Then, the effect of the main operational and decision variables, such as temperature, pressure, catalyst/glycerol mass ratio, space velocity, and H
flow, are discussed, depending on the reactors employed. Finally, the formulation of several kinetic models and stability studies are presented, discussing the main deactivation mechanisms of the catalytic systems such as coking, leaching, and sintering, and the presence of impurities in the glycerol feed. It is expected that this work will serve as a tool for the development of more efficient catalytic materials and processes towards the future projection of glycerol biorefineries.
