The performance of a single-cell direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) using carbon nanotube-supported Pt–Ru (Pt–Ru/CNT) as an anode catalyst has been investigated. In this study, the Pt–Ru/CNT ...electrocatalyst was successfully synthesized using a modified polyol approach with a controlled composition very close to 20
wt.%Pt–10
wt.%Ru, and the anode was prepared by coating Pt–Ru/CNT electrocatalyst on a wet-proof carbon cloth substrate with a metal loading of about 4
mg
cm
−2. A commercial gas diffusion electrode (GDE) with a platinum black loading of 4
mg
cm
−2 obtained from E-TEK was employed as the cathode. The membrane electrode assembly (MEA) was fabricated using Nafion
® 117 membrane and the single-cell DMFC was assembled with graphite endplates as current collectors. Experiments were carried out at moderate low temperatures using 1
M CH
3OH aqueous solution and pure oxygen as reactants. Excellent cell performance was observed. The tested cell significantly outperformed a comparison cell using a commercial anode coated with carbon-supported Pt–Ru (Pt–Ru/C) electrocatalyst of similar composition and loading. High conductivity of carbon nanotube, good catalyst morphology and suitable catalyst composition of the prepared Pt–Ru/CNT electrocatalyst are considered to be some of the key factors leading to enhanced cell performance.
Chronic inflammation is a well‐recognized complication in dialysis patients and a potential role of the adipose tissue as an important tissue of origin contributing to inflammation has been proposed. ...Stable peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients were enrolled to investigate the relationship between serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and adipokines. Our results revealed that there was a strong association between high sensitivity C‐reactive protein and interleukin (IL)‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) but not with IL‐10 and IL‐18. IL‐6 correlated with TNF‐α, IL‐10, and IL‐18. No association was found between IL‐10 and IL‐18. Adiponectin was positively correlated with all proinflammatory cytokines, except IL‐10. No significant association was found between resistin and proinflammatory cytokines. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was directly related to proinflammatory cytokines but not with adipokines. The presence of residual kidney function (RKF) affected IL‐6, TNF‐α, and HGF levels. The peritoneal transport property did not influence inflammatory cytokine and adipokine levels. In conclusion, there was a close relationship between proinflammatory cytokines and adipokines. HGF correlated with proinflammatory cytokines but not with adipokines. The PD‐related factors such as RKF, peritoneal property and dialysis glucose load affected levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Body mass index was an important determinant of leptin and adiponectin in PD patients.
In this study, the fabrication of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) anode with the incorporation of a multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT)-supported high-metal-content Pt/Ru electrocatalyst, i.e., 40
...wt%Pt-20
wt%Ru/CNT, using a novel approach and the resultant DMFC performances were investigated. Employing a vacuum filtration method, we were able to successfully fabricate the DMFC anode with a good electrode structure using an in-house prepared Pt-Ru/CNT electrocatalyst. The catalyst layer was formed directly on a Teflon-treated carbon cloth having a buckypaper texture with a catalyst loading of 4.0
mg
cm
−2. From single-cell tests, excellent cell performances were obtained. At 80
°C, the power density was found to be as high as >100
mW
cm
−2. This can be attributed to a thinner catalyst layer formed with a more efficient utilization of the catalyst than that using a low-metal-content counterpart, i.e., 20
wt%Pt-10
wt%Ru/CNT, as reported in an earlier study. However, the Nafion
® ionomer content in the catalyst layer played a key role in the anode fabrication to obtain a good cell performance. In addition, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) with a constant phase element (CPE)-based equivalent-circuit model was employed to analyze the fabricated anode. It distinctively revealed some specific characteristics in the resistances and the interface properties. Overall, the obtained impedance results are somewhat different from those of a conventional DMFC anode with the catalyst layer coated onto a porous gas diffusion layer (GDL) on a carbon backing material. Based on the experimental results and the impedance analyses, the high-metal-content Pt-Ru/CNT catalyst was found to be much more favorable and suitable for use as a DMFC anode catalyst.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare and severe exfoliative skin disorder characterized as widespread epidermis destruction and is usually a drug-induced condition. TEN has a high mortality ...rate, and multisystemic involvement is very frequent. Gastrointestinal, respiratory, hepatic, pancreatic, ocular, and hematological disturbances are common complications of TEN. Here, we report on a 30-year-old male with TEN who developed concurrent rhabdomyolysis. The exact relationship between TEN and rhabdomyolysis remains unknown. Because of lack of underlying etiology, we hypothesized that rhabdomyolysis is a potential TEN-related complication.
To investigate white matter (WM) abnormalities in neocortical epilepsy, we extract supratentorial WM parameters from raw tensor magnetic resonance images (MRI) with automated region-of-interest (ROI) ...registrations. Sixteen patients having neocortical seizures with secondarily generalised convulsions and 16 age-matched normal subjects were imaged with high-resolution and diffusion tensor MRIs. Automated demarcation of supratentorial fibers was accomplished with personalized fiber-labeled atlases. From the individual atlases, we observed significant elevation of mean diffusivity (MD) in fornix (cres)/stria terminalis (FX/ST) and sagittal stratum (SS) and a significant difference in fractional anisotropy (FA) among FX/ST, SS, posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), and posterior thalamic radiation (PTR). For patients with early-onset epilepsy, the diffusivities of the SS and the retrolenticular part of the internal capsule were significantly elevated, and the anisotropies of the FX/ST and SS were significantly decreased. In the drug-resistant subgroup, the MDs of SS and PTR and the FAs of SS and PLIC were significantly different. Onset age was positively correlated with increases in FAs of the genu of the corpus callosum. Patients with neocortical seizures and secondary generalisation had microstructural anomalies in WM. The changes in WM are relevant to early onset, progression, and severity of epilepsy.
Accumulating evidence supports the important role of protein-bound uremic toxins such as indoxyl sulfate and p-cresol in uremic syndrome. They exert direct deleterious effects on a variety of cells ...and could link to clinical outcome. Factors relevant to indoxyl sulfate and p-cresol levels in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients have rarely been investigated. We conducted a cross-sectional study to analyze the factors that correlate with both total and free indoxyl sulfate and p-cresol.
182 stable PD patients with mean PD therapy duration 38.5 +/- 33.3 months were enrolled. Their mean age was 48.9 +/- 13.5 years; 62.6% (114/182) were female patients. Demographic data, including age, gender, and PD therapy duration, were reviewed and recorded. PD-associated features such as residual kidney function (RKF), peritoneal transport property, and dialysis modality were also recorded. Hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 were measured. Levels of total and free indoxyl sulfate and p-cresol were determined.
Patients without RKF had lower Kt/V and weekly creatinine clearance and higher serum creatinine and IL-6 levels. These patients also had higher total and free indoxyl sulfate levels. There was no difference in indoxyl sulfate or p-cresol levels compared to patients with different peritoneal transport properties or with different treatment modalities. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that weekly creatinine clearance and serum creatinine were independent associates of total indoxyl sulfate level; IL-6, total indoxyl sulfate, and free p-cresol were associated with free indoxyl sulfate level. Weekly creatinine clearance and free p-cresol level independently correlated with total p-cresol; while gender, total p-cresol, and free indoxyl sulfate were associated with free p-cresol level.
The free forms of indoxyl sulfate and p-cresol constituted a small portion of their total forms. The presence of RKF affected levels of free and total indoxyl sulfate. IL-6 level was significantly associated with free indoxyl sulfate level. There was a close relationship between indoxyl sulfate and p-cresol levels in their free forms in PD patients.
Drug hypersensitivity syndrome (DHS) is an idiosyncratic and life-threatening adverse drug reaction characterized by skin rash and multiorgan involvement. In rare cases, fulminant type1 diabetes ...mellitus (DM) may develop after DHS. Among proposed pathogenesis, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) infections may play a role in the development of DHS. We report a case of DHS associated with HHV-6 reactivation, complicated with a rare sequela of irreversible fulminant type 1 DM. No diabetes-related autoantibodies were detected. Early detection and intervention for this serious complication should be given in patients with DHS. Fulminant type1 DM associated with DHS is reviewed. The role of HHV-6 in DHS associated with fulminant type 1 DM is also discussed.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare but life-threatening skin disease that is most commonly drug-induced. It has recently been suggested that Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) belongs to the same ...group of skin disorders, although it has a lower mortality rate than TEN. We report the case of a 26-year-old male schizophrenic patient with a history of carbamazepine-induced SJS 5 years earlier. At the time of his current admission, he was admitted to our psychiatry department with acute agitation due to schizophrenia. However, the patient and his family denied history of drug allergy. After 3 days of carbamazepine treatment, the patient developed TEN (body surface area > 90%). He was transferred to the burn center, but despite appropriate treatment, including intravenous hydrocortisone 200 mg q6h and being covered with sterile biological material, he died. It is important to note that re-administration of a drug that previously caused SJS may lead to TEN, which has a very high mortality rate.
Background
Metastasis of mammary cancer involving the orbit is common, and it typically presents with enophthalmos and restrictions of ocular motility. We report a case of mammary cancer with the ...unusual presentation of unilateral periorbital edema only. The possible mechanisms of unilateral periorbital swelling are discussed.
Case
Metastasis of breast cancer involving unilateral eyelid edema was diagnosed in a 66-year-old woman. A biopsy was performed to confirm the etiology after vague neuroimaging findings. The diagnosis was based on the histopathologic features of carcinomatous cells in the excised specimen.
Observations
Insidious, progressive unilateral upper and lower eyelid swelling of the right eye disappeared after one cycle of palliative chemotherapy. Neither restriction nor proptosis developed in the whole course.
Conclusions
Possible metastasis should be considered as a possible etiology of unilateral eyelid edema, even without a palpable mass or limitation of ocular motility. A biopsy should be performed in cases of unexplained eyelid edema.
Abstract Motor involvement in acute herpes zoster does occur,but is rare. Most causes of zoster paresis are due to the extension of the inflammation to the anterior horn and/or anterior motor roots. ...We report a female patient with an unusual diaphragmatic paralysis caused by cervical herpes zoster. The lesion, diagnosed by MRI, involved the anterior horn of the cervical spinal cord.
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