A mini review on chemical fixation of CO 2 : Absorption and catalytic conversion into cyclic carbonates

In this article, we present our research results on chemical fixation of CO₂ using organobismuth compounds. We fabricated bismuth biphenoate complex, Zn-Mg-Al composite oxides, and SBA-15 or Al-SBA-15 immobilized hydroxyl ionic liquid for CO₂ cycloaddition onto epoxides. The hypervalent bismuth compounds show good ability for association and dissociation with CO₂. The bismuth biphenolate complexes are catalytically effective for the cycloaddition reaction. The heterogeneous catalysts, viz. Zn-Mg-Al oxides and SBA-15 or Al-SBA-15 immobilized ionic liquid, are efficient for the synthesis of cyclic carbonate from CO₂ and epoxide. It is found that the presence of a trace amount of water can improve the catalytic activity of the immobilized ionic liquid.     

AN ENVIRONMENTAL RATIONALE: STRATEGIES TO RECONCILE THE GRADUATED INTEREST OF NORTHWESTERN CHINA’S ECO-MODERNIZATION PROGRAMS

From 1980 to 2010, the Chinese government introduced a set of environmental programs across northwestern China, including Three-North Shelterbelt Program, Suspended Village Migration, 1236 Yellow River Irrigation Program, Natural Forest Protection Program, Sloping Land Conversion Program, and Converting Pastures to Grasslands Program. Focusing on the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, this paper explores the overlaps and frictions between China’s large environmental programs, and reveals some of the limitations of these programs in the eco-modernization framework by studying the graduated interest under agricultural comprehensive development and scenarios in three case studies. Compared with the insights from eco-modernization, the conservation refugee and eco-refugee binary framework could review complex interaction and overlapping histories from these coexisting programs, so that resources could be distributed better and alternative ways of greening work of northwestern china could be explored.     

Acute respiratory distress syndrome: CT abnormalities at long-term follow-up

Photochemical thrombotic ischemia model was used to study the possible roles of excision repair cross-complementing group 6 (ERCC6), a DNA repair gene, in the neuroprotection of dextromethorphan (DM), a NMDA antagonist, in ischemic brain injury. The results showed that no obvious ERCC6 mRNA expression was found in the perifocal area of irradiated cerebral cortex before 24 h postischemia. Then, the number of ERCC6 mRNA positive cells gradually enhanced, and attained a peak value at 72 h after light irradiation, which followed a declined tendency at 7-day postlesion. These results suggest that DNA repair gene ERCC6 mRNA expression in the perifocal area may be involved in the pathophysiological processes following the photochemical thrombotic cerebral ischemia. By the administration of DM, we observed that it can significantly upregulate the expression of ERCC6 mRNA in the perifocal area at 48 h after ischemic event. The neuroprotective mechanisms of DM may be related to the upregulation of DNA repair gene ERCC6 mRNA.     

Sources of error in the pre-analytical phase of blood gas analysis

Analysis of blood gases and blood pH yield important information in many situations of clinical emergencies. We report on a patient in whom pre-analytic errors in blood gas and blood pH measurements resulted in unnecessary further investigations. We therefore studied various pre-analytic sources of error in blood pH and blood gas analysis. Delay in sample processing for more than one hour resulted in an increase of pO2 and pCO2 and a decrease of pH. Excess sodium heparin solution as an anticoagulant (> or = 10% of total volume) led to a significant decrease of pH and pCO2 and to an increase of pO2. Air bubbles (10% of total volume) left in the syringe for 10 min significantly increased pO2. For accurate estimations of pO2, pCO2 and pH, it is necessary to keep the heparin solution below 10% of total volume, to expel all air bubbles from the syringe and to process the blood sample within one hour. Instructions to medical staff on handling blood samples for blood gas analysis should include these possible sources of errors.     

Comparative concentration of serum free amino acids in patients with incipient and manifest organic neuropsychiatric disorders of vascular origin

The authors conducted a study of the quantitative content of amino acids in the blood serum of patients with initial and expressed organic neuro-psychic disorders of a vascular genesis and in a group of normals of the same age. In patients with initial organic syndromes the content of cystin-cystein and treonine in the blood serum increased. In patients with expressed organic syndromes the content of cystin-cystein increased, while the content of arginine acid and leicyn-isoleicyn decreased as compared to the control group of elderly people. A comparative study of the two groups of patients with organic psychopathology of a vascular origin demonstrated that in vascular dementia there are more severe changes in the content of amino acids in the blood serum.     

Adaptive evolution of human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 during the natural course of infection

The rate of progression to disease varies considerably among individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1). Analyses of semiannual blood samples obtained from six infected men showed that a rapid rate of CD4 T cell loss was associated with relative evolutionary stasis of the HIV-1 quasispecies virus population. More moderate rates of CD4 T cell loss correlated with genetic evolution within three of four subjects. Consistent with selection by the immune constraints of these subjects, amino acid changes were apparent within the appropriate epitopes of human leukocyte antigen class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Thus, the evolutionary dynamics exhibited by the HIV-1 quasispecies virus populations under natural selection are compatible with adaptive evolution.     

Anti-nutritional constituents of six underutilized legumes grown in Nigeria

Six underutilized legume seeds grown in Nigeria namely, red and white lima beans, brown and cream pigeon pea, African yam bean and jackbean were analysed for different anti-nutritional factors Sojasapogenol B was identified as the predominant sapogenol in lima beans and jackbeans by capillary gas chromatography. The content of total inositol phosphates and individual inositol phosphates (IP6, IP5, IP4 and IP3) were analysed by ion-pair HPLC, being in the range of other legumes. Trace quantities of lupanine were identified as the alkaloid in jackbean. alpha-Galactosides were present in all the legume seeds, stachyose being the predominant galactoside in lima beans, African yam bean and jackbean, and verbascose in pigeon pea. The haemagglutinating activity was estimated as a measure of the lectin content of the samples. African yam bean was found to have the highest heamagglutinating activity. Tannins were found to be in low quantities. The presence of these anti-nutrients in relation to the nutritional value of the legume is discussed.     

Tooth recontouring/reshaping a must in the preparation for removable partial denture

OBJECTIVE: To assess the extent of functional and vocational rehabilitation achieved by elderly inner-city patients sustained on maintenance hemodialysis. DESIGN: Inception cohort study of elderly patients who have end-stage renal disease using a modified Karnofsky rating system. The need for a wheelchair, participation in household activities, and effect of comorbid conditions were noted. Current status was compared with patient's recollection of functional activity level 2 years before commencing maintenance hemodialysis. SETTING: Seven outpatient, hospital-affiliated and private hemodialysis units in Brooklyn, NY. PATIENTS: One hundred four patients aged 65 years or older who were receiving maintenance hemodialysis for at least 6 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A score of 76 or greater on a modified Karnofsky scale indicated independent function at a level that permitted participation in activities beyond those mandated by the hemodialysis regimen. A comorbidity score 6 or greater on a newly constructed index correlated with severe debility. Employment status was also recorded. RESULTS: Present functional activity had deteriorated to a modified Karnofsky score of 66 +/- 12.3 (+/- SD) compared with patients' recollection of a mean score of 84 +/- 14.3 (P < .001) 2 years before initiation of hemodialysis. Diabetic patients had a lower score than nondiabetic patients. The mean comorbidity index of the entire study group was 7.8 +/- 2.9 (mean +/- SD). Within the diabetic subset, severe debility constrained 71 patients (68%) to limit all activity to their residence with the exception of travel to and from their dialysis facility. By contrast, 2 years prior to commencing dialytic therapy, 81 diabetic patients (78%) had interests and activities that took them outside their homes (P < .001). Generalized weakness was the most common explanation given for the lack of outside activity by nine patients (9%) who were wheelchair bound. Erythropoietin, though regularly administered to 87 patients (84%) in the study group, was unsuccessful in raising mean hematocrit reading above 0.28 +/- 0.05 (mean +/- SD). CONCLUSIONS: Maintenance hemodialysis does not return inner-city elderly patients to their predialysis level of functioning. Few elderly, diabetic hemodialysis patients conduct any substantive portion of their lives outside their homes. For nondiabetic patients, the modified Karnofsky score of whites (70.4 +/- 11.9) and blacks (66.5 +/- 15.3), though low, was equivalent (P < .4).     

Anastrozole versus megestrol acetate in the treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced breast carcinoma: results of a survival update based on a combined analysis of data from two mature phase III trials. Arimidex Study Group

BACKGROUND: This report presents the results of a survival update based on the combined data from two studies that compared the efficacy and tolerability of anastrozole (1 or 10 mg once daily), a selective, nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor administered orally, and megestrol acetate (40 mg 4 times daily) in the treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced breast carcinoma whose disease had progressed after treatment with tamoxifen. METHODS: Two randomized, parallel-group, multicenter trials were conducted, involving a total of 764 patients. The two trials were identical in design; both were double blind for anastrozole and open label for megestrol acetate. Overview analyses were conducted with the intent of strengthening the interpretation of results from each trial. The median follow-up duration for this survival update was 31 months. RESULTS: At the clinical dose of 1 mg daily, anastrozole demonstrated a statistically significant survival advantage over megestrol acetate, with a hazard ratio of 0.78 (P < 0.025)(0.60 < 97.5% confidence interval [CI] <1.0). The 1 mg anastrozole group also had a longer median time to death (26.7 months) compared with 22.5 months for the megestrol acetate group. The 10 mg anastrozole group also had a survival benefit over the megestrol acetate group, with a hazard ratio of 0.83 (P=0.09, not significant)(0.64 < 97.5% CI < 1.1). Higher 2-year survival rates were observed for both anastrozole treatment groups than for the megestrol acetate group (56.1%, 54.6%, and 46.3% for the groups given 1 mg anastrozole, 10 mg anastrozole, and megestrol acetate, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This combined analysis of two trials of postmenopausal patients with advanced breast carcinoma has clearly demonstrated that, after disease progression with tamoxifen, treatment with anastrozole 1 mg once daily results in a statistically and clinically significant advantage over a standard treatment, megestrol acetate. This important benefit, in addition to the good tolerability profile of anastrozole, supports the use of this drug as a valuable new treatment option for this patient population.