Search

ROS1 rearrangements are considered rare in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This retrospective real-world study aimed to evaluate first-line treatment with crizotinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) standard of care vs. new generation ROS1 anti-cancer agents. Forty-nine ROS1-expressing NSCLC patients, diagnosed with advanced metastatic disease, were included. Molecular profiling using either FISH/CISH or NGS was performed on tissue samples. Twenty-eight patients were treated with crizotinib, while fourteen patients were administered newer drugs (entrectinib, repotrectinib) and seven patients received platinum-doublet chemotherapy in a first-line setting. Overall response rate and disease control rate for the crizotinib and entrectinb/repotrectinib cohort were 68% and 82% vs. 86% and 93%, respectively. Median progression free survival was 1.6 years (95% CI 1.15–2.215) for the crizotinib treatment vs. 2.35 years for the entrectinib/repotrectinib cohort (95% CI 1.19–3.52). Central nervous system progression was noted in 20% and 25% of the crizotinib and entrectinib/repotrectinib cohorts, respectively. This multi-center study presents real-world treatment patterns of ROS1 NSCLC population, indicating that crizotinib exhibited comparable results to entrectinib/repotrectinib in a first-line setting, although both response rate and survival was numerically longer with treatment with newer agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Salud Pública de México is the property of Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This contribution aims at systematically determining the extent of classified areas in two-phase releases of pure components. To this end, a novel algorithm is proposed to ensure all proper steps are taken toward accurately computing the required properties of the resulting cloud. The intended framework is based on a refined one-dimensional dispersion model that accommodates (1) the influence of the vapor component on the energy balance of the two-phase jet model; (2) new decay constants to calculate velocity, concentration, and temperature profiles; (3) a new normalization ratio to compute the temperature along the centerline; and (4) a new correlation for the entrainment coefficient in the two-phase region. It was found that the entrainment coefficient ( α 1 ) correlates linearly with the orifice Reynolds number ( R e e ), with a coefficient of determination R 2 > 0.98 . Altogether, these modifications produced results that are in very good agreement with (scarce) experimental data available in the literature. The calculated release rates were only (on average) 9% off from measured data. The temperature profiles at the centerline compared well with the experimental data, with very small relative squared error R S E < 0.10 . The hope is that this simple algorithm can predict within reasonable precision the reach of the hazardous cloud in open field situations. In particular, it was observed an average reduction of about 55% in the hazardous extent vis-à-vis the computations by the IEC 60079–10-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The occurrence and severity of osteonecrosis in sickle cell anaemia (SCA) vary due to risk factors, including genetic modifiers. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), particularly BMP6, and the vitamin D receptor (VDR) play key roles in cartilage and bone metabolism, making them potential contributors to orthopaedic outcomes in SCA. Here, we evaluated the association of polymorphisms in BMP6 (rs3812163, rs270393 and rs449853) and VDR (FokI rs2228570 and Cdx2 rs11568820) genes with osteonecrosis risk in a Brazilian SCA cohort. A total of 177 unrelated SCA patients were selected. The AA genotype of BMP6 rs3812163 was independently associated with a lower osteonecrosis risk (p = 0.015; odds ratio (OR): 0.38; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18–0.83) and with the long‐term cumulative incidence of osteonecrosis (p = 0.029; hazard ratio: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.34–0.94). The VDR rs2228570 TT genotype was independently associated with a lower osteonecrosis risk (p = 0.039; OR: 0.14; 95% CI: 0.02–0.90). In summary, our results provide evidence that BMP6 rs3812163 and the VDR rs2228570 might be implicated in osteonecrosis pathophysiology in SCA and might help identify individuals at high risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous catalysts containing cobalt and molybdenum supported on mesoporous materials types SBA-15 and AlSBA-15 were synthesized for application in the HDS reactions of thiophene in the n-heptane stream. The materials were synthesized by the hydrothermal method using Pluronic P123 as a template. The calcined SBA-15 and AlSBA-15 supports were submitted to co-impregnation with solutions of cobalt nitrate and ammonium heptamolybdate, aiming for the production of 15% in mass of metal loading with an atomic ratio of [Co/(Co + Mo)] = 0.45. The obtained materials were dried and calcined to obtain the mesoporous catalysts in the forms of CoMo/SBA-15 and CoMo/AlSBA-15. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, TG/DTG, SEM, and nitrogen adsorption. From XRD analysis, it was verified that after the decomposition of the cobalt and molybdenum salts, MoO3, Co3O4, and CoMoO4 oxides were formed on the supports, being attributed to these chemical species, the activity for the HDS reactions. The catalytic activity of the obtained catalysts was evaluated in a continuously flowing tubular fixed-bed microreactor coupled on-line to a gas chromatograph, using an n-heptane stream containing 12,070 ppm of thiophene (ca. 5100 ppm of sulfur) as a model compound. The synthesized catalysts presented suitable activity for the HDS reaction, and the main obtained products were cis- and trans-2-butene, 1-butene, n-butane, and low amounts of isobutane. The presence of 1,3-butadiene and tetrahydrothiophene (THT) was not detected. A mechanism of the primary and secondary reactions and subsequent formation of the olefins and paraffins in the CoMo/SBA-15 and CoMo/AlSBA-15 mesoporous catalysts was proposed, considering steps of desulfurization, hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, THT decyclization, and isomerization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of encrypted fragments with antimicrobial activity in human proteins has been thoroughly demonstrated in the literature. Recently, algorithms for the large‐scale identification of these segments in whole proteomes were developed, and the pervasiveness of this phenomenon was stated. These algorithms typically mine encrypted cationic and amphiphilic segments of proteins, which, when synthesized as individual polypeptide sequences, exert antimicrobial activity by membrane disruption. In the present report, the human reference proteome was submitted to the software kamal for the uncovering of protein segments that correspond to putative intragenic antimicrobial peptides (IAPs). The assessment of the identity of these segments, frequency, functional classes of parent proteins, structural relevance, and evolutionary conservation of amino acid residues within their corresponding proteins was conducted in silico. Additionally, the antimicrobial and anticancer activity of six selected synthetic peptides was evaluated. Our results indicate that cationic and amphiphilic segments can be found in 2% of all human proteins, but are more common in transmembrane and peripheral membrane proteins. These segments are surface‐exposed basic patches whose amino acid residues present similar conservation scores to other residues with similar solvent accessibility. Moreover, the antimicrobial and anticancer activity of the synthetic putative IAP sequences was irrespective to whether these are associated to membranes in the cellular setting. Our study discusses these findings in light of the current understanding of encrypted peptide sequences, offering some insights into the relevance of these segments to the organism in the context of their harboring proteins or as separate polypeptide sequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Thrombotic events are a common problem for lung cancer patients. Compared to other types of cancer, lung cancer patients are more likely to experience blood clots at any stage of their disease. Some newer cancer treatments, like immunotherapy, can also raise the risk of thrombosis. Two different categories of drugs that prevent the formation of blood clots, low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), have similar benefits in walking patients. The choice of which drug to use and when should be personalized based on the characteristics of the patient, the type of lung cancer, as well as recent treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy or immunotherapy. The use of models that aim to predict the risk of blood clots for each patient may help physicians choose when to start treatment with anticoagulation drugs. Cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) is a common complication in lung cancer patients. Lung cancer confers an increased risk of thrombosis compared to other solid malignancies across all stages of the disease. Newer treatment agents, including checkpoint immunotherapy and targeted agents, may further increase the risk of CAT. Different risk-assessment models, such as the Khorana Risk Score, and newer approaches that incorporate genetic risk factors have been used in lung cancer patients to evaluate the risk of thrombosis. The management of CAT is based on the results of large prospective trials, which show similar benefits to low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in ambulatory patients. The anticoagulation agent and duration of therapy should be personalized according to lung cancer stage and histology, the presence of driver mutations and use of antineoplastic therapy, including recent curative lung surgery, chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Treatment options should be evaluated in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been shown to impact the thrombotic risk in cancer patients. This review focuses on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, novel predictive scores and management of CAT in patients with active lung cancer, with a focus on immune checkpoint inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern times have required studies that take into account the main soil features, aligning the use of land with the protection of more sensitive environments. From this perspective, this study aimed to perform a morphological description and determine the physical and chemical attributes for soil classification in the community of Poção, located in the municipality of Martins/RN, by highlighting the more sensitive attributes in the differentiation of environments through multivariate analysis. Nine soil profiles were identified to perform the morphological description and collect samples for physical and chemical analyses. The study updates the soil classes found in the study area: Acrisols, Planosols, and Cambisols, with the relief being the main factor responsible for the difference between soil attributes. The influence of organic matter on the soil attributes highlights the importance of its maintenance. Aluminum and the clay fraction are responsible for the distinction of the Acrisol class, whereas silt, potassium sodium, total organic carbon, the electrical conductivity of the saturation extract, and the cation exchange capacity allow the differentiation of Fluvisols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BRAF and cMET exon 14 skipping are rare mutations of NSCLC. The treatment sequence in these cases for the first and second line is not clear. An international registry was created for patients with advanced NSCLC harboring BRAF or cMET exon 14 skipping mutations, diagnosed from January 2017 to June 2022. Clinicopathological and molecular data and treatment patterns were recorded. Data on 58 patients, from eight centers across five countries, were included in the final analysis. We found that 40 patients had the cMET exon 14 skipping mutation and 18 had the BRAF V600E mutation. In total, 53 and 28 patients received first- and second-line treatments, respectively, among which 52.8% received targeted therapy (TT) in the first line and 53.5% in the second line. The overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) for first-line treatment with TT vs. other treatment such as immune checkpoint inhibitors ± chemotherapy (IO ± CT) were 55.6% vs. 21.7% (p = 0.0084) and 66.7% vs. 39.1% (p = 0.04), respectively. The type of treatment in first-line TT vs. other affected time to treatment discontinuation (TTD) was 11.6 m vs. 4.6 m (p= 0.006). The overall survival for the whole group was 15.4 m and was not statistically affected by the type of treatment (19.2 m vs. 13.5 m; p = 0.83). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalytic distillation is a technology that combines a heterogeneous catalytic reaction and the separation of reactants and products via distillation in a single reactor/distillation system. This process combines catalysis, kinetics, and mass transfer to obtain more selective products. The heterogeneous catalyst provides the sites for catalytic reactions and the porous surface for liquid/vapor separation. The advantages of catalytic distillation are energy savings, low waste streams, catalyst longevity, higher conversion, and product selectivity; these properties are interesting for petrochemical and petroleum industries. For this study, 100 mL of atmospheric residue of petroleum (ATR) was distilled in the presence of 1.0 g of a micro/mesoporous catalyst composed of a HY-MCM-41, and the reactor used was an OptiDist automatic distillation device, operating according to ASTM D-86 methodology. The products were collected and analyzed by gas chromatography. The samples of ATR, HY/ATR, and HY-MCM-41/ATR were analyzed by thermogravimetry (TG) to determine the activation energies (Ea) relative to the thermal decomposition of the process, using the Ozawa–Flynn–Wall (OFW) kinetic model. The obtained results show a potential catalytic distillation system for use in the reaction of heavy petroleum fractions and product separation from the HY/MCM-41 micro/mesoporous catalyst. The TG data revealed two mass loss events for ATR in the ranges of 100–390 and 390–590 °C, corresponding to volatilization and thermal cracking, respectively. The Ea determined for the thermal degradation of the ATR without a catalyst was in the range of 83–194 kJ/mol, whereas in the presence of the HY-MCM-41 catalyst, it decreased to 61–105 kJ/mol, evidencing the catalytic effect of the micro-mesoporous material. The chromatography analysis allowed for the identification of gasoline and a major production of diesel and gasoil when the HY-MCM-41 mixture was used as the catalyst, evidencing the synergism of the combined effect of the acid sites, the crystalline phase, and the microporosity of the HY zeolite with the accessibility of the hexagonal mesoporous structure of the MCM-41 material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nanostructured lanthanide-silica materials of the Ln–SiO2 type (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu, Gd, Dy, Yb, Lu) were synthesized by the hydrothermal method at 100 °C, using cetyltrimethylammonium as a structural template, silica gel and sodium silicate as a source of silicon, and lanthanide oxides, with Si/Ln molar ratio = 50. The resulting materials were calcined at 500 °C using nitrogen and air, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform infrared absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry (TG), surface area by the BET method and acidity measurements by n-butylamine adsorption. The XRD and chemical analysis indicated that the SiO2 presented a hexagonal structure and the incorporation of lanthanides in the structure changes the properties of the Ln–SiO2 materials. The heavier the lanthanide element, the higher the Si/Ln ratio. The TG curves showed that the decomposition of the structural template occurs in the materials at temperatures below 500 °C. The samples showed variations in specific surface area, mean pore diameter and silica wall thickness, depending on the nature of the lanthanide. The incorporation of different lanthanides in the silica generated acid sites of varied strength. The hydrothermal stability of the Ln–SiO2 materials evaluated at high temperatures, evidenced that the properties can be controlled for application in adsorption and catalysis processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

First, we accessed I LSD1 i and I LSD2 i gene expression in 448 CLL patients and 73 healthy bone marrow samples, deposited in the BloodSpot database by the International Microarray Innovations in Leukemia (MILE) study group [[5]]. Considering the heterogeneous expression of such histone demethylases among CLL patients, we adopted the median expression of I LSD1 i (0.91) and I LSD2 i (0.12) to grouped patients into the low and high expression groups. In agreement with the contingency analyses, when CLL patients are classified according to the presence of normal or altered karyotype, it is identified that patients with karyotypic abnormalities have reduced expression of I LSD1 i ( I p i = 0.005) and I LSD2 i ( I p i = 0.003). In CLL, the determination of the karyotypic pattern is highly relevant for the prognostic definition of patients. [Extracted from the article]

Bimodal silica and aluminosilicate materials containing mesopores and macropores were synthesized by hydrothermal method using sodium silicate, aluminum nitrate, P123 triblock copolymer, n-decane, hydrochloric acid and water. The uncalcined silica compound was previously characterized by thermogravimetry, and the calcined materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared absorption spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The obtained materials have bimodal characteristics with mesopores and macropores in their structures, which pores are ideal for processing bulky molecules, such as hydrocarbons present in heavy oil. In this work, the synthesized silica and aluminosilicate were used as materials for distillation and cracking of a petroleum sample with oAPI = 17.4. The process was evaluated by thermogravimetry, in the temperature range from 25 to 900 °C, in a nitrogen atmosphere. The determination of activation energies (Ea) as a function of the degree of conversion was obtained by using the Ozawa–Flynn–Wall kinetic model and at heating rates of 5, 10 and 20 °C min−1. It was observed that the catalytic cracking of the oil presented Ea of 196 kJ mol−1 for 90% conversion. At the same conversion, for the oil containing 10% of Si-MBB catalyst, the Ea decreased to 170 kJ mol−1 and for AlSi-BMM, the Ea was 155 kJ mol−1, showing the efficiency of bimodal materials containing mesopores and macropores in its structure for processing of heavy oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the physiologic mechanisms responsible to maintain asymmetric phospholipid distribution (in particular phosphatidylserine, PS) in human erythrocyte membranes is orchestrated by the balance between enzymes responsible for active transport of PS from the outer to the inner leaflet (ATP11C) and those whose counteracts these activities (PLSCR1). Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and standard flow cytometry procedures, we hypothesized that the aberrant expression of either or both ATP11C and PLSCR1 transcripts may disrupt the PS internalization/externalization process and become clinically relevant for patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Overall, neither ATP11C/PLSCR1 ratio or ATP11C and PLSCR1 (if analyzed separately) had impact on risk to present acute or chronic organ damage in 178 patients with SCA. By collecting a new set of samples from SCA patients during a vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC, crisis state, 13 patients) and comparing with new samples of patients in steady state (15 patients), we noticed that patients in steady state exhibited mean values of ATP11C/PLSCR1 ratio significantly higher (mean value: 18.2, range, 0.3–53) than those who were in crisis (mean value: 3.7, range, 0.5–9) (P = 0.013). Most importantly, there was a strong inverse correlation between PS exposure and ATP11C/PLSCR1 ratio in sickle erythrocytes (Pearson correlation coefficient, r: − 0.78). Based on these findings, it is conceivable that the ATP11C/PLSCR1 ratio may switch from high to low during a VOC, although the underlying reasons require further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Etnográfica: Revista do Centro de Estudos de Antropologia Social is the property of Centro em Rede de Investigacao em Antropologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The clinical and phenotypic heterogeneity of patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) is influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Several genetic modifiers, such as the KLOTHO (KL) gene, have been associated with SCA clinical outcomes. The KL gene and its encoded proteins are implicated in important biological pathways, which affect the disease's pathophysiology, such as expression of adhesion molecules VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, oxidative stress, and nitric oxide biology. Here, we evaluated the clinical relevance of two polymorphisms found on the KL gene (rs685417 and rs211239) in 588 unrelated patients with SCA. Genotyping analyses were performed using the TaqMan system. The KL rs211239 was associated with increased number of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOCs) per year (P = 0.001), while KL rs685417 was associated with increased frequency of stroke (P = 0.034), priapism (P = 0.011), number of complications (P = 0.019), and with a lower incidence of priapism (P = 0.036). Additionally, the associations with VOCs, stroke, and priapism remained consistent in multivariate analyses (P < 0.05). Our data highlight the clinical importance of KL in SCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrothermal synthesis of aluminophosphate molecular sieve type AlPO4-11 was processed from chemicals containing psueudobohemite, 85% phosphoric acid, water, and di-isopropylamine as templating agent. The crystallization of the samples was studied by taking samples in times from 2 to 74 h. The obtained white powder products were characterized by X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DTG) data and pH measurement of the mother liquor. The pore volume, as determined from TG and DTG curves, was ca. 0.17 cm3g−1. The percent relative crystallinity was determined by XRD and FT-IR methods. The crystallization kinetics evidenced that the hydrothermal synthesis of AlPO4-11 exhibited in its initial phase a behavior of first order reaction with a specific velocity constant of ca. 0.25 h−1, as determined from XRD and FT-IR data. The results obtained by both X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy are comparable, and FT-IR is found to be a rapid method for estimating crystallinity and structure of aluminophosphate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation, characterization and application of materials based on montmorillonite natural clay containing aluminum polyhydroxocomplexes of Keggin type ions (Al13) as intercalating agent and hydrated lanthanum complexes were carried out. The introduction of Al and La inside the interlayer space increased the basal distance d(001) of the clay. The evaluated materials, designed as Natural Montmorillonite Clay (NMC), Al13-PILC and LaAl13-PILC were characterized by X-ray diffraction for evaluating the basal spacing of the clay, nitrogen adsorption for determination of the specific surface area and pore size of the materials and scanning electron microscopy, in order to observe the morphology. The catalytic activity was verified on the pyrolysis of Atmospheric Residue of petroleum (ATR), at temperature of 500 °C, in a micro-reactor coupled to gas chromatograph and mass spectrometry. The results showed that LaAl13-PILC material presented high catalytic activity for this process. The lanthanum preferably fills the interlayer space of the Al13-PILC, generating acid sites and therefore increasing the activity for ATR cracking. The obtained products were hydrocarbons in the range of light gases (C2-C4), gasoline (C5-C10) and diesel (C11-C20). This result is due the combination of porosity and acid properties of the PILC samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalysts of AlMCM-48 with different Si/Al molar rations were synthesized by modified hydrothermal method with respect to previous works. As a consequence, the materials showed different porous structures making them of high adsorption capacities and high efficiency to high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Samples synthesized with various Si/Al molar ratios were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption at – 196 °C, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and dispersive energy X-ray spectrometry (EDX). Characterization results suggested the presence of tetrahedral Al species on AlMCM-48(x), giving highly ordered materials that exhibit thermal stability. It is important to highlight that the use pseudoboehmite as a promising Al source for the synthesis of this type of molecular sieves, leading to materials with slight morphological differences due to the formation of interconnected particles spherical. The catalytic performance showed that the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) degradation reaction occurs in complex reaction steps in the heating rates 5, 10 and 20 °C min−1. The pore diameters of the catalysts influence the degradation process under non-isothermal condition. Furthermore, on the conditions studied, the AlMCM-48(x) catalysts exhibited high conversion values and play important roles in the decrease of HDPE degradation temperature, potentially leading to an efficient process in terms of energy expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case study using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to detect a design problem in an industrial combustor is described in this paper. An industrial combustor supposed to operate for 5 years presented a hot zone 6 months after it started up to operate, which caused the refractory lining material to smelt. Through CFD modeling, it was possible to propose modifications to the combustor design, improving the lifetime of the refractory lining material. ANSYS CFX software was used to simulate the combustor physical model. A recirculating hot zone on the combustor inner wall was predicted from CFD as being the cause of the problem. From CFD simulations, a new combustor design was proposed, simulated, and implemented in the process. After the modifications, a lower temperature at the hot zone was successfully achieved. The predicted maximum temperature on the refractory inner wall was reduced from 1315 K (original design) to 1157 K (best design), reducing the combustor external temperature from 442 to 420 K, lower than the maximum allowed temperature of 423 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Up-regulation of miR-130a is related to leg ulcers in sickle cell anaemia (D) Serum leptin levels in active-LU, healed-LU, and control-HbSS groups in female patients. Keywords: leptin; leptin receptor; microRNAs; sickle cell leg ulcers; sickle cell wounds EN leptin leptin receptor microRNAs sickle cell leg ulcers sickle cell wounds e16 e18 3 03/30/22 20220401 NES 220401 To the Editor, Leg ulcers (LUs) are a severe cutaneous manifestation in sickle cell anaemia (SCA). [Extracted from the article]

Deregulated cellular energetics is formally incorporated as an emerging hallmark of cancer, however little is known about its processes in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Using transcriptomic data of CD34+ cells from 159 MDS patients and 17 healthy donors, we selected 37 genes involved in cellular energetics and interrogated about its clinical and prognostic functions. Based on the low expression of ACLY, ANPEP, and PANK1, as well as high expression of PKM and SLC25A5, we constructed our Molecular-Based Score (MBS), that efficiently discriminated patients at three risks groups: favourable risk (n = 28; 3-year overall survival (OS): 100%); intermediate (n = 60; 76% [62–93%]) and adverse (n = 71; 35% [17–61%]). Adverse MBS risk was independently associated with inferior OS (HR = 10.1 [95% CI 1.26–81]; P = 0.029) in multivariable analysis using age, gender and the revised international prognostic score system as confounders. Transcriptional signature revealed that Favourable- and intermediate-risk patients presented enriched molecular programs related to mature myeloid progenitors, cell cycle progression, and oxidative phosphorylation, indicating that this cells differs in their origin, metabolic state, and cell cycle regulation, in comparison to the adverse-risk. Our study provides the first evidence that cellular energetics is transcriptionally deregulated in MDS CD34+ cells and establishes a new useful prognostic score based on the expression of five genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high expression of brain and acute leukemia, cytoplasmic (BAALC) and ETS‐related gene (ERG) has been reported to influence the outcome in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but due to limited prospective studies, their role as prognostic factors is unclear. At diagnosis, the prognostic value of BAALC and ERG expression with respect to other cytogenetic and molecular markers was analyzed in 149 AML patients. Patients were divided into quartiles which resulted in the formation of four groups (G1–G4) based on expression values of BAALC and ERG and clinical response defined across groups. Groups with similar survival probabilities were merged together and categorized subsequently as high versus low expressers. Patients with high BAALC and ERG expression had significantly lower overall survival (OS; BAALC: p = 0.001 at 5 years 29.4% vs. 69.8%; ERG: p < 0.0001 at 5 years 4% vs. 50.4%) and disease‐free survival (BAALC: p = 0.001 at 5 years 19.5% vs. 69.8%; ERG: p < 0.0001 at 5 years 4.2% vs. 47%). Patients were further stratified combining BAALC and ERG expression in an integrative prognostic risk score (IPRS). After a median follow‐up of 54 months (95% CI 45–63 months) among survivors, IPRS for high versus low expressers was a significant predictor for OS (BAALC + ERG: 4% vs. 71.6%, p < 0.0001) and DFS (BAALC + ERG: 4.5% vs. 74.1%, p < 0.0001). In a multivariate model, IPRS of BAALC + ERG expression retained prognostic significance for OS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.96, 95%CI 1.91–4.59, p < 0.001) and DFS (HR 3.61, 95%CI 2.26–5.76, p < 0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista IRRIGA - Brazilian Journal of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Revista IRRIGA (Brazilian Journal of Irrigation & Drainage) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista IRRIGA - Brazilian Journal of Irrigation & Drainage is the property of Revista IRRIGA (Brazilian Journal of Irrigation & Drainage) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) pathophysiology is characterized by the activation of sickle red blood cells, reticulocytes, leukocytes, platelets, and endothelial cells, and with the expression of several inflammatory molecules. Therefore, it is conceivable that variations in levels of proinflammatory cytokines may act as a signaling of differential clinical course in SCA. Here, we evaluated the clinical impact of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 1-β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 8 (IL-8) in 79 patients with SCA, followed in a single reference center from northeastern Brazil. The main clinical/laboratory data were obtained from patient interview and medical records. The proinflammatory markers IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 were evaluated by using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. According to levels of the proinflammatory markers, we observed that patients who had a higher frequency of VOC per year (P = 0.0236), acute chest syndrome (P = 0.01), leg ulcers (P = 0.0001), osteonecrosis (P = 0.0006), stroke (P = 0.0486), and priapism (P = 0.0347) had higher IL-6 levels compared with patients without these clinical complications. Furthermore, increased levels of IL-8 were found in patients who presented leg ulcers (P = 0.0184). No significant difference was found for IL-1β levels (P > 0.05). In summary, the present study emphasizes the role of inflammation in SCA pathophysiology, reveals an association of IL-8 levels and leg ulcer occurrence, and indicates that IL-6 levels can be used as a useful predictor for poor outcomes in SCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent vaso-occlusive crises resulting in bone infarction constitute the main cause of osteonecrosis in patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA) (da Silva Junior I et al., i [10]). Patients with ANXA2*5681 AA genotype (22%, 95% CI: 16-31%) had a significantly higher osteonecrosis development rate compared to patients with non-AA genotype (6%, 95% CI: 4-11%) (P < 0-0001). Genetic assessment of the ANXA2*5681 polymorphism (rs7170178) distribution revealed 44/85 patients (52%) harbouring the ANXA2*5681 non-AA genotype and 41/85 (48%) carrying the ANXA2*5681 AA genotype. To examine the biological impact of I ANXA2 i *5681 polymorphism (rs7170178) at the transcriptional and translational levels, we evaluated 85 new freshly collected samples from patients with SCA who developed (26 patients) or did not develop (59 patients) osteonecrosis. [Extracted from the article]

Sodium and activated vermiculites were applied as catalysts in the pyrolysis of glycerol. The physical–chemical characterization showed that acid treatment significantly modified the chemical composition, specific area, porosity and structure of sodium vermiculite. Thermogravimetric analysis of the pyrolysis process showed that the presence of catalysts reduced the degradation temperature of glycerol. Kinetic study by the Ozawa–Flynn–Wall model indicated a reduction in the activation energy (Ea) of the process with the use of the catalysts: thermal pyrolysis, Ea = 106.7 kJ mol−1; thermocatalytic pyrolysis with sodium vermiculite, Ea = 90.7 kJ mol−1; and with activated vermiculite, Ea = 85.2 kJ mol−1. Pyrolysis via a pyrolyzer coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) showed that activated vermiculite provided higher deoxygenation. Thus, the use of activated vermiculite in thermocatalytic pyrolysis is a good option for the transformation of glycerol, because it decreases the activation energy of the process and increases the selectivity for a range of industrially valued products, such as acetaldehyde, acrolein, acetol, glycidol, propylene glycol and 2-propanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy is associated with microcephaly, a congenital malformation resulting from neuroinflammation and direct effects of virus replication on the developing central nervous system (CNS). However, the exact changes in the affected CNS remain unknown. Here, we show by transcriptome analysis (at 48 h post-infection) and multiplex immune profiling that human induced-neuroprogenitor stem cells (hiNPCs) respond to ZIKV infection with a strong induction of type-I interferons (IFNs) and several type-I IFNs stimulated genes (ISGs), notably cytokines and the pro-apoptotic chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10. By comparing the inflammatory profile induced by a ZIKV Brazilian strain with an ancestral strain isolated from Cambodia in 2010, we observed that the response magnitude differs among them. Compared to ZIKV/Cambodia, the experimental infection of hiNPCs with ZIKV/Brazil resulted in a diminished induction of ISGs and lower induction of several cytokines (IFN-α, IL-1α/β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-15), consequently favoring virus replication. From ZIKV-confirmed infant microcephaly cases, we detected a similar profile characterized by the presence of IFN-α, CXCL10, and CXCL9 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples collected after birth, evidencing a sustained CNS inflammation. Altogether, our data suggest that the CNS may be directly affected due to an unbalanced and chronic local inflammatory response, elicited by ZIKV infection, which contributes to damage to the fetal brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermogravimetry was used in order to evaluate thermal and catalytic degradation of atmospheric residue of petroleum (ATR) which is found at Brazilian refineries, after a process of atmospheric distillation. The catalyst used for the thermocatalytic degradation of ATR was the AlMCM-41 mesoporous material. The AlMCM-41 was obtained from hydrothermal method using cetyltrimethylammonium as organic template. The calcined material was characterized by chemical analysis and X-ray diffraction. The thermogravimetry analysis was carried out at temperature range of 30 to 900 °C and heating rates of 5, 10 and 20 °C min−1, under nitrogen gas. From TG, the activation energy, determined using the Ozawa–Flynn–Wall kinetic method, decreased from 288 kJ mol−1, for pure ATR, to 55 kJ mol−1, in the presence of the AlMCM-41 material, evidencing the efficiency of the mesoporous materials for the catalytic degradation of petroleum residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oil sludge residue presents an aggregate of hydrocarbons, organic and inorganic impurities, and water. The microporous and mesoporous zeolites are considered promising catalysts for processing of petroleum residues generated in refining processes. The aim of this work was to study the degradation of petroleum sludge obtained from primary processing, with applications of an improved thermogravimetry system and HY zeolite, at specific temperature ranges and degradation times, in order to obtain light gases and distillate fuels. The NaY zeolite was synthesized under hydrothermal treatment of a gel containing sodium silicate, sodium aluminate, and water. The obtained solid material was filtered, dried and calcined, and then ion-exchanged with ammonium chloride and calcined in order to obtain its protonic acid form (HY). The samples' characterization by TG/DTG, XRD, and SEM proved that the crystalline structure of the faujasite zeolite was obtained. The thermal and catalytic degradation of the petroleum sludge was performed with 1.0 g of sample containing 10% of HY zeolite in the temperatures of 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 °C, varying the time from 0 to 60 min to each temperature, using an oven with temperature program system, adapted with a Shimadzu precision balance. The curves obtained with this system evidenced that the presence of HY zeolite improves the degradation of the residue, with decreasing of the activation energy for the processes, as determined using the Arrhenius model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correlation developed by the authors for prediction of hazardous area extension due to fugitive emissions is described in this work. The correlation is based on computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation data. The CFD simulation setups were obtained from a Computational Design of Experiments. The CFD model has been validated experimentally. The transport properties, orifice size, temperature, pressure, gas molar mass, and lower explosive limit (LEL) were varied in a range of practical interest using the statistical Technique Latin hypercube to spread the simulation setups. The effect of each variable on hazardous area extension was obtained from the CFD results leading to an analytical correlation for practical use in estimating the extension of the hazardous area. The results showed that the extension of hazardous area in still ambient is merely a function of the leaking gas molar flow rate and gas volume fraction at LEL. The results from the correlation described in this work were compared to results from correlations existing in the literature. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Process Saf Prog 38: 21–26, 2019 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MCM-41 and MCM-48 materials were synthesized by the hydrothermal method, calcined and modified with ethylenediamine (EDA) by wet impregnation method. The X-ray diffraction patterns showed characteristic peaks of highly ordered MCM-41 and MCM-48 nanoporous materials, even after impregnation with amine. The MCM-41 and MCM-48 materials showed N2 adsorption isotherms type IV and BET surfaces areas higher than 1000 m2 g−1. The carbon dioxide adsorption tests were carried out at room temperature in a magnetic suspension microbalance. The materials presented good performance for CO2 capture, being favorable for applications where medium and high pressures are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Heterodimeric methyltransferases GLP (EHMT1/KMT1D) and G9a (EHMT2/KMT1C) are two closely related enzymes that promote the monomethylation and dimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9. Dysregulation of their activity has been implicated in several types of human cancer. Patients and methods Here, in order to investigate whether GLP/G9a exerts any impact on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), GLP/G9a expression levels were assessed in a cohort of 50 patients and the effects of their inhibition were verified for the viability of CLL cells. Also, qRT-PCR was used to investigate the transcriptional levels of GLP/G9a in CLL patients. In addition, patient samples were classified according to ZAP-70 protein expression by flow cytometry and according to karyotype integrity by cytogenetics analysis. Finally, a selective small molecule inhibitor for GLP/G9a was used to ascertain whether these methyltransferases influenced the viability of MEC-1 CLL cell lineage. Results mRNA analysis revealed that CLL samples had higher levels of GLP, but not G9a, when compared to non-leukemic controls. Interestingly, patients with unfavorable cytogenetics showed higher expression levels of GLP compared to patients with favorable karyotypes. More importantly, GLP/G9a inhibition markedly induced cell death in CLL cells. Conclusion Taken together, these results indicate that GLP is associated with a worse prognosis in CLL, and that the inhibition of GLP/G9a influences CLL cell viability. Altogether, the present data demonstrate that these methyltransferases can be potential markers for disease progression, as well as a promising epigenetic target for CLL treatment and the prevention of disease evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic cracking of isopropylbenzene was investigaded over hybrid ZSM-12/MCM-41 and HZSM-12/MCM-48 micro-mesoporous materials, in order to verify the effect of the acid site of the accessibility of mesoporous channels combined with the acid sites into the zeolite. The hybrid materials were synthesized by the hydrothermal method using the template mechanism. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction and BET isotherms using nitrogen adsorption-desorption at 77 K. The X-ray diffraction patterns presented characteristic peaks of the microporous and mesoporous phases. These analysis revealed the formation of ordered hexagonal MCM-41 or cubic MCM-48 mesoporous phases, associated with the ZSM-12 structure. In order to generate acid sites, the materials were ion exchanged with ammonium chloride solution. The calcined hybrid materials were tested as catalyst for cracking of isopropyl-benzene, using a fixed bed reactor at 450 oC and nitrogen gas. The catalytic tests showed that the HZSM-12/AlMCM-41 and HZSM-12/MCM-48 hybrid materials have potential for use in cracking reactions, bening more active than the zeolite or the M41S alone. The catalytic activities of the hybrid materials can be associated with a synergistic effect between the acid sites present on the zeolitic phase and the mesoporous phase. In order to verify how the structure of the hybrid materials may affect and control their catalytic performances, the results were compared with HZSM-12 physically mixed with MCM-41 and MCM-48. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a comparison of results obtained with endpoint polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and within a study of the International Consortium on Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia (IC-APL). The authors recommend RT-qPCR as the standard assay for minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring in APL.

The presence of sulfur in diesel causes environmental pollution and corrosion of engines. In order to minimize the consequences of this pollutant, Brazilian laws established the maximum of sulfur content that diesel fuel may contain. To meet these requirements, diesel with a maximum sulfur concentration equal to 10 mg kg (diesel S10) has been widely marketed in the country. The reduction in sulfur leads to changes in the physicochemical properties of the fuel, which are essential for the performance of road vehicles. This work aims to evaluate the reduction in the sulfur content in diesel fuel using thermogravimetry. Samples of diesel types S10, S500 and S1800, corresponding to 10, 500 and 1800 mg kg of sulfur content, respectively, were tested according to ASTM methods for specific gravity, flash point and sulfur content. Then, these fuels were characterized by thermogravimetry from room temperature up to 500 °C, in helium flow, at heating rates of 5, 10 and 20 °C min. TG and DTG data showed a typical mass loss at ca. 40-320 °C, due to volatilization or distillation of light and medium hydrocarbons. Based on these data, the kinetic behavior of the samples was analyzed and the activation energies ( E ) for decomposition of the samples decreased in the order: S1800 > S500 > S10. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of niobium oxides in the SBA-15 mesoporous support structure tends to increase the number of active sites, providing a catalyst with greater catalytic activity of high interest to the scientific community. This article seeks to obtain niobium silicate and to use thermogravimetry as an auxiliary characterization technique in order to evaluate the calcination temperature of the materials and the influence of the different percentages of niobium oxide inserted in the SBA-15. The SBA-15 support was obtained by the hydrothermal method, and the niobium silicates were obtained by impregnation with NbO percentages of 5, 15, 25 and 35 wt%. The catalysts were characterized by the XRD, TEM, TG/DTG, FTIR, adsorption/desorption of N and n-butylamine thermal desorption techniques. The niobium silicates were successfully obtained, presenting an organized hexagonal structure. Thermogravimetry found an effective additional technique to analyze the influence of the different niobium oxide percentages inserted and the maximum oxide percentage that the SBA-15 can endure without destroying its structure. The results have been showed that the maximum percentage that can be inserted was of 30%, and that the different percentages influences in the way how the inserted oxide is found in the support structure. These results corroborate the ones found in the adsorption/desorption of N, XRD and TEM techniques. The n-butylamine thermal desorption confirms that an increase in the number of active sites of the niobium silicates relative to the support occurs. Therefore, all the results confirm that thermogravimetry is an efficient technique to characterize these catalysts. Graphical Abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current work, the incorporation of niobium onto the nanostructured MCM-41 material was studied. The syntheses were carried out by the hydrothermal method using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMABr) as structural template, sodium silicate and water as solvent. Niobium was introduced in the reactive medium in the form of ammonium niobium oxalate, for obtaining Nb-MCM-41 materials. In order to verify the influence of the niobium content on the properties of the material, the samples were synthesized at Si/Nb molar ratios of 15, 30, 45 and 60. The materials were calcined and characterized by BET surface area, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-rays fluorescence, for the determination of chemical composition, and scanning electron microscopy. The acidity properties of the MCM-41 and Nb-MCM-41, as determined by n-butylamine adsorption, were investigated by thermogravimetry in the temperature range of room temperature up to 600 °C, under nitrogen gas. From TG/DTG data, the acidity values were of 3.1-3.3 mmol g, for materials with Si/Nb molar ratio of 60, 45 and 30. The lower value of acidity of 0.6 mmol g, observed for Si/Nb = 15, suggests that at this molar ratio, Nb is not incorporated in the MCM-41 structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a study of the reactive distillation of atmospheric petroleum residue (ATR) containing 10% in mass of HY or HZSM-5 zeolites. The process aims the upgrade of ATR in order to obtain valuable products. The fundamental characteristic of the process is the immediate separation under thermal conditions and subsequent reaction of the products generated by the zeolite catalysts, favoring the displacement of the equilibrium towards the desired reactions. Such reactions occurred in the heterogeneous form, adding the HY or HZSM-5 zeolites to the ATR charge, and heating the mixtures at temperatures in the range of 50 to 500°C. The heating promotes intense heat exchange, solid-liquid reactions, obtaining the desired products. In the reactive distillation process, in presence of the acid sites of the zeolites, the short contact time of the hydrocarbons thermally cracked at low pressures favored secondary cracking reactions, increasing the selectivity to lower weigh molecular hydrocarbons, in the range of liquid gases, naphta, gasoline, jet fuel, diesel and lubricants. The obtained results proved that catalytic or reactive distillation is a promising technology for waste recovery that is surplus to the atmospheric and vacuum distillation processes for the refineries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amino-functionalized SBA-15 was prepared using 1.0 and 2.5% chitosan solutions and a wet impregnation method. The adsorbents were characterized by XRD, TG, DSC, SEM, FTIR and nitrogen adsorption/desorption. The results showed that the insertion of chitosan into the holder did not destroy its typical hexagonal structure, maintaining its morphology and a uniform distribution of pores. The thermal stability of the CS and CS-SBA-2.5 materials was investigated using the Vyazovkin and Ozawa-Flynn-Wall kinetic models. The apparent activation energies ( E ) obtained ranged around 161-335 kJ mol, and a conversion range of 0.2-0.8, with minimum variations, was observed for the two methods and both samples. However, the results showed that the E , which is an important factor to future applications in adsorption of CO, was not significantly altered by the presence of SBA-15. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The co-processing of petroleum and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was carried out in the presence and absence of a catalyst in an open vessel batch reactor at temperatures of 200, 300, 400, and 500 °C, which corresponds to temperatures of distillation and cracking. The catalyst used was the acidic HY zeolite, which is widely used in petroleum refining. The catalytic co-processing was carried out with the PET–oil charge, at a mass ratio of 1:1, containing 10% of HY zeolite. The conversion degree was measured by knowing the initial sample mass and amount of degraded material for each temperature and reaction time, using an improved gravimetric method consisting of a precision balance and an oven with a heating rate controller. The conversion values obtained were compared for petroleum and PET samples with and without the zeolite catalyst. At temperatures of 200 and 300 °C, the PET showed low conversions, about 5–10%. However, for the catalytic co-processing of PET–oil/HY at these same temperatures, an increase in conversion to about 25–30% was observed. At temperatures of 400 and 500 °C, conversions above 90% were obtained for the two samples, with a subsequent reduction in the activation energy, from 76 kJ mol−1(PET) to 56 kJ mol−1(PET–oil/HY). The decrease in the activation energy proved the efficiency of the HY zeolite and the synergistic effect when PET was blended to the oil for the catalytic co-processing, proving to be a viable alternative for the chemical recycling of PET in the petroleum industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mg/Al layered double hydroxides (LDH) containing KI were synthesized and tested as basic heterogeneous catalysts for transesterification of sunflower oil, in order to obtain biodiesel. The process was carried out using reflux with 15:1 molar ratio of methanol to sunflower oil, and catalyst concentration of 2 mass%. The characterization of sunflower oil and biodiesel was accomplished according to ASTM and EN standard methods. The gas chromatographic and TG/DTG profiles were evaluated, and the results of yield and conversions were compared. The gas chromatographic analysis showed that the catalysts were effective in converting vegetable oil into biodiesel, specially using LDH catalysts modified with KI and molar ratio Mg/Al = 1, with conversions higher than 99 % indicating the strong influence of the chemical composition and controlled basicity, due to the presence of potassium in the structure of the catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]