Ruthenium on phosphorous-modified alumina as an effective and stable catalyst for catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural

Supported ruthenium was used in the liquid phase catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural. To improve the stability of Ru against leaching, phosphorous was introduced on a Ru/Al₂O₃ based catalyst upon impregnation with ammonium hypophosphite followed by either reduction or calcination to study the effect of phosphorous on the physico-chemical properties of the active phase. Characterization using X-ray diffraction, solid state ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, temperature programmed reduction with H₂, infrared spectroscopy of pyridine adsorption from the liquid phase and transmission electron microscopy indicated that phosphorous induces a high dispersion of Ru, promotes Ru reducibility and is responsible for the formation of acid species of Brønsted character. As a result, the phosphorous-based catalyst obtained after reduction was more active for catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural and more stable against Ru leaching under these conditions than a benchmark Ru catalyst supported on activated carbon.

Phosphorous induces structural changes in Ru/Al₂O₃ that make it more active and more stable for liquid phase hydrogenation of furfural.     

The applause sign in cortical and cortical-subcortical dementia

The “applause sign” is a motor perseveration described in focal and neurodegenerative disorders and characterized by fronto-subcortical dysfunction. Most previous formal investigations focused on Parkinson’s disease or progressive supranuclear palsy. We assessed the prevalence of the applause sign in patients affected by Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Lewy body dementia (LBD), corticobasal syndrome (CBS), and posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), with the aim to verify its contribution to the differential diagnosis. We enrolled 20 patients with AD, 20 with LBD, 16 with CBS, and ten with PCA, and 30 healthy controls. The three clap test (TCT) was used to elicit the applause sign, and was scored by raters blinded to the diagnosis. Correlation with motor (extrapyramidal) and cognitive measures was also performed. A maximum 40 % prevalence of a positive applause sign was found in the two parkinsonian syndromes, which could be discriminated from the two cortical groups with a positive predictive value of 82 % and a negative predictive value of 55 %. According to our findings, a diagnosis of LBD or CBS, rather than of AD or PCA, is highly probable in the presence of an abnormal TCP, but cannot be ruled out based on a negative result. No relevant correlates emerged that could clarify the origin and nature of the applause sign.     

Ageing and dementia in low and middle income countries–Using research to engage with public and policy makers

While two thirds of the 24 million people with dementia worldwide live in low and middle income countries, very little research has been conducted to support policy making in these regions. Among the non-communicable diseases, dementia (in common with other chronic NCDs linked more to long-term disability than to mortality) has been relatively under-prioritized. International agreements, plans and policy guidelines have called for an end to ageist discrimination and a focus upon reducing disadvantage arising from poverty and the consequences of ill health. Social protection, access to good quality age-appropriate healthcare and addressing the problem of disability are all key issues. However, as yet, little progress has been made in addressing these concerns. In this review we outline the current international policy agenda for older individuals, and its specific relevance to those with dementia and other disabling non-communicable diseases. We consider the potential for epidemiological research to raise awareness, refine the policy agenda, and promote action, using the example of the dissemination strategy developed by the 10/66 Dementia Research Group.     

Validation of a low-cost virtual reality system for training street-crossing. A comparative study in healthy,neglected and non-neglected stroke individuals

Unilateral spatial neglect is a common consequence of stroke that directly affects the performance of activities of daily living. This impairment is traditionally assessed with paper-and-pencil tests that can lack correspondence to real life and are easily compensated. Virtual reality can immerse patients in more ecological scenarios, thus providing therapists with new tools to assess and train the effects of this impairment in simulated real tasks. This paper presents the clinical validation and convergent validity of a low-cost virtual reality system for training street-crossing in stroke patients with and without neglect. The performance of neglect patients was significantly worse than the performance of non-neglect and healthy participants. In addition, several correlations between the scores in the system and in the traditional scales were detected.     

Brand new norms for a good old test: Northern Italy normative study of MiniMental State Examination

Neurological Sciences - Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is one of the most used tests for the screening of global cognition in patients with neurological and medical disorders. Norms for the...     

Right Colectomy for Cancer: A Matched Comparison of Three Different Surgical Approaches

Purpose. The standard approach to right colon cancer resection is still a matter of debate and includes laparoscopy, open midline incision, or open transverse incision. We aimed this study to compare the short- and long-term results of laparoscopic right-colectomy with those provided by the open approaches. Methods. Of the 176 patients who underwent right-colectomy at our Department for nonmetastatic colon cancer, 40 patients treated by laparoscopy, 40 treated by transverse incisions, and 40 treated by midline incisions were selected and matched using the propensity score method. Short-term results included: operating time, morbidity rate, number of lymph-nodes harvested (LNH), patients’ recovery features, and costs. Long-term results included: disease-specific survivals and the rate of incisional hernias. The sub-groups were compared using t-test and Chi-square tests, whereas the Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess survivals. Results. Laparoscopies were the longer procedures, providing similar morbidity rates and LNH in comparison with the open approaches. Laparoscopy provided a faster return to oral intake and a shorter use of analgesics comparing with the midline approach; however, it showed only a minor consumption of analgesics in comparison with transverse laparotomy. There were no differences in the hospital stay and the long-term results were comparable between sub-groups. Costs analysis documented minor but not significant surgical expenses for the transverse approach. Conclusions. Laparoscopy was documented safe, with similar morbidity rates and long-term results comparing with open surgery. Laparoscopy provided better functional short-term results comparing with the midline approach, but only small differences with respect to the transverse incision approach.     

Quality assurance in drug demand reduction in European countries: an overview

Background: The EMCDDA, through its network of National Focal Points, collects information on the quality assurance systems for drugs-related interventions across European countries. European National Drug Strategies include recommendations for systems and approaches for the assurance of the quality of interventions.

Methods: We searched National Drug Strategies for elements related to quality assurance in drug demand reduction and summarised information through questionnaires administered to the EMCDDA Network of National Focal Points.

Results: In total, 15 National Drug Strategies and 60 questionnaires were analysed. Almost all the strategies include quality-related topics. Frequently, the Ministry of Health leads quality assurance although sometimes jointly with the Ministries of Education, Labour, Family and Social Welfare. Accreditation systems are common, but implemented in different ways. Training and education are widely provided, for the vast majority of countries, consisting of short-term training to keep professionals updated. Guidelines and Standards are gathering momentum as the major tools for the implementation of evidence-based recommendations and are usually available across countries.

Conclusions: Although the evidence base for interventions in drug demand reduction is becoming available and accepted, attention needs to be given to implementation issues. The European countries are rapidly moving towards paying greater attention to the quality of interventions.     

Traumatic brain injury biomarkers in pediatric patients: a systematic review

Neurosurgical Review - Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the main cause of pediatric trauma death and disability worldwide. Recent studies have sought to identify biomarkers of TBI for the purpose of...     

Nephron-sparing surgery is superior to radical nephrectomy in preserving renal function benefit even when expanding indications beyond the traditional 4-cm cutoff

ObjectivesTo analyze to what extent partial nephrectomy (PN) is superior to radical nephrectomy (RN) in preserving renal function outcome in relation to tumor size indication.Methods and materialsClinical data from 973 patients operated at 9 academic institutions were retrospectively analyzed. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) before and after surgery was calculated with the abbreviated Modification of the Diet in Renal Disease equation. For a fair comparison between the 2 techniques, all imperative indications for PN were excluded. A shift to a less favorable GFR group following surgery was considered clinically significant.ResultsMedian age at diagnosis was 60 years (19–91). Tumor size was smaller than 4 cm in 665 (68.3%) cases and larger than 4 cm in 308 (31.7%) cases. PN and RN were performed in 663 (68.1%) and 310 (31.9%) patients, respectively. In univariate analysis, patients undergoing PN had a smaller risk for developing significant GFR change following surgery than those undergoing RN did. This was true for tumors≤4 cm (P = 0.0001) and for tumors>4 cm (P = 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, the following criteria were independent predictive factors for developing significant postoperative GFR loss: the use of RN (P = 0.0001), preoperative GFR<60 ml/min (P = 0.0001), tumor size≥4 cm (P = 0.0001), and older age at diagnosis (P = 0.0001).ConclusionsThe renal function benefit carried out by elective PN over RN persists even when expanding nephron-sparing surgery indications beyond the traditional 4-cm cutoff.