Intra-articular methylprednisolone acetate injection at the knee joint and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis: a randomized controlled study

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of intra-articular corticosteroid injection (IACI) of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee who failed to respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy were randomized between group 1 and group 2. Group 1 patients had an IACI of 80 mg of MPA at the knee joint and group 2 patients had an intra-articular injection (IAI) of 6 ml (60 mg) of sodium hyaluronate (control group). Immediately prior to the IAI and on weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 following IAI, patients from both groups underwent a low-dose (1 μg) adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) stimulation test. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiologic variables were documented in all patients. Both criteria of <7 μg/dl increase in the serum cortisol level and absolute levels of <18 μg/dl 30 min following the ACTH stimulation test were used to define secondary adrenal insufficiency (SAI). Twenty patients were randomized in each group. In group 1, 25 % of patients had SAI vs. none in group 2 (p?=?0.0471). The earliest SAI was observed at week 2, and latest SAI was observed at week 4. SAI was observed at one time point, two consecutive time points, or two separate time points in the same patient. There was no correlation between SAI and any of the demographic, clinical, or laboratory variables. An IACI of 80 mg MPA at the knee joint induced a transient SAI in 25 % of the patients, an effect that was observed between week 2 and week 4 following the IACI.     

Clinical characteristics and cytokine biomarkers in patients with chronic graft-vs-host disease persisting seven or more years after diagnosis

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is the leading late complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Many patients receive multiple lines of systemic therapy until cGVHD resolves, but about 15% remain on systemic treatment for more than 7 years after cGVHD diagnosis. This study describes the clinical and biological factors of patients who present with cGVHD persisting for ≥7 years (persistent cGVHD). Patients with persistent cGVHD (n = 38) and those with cGVHD for <1 year (early cGVHD) (n = 83) were enrolled in a prospective cross-sectional natural history study. Patients in the persistent cGVHD group were a median of 10.2 years from cGVHD diagnosis (range 7-27 years). Fifty-eight percent of persistent cGVHD patients (22/38) were receiving systemic immunosuppression, compared to 88% (73/83) in the early cGVHD group. In multivariable analysis, bone marrow (BM) stem cell source, presence of ENA autoantibodies, higher NIH lung score, higher platelet counts, and higher IgA levels were significantly associated with persistent cGVHD. A high sensitivity panel of serum biomarkers including seven cytokines diagnostic for cGVHD was analyzed and showed significantly lower levels of BAFF and CXCL10 in patients with persistent cGVHD. In conclusion, standardly accepted clinical measures of disease severity may not accurately reflect disease activity in patients with persistent cGVHD. However, many patients with persistent cGVHD are still receiving systemic immunosuppression despite lacking evidence of disease activity. Development of reliable clinical biomarkers of cGVHD activity may help guide future systemic treatments.     

Chemically and thermally activated persulfate for theophylline degradation and application to pharmaceutical factory effluent

Degradation of PPCPs by AOPs has gained major interest in the past decade. In this work, theophylline (TP) oxidation was studied in thermally (TAP) and chemically (CAP) activated persulfate systems, separately and in combination (TCAP). For [TP]₀ = 10 mg L⁻¹, (i) TAP resulted in 60% TP degradation at [PS]₀ = 5 mM and T = 60 °C after 60 min of reaction and (ii) CAP showed slight degradation at room temperature; however, (iii) TCAP resulted in complete TP degradation for [PS]₀ = [Fe²⁺]₀ = 2 mM at T = 60 °C following a pseudo-first order reaction rate with calculated k_obs = 5.6 (±0.4) × 10⁻² min⁻¹. In the TCAP system, the [PS]₀ : [Fe²⁺]₀ ratio of 1 : 1 presented the best results. A positive correlation was obtained between the TP degradation rate and increasing temperature and [PS]₀, and a negative correlation was obtained with increasing pH. Both chloride and humic acid inhibited the degradation process, while nitrates enhanced it. TP dissolved in spring, sea and waste water simulating real effluents showed lower degradation rates than in DI water. Waste water caused the highest inhibition (k_obs = 2.6 (±0.6) × 10⁻⁴ min⁻¹). Finally, the TCAP system was tested on a real factory effluent highly charged with TP, e.g. [TP]₀ = 160 mg L⁻¹, with successful degradation under the conditions of 60 °C and [PS]₀ = [Fe²⁺]₀ = 50 mM.

Chemically activated persulfate in heated medium showed synergistic effect toward full degradation of theophylline in industrial factory effluents. This makes such AOP a well-adapted technology to treat highly concentrated hazardous pharmaceuticals.     

Comparative biomechanical study on three miniplates osteosynthesis systems for stabilisation of low condylar fractures of the mandible

Open reduction and fixation of low condylar fractures of the mandible can be achieved by many osteosynthesis systems that differ in size, shape, and site of placement according to the surgical approach. We investigated the maximum load and rigidity of 4 osteosynthesis systems: the standard double 4-hole straight miniplates, the inverted y-miniplate (with and without self-drilling screws), and the TriLock Delta condyle trauma plate. The standard double 4-hole straight miniplate osteosynthesis achieved the best fixation and resistance in view of a mean (SD) maximum load of 539.8 (100.2) N, followed by the inverted y-miniplate with the self-drilling screws (246.5 (23.8) N), the inverted y-miniplate with standard screws (242.4 (27.2) N), and finally the TriLock Delta plate (167.4 (39.2) N). Analysis of the slope of the force–displacement diagram from 80 N to 100 N in each group showed that the TriLock Delta miniplate had the highest values for rigidity (17.3 (5.1) N/μm), followed by the inverted y-miniplate groups with self-drilling screws (14.1 (6.4) N/μm), and with standard screws (12.6 (2.5) N/μm). The double 4-hole straight miniplate osteosynthesis had the lowest rigidity (8.7 1.4) N/μm). Despite the significant difference in the maximum load between the double 4-hole miniplates and other investigated osteosynthesis patterns, all groups had sufficient load for the fixation of low condylar fractures of the mandible when postoperative bite forces and the slowly increasing voluntary clenching during healing were considered.     

Direct synthesis of amides and imines by dehydrogenative homo or cross-coupling of amines and alcohols catalyzed by Cu-MOF

Oxidative dehydrogenative homo-coupling of amines to imines and cross-coupling of amines with alcohols to amides was achieved with high to moderate yields at room temperature in THF using Cu-MOF as an efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst under mild conditions. Different primary benzyl amines and alcohols could be utilized for the synthesis of a wide variety of amides and imines. The Cu-MOF catalyst could be recycled and reused four times without loss of catalytic activity.

Oxidative dehydrogenative homo or cross-coupling of amines with alcohols to imines and amides was achieved with high to moderate yields at room temperature using Cu-MOF as an efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst.     

A review on non-edible oil as a potential feedstock for biodiesel: physicochemical properties and production technologies

There is increasing concern regarding alleviating world energy demand by determining an alternative to petroleum-derived fuels due to the rapid depletion of fossil fuels, rapid population growth, and urbanization. Biodiesel can be utilized as an alternative fuel to petroleum-derived diesel for the combustion engine. At present, edible crops are the primary source of biodiesel production. However, the excessive utilization of these edible crops for large-scale biodiesel production might cause food supply depletion and economic imbalance. Moreover, the utilization of edible oil as a biodiesel feedstock increases biodiesel production costs due to the high price of edible oils. A possible solution to overcome the existing limitations of biodiesel production is to utilize non-edible crops oil as a feedstock. The present study was conducted to determine the possibility and challenges of utilizing non-edible oil as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production. Several aspects related to non-edible oil as a biodiesel feedstock such as overview of biodiesel feedstocks, non-edible oil resources, non-edible oil extraction technology, its physicochemical and fatty acid properties, biodiesel production technologies, advantages and limitation of using non-edible oil as a feedstock for biodiesel production have been reviewed in various recent publications. The finding of the present study reveals that there is a huge opportunity to utilize non-edible oil as a feedstock for biodiesel production.

There is increasing concern regarding alleviating world energy demand by determining an alternative to petroleum-derived fuels due to the rapid depletion of fossil fuels, rapid population growth, and urbanization.     

Phosphorylated cellulose paper as highly efficient adsorbent for cadmium heavy metal ion removal in aqueous solutions

In search for more effective and eco-friendly adsorbent materials, this study comprehensively investigated Cd²⁺ adsorption onto phosphorylated cellulose paper (PCP). For this, cellulose microfibers (CMF) was extracted from Alfa fibers and phosphorylated using the solid-state phosphorylation approach. Then, the prepared PCP samples were characterized by SEM, EDX, XRD, FTIR, TGA, conductometric titration and zeta potential measurement. The adsorption of cadmium ions, the effect of time, pH and Cd²⁺ initial concentration were systematically studied in batch experiments. Based on the results, the highest adsorption capacity achieved was 479 mg of Cd²⁺ per g of PCP, which was remarkable compared to other modified cellulose capacities cited in the literature. Furthermore, the Cd²⁺ removal mechanism was investigated based on characterization results before and after adsorption and also based on the kinetics results. It was concluded that cation exchange and electrostatic attraction between phosphorylated cellulose and the cadmium ion mainly dominated the adsorption process. These findings highlighted that the phosphorylated cellulose paper has a broad application prospect in removal of divalent metal from aquatic solution.

In search for more effective and eco-friendly adsorbent materials, this study comprehensively investigated Cd²⁺ adsorption onto phosphorylated cellulose paper (PCP).     

Investigation on structure,thermodynamic and multifunctional properties of Ni–Zn–Co ferrite for Gd3+ substitution

This study presents a modification of structure-dependent elastic, thermodynamic, magnetic, transport and magneto-dielectric properties of a Ni–Zn–Co ferrite tailored by Gd³⁺ substitution at the B-site replacing Fe³⁺ ions. The synthesized composition of Ni_0.7Zn_0.2Co_0.1Fe_2−xGd_xO₄ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.12) crystallized with a single-phase cubic spinel structure that belongs to the Fd$\bar{3}$m space group. The average particle size decreases due to Gd³⁺ substitution at Fe³⁺. Raman and IR spectroscopy studies illustrate phase purity, lattice dynamics with cation disorders and thermodynamic conditions inside the studied samples at room temperature (RT = 300 K). Ferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase transition was observed in all samples where Curie temperature (T_C) decreases from 731 to 711 K for Gd³⁺ substitution in Ni–Zn–Co ferrite. In addition, Gd³⁺ substitution reinforces to decrease the A-B exchange interaction. Temperature-dependent DC electrical resistivity (ρ_DC) and temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) have been surveyed with the variation of the grain size. The frequency-dependent dielectric properties and electric modulus at RT for all samples were observed from 20 Hz to 100 MHz and the conduction relaxation processes were found to spread over an extensive range of frequencies with the increase in the amount of Gd³⁺ in the Ni–Zn–Co ferrite. The RLC behavior separates the zone of frequencies ranging from resistive to capacitive regions in all the studied samples. Finally, the matching impedance (Z/η₀) for all samples was evaluated over an extensive range of frequencies for the possible miniaturizing application.

This study presents a modification of structure-dependent elastic, thermodynamic, magnetic, transport and magneto-dielectric properties of a Ni–Zn–Co ferrite tailored by Gd³⁺ substitution at the B-site replacing Fe³⁺ ions.     

FAK regulates cardiomyocyte survival following ischemia/reperfusion

Myocyte apoptosis is central to myocardial dysfunction following ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) and during the transition from hypertrophy to heart failure. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase regulates adhesion-dependent survival signals and unopposed FAK activation has been linked to tumor development. We previously showed that conditional myocyte-specific deletion of FAK (MFKO) in the adult heart did not affect basal cardiomyocyte survival or cardiac function but led to dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure following pressure overload. In the present study, we sought to determine if FAK functions to limit stress-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. We reasoned that (I/R), which stimulates robust apoptotic cell death, might uncover an important cardioprotective function for FAK. We found that depletion of FAK markedly exacerbates hypoxia/re-oxygenation-induced cardiomyocyte cell death in vitro. Moreover, deletion of FAK in the adult myocardium resulted in significant increases in I/R-induced infarct size and cardiomyocyte apoptosis with a concomitant reduction in left ventricular function. Finally, our results suggest that NF-κB signaling may play a key role in modulating FAK-dependent cardioprotection, since FAK inactivation blunted activation of the NF-κB survival signaling pathway and reduced levels of the NF-κB target genes, Bcl2 and Bcl-xl. Since the toggling between pro-survival and pro-apoptotic signals remains central to preventing irreversible damage to the heart, we conclude that targeted FAK activation may be beneficial for protecting stress-dependent cardiac remodeling.