Catalysis for Glycerol Production and Its Applications

Globally, there is a climate change due to greenhouse gases, hence the production processes for chemicals should comply with green chemistry principles to decrease the impact it has on the climate. This book chapter focuses on the catalytic production of glycerol, which is a platform chemical that is widely used in the manufacture of various industrially important chemicals and derivatives, namely 2,3-dihydroxypropanal, glycerol ether, glycerol ester, acrolein, 1,2-propanediol and glycidol. The literature reviewed compares the production of glycerol using homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, to determine efficient and environmentally benign glycerol catalysts and to study glycerol as a platform chemical and its value in application

Prostate cancer tumour features on template prostate-mapping biopsies: implications for focal therapy.

Focal therapy is being offered as a viable alternative for men with localised prostate cancer (PCa), but it is unclear which men may be suitable

Prostate cancer tumour features on template prostate-mapping biopsies: implications for focal therapy.

Focal therapy is being offered as a viable alternative for men with localised prostate cancer (PCa), but it is unclear which men may be suitable

Maternally Orphaned Children and Intergenerational Concerns Associated with Breast Cancer Deaths among Women in Sub-Saharan Africa

Importance: Low breast cancer survival in sub-Saharan Africa's young population increases the likelihood that breast cancer deaths result in maternal orphans, ie, children (<18 years) losing their mother. Objective: To estimate the number of maternal orphans and their ages for every 100 breast cancer deaths in sub-Saharan African settings during 2014-2019 and to describe family concerns about the orphaned children. Design, Setting, and Participants: Deaths occurring between September 1, 2014, and July 1, 2019, in the African Breast Cancer-Disparities in Outcomes (ABC-DO) were examined in a cohort of women diagnosed with breast cancer during 2014-2017 at major cancer treatment hospitals in Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia. The cohort was actively followed up for vital status via a trimonthly mobile phone call to each woman or her next of kin (typically a partner, husband, or child). Main Outcomes and Measures: The number (Poisson counts) and ages of new orphans at the time of maternal death. Results: This cohort study found that a total of 795 deaths resulted in 964 new maternal orphans, with deaths occurring in women younger than 50 years accounting for 85% of the orphans. For every 100 deaths in women younger than 50 years, there were 210 new orphans (95% CI, 196-225) overall, with country-specific estimates of 189 in Nigerian, 180 in Namibian, 222 in Ugandan, and 247 in Zambian Black women. For every 100 deaths of the women at any age, there were 121 maternal orphans, 17% of whom were younger than 5 years, 32% aged 5 to 9 years, and 51% aged 10 to 17 years at the time of maternal death. In follow-up interviews, families' concerns for children's education and childcare were reported to be exacerbated by the financial expenses associated with cancer treatment. Conclusions and Relevance: This study provides evidence that the number of maternal orphans due to breast cancer exceeds the number of breast cancer deaths among women in sub-Saharan Africa. The intergenerational consequences associated with cancer deaths in sub-Saharan Africa appear to be large and support the need for continued action to improve survival

Immune Activation and CD8(+) T-Cell Differentiation towards Senescence in HIV-1 Infection

Progress in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic is hindered by our failure to elucidate the precise reasons for the onset of immunodeficiency in HIV-1 infection. Increasing evidence suggests that elevated immune activation is associated with poor outcome in HIV-1 pathogenesis. However, the basis of this association remains unclear. Through ex vivo analysis of virus-specific CD8(+) T-cells and the use of an in vitro model of naïve CD8(+) T-cell priming, we show that the activation level and the differentiation state of T-cells are closely related. Acute HIV-1 infection induces massive activation of CD8(+) T-cells, affecting many cell populations, not only those specific for HIV-1, which results in further differentiation of these cells. HIV disease progression correlates with increased proportions of highly differentiated CD8(+) T-cells, which exhibit characteristics of replicative senescence and probably indicate a decline in T-cell competence of the infected person. The differentiation of CD8(+) and CD4(+) T-cells towards a state of replicative senescence is a natural process. It can be driven by excessive levels of immune stimulation. This may be part of the mechanism through which HIV-1-mediated immune activation exhausts the capacity of the immune system

If not now, when? Time for the European Union to define a global health strategy

Speakman, E. M., McKee, M., & Coker, R. (2017). If not now, when? Time for the European Union to define a global health strategy. Lancet Global Health, 5(4), e392-e393. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X%2817%2930085-

Nigeria’s quest for scientific and technological development: An essay in retrieval

This paper attempts to formulate a philosophical framework for the purposeful utilisation of the abundant human and material resources in Nigeria for scientific and technologiccal developments geared towards positioning the country positively for the new millenium

Modified laminoplasty for degenerative cervical spondylosis: The technique of floating laminoplasty

Background: Laminoplasty is an established alternative to laminectomy for posterior cervical decompression in spondylotic myelopathy. However, standard laminoplasty requires internal fixation, which is often not obtainable in developing countries. We present our experience with a technique of noninstrumented (floating) laminoplasty developed to avoid the need to anchor the laminoplasty to the anterior elements.Methods: We have used floating laminoplasty (FL) for posterior cervical decompression in patients with cervical spondylosis since 2004 and report the technique and our experience with it between 2009 and 2014 when C‑arm and magnetic resonance imaging became available in our unit. Patients who had classical laminectomy and hemilaminectomies were excluded. The operation involved bilateral approach to the laminae through a midline incision with generous sparing of the supraspinous, interspinal and interlaminar ligaments. During closure the laminoplasty was hitched to the ligamentum nuchae. Nurick grading was used for clinical evaluation. Patients were followed for at least 1 year.Results: There were 36 patients with age range between 32 and 72 years (mean: 56.5 years). Male to female ratio was 3:1. Most patients presented with advanced disease, with 25%, 36%, and 30% at Nurick Grade 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Postoperatively, all (100%) patients with Nurick Grade 2 and 3 improved to Grade 1 or 0, while 9 (69%) of the 13 at Grade 4 improved to Grade 2 or better. Only 1 (9.1%) of 11 operated at Grade 5 did not improve while 3 (27%) improved to Grade 2 or better. No postoperative instability was identified on follow‑up.Conclusion: FL is a safe and simple procedure that preserves spine stability and minimizes postoperative spinal deformity.Keywords: Cervical spondylosis, laminoplasty, ligamentous suspensio