Development of a production chain from vegetable biowaste to platform chemicals

Abstract Background A future bioeconomy relies on the development of technologies to convert waste into valuable compounds. We present here an attempt to design a biotechnological cascade for the conversion of vegetable waste into acetoin and electrical energy. Results A vegetable waste dark fermentation effluent containing mainly acetate, butyrate and propionate was oxidized in a bioelectrochemical system. The achieved average current at a constant anode potential of 0 mV against standard hydrogen electrode was 177.5 ± 52.5 µA/cm2. During this step, acetate and butyrate were removed from the effluent while propionate was the major remaining component of the total organic carbon content comprising on average 75.6%. The key players with regard to carbon oxidation and electrode reduction were revealed using amplicon sequencing and metatranscriptomic analysis. Using nanofiltration, it was possible to concentrate the propionate in the effluent. The effluent was revealed to be a suitable medium for biotechnological production strains. As a proof of principle, the propionate in the effluent of the bioelectrochemical system was converted into the platform chemical acetoin with a carbon recovery of 86%. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge this is the first report on a full biotechnological production chain leading from vegetable waste to the production of a single valuable platform chemical that integrates carbon elimination steps leading to the production of the valuable side product electrical energy

Cinaciguat (BAY 58 -2667) Improves Cardiopulmonary Hemodynamics in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

Background-Cinaciguat (BAY 58 -2667) is the first of a new class of soluble guanylate cyclase activators in clinical development for acute decompensated heart failure. We aimed to assess the hemodynamic effects, safety, and tolerability of intravenous cinaciguat in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (pulmonary capillary wedge pressure Ն18 mm Hg). Methods and Results-After initial dose finding (part A; nϭ27), cinaciguat was evaluated in the nonrandomized, uncontrolled proof-of-concept part of the study (part B; nϭ33) using a starting dose of 100 g/h, which could be titrated depending on hemodynamic response. Patients were categorized as responders if their pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased by Ն4 mm Hg compared with baseline. Final doses of cinaciguat after 6 hours of infusion in part B were 50 g/h (nϭ2), 200 g/h (nϭ12), and 400 g/h (nϭ16). Compared with baseline, a 6-hour infusion of cinaciguat led to significant reductions in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (Ϫ7.9 mm Hg), mean right atrial pressure (Ϫ2.9 mm Hg), mean pulmonary artery pressure (Ϫ6.5 mm Hg), pulmonary vascular resistance (Ϫ43.4 dynes · s · cm Ϫ5 ), and systemic vascular resistance (Ϫ597 dynes · s · cm Ϫ5 ), while increasing heart rate by 4.4 bpm and cardiac output by 1.68 L/min. The responder rate was 53% after 2 hours, 83% after 4 hours, and 90% after 6 hours. Cinaciguat was well tolerated, with 13 of 60 patients reporting 14 drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events of mild to moderate intensity, most commonly hypotension. Conclusions-Cinaciguat has potent preload-and afterload-reducing effects, increasing cardiac output. Further investigation of cinaciguat for acute decompensated heart failure is warranted

Translating the oxidative stress hypothesis into the clinic: NOX versus NOS

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in industrialised nations. Since the pathomechanisms of most cardiovascular diseases are not understood, the majority of therapeutic approaches are symptom-orientated. Knowing the molecular mechanism of disease would enable more targeted therapies. One postulated underlying mechanism of cardiovascular diseases is oxidative stress, i.e. the increased occurrence of reactive oxygen species such as superoxide. Oxidative stress leads to a dysfunction of vascular endothelium-dependent protective mechanisms. There is growing evidence that this scenario also involves impaired nitric oxide (NO)-cyclic GMP signalling. Out of a number of enzyme families that can produce reactive oxygen species, NADPH oxidases stand out, as they are the only enzymes whose sole purpose is to produce reactive oxygen species. This review focuses on the clinically validated targets of oxidative stress, NO synthase (NOS) and the NO receptor, soluble guanylate cyclase as well as the source of ROS, e.g. NADPH oxidases. We place recent knowledge in the function and regulation of these enzyme families into clinical perspective. For a comprehensive overview of the biology and pharmacology of oxidative stress and possible other sources and targets, we refer to other literature overviews

Der Geologische Dienst in Sachsen: Festband zum Jubiläum 150 Jahre Landesgeologie

Der Geologische Dienst von Sachsen feiert im Jahr 2022 sein 150-jähriges Jubiläum – am 6. April 1872 wurde die Geologische Landesuntersuchung im Königreich Sachsen gegründet. Auf 153 Seiten der Reihe „Geoprofil“ werden Einblicke in die Arbeit des Geologischen Dienstes im LfULG, seinen Aufgaben und die Dienste als zuständige Fachbehörde gegeben. Die elf Einzelbeiträge zeigen die aktuellen Herausforderungen und Chancen, die sich aus den Themenbereichen Umwelt, Naturschutz und Geologie für Sachsen stellen. Im Einzelnen geht es in den Beiträgen um die sächsische Rohstoffstrategie, die Suche nach einem Endlagerstandort für radioaktive Abfälle, Erdwärme, Hydrogeologie, die Eisenbahn Neubaustrecke Dresden – Prag, Naturgefahren, das geowissenschaftliche Archiv, Träger öffentlicher Belange (TöB), Geoparks und einen Blick in die 150 jährige Geschichte. Redaktionsschluss: 30.11.202

Low rate of access site complications after transradial coronary catheterization: A prospective ultrasound study

Transradial artery (TRA) left heart catheterization is an increasingly used technique for both diagnostic and interventional coronary procedures. This study evaluates the incidence of access site complications in the current interventional era. A total of 507 procedures were performed under standardized conditions. Each procedure was performed using high levels of anticoagulation, hydrophilic sheaths, and short post-procedural compression times. Vascular complications were assessed one day after TRA catheterization using Duplex sonography and classified according to the necessity of additional medical intervention. A simple questionnaire helped identifying upper extremity neurologic or motor complications. Vascular complications were detected in 12 patients (2.36%): radial artery occlusion was detected in 9 patients (1.77%), 1 patient developed an AV-fistula (0.19%), and 2 patients had pseudoaneurysms (0.38%). None of the patients required specialized medical or surgical intervention. Under our procedural conditions, small radial artery diameter was the only significant predictor for the development of post-procedural vascular complications (2.11 ± 0.42 mm vs 2.52 ± 0.39 mm, p = 0.001). None of the previously reported risk factors, namely, advanced renal failure, diabetes, acuteness/complexity of procedure, or sheath and catheter size significantly influenced the rate of vascular complications. No major hematoma or local neurologic or motor complications were identified. Using current techniques and materials, we report a very low rate of local complications associated with TRA catheterization

Short-Term Outcomes of Tricuspid Edge-to-Edge Repair in Clinical Practice.

BACKGROUND Severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is known to be associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVES The authors sought to study the acute outcomes of subjects treated by tricuspid transcatheter edge-to-edge repair with the TriClip system (Abbott) in a contemporary, real-world setting. METHODS The bRIGHT (An Observational Real-World Study Evaluating Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation Patients Treated With the Abbott TriClip™ Device) postapproval study is a prospective, single-arm, open-label, multicenter, postmarket registry conducted at 26 sites in Europe. Echocardiographic assessment was performed at a core laboratory. RESULTS Enrolled subjects were elderly (79 ± 7 years of age) with significant comorbidities. Eighty-eight percent had baseline massive or torrential TR, and 80% of subjects were in NYHA functional class III or IV. Successful device implantation occurred in 99% of subjects, and TR was reduced to ≤moderate at 30 days in 77%. Associated significant improvements in NYHA functional class (I/II, 20% to 79%; P < 0.0001) and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score (19 ± 23 points improvement; P < 0.0001) were observed at 30 days. With baseline TR grade removed as a variable, smaller right atrial volume and smaller tethering distance at baseline were independent predictors of TR reduction to ≤moderate at discharge (OR: 0.679; 95% CI: 0.537-0.858; P = 0.0012; OR: 0.722; 95% CI: 0.564-0.924; P = 0.0097). Fourteen subjects (2.5%) experienced a major adverse event at 30 days. CONCLUSIONS Transcatheter tricuspid valve repair was found to be safe and effective in treating significant TR in a diverse, real-world population. (An Observational Real-World Study Evaluating Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation Patients Treated With the Abbott TriClip™ Device [bRIGHT]; NCT04483089)