Effects of Electrolyte Buffer Capacity on Surface Reactant Species and Reaction Rate of CO_2 in Electrochemical CO_2 Reduction

In the aqueous electrochemical reduction of CO_2, the choice of electrolyte is responsible for the catalytic activity and selectivity, although there remains a need for more in-depth understanding of electrolyte effects and mechanisms. In this study, using both experimental and simulation approaches, we report how the buffer capacity of the electrolytes affects the kinetics and equilibrium of surface reactant species and resulting reaction rate of CO_2 with varying partial CO_2 pressure. Electrolytes investigated include KCl (non-buffered), KHCO3 (buffered by bicarbonate), and phosphate buffered electrolytes. Assuming 100% methane production, the simulation successfully explains the experimental trends of maximum CO_2 flux in KCl and KHCO_3, and also highlights the difference between KHCO_3 and phosphate in terms of pKa as well as the impact of buffer capacity. To examine the electrolyte impact on selectivity, the model is run with a constant total current density. Using this model, several factors are elucidated including the importance of local pH, which is not in acid/base equilibrium, the impact of buffer identity and kinetics, and the mass-transport boundary-layer thickness. The gained understanding can help optimize CO_2 reduction in aqueous environments

Effects of Electrolyte Buffer Capacity on Surface Reactant Species and Reaction Rate of CO_2 in Electrochemical CO_2 Reduction

In the aqueous electrochemical reduction of CO_2, the choice of electrolyte is responsible for the catalytic activity and selectivity, although there remains a need for more in-depth understanding of electrolyte effects and mechanisms. In this study, using both experimental and simulation approaches, we report how the buffer capacity of the electrolytes affects the kinetics and equilibrium of surface reactant species and resulting reaction rate of CO_2 with varying partial CO_2 pressure. Electrolytes investigated include KCl (non-buffered), KHCO3 (buffered by bicarbonate), and phosphate buffered electrolytes. Assuming 100% methane production, the simulation successfully explains the experimental trends of maximum CO_2 flux in KCl and KHCO_3, and also highlights the difference between KHCO_3 and phosphate in terms of pKa as well as the impact of buffer capacity. To examine the electrolyte impact on selectivity, the model is run with a constant total current density. Using this model, several factors are elucidated including the importance of local pH, which is not in acid/base equilibrium, the impact of buffer identity and kinetics, and the mass-transport boundary-layer thickness. The gained understanding can help optimize CO_2 reduction in aqueous environments

A rare case of concomitant huge exophytic gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the stomach and Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We report an extremely rare case of concomitant huge exophytic GIST of the stomach and Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP).</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>The patient was a 67-year-old man experiencing abdominal distension since September 2006. A physical examination revealed a 25 × 30 cm hard mass that was palpable in the middle and lower left abdomen minimal intrinsic mobility and massive ascites. Since the admitted patient was diagnosed with DIC, surgery could not be performed. The patient received a platelet transfusion and the DIC was treated. Due to this treatment, the platelet count recovered to 7.0 × 10⁴; tumor resection was performed at 16 days after admission. Laparotomy revealed a huge extraluminal tumor arising from the greater curvature of the stomach that measured 25 × 30 cm and had not ruptured into the peritoneal cavity or infiltrated other organs. Partial gastric resection was performed. The resected mass measured 25 × 25 × 20 cm. In cross section, the tumor appeared hard and homogenous with a small polycystic area. Histopathology of the resected specimen showed large spindle cell GIST with >5/50 HPF (high-power field) mitotic activity. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the coagulopathy improved rapidly.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Since the characteristic of tumor in this case was hypervascularity with bleeding and necrotic lesions, coagulopathy was thought to be caused by the trapping of platelets within a large vasculized tumor mass.</p

Bile Salt Hydrolase of Bifidobacterium longum—Biochemical and Genetic Characterization

A bile salt hydrolase (BSH) was isolated from Bifidobacterium longum SBT2928, purified, and characterized. Furthermore, we describe for the first time cloning and analysis of the gene encoding BSH (bsh) in a member of the genus Bifidobacterium. The enzyme has a native molecular weight of 125,000 to 130,000 and a subunit molecular weight of 35,024, as determined from the deduced amino acid sequence, indicating that the enzyme is a tetramer. The pH optimum of B. longum BSH is between 5 and 7, and the temperature optimum is 40°C. The enzyme is strongly inhibited by thiol enzyme inhibitors, indicating that a Cys residue is likely to be involved in the catalytic reaction. The BSH of B. longum can hydrolyze all six major human bile salts and at least two animal bile salts. A slight preference for glycine-conjugated bile acids was detected based on both the specificity and the K(m) values. The nucleotide sequence of bsh was determined and used for homology studies, transcript analysis, and construction and analysis of various mutants. The levels of homology with BSH of other bacteria and with penicillin V acylase (PVA) of Bacillus sphaericus were high. On the basis of the similarity of BSH and PVA, whose crystal structure has been elucidated, BSH can be classified as an N-terminal nucleophile hydrolase with Cys as the N-terminal amino acid. This classification was confirmed by the fact that a Cys1Ala exchange by site-directed mutagenesis resulted in an inactive protein. Reverse transcription-PCR experiments revealed that bsh is part of an operon containing at least two genes, bsh and glnE (GlnE is glutamine synthetase adenylyltransferase). Two UV-induced BSH-negative mutants and one spontaneous BSH-negative mutant were isolated from B. longum SBT2928 cultures and characterized. These mutants had point mutations that inactivated bsh by premature termination, frameshift, or amino acid exchange

Crystalline Copper(II) Phthalocyanine Catalysts for Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide in Aqueous Media

We achieved highly selective electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to C₂H₄ (faradaic efficiency of 25%) by crystalline copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) supported on carbon black. Remarkably, noncrystalline CuPc generated by treatment of crystalline CuPc with sulfuric acid did not give C₂H₄ selectively, suggesting that catalyst crystallinity is crucial for the selective conversion of CO₂ to C₂H₄. The stability of crystalline CuPc under electrochemical reduction conditions was also evaluated, showing that crystalline CuPc can selectively convert CO to C₂H₄ in the initial stage (<10 000 s), as long as the crystallinity of the catalyst is maintained

Comparative risk of hospitalized infection between biological agents in rheumatoid arthritis patients: A multicenter retrospective cohort study in Japan.

OBJECTIVE:Knowing the risk of hospitalized infection associated with individual biological agents is an important factor in selecting the best treatment option for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study examined the comparative risk of hospitalized infection between biological agents in a routine care setting. METHODS:We used data for all RA patients who had first begun biological therapy at rheumatology divisions of participating community hospitals in Japan between January 2009 and December 2014. New treatment episodes with etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab, abatacept, or tocilizumab were included. Patients were allowed to contribute multiple treatment episodes with different biological agents. Incidence rates (IRs) of hospitalized infection during the first year of follow-up were examined. Cox regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for overall hospitalized infection and for pulmonary hospitalized infection, adjusting for possible confounders. RESULTS:A total of 1596 new treatment episodes were identified. The incidence of overall hospitalized infection during the first year was 86 with 1239 person-years (PYs), yielding a crude IR of 6.9 per 100 PYs (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.6-8.6). After correction for confounders, no significant difference in risk of hospitalized infection was observed between treatment groups: adjusted HRs (95% CI) were 1.54 (0.78-3.04) for infliximab, 1.72 (0.88-3.34) for adalimumab, 1.11 (0.55-2.21) for abatacept, and 1.02 (0.55-1.87) for tocilizumab compared with etanercept. Patient-specific factors such as age, RA functional class, body mass index (BMI), prednisolone use, and chronic lung disease contributed more to the risk of hospitalized infection than specific biological agents. The incidence of pulmonary hospitalized infection was 50 and a crude IR of 4.0 per 100 PYs (95% CI, 3.1-5.3). After adjustment for confounders, adalimumab had a significantly higher HR for pulmonary hospitalized infection compared with tocilizumab: an adjusted HR (95% CI) was 4.43 (1.72-11.37) for adalimumab. BMI, prednisolone use, diabetes mellitus, and chronic lung disease were also significant factors associated with the risk of pulmonary hospitalized infection. CONCLUSIONS:The magnitude of the risk of overall hospitalized infection was not determined by the type of biological agents, and patient-specific risk factors had more impact on the risk of hospitalized infection. For pulmonary hospitalized infections, the use of adalimumab was significantly associated with a greater risk of this complication than tocilizumab use