Photo-Oxidation of Glycerol Catalyzed by Cu/TiO2

In the present study, glycerol was oxidized by photocatalysis to glyceraldehyde, formaldehyde, and formic acid. Copper-doped TiO2 was synthesized by the evaporation-induced self-assembly approach and it was used as catalyst during the glycerol photo-oxidation reactions. The prepared mesoporous material exhibited high specific surface area (242 m2/g) and band gap energy reduction of 2.55 eV compared to pure titania (3.2 eV) by the synthesis method due to the presence of copper cations (Cu2+ identified by XPS). The catalyst showed only anatase crystalline phase with nanocrystals around 8 nm and irregular agglomerates below 100  m. The selectivity and formation rate of the products were favored towards formaldehyde and glyceraldehyde. The variables studied were catalyst amount, reaction temperature, and initial glycerol concentration. The response surface analysis was used to evaluate the effect of the variables on the product’s concentration. A higher selectivity towards formaldehyde was observed when visible light was used as the radiation source. This study is useful to evaluate the best reaction conditions towards value-added products during the oxidation of glycerol by photocatalysis using Cu/TiO2.COMECYT–Mexico (CAT2021-0032) UAEMex (6518/2022CIB

Improving interMediAte Risk management. MARK study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cardiovascular risk functions fail to identify more than 50% of patients who develop cardiovascular disease. This is especially evident in the intermediate-risk patients in which clinical management becomes difficult. Our purpose is to analyze if ankle-brachial index (ABI), measures of arterial stiffness, postprandial glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, self-measured blood pressure and presence of comorbidity are independently associated to incidence of vascular events and whether they can improve the predictive capacity of current risk equations in the intermediate-risk population.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This project involves 3 groups belonging to REDIAPP (RETICS RD06/0018) from 3 Spanish regions. We will recruit a multicenter cohort of 2688 patients at intermediate risk (coronary risk between 5 and 15% or vascular death risk between 3-5% over 10 years) and no history of atherosclerotic disease, selected at random. We will record socio-demographic data, information on diet, physical activity, comorbidity and intermittent claudication. We will measure ABI, pulse wave velocity and cardio ankle vascular index at rest and after a light intensity exercise. Blood pressure and anthropometric data will be also recorded. We will also quantify lipids, glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin in a fasting blood sample and postprandial capillary glucose. Eighteen months after the recruitment, patients will be followed up to determine the incidence of vascular events (later follow-ups are planned at 5 and 10 years). We will analyze whether the new proposed risk factors contribute to improve the risk functions based on classic risk factors.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases is a priority in public health policy of developed and developing countries. The fundamental strategy consists in identifying people in a high risk situation in which preventive measures are effective and efficient. Improvement of these predictions in our country will have an immediate, clinical and welfare impact and a short term public health effect.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01428934">NCT01428934</a></p

Association between markers of glycemia and carotid intima-media thickness: the MARK study

Carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) is a reliable predictor of cardiovascular events. We Investigated the relationship between markers of glycemia and C-IMT in intermediate-risk cardiovascular patients. Methods This study analyzed 427 subjects, aged 35 to 74 years (mean, 60.3 ± 8.5 years), 55 % women, enrolled into the MARK study. Including 231 subjects defined as normal glucose, 104 subjects classified as prediabetes and 92 with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Carotid ultrasound was used to measure C-IMT and the presence of plaques. Fasting plasma glucose (mg/dl) and glycated hemoglobin (%) (HbA1c) were measured using standard enzymatic automated methods. Postprandial glucose (mg/dl) was self-measured by patients at home 2 h after meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) for 1 day. Results The C-IMT shows a positive correlation with fasting plasma glucose, postprandial glucose and HbA1c. Multiple linear regression analysis showed a positive association between HbA1c and C-IMT, with a 0.016 mm and 0.019 mm increase in mean and maximum C-IMT per 1 % increase in HbA1c. In addition, an association between fasting plasma glucose and C-IMT was found with an increase of 0.004 and 0.005 mm in mean and maximum C-IMT per 10 mg/dl in fasting plasma glucose. We also observed a graded association between fasting plasma glucose, postprandial glucose and HbA1c and the presence of carotid target organ damage (TOD), with an odds ratio of 1.013, 1.010 and 1.425, respectively. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that the fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c, but not postprandial glucose, are associated with C-IMT media and maximum. The patients who present with a metabolic glucose alteration have more risk of developing carotid TO