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Interventional Algorithms for the Control of Coagulopathic Bleeding in Surgical, Trauma, and Postpartum Settings: Recommendations From the Share Network Group

Several clinical settings are associated with specific coagulopathies that predispose to uncontrolled bleeding. With the growing concern about the need for optimizing transfusion practices and improving treatment of the bleeding patient, a group of 9 Portuguese specialists (Share Network Group) was created to discuss and develop algorithms for the clinical evaluation and control of coagulopathic bleeding in the following perioperative clinical settings: surgery, trauma, and postpartum hemorrhage. The 3 algorithms developed by the group were presented at the VIII National Congress of the Associação Portuguesa de Imuno-hemoterapia in October 2013. They aim to provide a structured approach for clinicians to rapidly diagnose the status of coagulopathy in order to achieve an earlier and more effective bleeding control, reduce transfusion requirements, and improve patient outcomes. The group highlights the importance of communication between different specialties involved in the care of bleeding patients in order to achieve better results.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Intratumoral patterns of clonal evolution in gliomas

Few studies have explored the patterns of clonal evolution in gliomas. Here, we investigate the cytogenetic patterns of intratumoral clonal evolution of gliomas and their impact on tumor histopathology and patient survival. Cytogenetic analysis of 90 gliomas was performed in individual tumor cells (>200 cells/tumor) using multicolor (N = 16 probes) interphase-FISH. Overall, chromosome gains were more frequent than chromosome losses. Gains of chromosome 7 and/or EGFR amplification were detected in 91% of the cases, whereas del(9p21) (77%) and del(10q23) (78%) were the most frequent chromosome losses. Virtually, all cases (99%) showed >/=2 tumor cell clones, with higher numbers among high- versus low-grade gliomas (p = 0.001). Nine different cytogenetic patterns were found in the ancestral tumor clones. In most gliomas, ancestral clones showed abnormalities of chromosome 7, 9p, and/or 10q and cytogenetic evolution consisted of acquisition of additional abnormalities followed by tetraploidization. Conversely, early tetraploidization was associated with low-grade astrocytomas-2/3 pilocytic and 3/6 grade II diffuse astrocytomas-and combined loss of 1p36/19q13 with oligodendrogliomas, respectively; both aberrations were associated with a better patient outcome (p = 0.03). Overall, our results support the existence of different pathways of intratumoral evolution in gliomas

Activated carbon production from brewer’s spent grain lignin

Activated carbons are adsorbents that are industrially used in multiple processes for product separation and purification, and for the treatment of liquid and gaseous effluents. Despite its frequent use in the water and waste industries, activated carbons remain an expensive material. In view of the high cost and the tedious procedures for the preparation and regeneration of activated carbons, there is a continuing search for low-cost potential adsorbents. The preparation of activated carbons from lignin is an attractive way of giving added value to this material, which is mainly used as in-house fuel for the recovery of both energy and residual inorganic matter. Over the past few decades, some works have been done on the activation of agricultural lignocellulosic waste materials to carbons, due to their low cost and high availability. Nevertheless, there is not any literature report about the activated carbon production from brewer’s spent grain (BSG) lignin. Use of BSG lignin as starting material for activated carbon production is interesting because BSG (the main brewery by-product) is produced in large amounts during all year, and is a lignin-rich material. Lignin can be converted in activated carbon by physical or chemical activation, the last one being more amply used than physical activation, because it requires lower activation temperatures and gives higher product yields. The purpose of the present work was to prepare activated carbon from BSG lignin, by chemical activation using phosphoric acid as impregnating agent, and to examine the influence of preparation conditions (acid/lignin ratio and carbonization temperature) on the textural characteristics of the materials produced (surface area, volume of pores, and pores size distribution) as well as on its adsorption capacities. Chemical activation of BSG lignin using phosphoric acid as impregnating agent was performed at various acid/lignin ratios (1, 2, or 3 g/g) and carbonization temperatures (300, 450, or 600 ºC), according to a 22 full factorial design. The resulting materials were characterized (regarding the surface area, volume of pores, and pores size distribution), and used for detoxification of the BSG hemicellulosic hydrolysate, which consists in a mixture of sugars, phenolic compounds, metallic ions, among other compounds. BSG carbons presented BET surface areas between 33 and 692 m2/g, and volume of pores between 0.058 and 0.453 cm3/g, which generally consisted in micro and mesopores. Adsorption capacity also varied to each carbon, according to the used activation condition. However, all of them showed high capacity for adsorption of metallic ions, mainly nickel, iron, chromium and silicon. In most of the cases, the BSG carbons efficiency for removal of these metals was higher than that obtained when using a commercial carbon sample. Phenolic compounds concentration and color were also reduced by using these sorbents, and the sugars content was practically not affected, which is benefic if the hydrolysate use in bioconversion processes is desired. The present work allowed to conclude that it is possible to produce activated carbons with good efficiency for phenolic compounds and metallic ions removal (mainly Ni, Fe, Cr, and Si), by chemical activation of the BSG lignin. The adsorption capacity of the carbons compared well and even favorably with that of a commercial activated carbon, suggesting that they have potential to be successfully used in detoxification processes in substitution of commercial sorbents. Regarding to the preparation of these activated carbons, an impregnation ratio and activation temperature of 3 g H3PO4/g lignin and 600 ºC, respectively, was the best combination of operating conditions leading to activated carbons with good capacity for adsorption of different toxic compounds. Acknowledgements: CAPES, FAPESP and CNPq (Brazil)

Valorisation of cork by-products for the treatment of vegetal and animal oil containing wastewaters

In this study, cork granules, which are by-products of the cork processing industry, were used as biosorbents for the removal of vegetable and animal oils from water. Simple oil-in-water emulsions were created by ultrasonic emulsification and batch adsorption tests were performed by contacting cork with these emulsions for a defined period of time. A mass transfer model was able to predict adequately the kinetic data, using a Linear Driving Force approximation for intraparticle diffusion and equilibrium described by the Langmuir-Freundlich equation. Maximum sorption capacities for vegetable and animal oil, as calculated by the Langmuir-Freundlich model, were 5 ± 4 and 2.3 ± 0.9 g g-1, respectively. Therefore, expanded cork granules proved to be an efficient, low-cost sorbent for both vegetable and animal oilsThis work is supported by project HIDROCORK “Utilization of Cork Wastes and By-Products for Elimination of Oils and Fats from Waters”, supported by QREN (National Strategic Reference Framework). This work is also partially supported by project PEst-C/EQB/LA0020/2011, financed by FEDER through COMPETE -Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade and by FCT -Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Treatment of wastewater containing mineral oil by sorption onto granulated cork

The aim of this work is the development of a new method to remove oils from wastewaters, namely hydrocarbons. These contaminants, when present in high concentrations, are efficiently removed by physical and chemical processes, such as gravity separators, flocculation and flotation processes; however for low concentrations, these methods are not applicable [1]. Moreover, advanced separation processes such as membrane separation [2] and activated carbon adsorption [3] are expensive options for the treatment of oil-containing wastewaters. This new technique is based on oil and hydrocarbons’ sorption on cork granules.This work is supported by project HIDROCORK "Utilization of Cork Wastes and By-Products for Elimination of Oils and Fats from Waters", financed by QREN (National Strategic Reference Framework). This work is also partially supported by project PEst-C/EQBILA0020/2011, financed by FEDER through COMPETE_ Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade and by FCT -Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Amplified and Homozygously Deleted Genes in Glioblastoma: Impact on Gene Expression Levels

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) displays multiple amplicons and homozygous deletions that involve relevant pathogenic genes and other genes whose role remains unknown. METHODOLOGY: Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-arrays were used to determine the frequency of recurrent amplicons and homozygous deletions in GBM (n = 46), and to evaluate the impact of copy number alterations (CNA) on mRNA levels of the genes involved. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Recurrent amplicons were detected for chromosomes 7 (50%), 12 (22%), 1 (11%), 4 (9%), 11 (4%), and 17 (4%), whereas homozygous deletions involved chromosomes 9p21 (52%) and 10q (22%). Most genes that displayed a high correlation between DNA CNA and mRNA levels were coded in the amplified chromosomes. For some amplicons the impact of DNA CNA on mRNA expression was restricted to a single gene (e.g., EGFR at 7p11.2), while for others it involved multiple genes (e.g., 11 and 5 genes at 12q14.1-q15 and 4q12, respectively). Despite homozygous del(9p21) and del(10q23.31) included multiple genes, association between these DNA CNA and RNA expression was restricted to the MTAP gene. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our results showed a high frequency of amplicons and homozygous deletions in GBM with variable impact on the expression of the genes involved, and they contributed to the identification of other potentially relevant genes

Electrocatalytic oxidation of oxalic and oxamic acids in aqueous media at carbon nanotube modified electrodes

The electrochemical oxidation of oxalic and oxamic acids on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT) and on monometallic (Pd and Pt) and bimetallic (Pd-Cu, Pt-Cu) catalysts supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes was investigated using cyclic voltammetry. The electrodes were prepared by dispersion of the catalytic material on Toray carbon (CT) using a Nafion/water solution. The kinetic parameters of the reactions were determined using cyclic voltammetry. Modification of Toray carbon electrode with carbon nanotubes enables the oxidation of oxalic and oxamic acids in the solvent stability region. The highest oxidation current densities were observed for the Pt-Cu/CNT/CT electrode in 0.1 M NaCl. The oxidation potentials for both oxalic and oxamic acids in this case were lower than those observed with the CNT/CT electrode. The prepared electrocatalysts show good mechanical and chemical stability.Support for this work was provided by the project NANO/NTec-CA/0122/2007 financed by Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal and FEDER, in the context of Programme COMPETE

Abnormal NK cell lymphocytosis detected after splenectomy: association with repeated infections, relapsing neutropenia, and persistent polyclonal B-cell proliferation

Abnormal NK cell lymphocytosis detected after splenectomy: association with repeated infections, relapsing neutropenia, and persistent polyclonal B-cell proliferation. Granjo E, Lima M, Fraga M, Santos F, Magalhães C, Queirós ML, Moreira I, Rocha S, Silva AS, Rebelo I, Quintanilha A, Ribeiro ML, Candeias J, Orfão A. Department of Hematology, Hospital S. João, Porto, Portugal. [email protected] Abstract We report the case of a boy with hereditary spherocytosis who presented with mild microcytic hypochromic anemia and recurrent leg ulcers that had been present since childhood. Chronic natural killer (NK) cell and B-cell lymphocytosis was detected 1 year after therapeutic splenectomy during investigation of recurrent episodes of neutropenia and persistent lymphocytosis. NK cells proved to be abnormal at immunophenotyping studies, and B-cells were polyclonal and displayed a normal immunophenotype. Genotypic analysis of T-cell receptor (TCR)-beta and TCR-gamma genes showed a germ-line pattern. The clinical course of this patient was characterized by multiple pulmonary infections and amygdalitis. We discuss the potential roles of persistent immune stimulation due to chronic hemolysis and severe leg ulcers and of splenectomy in the origin of NK cell lymphocytosis and the relationship between NK cells and recurrent infections, relapsing neutropenia, and polyclonal B-cell response

Electrocatalysts based on carbon nanotubes: application towastewater treatments

The increasing awareness of water pollution with organic compounds, such as dyes, and their long term effects has encouraged intensive efforts towards pollution abatement. Electrochemical oxidation may constitute an alternative route to the existing methods. Electricity may substitute some toxic redox agents and may permit the oxidation of pollutants in mild conditions i.e. ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. In recent years there has been increasing interest in multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as heterogeneous catalyst supports [1] owing to their high surface area and high electrical conductivity. These peculiar characteristics qualify CNTs as adequate electrocatalysts or as catalyst support materials for the oxidative degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater [2]. In this context the electrochemical oxidation of some refractory compounds like oxalic and oxamic acids, some organic dyes and pesticides was investigated on mono and bi-metallic catalysts supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT) aiming at the total transformation of these compounds into carbon dioxide and water. The electrochemical performance of metallic electrocatalysts for nitrate reduction in wastewater was also evaluated having in mind a paired electrolytic process. The electroreactivity of the pollutants on selected electrocatalysts was studied by cyclic voltammetry. Kinetic parameters of the reactions were also determined using this last technique. Exhaustive electrolyses were carried out to determine the mineralization rates and the product distribution. Finally the use of CNT and metal modified CNT as support material for anodic biofilm in microbial fuel cells was studied