Epidemiology and Treatment Guidelines of Negative Symptoms in Schizo-phrenia in Central and Eastern Europe: A Literature Review

AIM: To gather and review data describing the epidemiology of schizophrenia and clinical guidelines for schizophrenia therapy in seven Central and Eastern European countries, with a focus on negative symptoms. Methods : A literature search was conducted which included publications from 1995 to 2012 that were indexed in key databases. Results : Reports of mean annual incidence of schizophrenia varied greatly, from 0.04 to 0.58 per 1,000 population. Lifetime prevalence varied from 0.4% to 1.4%. One study reported that at least one negative symptom was present in 57.6% of patients with schizophrenia and in 50-90% of individuals experiencing their first episode of schizophrenia. Primary negative symptoms were observed in 10-30% of patients. Mortality in patients with schizophrenia was greater than in the general population, with a standardized mortality ratio of 2.58-4.30. Reasons for higher risk of mortality in the schizophrenia population included increased suicide risk, effect of schizophrenia on lifestyle and environment, and presence of comorbidities. Clinical guidelines overall supported the use of second-generation antipsychotics in managing negative symptoms of schizophrenia, although improved therapeutic approaches are needed. Conclusion : Schizophrenia is one of the most common mental illnesses and poses a considerable burden on patients and healthcare resources alike. Negative symptoms are present in many patients and there is an unmet need to improve treatment offerings for negative symptoms beyond the use of second-generation antipsychotics and overall patient outcomes

Carbon-based composites as electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media

13 figures, 5 tables.-- This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrocatalysts for Sustainable Energy and Chemical Synthesis ApplicationsThis review paper presents the most recent research progress on carbon-based composite electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which are of interest for application in low temperature water electrolyzers for hydrogen production. The reviewed materials are primarily investigated as active and stable replacements aimed at lowering the cost of the metal electrocatalysts in liquid alkaline electrolyzers as well as potential electrocatalysts for an emerging technology like alkaline exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzers. Low temperature electrolyzer technologies are first briefly introduced and the challenges thereof are presented. The non-carbon electrocatalysts are briefly overviewed, with an emphasis on the modes of action of different active phases. The main part of the review focuses on the role of carbon–metal compound active phase interfaces with an emphasis on the synergistic and additive effects. The procedures of carbon oxidative pretreatment and an overview of metal-free carbon catalysts for OER are presented. Then, the successful synthesis protocols of composite materials are presented with a discussion on the specific catalytic activity of carbon composites with metal hydroxides/oxyhydroxides/oxides, chalcogenides, nitrides and phosphides. Finally, a summary and outlook on carbon-based composites for low temperature water electrolysis are presented.This study was financially supported by the National Science Center, Poland, project number 2020/37/B/ST5/01876.Peer reviewe

Influence of the surface potassium species in Fe-K/Al2O3 catalysts on the soot oxidation activity in the presence of NOx

11 pag., 15 figures, 4 tables.Cordierite monolith-supported and powder Fe-K/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared and thoroughly characterized by bulk (XRD, Raman spectroscopy, XRF, ICP-OES, TPR) and surface (XPS, IR, N2-BET, NOx-TPD, K-TPD) sensitive methods. The catalytic activity was tested in TPO (temperature programmed oxidation) of model soot. The influence of the calcination temperature, i.e. 450 and 650°C, on the catalysts physicochemical properties and reactivity, type of surface states of K promoter and their role in the soot oxidation mechanism in the presence of NOx was evaluated. In the catalysts calcined at 450°C potassium was found to be mostly as free KNO3 whereas calcination at 650°C successfully transformed KNO3 into K2O, which during the soot oxidation yielded K2CO3 species. Such carbonates underwent decomposition in the presence of the oxygen surface groups of the support, leading to the formation of active basic O2- groups. NOx species were found to adsorb strongly on these O2- sites. The increased stability of thus formed NOx-species resulted in lower soot oxidation activity. In the same time, the catalysts calcined at 650°C evidenced higher ability towards the reduction of NOx, occurring simultaneously with the soot oxidation process. Additionally, the higher calcination temperature led to significantly higher stability of K promoter species as evidenced by potassium thermodesorption experiments. An overall schematic model of the catalyst morphology and relative distribution of the active components (K, Fe) over the Al2O3 support is proposed. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.Polish part would like to acknowledge the Polish National Science Center for funding awarded by the decision number DEC-2011/01/B/ST4/00574. On the Polish part the research was partially carried out with the equipment purchased thanks to the financial support of the European Regional Development Fund in the framework of the Polish Innovation Economy Operational Program (contract no. POIG.02.01.00-12- 023/08). S. Ascaso thanks CSIC for her JAE doctoral grant. S. Ascaso thanks CSIC for her JAE doctoral grant. M.E. Gálvez is indebted to the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Secretaría de Estado de I+D+I, previously MICINN) for her Ramón y Cajal contract.Peer Reviewe

Application of Kelvin method and mass spectrometry for investigation of oxide catalyst surface properties

Many oxides are applied as a catalysts for commercially important processes. Recently, decomposition of nitrous oxide into nitrogen and oxygen have became a topic of vital interest for catalytic chemistry. Two possible ways of deN2O reaction, low temperature and high-temperature, can be distinguished. Promising results were obtained for spinel oxides which contained cobalt. Because of cationic redox route, triggered by electron transfer, of N2O decomposition over these oxides, investigation of their electronic properties was justifi ed. Th erefore the work function measurements, using Kelvin method were carried out. Moreover in-situ monitoring of processes occurred at catalyst’s surface was performed using mass spectrometry