Investigation of the kinetic regularities of the reaction of dry reforming of methane using nickel-containing catalysts based on cerium-zirconium oxides

In this study, we performed an investigation of the kinetics of the reaction of dry reforming of methane (DRM). For this work we used nickel-containing cerium-zirconium oxides. The catalysts were prepared in supercritical iso-propanol and characterized by means of XRD, TEM, XPS. It was found that the rate of DRM reaction becomes first order in methane and zero order in carbon dioxide. The dependences of the conversions of the reactants and product yields were obtained as a function of the contact time and the concentration of the initial mixture. In addition, the effective activation energy was calculated. It was shown that the most active and stable catalyst is 5wt% Ni/Ce0.5Zr0.5O[2]

Abnormal Behavior of ZrO[2]-MgO Porous Ceramic Composite under Compression

In this work ZrO[2]-MgO porous ceramic composite fine crystalline structure was studied, its microstructure and mechanical properties after sintering at 1600°С. Pores had a bimodal size distribution with the mean sizes of about 30 and 100 [mu]m. It was shown that the introduction of organic pore-forming particles into the initial powder composition of ZrO[2]-MgO allows producing ceramics with a bimodal pore structure, the material strength is mainly determined by microstresses, and in general, such porous ceramics show uncharacteristic behavior under compression, which is confirmed by plot of the Hall-Petch dependence of microstresses on the average crystallite size with the coefficient K=0.38 MPa m{1/2}, corresponding to plastic materials

Usability of rectal swabs for microbiome sampling in a cohort study of hematological and oncological patients

Objectives Large-scale clinical studies investigating associations between intestinal microbiota signatures and human diseases usually rely on stool samples. However, the timing of repeated stool sample collection cannot be predefined in longitudinal settings. Rectal swabs, being straightforward to obtain, have the potential to overcome this drawback. Therefore, we assessed the usability of rectal swabs for microbiome sampling in a cohort of hematological and oncological patients. Study design We used a pipeline for intestinal microbiota analysis from deep rectal swabs which was established and validated with test samples and negative controls. Consecutively, a cohort of patients from hematology and oncology wards was established and weekly deep rectal swabs taken during their admissions and re-admissions. Results Validation of our newly developed pipeline for intestinal microbiota analysis from rectal swabs revealed consistent and reproducible results. Over a period of nine months, 418 rectal swabs were collected longitudinally from 41 patients. Adherence to the intended sampling protocol was 97%. After DNA extraction, sequencing, read pre-processing and filtering of chimeric sequences, 405 of 418 samples (96.9%) were eligible for further analyses. Follow-up samples and those taken under current antibiotic exposure showed a significant decrease in alpha diversity as compared to baseline samples. Microbial domination occurred most frequently by Enterococcaceae (99 samples, 24.4%) on family level and Enterococcus (90 samples, 22.2%) on genus level. Furthermore, we noticed a high abundance of potential skin commensals in 99 samples (24.4%). Summary Deep rectal swabs were shown to be reliable for microbiome sampling and analysis, with practical advantages related to high sampling adherence, easy timing, transport and storage. The relatively high abundance of putative skin commensals in this patient cohort may be of potential interest and should be further investigated. Generally, previous findings on alpha diversity dynamics obtained from stool samples were confirmed

Targeted treatment in a case series of AR+, HRAS/PIK3CA co-mutated salivary duct carcinoma

Background and purpose: A subgroup of salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) harbor overexpression of the androgen receptor (AR), and co-occurring mutations in the HRAS- and PIK3CA-genes. The impact of genomic complexity on targeted treatment strategies in advanced cancer is unknown. Materials and methods: We analyzed molecular and clinical data from an institutional molecular tumor board (MTB) to identify AR+, HRAS/PIK3CA co-mutated SDC. Follow-up was performed within the MTB registrational study or retrospective chart review after approval by the local ethics committee. Response was assessed by the investigator. A systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE to identify additional clinically annotated cases. Results: 4 patients with AR+ HRAS/PIK3CA co-mutated SDC and clinical follow-up data were identified from the MTB. An additional 9 patients with clinical follow-up were identified from the literature. In addition to AR overexpression and HRAS and PIK3CA-alterations, PD-L1 expression and Tumor Mutational Burden > 10 Mutations per Megabase were identified as additional potentially targetable alterations. Among evaluable patients, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) was initiated in 7 patients (1 Partial Response (PR), 2 Stable Disease (SD), 3 Progressive Disease (PD), 2 not evaluable), tipifarnib was initiated in 6 patients (1 PR, 4 SD, 1 PD). One patient each was treated with immune checkpoint inhibition (Mixed Response) and combination therapies of tipifarnib and ADT (SD) and alpelisib and ADT (PR). Conclusion: Available data further support comprehensive molecular profiling of SDC. Combination therapies, PI3K-inhibitors and immune therapy warrant further investigation, ideally in clinical trials. Future research should consider this rare subgroup of SDC

Safety and efficacy of ruxolitinib in an open-label, multicenter, single-arm phase 3b expanded-access study in patients with myelofibrosis: A snapshot of 1144 patients in the JUMP trial

JUMP is a phase 3b expanded-access trial for patients without access to ruxolitinib outside of a clinical study; it is the largest clinical trial to date in patients with myelofibrosis who have been treated with ruxolitinib. Here, we present safety and efficacy findings from an analysis of 1144 patients with intermediate- or high-risk myelofibrosis, as well as a separate analysis of 163 patients with intermediate-1-risk myelofibrosis – a population of patients not included in the phase 3 COMFORT studies. Consistent with ruxolitinib’s mechanism of action, the most common hematologic adverse events were anemia and thrombocytopenia, but these led to treatment discontinuation in only a few cases. The most common non-hematologic adverse events were primarily grade 1/2 and included diarrhea, pyrexia, fatigue, and asthenia. The rates of infections were low and primarily grade 1/2, and no new or unexpected infections were observed. The majority of patients achieved a ≥50% reduction from baseline in palpable spleen length. Improvements in symptoms were rapid, with approximately half of all patients experiencing clinically significant improvements, as assessed by various quality-of-life questionnaires. The safety and efficacy profile in intermediate-1-risk patients was consistent with that in the overall JUMP population and with that previously reported in intermediate-2- and high-risk patients. Overall, ruxolitinib provided clinically meaningful reductions in spleen length and symptoms in patients with myelofibrosis, including those with intermediate-1-risk disease, with a safety and efficacy profile consistent with that observed in the phase 3 COMFORT studies. This trial was registered as NCT01493414 at ClinicalTrials.gov

Effect of ABCG2, OCT1, and ABCB1(MDR1) Gene Expression on Treatment-Free Remission in a EURO-SKI Subtrial

Introduction Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) can safely be discontinued in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients with sustained deep molecular response. ABCG2 (breast cancer resistance protein), OCT1 (organic cation transporter 1), and ABCB1 (multidrug resistance protein 1) gene products are known to play a crucial role in acquired pharmacogenetic TKI resistance. Their influence on treatment-free remission (TFR) has not yet been investigated. Materials and Methods RNA was isolated on the last day of TKI intake from peripheral blood leukocytes of 132 chronic phase CML patients who discontinued TKI treatment within the European Stop Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Study trial. Plasmid standards were designed including subgenic inserts of OCT1, ABCG2, and ABCB1 together with GUSB as reference gene. For expression analyses, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used. Multiple Cox regression analysis was performed. In addition, gene expression cutoffs for patient risk stratification were investigated. Results The TFR rate of 132 patients, 12 months after TKI discontinuation, was 54% (95% confidence interval [CI], 46%-62%). ABCG2 expression (‰) was retained as the only significant variable (P = .02; hazard ratio, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.07) in multiple Cox regression analysis. Only for the ABCG2 efflux transporter, a significant cutoff was found (P = .04). Patients with an ABCG2/GUSB transcript level >4.5‰ (n = 93) showed a 12-month TFR rate of 47% (95% CI, 37%-57%), whereas patients with low ABCG2 expression (≤4.5‰; n = 39) had a 12-month TFR rate of 72% (95% CI, 55%-82%). Conclusion In this study, we investigated the effect of pharmacogenetics in the context of a CML treatment discontinuation trial. The transcript levels of the efflux transporter ABCG2 predicted TFR after TKI discontinuation

International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Sinonasal Tumors

BACKGROUND: Sinonasal neoplasms, whether benign and malignant, pose a significant challenge to clinicians and represent a model area for multidisciplinary collaboration in order to optimize patient care. The International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Sinonasal Tumors (ICSNT) aims to summarize the best available evidence and presents 48 thematic and histopathology-based topics spanning the field. METHODS: In accordance with prior International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology documents, ICSNT assigned each topic as an Evidence-Based Review with Recommendations, Evidence-Based Review, and Literature Review based on the level of evidence. An international group of multidisciplinary author teams were assembled for the topic reviews using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses format, and completed sections underwent a thorough and iterative consensus-building process. The final document underwent rigorous synthesis and review prior to publication. RESULTS: The ICSNT document consists of four major sections: general principles, benign neoplasms and lesions, malignant neoplasms, and quality of life and surveillance. It covers 48 conceptual and/or histopathology-based topics relevant to sinonasal neoplasms and masses. Topics with a high level of evidence provided specific recommendations, while other areas summarized the current state of evidence. A final section highlights research opportunities and future directions, contributing to advancing knowledge and community intervention. CONCLUSION: As an embodiment of the multidisciplinary and collaborative model of care in sinonasal neoplasms and masses, ICSNT was designed as a comprehensive, international, and multidisciplinary collaborative endeavor. Its primary objective is to summarize the existing evidence in the field of sinonasal neoplasms and masses