27 research outputs found
Raman Spectroscopy of the Sampleite Group of Minerals
Raman and infrared spectroscopy has enabled insights into the molecular structure of the sampleite group of minerals. These minerals are based upon the incorporation of either phosphate or arsenate with chloride anion into the structure and as a consequence the spectra refect the bands attributable to these anions, namely phosphate or arsenate with chloride. The sampleite vibrational spectrum reflects the spectrum of the phosphate anion and consists of Μ1 at 964, Μ2 at 451 cm-1, Μ3 at 1016 and 1088 and Μ4 at 643, 604, 591 and 557 cm-1. The lavendulan spectrum consists of Μ1 at 854, Μ2 at 345 cm-1, Μ3 at 878 cm-1 and Μ4 at 545 cm-1. The Raman spectrum of lemanskiite is different from that of lavendulan consistent with a different structure. Low wavenumber bands at 227 and 210 cm-1 may be assigned to CuCl TO/LO optic vibrations. Raman spectroscopy identified the substitution of arsenate by phosphate in zdenekite and lavendulan
Reversible magnetic mercury extraction from water
A facile and efficient way to decontaminate mercury(II) polluted water with the aid of magnetic, highly stable and recyclable carbon coated cobalt (Co/C) nanoparticles is reported. Comparing non-functionalised Co/C nanomagnets with particles that were functionalised with amino moieties, the latter one proved to be more effective for scavenging mercury with respect to extraction capacity and recyclability. A novel nanoparticleâpoly(ethyleneimine) hybrid (Co/CâPEI) prepared by direct ring opening polymerization of aziridine initiated by an amine functionalised nanoparticle surface led to a high capacity material (10 mmol amino groups per g nanomaterial) and thus proved to be the best material for scavenging toxic mercury at relevant concentrations (mg Lâ1/ÎŒg Lâ1) for at least 6 consecutive cycles. On a large-scale, 20 L of drinking water with an initial Hg2+ concentration of 30 ÎŒg Lâ1 can be decontaminated to the level acceptable for drinking water (â€2 ÎŒg Lâ1) with just 60 mg of Co/CâPEI particles
Effectiveness and safety of opicapone in Parkinson's disease patients with motor fluctuations: The OPTIPARK open-label study
BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of opicapone, a once-daily catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor, have been established in two large randomized, placebo-controlled, multinational pivotal trials. Still, clinical evidence from routine practice is needed to complement the data from the pivotal trials. METHODS: OPTIPARK (NCT02847442) was a prospective, open-label, single-arm trial conducted in Germany and the UK under clinical practice conditions. Patients with Parkinsonâs disease and motor fluctuations were treated with opicapone 50âmg for 3 (Germany) or 6 (UK) months in addition to their current levodopa and other antiparkinsonian treatments. The primary endpoint was the Clinicianâs Global Impression of Change (CGI-C) after 3âmonths. Secondary assessments included Patient Global Impressions of Change (PGI-C), the Unified Parkinsonâs Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Parkinsonâs Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-8), and the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS). Safety assessments included evaluation of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs). RESULTS: Of the 506 patients enrolled, 495 (97.8%) took at least one dose of opicapone. Of these, 393 (79.4%) patients completed 3âmonths of treatment. Overall, 71.3 and 76.9% of patients experienced any improvement on CGI-C and PGI-C after 3âmonths, respectively (full analysis set). At 6âmonths, for UK subgroup only (nâ=â95), 85.3% of patients were judged by investigators as improved since commencing treatment. UPDRS scores at 3âmonths showed statistically significant improvements in activities of daily living during OFF (meanâ±âSD change from baseline: ââ3.0â±â4.6, pâ<â0.0001) and motor scores during ON (ââ4.6â±â8.1, pâ<â0.0001). The meanâ±âSD improvements of ââ3.4â±â12.8 points for PDQ-8 and -6.8â±â19.7 points for NMSS were statistically significant versus baseline (both pâ<â0.0001). Most of TEAEs (94.8% of events) were of mild or moderate intensity. TEAEs considered to be at least possibly related to opicapone were reported for 45.1% of patients, with dyskinesia (11.5%) and dry mouth (6.5%) being the most frequently reported. Serious TEAEs considered at least possibly related to opicapone were reported for 1.4% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Opicapone 50âmg was effective and generally well-tolerated in PD patients with motor fluctuations treated in clinical practice. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered in July 2016 at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02847442)
Effectiveness and safety of opicapone in Parkinsonâs disease patients with motor fluctuations: the OPTIPARK open-label study
Background The efficacy and safety of opicapone, a once-daily catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor, have been established in two large randomized, placebo-controlled, multinational pivotal trials. Still, clinical evidence from routine practice is needed to complement the data from the pivotal trials. Methods OPTIPARK (NCT02847442) was a prospective, open-label, single-arm trial conducted in Germany and the UK under clinical practice conditions. Patients with Parkinsonâs disease and motor fluctuations were treated with opicapone 50âmg for 3 (Germany) or 6 (UK) months in addition to their current levodopa and other antiparkinsonian treatments. The primary endpoint was the Clinicianâs Global Impression of Change (CGI-C) after 3âmonths. Secondary assessments included Patient Global Impressions of Change (PGI-C), the Unified Parkinsonâs Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Parkinsonâs Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-8), and the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS). Safety assessments included evaluation of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs). Results Of the 506 patients enrolled, 495 (97.8%) took at least one dose of opicapone. Of these, 393 (79.4%) patients completed 3âmonths of treatment. Overall, 71.3 and 76.9% of patients experienced any improvement on CGI-C and PGI-C after 3âmonths, respectively (full analysis set). At 6âmonths, for UK subgroup only (nâ=â95), 85.3% of patients were judged by investigators as improved since commencing treatment. UPDRS scores at 3âmonths showed statistically significant improvements in activities of daily living during OFF (meanâ±âSD change from baseline: ââ3.0â±â4.6, pâ<â0.0001) and motor scores during ON (ââ4.6â±â8.1, pâ<â0.0001). The meanâ±âSD improvements of ââ3.4â±â12.8 points for PDQ-8 and -6.8â±â19.7 points for NMSS were statistically significant versus baseline (both pâ<â0.0001). Most of TEAEs (94.8% of events) were of mild or moderate intensity. TEAEs considered to be at least possibly related to opicapone were reported for 45.1% of patients, with dyskinesia (11.5%) and dry mouth (6.5%) being the most frequently reported. Serious TEAEs considered at least possibly related to opicapone were reported for 1.4% of patients. Conclusions Opicapone 50âmg was effective and generally well-tolerated in PD patients with motor fluctuations treated in clinical practice. Trial registration Registered in July 2016 at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02847442)
Raman Spectroscopy of Some Basic Chloride Containing Minerals of Lead and Copper
Raman spectroscopy has been used to characterise several lead and mixed cationic-lead minerals including mendipite, perite, laurionite, diaboléite, boléite, pseudoboléite, chloroxiphite, and cumengéite. Raman spectroscopy enables their vibrational spectra to be compared. The low wavenumber region is characterised by the bands assigned to cation-chloride stretching and bending modes. Phosgenite is a mixed chloride-carbonate mineral and a comparison is made with the molecular structure of the aforementioned minerals. Each mineral shows different hydroxyl-stretching vibrational patterns, but some similarity exists in the Raman spectra of the hydroxyl deformation modes. Raman spectroscopy lends itself to the study of these types of minerals in complex mineral systems involving secondary mineral formation
a study on telemedically treated patients
Einleitung: Fluktuationen motorischer und non-motorischer Symptome sind
hÀufige und belastende Komplikationen beim fortgeschrittenen Morbus Parkinson.
Einige non-motorische Symptome treten in Phasen schlechter Beweglichkeit
(motorisches âOFFâ) hĂ€ufiger und in stĂ€rkerer AusprĂ€gung auf als in
vergleichsweise guten BewegungszustĂ€nden (motorisches âONâ). Hauptziel dieser
Arbeit war die Untersuchung des dynamischen Zusammenhangs motorischer und non-
motorischer Symptomfluktuationen im tageszeitlichen Verlauf unabhÀngig von
einer dichotomen Einteilung in die Extreme motorisches âONâ versus âOFFâ.
Methodik: 44 Patienten mit fortgeschrittenem Morbus Parkinson nahmen wÀhrend
einer 30-tĂ€gigen, telemedizinischen TherapiemaĂnahme viermal tĂ€glich
standardisierte, an der Unified Parkinsonâs Disease Rating Scale, Teil III
(UPDRS III) orientierte Videoaufnahmen auf. An neun Tagen (Tag 2-4, Tag 14-16,
Tag 27-29) bewerteten die Patienten im Anschluss an die Videoaufnahmen ihre
motorischen (Gesamt-, Ăber- und Unterbeweglichkeit) und nicht-motorischen
Beschwerden (Affekt, Aufregung, Vigilanz, Zufriedenheit, Anspannung und
Schmerz) mittels standardisierter Tagebucheintragungen. Des Weiteren wurden
neun der aufgezeichneten Videoaufnahmen pro Patient nachtrÀglich durch den
Patienten selbst und einen auf Bewegungsstörungen spezialisierten Neurologen
bezĂŒglich der darin abgebildeten Beweglichkeit bewertet und zu den wĂ€hrend der
MaĂnahme bewerteten non-motorischen Symptomen in Beziehung gesetzt. In einer
Generalized-Estimating-Equation-Analyse wurden klinisch relevante
Korrelationen bei einem p-Wert â€0,05 und ab einem Korrelationskoeffizienten r
(spearman) â„0,3 angenommen. Ergebnisse: 1\. Alle Patienten zeigten
Fluktuationen (95,5% non-motorische Fluktuationen; je nach Rating 88,6% bis
95,5% motorische Fluktuationen). Die hÀufigsten non-motorischen Fluktuationen
betrafen Vigilanz, Anspannung und Zufriedenheit. 2\. AusgeprÀgte Fluktuationen
von Motorik, Vigilanz, Anspannung und Zufriedenheit waren mit einer lÀngeren
Krankheitsdauer und einem frĂŒheren Krankheitsbeginn (p â€0,05) assoziiert.
Patienten mit ausgeprÀgten Fluktuationen von Motorik, Vigilanz und Anspannung
nahmen höhere Levodopa-Ăquivalenzdosen (p â€0,05) ein. 3\. Motorische und non-
motorische Fluktuationen korrelierten gemÀà des initialen Patientenratings
(pâ€0,05) gleichsinnig (Affekt r = 0,334, Vigilanz r = 0,310, Zufriedenheit r =
0,371). In der video-gestĂŒtzten SymptomeinschĂ€tzung durch Arzt und Patient
ergab sich kein Anhalt auf klinisch relevante Korrelationen der motorischen
und non-motorischen Fluktuationen (r<0,3). 4\. Die AusprÀgung motorischer und
non-motorischer Symptome (Affekt r = 0,405, Aufregung r = 0,381, Anspannung r
= 0,313, Zufriedenheit r = 0,345) korrelierte (pâ€0,05) gleichsinnig nach
unmittelbarer PatienteneinschÀtzung, jedoch nicht gemÀà videobasiertem
Patienten- bzw. Arztrating. Schlussfolgerung: Zusammenfassend ergab sich kein
Anhalt auf einen klinisch-relevanten Zusammenhang der AusprÀgung bzw.
VerÀnderung motorischer und non-motorischer Symptome im Tagesverlauf. Die
Korrelationen der zeitgleich eingeschÀtzten non-motorischen und motorischen
Symptome in der Patientenbewertung sind wahrscheinlich durch den Einfluss des
Gesamtbefindens auf die Wahrnehmung körperlicher Beschwerden zu erklÀren.
AusgeprĂ€gte Fluktuationen waren mit lĂ€ngerer Krankheitsdauer, jĂŒngerem Alter
bei Krankheitsbeginn und der Einnahme höherer Levodopa-Ăquivalenzdosen
assoziiert.Objective: Fluctuations of motor (MS) and non-motor symptoms (NMS) in advanced
Parkinsonâs disease are frequent and disabling. Some NMS occur more frequently
in phases of very poor mobility (motor âOFFâ) than in phases of comparatively
good mobility (motor âONâ). The aim of this study was to assess the
relationship of MS and NMS and their fluctuations in Parkinsonian patients
irrespective of the motor extremes âONâ/âOFFâ. Methods: 44 Patients with
fluctuating Parkinsonâs disease, participating in a 30-day telemedicine-based
therapy program, recorded standardized movement sequences based on the UPDRS
III four times a day. Patients self-rated their MS (general mobility,
akinesia, dyskinesia) and NMS (mood, excitement, sleepiness, contentment,
mental tension, pain) during each recording at day 2-4, 14-16 and 27-29 using
standardized diary entries. After completion of the program, MS exhibited in
nine of the recorded videos were evaluated by the patients and a blinded
neurologist, and analyzed with respect to the self-ratings of NMS made during
the therapy program. In a generalized estimation-equation, clinically relevant
correlations were assumed for a p-value â€0.05 and from a correlation
coefficient r â„ 0.3. Results: 1\. All patients showed fluctuations (95.5% NMS
fluctuations; depending on rating 88.6% to 95.5% MS fluctuations). NMS most
prone to fluctuations were sleepiness, tension and satisfaction. 2\. Severe
fluctuations of MS, sleepiness, tension and satisfaction were associated with
longer disease duration and earlier disease onset (p â€0.05). Patients with
severe fluctuations (MS, sleepiness and tension) took higher levodopa
equivalent doses (p â€0.05). 3\. Fluctuations of NMS (mood r = 0.334,
sleepiness r = 0.310, satisfaction r = 0.371) correlated (p â€0.05) with motor
fluctuations when based on patients` self-ratings. However, no clinically
relevant correlations (r < 0.3) were found in the video-based assessments by
expert and patients. 4\. Severity of NMS (mood r = 0.405, excitement r =
0.381, tension r = 0.313, satisfaction r = 0.345) only correlated (p â€0.05)
with MS based on patientsâ self-ratings. Conclusions: A clinically relevant
association of MS and NMS and their fluctuations throughout the day seems
unlikely, as no associations could be seen based on the video-based ratings by
expert and patients. The moderate correlations of NMS with MS as initially
rated by the patients are probably due to the influence of non-motor states on
the motor self-evaluation. Severe fluctuations of NMS and MS were associated
with longer disease duration, earlier onset of disease and higher levodopa
equivalent doses
Raman Spectroscopy of Beaverite and Plumbojarosite
Raman spectroscopy has been used to characterise the compound of formula Pb(Fe 3+,Cu2+)3(SO4)2(OH)6 equivalent to synthetic beaverite, one of the jarosite subgroup minerals. The mineral is characterised by multiple OH stretching vibrations attributed to non-equivalent OH units in the structure. Multiple vibrations are observed for the stretching vibrations indicating the non-equivalence of the sulphate units in the structure. This multiplicity is also reflected in the Μ2 and Μ4 bending modes. The Raman spectrum of beaverite is significantly different from that of plumbojarosite for which multiple bands are not observed