Reliable Acoustic Path (RAP) Tomography at the ALOHA Cabled Observatory.

M.S. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 2017

Evolution of the experimental models of cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a rare, aggressive disease with poor overall survival. In advanced cases, surgery is often not possible or fails; in addition, there is a lack of effective and specific therapies. Multidisciplinary approaches and advanced technologies have improved the knowledge of CCA molecular pathogenesis, highlighting its extreme heterogeneity and high frequency of genetic and molecular aberrations. Effective preclinical models, therefore, should be based on a comparable level of complexity. In the past years, there has been a consistent increase in the number of available CCA models. The exploitation of even more complex CCA models is rising. Examples are the use of CRISPR/Cas9 or stabilized organoids for in vitro studies, as well as patient-derived xenografts or transgenic mouse models for in vivo applications. Here, we examine the available preclinical CCA models exploited to investigate: (i) carcinogenesis processes from initiation to progression; and (ii) tools for personalized therapy and innovative therapeutic approaches, including chemotherapy and immune/targeted therapies. For each model, we describe the potential applications, highlighting both its advantages and limits

Heterogeneously Catalyzed Synthesis of Biogenic N-Dihydroxypropan-2-Pyrrolidone

In this work several solid catalysts are characterized and tested in the reductive amidation of succinic acid and dimethyl succinate with the amine serinol. The reductive amidation is performed in stainless steel autoclaves under elevated hydrogen pressure and yields N-dihydroxypropan-2-pyrrolidone as a product. The product is meant to be polymerized in presence of succinic acid by the industry partner Henkel™, who intends to use the obtained polymer for replacing polyvinylpyrrolidone in laundry detergents formulations. Effective catalysts were prepared, characterized and tested. Each catalyst was analysed with XRD, BET and ICP. The three best performing catalysts, namely Ru/C, RuRe/C (oC) and PtRe/TiO2 (LD), were additionally characterized with NH3-TPD, CO pulse and electron microscopy. Ru/C emerged in tests as the best performing catalyst. This behavior, in disagreement with results obtained in a similar reaction, was put in relation to how the catalysts’ acidity influences the yield of the reaction according to the polarity of the used amine. Lastly, kinetic curves for both succinic acid and dimethyl succinate were recorded, demonstrating how carrying on the reaction for 40h allows to reach a yield of 29% using the substrate succinic acid. During the recording of the kinetic curves ICP analysis were performed in order to test Ru/C stability towards leaching

Palmoplantar Pustulosis: A Case Report

Introduction: Dermatology complaints account for 3.3% of emergency department (ED) visits per year. Most rashes are benign, but there are a select few that emergency physicians must be familiar with as delay in treatment could be life threatening.Case Report: A well-appearing, 76-year-old male presented to the ED with multiple coalescing pustules to his palms and soles and was transferred to the nearest tertiary care hospital for dermatology consult. He was diagnosed with palmoplantar pustulosis and discharged home with a five-day course of clobetasol propionate 0.05% cream twice daily and outpatient dermatology follow-up.Conclusion: Palmoplantar pustulosis is an uncommon skin condition characterized by recurrent eruptions of sterile pustules localized to the palms and soles. Emergency physician awareness of this rare diagnosis may help prevent hospital admissions and lead to earlier initiation of treatment with outpatient dermatology follow-up

Palmoplantar Pustulosis: A Case Report

Introduction: Dermatology complaints account for 3.3% of emergency department (ED) visits per year. Most rashes are benign, but there are a select few that emergency physicians must be familiar with as delay in treatment could be life threatening.Case Report: A well-appearing, 76-year-old male presented to the ED with multiple coalescing pustules to his palms and soles and was transferred to the nearest tertiary care hospital for dermatology consult. He was diagnosed with palmoplantar pustulosis and discharged home with a five-day course of clobetasol propionate 0.05% cream twice daily and outpatient dermatology follow-up.Conclusion: Palmoplantar pustulosis is an uncommon skin condition characterized by recurrent eruptions of sterile pustules localized to the palms and soles. Emergency physician awareness of this rare diagnosis may help prevent hospital admissions and lead to earlier initiation of treatment with outpatient dermatology follow-up

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