Synergic Association Research Articles

The role of cobalt in bimetallic iron-cobalt magnetic carbon xerogels developed for catalytic wet peroxide oxidation

Three magnetic carbon xerogels were developed by inclusion of iron and/or cobalt precursors during the synthesis procedure. The synthesized materials were tested in the catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of aqueous solutions containing 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) − a refractory organic model pollutant, under a water treatment process intensification approach. For that purpose, the experimental runs were performed with high pollutant load (5gL−1), low catalyst dosage (2.5gL−1, corresponding to a fixed pollutant/catalyst mass ratio of 2), atmospheric pressure, 50°C, pH=3 and stoichiometric amount of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).The bimetallic magnetic carbon xerogel catalyst (CX/CoFe) was more active than each of the monometallic catalysts (CX/Fe or CX/Co). The better performance was explained in terms of a synergic association of factors: (i) the enhanced accessibility to the active iron species at the surface of CX/CoFe promoted by the simultaneous incorporation of cobalt, (ii) the ability of metallic Co to catalyse H2O2 decomposition via hydroxyl radicals (HO) formation, and (iii) the efficient reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ promoted by metallic Co on the surface of CX/CoFe. A 4-NP conversion of 98.5% was determined after 30min of CWPO reaction. Leaching of the iron species in the bimetallic CX/CoFe was considerably reduced with relation to the monometallic iron catalyst. However, partial catalyst deactivation occurred due to lower stability of oxidized cobalt species.A detailed reaction mechanism is proposed for the surface catalytic reactions occurring over the CX/CoFe catalyst.

Association of β-Adrenergic Receptor Gene Polymorphisms With Acute Coronary Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in an Arab Population.

We evaluated the association between beta-adrenergic receptor genes (ADRB1 and ADRB2) polymorphism, cardiovascular risk, and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in individuals from an Arab ethnicity. A total of 388 Qatari participants were assessed and genotyped for ADRB1 (rs1801252 & rs1801253) and ADRB2 (rs1042718 & rs1042713) polymorphisms using allele-specific PCR. Minor allele frequencies (MAF) in each single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) did not show statistically significant difference between cases and controls. A higher proportion of patients with ACS had homozygous minor alleles (GG) for rs1801253 (28.8% vs 17.1%; P = .019) compared with controls. Among cases with ACS, there was an association of minor allele frequency (G) for rs1801253 with severe coronary artery stenosis (0.485 vs 0.428; P = .04) than that of insignificant stenosis (<50% stenosis). There was a 3-fold increased risk of significant coronary stenosis in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and carrier of rs1801253 genotypes with dominant model (P = .01) and recessive model (P = .05). There is a possible synergic association between DM, carrier of ADRB1 (Arg389Gly) variants, and significant coronary artery stenosis among Arabs. Further prospective studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to support our findings.

The GAB2 and BDNF polymorphisms and the risk for late-onset Alzheimer's disease in an elderly Brazilian sample.

Evidences suggest that GAB2 and BDNF genes may be associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). We aimed to investigate the GAB2 rs2373115 and BDNF rs6265 polymorphisms and the risk of AD in a Brazilian sample. 269 AD patients and 114 controls were genotyped with Real-time PCR. Multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) was employed to explore the effects of gene-gene interactions. GAB2 and BDNF were not associated with AD in our sample. Nevertheless BDNF Val allele (rs6265) presented a synergic association with the APOE ε4 allele. A multiple logistic regression demonstrated that the APOE ε4 allele and years of education were the best predictors for AD. In ε4 non-carriers sex, education and hypertension were independently correlated with AD, while in ε4 carriers we did not observe any association. The findings were further confirmed by bootstrapping method. Our data suggest that the interaction of BDNF and APOE has significant effect on AD. Moreover in absence of ε4, female sex, low level of education and hypertension are independently associated with AD. Interventions aimed to prevent AD should focus on these factors and also taking into account the APOE alleles.

EHMTI-0126. Superiority of algopirin® versus excedrin® in treating migraine. Individual pain values and pain curves comparisons

Background A synergic association between acetylsalycilic acid, acetaminophen, caffeine in doses 3-4 times lower than similar combinations and chlorpheniramine was patented and marketed as analgesic drug. A previous study proved the non-inferiority of a unique dose of treatment using Algopirin, versus Excedrin similar association. Aim of the research was to prove superiority of two tablets Algopirin versus one tablet Excedrin in treating migraine.

Efficient Catalysis of Aqueous Morita–Baylis–Hillman Reactions of Cyclic Enones by a Bicyclic Imidazolyl Alcohol (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 35/2012)

The cover picture shows a Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction between cyclic enones and aldehydes, catalyzed by a bicyclic imidazolyl alcohol and performed in water, the most eco-friendly solvent. The new bifunctional catalyst presents in its structure two key active centers: one acting as a Lewis base in association with a second one acting as a Brønsted acid. This synergic association seems to stabilize the zwitterionic species involved in the catalytic cycle of this synthetically useful chemical transformation. The new protocol avoids the use of phosphanes and has sustainable features. Details are discussed in the article by F. Coelho et al. on p. 6861 ff.

Polyelectrolyte complexes based on pectin–NH2 and chondroitin sulfate

This work reports on the formation and characterization of a polyelectrolyte complex based on pectin (PT), functionalized with primary amine groups (PT–NH2), and chondroitin sulfate (CS). From the simple mixture of PT–NH2 and CS, in acid conditions, it was formed a polyelectrolyte complex, labeled as PT–NH2/CS complex, which was confirmed through FTIR spectroscopy. The electrostatic interactions among the protonated amine groups from PT–NH2 and the sulfate groups from CS are responsible by complex formation. XRD patterns and thermal analysis showed that the complex formation disrupts some interactions present on the PT–NH2 and CS, but on the other hand, others are created. SEM images showed that the PT–NH2/CS complex presents a porous and rough morphology. PT–NH2/CS complex is new material that maintains the properties of CS with synergic association of properties from both polymers, which could maximize its applicability as biomaterial, for example.

Leukoaraiosis is associated with genes regulating blood-brain barrier homeostasis in ischaemic stroke patients

The biologic agents causing leukoaraiosis are unknown. Our aim was to study the genetic basis of leukoaraiosis. We analyzed 212 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 142 patients with ischaemic stroke, generating a total of 30,104 genotypes. Seventy-nine subjects (55.6%) presented leukoaraiosis measured by the Fazekas scale and 69 (48.6%) by ARWMC scale. We analyzed the presence of synergic associations between SNPs using the hfcc software. Finally, functional studies were performed in 56 subjects. The Ingenuity Pathways software (ipa) was used to examine the role of the identified genes. Six SNPs were associated with leukoaraiosis using both measuring scales. After logistic regression adjusted for leukoaraiosis risk factors, the rs2252070 of MMP13 (OR = 4.9, 95%CI: 1.34-17.9, P = 0.016), rs662 of PON1 (OR = 0.37, 95%CI: 0.15-0.87, P = 0.024) and rs1800779 of NOS3 (OR = 3.9, 95%CI: 1.38-11.38, P = 0.01) were independently associated with leukoaraiosis under a dominant/recessive model and the rs2290608 of IL5RA (OR = 0.46, 95%CI: 0.25-0.85, P = 0.013) and rs669 of A2M (OR = 2.5, 95%CI: 1.36-4.83, P = 0.004) under an additive model. Computational analysis showed a synergic association of rs10497212-AA of ITGB6 and rs2290608-GG of IL5RA with leukoaraiosis using both scales. (i) ARWMC (P = 1.3 × 10(-4) ) and (ii) Fazekas (P = 4.5 × 10(-5) ). Functional studies showed that the rs669 SNP was associated with plasma levels of A2M (P = 0.012) and A2M levels with leukoaraiosis in Fazekas scale (P = 0.02). ipa analysis revealed that the genes associated with leukoaraiosis were involved in blood-brain barrier (BBB) homeostasis. Amongst patients with ischaemic stroke, several genes associated with BBB homeostasis could be involved with a higher risk of leukoaraiosis.

Immunochemotherapy with Fludarabine (F), Cyclophosphamide (C), and Rituximab (R) (FCR) Versus Fludarabine (F), Cyclophosphamide (C) and MabCampath (Cam) (FCCam) in Previously Untreated Patients (pts) with Advanced B-Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (B-CLL) : Experience On Safety and Efficacy within a Randomised Multicenter Phase III Trial of the french Cooperative Group On CLL and WM (FCGCLL/MW) and the “Groupe Ouest-Est d'Etudes Des Leucémies

Abstract 538▪▪This icon denotes an abstract that is clinically relevant. Introduction:Recent data suggest that FCR immunochemotherapy improves response rates and Progression-Free Survival (PFS) of previously untreated CLL pts. The monoclonal antibody alemtuzumab, a humanized anti-CD52 antibody (Campath), has shown activity alone and in combination in CLL pts. In order to validate the place of Campath in combination with the synergic association FC, the FCGCLL/MW and the GOELAMS conducted a multicenter French and Belgian phase III trial, CLL2007FMP, to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of FCCam versus FCR in previously untreated patients with advanced CLL. PFS was the primary-end-point of this trial. Methods and Patients:A cohort of 178 fit medically pts (cumulative illness rating scale (CIRS) score of up to 6), less than 65 years old, without 17p deletion, were enrolled between November 2007 and January 2009. Pts were randomly assigned to receive 6 oral courses of FC (F 40mg/m2 d1-3 and C 250 mg/m2 d1–3; q 28 days) in combination with either R (n=83; 375 mg/m2 i.v. d 0 at first cycle and 500 mg/m2 d1 all subsequent cycles; q 28 days) or Cam (n=82; 30 mg s/cut d1-3; q 28 days). Patients were stratified according to IgVH mutational status and 11q deletion. Anti-infective prophylaxis included trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and valaciclovir during immunochemotherapy and until the CD4-positive lymphocyte count reached 0,2 109/l. In the FCCAm arm, CMV monitoring was monthly performed by either PCR or antigenemia. The use of GSCF was recommended. The trial's recruitment was stopped in January 2009 after 165 pts had been randomized (83 and 82 respectively in the FCR and FCCam arms) because of an excess of mortality in the FCCam arm, while 13 patients were enrolled but not randomized because of this decision. Results:We reported here a preliminary analysis including baseline characteristics and response rates in the first 100 included pts but safety analysis of the whole cohort ; among the first 100 pts, 81% were Binet B, 19 % Binet C ; median age was 56.8 years (range 52.8 to 60.6). Percentages of pts with 11q deletion, unmutated IgVH status, and elevated β2m, were 18.5%, 48.4%, and 77.6%, respectively. A number of 76.5% (FCR arm) and 71.4% (FCCam arm) of pts received 6 cycles. Reasons for discontinuation were mainly related to persistent grade 3-4 neutropenia. Safety analysis data were availabel for 165 pts. Number of patients reported with Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) grade 3-4 adverse events were observed in 87.8% (FCCam arm) versus 90.2% (FCR arm) (p = 0.76). Grade 3-4 neutropenia was the most frequently reported adverse event (79.6% with FCCam and 74.6% with FCR arm). Interestingly, percentage of observed grade 4 neutropenia was stable during FCR treatment (17.6% for cycle 1 and 17.9% for cycle 6) but increased during FCCam treatment (28.4% for cycle 1 and 45.5% for cycle 6). A total of 63 Serious Adverse events (SAE) were declared (19 with 18 pts in FCR arm, and 44 with 35 pts in FCCam arm) consisting mostly of the cases in febrile neutropenia (13 with FCR arm, 27 with FCCam arm); 7 patients died, all in the FCCam arm : 3 of B diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (one of them EBV positive), 1 of mucormycosis, 1 of septic shock due to P.aeruginosae and 2 of heart failure during neutropenia. The Overall Response Rate ( ORR) in the first 100 patients was 96% in the FCR arm compared to 85% in the FCCam arm (p=0.086). The Complete Response rate was 78% (FCR arm) versus 58% (FCCam arm) (p=0.072). PFS and OS are not yet evaluable. Conclusion:the FCCam regimen for the treatment of advanced CLL appeared to be associated with an unfavourable safety profile representing a significant limitation of its use in this indication. Other combinations with Alemtuzumab may be studied. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Response to Letter by Phan et al

HomeStrokeVol. 37, No. 11Response to Letter by Phan et al Free AccessLetterPDF/EPUBAboutView PDFView EPUBSections ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationsTrack citationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InMendeleyReddit Jump toFree AccessLetterPDF/EPUBResponse to Letter by Phan et al Seok Woo Yong Oh Young Bang Seok Woo YongSeok Woo Yong Department of Neurology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea Search for more papers by this author Oh Young BangOh Young Bang Department of Neurology, Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine,, Seoul, South Korea Search for more papers by this author Originally published21 Sep 2006https://doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.0000244813.13221.ccStroke. 2006;37:2659Other version(s) of this articleYou are viewing the most recent version of this article. Previous versions: September 21, 2006: Previous Version 1 Response:We thank Dr Phan and his colleagues for their comments. They pointed out that the relationship between internal border-zone (IBZ) infarcts and severe carotid artery stenosis/occlusion has not been demonstrated in some studies. As we mentioned in our article, this inconsistency is likely to have resulted from (a) not using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and (b) not considering the stenosis of the middle carotid artery.1 The articles that Dr Phan et al mentioned are no exception.We agree that stroke topography does not equate with stroke mechanism, ie, hemodynamic versus nonhemodynamic. In addition, it may be difficult to separate these 2 mechanisms of stroke because a synergic association of these 2 mechanisms has been postulated.2 As Phan et al commented, the use of hemodynamic and nonhemodynamic mechanisms rather than the topographic terms for border-zone infarcts may be more ideal. However, the pathological and imaging characteristics of border-zone infarcts are well described and easily recognizable in clinical practice, while it is impossible to perform comprehensive workups in all patients with border-zone infarcts. More importantly, different types of border-zone infarcts may require different therapeutic approaches. In a previous analysis of DWI lesion patterns, an unstable hospital course (often with enlargement of the infarct) and poor long-term outcome were frequently observed in patients with IBZ infarcts, whereas recurrent strokes after the index stroke were more common in those who had small superficial infarcts, including cortical border-zone (CBZ) infarcts. These findings suggest that the DWI lesion pattern is helpful in recognizing the likely differences in the early prognostic end points after ischemic stroke, and the topographic approach may guide targeted interventions to prevent negative outcomes.3Concerning the topographic approach, it is well known that the vascular territories can vary greatly across individuals, which might cause a territorial infarct to be misinterpreted as a border-zone infarct. However, almost every article on border-zone infarcts has used the topographic site as the definition. (How else could one define a border-zone infarction?) This is perhaps an inherent limitation of all studies of border-zone infarction.The significant difference in the degree of stenosis (Figure 2 in the article1) was not the sole evidence that led us to propose different mechanisms in the 2 stroke groups. We also found that patients with IBZ infarcts had fewer small cortical infarcts outside the border-zone territory, and more often assumed a rosary pattern, both of which indicate that IBZ infarction is closely related to hemodynamic compromise. Recently, a comprehensive review of cerebral perfusion studies examined the mechanisms of border-zone infarcts in carotid disease.4 It showed that although severe hemodynamic compromise appears to underlie combined CBZ and IBZ infarction, artery-to-artery embolism might play an important role in isolated CBZ infarcts. Although Phan et al worry about there being insufficient evidence to rule out embolic sources, we believe that the differences we have put forward for the 2 groups strongly indicate that these 2 stroke syndromes have different pathogeneses. Increasing applications of diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging and microemboli detection using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography may allow a better understanding of the mechanisms of border-zone infarcts.DisclosuresNone.1 Yong SW, Bang OY, Lee PH, Li WY. Internal and cortical border-zone infarction: clinical and diffusion-weighted imaging features. Stroke. 2006; 37: 841–846.LinkGoogle Scholar2 Caplan LR, Hennerici M. Impaired clearance of emboli (washout) is an important link between hypoperfusion, embolism, and ischemic stroke. Arch Neurol. 1998; 55: 1475–1482.CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3 Bang OY, Lee PH, Heo KG, Joo US, Yoon SR, Kim SY. Specific DWI lesion patterns predict prognosis after acute ischaemic stroke within the MCA territory. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2005; 76: 1222–1228.CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4 Momjian-Mayor I, Baron JC. The pathophysiology of watershed infarction in internal carotid artery disease: review of cerebral perfusion studies. Stroke. 2005; 36: 567–577.LinkGoogle Scholar Previous Back to top Next FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails November 2006Vol 37, Issue 11 Advertisement Article InformationMetrics https://doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.0000244813.13221.cc Originally publishedSeptember 21, 2006 PDF download Advertisement

Analysis of association between butyrylcholinesterase K variant and apolipoprotein E genotypes in Alzheimer's disease

Recent studies indicate that there is a synergic association between butyrylcholinesterase-K variant (BChE-K) and apolipoproteinE-ɛ4 (ApoE-ɛ4) to promote risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Most subsequently replicative studies have been unable to confirm these finding. We attempted to replicate this finding in 105 AD cases and age and sex matched 129 controls from Tehran population, Iran. The BChE genotype of patients were found to be significantly different from controls ( χ 2 = 12.2, d.f. = 2, p = 0.002). The frequency of BChE-K allele was also found to differ significantly in cases compared to controls [24% versus 12% ( χ 2 = 20.6, d.f. = 2, p < 0.001)] leading to an increased risk of AD in subjects with this allele (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.64–3.8, p = 0.001). This risk was found to increase from (OR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.3–4.2, p = 0.006) in subjects less than 75 years old to (OR = 3.16, 95% CI = 1.41–7.1, p = 0.001) in subjects 75 years and older. But, the ApoE-ɛ4 allele association risk was found to decrease from (OR = 9.5, 95% CI = 3.74–24.1, p = 0.001) in subjects <75 years to (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 0.49–4.1, p = 0.58) in those subjects 75 years and older. Furthermore, we found a very strong synergic association between BChE-K and ApoE-ɛ4 OR = 19.1 (95% CI = 428–85.45, p < 0.001). In spite of this, synergism decreased from OR = 36.2 (95% CI = 4.4–296, p = 0.001) in subjects <75 year olds to OR = 6.2 (95% CI = 0.9–72.4, p = 0.06) in subjects ≥75 years. We have found that BChE-K and ApoE-ɛ4 alleles act synergistically to increase the risk of the late-onset AD, particularly in age group <75 years in Tehran, Iran.

Design of a new DNA-polyintercalating drug, a bisacridinyl peptidic analogue of Triostin A.

The synthesis of a new bifunctional compound in which two aminoacridine chromophores are linked by the bicyclic depsipeptidic backbone of des-N-tetramethylTriostin A is described. The molecule, bis-[(9-acridinyl)-D-seryl-L-alanyl-L-cysteinyl-L-valine] dilactone disulphide, structurally analogous to the antibiotic anti-tumour drug Triostin A, is shown to possess a high affinity to DNA and to act as a bis-intercalator on the basis of spectroscopic, viscosimetric and thermal-denaturation studies. This model constitutes the first attempt of a synergic association between a peptidic moiety that mimics a naturally occurring drug and aminoacridine, the two parts themselves each exhibiting a high affinity for the DNA target.