Immobilization of silver-loaded graphene oxide (Ag-GO) on canvas fabric support for catalytic conversion of 4 nitrophenol.

Due to the rising human population and industrialization, harmful chemical compounds such as 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and various dyes are increasingly released into the environment, resulting in water pollution. It is essential to convert these harmful chemicals into harmless compounds to mitigate this pollution. This research focuses on synthesizing a novel heterogeneous catalyst using modified canvas fabric (CF) decorated with silver metal nanoparticles on graphene oxide nanosheets (Ag-GO/CF). The process involves coating the fabrics (CF) with graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets through sonication. Subsequently, silver nanoparticles are deposited in situ and reduced on the GO surface, resulting in the formation of the Ag-GO/CF composite. Various physicochemical characterizations were conducted to examine the interfacial interactions between CF, GO, and Ag nanoparticles. The catalytic activity of the nanocomposite was assessed by hydrogenating 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4). The results showed that the 10%Ag-5%GO/CF with a surface of 6 cm2 (3 × 2 cm) exhibited the highest catalytic activity, achieving a reduction efficiency of over 96% in 5 min. The 4-NP reduction reaction rate was well-fitted with a pseudo-first-order kinetics model with an apparent reaction rate constant (Kapp) of 0.676 min-1. Furthermore, the Ag-GO/CF composite demonstrated remarkable stability over successive cycles, with no noticeable decrease in its catalytic activity, suggesting its promising application for long-term chemical catalytic processes. This synthesized composite can be easily added to and removed from the reaction solution while maintaining high catalytic performance in the reduction of 4-NP, and it could be beneficial in avoiding problems related to powder separation.

Validity and reliability of the Arabic adapted version of the DN4 questionnaire (Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions) for differential diagnosis of pain syndromes with a neuropathic or somatic component.

BACKGROUND: Verbal descriptors of pain can provide a basis for distinguishing neuropathic pain (NP) from pain of non-neuropathic origin. Much research has been undertaken to develop screening tools for this purpose. The DN4 questionnaire (NP in four questions), is one of theses tools, which was developed and validated in French in 2005. The purpose of this work is to provide an Arabic, culturally appropriate, reliable, and valid version of the DN4 interview questionnaire for the diagnosis of NP. METHODS: A study was conducted consisting of two phases. In the first phase, translation and cultural adaptation of the questionnaire into dialectal Arabic according to international guidelines was accomplished. The final version was reviewed by an expert panel, then tested on a group of 30 patients. The second phase was the validation of the translated version. The analysis of psychometric properties included reliability (internal consistency, inter-rater agreement) and validity (receiver operating characteristics curve analysis and determination of sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values). RESULTS: A sample of 170 subjects (129 women, 75%; age: 49.5 ± 12.4 years), 94 (55.3%) with NP and 76 with non-neuropathic pain was enrolled. The questionnaire was reliable (Cronbach's alpha coefficient: 0.63, inter-rater agreement coefficient: 0.96 [0.94-0.97]) and valid for a cut-off value ≥3 points, which was the best value to discriminate between NP and NNP subjects. DISCUSSION: This study represents the second validation DN4 in a language different from the original after the Spanish adaptation. These results support the high discriminatory value of the DN4 questionnaire for identification of NP.

Is Tenofovir Alafenamide Safer than Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate for the Kidneys?

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is currently the cornerstone of HIV treatment. Although it shows an overall good safety profile, numerous cases of nephrotoxicity have been reported. Tenofovir alafenamide is a novel tenofovir prodrug that has been developed to improve renal safety. Pharmacokinetic studies suggest a better renal tolerance of tenofovir alafenamide than tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, probably because tenofovir plasma concentrations are lower after tenofovir alafenamide administration. Consistently in clinical trials, renal tolerance seems to be improved in patients treated with tenofovir alafenamide. However, some questions remain. First, whether tenofovir can accumulate and lead to nephrotoxicity under specific circumstances after tenofovir alafenamide administration is unknown. Second, only "real-world practice" will inform us on the long-term renal safety of tenofovir alafenamide. Last, tenofovir alafenamide renal safety in patients with chronic kidney disease has not been studied in any randomized clinical trial. In conclusion, tenofovir alafenamide appears as a very promising drug and long-term safety will be an important determinant of its expanded use.

Emotion recognition and genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies of schizophrenia suggest that this disorder has a substantial genetic component. Cognitive and social abilities, as well as the volumes of brain regions involved in emotion processing, have been found to be distributed along a continuum when comparing patients, siblings and controls, with siblings showing intermediate scores. AIMS: To establish whether facial expression recognition is impaired in unaffected siblings of patients. METHOD: Emotion and gender recognition were evaluated in a three-group pre-post study design in drug-naive patients with first-episode schizophrenia (n=40) and their unaffected siblings (n=30) compared with controls (n=26). RESULTS: Patients and their healthy siblings showed impaired emotion recognition but normal gender recognition compared with controls. Patients'performance did not improve despite effective clinical stabilisation. CONCLUSIONS: Impaired performance in healthy siblings and time stability in patients provides evidence of impairment of facial emotion recognition as an actual phenotype of schizophrenia.