Statins and 90-Day Functional Performance and Survival in Patients with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: The neuroprotective effect of statins has become a focus of interest in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). The purpose of this study was: (1) to evaluate the effect of statin use by the analyzed patients with sICH in the period preceding the onset of hemorrhage on their baseline neurological status and baseline neuroimaging of the head; (2) to evaluate the effect of statin use in the acute period of hemorrhage on the course and prognosis in the in-hospital period, taking into account whether the statin was taken before the hemorrhage or only after its onset; (3) to evaluate the effect of continuing statin treatment after in-hospital treatment on the functional performance and survival of patients up to 90 days after the onset of sICH symptoms, taking into account whether the statin was taken before the onset of sICH. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 153 patients diagnosed with sICH were analyzed, where group I were not previously taking a statin and group II were taking a statin before sICH onset. After lipidogram assessment, group I was divided into patients without dyslipidemia and without statin treatment (Ia) and patients with dyslipidemia who received de novo statin treatment during hospitalization (Ib). Group II patients continued taking statin therapy. We evaluated the effect of prior statin use on the severity of hemorrhage; the effect of statin use during the acute period of sICH on its in-hospital course; and the effect of statin treatment on the severity of neurological deficit, functional capacity and survival of patients up to 90 days after the onset of sICH symptoms. RESULTS: There was no effect of prior statin use on the severity of hemorrhage as assessed clinically and by neuroimaging of the head. At in-hospital follow-up, subgroup Ia was the least favorable in terms of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. This subgroup had the highest percentage of deaths during hospitalization. In the post-hospital period, the greatest number of patients with improvement in the NIHSS, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and Barthel scales were among those taking statins, especially group II patients. At 90-day follow-up, survival analysis fell significantly in favor of subgroup Ib and group II. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The use of statins in the pre-sICH period did not adversely affect the patients' baseline neurological status or the results of baseline neuroimaging studies. 2. Continued statin therapy prior to the onset of sICH or the inclusion of statins in acute treatment in patients with sICH and dyslipidemia does not worsen the course of the disease and the in-hospital prognosis. Statin therapy should not be discontinued during the acute phase of sICH. 3. To conclude the eventual beneficial effect on the functional performance and survival of patients after sICH onset, comparability of the analyzed groups in terms of clinical, radiological and other prognostic factors in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage would be needed. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Studies of New Iridium Catalysts Supported on Modified Silicalite-1-Their Structure and Hydrogenating Properties.

This paper investigates the catalytic properties of the iridium catalysts supported on modified silicalite-1. Post-synthesis modification of silicalite-1, with solutions of ammonium compounds (NH4F and NH4OH), appeared to be an efficient method to generate the acidic sites in starting support. The modification of support led not only to changes in its acidity but also its porosity-formation of additional micro- and mesopores. The novel materials were used as supports for iridium. The iridium catalysts (1 wt.% Ir) were characterized by N2 adsorption/desorption measurements, temperature-programmed reduction with hydrogen (TPR-H2), H2 chemisorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (TPD-NH3), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and tested in the hydrogenation of toluene reaction. The catalytic activity of iridium supported on silicalite-1 treated with NH4OH (higher porosity of support, better dispersion of active phase) was much higher than that of Ir supported on unmodified and modified with NH4F silicalite-1.

Effect of Modification of Amorphous Silica with Ammonium Agents on the Physicochemical Properties and Hydrogenation Activity of Ir/SiO2 Catalysts.

The modification of commercial silica with solutions of NH4F or NH4Cl salts, followed by thermal treatment, enabled generation of the acidic sites in SiO2 and changed its textural properties. The use of ammonium salts solution also caused the generation of additional porosity. Using NH4F solution caused significant decrease in the specific surface area and the increase in the average pore diameter. The number and strength of resulting acid sites depend on the nature of anion in the applied ammonium salt and the concentration of salt solution. It has been found that the sample treated with NH4F presented higher total acidity (TPD-NH3) and the amount as well as the strength of acid sites increased with the concentration of the used modifier. As modified amorphous SiO2 materials used as a support for iridium (1 wt %, Ir(acac)3) nanoparticles permitted to obtain highly active catalysts for toluene hydrogenation under atmospheric pressure. The highest activity (expressed as the apparent rate and TOF) was obtained for iridium catalysts supported on silica modified by NH4F with the highest acidity. The modification of silica with NH4F favors the generation of centers able to adsorb toluene, which results in higher activity of this catalyst.