Tuning the catalytic acidity in Al2O3 nanofibers with mordenite nanocrystals for dehydration reactions.

Alumina (Al2O3) is one of the most used supports in the chemical industry due to its exceptional thermal stability, surface area, and acidic properties. Mesoscopic structured alumina with adequate acidic properties is important in catalysis to enhance the selectivity and conversion of certain reactions and processes. This study introduces a synthetic method based on electrospinning to produce Al2O3 nanofibers (ANFs) with zeolite mordenite (MOR) nanocrystals (hereafter, hybrid ANFs) to tune the textural and surface acidity properties. The hybrid ANFs with electrospinning form a non-woven network with macropores. ANF-HMOR, i.e., ANFs containing protonated mordenite (HMOR), shows the highest total acidity of ca. 276 µmol g-1 as determined with infrared spectroscopy using pyridine as a molecular probe (IR-Py). IR-Py results reveal that Lewis acid sites are prominently present in the hybrid ANFs. Brønsted acid sites are also observed in the hybrid ANFs and are associated with the HMOR presence. The functionality of hybrid ANFs is evaluated during methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether (DME). The proof of concept reaction reveals that ANF-HMOR is the more active and selective catalyst with 87% conversion and nearly 100% selectivity to DME at 573 K. The results demonstrate that the textural properties and the acid site type and content can be modulated in hybrid ANF structures, synergistically improving the selectivity and conversion during the methanol dehydration reaction. From a broader perspective, our results promote the utilization of hybrid structural materials as a means to tune chemical reactions selectively.

Effect of vitamin D, calcium and multiple micronutrient supplementation on vitamin D and bone status in Bangladeshi premenopausal garment factory workers with hypovitaminosis D: a double-blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled 1-year intervention.

Due to little outdoor activity and low dietary intake of vitamin D (VD), Bangladeshi low-income women are at risk for osteoporosis at an early age. The present study assessed the effect of VD, Ca and multiple micronutrient supplementation on VD and bone status in Bangladeshi young female garment factory workers. This placebo-controlled 1-year intervention randomly assigned 200 apparently healthy subjects (aged 16-36 years) to four groups: VD group, daily 10 microg VD; VD and Ca (VD-Ca) group, daily 10 microg VD+600 mg Ca; multiple micronutrient and Ca (MMN-Ca) group, 10 microg VD and other micronutrients+600 mg Ca; a placebo group. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (S-25OHD), intact parathyroid hormone (S-iPTH), Ca, phosphate and alkaline phosphatase were measured. Bone mineral density and bone mineral content were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. All measurements were made at baseline and at 12 months. Significantly (P < 0.001) higher S-25OHD concentrations were observed in the supplemented groups than in the placebo group after the intervention. Supplementation had an effect (P < 0.001) on S-iPTH in the VD-Ca and MMN-Ca groups compared with the placebo group. Bone mineral augmentation increased at the femur in the supplemented groups. Supplementation with VD-Ca should be recommended as a strategic option to reduce the risk of osteomalacia and osteoporosis in these subjects. MMN-Ca may have analogous positive health implications with additional non-skeletal benefits.

Vitamin D deficiency and low bone status in adult female garment factory workers in Bangladesh.

The manufacture of garments is the main industry in Bangladesh and employs 1.6 million female workers. Due to the indoor lifestyle and low dietary intake of calcium, we hypothesised that they are at risk of low vitamin D and bone mineral status. Two hundred female garment workers (aged 18-36 years) were randomly selected. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (S-25OHD), serum intact parathyroid hormone (S-iPTH), serum calcium (S-Ca), serum phosphate (S-P) concentration and serum alkaline phosphatase activity (S-ALP) were measured from fasting samples. Bone indexes of hip and spine were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The mean S-25OHD (36.7 nmol/l) was low compared to that recommended for vitamin D sufficiency. About 16% of the subjects were found to be vitamin D-deficient (S-25OHD 21 ng/l) was associated with progressive reduction in bone mineral density at the femoral neck and lumbar spine. According to the WHO criteria, the mean T-score of the femoral neck and lumbar spine of the subjects were within osteopenic range. We observed that subjects with a bone mineral density T-score < -2.5 had a trend of lower values of BMI, waist-hip circumference, mid-upper-arm circumference, S-25OHD and higher S-iPTH and S-ALP. The high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and low bone mineral density among these subjects are indicative of higher risk for osteomalacia or osteoporosis and fracture.

The hypercoagulable status in common Mediterranean ß-thalassaemia mutations trait.

INTRODUCTION: The coagulation activation in ß-thalassaemia is multifactorial and most likely a consequence of the exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) on RBCs surface. The degree of PS exposure and procoagulant activity of RBCs in ß-thalassaemia trait (BTT) subjects carrying common Mediterranean mutations were assessed. METHODS: Eighty BTT subjects carrying common Mediterranean mutations (ß+, n = 53 and ß0 , n = 27) and sixty healthy subjects served as controls were studied. Plasma prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), percentage of PS expression on RBCs membrane, clotting times of modified thromboplastin generation test (MTGT) and modified partial thromboplastin with kaolin (MPTTK) were estimated. RESULTS: The percentage of annexin V positive RBCs and plasma F1+2 had a significant increase and MTGT had a significant decrease in BTT subjects versus controls and in ß0 group versus ß+ group. MPTTK was significantly shorter in BTT subjects than controls, but no significant deference between BTT subjects. The percentage of annexin V positive RBCs showed a significant negative correlation with haemoglobin level, MTGT and MPTTK, and a significant positive correlation with plasma F1+2. CONCLUSION: BTT subjects may have a risk of hypercoagulable state particularly in ß0 genotype. Measurement of PS exposure on RBCs and the plasma F1+2 is useful to evaluate hypercoagulability state.

Is a value of over 200 mg/dL in the oral glucose tolerance test, a marker of severity in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether blood glucose values of over 200 mg/dL in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) are associated with pregnancy complications and adverse perinatal outcomes in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed comparing patients with GDM A1 (diet controlled) that had at least one value of 200 mg/dL or higher in the OGTT, to those who did not. Patients were treated at the diabetes day care clinic of a tertiary medical center between the years 1999 and 2010. Data were available from the computerized perinatal databases. RESULTS: During the study period, 778 women with GDM were treated at the diabetes day care clinic. Of these, 162 had at least one test value of 200 mg/dL or greater. No significant differences regarding maternal and perinatal complications, such as polyhydramnios, macrosomia (birth-weight above 4 kg), shoulder dystocia, low Apgar scores at 5 min (<7) and cesarean section were noted between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: A value of 200 mg/dL or more in the OGTT is not an indicator of perinatal complications.