Probing the interaction of Rh, Co and bimetallic Rh-Co nanoparticles with the CeO2 support: catalytic materials for alternative energy generation.

The interaction of CeO2-supported Rh, Co and bimetallic Rh-Co nanoparticles, which are active catalysts in hydrogen production via steam reforming of ethanol, a process related to renewable energy generation, was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and low energy ion scattering (LEIS). Furthermore, diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS) of adsorbed CO as a probe molecule was used to characterize the morphology of metal particles. At small loadings (0.1%), Rh is in a much dispersed state on ceria, while at higher contents (1-5%), Rh forms 2-8 nm particles. Between 473-673 K pronounced oxygen transfer from ceria to Rh is observed and at 773 K significant agglomeration of Rh occurs. On reduced ceria, XPS indicates a possible electron transfer from Rh to ceria. The formation of smaller ceria crystallites upon loading with Co was concluded from XRD and HRTEM; for 10% Co, the CeO2 particle size decreased from 27.6 to 10.7 nm. A strong dissolution of Co into ceria and a certain extent of encapsulation by ceria were deduced by XRD, XPS and LEIS. In the bimetallic system, the presence of Rh enhances the reduction of cobalt and ceria. During thermal treatments, reoxidation of Co occurs, and Rh agglomeration as well as oxygen migration from ceria to Rh are hindered in the presence of cobalt.

Influence of gold additives on the stability and phase transformation of titanate nanostructures.

Gold nanoparticles were prepared and characterized on protonated (H-form) titanate nanotubes (TiONTs) and nanowires (TiONWs). The chemical nature and morphology of gold particles were monitored by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution electron microscopy (HRTEM). The optical properties of Au-containing titanate nanowires were explored by means of ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The size distribution and homogeneity of gold particles depend on the reduction mode from the corresponding gold salt to metal particles. Smaller clusters (3-8 nm) were obtained with the NaBH4 reactant at 293 K than with molecular hydrogen reduction. An unexpectedly high binding energy gold state was found by XPS in gold-loaded titanate nanostructures. This state was absent from the spectra of gold-loaded TiO2(110). A likely explanation for this phenomenon, supported also by the characteristic decrease of band gap energy from 3.10 eV to 2.74 eV with increasing Au content, is that depending on the metal loading and titanate structure, Au is stabilized on titanate nanowires partially in positively charged gold form by ion exchange and also as Au clusters. Our important new finding is that the thermal annealing behavior of Au-loaded titanate nanotubes and nanowires is different. The former lose their tubular morphology and are readily transformed into anatase even at a very low temperature of 473 K. On the other hand, gold stabilizes the layered structure of titanate nanowires up to 873 K.

Repeated simultaneous cortical electrophysiological and behavioral recording in rats exposed to manganese-containing nanoparticles.

Male Wistar rats wearing chronically implanted cortical electrodes were exposed to Mn-containing nanoparticles via the airways for 8 weeks following a 2-week pre-exposure period. The rats' cortical electrical activity and open field motility was recorded simultaneously, in weekly repetitions. It was supposed that this technique can provide better insight in the development of Mn-induced CNS damage. Decreased motility (less distance covered, longer periods of immobility) and increased total power of cortical electrical activity developed in parallel in the first 4-5 weeks of treatment but showed little change afterwards. Both the behavioral and the electrophysiological effect were in fair correlation with the rats' internal Mn exposure determined from brain samples. The results confirmed the non-linear dose- and time-dependence of Mn effects suggested by previous studies. Repeated simultaneous behavioral and electrophysiological recording during a longer treatment with neurotoxic metals (or other xenobiotics) seems to be a promising method.

Hypercalcitoninemia in a patient with a recurrent goitre and insulinoma: a case report.

Serum calcitonin has become a very sensitive and specific marker for medullary thyroid carcinoma that should be determined in patients with nodular thyroid disease. However, a few earlier reports indicated that tumors other than medullary thyroid carcinoma including insulinomas arising from pancreatic islet cells may also produce calcitonin. Of the few cases of calcitonin-producing insulinomas previously reported, most had incomplete data or lack of documentation of the association between raised serum calcitonin concentration and immunohistochemical detection of calcitonin in pancreatic islet cell tumors. In this paper we are reporting a 54-year-old woman with a history of partial thyroidectomy for multinodular goitre at the age of 50 yrs, she was evaluated for a 2-months history of fasting hypoglycemia (plasma glucose 1.9 mmol/L during a supervised fast), raised serum insulin (at the time of hypoglycemia 88.8 microU/ml; normal, 5 - 35 microU/ml) and C-peptide levels (at the time of hypoglycemia 6.1 ng/ml; normal, 1.37 - 3.51 ng/ml), markedly increased serum calcitonin concentration (481 pg/ml; normal, < 9.9 pg/ml), and an enlarged residual thyroid gland. Aspiration biopsy of the thyroid was negative for parafollicular C-cell hyperplasia or medullary thyroid carcinoma. Abdominal ultrasound and CT scan revealed a tumor in the head of the pancreas, which was surgically removed. Histopathological evaluation of the pancreatic tumor showed typical features of a neuroendocrine neoplasm with strong immunostaining for both insulin and calcitonin. After removal of the pancreatic tumor, clinical symptoms resolved and biochemical markers normalized (serum insulin, 14.9 microU/ml; C-peptide, 3.0 ng/ml; calcitonin, 2.9 pg/ml) confirming the causal relationship between insulinoma and markedly increased serum calcitonin levels.

[Bilateral renal artery stenosis diagnosed during pregnancy]. / Terhesség folyamán felismert kétoldali arteria renalis stenosis.

Bilateral renal artery stenosis was diagnosed noninvasively in the 17th gestational week, in a chronically hypertensive pregnant woman, by renal artery duplex ultrasound examination, MRI and MR angiography. Continuous monitoring of the mother and the fetus was performed. Blood pressure was stabilized by complex antihypertensive therapy, but from the beginning of the third trimester superimposed preeclampsia developed gradually. In the 34th gestational week a 1600-g newborn was delivered by elective cesarean section. The case report draws attention to the significance of the thorough examination of hypertensive women before pregnancy.

[Experimental models in research of the pathomechanism of diabetes mellitus]. / Kísérleti modellek a diabetes mellitus patomechanizmusának megismerésében.

The authors review the knowledge accumulated on animal models of diabetes during the last decade. The most commonly used diabetes models and the underlying disease processes are summarized, respectively. The best known diabetogenic substances, Streptozotocin and Alloxan are described, including their usage, dosage dosing intervals, and mechanism of action. The latest results are included in the article which discuss the possible role of free radical-induced injury of beta cells in Streptozotocin and Alloxan diabetes.

[Free radical reactions in juvenile rats treated with streptozotocin]. / Szabad gyókós reakciók vizsgálata streptozotocinnal kezelt fiatal patkányokban.

Male, weaned Wistar albino rats (n = 8) were treated by single dose of intravenous 50 mg/bodyweight-kg streptozotocin (STZ) injection. Changes in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and scavenger capacity of red blood cells and liver homogenates were evaluated and compared to the respective values of the control group (n = 9) after 3 weeks. HbAlc was significantly higher (p < 0.005) in the STZ treated group. Plasma triglyceride also showed a marked elevation compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Scavenger capacity in erythrocytes was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in treated animals while no change was observed in liver homogenates. No alteration was observed in the superoxide dismutase activity of treated animals, but catalase activity was weaker (p < 0.05). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were in higher concentration in plasma of STZ treated animals (p < 0.01) and were in comparable amount in homogenates. The results suggest that 3 weeks after STZ treatment of rats, alterations can be observed in the scavenger system and of the examined tissues changes are most prominent in erythrocytes.

[Hypothetical connection between diabetes mellitus and free radical reactions in arteriosclerosis]. / A diabetes mellitus és szabad gyökös reakciók feltételezett kapcsolata az érelmeszesedéssel.

Diabetic patients develop arteriosclerosis at an early age. Their disease progresses more rapidly than that of nondiabetics, due to the underlying cause of arteriosclerosis of which the origin is still unknown. Much attention has been paid recently to the causative role of glycosilated lipoproteins, free radical reactions and hyperinsulinaemia--insulin resistance. Disturbances of the carbohydrate metabolism are accompanied by disorders in lipid metabolism and in the antioxidant system. While proteins undergo glycosilation, free radicals are being released from inflamed cells and, during the course of glycosilation with subsequent lipid peroxidation. Oxidation of lipids and proteins form the basis of pathological processes that might initiate the development of arteriosclerosis. There are attempts to influence the above processes by scavengers--e.g. vitamins, Ca-antagonists, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and antilipaemic agents.

Passive geometric and elastic properties of human cadaver common carotid artery segments after intraluminal enzyme digestion with the aid of a four-way double balloon catheter.

A combined intraluminal nonenzymatic-enzymatic digestion procedure was carried out in situ on the common carotid arteries of 21 human cadavers with the aid of a four-way double balloon catheter. Denaturing pretreatment with NaOH, 2.5 mol for 20 min followed by crude pancreatic extract, 20 mg/ml for 20 min were used. Mechanical properties of cylindrical segments were measured in vitro, and compared with contralateral control segments. The inner radius increased and wall thickness decreased significantly at each pressure level in the 0-200 mmHg (0-26.7 kPa) intraluminal pressure range. Volume of wall material per unit length of the segment decreased by 11.6%, cross-section of the lumen at 100 mmHg (13.3 kPa) intraluminal pressure increased by 13.6%. These results show that the internal layers of human arteries can be removed by enzyme digestion increasing the lumen, while intact (medial and adventitial) layers still can give sufficient strength to the arterial wall.

Local enzymatic treatment of atherosclerotic plaques.

Fat rich and fibromuscular lesions experimentally induced in animals as well as human atherosclerotic plaques were locally digested enzymatically with the help of a newly developed double balloon catheter. The technique was most successful if applied to fat rich intimal proliferation of hypercholesterolemic rabbits, while the fibromuscular plaques of dog femoral arteries and of human common carotid arteries were less sensitive to the treatment. Osmotic or denaturing pretreatments increased the efficiency of the different proteolytic enzymes. Thrombotic complications and leukocytic infiltration developed in dogs surviving the enzymatic digestion by 2 days. A perfect enzymatic dissolution of the fibromuscular plaques was not achieved but the enzymatic digestion appeared to offer the organism a chance to complete the dissolution by its own means. The passive mechanical properties of the treated human carotid arteries changed favorably. The technique requires skill and a competent background in vascular surgery. Nonetheless the local enzymatic treatment might serve either as an adjunct to angioplasty or as an alternative treatment.