Gender and Patient Satisfaction in a Veterans Health Administration Outpatient Chemotherapy Unit.

Background: Our objective was to explore whether differences in patient satisfaction based on gender exist at the Veterans Affairs Portland Health Care System (VAPHCS) outpatient chemotherapy infusion unit. Methods: Veterans who received outpatient infusion treatments at the VAPHCS outpatient chemotherapy infusion unit from 2018 to 2020 were invited to take an anonymous survey. Response differences were analyzed using Fisher exact and Welch t tests. Male and female patient lists were first generated based on Computerized Patient Record System designation, then defined and results reported based on gender self-identification from survey responses. Results: The survey was conducted over a 2-week period during January and February of 2021. In total, 69 veterans were contacted: 21 (70%) of 30 female and 20 (51%) of 39 male veterans completed the survey. Most (62%) female patients were aged < 65 years, and 52% were treated for breast cancer. Most (90%) male patients were aged ≥ 65 years, and most commonly treated for prostate cancer (20%) or a hematologic malignancy (20%). Using our survey, patient satisfaction (SD) was 8.7 (2.2) on a 10-point scale among women, and 9.6 (0.6) among men (P = .11). History of sexual abuse or harassment was reported by 86% of women compared with 10% of men (P < .001). Women reported feeling uncomfortable around other patients in the infusion unit compared with men (29% vs 0%; P = .02) and discomfort in relaying uncomfortable feelings to a clinician (29% vs 0%; P = .02). Conclusions: Gender seems to be related to how veterans with cancer perceive their ambulatory cancer care. This may be due to the combination of a high history of sexual abuse and/or harassment among women who represent a minority of the total infusion unit population, the majority of whom receive treatment for a primarily gender-specific breast malignancy. Analysis was limited by the small sample size of women, many with advanced malignancy.

Silylated Zeolites With Enhanced Hydrothermal Stability for the Aqueous-Phase Hydrogenation of Levulinic Acid to γ-Valerolactone.

A systematic silylation approach using mono-, di-, and trichlorosilanes with different alkyl chain lengths was employed to enhance the hydrothermal stability of zeolite Y. DRIFT spectra of the silylated zeolites indicate that the attachment of the silanes takes place at surface silanol groups. Regarding hydrothermal stability under aqueous-phase processing (APP) conditions, i.e., pH ≈ 2, 473 K and autogenous pressure, the selective silylation of the zeolite surface using monochlorosilanes has no considerable influence. By using trichlorosilanes, the hydrothermal stability of zeolite Y can be improved significantly as proven by a stability test in an aqueous solution of 0.2 M levulinic acid (LA) and 0.6 M formic acid (FA) at 473 K. However, the silylation with trichlorosilanes results in a significant loss of total specific pore volume and total specific surface area, e.g., 0.35 cm3 g-1 and 507 m2 g-1 for the silylated zeolite Y functionalized with n-octadecyltrichlorosilane compared to 0.51 cm3 g-1 and 788 m2 g-1 for the parent zeolite Y. The hydrogenation of LA to γ-valerolactone (GVL) was conducted over 3 wt.-% Pt on zeolite Y (3PtY) silylated with either n-octadecyltrichlorosilane or methyltrichlorosilane using different reducing agents, e.g., FA or H2. While in the stability test an enhanced hydrothermal stability was found for zeolite Y silylated with n-octadecyltrichlorosilane, its stability in the hydrogenation of LA was far less pronounced. Only by applying an excess amount of methyltrichlorosilane, i.e., 10 mmol per 1 g of zeolite Y, presumably resulting in a high degree of polymerization among the silanes, a recognizable improvement of the stability of the 3 PtY catalyst could be achieved. Nonetheless, the pore blockage found for zeolite Y silylated with an excess amount of methyltrichlorosilane was reflected in a drastically lower GVL yield at 493 K using FA as reducing agent, i.e., 12 vs. 34% for 3PtY after 24 h.

Hierarchically Structured Porous Spinels via an Epoxide-Mediated Sol-Gel Process Accompanied by Polymerization-Induced Phase Separation.

Enhancing the activity and stability of catalysts is a major challenge in scientific research nowadays. Previous studies showed that the generation of an additional pore system can influence the catalytic performance of porous catalysts regarding activity, selectivity, and stability. This study focuses on the epoxide-mediated sol-gel synthesis of mixed metal oxides, NiAl2O4 and CoAl2O4, with a spinel phase structure, a hierarchical pore structure, and Ni and Co contents of 3 to 33 mol % with respect to the total metal content. The sol-gel process is accompanied by a polymerization-induced phase separation to introduce an additional pore system. The obtained mixed metal oxides were characterized with regard to pore morphology, surface area, and formation of the spinel phase. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area ranges from 74 to 138 m2·g-1 and 25 to 94 m2·g-1 for Ni and Co, respectively. Diameters of the phase separation-based macropores were between 500 and 2000 nm, and the mesopore diameters were 10 nm for the Ni-based system and between 20 and 25 nm for the cobalt spinels. Furthermore, Ni-Al spinels with 4, 5, and 6 mol % Ni were investigated in the dry reforming of CH4 (DRM) with CO2 to produce H2 and CO. CH4 conversions near the thermodynamic equilibrium were observed depending on the Ni content and reaction temperature. The Ni catalysts were further compared to a noble metal-containing catalyst based on a spinel system showing comparable CH4 conversion and carbon selectivity in the DRM.

Diffusion of methyl oleate in hierarchical micro-/mesoporous TS-1-based catalysts probed by PFG NMR spectroscopy.

Pulsed field gradient (PFG) NMR is successfully applied to trace the diffusion of methyl oleate (MO) inside the mesopores of hierarchically structured titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1)-based catalysts. Introduction of mesoporosity by post-synthetic treatment of initially microporous TS-1 provides additional active surface to improve catalytic activity in the epoxidation of MO. The present study provides experimental evidence of the accessibility of mesopores for MO resulting from alkaline treatment of TS-1. The self-diffusion coefficients of MO inside the pores of hierarchically structured TS-1 catalysts are up to two orders of magnitude lower compared to the values in the bulk liquid phase. Additionally, the methodological capability of PFG NMR for measuring self-diffusion coefficients of long-chain hydrocarbons (up to C19) confined to narrow mesopores of catalytically active is demonstrated for the first time.

Correction: Diffusion of methyl oleate in hierarchical micro-/mesoporous TS-1-based catalysts probed by PFG NMR spectroscopy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C8RA07434H.].

Simultaneous introduction of various palladium active sites into MOF via one-pot synthesis: Pd@[Cu3-xPdx(BTC)2]n.

Simultaneous incorporation of palladium within Pd-Pd and/or Pd-Cu paddlewheels as framework-nodes and Pd nanoparticle (NP) dispersion into MOF have been achieved for the first time via one-pot synthesis. In particular, the framework substitution of Cu(2+) by Pd(2+) as well as the pore loading with PdNPs have been confirmed and characterized by XPS. The obtained solids featuring such multiple Pd-sites show enhanced catalytic activity in the aqueous-phase hydrogenation of p-nitrophenol (PNP) with NaBH4 to p-aminophenol (PAP).

Antioxidant treatment normalizes mitochondrial energetics and myocardial insulin sensitivity independently of changes in systemic metabolic homeostasis in a mouse model of the metabolic syndrome.

Cardiac dysfunction in obesity is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and altered insulin sensitivity. Whether oxidative stress directly contributes to myocardial insulin resistance remains to be determined. This study tested the hypothesis that ROS scavenging will improve mitochondrial function and insulin sensitivity in the hearts of rodent models with varying degrees of insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. The catalytic antioxidant MnTBAP was administered to the uncoupling protein-diphtheria toxin A (UCP-DTA) mouse model of insulin resistance (IR) and obesity, at early and late time points in the evolution of IR, and to db/db mice with severe obesity and type-two diabetes. Mitochondrial function was measured in saponin-permeabilized cardiac fibers. Aconitase activity and hydrogen peroxide emission were measured in isolated mitochondria. Insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation, glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation rates were measured in isolated working hearts, and 2-deoxyglucose uptake was measured in isolated cardiomyocytes. Four weeks of MnTBAP attenuated glucose intolerance in 13-week-old UCP-DTA mice but was without effect in 24-week-old UCP-DTA mice and in db/db mice. Despite the absence of improvement in the systemic metabolic milieu, MnTBAP reversed cardiac mitochondrial oxidative stress and improved mitochondrial bioenergetics by increasing ATP generation and reducing mitochondrial uncoupling in all models. MnTBAP also improved myocardial insulin mediated glucose metabolism in 13 and 24-week-old UCP-DTA mice. Pharmacological ROS scavenging improves myocardial energy metabolism and insulin responsiveness in obesity and type 2 diabetes via direct effects that might be independent of changes in systemic metabolism.

Male obesity and alteration in sperm parameters.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of male obesity on sperm parameters and erectile dysfunction. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis. SETTING: Referral fertility center. PATIENT(S): Couples presenting for infertility treatment. INTERVENTION(S): On presentation, all men reported their weight and height and filled out an intake form that includes questions regarding factors that affect male infertility, including presence of erectile dysfunction. Body mass index (BMI) was divided into three groups: normal (BMI <25 kg/m(2)), overweight (25 kg/m(2) or=30 kg/m(2)). Sperm parameters reviewed included sperm concentration and progressively motile sperm count. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Oligozoospermia, low progressively motile sperm count, and self-reported erectile dysfunction. RESULT(S): The mean age of the study population was 32.8 +/- 0.3 years. Among the 526 patients, 10.2% (54 of 526) were excluded because of the presence of a male factor known to affect fertility. The incidence of oligozoospermia increased with increasing BMI: normal weight = 5.32%, overweight = 9.52%, and obese = 15.62%. The prevalence of a low progressively motile sperm count was also greater with increasing BMI: normal weight = 4.52%, overweight = 8.93%, and obese = 13.28%. The incidence of erectile dysfunction did not vary across BMI categories when corrected for potential contributing factors. CONCLUSION(S): Male obesity is associated with increased incidence of low sperm concentration and low progressively motile sperm count.

Cardiac hypertrophy caused by peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor-gamma agonist treatment occurs independently of changes in myocardial insulin signaling.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma ligands are insulin sensitizers, widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. A consistent observation in preclinical species is the development of cardiac hypertrophy after short-term treatment with these agents. The mechanisms for this hypertrophy are incompletely understood. Given the important role of insulin signaling in the regulation of myocardial size, we tested the hypothesis that augmentation of myocardial insulin signaling may play a role in PPAR-gamma ligand-induced cardiac hypertrophy. We treated mice with cardiomyocyte-restricted knockout of insulin receptors (CIRKO) and littermate controls (wild type) with 2-(2-(4-phenoxy-2-propylphenoxy) ethyl) indole-5-acetic acid (COOH), which is a non-thiazolidinedione PPAR-gamma agonist for 2 wk. Two weeks of COOH treatment increased heart weights by 22% in CIRKO mice and 16% in wild type, and induced similar fold increase in the expression of hypertrophic markers such as alpha-skeletal actin, brain natriuretic peptide, and atrial natriuretic peptide in CIRKO and wild-type (WT) hearts. COOH treatment increased plasma volume by 10% in COOH-treated WT and CIRKO mice but did not increase systolic or diastolic blood pressure. Echocardiographic analysis was also consistent with volume overload, as evidenced by increased left ventricular diastolic diameters and cardiac output in COOH-treated CIRKO and WT mice. These data indicate that cardiac hypertrophy after PPAR-gamma agonist treatment can occur in the absence of myocardial insulin signaling and is likely secondary to the hemodynamic consequences of plasma volume expansion.