Towards Machine Learning in Heterogeneous Catalysis-A Case Study of 2,4-Dinitrotoluene Hydrogenation

Utilization of multivariate data analysis in catalysis research has extraordinary importance. The aim of the MIRA21 (MIskolc RAnking 21) model is to characterize heterogeneous catalysts with bias-free quantifiable data from 15 different variables to standardize catalyst characterization and provide an easy tool to compare, rank, and classify catalysts. The present work introduces and mathematically validates the MIRA21 model by identifying fundamentals affecting catalyst comparison and provides support for catalyst design. Literature data of 2,4-dinitrotoluene hydrogenation catalysts for toluene diamine synthesis were analyzed by using the descriptor system of MIRA21. In this study, exploratory data analysis (EDA) has been used to understand the relationships between individual variables such as catalyst performance, reaction conditions, catalyst compositions, and sustainable parameters. The results will be applicable in catalyst design, and using machine learning tools will also be possible.

Experimental and Theoretical Study of Cyclic Amine Catalysed Urethane Formation

The alcoholysis of phenyl isocyanate (PhNCO) using stoichiometric butan-1-ol (BuOH) in acetonitrile in the presence of different cyclic amine catalysts was examined using a combined kinetic and mechanistic approach. The molecular mechanism of urethane formation without and in the presence of cyclic amine catalysts was studied using the G3MP2BHandHLYP composite method in combination with the SMD implicit solvent model. It was found that the energetics of the model reaction significantly decreased in the presence of catalysts. The computed and measured thermodynamic properties were in good agreement with each other. The results prove that amine catalysts are important in urethane synthesis. Based on the previous and current results, the design of new catalysts will be possible in the near future.

Large NaCl-effect on the Decomposition Rate of Chlorate Ions in HCl-containing Brine Solutions and Its Consequences for the Chlor-alkali Industry

The decomposition rate of chlorate (NaClO3) in aqueous solutions (brines) containing initially 6:1 mol/mol HCl:NaClO3 is studied at 90°C at various NaCl contents experimentally. A strong positive effect of NaCl addition is shown on the decomposition rate of chlorate. It is found more reasonable in the chlor-alkali industry first to saturate the brine by sodium chloride and only then to eliminate from it the chlorate by adding HCl (before the solution is transferred into the electrolysis cell to be protected from the chlorate ions).

AB0248 PREVALENCE OF THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES IN THE NORMAL POPULATION AND IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND THEIR PREDICTIVE VALUE FOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATING RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is sometimes associated with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD)1. However the relation between RA autoantibodies and thyroid autoantibodies is doubtful. However, there is no reliable data on whether concomitant positivity of level of anti-TPO in rheumatoid arthritis patients alters the efficacy of RA therapy.

Objectives:

To study the presence of level of autoimmune thyroid markers (thyroid peroxidase antibodies -anti-TPO-), in clinically and serologically different forms of RA, compared to serum level of anti-TPO in control population, and to study whether anti-TPO positivity in any RA group influences the risk of high disease activity and also affects the likelihood of achieving DAS-28 remission.

Methods:

1428 patients were included in the retrospective single-center study using the database of the Arthritis Registry of Kecskemét (ARK). 772 RA patients, subclassified according to the presence of RF and anti-MCV into seropositive RA patients (positive to one or both seromarkers), and seronegative RA (negative to both seromarkers), and 656 patients were included as control group without autoimmune diseases.

Results:

Elevated level of anti-TPO was found in 199/772 (26%) RA patients, compared to controls 32% (209/656). Furthermore, the level of anti-TPO was similar in seropositive and seronegative groups (24% and 27% respectively). RA patients treated with biological therapy presented higher level of anti-TPO in 28%, similarly to RA patients without biological therapy (24%). There was no relevant difference in level of anti-TPO among the groups with different disease activity (high activity: DAS28 > 5.1; - 24%; moderate activity: DAS28 ≤5.1; > 3.2; - 25%; and in low activity DAS28 ≤ 3.2; - 28% respectively).

Conclusion:

Our present data show that the elevated level of anti-TPO is similarly in patients with serologically different forms of RA and in the control group. The presence of anti-TPO antibody does not affect the severity of RA and the results obtained with the treatment, including that anti-TPO positivity does not increase the need for biological therapy.

References:

[1]Soliman E, Ghitany K, Bondok M, et al AB0343 Thyroid Autoantibodies in Seropositive Versus Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis: Is There a Link? Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2015;74:1008.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Primary peritonitis in an adolescent boy

Primary peritonitis is very rare in healthy children without predisposing factors. In the absence of unique factors and signs, the clinical picture does not differ from secondary peritonitis. Therefore, the diagnosis is almost always an intraoperative diagnosis. Case report: We admitted a previously healthy 15-year-old boy with symptoms of acute enteritis. Within 24 hours, he developed acute abdomen and signs of septic shock. Computer tomography of the abdomen revealed air bubbles in the middle of the abdomen and near the terminal ileum. Suspecting perforation, we performed an emergency laparotomy. However, there was no perforation to be found in the background of the purulent peritonitis. We initiated empirical broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy which we later adjusted. Septic shock and complications were treated successfully. We could not find the source of the primary peritonitis. Since hospital discharge, the child has been asymptomatic. In primary peritonitis, due to the nonspecific, rapidly progressing symptoms, an emergency surgery can not be avoided. With proper antibiotics and supportive therapy, the prognosis is favourable. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(23): 977-979.

Impact of parenchymal loss on renal function after laparoscopic partial nephrectomy under warm ischemia

PURPOSE

To elucidate the impact of renal parenchymal loss and the ischemic reperfusion injury (RI) on the renal function after laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) under warm ischemia (WI).

METHODS

Thirty-five patients with a single polar renal mass ≤4 cm and normal contralateral kidney underwent LPN. Transperitoneal LPN with WI using en bloc hilar occlusion was performed. The total differential renal function (T-DRF) using ^99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid was evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively over a period of 1 year. A special region of interest (ROI) was selected on the non-tumorous pole of the involved kidney, and was compared with the same ROI in the contralateral kidney. The latter comparison was defined as partial differential renal function (P-DRF). Any postoperative decline in the P-DRF of the operated kidney was attributed to the RI. Subtraction of the P-DRF decline from the T-DRF decline was attributed to the parenchymal loss caused by the resection of the tumor and suturing of the normal parenchyma.

RESULTS

The mean WI time was 22 min, and the mean weight of resected specimen was 18 g. The mean postoperative eGFR declined to 87 ml/min/1.73 m² from its baseline mean value of 97 ml/min/1.73 m² (p value = 0.075). Mean postoperative T-DRF and P-DRF of the operated kidney declined by 7 and 3 %, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

After LPN of small renal mass, decline in renal function is primarily attributed to parenchymal loss caused by tumor resection and suturing of the normal parenchyma rather than the RI.

[New methods in the treatment of localized prostate cancer: use of dynamic arc therapy and kV cone-beam CT positioning]

INTRODUCTION

Prostate cancer is a common disease among elderly male patients in developed countries. In addition to prostatectomy, definitive irradiation plays an increasing role in the treatment of localized disease.

AIM

The authors wanted to share their experience obtained with the use of the Novalis TX linear accelerator for the application of dose-escalation, dynamic, intensity modulated arc therapy with the routine usage of cone-beam computer tomography based or image guided radiotherapy in patients with prostate cancer.

METHOD

Between 2011, December and 2013, February the authors performed 102 treatments. In 10 low risk and 10 high risk prostate cancer patients (median age: 72.5 years) three-dimensional conformal plans with the same target volume coverage were created and tolerance doses of organs at risk (OAR) were compared.

RESULTS

Compared to three-dimensional conformal techniques, intensity modulated arc therapy treatments produced a significantly lower dose at organ at risk that led to a more favorable early toxicity rate.

CONCLUSIONS

The intensity modulated arc therapy with image guided radiotherapy proved to be a safe standard treatment mode in the daily routine in the institute of the authors. Late toxicity and local control rates need to be further examined.

High-tone electric muscles stimulation of thigh augments the impaired penile blood flow of diabetic patients without improving symptoms of erectile dysfunction

OBJECTIVE

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a major complication in diabetes mellitus. A novel method, high-tone external muscle stimulation (HTEMS), has been proven to be useful in the therapy of diabetic and uremic peripheral polyneuropathy. The aim of this study was to test the potential effect of HTEMS on ED in diabetic patients.

DESIGN

An open-label, self-controlled interventional prospective study was conducted at the 2nd Department of Internal Medicine and N.C. University of Pécs, Hungary. Six Type 2 diabetic patients (mean age 59 ± 7 years) with severe ED (International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score: 7.7 ± 8.5) and impaired renal function (eGFR: 61 ± 16 ml/min) were involved.

INTERVENTION

The thigh muscles of the patients were treated with HTEMS for 1 h 3 times per week for a duration of 4 weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Penile peak systolic velocity (PSV) (in the flaccid state and semi-rigid (after 10 mg intracavernous papaverine injection)), IIEF score, quality of life and laboratory parameters. At the beginning also the acute effect of HTEMS on penile PSV was investigated.

RESULTS

Under basal conditions penile PSV was rather low. The first HTEMS session of the thighs induced an insignificant increase of PSV in the flaccid state (4.1 ± 1.2 to 6.3 ± 3.3 cm/s) and a significant rise of PSV in the semi-rigid penis (from 6.5 ± 2.5 to 8.9 ± 2.2 cm/s (p = 0.009)). After 4 weeks of HTEMS treatment, under basal conditions no significant change of penile PSV (flaccid and semirigid) was observed. Similarly, IIEF score did not improve over the time period (7.7 ± 8.1 vs. 6.7 ± 8.5, p > 0.05). Also, metabolic parameters and eGFR were not influenced.

CONCLUSION

In a pilot study of diabetic patients with severe ED HTEMS of the thighs induced an acute rise of penile PSV in the semi-rigid state. However, after 4 weeks of HTEMS therapy the basal PSV and symptoms of ED were not improved.

Evaluation of the LIM homeobox genes LHX6 and LHX8 as candidates for Tourette syndrome

The etiology and pathophysiology of Tourette Syndrome (TS) remain poorly understood. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that a complex genetic background and the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuit are involved. The role of Lhx6 and Lhx8 in the development of the striatal interneurons, prompted us to investigate them as novel candidate genes for TS. We performed a comparative study of the expression of Lhx6 and Lhx8 and investigated genetic association with TS using two samples of trios (TSGeneSEE and German sample - 222 families). We show that Lhx6 and Lhx8 expression in the forebrain is evolutionarily conserved, underlining their possible importance in TS-related pathophysiological pathways. Our tagging-single nucleotide polymorphism (tSNP)-based association analysis was negative for association with LHX8. However, we found positive association with LHX6 in the TSGeneSEE sample (corrected P-value = 0.006 for three-site haplotype around SNP rs3808901) but no association in the sample of German families. Interestingly, the SNP allele that was identified to be significantly associated in the TSGeneSEE dataset, showed an opposite trend of transmission in the German dataset. Our analysis of the correlation of the LHX6 region with individual ancestry within Europe, revealed the fact that this particular SNP demonstrates a high degree of population differentiation and is correlated with the North to South axis of European genetic variation. Our results indicate that further study of the LHX6 gene in relation to the TS phenotype is warranted and suggest the intriguing hypothesis that different genetic factors may contribute to the etiology of TS in different populations, even within Europe.

[From the surgical field to the microscope. A new tool to identify the lymph node specimens in oncologic surgery]

Oncologic surgery and pTNM staging require systemic removal of the locoregional lymphnodes. While the optimal extent and therapeutical and/or prognostic value of the lymphadenectomy/sampling are debated organ by organ and (sub)speciality by (sub)speciality, relevance of the lymphnode sytem-tumor concept itself is beyond doubt. Loss of information and existence of traps on the "surgical field-microscope" pathway is an international phenomenon, calling for solution. An integrated sterile and disposable lymphnode tray system is presented here for applications in the different fields of cancer surgery of the upper GI tract, retroperitoneum (gynecology, urology) and ear-nose-throat surgery.

Depletion of CD4+CD25+CD127lo regulatory T cells does not increase allergen-driven T cell activation

BACKGROUND

It has been suggested that allergic diseases are caused by defective suppression of allergen-specific Th2 cells by CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells. However, such studies have been hampered by the difficulty in distinguishing regulatory T cells from CD25-expressing activated T cells. Recently, it was shown that conventional T cells expressed high levels of CD127, whereas regulatory T cells were CD127(lo), allowing discrimination between these distinct T cell subpopulations.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to study whether the putative regulatory subset defined as CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(lo) was involved in grass pollen-reactive T cell responses.

METHODS

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from allergic donors and non-atopic controls out of season. Grass pollen-induced cytokine production and proliferation were compared in cultures of undepleted cells and cells depleted of CD4(+)CD25(+), CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(hi) or CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(lo) T cells.

RESULTS

Undepleted cell cultures from allergic patients showed significantly increased proliferation and Th2 cytokine production compared with non-atopic controls. Depletion of all CD25(+) T cells did not increase cytokine production or proliferation, and more importantly, no increase in Th2 cytokine production or proliferation was observed in cell cultures depleted of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(lo) cells (putative regulatory T cells) compared with undepleted PBMCs in both the allergic and the non-atopic group.

CONCLUSION

Our study showed that T cells from grass pollen-allergic patients and non-atopic controls responded very differently to grass pollen extract, but this difference could not be explained by differences in regulatory T cell function. Further studies are needed to understand the importance of regulatory T cells in allergy.

Muramyldipeptide modulates CXCL-8 release of BEAS-2B cells via NOD2

Chronic inflammation and acute exacerbations are pathophysiological features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). An impaired immune response to bacterial pathogens can contribute to both of them. Nucleotide oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) is an intracellular receptor of innate immunity for muramyldipeptide (MDP). Mutations of the NOD2 gene followed by decreased recognition of MDP are associated with chronic intestinal inflammation and pulmonary complications of patients with allogenic stem cell transplant and sepsis. Our study provides evidence that NOD2, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and the adapter protein receptor-interacting protein 2 (RIP2) are induced by tumor-necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. We also demonstrate that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can further increase NOD2 transcription in a TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma-induced activation state. In addition, we show that, while MDP fails to enhance CXCL-8 release from otherwise unstimulated BEAS-2B cells, a 12 h prestimulation period with TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma primes the cells for an additional increase of CXCL-8 secretion via induction of NOD2 and RIP2. LPS itself significantly augments CXCL-8 production and co-administration of MDP further increases cytokine secretion. Finally, overexpression of an SNP13 mutant decreased MDP-induced chemokine production in BEAS-2B cells compared with NOD2 wild type overexpression. Taken together, our work indicates that MDP and NOD2 play an important role for CXCL-8 release of BEAS-2B cells following LPS-challenge via synergistic interactions between MDP and LPS.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells induce a distinct cytokine pattern in virus-specific CD4+ memory T cells that is modulated by CpG oligodeoxynucleotides

Inherent properties of dendritic cell (DC) subsets are important in the regulation of naïve T-cell differentiation (e.g. Th1 versus Th2 cells), whereas effector memory T cells are believed to produce a fixed cytokine repertoire independent of the type of antigen presenting cell. Here we show that two distinct human DC subsets, plasmacytoid DC (PDC) and myeloid CD11c+ DC, induced autologous mumps virus-specific memory CD4(+) T cells to produce markedly different cytokine patterns upon antigen stimulation. PDC stimulated the T cells to produce gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-(IL)-10, whereas CD11c+ DC induced lower levels of IFN-gamma, virtually no IL-10, but significant levels of IL-5. Analysis of intracellular cytokine production showed simultaneous production of IL-10 and IFN-gamma in mumps-specific T cells activated by PDC, a cytokine pattern similar to that described for Th1-like regulatory cells. Introduction of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides in PDC/T-cell co-cultures had synergistic effect on virus-dependent IFN-gamma production, whereas the other cytokines remained unchanged. Together, our results show that the type of DC involved in reactivation of previously primed T cells may have significant impact on the resulting cytokine response and suggest that targeting of viral antigens and adjuvant to specific DC subsets should be considered in the design of therapeutic antiviral vaccines.

Association between carcinosarcoma and the transplanted kidney

BACKGROUND

Renal carcinosarcoma is a rare tumor with 12 reported cases in the world literature. To our knowledge, carcinosarcoma of a renal allograft has not been reported to date.

CASE REPORT

A multifocal urothelial carcinosarcoma of a transplanted kidney in a 49-year-old woman is described. Genomic analysis of the extracted nuclei of all the neoplastic cells showed uniformly XY genotype proving the transplant origin of the tumor.

RESULTS

The carcinogenic role of immunosuppressive medications in kidney-transplanted patients is reported in the literature. In this case, immunosuppression may have promoted the carcinosarcoma.

CONCLUSION

Renal transplant patients should be monitored for the development of malignancy in the allograft and elsewhere.

Structural Evidence for Non-canonical Binding of Ca2+ to a Canonical EF-hand of a Conventional Myosin

We have previously identified a single inhibitory Ca2+-binding site in the first EF-hand of the essential light chain of Physarum conventional myosin (Farkas, L., Malnasi-Csizmadia, A., Nakamura, A., Kohama, K., and Nyitray, L. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 27399-27405). As a general rule, conformation of the EF-hand-containing domains in the calmodulin family is "closed" in the absence and "open" in the presence of bound cations; a notable exception is the unusual Ca2+-bound closed domain in the essential light chain of the Ca2+-activated scallop muscle myosin. Here we have reported the 1.8 A resolution structure of the regulatory domain (RD) of Physarum myosin II in which Ca2+ is bound to a canonical EF-hand that is also in a closed state. The 12th position of the EF-hand loop, which normally provides a bidentate ligand for Ca2+ in the open state, is too far in the structure to participate in coordination of the ion. The structure includes a second Ca2+ that only mediates crystal contacts. To reveal the mechanism behind the regulatory effect of Ca2+, we compared conformational flexibilities of the liganded and unliganded RD. Our working hypothesis, i.e. the modulatory effect of Ca2+ on conformational flexibility of RD, is in line with the observed suppression of hydrogen-deuterium exchange rate in the Ca2+-bound form, as well as with results of molecular dynamics calculations. Based on this evidence, we concluded that Ca2+-induced change in structural dynamics of RD is a major factor in Ca2+-mediated regulation of Physarum myosin II activity.

Omeprazole and talampanel as two examples of retrometabolic drug design

The goal of retrometabolic drug design is: "to design safe, locally active compounds with an improved therapeutic index". Here we describe two cases from our own practice, talampanel and omeprazole.

Visualization of an unstable coiled coil from the scallop myosin rod

Alpha-helical coiled coils in muscle exemplify simplicity and economy of protein design: small variations in sequence lead to remarkable diversity in cellular functions. Myosin II is the key protein in muscle contraction, and the molecule's two-chain alpha-helical coiled-coil rod region--towards the carboxy terminus of the heavy chain--has unusual structural and dynamic features. The amino-terminal subfragment-2 (S2) domains of the rods can swing out from the thick filament backbone at a hinge in the coiled coil, allowing the two myosin 'heads' and their motor domains to interact with actin and generate tension. Most of the S2 rod appears to be a flexible coiled coil, but studies suggest that the structure at the N-terminal region is unstable, and unwinding or bending of the alpha-helices near the head-rod junction seems necessary for many of myosin's functional properties. Here we show the physical basis of a particularly weak coiled-coil segment by determining the 2.5-A-resolution crystal structure of a leucine-zipper-stabilized fragment of the scallop striated-muscle myosin rod adjacent to the head-rod junction. The N-terminal 14 residues are poorly ordered; the rest of the S2 segment forms a flexible coiled coil with poorly packed core residues. The unusual absence of interhelical salt bridges here exposes apolar core atoms to solvent.

Differences in LPS-induced activation of bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and type II-like pneumocytes (A-549)

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a major component of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria stimulates various cells to initiate a signalling cascade which ultimately leads to cell activation and expression of immunoregulatory or inflammatory cytokines. The human respiratory epithelium is an important environmental interface, but differences in LPS-induced cell activation between bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells have not yet been investigated in detail. First, the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), as pattern-recognition receptors, was investigated for the bronchial epithelial cells and type II-like pneumocytes, demonstrating that they fulfil the prerequisites for LPS signalling. Thereafter, the effects of LPS, soluble CD14 (sCD14) and LPS-binding protein (LBP) on the release of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 were studied. In the presence of LPS, sCD14 induced a significant and concentration-dependent cytokine release in type II-like pneumocytes, whereas the response of bronchial epithelial cells to sCD14 stimulation was low, implicating sCD14-independent activation mechanisms. Furthermore, LBP revealed inhibitory effects on the activation of alveolar epithelial cells, which may represent a novel local defence mechanism during gram-negative infection. We conclude that distinct pathways exist for LPS-induced activation of bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells.