Comparison of total splenic artery embolization and partial splenic embolization for hypersplenism

AIM:To evaluate whether total splenic artery embolization(TSAE) for patients with hypersplenism delivers better long-term outcomes than partial splenic embolization(PSE).METHODS:Sixty-one patients with hypersplenism eligible for TSAE(n = 27,group A) or PSE(n = 34,group B) were enrolled into the trial,which included clinical and computed tomography follow-up.Data on technical success,length of hospital stay,white blood cell(WBC) and platelet(PLT) counts,splenic volume and complications were collected at 2 wk,6 mo,and 1,2,3,4 years postoperatively.RESULTS:Both TSAE and PSE were technically successful in all patients.Complications were significantly fewer(P = 0.001),and hospital stay significantly shorter(P = 0.007),in group A than in group B.Postprocedure WBC and PLT counts in group A were significantly higher than those in group B from 6 mo to 4 years(P = 0.001),and post-procedure residual splenic volume in group A was significantly less than that observed in group B at 1,2,3 and 4 years post-procedure(P = 0.001).No significant differences were observed in red blood cell counts and liver function parameters between the two groups following the procedure.CONCLUSION:Our results indicate that TSAE for patients with hypersplenism not only delivers a better longterm outcome,but is also associated with lower complication rates and a shorter hospital stay than PSE.

Total embolization of the main splenic artery as a supplemental treatment modality for hypersplenism

AIM:To study the safety and feasibility of total embolization of the main splenic artery as a supplemental treatment modality for hypersplenism with thrombocytopenia or leukocytopenia accompanying liver cirrhosis.METHODS:Fifteen consecutive patients with hypersplenism due to cirrhosis were enrolled in this study from January 2006 to June 2010.All patients underwent total embolization of the main splenic artery.Clinical symptoms,white blood cell(WBC) and platelet(PLT) counts,splenic volume,and complications of the patients were recorded.The patients were followed up for 1 and 6 mo,and 1,2,3 years,respectively,after operation.RESULTS:Total embolization of the main splenic artery was technically successful in all patients.Minor complications occurred in 13 patients after the procedure,but no major complications were found.The WBC andPLT counts were significantly higher and the residual splenic volume was significantly lower 1 and 6 mo,and 1,2,3 years after the procedure than before the procedure(P < 0.01).Moreover,the residual splenic volume increased very slowly with the time after embolization.All patients were alive during the follow-up period.CONCLUSION:Total embolization of the main splenic artery is a safe and feasible procedure and may serve as a supplemental treatment modality for hypersplenism with thrombocytopenia or leukocytopenia accompanying liver cirrhosis.

An in situ infrared study of dimethyl carbonate synthesis from carbon dioxide and methanol over well-shaped CeO2

The mechanism of dimethyl carbonate（DMC） formation from CO2 and methanol is investigated using three well-shaped CeO2 catalysts, nanorod, nanocube and octahedron, which are packed with different crystal planes. In situ Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy（FTIR） is employed to probe each reaction step in the DMC synthesis. The number of –OH groups and the species of CO2 adsorptions on ceria surface have significant influence on the activity of ceria with different morphologies. Rod-ceria has favorable catalytic activity because of the large amount of –OH groups and the formation of bidentate carbonate species.

Novel fabrication of copper oxides on AC and its enhanced catalytic performance on oxidative carbonylation of methanol

Copper oxides（CuOx） nanoparticles dispersed on activated carbon（AC） were prepared by using vaporphase methanol as the reducing agent. The CuOx/AC as prepared exhibited an enhanced catalytic activity in oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate（DMC）. The catalytic performance was significantly influenced by reduction conditions including temperature and time. With the similar selectivity of DMC, the space time yield（STY） under optimal reduction conditions reached up to 408 mg g^-1h^-1, which is superior to conventional methods such as thermolysis and solvothermal reduction. Based on the characterization results of XRD, TEM and XPS, the good copper dispersion and high Cu^＋ content obtained by vapor-phase methanol reduction were mainly responsible for the high catalytic activity.

Highly active Pd-Fe/α-Al_(2)O_(3) catalyst with the bayberry tannin as chelating promoter for CO oxidative coupling to diethyl oxalate

A novel Pd-Fe/α-Al_(2)O_(3) catalyst was synthesized by incipient-wetness impregnation method with bayberry tannin as chelating promoter and commercial hollow column Raschig ring a-Al_(2)O_(3) as support for the synthesis of diethyl oxalate from CO and ethyl nitrite.A variety of characterization techniques including N2 physical adsorption,optical microscopy,scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive system(SEM-EDS),inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy(ICP-OES),X-ray diffraction(XRD),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),were employed to explore the relationship between the physicochemical properties and activity of catalysts.It indicated that a large number of phenolic hydroxyl groups in bayberry tannin can efficiently anchor the active component Pd,reduce the particle size and make the active Pd as a multi-ring distribution on the commercial a-Al2O3 suppo rt,which we re beneficial to improve the catalytic activity for the production of diethyl oxalate from CO and ethyl nitrite.0.3 wts Pd-Fe/α-Al_(2)O_(3) showed excelle nt catalytic activity and selectivity in a continuous flow,fixed-bed reactor with the loading amount of 10 mL catalysts,Under the mild reaction conditions,the space-time yield of diethyl oxalate was 978 g L^(-1) h^(-1) and CO conversion was 44% with the selectivity to diethyl oxalate of 95.5%.

Enhancements of dimethyl carbonate synthesis from methanol and carbon dioxide:The in situ hydrolysis of 2-cyanopyridine and crystal face effect of ceria

This paper describes the effect of the in situ hydrolysis of 2-cyanopyridine and its derivatives on the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate（DMC） from CO2 and methanol over CeO2.2-Cyanopyridine.with the highest electronic charge number of the carbon in the cyanogroup,is the most effective agent to accelerate the desired reaction by a decrease of water.CeO2（110） planes are active for the hydrolysis of 2-cyanopyridine,further enhancing the DMC formation by in situ removal of water effectively.The DMC yield is improved drastically up to 378.5 mmol g cat^-1 from 12.8 mmol g cat^-1 with the in situ hydrolysis of 2-cyanopyridine over rod-CeO2（1 1 0） catalyst.

Molecular cloning, characterization and expression of the energy homeostasis-associated gene in piglet

The energy homeostasis-associated（Enho） gene encodes a secreted protein, adropin, which regulates the expression of hepatic lipogenic genes and adipose tissue peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, a major regulator of lipogenesis. In the present study, the porcine（Sus scrofa） homologue of the Enho gene, which was named p Enho, was amplified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction（RT-PCR） using oligonucleotide primers derived from in silico sequences. The gene sequence was submitted into the Gen Bank of NCBI, and the access number is GQ414763. The p Enho encodes a protein of 76 amino acids which shows 75% similarity to Homo sapiens adropin. The expression profile of p Enho in tissues（liver, muscle, anterior jejunum, posterior jejunum, and ileum） was determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. p Enho was localized on porcine chromosome 10 and no introns were found. In conclusion, p Enho was cloned and analysed with the aim of increasing knowledge about glucose and lipid metabolism in piglets and helping to promote the health and growth of piglets through adropin regulation.

Effects of potassium promoter on the performance of PdCl_2–CuCl_2/AC catalysts for the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from CO and methyl nitrite

The effect of potassium （K） promoter on the catalytic performance of activated carbon （AC） supported Wacker-type catalysts （PdCl2-CuCl2/AC） for the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate （DMC） from CO and methyl nitrite （MN） was investigated by means of N2 adsorption, H2-temperature-programmed reduction （H2-TPR）, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）. The experimental results showed that the space time yield of DMC on Wacker-type catalysts with different K promoters ranked in the following order： KCI 〉 KOH 〉 CH3COOK 〉 K2CO3. Especially, the addition of KCI significantly improved the catalytic activities of PdCl2-CuCl2/AC catalyst for DMC synthesis from CO and MN. N2 adsorption data indicated that the addition of K promoters did not change the textural properties of Wacker-type catalysts greatly. H2-TPR and XPS results demonstrated that the existence of KCI promoted the reducibility of Cu2＋ species and increased the proportion of Cu2＋ species on catalyst surface, which is favorable for oxidizing Pd0 to active Pd2＋. Further, the addition of KCI benefited the reactivity of PdCI2- CuCl2/AC catalwt for DMC synthesis from CO and MN.