Selective preparation of monobenzyl glyceryl ethers by the condensation reaction of glycerol with benzyl alcohols in the presence of zeolite catalysts.

The selective preparation of monobenzyl glyceryl ethers, which are potential commodity chemicals with special functions, was explored to find new applications for glycerol. Among the acid catalysts investigated (sulfuric acid, heteropoly acid, Nafion(R), and zeolite), Zeolite Socony Mobil-5 (ZSM-5) afforded better results. The reaction of equimolar amounts of glycerol and benzyl alcohol at 150ºC for 7 h in the presence of 2 wt% ZSM-5 selectively afforded 3-(benzyloxy)propane-1,2-diol with a very small amount of the corresponding 2-benzyloxy isomer in 86% gas chromatography yield.

Health-related quality of life among community-dwelling patients with intractable neurological diseases and their caregivers in Japan.

Aims: The aims of this study were: (i) to clarify the general quality of life (QOL) of patients with intractable neurological disease; (ii) to clarify the general QOL of the caregivers of these patients; and (iii) to explore the association of QOL in patient-caregiver pairs.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between November 2003 and May 2004 among community-dwelling patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD), spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their caregivers using a mailed, self-administered questionnaire. To measure QOL, we used the Medical Outcome Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36) for patients and the short form of the health-related QOL scale SF-36 (SF-8) for caregivers.

Care burden and depression in caregivers caring for patients with intractable neurological diseases at home in Japan.

Objectives: The aims of this study are to describe the care burden on caregivers of individuals with intractable neurological diseases and to clarify the prevalence of depression in caregivers and factors related to the presence of depression.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among caregivers who provide home care to patients with neurological diseases such as Parkinson disease (PD), spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), using a mailed, self-administered questionnaire. We used the Burden Index of Caregivers to measure multi-dimensional care burden and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale to determine the presence of depression among caregivers.