Nb-Based Catalysts for the Valorization of Furfural into Valuable Product through in One-Pot Reaction.

Nb-based catalysts supported on porous silica with different textural properties have been synthesized, characterized, and tested in the one-pot reaction of furfural to obtain valuable chemicals. The catalytic results reveal that the presence of fluoride in the synthesis, which limits the growing of the porous silica, limits diffusional problems of the porous silica, obtaining higher conversion values at shorter reaction times. On the other hand, the incorporation of NbO species in the porous silica provides Lewis acid sites and a small proportion of Brönsted acid sites, in such a way that the main products are alkyl furfuryl ethers, which can be used as fuel additives.

The Role of Copper in the Hydrogenation of Furfural and Levulinic Acid.

Currently, there is a great interest in the development of sustainable and green technologies for production of biofuels and chemicals. In this sense, much attention is being paid to lignocellulosic biomass as feedstock, as alternative to fossil-based resources, inasmuch as its fractions can be transformed into value-added chemicals. Two important platform molecules derived from lignocellulosic sugars are furfural and levulinic acid, which can be transformed into a large spectrum of chemicals, by hydrogenation, oxidation, or condensation, with applications as solvents, agrochemicals, fragrances, pharmaceuticals, among others.

Porous SiO Nanospheres Modified with ZrO and Their Use in One-Pot Catalytic Processes to Obtain Value-Added Chemicals from Furfural.

Porous SiO nanospheres were modified with different loadings of ZrO to obtain catalysts with a Si/Zr molar ratio from 2.5 to 30. These materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopies, N adsorption-desorption at -196 °C, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and pyridine and 2-6-dimethylpyridine thermoprogrammed desorption.

Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Parkinson's Disease: A Cross-Sectional Survey of 568 Spanish Patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to know the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on Spanish patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: This is a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study. An anonymous online survey with 95 questions was distributed among patients.

The impact of freezing of gait on functional dependency in Parkinson's disease with regard to motor phenotype.

Background And Objective: Freezing of gait (FOG) is a disabling symptom more frequent in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with postural instability gait difficulty (PIGD) phenotype. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of self-reported FOG in a large group of PD patients as well as assess its relationship with functional dependency with regard to motor phenotype.

Methods: The data correspond to the baseline evaluation of the COPPADIS-2015 study.

High ultrasensitive serum C-reactive protein may be related to freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease patients.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a biomarker of systemic inflammation that has been linked to accelerated decline in walking speed in older adults. The aim of the present study was to compare the CRP levels of PD patients with vs patients without freezing of gait (FOG). Patients and controls participating in the COPPADIS-2015 study that performed blood extraction for determining molecular serum biomarkers were included.

Lignin Depolymerization to BTXs.

Lignin, one of the main components of lignocellulosic biomass, is the largest renewable source of aromatics on the planet and presents an extraordinary opportunity for being used in the production of bio-based products. It can be transformed for the substitution of aromatic chemical-derived petrol as BTXs. The wide range of applications that it can be obtained from BTXs building blocks makes the selective depolymerization of lignin a great scientific challenge.

Quality of Pulmonary Function Tests in Participants with Down Syndrome.

Introduction: People with Down syndrome (DS) have high respiratory morbidity, evaluating their respiratory health with standardized, objective tests is desirable. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the technical quality of Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) to determine which ones are most suitable for this population.

Methods: Participants included children, teenagers and adults with DS, 5 years of age or older (n=302).

Influence of Structure-modifying Agents in the Synthesis of Zr-doped SBA-15 Silica and Their Use as Catalysts in the Furfural Hydrogenation to Obtain High Value-added Products through the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley Reduction.

Zr-doped mesoporous silicas with different textural parameters have been synthesized in the presence of structure-modifying agents, and then characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N₂ adsorption-desorption at -196 °C, NH₃ thermoprogrammed desorption (NH₃⁻TPD), CO₂ thermoprogrammed desorption (CO₂⁻TPD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These porous materials were evaluated in the furfural hydrogenation through the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley (MPV) reaction. The catalytic results indicate that the catalyst synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and adding a pore expander agent is more active and selective to furfuryl alcohol.

Diffusing Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide in Mexican/Latino Children. Quality Control and Reference Values.

Rationale: Single-breath diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (Dl) values are used to evaluate gas exchange; however, the quality of maneuvers performed by children has not been evaluated, and reference values for young people living at moderate altitudes are not well established.

Objectives: Our objectives were 1) to determine whether Dl maneuvers performed by a pediatric population would meet 2017 European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society (ERS/ATS) quality control standards; and 2) to report normal Dl values for Mexican/Latino children and adolescents living at moderate altitudes.

Methods: This study involved healthy young people 4-20 years of age from the metropolitan area of Mexico City (2,240 m above sea level) who were recruited in schools from July 2014 to August 2017.

Porous Silicon-Based Catalysts for the Dehydration of Glycerol to High Value-Added Products.

Increasing worldwide biodiesel production has led to the generation of an important glycerol surplus, which needs to be valorized in order to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of the biodiesel industry. In this context, glycerol dehydration to acrolein by acid catalysis appears to be a potential route of glycerol valorization, since acrolein is an important intermediate for many chemical industries. The main drawback of this catalytic process is catalyst deactivation.

Longitudinal Evaluation of Lung Function in Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated With Concurrent Chemoradiation Therapy.

Purpose: In lung cancer patients, radiation therapy modifies lung architecture, resulting in functional deterioration, which worsens symptoms and reduces quality of life.

Methods And Materials: A multicenter, prospective, longitudinal study was conducted in a cohort of patients with locally advanced and oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer treated with concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). A wide array of pulmonary function tests (forced spirometry, body plethysmography, impulse oscillometry, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, arterial blood gases, and 6-minute walk test) were used to evaluate lung function at baseline; after radiation therapy; and at 6, 12, 24, and 48 weeks after CCRT.

Abnormal pulmonary function tests predict the development of radiation-induced pneumonitis in advanced non-small cell lung Cancer.

Background: Radiation pneumonitis (RP) is a frequent complication of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and is associated with severe symptoms that decrease quality of life and might result in pulmonary fibrosis or death. The aim of this study is to identify whether pulmonary function test (PFT) abnormalities may predict RP in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Methods: A prospective multi-institutional study was conducted with locally advanced and oligometastatic NSCLC patients.

Synthesis, Characterization, Uses and Applications of Porous Clays Heterostructures: A Review.

Porous clay heterostructures (PCH) are obtained by the insertion of an organic bulky cation in the interlayer spacing of a smectite, causing a swelling of the clay mineral. Right after, oxides species, mainly silicon oxide, are incorporated as pillars galleries between adjacent layers to form a porous structure after the removal of the template. The ordering of the clay mineral as well the organic cation incorporated in the synthetic step favors the modulation of the textural properties of the PCH.

Th-17 cytokines are associated with severity of Trypanosoma cruzi chronic infection in pediatric patients from endemic areas of Mexico.

In Chagas disease the clinical, acute and chronic manifestations are the result of the interaction between the parasite and the host factors. The balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory immune responses is essential for the increase or resolution of the manifestations in individuals infected with T. cruzi.

Validating Reference Equations for Impulse Oscillometry in Healthy Mexican Children.

Background: The impulse oscillometry system (IOS) measures the impedance (Z) of the respiratory system, but proper interpretation of its results requires adequate reference values. The objectives of this work were: (1) to validate the reference equations for the IOS published previously by our group and (2) to compare the adjustment of new available reference equations for the IOS from different countries in a sample of healthy children.

Methods: Subjects were healthy 4-15-y-old children from the metropolitan area of Mexico City, who performed an IOS test.

[Inpatients days in patients with respiratory diseases and periodontal disease].

Introduction: Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory gingival process that has been associated with the severity of respiratory diseases. In Mexico a prevalence of 78% was found in population with social security and > 60 years old. The aim of this study is to establish the association between periodontal disease and respiratory diseases according to the inpatient days.

Diabetes is Associated with Severe Adverse Events in Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM), a very common disease in Mexico, is a well-known risk factor for tuberculosis (TB). However, it is not known by which extent DM predisposes to adverse events (AE) to anti-TB drugs and/or to worse outcomes in patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB). The main objective of this study was to describe the outcomes of TB treatment, the impact of DM and the prevalence of AE in a cohort of patients with MDR-/XDR pulmonary TB treated at the national TB referral centre in Mexico City.

Comparison of bacteriological conversion and treatment outcomes among MDR-TB patients with and without diabetes in Mexico: Preliminary data.

Unlabelled: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a well-known risk factor for tuberculosis (TB). However, it is not known to what extent DM affects the outcome in patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) treated with second-line anti-TB drugs. The objective of this study was to compare the microbiological evolution (sputum smear and culture conversion) and final outcomes of MDR/XDR-TB patients with and without DM, managed at the national TB reference centre in Mexico City.

Effect of Passive Smoking on the Growth of Pulmonary Function and Respiratory Symptoms in Schoolchildren.

Background: Environmental tobacco smoke affects the current and future health of children.

Objective: To determine whether schoolchildren aged 8-17 years old residing at an altitude of 2,240 m and exposed to tobacco smoke at home presented a reduction in the growth of pulmonary function and a greater problem of respiratory symptoms and infections compared with non-exposed children.

Materials And Methods: We followed, with questionnaires and spirometry, 1,632 boys and 1,555 girls from Mexico City and its metropolitan area (the Metropolitan Study to Evaluate the Chronic Effects of Pollution in School-age Children [EMPECE]) every six months for six years.

Effects of movement imitation training in Parkinson's disease: A virtual reality pilot study.

Background: Hypometria is a clinical motor sign in Parkinson's disease. Its origin likely emerges from basal ganglia dysfunction, leading to an impaired control of inhibitory intracortical motor circuits. Some neurorehabilitation approaches include movement imitation training; besides the effects of motor practice, there might be a benefit due to observation and imitation of un-altered movement patterns.

[Prevalence of severe periodontal disease and its association with respiratory disease in hospitalized adult patients in a tertiary care center].

Background: Severe periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory gingival process associated with systemic diseases.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of severe periodontal disease and its association with respiratory diseases among hospitalized patients at the Institute of Respiratory Diseases "Ismael Cosio Villegas" (INER) in 2011.

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional study was developed.

Socioeconomic Status and Longitudinal Lung Function of Healthy Mexican Children.

Introduction: Our aim was to estimate the longitudinal effect of Socioeconomic status (SES) on lung function growth of Mexican children and adolescents.

Materials And Methods: A cohort of Mexican children in third grade of primary school was followed with spirometry twice a year for 6 years through secondary school. Multilevel mixed-effects lineal models were fitted for the spirometric variables of 2,641 respiratory-healthy Mexican children.

Spatiotemporal Gait Patterns During Overt and Covert Evaluation in Patients With Parkinson´s Disease and Healthy Subjects: Is There a Hawthorne Effect?

Parkinson's disease (PD) and aging lead to gait impairments. Some of the disturbances of gait are focused on step length, cadence, and temporal variability of gait cycle. Under experimental conditions gait can be overtly evaluated, but patients with PD are prone to expectancy effects; thus it seems relevant to determine if such evaluation truly reflects the spontaneous gait pattern in such patients, and also in healthy subjects.

Efficient screening for COPD using three steps: a cross-sectional study in Mexico City.

Background: Underdiagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in primary care can be improved by a more efficient screening strategy.

Aims: To evaluate a three-step method of screening for COPD consisting of an initial short questionnaire followed by measurement of forced expiratory volume in 1s/forced expiratory volume in 6s (FEV1/FEV6) using an inexpensive pocket spirometer in those with high risk, and diagnostic quality spirometry in those with a low FEV1/FEV6.

Methods: We analysed two related Mexico City cross-sectional samples.