A rare case of bifocal, extramedullary and hyposecretory relapse of multiple myeloma.

We present a rare extramedullary, bifocal, and hyposecretory manifestation of relapsed MM that could be mistaken for an infection. We stress the importance of complex evaluation including serum, urine, and bone marrow assessment and whole-body imaging.

Inverse Oxide/Metal Catalysts in Fundamental Studies and Practical Applications: A Perspective of Recent Developments.

Inverse oxide/metal catalysts have shown to be excellent systems for studying the role of the oxide and oxide-metal interface in catalytic reactions. These systems can have special structural and catalytic properties due to strong oxide-metal interactions difficult to attain when depositing a metal on a regular oxide support. Oxide phases that are not seen or are metastable in a bulk oxide can become stable in an oxide/metal system opening the possibility for new chemical properties.

Prospective comparison of conventional radiography, low-dose computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in monoclonal gammopathies.

Aims: We carried out a prospective study in order to identify the best imaging approach for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).

Methods: We assessed the extent of myeloma bone disease (MBD) in 112 individuals - 84 patients with MM and 28 individuals with MGUS. For the detection of osteolytic involvement we used whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI), low-dose computed tomography (LD-CT) and conventional radiography (CR).

Prospective study of signalling pathways in myeloma bone disease with regard to activity of the disease, extent of skeletal involvement and correlation to bone turnover markers.

Aims: The aim of our study was to address the utility of serum levels of selected parameters of myeloma bone disease (MBD) signalling with regard to the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM), activity, markers of bone turnover and extent of skeletal changes.

Patients And Methods: We assessed prospectively 77 individuals with monoclonal gammopathies - 46 patients with active MM (AMM), 12 patients with smouldering MM (SMM) and 19 individuals with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) to determine the role of HGF, MIP-1α, Syndecan-1, osteoprotegerin, Activin A, DKK1, Annexin A2 and NF-κB.

Results: We found significant differences of most of the parameters between MGUS and AMM, and with respect to the activity of MM assessed by International Staging System.

Catalysis. Highly active copper-ceria and copper-ceria-titania catalysts for methanol synthesis from CO₂.

The transformation of CO2 into alcohols or other hydrocarbon compounds is challenging because of the difficulties associated with the chemical activation of CO2 by heterogeneous catalysts. Pure metals and bimetallic systems used for this task usually have low catalytic activity. Here we present experimental and theoretical evidence for a completely different type of site for CO2 activation: a copper-ceria interface that is highly efficient for the synthesis of methanol.

Structure and special chemical reactivity of interface-stabilized cerium oxide nanolayers on TiO2(110).

Novel interface-stabilized ceria nanophases have been grown on TiO2(110) by physical vapor deposition. At low coverage, dumbbell nanostructures constituted by reconstructed titania and ceria clusters are formed, while long range ordered nanoxides can be obtained by increasing the ceria dose. Scanning tunneling microscopy and photoemission spectroscopy were used to characterize the electronic properties of the films, showing that the TiO2 substrate can effectively stabilize ceria in reduced form over a wide range of experimental conditions.

The activation of gold and the water-gas shift reaction: insights from studies with model catalysts.

The activation of gold in catalytic reactions has been the subject of intensive research that has led to the transformation of one of the least chemically reactive elements to a catalyst with excellent activity and selectivity. Scientists have performed numerous systematic experimental and theoretical studies using model systems, which have explained the role of Au in chemical reactions with progressively increasing degrees of structural and chemical complexity. We present an overview of recent studies of model Au(111), CeOx/Au(111), and Au/CeOx/TiO2(110) surfaces that use Au in different structural configurations specifically for the water-gas shift reaction (WGS, CO + H2O → CO2 + H2), an important industrial process for the purification of CO.

Adsorption of hydrogen on the surface and sub-surface of Cu(111).

The interaction of atomic hydrogen with the Cu(111) surface was studied by a combined experimental-theoretical approach, using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, temperature programmed desorption, and density functional theory (DFT). Adsorption of atomic hydrogen at 160 K is characterized by an anti-absorption mode at 754 cm(-1) and a broadband absorption in the IRRA spectra, related to adsorption of hydrogen on three-fold hollow surface sites and sub-surface sites, and the appearance of a sharp vibrational band at 1151 cm(-1) at high coverage, which is also associated with hydrogen adsorption on the surface. Annealing the hydrogen covered surface up to 200 K results in the disappearance of this vibrational band.

Comparison of the results and complications of palmar and dorsal miniinvasive approaches in the surgery of scaphoid fractures. A prospective randomized study.

Aims: To compare the functional results and complications associated with palmar percutaneous and dorsal limited approaches in the surgical treatment of nondisplaced or minimally displaced scaphoid fractures type B2.

Methods: A total of 76 patients with acute nondisplaced or minimally displaced type B2 scaphoid fractures were included in a prospective randomised study. The assignment patients to groups according to type of operative approach was based on systematic sampling.

A new type of strong metal-support interaction and the production of H2 through the transformation of water on Pt/CeO2(111) and Pt/CeO(x)/TiO2(110) catalysts.

The electronic properties of Pt nanoparticles deposited on CeO(2)(111) and CeO(x)/TiO(2)(110) model catalysts have been examined using valence photoemission experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The valence photoemission and DFT results point to a new type of "strong metal-support interaction" that produces large electronic perturbations for small Pt particles in contact with ceria and significantly enhances the ability of the admetal to dissociate the O-H bonds in water. When going from Pt(111) to Pt(8)/CeO(2)(111), the dissociation of water becomes a very exothermic process.

Nanopattering in CeOx/Cu(111): A New Type of Surface Reconstruction and Enhancement of Catalytic Activity.

Our results indicate that small amounts of an oxide deposited on a stable metal surface can trigger a massive surface reconstruction under reaction conditions. In low-energy electron microscopy (LEEM) experiments, no reconstruction of Cu(111) is observed after chemisorbing oxygen or after reducing O/Cu(111) in a CO atmosphere. On the other hand, LEEM images taken in situ during the reduction of CeO2/CuO1-x/Cu(111) show a complex nonuniform transformation of the surface morphology.

Identification of 5-7 defects in a copper oxide surface.

A topological defect in a Cu(2)O surface oxide grown on Cu(111) has been identified. Using scanning tunneling microscopy, we observed the formation of pentagonal and heptagonal rings within the Cu(2)O surface oxide. These structures break the symmetry of the hexagonal oxide surface and are a consequence of the presence of oxygen vacancies in the Cu(2)O surface.

CO oxidation on inverse CeO(x)/Cu(111) catalysts: high catalytic activity and ceria-promoted dissociation of O2.

A Cu(111) surface displays a low activity for the oxidation of carbon monoxide (2CO + O(2) → 2CO(2)). Depending on the temperature, background pressure of O(2), and the exposure time, one can get chemisorbed O on Cu(111) or a layer of Cu(2)O that may be deficient in oxygen. The addition of ceria nanoparticles (NPs) to Cu(111) substantially enhances interactions with the O(2) molecule and facilitates the oxidation of the copper substrate.

Unusual manifestation of multiple myeloma: focal affection of central nervous system in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Introduction: Involvement of the central nervous system as the first manifestation of multiple myeloma is very rare.

Aim: To present an unusual case of the primomanifestation of a multiple myeloma in the form of a focal affection of the central nervous system in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Methods And Results: A female patient diagnosed with chronic B-lymphocytic leukaemia with gradually increasing right-sided cerebellar symptomatology.

Gold, copper, and platinum nanoparticles dispersed on CeO(x)/TiO(2)(110) surfaces: high water-gas shift activity and the nature of the mixed-metal oxide at the nanometer level.

At small coverages of ceria on TiO(2)(110), the CeO(x) nanoparticles have an unusual coordination mode. Scanning tunneling microscopy and density-functional calculations point to the presence of Ce(2)O(3) dimers, which form diagonal arrays that have specific orientations of 0, 24, and 42 degrees with respect to the [1 -1 0] direction of the titania substrate. At high coverages of ceria on TiO(2)(110), the surface exhibits two types of terraces.

Is the dorsal percutaneous approach well-founded for osteosynthesis of scaphoid fractures?

Aims: To compare complications associated with dorsal percutaneous and limited dorsal approaches in the surgical treatment of fractured scaphoid bone.

Methods: A total of 51 patients with acute type A2, B2 and B3 scaphoid fractures were treated by limited dorsal approach. During follow-up examinations we analysed the functional outcome and per- and post-operative complications, and we compared them with studies using the dorsal percutaneous approach.

Destruction of SO2 on Au and Cu nanoparticles dispersed on MgO(100) and CeO2(111).

When going from periodic surfaces to isolated clusters or nanoparticles, there is a big increase in the reactivity of Au and Cu toward SO(2). Density functional calculations indicate that the enhancement in the SO(2) adsorption energy is due to the presence of corner sites (i.e.

High catalytic activity of Au/CeOx/TiO2(110) controlled by the nature of the mixed-metal oxide at the nanometer level.

Mixed-metal oxides play a very important role in many areas of chemistry, physics, materials science, and geochemistry. Recently, there has been a strong interest in understanding phenomena associated with the deposition of oxide nanoparticles on the surface of a second (host) oxide. Here, scanning tunneling microscopy, photoemission, and density-functional calculations are used to study the behavior of ceria nanoparticles deposited on a TiO(2)(110) surface.

Scanning tunneling microscopy study of titanium oxide nanocrystals prepared on Au(111) by reactive-layer-assisted deposition.

We report on an scanning tunneling microscopy study of the nanocrystallite phases of TiO(2) formed via reactive-layer-assisted deposition in ultrahigh vacuum. The synthesis used reaction of a thin layer of water, on a Au(111) substrate at 130 K, with low-coverage vapor-deposited Ti. The effects of annealing temperature and reactant coverage were investigated.

Adsorbate-driven morphological changes of a gold surface at low temperatures.

Using STM, infrared absorption reflection spectroscopy experiments and density functional calculations we show that low temperature adsorption of CO on gold surfaces modified by vacancy islands leads to morphological changes and the formation of nanosized Au particles. These results demonstrate a dynamic response of a surface during adsorption with consequences for the surface reactivity.

Characterization of molybdenum carbide nanoparticles formed on Au(111) using reactive-layer assisted deposition.

Temperature programmed desorption (TPD), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) have been used to characterize molybdenum carbide nanoparticles prepared on a Au(111) substrate. The MoC(x) nanoparticles were formed by Mo metal deposition onto a reactive multilayer of ethylene, which was physisorbed on a Au(111) substrate at low temperatures (<100 K). The resulting clusters have an average diameter of approximately 1.

Formation of TiO2 nanoparticles by reactive-layer-assisted deposition and characterization by XPS and STM.

Stoichiometric TiO2 nanoparticles (1-5 nm) were prepared by reactive-layer-assisted deposition (RLAD), in which Ti was initially deposited on a multilayer of H2O (or NO2) on a Au(111) substrate at approximately 90 K. The composition and atom-resolved structure of the nanoparticles were studied by XPS and STM. The approximately 5 nm TiO2 particles had either a rutile or anatase phase with various crystal facets.

Preparation and structural characterization of RuS2 nanoislands on Au(111).

Among all the transition metal sulfides, ruthenium sulfide (RuS2) has been shown to be the most active catalyst for the hydrodesulfuriztion processes. Using X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we have found a novel approach for the preparation of RuS2 nanoislands on an Au(111) substrate. Chemical vapor deposition of Ru3(CO)12 leads to metallic Ru nanoclusters on the gold substrate.