Tolerability, safety and efficacy of a novel phosphate binder VS-505 (AP301): a Phase 2 dose-escalation and dose-ranging study in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

Background: VS-505 (AP301), an acacia and ferric oxyhydroxide polymer, is a novel fiber-iron-based phosphate binder. This two-part Phase 2 study evaluated the tolerability, safety and efficacy of oral VS-505 administered three times daily with meals in treating hyperphosphatemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).

Methods: In Part 1, patients received dose-escalated treatment with VS-505 2.

Counting d-Orbital Vacancies of Transition-Metal Catalysts for the Sulfur Reduction Reaction.

The electrocatalytic sulfur reduction reaction (SRR) would allow the production of renewable high-capacity rechargeable lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries using sustainable and nontoxic elemental sulfur as a cathode material, but its slow reaction rate causes a serious shuttle effect and dramatically reduces the capacity. We found that a catalyst composed of Pd nanoparticles supported by ordered mesoporous carbon (Pd/OMC) had a high reaction rate in the SRR, and a Li-S battery assembled with this catalyst had a low shuttle constant of 0.031 h and a high-rate performance with a specific capacity of 1527 mAh g at 0.

Chitosan-based hollow nanofiber membranes with polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyvinyl alcohol for efficient removal and filtration of organic dyes and heavy metals.

Due to their large specific surface area and numerous diffusion channels, hollow fibers are widely used in wastewater treatment. In this study, we successfully synthesized a chitosan (CS)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hollow nanofiber membrane (CS/PVP/PVA-HNM) via coaxial electrospinning. This membrane demonstrated remarkable permeability and adsorption separation.

Recent advances and perspectives of CeO-based catalysts: Electronic properties and applications for energy storage and conversion.

Cerium dioxide (CeO, ceria) has long been regarded as one of the key materials in modern catalysis, both as a support and as a catalyst itself. Apart from its well-established use (three-way catalysts and diesel engines), CeO has been widely used as a cocatalyst/catalyst in energy conversion and storage applications. The importance stems from the oxygen storage capacity of ceria, which allows it to release oxygen under reducing conditions and to store oxygen by filling oxygen vacancies under oxidizing conditions.

Chitosan/polyvinylpyrrolidone/polyvinyl alcohol/carbon nanotubes dual layers nanofibrous membrane constructed by electrospinning-electrospray for water purification.

Nanofibrous membrane have great potential in the field of water purification due to the high porosity and large specific surface area. Herein, a dual layers nanofibrous membrane was prepared by combining an active layer containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with a porous chitosan (CS)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibrous support layer via electrospinning-electrospray technique for highly efficient heavy metal and organic pollutants removal. Incorporating CNTs into the active layer offered additional nanochannels which significantly enhanced pure water permeate flux (1533.

Association of Interleukin-1 Beta and Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Gene Polymorphisms and Plasma Levels with Diabetic Nephropathy.

Objective: We investigated the relationships between interleukin- (IL-) 1 and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) gene polymorphism and plasma levels in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Methods: The genotype and allele frequency distribution of IL-1 and IL-1Ra in 61 patients with DN and 48 healthy controls (HCs) were determined by kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP), and the plasma concentrations of IL-1 and IL-1Ra in DN patients and HCs were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

Results: Significant differences were detected in the distribution of IL-1 (-511C/T) genotype and allele frequencies between the DN and HC groups ( < 0.

Preparation and performance evaluation of chitosan/polyvinylpyrrolidone/polyvinyl alcohol electrospun nanofiber membrane for heavy metal ions and organic pollutants removal.

In this work, a novel electrospun chitosan (CS)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibrous membrane was prepared to remove heavy metal ions and organic pollutants from water. The nanofiber morphologies were adjusted through the optimal electrospinning process parameters. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterizations indicated that a well-crosslinked CS/PVP/PVA nanofiber film was formed.

Biocompatible near-infrared fluorescent nanoparticles for macro and microscopic in vivo functional bioimaging.

Near-infrared (NIR) imaging technology has been widely used for biomedical research and applications, since it can achieve deep penetration in biological tissues due to less absorption and scattering of NIR light. In our research, polymer nanoparticles with NIR fluorophores doped were synthesized. The morphology, absorption/emission features and chemical stability of the fluorescent nanoparticles were characterized, separately.