Combustion of volatile organic compounds over composite catalyst of Pt/γ-Al₂O₃ and beta zeolite.

Catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was carried out over a composite catalyst comprising Pt/γ-Al₂O₃ and protonated beta zeolite. The conversion of several VOCs such as ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, 2-propanol, 1,2-dichloroethane, and chloroethane over the composite catalyst was higher than the conversion over the conventional Pt/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst, indicating a remarkable improvement in the oxidation activity of the composite. On the other hand, no difference in the conversion of methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, toluene, benzene, and chloroethylene was observed for the composite catalyst versus the Pt/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst.

Is 2.5 mEq/L the optimal calcium concentration of dialysate in the use of sevelamer hydrochloride? A study of the dialysate calcium concentration recommended by K/DOQI guidelines.

We tested the effect of three different dialysate calcium concentrations on calcium-phosphorus metabolism during the use of sevelamer hydrochloride. After a calcium-containing phosphate binder was switched to sevelamer, the serum calcium, phosphorus, and intact parathyroid hormone levels and the markers of bone turnover were measured in the patients whose dialysate calcium concentrations were 2.5, 2.

Defective regulation of iron transporters leading to iron excess in the polymorphonuclear leukocytes of patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

Background: Although hemodialysis (HD) patients are suspected of having defectively regulated iron metabolism, intracellular iron status has never been investigated thoroughly. To clarify the iron metabolism of HD patients, proteins involved in iron import (transferrin receptor [TfR]), as well as export (ferroportin 1), were investigated in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs). Relations between iron status and several PMNL functions also were tested.