Total Hip Joint Replacement in a Patient with Colchicine-Resistant Familial Mediterranean Fever under Canakinumab Treatment.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a hereditary autoinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and serositis. Periodic febrile attack can be managed with biologic medication in colchicine-resistant FMF patients, however, no reports or guidelines exist regarding the postoperative management of elective joint surgery in these patients. Although it is not clear how FMF attacks are triggered, they may be precipitated by stress including anesthesia or surgery. This study reports the case of a 51-year-old FMF patient who received total hip replacement under canakinumab (a specific interleukin-1ß monoclonal antibody) treatment. He had highly active FMF, which was resistant to colchicine; however, his recurrent febrile attack with serositis was successfully controlled with canakinumab. Four months later from the start of canakinumab treatment, his hip osteoarthritis was required for total hip replacement (THR) because of the traumatic fracture. THR was successfully done and FMF attack was not occurred after this elective surgery. Discontinuation of canakinumab 3 weeks before surgery and resumption 6 weeks after led to favorable outcome without complications. This case addresses the differential management concerning stopping and restating of canakinumab in the perioperative setting in contrast to the other biologics such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) blocking agents. This case report suggests that canakinumab may represent a safe and effective therapy for the colchicine-resistant FMF, even in the patients requiring THR therapy.

Investigations on Adsorption of Inorganic Ions in Aqueous Solution to Some Metal Oxides, Hydroxides and a Carbonate by the X-Ray Spectroscopic Method.

Why does the adsorption and concentration of inorganic chemical species proceed at aqueous-solid interfaces? In this review paper, we discuss the use of X-ray chemical state analysis to elucidate the intrinsic adsorption mechanism. Based on the chemical states of the species adsorbed to solids as determined by X-ray chemical state analysis, possible adsorption mechanisms are discussed. The driving forces of adsorption are represented by the Gibbs free energy change (ΔGchem = ΔGchem,1 + ΔGchem,2) resulting from the formation of covalent bonds between metal ions (M) in metal oxides or hydroxides and adsorbed species (X) (M-O-X bond, ΔGchem,1) and the formation of new phases consisting of M and X (ΔGchem,2). The concept of ΔGchem,2 is proposed based on the experimental results from chemical state analyses. As examples, the following investigations are discussed in this review paper: the formation of mullite precursors by the adsorption of monosilicic acid to Al(OH)3, the spontaneous reduction of Au(III) to Au(0) by adsorption of Au(III) to Al(OH)3, MnO2 and Ni(OH)2 and the mechanism of concentration of Co2+, Tl+, Pb2+, Pt2+, Au+, and Pd2+ in marine ferromanganese crusts.

Cesium-Catalyzed Hydrogen Production by the Gasification of Woody Biomass for Forest Decontamination.

The large quantities of contaminated wood produced following the radioactive cesium decontamination of forests after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011 can be used as a biomass resource for energy production via thermal treatment (e.g., gasification). To store the radioactive Cs ash produced from gasification, the immobilization of Cs in the pollucite structure is possible and requires stable Cs additives. In this study, a Cs additive (Cs2CO3, CsCl, CsNO3, or Cs2SO4) was doped with timber waste sawdust (1-30 wt %). Fixed-bed downdraft-type continuous steam gasification experiments (0.7 g/min) showed that Cs2CO3 enhanced H2 production by 157% at 800 °C. X-ray absorption fine structure analysis and scanning electron microscopy observations revealed that the form of Cs on the surface of the char was Cs2CO3, which provided the active sites for gasification acceleration. Thermogravimetric pyrolysis and CO2 gasification experiments showed that Cs2CO3 lowered the activation energy and frequency factor while also enhancing the reactivity.

A new and practical Se(IV) removal method using Fe3+ type cation exchange resin.

An effective method for removing selenium (Se) from water is required from the viewpoint of environmental preservation. To establish this method, a cation exchange resin that adsorbed ferric ions was applied as an adsorbent. In this study, the adsorption behavior of Se to the adsorbent was examined by both batch and column methods. The batch experiment confirmed that selenite ions (Se(IV)) are effectively adsorbed but selenate ions (Se(VI)) are hardly adsorbed. To elucidate the adsorption mechanism, the Fe in the adsorbent and the Fe in the adsorbent after the adsorption of Se(IV) were characterized by Fe K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy and 57Fe Mӧssbauer spectroscopy. The analytical result of Se K-edge EXAFS spectra for the Se(IV) adsorbed on the adsorbent suggests that Se(IV) are adsorbed specifically to the adsorbent through the formation of Fe-O-Se bonds. The breakthrough curve obtained by the column experiment showed that Se(IV) in 3 tons of synthetic solution containing 0.1 ppm Se can be efficiently removed using a column in which 12.8 g (10.4 cm3) of the adsorbent was packed.

Soft tissue reinforcement with a Leeds-Keio artificial ligament in revision surgery for dislocated total hip arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Since dislocation after total hip arthroplasty (THA) greatly diminishes patient's quality of life, the THA frequently needs revision. However, it is common for the dislocation not to heal even after reconstruction, but rather to become intractable. METHODS: The 17 patients with dislocated THA, mean age of 71 years (range 51-87 years), who underwent a revision THA together with soft tissue reinforcement with a Leeds-Keio (LK) ligament were enrolled. The purposes of reinforcement with LK ligament were to restrict the internal rotation of the hip joint, and to encourage the formation of fibrous tissue in the posterior acetabular wall to stabilise the femoral head. We determined the success rate of surgical treatment for dislocation, the Harris Hip Score (HHS), a factor of recurrent dislocation. RESULTS: There was no recurrent dislocation in 82% of the cases (14 joints) during the mean postoperative follow-up period of 63.5 months (15-96 months). The HHS was 82 ± 18 points preoperatively and 82 ± 14 points postoperatively. Recurrent dislocation after this surgical procedure occurred in 2 hips with breakage of the LK ligaments, and intracapsular dislocation in 1 hip with loosening of the LK ligament. CONCLUSIONS: Although the risk of recurrent dislocation still exists with this procedure, when performed to provide reinforcement with an LK ligament for dislocated THA it may be useful in intractable cases with soft tissue defects around the hip joint.

Surgical anatomy of the pelvic vasculature, with particular reference to acetabular screw fixation in cementless total hip arthroplasty in Asian population.

PURPOSE: Pelvic vascular injury is a serious complication associated with acetabular component setting with screw fixation in cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA). In this study, we investigated the safety zone for acetabular component setting with screw fixation in cementless THA as a means to prevent pelvic vascular injury. METHODS: Thirty left hip joints of Japanese cadavers (11 males and 19 females) were analyzed. We used a hemispherical measuring cup with 52 guide holes designed to allow vertical insertion of a Kirschner wire. After the measuring cup was placed on the acetabulum, the Kirschner wire was inserted from each guide hole to examine the anatomical relationship between the acetabulum and the pelvic vessels. We calculated the frequency of pelvic vessel punctures and measured the distance from the acetabular surface to the pelvic vessels at each guide hole. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that pelvic vessels do not exist in certain parts of the posterior area of the acetabulum. Furthermore, in this area, intrapelvic vessels are either lacking or located at a distance ≥31 mm from the surface of the acetabulum. CONCLUSION: The posterior area of the acetabulum, excluding its central portion, appeared to be the safety zone for acetabular screw fixation in Japanese cadavers.

Efficient Decarbonylation of Furfural to Furan Catalyzed by Zirconia-Supported Palladium Clusters with Low Atomicity.

Decarbonylation of furfural to furan was efficiently catalyzed by ZrO2 -supported Pd clusters in the liquid phase under a N2 atmosphere without additives. Although Pd/C and Pd/Al2 O3 have frequently been used for decarbonylation, Pd/ZrO2 exhibited superior catalytic performance compared with these conventional catalysts. Transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure measurements revealed that the size of the Pd particles decreased with an increase in the specific surface area of ZrO2 . ZrO2 with a high surface area immobilized Pd as clusters consisting of several (three to five) Pd atoms, whereas Pd aggregated to form nanoparticles on other supports such as carbon and Al2 O3 despite their high surface areas. The catalytic activity of Pd/ZrO2 was enhanced with a decrease in particle size, and the smallest Pd/ZrO2 was the most active catalyst for decarbonylation. When CeO2 was used as the support, a decrease in Pd particle size with an increase in surface area was also observed. Single Pd atoms were deposited on CeO2 with a high surface area, with a strong interaction through the formation of a Pd-O-Ce bond, which led to a lower catalytic activity than that of Pd/ZrO2 . This result suggests that zero-valent small Pd clusters consisting of more than one Pd atom are the active species for the decarbonylation reaction. Recycling tests proved that Pd/ZrO2 maintained its catalytic activity until its sixth use.

Autologous blood transfusion for hemodialysis patients: A case report and review of clinical reports and therapeutic features.

CASE REPORT: We describe a hemodialysis (HD) patient who successfully underwent total hip arthroplasty with autologous blood transfusion (ABT). There were several problems with collecting ABT in this setting. DISCUSSION: A literature search for HD patients and ABT produced 8 articles describing 29 patients. Higher doses of erythropoietin stimulating agents were used to collect ABT than for a typical HD session. In 75% of the cases autologous blood was collected just after HD to collect better quality blood. The optimal clinical procedures for ABT in HD patients need to be clarified.

Direct C-H arene homocoupling over gold nanoparticles supported on metal oxides.

The direct CH/CH bond coupling of dimethyl phthalate was performed successfully over supported gold nanoparticle catalysts. Gold on reducible metal oxides, such as Co3 O4 , and on inert oxides that have an oxygen-releasing capacity, such as ZrO2 , showed the highest catalytic activity for the production of biphenyl tetracarboxylate using O2 as the sole oxidant. Supported Pd(OH)2 also catalyzed the reaction, but the catalytic activity was inferior to that of gold. Moreover, the gold catalysts exhibited excellent regioselectivity for the synthesis of valuable 3,3',4,4'-tetrasubstituted biphenyls by coupling with each other at the 4-position without the need for additional ligands. Gold catalysts also promoted the oxidative homocoupling of arenes including o-xylene to give symmetrical biaryls with high regioselectivity. X-ray absorption fine structure measurements revealed that the catalytically active species was Au(0) and that the lattice oxygen of Co3 O4 played an important role in the gold-catalyzed oxidative coupling. The results of the kinetic studies were consistent with an electrophilic aromatic substitution pathway. Regioselectivity is not controlled by directing groups or the electronic character of the substituents but by steric hindrance, which suggests that gold nanoparticles not only catalyze the oxidative coupling but also act as bulky ligands to control the regioselectivity.

Quantification method of size distribution of polysilicic acid in supersaturated silicic acid solution.

In order to estimate the absolute size distribution of polysilicic acid particles in geothermal waters, the distribution coefficient (K(av)) of gel permeation chromatography (GPC) for polysilicic acid particles and the hydrodynamic radius for the same polysilicic acid particles from Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) are combined to quantify the particle size. From the combination, a quantitative relationship between the K(av) from GPC and the hydrodynamic radius for polysilicic acid from DLS was built up. Using this relationship, the change in particle size of polysilicic acid formed during the polymerization of silicic acid at pH 8 and 9 (initial silicic acid concentration: 800 ppm as SiO2) was examined. The result showed that polysilicic acid grew to 500 and 1000 nm by 5 h at pH 9 and 8, respectively. It was found that aluminum affects the growth of polysilicic acid particles, and that the effect depends on the pH. The proposed method in this study has been proved to be valid to measure the size of polysilicic acid during the polymerization of silicic acid in solutions with relatively low silicic acid concentration, such as geothermal water.

Adsorption kinetics of silicic acid on akaganeite.

As part of a series of studies on the interaction between ferric ions and silicic acid in the hydrosphere, the adsorption of silicic acid on akaganeite was investigated kinetically at various pH values. The adsorption of silicic acid increased with increasing pH over an initial pH range of 4-11.5. In the kinetic experiment, the Cl(-) was released from akaganeite much faster than silicic acid was adsorbed. From this result, we concluded that chloride ions bound on the surface of akaganeite are released and Fe-OH or Fe-O(-) sites are formed, which then acts as an adsorption site for silicic acid. The uptake mechanism of silicic acid by akaganeite is significantly different from that by schwertmannite, despite the presence of the same tunnel structure.

Base-free direct oxidation of 1-octanol to octanoic acid and its octyl ester over supported gold catalysts.

The choice of a suitable support for gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) enabled the direct oxidation of unreactive aliphatic alcohol, 1-octanol, to octanoic acid and octyl octanoate in the absence of a base. Under optimized conditions, Au NPs supported on NiO (Au/NiO) exhibited remarkably high catalytic activities and excellent selectivities to octanoic acid (e.g., 97 %) at full conversion. In contrast to Au/NiO, Au/CeO2 selectively produced octyl octanoate as a major product in a base-free aqueous solution with a maximum selectivity of 82 % under optimized conditions.

Silica deposition induced by isolated aluminum ions bound on chelate resin as a model compound of the surface of microbes.

To elucidate the mechanism of silica biodeposition in hot spring water, which is induced by Al(3+) ions bound to the surface of microbes, a chelate resin (Chelex 100) was used as a model compound of the surface of microbes. No silicic acid was adsorbed on the Na type Chelex 100, whereas silicic acids were significantly adsorbed to the Al type Chelex 100. In the Al type Chelex 100, the Al(3+) ions were present as 1:1 tridentate complex with iminodiacetate (IDA) group. After adsorption of silicic acid to Al type Chelex 100, a IDA-Al-O-Si-(OH)(3) site formed. The site acted as a template for the successive adsorption of silicic acids to form silica sheets around Al type Chelex 100 particles. In conclusion, Al(3+) ions bound to the surface of microbes play a key role as a trigger for the biodeposition of silica in hot spring water.

Interaction of Au(III) and Pt(IV) complex ions with Fe(II) ions as a scavenging and a reducing agent: a basic study on the recovery of Au and Pt by a chemical method.

In order to develop a chemical technique for the recovery of gold (Au) and platinum (Pt) in the metallic state from spent catalysts, e.g., catalysts for environmental protection and automobile and petroleum catalysts, the coprecipitation behaviors of Au(III) and Pt(IV) complex ions with Fe(OH)(2) as a scavenging and reducing agent were investigated. The Au(III) complex ions were found to be stoichiometrically and rapidly reduced to metallic Au due to electron transfer in acidic aqueous solution prior to coprecipitation with Fe(OH)(2). Conversely, Pt(IV) complex ions were reduced only after coprecipitation with Fe(OH)(2) due to electron transfer through a Pt(IV)-O-Fe(II) bond on the solid Fe(OH)(2). Using this chemical technique, Au and Pt can be selectively and effectively recovered in the metallic state.

Coprecipitation of gold(III) complex ions with manganese(II) hydroxide and their stoichiometric reduction to atomic gold (Au(0)): analysis by Mössbauer spectroscopy and XPS.

To elucidate the formation process of precursor of gold-supported manganese dioxide (MnO2), the coprecipitation behavior of [AuCl4-n(OH)n](-) (n=0-4) (Au(III)) complex ions with manganese(II) hydroxide (Mn(OH)2 and the change in their chemical state were examined. The Au(III) complex ions were rapidly and effectively coprecipitated with Mn(OH)(2) at pH 9. According to the Mössbauer spectra for gold (Au) coprecipitated with Mn(OH)2, below an Au content of 60 wt% in the coprecipitates, all of the coprecipitated Au existed in the atomic state (Au(0)), while, above an Au content of 65 wt%, part of the gold existed in the Au(III) state, and the proportion increased with increasing coprecipitated Au content. Based on the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Mn(II) in Mn(OH)2 converted to Mn(IV) in conjunction with coprecipitation of Au(III) complex ions. These results indicate that the rapid stoichiometric reduction of Au(III) to Au(0) is caused by electron transfer from Mn(II) in Mn(OH)2 to the Au(III) complex ion through an Mn-O-Au bond.

The effect of UV irradiation on the reduction of Au(III) ions adsorbed on manganese dioxide.

The effect of UV (ultraviolet) irradiation on the adsorption of Au(III) ions on manganese dioxide and their reduction to Au(0) (gold with 0 valence state) was investigated using XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and 197Au Mössbauer spectroscopy. The UV irradiation accelerated the adsorption and the reduction. From the fact that the proportion of Au(0) estimated from Au 4f XPS spectra for surface analysis was significantly smaller than that from 197Au Mössbauer spectra for bulk analysis, we deduced that Au(0) was interpenetrated to the inside of manganese dioxide (into deeper places than about 30 A) where XPS is impossible to detect. The content of surface hydroxyl groups on manganese dioxide also increased due to the UV irradiation. The relationship between the charge in the content of hydroxyl groups and the interpenetration of Au(0) is discussed.