Ni/Al2O3 and NiFe/Al2O3 catalysts were synthesized by incipient wetness impregnation and tested for oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of ethane to ethylene. The effect of Ni loading and Fe as a promoter for bimetallic catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR). The catalyst with 10 wt% Ni and 6.6 wt% Fe (NiFe32) displayed the highest ODH activity. XRD results showed smaller crystalline NiO (˂ 7 nm) for bimetallic catalysts than the monometallic ones. Raman results depicted NiOx species in the monometallic catalysts. The bimetallic catalysts exhibited spinel-type structures as NiFe2O4 and FeAl2O4 related to more active species in ODH of ethane. DRS results revealed that the higher ODH activity for bimetallic catalysts is related to a predominance of Ni and Fe in tetrahedral symmetry (Td) than octahedral symmetry (Oh). These suggest that tetrahedral symmetry species were more effective than octahedral symmetry. TPR profiles showed that the iron addition increased the nickel species with strong interaction with the support. This rearrangement of Ni and Fe species in octahedral and tetrahedral sites of the NiO and alumina lattice could explain the shift reduction temperatures for Ni species and the formation of the spinel-type structure in the bimetallic catalysts. A relation between the metal-support interaction and the selectivity toward ethylene was found. A higher strong metal-support interaction favors a better catalytic activity.
Abstract Mutations in DJ‐1 have been linked to an autosomal recessive form of early‐onset parkinsonism. To identify mutations causing Parkinson's disease (PD), we sequenced exons 1 through 7 of DJ‐1 in 107 early‐onset (age at diagnosis up to 50 years) PD subjects. One subject had a frameshift mutation in the first coding exon and an exon 7 splice mutation both predicted to result in a loss of functional protein. This subject was diagnosed with probable PD at age 24 years with asymmetric onset and an excellent response to levodopa therapy. Our observations suggest that sequence alterations in DJ‐1 are a rare cause of early‐onset PD.
Importance Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) improves quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced Parkinson disease (PD). However, controlled studies with more than 3 years of follow-up are lacking. Objective To investigate the long-term effects of STN-DBS on QOL compared with standard-of-care medication (MED). Design, Setting, and Participants In this prospective, observational, quasi-experimental, longitudinal nonrandomized controlled trial, 183 patients were screened for eligibility and 167 were enrolled from March 1, 2011, to May 31, 2017, at 3 European university centers. Propensity score matching for demographic and clinical characteristics was applied to 108 patients with PD (62 in the STN-DBS group and 46 in the MED group), resulting in a well-balanced, matched subcohort of 25 patients per group. Data analysis was performed from September 2022 to January 2023. Exposure Treatment for PD of STN-DBS or MED. Main Outcomes and Measures Assessments included Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire 8 (PDQ-8), Unified PD Rating Scale–motor examination, Scales for Outcomes in PD–activities of daily living (ADL) and motor complications, and levodopa-equivalent daily dose. Within-group longitudinal outcome changes, between-group differences, and correlations of change scores were analyzed. Results The study population in the analysis included 108 patients (mean [SD] age, 63.7 [8.3] years; 66 [61.1%] male). At 5-year follow-up, PDQ-8 and ADL worsened only in the MED group (PDQ-8 change, −10.9; 95% CI, −19.0 to −2.7; P = .01; ADL change: −2.0; 95% CI, −3.1 to −0.8; P = .002), whereas both outcomes remained stable in the STN-DBS group (PDQ-8 change, −4.3; 95% CI, −13.2 to 4.7; P = .34; ADL change, −0.8; 95% CI, −2.5 to 1.0; P = .38). Changes in PDQ-8 and ADL correlated moderately ( r s = .40, P = .008). Furthermore, STN-DBS outcomes were favorable for motor complications (median difference in change scores between STN-DBS and MED, −2.0; 95% CI, −4.0 to −1.0; P = .003), mobility (−1.0; 95% CI, −2.0 to 0; P = .03), and levodopa-equivalent daily dose reduction (−821.4; 95% CI, −1111.9 to −530.8; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance This study provides evidence of differences in QOL outcomes at 5-year follow-up between STN-DBS (stable) and MED (worsened), mainly driven by the favorable effect of STN-DBS on mobility (class IIb evidence). The association between changes in QOL and ADL, but not motor impairment or complications, highlights the relative importance of ADL outcomes for long-term DBS assessments. Trial Registration German ClinicalTrials Registry: DRKS00006735
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