Efficient removal of paracetamol using LaCu1-xMxO3 (M=Mn, Ti) perovskites as heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts

A series of perovskite-like oxides LaCu1-xMxO3 (M=Mn, Ti; 0.0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.8) was prepared by amorphous citrate decomposition and characterized by XRD, ICP-OES and XPS techniques. The catalysts were tested in the Fenton-like degradation of paracetamol with H2O2, under mild reaction conditions, 25 °C and nearly neutral pH. Values of decomposition of paracetamol between 80 and 97% at 300 min were achieved for most of samples. The presence of the Cu2+/Cu+ pair at the surface of the catalysts is necessary to carry out the reaction and the catalysts containing higher amount of copper at the surface, resulted to be more active. The leaching of metals was less than 1%, which discards the contribution of the homogenous Fenton-like reaction and remarks the high stability of the metals into the mixed oxide network. The catalytic activity of LaCu0.8Mn0.2O3 was maintained after three cycles of reaction, which proves the stability and reusability of the catalyst.

Chronic inflammation inhibits GH secretion and alters the serum insulin-like growth factor system in rats

Adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats is associated with growth failure, hypermetabolism and accelerated protein breakdown. The aim of this work was to study the effects of adjuvant-induced arthritis on GH and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Arthritis was induced by an intradermal injection of complete Freund's adjuvant and rats were killed 18 and 22 days later. IGF-I and GH levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. Pituitary GH mRNA was analyzed by northern blot and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) by western blot. Arthritic rats showed a decrease in both serum and hepatic concentrations of IGF-I. On the contrary, arthritis increased the circulating IGFBPs. The serum concentration of IGF-I in the arthritic rats was negatively correlated with the body weight loss observed in these animals. Arthritis decreased the serum concentration of GH and this decrease seems to be due to an inhibition of GH synthesis, since pituitary GH mRNA content was decreased in arthritic rats (p<0.01). These data suggest that the decrease in body weight gain in arthritic rats may be, at least in part, secondary to the decrease in GH and IGF-I secretion. Furthermore, the increased serum IGFBPs may also be involved in the disease process.