Search

Manganese oxide has emerged as a promising material for use as a charge storage electrode material. In this work, we demonstrate the low-pressure chemical vapour deposition (CVD) growth of manganese oxide conformal coatings on Ni-foams utilising an MnCl2 solid source precursor, utilising an oxide formed on the surface of the Ni-foam as an oxygen reservoir for the synthesis of a predominantly MnOxlayer. The resulting MnOxlayer is highly dependent on sample pre-treatment, owing to modifications in the Ni oxide layer. The phase structure, electronic states, morphology, and electrochemical analysis were determined by x-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), field emission scanning-electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and capacitance–voltage (CV) measurements. The importance of the oxide layer is demonstrated by modifying the thickness of the NiO layer over the Ni foam, with clear changes in the resultant structure, morphology, and areal capacitance, with the highest performance MnOxcoating found to be obtained without any oxide removal from the Ni foam substrate.

Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) includes standard, cluster, and rush protocol with each its own risk for adverse reactions. Systemic reactions (SR) occur in 0.19% of injections with conventional SCIT and 1.3% in rush immunotherapy. Our study identifies risk factors for patients experiencing SR within the rush cohort.

A biography is presented for Scottish economist and speculator John Law. He was born in 1671 in Edinburgh, Scotland, moved to London, England after the death of his father, and fled to the continent after a fatal duel in 1694. He traveled throughout Europe and garnered a substantial fortune with risky investments and gambling. He published "Money and Trade Considered" in 1704, created the Company of the West to finance French colonization of North America, and died in Venice, Italy in 1729.

A main goal of asthma treatment is to reduce or eliminate oral corticosteroid (OCS) use due to their adverse effects. Clinical and real-world studies have reported mepolizumab reduces OCS use in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA); further evidence of the longer-term OCS-sparing effect of mepolizumab is needed.

Améliorer le contrôle de l’asthme est un objectif essentiel de la prise en charge de l’asthme. L’effet du mépolizumab sur le contrôle de l’asthme évalué par l’Asthma Control Questionnaire-5(ACQ-5) a été rapporté dans les essais cliniques, mais les données en vraie vie sont limitées.

Background: Mortality after liver transplantation depends on heterogeneous recipient and donor factors. Our aim was to assess risk of death and to develop models to help predict mortality after liver transplantation. Methods: We analysed data from 34@?664 first adult liver transplants from the European Liver Transplant Registry to identify factors associated with mortality at 3-months (n=21@?605 in training dataset) and 12-months (n=18@?852 in training dataset) after transplantation. We used multivariable logistic regression models to generate mortality scores for each individual, and assessed model discrimination and calibration on an independent validation dataset (n=9489 for 3-month model and n=8313 for 12-month model). Findings: 2540 of 21@?605 (12%) individuals in the 3-month training sample had died by 3 months. Compared with those transplanted in 2000-03, those transplanted earlier had a higher risk of death. Increased mortality at 3-months post-transplantation was associated with acute liver failure (adjusted odds ratio 1.61), donor age older than 60 years (1.16), compatible (1.22) or incompatible (2.07) donor-recipient blood group, older recipient age (1.12 per 5 years), split or reduced graft (1.96), total ischaemia time of longer than 13 h (1.38), and low United Network for Organ Sharing score (score 1: 2.43; score 2: 1.67). However, cirrhosis with hepatocellular carcinoma, alcohol cirrhosis, hepatitis C or primary biliary cirrhosis, donor age 40 years or younger, or less, hepatitis B, and larger size of transplant centre (>=70 transplants per year) were associated with improved early outcomes. The 3-month mortality score discriminated well between those who did and did not die in the validation sample (C statistic=0.688). We noted similar findings for 12-month mortality, although deaths were generally underestimated at this timepoint. Interpretation: The 3-month and 12-month mortality models can be effectively used to assess outcomes both within and between centres. Furthermore, the models provide a means of assessing the risk of post-transplantation mortality, giving clinicians important data on which to base strategic decisions about transplant policy in particular individuals or groups.

A prospective, open-label, study was conducted at 29 centers in 9 countries, involving 307 de novo liver transplant patients to compare the clinical usefulness of monitoring 2-hr post-dose cyclosporine (CsA) levels (C2) with conventional trough cyclosporine blood levels (pre-dose) (C0).

Morbid obesity, defined as a body mass index >35 kg/m2with co-morbidity or 40 kg/m2without co-morbidity has now reached epidemic proportions in the western world. The associated co-morbidity, particularly diabetes, hypertension and arthritis creates a massive burden to the state in terms of both direct and indirect healthcare costs. A need exists both for an effective treatment for the condition, and for an awareness of the medical problems associated with obesity since these patients will be encountered in virtually all branches of medicine.

An improved method for rapid LC/MS screening of chiral stationary phases based on the use of isotopically labeled enantiomers is reported.

OBJECTIVE: Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) has been used as a research tool to measure splanchnic perfusion. In this report, we aim to demonstrate the clinical value of this technique in perioperative monitoring of transplanted small bowel. METHODS: A 24 year old man underwent small bowel transplantation using a previously described technique. Microvascular blood flow in the transplanted bowel was measured using an LDF splanchnic probe. Postoperatively this was applied to the stoma facilitating direct measurements of graft mucosal flow. Measurements (perfusion units (PU)) were documented prior to implantation, post-reperfusion, postoperatively, during graft ischaemia, and in response to therapeutic interventions (dopexamine and phenylephrine infusions). RESULTS: Prior to transplantation, biological zero was established. Flow at five, 15, and 60 minutes after reperfusion was 74 (1.9) PU, 87.5 (3.3) PU, and 141.5 (2.5) PU, respectively. Postoperative mucosal flow was 141.6 (2.9) PU. Subsequent LDF measurement detected absence of flow even though clinical signs suggested only moderate reduction. This was confirmed on surgical re-exploration and facilitated prompt resection of a non-viable segment. Fluid and dopexamine administration resulted in a dose dependent improvement in flow, independent of blood pressure. Addition of phenylephrine increased total mucosal flow and unmasked a cyclical component. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates the clinical value of LDF as an "alarm" to indicate graft perfusion failure and as a monitor for therapeutic interventions. Phenylephrine and dopexamine may both be of value in improving mucosal flow in the transplanted small bowel.

Kokanee are the nonanadromous (freshwater resident) form of sockeyesalmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) found in lake ecosystems throughoutthe North Pacific region. Kokanee commonly exhibit two reproductiveecotypes; `stream-spawners' that reproduce in streams tributary tolakes, and `beach-spawners' that reproduce on submerged lakeshore gravelbeaches. Okanagan Lake, in the southcentral interior of BritishColumbia, Canada, contains beach- and stream-spawning kokanee and bothecotypes have declined dramatically in abundance over the last 20 years.We examined developmental biology (developmental rate to hatching andemergence) and genetic divergence at eight microsatellite loci toinvestigate phenotypic and genetic differentiation between ecotypes tounderstand selective and demographic factors that might influence therecovery of depressed populations. Beach-spawning female kokanee weresmaller and produced smaller eggs than females from stream-spawningpopulations. There was no striking difference in time to 50%hatching between ecotypes, but beach-spawning kokanee developed fasterfrom hatching to emergence. Microsatellite loci were highly polymorphicin kokanee (between 5 and 23 alleles per locus) and showed significantdifferentiation among populations (average θ = 0.018). There was,however, no significant variation attributable to spawning ecotype afteraccounting for variation within ecotypes. Simulated population-mixtureanalyses indicated good potential for genetic classification of kokaneeas beach- or stream-spawners; estimated mixture proportions were within11% of actual proportions averaged over 50 replications. Our datasuggest that Okanagan Lake kokanee constitute at least two managementunits within a single watershed; the ecotypes appear adapted to distinctthermal reproductive environments and show modest moleculardifferentiation from one another. Persistence of kokanee within OkanaganLake may depend, in part, on management plans that recognize thedistinctions between the sympatric reproductive ecotypes.

Tri-Nasal Nasal Spray is an investigational solution of triamcinolone acetonide (TAA) currently being evaluated as a treatment for allergic rhinitis. The safety and efficacy of 200 and 400 μg once daily doses of Tri-Nasal Nasal Spray, an active control (440 μg once daily of Nasacort Nasal aerosol), and Tri-Nasal Nasal Spray placebo were compared over a 2-week treatment period in a double-blind (the Nasacort treatment was not blinded), parallel design trial. A total of 377 adult patients in 13 centers were enrolled during the grass pollen season. The primary efficacy variable was the weekly average of the SSI (Symptom Severity Index), the sum of daily nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, and sneezing severity scores from the patient diary. A total of 355 patients completed the study. All active treatments were significantly more effective than placebo in relieving nasal symptoms at each treatment week. The 400 μg Tri-Nasal Nasal Spray and Nasacort treatments had a rapid onset of action, demonstrating significant improvement in the SSI versus placebo by the second day of treatment. Results for the individual nasal symptoms and other secondary efficacy measures paralleled those of the primary efficacy variables. Tri-Nasal Nasal Spray and Nasacort were comparable in safety, and in treating the nonocular symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

We have studied the postnatal development of GABAAreceptor α1 and α6 subunits expressed by primary cultures of cerebellar granule cells originating from 2-day-old (postnatal day 2, P2) and 10-day-old (P10) rat neonates. At these ages, the granule cells are at distinct stages of cerebellar development. In both cases, GABAAreceptor α1 and α6 subunit-like immunoreactivities were detected, and displayed temporal expression profiles that were correlated with the maturity of the cerebella from which the cultured granule cells were derived. Using two different specificity anti-α1 subunit-specific antibodies, immunoreactive species with Mr53,000 Da and 54,000 Da were detected by immunoblotting. The lower 53,000-Da band co-migrated with the α1 subunit-like immunoreactivity detected in GABAAreceptors purified from adult rat forebrain by benzodiazepine affinity chromatography. This 53,000-Da α1 subunit-like immunoreactive species was detected at day 1 in vitro(1 DIV) in P10 cultures and 3–5 DIV in P2 cultures. The GABAAreceptor α6 subunit-like immunoreactivity (58,000 Da) was not detected until 5–7 DIV in P10 and 9–11 DIV in P2-derived cultures. The appearance of α6 subunit-like immunoreactivity was paralleled by an up-regulation of α1 subunit expression and a concomitant increase in diazepam-insensititive (DZ-IS) [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding activity, a pharmacological characteristic of α6 and α1α6-subunit-containing GABAAreceptors (Pollard et al. J. Biol. Chem., 270,21,285–21,290, (1995)). Antagonism of both non-NMDA and NMDA subtypes of ionotropic glutamate receptors did not significantly affect the developmental profile, the level of GABAAreceptor α6 subunit or the total DZ-IS or DZ-S [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding activities expressed by these neurons. These results provide further evidence that the expression of specific GABAAreceptor subunit genes is subject to differential regulation. Furthermore, developmental expression of the GABAAreceptor α6 subunit gene by these neurons is either a preprogrammed event or is initiated by an environmental cue that is received early in granule cell development, and it is not a result of afferent activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors. Copyright © 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd

The peri-operative management of the only surviving case, to date, of living-related small bowel transplantation is described. The anaesthetic technique was chosen to optimize hepato-splanchnic blood flow. Peri-operative splanchnic blood flow was measured and alterations in flow with changes in inotropic agents and volume loading monitored. There appears to be a role for the use of dopexamine and aggressive volume loading.

gamma-Aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptors were purified from adult rat cerebella by anti-alpha 6(1-16 Cys) antibody affinity chromatography. Immunoblots of the alpha 6 subunit-containing receptors showed the copurification of the alpha 1, beta 2/3, gamma 2, delta but not alpha 2 and alpha 3 GABAA receptor polypeptides. Further fractionation of this receptor subpopulation by anti-GABAA receptor subunit alpha 6(1-16 Cys) and anti-alpha 1(413-429) antibody affinity columns in series substantiated the coassociation of the alpha 1 and alpha 6 polypeptides. The percentage of coexistence of the two subunits was determined by quantitative immunoblotting, which found that 41 +/- 12% of alpha 6 subunit immunoreactivity is associated with the alpha 1 subunit. The ratios of the alpha 1:alpha 6 subunits in the double purified receptor preparations was found to be 1:1, thus determining directly for the first time subunit ratios within native GABAA receptors. The benzodiazepine pharmacology of the alpha 1 alpha 6 subunit-containing receptors was shown to be predominantly benzodiazepine-insensitive by quantitative immunoprecipitation assays. These results are the first direct quantitative studies of subunit ratios within a population of native GABAA receptors.

The aim of this study was to establish the accuracy of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCEMRI) in assessing the site of origin and the patency of the hepatic arteries. Sixty-one patients were examined with serial DCEMRI. MRI was performed at 1.0 T with a rapid multi-section breath-hold fast low-angle shot (FLASH) technique in the coronal oblique plane before and at 10, 40 and 70 s after a bolus of gadolinium-DTPA. The hepatic, left gastric, gastroduodenal, splenic and superior mesenteric arteries were examined. The main portal vein, its right and left intrahepatic divisions, and the splenic and superior mesenteric veins were also assessed. The common hepatic artery was occluded in one patient. The right hepatic artery was seen in 59 patients, left hepatic in 54, left gastric in 43, gastroduodenal in 54, splenic in 60 and superior mesenteric artery in 61. Results were concordant with surgery in 38 of 39 cases and with X-ray angiography in 21 of 22 cases. In the detection of aberrant vessels DCEMRI had a sensitivity of 89 %, a specificity of 100 % and an accuracy of 97 %. All five veins were occluded in 1 patient. The main portal vein was patent in 56 patients, occluded in 2 and narrowed in 2. Thirty-two patients had upper abdominal varices. It is concluded that DCEMRI with sequential imaging provides a non-invasive demonstration of hepatic arterial and venous structures.

The economic benefits of waste‐to‐energy plants are well known, but what are the environmental concerns? Public anxiety with regard to the development of incineration plants has focused attention on the need for informed and transparent assessment procedures based on sound science, to ensure that the impact of such developments is acceptable from an environmental perspective.

Sagitta microstructure was investigated in juvenile New Zealand snapper, Pagrus auratus, to provide a basis for daily ageing in population dynamics studies. Transverse sections produced the clearest daily increments and were the easiest to prepare. Daily increment formation was validated up to an age of 100 days by using increment counts from reared juveniles and up to about 160 days by using changes in mean increment counts from juveniles sampled from a wild population at different times. A prominent metamorphic mark was visible in transverse and frontal sections, providing a means for determining the duration of the larval period, and juvenile postmetamorphic ages. Postmetamorphic increment width varied with the age of the snapper and with season. Increment width dropped below 0.5 μm in winter and increments could not be resolved with a light microscope.

The use of live donors in intestinal transplantation could potentially both reduce the severity of rejection responses against this highly immunogenic organ by better tissue matching and also reduce cold ischaemia times. These two advantages over cadaveric grafts could preserve mucosal integrity and reduce the risk of systemic sepsis from bacterial translocation. The disadvantages of live donation are the inherent risk to the donor and the compromise of using a shorter graft. Although only a handful of such cases have been performed, the success rate has been high and this is a therapeutic modality which should be explored further.

Three different types of prey-preference tests were carried out using Dysdera crocata, a spider frequently described as a specialist predator of woodlice. None of these tests provided evidence that Dysdera crocata prefers woodlice over a variety of insect prey (house flies, beetle larvae, mirid bugs, moths and crickets). We also ran prey preference tests with two species of woodlice that differ in their behavioural and chemical defences, and there was no evidence of preference for either of these species over the other. The broader question of whether D. crocata is a specialized predator in any respect is discussed.

The gp120 envelope glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 binds the cell surface protein CD4 with high affinity. Here we report the use of proteolysis to define regions of gp120 involved in CD4 binding. Cleavage of gp120 with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease at residue 269 or with trypsin at residue 432 destroys CD4 binding. These same sites are protected from proteolytic cleavage by bound CD4. Cleavages at 64, 144, 166, 172, and 315 do not affect binding and are not protected by bound CD4, indicating that these regions are not critical for binding CD4. All proteolytic fragments found in coprecipitates with CD4 were covalently associated via disulfides and comprised complete gp120 molecules. Previous conclusions by Nygren et al. [Nygren, A., Bergman, T., Matthews, T., Jornvall, H. & Wigzell, H. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85, 6543-6546] that both large and small (95-kDa and 25-kDa) V8 proteolytic fragments bind CD4, independently, are not distinguished by their experiments from the result found here that the small fragment immunoprecipitates with CD4 while disulfide-linked to the larger fragment.

Polyclonal antibodies were raised to a synthetic peptide whose amino acid sequence was derived from the novel gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor subunit, gamma 2. These anti-gamma 2 1-15 Cys antibodies reacted specifically with the GABAA receptor purified from adult bovine cerebral cortex in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Anti-gamma 2 1-15 Cys antibodies specifically immunoprecipitated [3H]flunitrazepam photoaffinity-labeled native receptor in parallel with anti-alpha 1 324-341 antibodies. Immunoprecipitation of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) denatured photoaffinity-labeled receptor by anti-gamma 2 1-15 Cys antibodies, however, resulted in a significant decrease in the maximum percentage of radioactivity immunoprecipitated compared to that by anti-alpha 1 324-341 antibodies. In immunoblots, anti-gamma 2 1-15 Cys antibodies reacted with a broad band in the molecular weight range Mr 43,000-49,000 which was distinct from that recognized by anti-alpha 1 324-341 antibodies. The anti-alpha 1 324-341 immunoreactive band was the main subunit irreversibly photoaffinity labeled by [3H]flunitrazepam, i.e. Mr 53,000. These results demonstrate for the first time that the gamma 2 subunit is an integral component of the GABAA receptor but it is the alpha 1 subunit that is the principal site of the agonist benzodiazepine photoaffinity labeling reaction. It supports a role of both the alpha 1 and gamma 2 polypeptides in the formation of the central benzodiazepine binding site within a GABAA receptor oligomer.

A low-cost adsorbent prepared from an existing solid industrial waste is proposed for the pre-adsorption of organic components in mixed waste streams prior to treatment by cement-based stabilisation / solidification. A feasibility study compares the performance of activated spent bleaching earth with commercial powdered activated carbon in cement / waste / adsorbent blends. The waste clay, added as 10% w/w of the total mix, was found to reduce leachable TOC from four synthetic mixed wastes by up to 37% w/w and increase 28 day strengths by 240 - 1300 % as a result of pozzolanic activity. Application of the adsorbent for the treatment of such wastes could offer significant cost benefits over the use of conventional industrial adsorbents and provide a novel waste minimisation opportunity for a material which currently presents considerable disposal problems.

A survey of all general surgeons in one regional health authority has shown that despite the increase in laparoscopic surgery following the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, laparoscopy was used in the management of acute abdominal pain by 28% of consultants and only 10% of trainee surgeons. In a retrospective study of 316 patients undergoing open appendicectomy the histological appearance of the appendix was normal in 60 (19%). In a non-randomized prospective study only 13 of 30 patients laparo-scoped who were due to undergo open appendicectomy had acute appendicitis. Patients undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy and laparoscopic appendicectomy had a shorter post-operative hospital stay (1.7 ± 0.2 days) compared to those undergoing open appendicectomy (2.9 ± 0.2 days), which is highly significant (P < 0.0001). In the management of acute abdominal pain laparoscopy can significantly reduce unnecessary operative intervention and allow earlier discharge from hospital and return to full mobility.

Infectious cDNAs of the Sabin type 2 poliovirus vaccine virus and a vaccine-derived neurovirulent type 2 strain (P2/117) have been cloned in Escherichia coli. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that P2/117 differs from the vaccine strain by just 23 point mutations. Three occur in the 5' noncoding region. The remainder result in a total of 5 coding changes located in VP1, VP4, 2B, and 3D. The likely role of these mutations in the evolution to neurovirulence is discussed.