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Objective: Given fibromyalgia (FM) frequently co‐occurs with autoimmune disease, this study was initiated to objectively evaluate FM in a multiracial/ethnic cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Patients with SLE were screened for FM using the 2016 FM classification criteria during an in‐person rheumatologist visit. We evaluated hybrid Safety of Estrogens in Lupus National Assessment (SELENA)‐SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) scores, SLE classification criteria, and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics damage index. We compared patients with and without FM and if differences were present, compared patients with FM with patients with non‐FM related chronic pain. Results: 316 patients with SLE completed the FM questionnaire. 55 (17.4%) met criteria for FM. The racial composition of patients with FM differed from those without FM (P = 0.023), driven by fewer Asian patients having FM. There was no difference in SLE disease duration, SELENA‐SLEDAI score, or active serologies. There was more active arthritis in the FM group (16.4%) versus the non‐FM group (1.9%) (P < 0.001). The Widespread Pain Index and Symptom Severity Score did not correlate with degree of SLE activity (r = −0.016; 0.107) among patients with FM or non‐FM chronic pain (r = 0.009; −0.024). Regarding criteria, patients with FM had less nephritis and more malar rash. Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics damage index did not differ between groups. Conclusion: Except for arthritis, patients with SLE with FM are not otherwise clinically or serologically distinguishable from those without FM, and Widespread Pain Index and Symptom Severity Score indices do not correlate with SLEDAI. These observations support the importance of further understanding the underlying biology of FM in SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N,N‐Dimethylaniline.borane (DMAB) is a stable, multifaceted electrophilic boron agent that displays hydroboration of C = C as well as selective reduction of functional groups under reflux, microwave, and ultrasound conditions. Natural products contain a plethora of functional groups that govern the specific bioactivity. It will be interesting to correlate the change in a functional group with the concern for change in bioactivity. Current research emphasizes the influence of microwave irradiation on moderately reactive DMAB reagent towards the functional group modification of selected limonoid‐phytochemicals of Meliaceae family viz. cedrelone, azadirone, nimbin, and azadiradione. DMAB conveniently reduces the ketone, epoxide group into alcohol, and does a hydroboration reaction on the C = C bond. It does not show interest to reduce the ester group irrespective of 30 min of MW irradiation. Except for these reducing properties, the reagent DMAB unveils chemo‐selective nature in respect of different functional groups and utilizes in an asymmetric synthesis. The coalescence of amine.borane with microwave irradiation brings forth a commodious and prompt method for the selective reduction of functional groups. The bioactive efficacy of modified phytochemicals is further taken for the antimicrobial studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial waste locks are used as raw materials to reduce harmful effects on the environment and improve environmental performance. Marble clay powder can be used as a filling aid and can fill voids in concrete structures. This article will show you how to use a maximum natural sand alternative in concrete with marble powder and quarry dust. The challenge of the 21st century is to change to a new form that can support the natural system. This necessitates a radical rethinking of how to give the community infrastructure and housing. Making a concerted effort to develop novel, innovative, and alternative construction materials may be necessary. Jungles of concrete around cause's impact on the Environment and it would result in climate change. Mankind must avoid the use of things that are detrimental to the environment. So in this paper, it is decided to address the issue by adopting the use of the green concrete concept which is environmentally friendly. Green concrete is concrete made up using industrial wastes such as marble powder, quarry dust, wood ash, paper pulp, etc. Green concrete, which is capable of sustainable development, helps to reduce the consumption of natural resources, energy use, and environmental pollution. Green concrete is more cost‐effective than ordinary concrete and reduces the cost of resultant concrete by 14%–20%. It is also observed that the alkali‐aggregate reaction and sulfate attack resistance of concrete are both significantly improved. Green concrete is a useful tool for lowering environmental pollution and enhancing concrete's resistance to harsh conditions. All stages of infrastructure construction and rehabilitation will follow this trend of using new cement and techniques. Green concrete's adaptability and its performance derivatives will meet a variety of future needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in the construction industry is inevitable. The huge production of OPC and its use in infrastructural development pose an environmental impact. Greenhouse gas emitted increases the global temperature and it is an alarming sign to everybody on the planet. Concrete is the most consuming material which is produced by using OPC and it is proven that OPC contributes a lot to CO2 emission. Hence in this study attempt is made to produce concrete by using environment‐friendly material like fly ash along with alkaline activators, which is termed Geo polymer concrete. The by‐product fly ash is widely available worldwide. It is a by‐product of thermal power plants. The use of fly ash in concrete produces less expensive and more cost‐effective concrete than concrete made up using OPC. Due to its high silicate and alumina content, fly ash reacts with an alkaline solution to create an aluminosilicate gel that binds the aggregate and results in high‐quality concrete. Fly ash is finer than cement, it occupies the pores of cement after hydration. This would result in denser concrete which gives higher strength. In comparison to ordinary concrete, fly ash‐based geopolymer concrete offers better resistance to aggressive environments and high temperatures. In the present study, an alkaline activator of molarity 8 is used to prepare geopolymer concrete. The test specimens are cast and cured for 28 days. Test results indicate that an alkaline liquid fly‐ash ratio (0.4) produces higher mechanical properties. Hence, geopolymer concrete produced in this study is found to be cost‐effective and environment friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research focuses on the design, method development, characterization, and clinical assessment of novel irbesartan medication compounds. The objective of synthetic modification of a drug molecule is to achieve the desired properties such as enhancing the pharmacological properties and minimizing the side effects. It is a biphenyl tetrazole and an aza‐spiro compound, a highly selective, potent nonpeptide compound that belongs to the sartan group, an authorized type‐1 angiotensin II receptor (AT1), dilates the blood vessels and is used in curing of to treat high blood pressure, cardiac arrest, and renal disease in diabetics. To achieve the structural modification of the irbesartan drug, the researcher prepared the FeCl3/SiO2 catalyst and successfully used it for the acetylation, chloro acetylation reaction of irbesartan with acetyl chloride and chloroacetyl chloride. Further, the reaction is performed in presence of the catalyst and without a catalyst to elucidate the role of the catalyst. With the aid of TLC, FT‐IR, and UV–visible spectral methods, the structural interpretation of synthesized derivatives is completed. The present work illustrates a novel method of synthesis of irbesartan derivatives through safe and convenient procedures. The pharmacological evaluation of synthetic derivatives and green chemistry protocol of synthesis is under progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: AURORA 2 evaluated the long‐term safety, tolerability, and efficacy of voclosporin compared to placebo in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) receiving an additional two years of treatment following completion of the one‐year AURORA 1 study. Methods: Enrolled patients continued their double‐blinded treatment of voclosporin or placebo randomly assigned in AURORA 1, in combination with mycophenolate mofetil and low‐dose glucocorticoids. The primary objective was safety assessed with adverse events (AEs) and biochemical and hematological assessments. Efficacy was measured by renal response. Results: A total of 216 patients enrolled in AURORA 2. Treatment was well tolerated with 86.1% completing the study and no unexpected safety signals. AEs occurred in 86% and 80% of patients in the voclosporin and control groups, respectively, with an AE profile similar to that seen in AURORA 1, albeit with reduced frequency. Investigator reported AEs of both glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decrease and hypertension occurred more frequently in the voclosporin than the control group (10.3% vs 5.0%, and 8.6% vs 7.0%, respectively). Mean corrected estimated GFR (eGFR) was within the normal range and stable in both treatment groups. eGFR slope over the two‐year period was −0.2 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% confidence interval [CI] −3.0 to 2.7) in the voclosporin group and −5.4 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI −8.4 to −2.3) in the control group. Improved proteinuria persisted across three years of treatment, leading to more frequent complete renal responses in patients treated with voclosporin (50.9% vs 39.0%; odds ratio 1.74; 95% CI 1.00–3.03). Conclusion: Data demonstrate the safety and efficacy of long‐term voclosporin treatment over three years of follow‐up in patients with LN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In oil and gas exploration, it is vital to acquire information about the bottom hole conditions. This is done in the field using wireline logging. The sonic log is one of the most prolific logs as it assists in porosity determination, cement evaluation and identification of lithology and gas‐bearing intervals. However, sonic logging tools are not always a part of the wireline logging arrangement. Still, there are sections where the logging data are missing, and in some cases, these are dependent upon old tools. The tool is incapable of recording shear wave transit times. This study explores the possibility of substituting the sonic log using machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques. These techniques can also predict the sonic log data in sections where these are missing or unreliable. Artificial neural networks, decision tree regression, random forest regression, support vector regression and extreme gradient boosting are the most popular tools available at our disposal for making these estimations. This study has compared these different techniques for their effectiveness and accuracy in making sonic transit time predictions based on other available well logs. The obtained results suggest that despite all the attention on artificial neural networks, eXtreme gradient boosting and the random forest regression outperform it for the given purpose. In the case of missing shear transit time data, random forest regression made predictions with a root mean squared error of 1.03 × 10–4 and a root mean squared error of 0.97 while eXtreme gradient boosting regression did so with a root mean squared error of 1.36 × 10–4 and the same regression coefficient (0.97). When no sonic data were available, random forest regression estimated shear transit time with a root mean squared error of 6.41×10–4 and a regression coefficient of 0.95, and compressional transit time with a root mean squared error of 9.06×10–5 and a root mean squared error of 0.94. The root mean squared error of shear transit time and compressional transit time predictions made using eXtreme gradient boosting were found to be the same as those of random forest regression. The root mean squared error, however, was observed to be slightly less for the compressional transit time predictions and somewhat more for the shear transit time predictions. As data analysis, in general, is a better method for estimation than the use of empirical correlations, these machine learning‐based predictions can serve as powerful tools in the oil and gas exploration industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Transnasal humidified rapid‐insufflation ventilatory exchange (THRIVE) is gaining acceptance as a safe method for apneic ventilation and oxygenation during laryngeal procedures, but remains controversial during laser laryngeal surgery (LLS) due to the theoretical risk of airway fire. This study describes our experience with THRIVE during LLS. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Stanford University Hospital, October 15, 2015 to June 1, 2021. Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients ≥18 years who underwent LLS involving the CO2 or KTP laser with THRIVE as the primary mode of oxygenation. Results: A total of 172 cases were identified. 20.9% were obese (BMI ≥ 30). Most common operative indication was subglottic stenosis. The CO2 laser was used in 79.1% of cases. Median lowest intraoperative SpO2 was 96%. 44.7% cases were solely under THRIVE while 16.3% required a single intubation and 19.2% required multiple intubations. Mean apnea time for THRIVE only cases was 32.1 minutes and in cases requiring at least one intubation 24.0 minutes (p <.001). Mean apnea time was significantly lower for patients who were obese (p <.001) or had a diagnosis of hypertension (p =.016). Obese patients and patients with hypertension were 2.03 and 1.43 times more likely to require intraoperative intubation, respectively. There were no intraoperative complications or fires since the institution of our LLS safety protocol. Conclusion: By eliminating the fuel component of the fire triangle, THRIVE can be safely used for continuous delivery of high FiO2 during LLS, provided adherence to institutional THRIVE‐LLS protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation strategies for imperiled species are frequently based on identifying and addressing the probable causes of population decline, an approach known as the declining population paradigm. Causes, however, are frequently linked to demographic outcomes by multiple mechanisms, and failing to target the primary mechanisms can reduce the effectiveness and efficiency of conservation actions. Increasingly, conservation strategies also need to consider emerging threats, such as climate change. Here, we use boreal caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), a threatened ecotype of woodland caribou, as a case study to illustrate how landscape disturbance and climate change can each exert negative demographic effects on caribou through multiple and complex mechanisms. We reviewed the extensive literature focused on woodland caribou to identify and assess the relative importance of each putative mechanism. While disturbance‐mediated apparent competition, the expansion of novel predators, and altered predator behavior appear to be primary mechanisms dictating past and current declines of caribou, climate change has increasing potential to exert strong direct and indirect effects now and in the future. Predicted climate effects may prevent some populations from regaining self‐sustaining status, despite local conservation actions. Our review revealed several knowledge gaps, notably a lack of clarity on the spatial extent of undisturbed habitat required for caribou populations to be stable. We used outcomes from our review to demonstrate how a mechanistic understanding of population decline can inform habitat‐based conservation strategies for caribou. For populations residing within highly disturbed ranges, habitat restoration is a key recommendation of current conservation strategies, yet the large spatial extent of disturbances will require prioritization of areas for restoration. Maximizing the conservation return‐on‐investment for caribou will require a mechanistically informed prioritization process that targets conservation actions toward the primary mechanisms underlying population decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This integrated analysis evaluates the efficacy and safety of voclosporin, a novel calcineurin inhibitor, at 23.7 mg twice daily in combination with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and oral glucocorticoids in lupus nephritis (LN) using pooled data from two large phase II and phase III clinical trials. The purpose was to expand the pool of patients for safety analyses and to increase power for efficacy analyses in patient subpopulations. Methods: Aurinia Urinary Protein Reduction in Active Lupus with Voclosporin (AURA‐LV) (phase II) and Aurinia Renal Response in Active Lupus With Voclosporin (AURORA 1) (phase III) were randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind trials with similar designs and end points comparing voclosporin to control in combination with MMF and oral glucocorticoids for the treatment of LN. The primary efficacy outcome of the integrated analysis was complete renal response (CRR) at approximately one year (Week 48 data from AURA‐LV and Week 52 from AURORA 1). Safety was assessed throughout the trials. Results: Overall, 534 patients (268 voclosporin; 266 control) were included in the integrated analysis. Significantly more patients achieved a CRR at one year in the voclosporin group than in the control group (43.7% vs. 23.3%; OR 2.76; 95% CI 1.88, 4.05 P < 0.0001). The incidence of adverse events (AEs) was similar (91.4% voclosporin; 87.2% control). Most AEs were mild to moderate in severity; the most commonly reported AEs were classified as infections and infestations (62.2% voclosporin; 54.9% control) and gastrointestinal disorders (45.3% voclosporin; 35.3% placebo). No new or unexpected safety signals were detected. Conclusions: This integrated analysis demonstrates the efficacy and safety of voclosporin in the treatment of LN across the diverse racial and ethnic groups studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hematite nanoparticles (α‐Fe2O3) were successfully synthesised using facile and eco‐friendly hydrothermal method. Synthesised hematite nanoparticles were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, surface area analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Nano/micro particles of Hematite (1, 3&5 %, w/w) were incorporated in aerosol forming composite (AFC). For the first time, catalytic effect of nano and micro size hematite on performance of AFC has been creatively investigated with respect to combustion and fire extinguishment parameters. Incorporation of nano hematite (5 %, w/w) in AFC reduced the combustion temperature (by 11 %) and tremendously boosted the burn rate & combustion efficiency by 30&7.5 % respectively. This in turn produced the aerosols in less time and put out the fire quickly (<5 s). Hematite nano counterpart was discovered to be more promising than its micro equivalent. This exploratory study is valuable in the field of development of futuristic ultra‐fast fire extinguishants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant quantity of hydrocarbons remains in the reservoir after production using primary and secondary techniques. Traditional recovery techniques produce about 33 % of the original oil in place. However, the utilization of chemicals such as surfactants and polymers facilitate the additional recovery of one‐third of this oil. Researchers are currently aiming at mixing surfactant and nanoparticles for their potential applications in petroleum industry. In this work, authors claimed to be the first to study usage of synthesized Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSN) with Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS) surfactant to understand its applicability in Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery through evaluation of the surface tension & Interfacial tension, surfactant adsorption, contact angle, and core flooding experiments. Surface tension studies revealed a synergistic interaction between MSN and anionic surfactant molecules. With the introduction of 2500 ppm of anionic surfactant, the surface tension of deionized water reduces to 34.5 mN/m from 72.4 mN/m. The surface tension of the mixture was further lowered by ∼9.8 % with the addition of 300 ppm MSN. The Interfacial Tension results also showed the same trend. When 300 ppm of MSN was introduced, then IFT values decreases from 8.13 mN/m to 3.91 mN/m at 2500 ppm of anionic surfactant. Contact angle measurements after MSN injection went from 77.98° for SDS (2500 ppm) to 73.36°, 66.54°, and 41.95° for 100, 200, and 300 ppm of MSN, respectively. This demonstrates that the shift toward water‐wet behavior increased along with the MSN concentration. Additionally, adding 300 ppm of MSN lowered surfactant adsorption by ∼80 % at a surfactant concentration of 2500 ppm. Up to 72.27 % of the OOIP could be recovered using the chemical slug made of SDS surfactant, polymer, and MSN. The research data suggests that the MSN can increase the effectiveness of the chemical injection approach, which can be used to recover more oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, scientific community has shown immense interest in the synthesis of novel, bioactive molecules with few adverse effects. Instead of painstaking multistep synthesis with hazardous synthetic reagents, also for clinical studies, it is better to enhance the activity and tuning by structural modification of the commercial drugs based on their structural and biological properties. It is demonstrated that diclofenac (DCF) be an effective analgesic and anti‐pyretic in the treatment of cancer‐related pain, but it has limitations and adverse effects as gastrointestinal irritation, small intestine damage, nausea, platelet dysfunction, and vertigo. Wherefore the main objective of the current research is to investigate new, novel, green methods of preparation of DCF derivatives, and structural characterization with the help of FT‐IR, UV‐Visible spectroscopy, MS spectrometry techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanostructured SnO2 thin films are synthesized by the chemical Spray pyrolysis method in presence of air and nitrogen as carrier gas. The study has emphasized on the impact of carrier gas on the underlying, electrical, and optical properties of the deposited thin films. XRD studies uncover that there is no variation in the crystalline structure of the film. The SnO2 thin films prepared using nitrogen as carrier gas is found more conductive as compared to the film prepared using air as a carrier gas. The change in conductivity is due to the increased oxygen deficiency in the nitrogen atmosphere. The HBM and EMA models are used to calculate particle radius by optical absorption data, showing the particle diameter is low for nitrogen as compared to air as carrier gas. The activation energy is also found to decrease in presence of nitrogen as carrier gas. This may be due to shallow donor and deep acceptor levels of semiconductors. The decrease in particle size increases the number of surface atoms, responsible for a decrease in activation energy of films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solid polymer electrolytes (SPE) based electrochemical devices are an area of attention for more than two decades. The ability of thin‐film preparation and leakage proof over the liquid counterpart are the key factors of SPE. In the present work, two different compositions, 80–20 and 85–15, of PVA:KI has been used as a host polymer complex. Where further 10 wt% of p‐Si dispersed with PVA:KI complexes. Polymer films have been prepared with standard solution cast techniques, which are further characterized for their electrical conductivity by Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). Also, the humidity effect on the ionic conductivity of these thin films is calculated. It is observed that the ionic conductivity of these polymer electrolytes films increases with 58%, 74%, and 89% humidity. To understand the change in this ionic conductivity, the concentration and mobility of ions are also calculated, and it is found that the change in conductivity are predominately influenced due to the mobility of charge carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, inflammatory disease with common musculoskeletal manifestations, notably reductions in bone quality. Bone marrow adipose tissue composition and quantity has been previously linked to bone quality and may play a role in SLE pathophysiology but has not been thoroughly studied. Purpose: To use magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to investigate bone marrow adipose tissue quantity and composition in proximal femur subregions of untreated SLE patients compared to controls and treated patients. Study Type: Prospective. Subjects: A total of 64 female subjects: 28 SLE, 15 glucocorticoid (GC)‐treated SLE and 21 matched controls. Field Strength/Sequence: Stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM) sequence at 3 T. Assessment: MRS was performed at multiple echo times in the femoral neck and trochanter regions and fatty acids (FA) composition was computed. Statistical Tests: Intergroup comparisons were carried out using ANOVA. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: SLE patients had significantly higher saturated FA compared to controls in both the femoral neck (+0.12) and trochanter (+0.11), significantly lower monounsaturated FA in the trochanter compared to controls (−0.05), and significantly lower polyunsaturated FA in the femoral neck compared to both controls (−0.07) and SLE patients on GC therapy (−0.05). Data Conclusion: SLE patients have altered proximal femur marrow fat metabolism, which may reflect a manifestation of, or play a role in, the altered inflammatory response of these patients. Evidence Level: 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surfactant flooding is a prolific enhanced oil recovery technique. It alters the rock fluid interfacial interactions between reservoir fluids and rocks. However, a pair of impeding factors often limit the economic viability of the process and need to be optimized. The first is the surfactant loss on the adsorbent surface due to adsorption making it a potential environmental problem. The second is the Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) which governs the amount of surfactant pumped. This study aimed to minimize the surfactant loss and the CMC, thereby optimizing the flooding efficiency and reducing the environmental concerns for nanoparticle applications. To achieve this, Silicon Carbide nanoparticles (SCN) were employed as additives to the surfactant solution. It was observed that the use of SCN reduces the surfactant adsorption by as much as 44 % and the critical micelle concentration by 14 %. The studies also observed that the concentration of SCN required to get these results is dramatically (more than 25 times) lower than previously reported literature on other nanoparticles. To adsorption isotherm studies provide an insight into the type of adsorption taking place. The adsorption isotherm follows the Langmuir model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermally stable drilling fluid is the need of the oil and gas industry. The impetus for producing appropriate drilling fluid lies in the addition of novel polymeric additives. The addition of polymer improves the filtration and rheological properties of the drilling fluid. Poly(4‐styrene sulfonic acid‐co‐maleic acid) sodium salt (PSSM), a low‐molecular‐weight polymer, exhibited filtration and rheological control in the water‐based drilling fluid system containing bentonite and hydroxyethyl cellulose. The polymer was characterized using a thermogravimetric technique and found to be stable up to 250°C. The optimum concentration for PSSM is 1.0 w/v% as fluid loss from the drilling fluid reduced by ~63% on addition of 1.0 w/v% PSSM and by ~75% on addition of 2.0 w/v% PSSM. The addition of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) to the PSSM‐induced drilling fluid further improved the rheological and filtration properties at elevated temperature. The thermal aging studies confirm the stability of the drilling mud up to 110°C in the presence of NPs. The addition of PSSM and NPs significantly improved the mud performance due to PSSM interactions with NPs and other mud additives even at high temperatures which suggests the applicability of these mud formulations for challenging high‐temperature wells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Enrollment of patients of Black African ancestry with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in phase II and phase III of the belimumab trials was not reflective of the racial distribution observed in the lupus population. This study was undertaken to assess the efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) belimumab plus standard therapy in patients of self‐identified Black race. Methods: EMBRACE (GSK Study BEL115471; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01632241) was a 52‐week multicenter, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial in adults of self‐identified Black race with active SLE who received monthly belimumab 10 mg/kg IV, or placebo, plus standard therapy. The optional 26‐week open‐label extension phase included patients who completed the double‐blind phase. The primary end point of the study was SLE Responder Index (SRI) response rate at week 52 with modified proteinuria scoring adapted from the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI‐2K) (SRI–SLEDAI‐2K). Key secondary end points included SRI response rate at week 52, time to first severe SLE flare, and reductions in prednisone dose. Results: The modified intent‐to‐treat population comprised 448 patients, of whom 96.9% were women and the mean ± SD age was 38.8 ± 11.42 years. The primary end point (improvement in the SRI–SLEDAI‐2K response rate at week 52) was not achieved (belimumab 48.7%, placebo 41.6%; odds ratio 1.40 [95% confidence interval 0.93, 2.11], P = 0.1068); however, numerical improvements favoring belimumab were observed, in which the SRI–SLEDAI‐2K response rates were higher in those who received belimumab compared with those who received placebo, especially in patients with SLE who had high disease activity or renal manifestations at baseline. The safety profile of belimumab was generally consistent with that observed in previous SLE trials. Adverse events were the primary reasons for double‐blind phase withdrawals (belimumab 5.4%, placebo 6.7%). Conclusion: The primary end point of this study was not achieved, but improvement with belimumab versus placebo was observed, suggesting that belimumab remains a suitable treatment option for SLE management in patients of Black African ancestry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapeutics for patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) are urgently needed during the pandemic. Bamlanivimab is a potent neutralizing monoclonal antibody that blocks severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) attachment and entry into human cells, which could potentially lead to therapeutic benefit. J2W‐MC‐PYAA was a randomized, double‐blind, sponsor unblinded, placebo‐controlled, single ascending dose first‐in‐human trial (NCT04411628) in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19. A total of 24 patients received either placebo or a single dose of bamlanivimab (700 mg, 2,800 mg, or 7,000 mg). The primary objective was assessment of safety and tolerability, including adverse events and serious adverse events, with secondary objectives of pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic analyses. Treatment‐emergent adverse event (TEAE) rates were identical in the placebo and pooled bamlanivimab groups (66.7%). There were no apparent dose‐related increases in the number or severity of TEAEs. There were no serious adverse events or deaths during the study, and no discontinuations due to adverse events. PKs of bamlanivimab is linear and exposure increased proportionally with dose following single i.v. administration. The half‐life was ~ 17 days. These results demonstrate the favorable safety profile of bamlanivimab, and provided the initial critical evaluation of safety, tolerability, and PKs in support of the development of bamlanivimab in several ongoing clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate long‐term safety and tolerability of anifrolumab, a human monoclonal antibody to the type I interferon (IFN) receptor subunit 1, in patients with moderate‐to‐severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: This 3‐year, multinational, open‐label extension study included adult patients who completed treatment (48 weeks of anifrolumab or placebo; 12‐week follow‐up) in the MUSE phase IIb randomized controlled trial (RCT). Patients initially received 1,000 mg of anifrolumab intravenously every 4 weeks, which was reduced to 300 mg every 4 weeks based on the benefit/risk profile established in the MUSE trial. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed monthly. Exploratory end points included the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI‐2K), Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI), pharmacodynamics, and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). Results: Of the 246 patients who completed the RCT, 218 (88.6%) enrolled in the open‐label extension study, of which 139 (63.8%) completed 3 years of treatment. Approximately 69.7% of patients reported ≥1 AE during the first year of open‐label extension treatment. Frequency and patterns of serious AEs and AEs of special interest over 3 years were consistent with those reported for 1 year of treatment in the RCT. Few patients (6.9%) discontinued treatment due to AEs. No new safety signals were identified. Improvement in the SLEDAI‐2K was sustained over 3 years. SDI and Short Form 36 health survey scores remained stable. Neutralization of type I IFN gene signatures was maintained in the IFN‐high population, and C3, C4, and anti–double‐stranded DNA showed trends toward sustained improvement. Conclusion: Long‐term anifrolumab treatment demonstrates an acceptable safety profile with sustained improvement in SLE disease activity, HRQoL, and serologic measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of biomarkers to predict the evolution of patients suspected of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), designated as probable SLE (pSLE), into classifiable SLE according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria. Methods: Patients suspected of SLE were enrolled by lupus experts if they fulfilled three ACR criteria for SLE and were followed for approximately 1‐3 years to evaluate transition into ACR‐classifiable SLE. Individual cell‐bound complement activation products (CB‐CAPs), serum complement proteins (C3 and C4), and autoantibodies were measured by flow cytometry, turbidimetry, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Blood levels of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) were measured by mass spectrometry. A multianalyte assay panel (MAP), which includes CB‐CAPs, was also evaluated. A MAP of greater than 0.8 reflected the optimal cutoff for transition to SLE. Time to fulfillment of ACR criteria was evaluated by Kaplan‐Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Of the 92 patients with pSLE enrolled, 74 had one or two follow‐up visits 9‐35 months after enrollment for a total of 128 follow‐up visits. Overall, 28 patients with pSLE (30.4%) transitioned to ACR‐classifiable SLE, including 16 (57%) in the first year and 12 (43%) afterwards. A MAP score of greater than 0.8 at enrollment predicted transition to classifiable SLE during the follow‐up period (hazard ratio = 2.72; P = 0.012), whereas individual biomarkers or fulfillment of Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics criteria did not. HCQ therapy was not associated with the prevention of transition to SLE. Conclusion: Approximately one‐third of patients with pSLE transitioned within the study period. MAP of greater than 0.8 predicted disease evolution into classifiable SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To characterize patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) and to analyze associations of comorbidities and medications on infection outcomes. Methods: Patients with SLE and reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction–confirmed COVID‐19 were identified through an established New York University lupus cohort, query of 2 hospital systems, and referrals from rheumatologists. Data were prospectively collected via a web‐based questionnaire and review of medical records. Data on baseline characteristics were obtained for all patients with COVID‐19 to analyze risk factors for hospitalization. Data were also collected on asymptomatic patients and those with COVID‐19–like symptoms who tested negative or were not tested. Statistical analyses were limited to confirmed COVID‐19–positive patients. Results: A total of 226 SLE patients were included: 41 with confirmed COVID‐19, 19 who tested negative for COVID‐19, 42 with COVID‐19–like symptoms who did not get tested, and 124 who remained asymptomatic without testing. Of the SLE patients with confirmed COVID‐19, hospitalization was required in 24 (59%) and intensive care unit–level of care in 4, and 4 died. Hospitalized patients tended to be older, nonwhite, Hispanic, have higher body mas index (BMI), history of nephritis, and at least 1 comorbidity. An exploratory (due to limited sample size) logistic regression analysis identified race, presence of at least 1 comorbidity, and BMI as independent predictors of hospitalization. Conclusion: In general, the variables predictive of hospitalization in our SLE patients were similar to those identified in the general population. Further studies are needed to understand additional risk factors for poor COVID‐19 outcomes in patients with SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange (THRIVE) is an intraoperative ventilatory technique that allows avoidance of tracheal intubation (TI) or jet ventilation (JV) in selected laryngologic surgical cases. Unimpeded access to all parts of the glottis may improve surgical precision, decrease operative time, and potentially improve patient outcomes. The objective of this prospective, randomized, patient-blinded, 2-arm parallel pilot trial was to investigate the safety and efficacy of THRIVE use for adult patients undergoing nonlaser laryngologic surgery of short-to-intermediate duration.Methods: Twenty adult, American society of anesthesiology class 1-3 patients with body mass index (BMI) < 35 kg/m2 were randomly assigned to either an experimental THRIVE group or active comparator conventional ventilation group (TI or supraglottic high-frequency JV [SHFJV]). Primary outcomes included intraoperative oxygenation, anesthesia awakening/extubation time, time to laryngoscopic suspension, number of intraoperative suspension adjustments, and operative time. Secondary patient outcomes including postanesthesia and functional patient recovery were investigated.Results: Compared to TI/SHFJV, THRIVE use was associated with significantly lower intraoperative oxygenation (SpO2 93.0 ± 5.6% vs. 98.7 ± 1.6%), shorter time to suspension (1.8 ± 1.1 minutes vs. 4.3 ± 2.1 minutes), fewer suspension adjustments (0.4 ± 0.5 vs. 1.7 ± 0.9), and lower postoperative pain scores on recovery room admission (1.3 ± 1.9 vs. 3.7 ± 2.9) and discharge (0.9 ± 1.3 vs. 2.7 ± 1.8). The study was underpowered to detect other possible outcome differences.Conclusion: We confirm the safe intraoperative oxygenation profile of THRIVE for selected patients undergoing nonlaser laryngologic surgery of short-to-intermediate duration. THRIVE facilitated surgical exposure and improved early patient recovery, suggesting a potential economic benefit for outpatient laryngologic procedures. The results of this exploratory study provide a framework for designing future adequately powered THRIVE trials.Trial Register: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03091179).Level Of Evidence: II Laryngoscope, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of cell‐bound complement activation products (CB‐CAPs) as a marker of complement activation in patients with suspected systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the usefulness of this biomarker as a predictor of the evolution of probable SLE into SLE as classified by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. Methods: Patients in whom SLE was suspected by lupus experts and who fulfilled 3 ACR classification criteria for SLE (probable SLE) were enrolled, along with patients with established SLE as classified by both the ACR and the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria, patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), and patients with other rheumatic diseases. Individual CB‐CAPs were measured by flow cytometry, and positivity rates were compared to those of commonly assessed biomarkers, including serum complement proteins (C3 and C4) and autoantibodies. The frequency of a positive multianalyte assay panel (MAP), which includes CB‐CAPs, was also evaluated. Probable SLE cases were followed up prospectively. Results: The 92 patients with probable SLE were diagnosed more recently than the 53 patients with established SLE, and their use of antirheumatic medications was lower. At the enrollment visit, more patients with probable SLE were positive for CB‐CAPs (28%) or MAP (40%) than had low complement levels (9%) (P = 0.0001 for each). In probable SLE, MAP scores of >0.8 at enrollment predicted fulfillment of a fourth ACR criterion within 18 months (hazard ratio 3.11, P < 0.01). Conclusion: Complement activation occurs in some patients with probable SLE and can be detected with higher frequency by evaluating CB‐CAPs and MAP than by assessing traditional serum complement protein levels. A MAP score above 0.8 predicts transition to classifiable SLE according to ACR criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteoporosis (OP) results in weak bone and can ultimately lead to fracture. Drugs such as glucocorticoids can also induce OP (glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis [GIO]). Bone marrow adipose tissue composition and quantity may play a role in OP pathophysiology, but has not been thoroughly studied in GIO compared to primary OP.Purpose/hypothesis: Chemical shift-encoded (CSE) MRI allows detection of subregional differences in bone marrow adipose tissue composition and quantity in the proximal femur of GIO compared to OP subjects and has high agreement with the reference standard of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS).Study Type: Prospective.Subjects: In all, 18 OP and 13 GIO subjects.Fields Strength: 3T.Sequence: Multiple gradient-echo, stimulated echo acquisition mode (STEAM).Assessment: Subjects underwent CSE-MRI in the proximal femurs, and for each parametric map regions of interest (ROIs) were assessed in the femoral head (fHEAD), femoral neck (fNECK), Ward's triangle (fTRIANGLE), and the greater trochanter (GTROCH). In addition, we compared CSE-MRI against the reference standard of MRS performed in the femoral neck and Ward's triangle.Statistical Tests: Differences between OP/GIO were investigated using the Mann-Whitney nonparametric test. Bland-Altman methodology was used to assess measurement agreement between CSE-MRI and MRS.Results: GIO compared with OP subjects demonstrated: decreased monounsaturated fat fraction (MUFA) (-2.1%, P < 0.05) in fHEAD; decreased MUFA (-3.8%, P < 0.05), increased saturated fat fraction (SFA) (5.5%, P < 0.05), and decreased T2* (-3.8 msec, P < 0.05) in fNECK; decreased proton density fat fraction (PDFF) (-15.1%, P < 0.05), MUFA (-9.8%, P < 0.05), polyunsaturated fat fraction (PUFA) (-1.8%, P < 0.01), increased SFA (11.6%, P < 0.05), and decreased T2* (-5.4 msec, P < 0.05) in fTRIANGLE; and decreased T2* (-1.5 msec, P < 0.05) in GTROCH. There was high measurement agreement between MRI and MRS using the Bland-Altman test.Data Conclusion: 3T CSE-MRI may allow reliable assessment of subregional bone marrow adipose tissue (bMAT) quantity and composition in the proximal femur in a clinically reasonable scan time. Glucocorticoids may alter the lipid profile of bMAT and potentially result in reduced bone quality.Level Of Evidence: 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:490-496. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt impregnated silica nanoparticles (Co–SiO2) were synthesized via one pot method involving supercritical drying followed by in‐situ reduction. The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by nitrogen‐Brunauer Emmett Teller (N2‐BET) isotherm studies, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta particle size analyzer and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) techniques. The Co–SiO2 nanoparticles were evaluated for adsorptive removal of methylene blue (MB), trinitrotoluene (TNT), and mercury ions [Hg (II)]. The equilibrium adsorption data were analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) isotherm models. Adsorption of MB and Hg(II) were best fitted by Langmuir isotherm model depicting their homogenous monolayer adsorption with maximum adsorption capacity of 250 and 40.24 mg/g, respectively, while TNT adsorption was best fitted by Freundlich isotherm model indicating a heterogeneous adsorption with 20.49 mg/g adsorption capacity. The mean adsorption energy calculated through D–R model indicated physisorption of all the three contaminants by the adsorbent. Thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption of these contaminants was spontaneous and endothermic process with increased randomness at the solid/solution interface. The magnetic Co/SiO2 nanoparticles were easily separated after adsorption process with the help of a magnet and showed a reusability upto three cycles without much loss in adsorption efficiency. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38: S42–S53, 2019 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered to be a prototypical autoimmune disorder. Several mechanisms have been proposed for the known pathologic function of B cells in RA, including antigen presentation, cytokine secretion, and humoral immunity. The aim of this study was to address the function of B lymphocytes in experimental arthritis. Methods: We mapped the adaptive immune response following collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA). We subsequently monitored these responses and disease outcomes in genetically modified mouse strains that lack mature B cell or germinal center (GC) functionality in a B cell–intrinsic manner. Results: Following primary immunization, the draining lymph nodes broadly reacted against type II collagen (CII) with the formation of GCs and T cell activation. Mice that lacked mature B cell function were fully protected against CIA and had a severely attenuated ability to mount isotype‐switched humoral immune responses against CII. Almost identical results were observed in mice that were selectively deficient in GC responses. Importantly, GC‐deficient mice were fully susceptible to collagen antibody–induced arthritis. Conclusion: We identified GC formation and anticollagen antibody production as the key pathogenic functions of B cells in CIA. The role of B cells in RA is likely to be more complex. However, targeting the GC reaction could allow for therapeutic interventions that are more refined than general B cell depletion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles of size 3–5 nm and surface area 257 m2 g−1 were synthesized using simple, single‐pot, and surfactant‐free aerogel process. Efforts were made to tune the surface area and porosity of CeO2 nanoparticles by changing the concentration of precursors. CeO2 nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, SEM, XRD, N2‐BET, and FTIR. Prepared CeO2 was used to remove As(III) and As(V) from water at variable contaminant concentrations (25–100 ppm) and pH (3–10). The adsorption process found extremely fast for the first few minutes of exposure. CeO2 nanoparticles indicated adsorption capacities of 71.9 and 36.8 mg g−1 against As(III) and As(V), respectively. The adsorption data best fitted with Redlich–Peterson model, depicting monolayer adsorption. The adsorption followed pseudo‐second‐order kinetics and intraparticle diffusion with three‐step diffusion process. The effect of co‐existing anions (H2 PO 4 −, SO 4 2 −, and HCO 3 −) indicated 80–96% reduction in adsorption capacity. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 221–231, 2018 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A family of tri-β-substituted porphyrins, MTPP(CH3)2X (M = 2H, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn; X = NO2 or CHO; TPP = tetraphenylporphyrin), was synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. The single-crystal X-ray structures of NiTPP(CH3)2CHO and H2TPP(CH3)2NO2 revealed ruffled and saddle conformations of the porphyrin core, respectively. The effects of the β substituents were reflected in bathochromic shifts of the electronic spectral features and positive or negative shifts of the redox potentials. H2TPP(CH3)2NO2 and H2TPP(CH3)2CHO exhibited very high dipole moments (5.76-7.59 D) compared with that of H2TPP (0.052 D) owing to the push-pull effect. These push-pull porphyrins exhibited lower HOMO-LUMO gaps than those of MTPP(NO2) and MTPP. The redox tunability was achieved through the introduction of electron donor and acceptor groups at the porphyrin backbone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) is the most common secondary form of osteoporosis, and glucocorticoid users are at increased risk for fracture compared with nonusers. There is no established relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk in GIO. We used 3 Tesla (T) MRI to investigate how proximal femur microarchitecture is altered in subjects with GIO.Methods: This study had institutional review board approval. We recruited 6 subjects with long-term (> 1 year) glucocorticoid use (median age = 52.5 (39.2-58.7) years) and 6 controls (median age = 65.5 [62-75.5] years). For the nondominant hip, all subjects underwent dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to assess BMD and 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, 3D FLASH) to assess metrics of bone microarchitecture and strength.Results: Compared with controls, glucocorticoid users demonstrated lower femoral neck trabecular number (-50.3%, 1.12 [0.84-1.54] mm(-1) versus 2.27 [1.88-2.73] mm(-1) , P = 0.02), plate-to-rod ratio (-20.1%, 1.48 [1.39-1.71] versus 1.86 [1.76-2.20], P = 0.03), and elastic modulus (-64.8% to -74.8%, 1.54 [1.22-3.19] GPa to 2.31 [1.87-4.44] GPa versus 6.15 [5.00-7.09] GPa to 6.59 [5.58-7.31] GPa, P < 0.05), and higher femoral neck trabecular separation (+192%, 0.705 [0.462-1.00] mm versus 0.241 [0.194-0.327] mm, P = 0.02). There were no differences in femoral neck trabecular thickness (-2.7%, 0.193 [0.184-0.217] mm versus 0.199 [0.179-0.210] mm, P = 0.94) or femoral neck BMD T-scores (+20.7%, -2.1 [-2.8 to -1.4] versus -2.6 [-3.3 to -2.5], P = 0.24) between groups.Conclusion: The 3T MRI can potentially detect detrimental changes in proximal femur microarchitecture and strength in long-term glucocorticoid users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autoantibody-mediated inflammation contributes to the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and anti-type II collagen (CII) antibodies are present in the serum, synovial fluid, and cartilage of RA patients. We had previously generated and characterized knock-in mice expressing a germline-encoded, CII-specific IgH (B10Q.ACB), which demonstrated positive selection of self-reactive B cells. Here, we show that despite the spontaneous production of CII-specific autoantibodies, B10Q.ACB mice are protected from collagen-induced arthritis. Introducing a mutation in the Ncf1 gene, leading to ROS deficiency, breaks this strong arthritis resistance. Disease development in Ncf1-mutated B10Q.ACB mice is associated with an enhanced germinal center formation but without somatic mutations of the auto-reactive B cells, increased T-cell responses and intramolecular epitope-spreading. Thus, ROS-mediated B-cell tolerance to a self-antigen could operate by limiting the expansion of the auto-reactive B-cell repertoire, which has important implications for the understanding of epitope spreading phenomena in rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the synthesis and characterization of two nontoxic, thermogelling drug delivery systems which are liquid at room temperatures but become a gel at physiological temperature (37°C) potentially leading to release of a drug molecule. We selected temperature as the stimulus for drug release as it is physiologically invariant. A free radical polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and N-vinylpyrrolidone (VP) was carried out under nitrogen atmosphere in double-distilled water at two different temperatures (30°C and 70°C), and the copolymers obtained were characterized by various analytical techniques. The molar ratios of the two monomers were altered with increasing NIPAM content and their cloud point temperature or least critical solution temperature (LCST) was determined. The copolymer at 9:1 ratio of NIPAM to VP resulted in the formation of nanoparticle-based gel (NG1) at 30°C; however, at 70°C, a microgel (MG1) was formed. The LCST of the nanogel and microgel was 33.5-34°C and 36.5-37°C, respectively. Thus, both the copolymers are water soluble at room temperature, but distinct phases appear at physiological temperatures. We hypothesized that these copolymers on entrapment with a drug could be used for topical application to the skin or eye for controlled drug delivery applications. Toxicological studies revealed that the copolymers are nontoxic in HeLa cells. Finally, our experiments show that a model drug [bovine serum albumin (BSA)] is released at 37°C with zero-order kinetics and confirmed using multiple well-known mathematical models. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Maternal anti-Ro autoantibodies are associated with cardiac manifestations of neonatal lupus (cardiac NL), yet only 2% of women with this reactivity have an affected child. Identification of a more specific marker would channel intense monitoring to fetuses at greater risk. This study aimed to determine whether autoantibodies against Ro 52 amino acids 200-239 (p200) confer added risk over autoantibodies to full-length Ro 52, Ro 60, or La. Methods Anti-Ro-exposed pregnancies resulting in cardiac NL or no cardiac manifestations were identified from the Research Registry for Neonatal Lupus and the PR Interval and Dexamethasone Evaluation study. Umbilical cord (n = 123) and maternal (n = 115) samples were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The frequencies of p200, Ro 52, Ro 60, and La autoantibodies were not significantly different between affected and unaffected children. However, neonatal anti-Ro 52 and Ro 60 titers were highest in cardiac NL and their unaffected siblings compared to unaffected neonates without a cardiac NL sibling. Although both maternal anti-Ro 52 and p200 autoantibodies were less than 50% specific for cardiac NL, anti-p200 was the least likely of the Ro autoantibodies to be false-positive in mothers who have never had an affected child. Titers of anti-Ro 52 and p200 did not differ during a cardiac NL or unaffected pregnancy from the same mother. Conclusion Maternal reactivity to p200 does not confer an added risk to fetal conduction defects over full-length Ro 52 or Ro 60 autoantibodies. Mothers who may never be at risk for having an affected child have lower anti-Ro 60 titers and may require less stringent echocardiographic monitoring compared to women with high-titer autoantibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to systematically compare the conventional and reverse transfection methodologies for chitosan/DNA complexes using a low molecular weight (MW) chitosan. The hydrodynamic diameter of the complexes, measured by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) was found to be ∼ 216 nm and TEM investigations showed spherical and compact complexes with an average size of 200 nm. The transfection efficiency of chitosan using the two methodologies was assessed by employing reporter gene coding for green fluorescent protein (GFP) and luciferase. More than 50% of HEK 293 cells were transfected when transfection done using reverse transfection strategy at pH 6.5 with 10% serum for 24 h followed by media replenishment with pH 7.4 with 10% serum for an additional 24 h period. Also, the cytotoxicity of chitosan/DNA complexes was also considerably lower than the commercially available transfection reagent lipofectamine. Our investigation concludes that maximal transgene expression levels could be achieved using reverse transfection where the chitosan/DNA complexes are pre-incubated on the plate surface followed by plating of cells at pH 6.5 with 10% serum for 24h and media resupplemented with pH 7.4 with 10% serum for an additional 24 h period. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Neonatal lupus (NL) occurs in fetuses exposed to maternal anti-SSA/Ro and/or anti-SSB/La antibodies, although the mothers themselves may not manifest any clinical disease. A focus on transmission of risk factors for NL from maternal grandparents to mothers of children with NL may yield dividends toward understanding the aggregation of autoantibodies and genetic factors in affected families. This study was perforned to determine the role of maternal grandparents in the development of the autoimmune phenotype of mothers of children with NL. Methods Fifty-one mothers of children with cardiac and/or cutaneous NL, 48 maternal grandmothers, and 35 maternal grandfathers in the Research Registry for Neonatal Lupus were interrogated for clinical symptoms by questionnaire and underwent laboratory assessments, including determination of anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibody status (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and genotype at rs1800629 ( TNFα) and rs7775397 ( C6orf10) (allelic discrimination). The transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) was computed to test for nonrandom transmission from maternal grandparents to mothers of children with NL. Results The common phenotypic feature in mothers of children with NL was the autoantibody and not the clinical profile; 7 had lupus, 14 had Sjögren's syndrome, 7 had both, and 23 were asymptomatic. Mothers of children with NL were significantly enriched for the risk alleles at both TNFα and C6orf10. The grandparents of children with NL carried minimal burden for autoimmune disease or abnormal antibody production and were not enriched in the genetic risk factors. However, the TDT analysis showed significant excess transmission of the risk alleles at both TNFα (odds ratio [OR] 6.67, P = 3.93 × 10−4) and C6orf10 (OR 35.0, P = 3.74 × 10−5) to mothers of children with NL. Conclusion Mothers of children with NL are enriched for the TNFα and C6orf10 risk alleles, which are preferentially inherited from the asymptomatic maternal grandparents. These findings support the hypothesis that the development of NL and genetic etiology are multigenerational. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, liver-directed gene transfer in rats with calcium phosphate (CaP) nanoparticles and the effect of the route of administration and surgical manipulations on transfection efficiency is reported. Formulations of CaP nanoparticles entrapping plasmid DNA (pDNA) were prepared by the reverse micellar method using two different surfactants. Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering were used to characterize the CaP–DNA nanocomposites. The morphological characteristics of the formulations showed a strong dependency on temperature. Gel electrophoresis experiments indicated that there was no degradation of the encapsulated pDNA, and in vitro cell transfection in HEK-293 and primary hepatocytes from rats as well as in vivo intraductal delivery experiments suggested that CaP nanoparticles led to significant and prolonged transgene expression. Therefore, our methodology gives a stable and viable formulation for hepatic gene therapy. Low-DNA dosage entrapped in CaP nanoparticles makes it an effective gene delivery system for clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study examining the kinetics of adsorption of 2-chloroethylethyl sulfide (2-CEES) and sulfur mustard (HD) on silica nanoparticles that were impregnated with reactive chemicals. The effectiveness of the chemicals against HD is noted, as well as the static conditions under which the kinetics of adsorption of 2-CEES and HD were studied. Linear driving force and Fickian diffusion models were used for the examination, noting that the study determined kinetic parameters including equilibration constant, equilibration capacity, and diffusional exponent.

The article explores the suitability of thiocompounds as stimulant for sulfur mustard (SM) in spot disc breakthrough time test (SD BTT). Methyl (phenyl thio)acetate (MPTA) was selected as one of the candidate simulants. The BTT of MPTA in butyl rubber membranes was compared vis-à-vis other commercially available thiocompounds. The permeation parameters for three short-listed compounds were derived by utilizing gravimetric method.

Activated carbon of surface area 1250 m²/g was impregnated with 4% sodium hydroxide plus 3% Cr(VI) as CrO3 with and without 5% ethylenediantine (EDA) and 5% ruthenium chloride by using their aqueous solutions. These carbons along with active carbon were studied for the adsorption of sulfur mustard (HD) under static conditions at 30 ± 1°C. Kinetics of adsorption have been studied by using the linear driving force model (LDF) and Fickian diffusion model. The kinetic parameters, such as equilibration constant/rate constant (ka), equilibration capacity, diffusional exponent (n), and adsorbate-adsorbent interaction constant (K), have also been determined. The diffusional exponent being less than 0.5 indicates Fickian diffusion of HD molecules in the studied carbons. Chemical interaction also seems to be the second mechanism (although minor) and is involved in the HD uptake rate (the first being the Fickian diffusion). The adsorbate-adsorbent interaction constant did not vary significantly, indicating that probably HD chemically interacts to a small extent with the metal salts present on the surface of active carbon as impregnants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the comparative study of electrical characterization for Si/C60/CuI dispersed composite polymer electrolyte thin films. Thin polymer films are prepared for different wt% of dispersoid with the host polymer electrolyte (PEO: NaI) matrix. Si and CuI are used as procured and C60 is prepared in the laboratory and the same has been verified with NMR data sheet. Furthermore, the prepared films are subjected to structural and electrical characterization. The composite nature of the films is verified with the X‐ray diffraction and Fourier Transform Infrared. The complex impedance spectroscopy is used to analyze the electrical conductivity of the samples. The polarization technique is performed to calculate the transference of ion (T¬ion). The concentration and mobility of charge carries are calculated to explain and to support the change in conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]