Search

Adverse effects and lack of specificity often hamper the use of conventional immunosuppressives in patients with systemic sarcoidosis. Adalimumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against the key cytokine involved in sarcoidosis, TNF-α, is used in patients with various immunological disorders [1]. Improved specificity, hence less adverse effects are the major advantages of this new class of drugs leading to an exponentially increasing role in their clinical use. However, few reports involving adalimumab in patients with sarcoidosis have been published so far and are restricted to case reports.

The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) is an MHC class I like receptor that binds immunoglobulin G (IgG) in acidic environment (mainly endosomes). The FcRn protects IgG from lysosomal degradation, controls its transport between cell layers and extends IgG serum half-life [1]. It has been shown that the FcRn is expressed by many human cells including APCs and monocytes [2]. Thus far FcRn expression by human lymphocytes has not been proven.

A miniaturized piezoelectric mass sensor has been developed that displays a very high mass sensitivity, S{sub m}. The sensor is based upon thin film resonator (TFR) technology, which is used to produce a gold-coated thin film (5.5 {mu}m) resonator (TFR) of piezoelectric aluminum nitride in the shape of 400-{mu}m squares. At this thickness, the TFRs support a standing bulk acoustic wave in a longitudinal mode at frequencies of {approximately} 1 GHz. Coatings of poly(methyl methacrylate) and spontaneously adsorbed monolayers from alkanethiols (CH{sub 3}-(CH{sub 2}){sub n}SH, n = 3,17) were used for the evaluation of S{sub m}. Results indicated that the S{sub m} ({approximately} -550 cm{sup 2}/g) of the TFRs rivals those of the most sensitive mass sensors currently available, while offering such performance in a markedly smaller device. Coatings were also used to sorb a gaseous analyte (i.e. methanol) at the TFRs to test their potential as gas-phase sensors. Tests conducted using monolayers formed by the chemisorption of a fluorinated thiol (CF{sub 3}(CF{sub 2}){sub 7}(CH{sub 2}){sub 2}-SH) and an acid-terminated thiol (HO{sub 2}C(CH{sub 2}){sub 15}SH) at the gold electrodes demonstrated both the performance of the TFRs and a primitive manipulation of the sorption selectivity of the interfacial structure. Possible applicationsmore » of the TFRs as mass sensors are examined based upon their high mass sensitivity and compatibility for device integration using semiconductor processing technology. 51 refs., 4 figs., 2 tabs.« less

Objective: This study was undertaken to assess frequencies of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutations cytosine-to-thymine substitution at base 677 (C677T) and adenine-to-cytosine substitution at base 1298 (A1298C) and their interactions with homocysteine and vitamin levels among Dutch women with preeclampsia. Study Design: Mutations were studied in the following 5 groups: 47 consecutive women with preeclampsia, 49 women with preeclampsia and with hyperhomocysteinemia, 36 women with preeclampsia but without hyperhomocysteinemia, 127 women with familial preeclampsia (typed for C677T mutations only), and 120 control subjects. Plasma levels of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B 12 were measured. Results: Although 10.6% of the consecutive women with preeclampsia had strictly defined hyperhomocysteinemia (values >97.5th percentile), neither mutation was found in excess relative to the control group. Women with preeclampsia who had mild hyperhomocysteinemia (values >75th percentile) had a significant excess of the TT genotype (homozygosity for C677T mutation) relative to the women with preeclampsia who did not have hyperhomocysteinemia (odds ratio, 8.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-39). They also had significantly lower vitamin levels. Conclusion: Hyperhomocysteinemia in women with preeclampsia was associated with mutations in the gene for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, but the high frequency of hyperhomocysteinemia itself cannot be explained by these mutations alone. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:394-402.)

This paper focuses on the design, construction, preliminary testing, and potential applications of three forms of miniaturized analytical instrumentation. The first is an optical fiber instrument for monitoring pH and other cations in aqueous solutions. The instrument couples chemically selective indicators that were immobilized at porous polymeric films with a hardware package that provides the excitation light source, required optical components, and detection and data processing hardware. The second is a new form of a piezoelectric mass sensor. The sensor was fabricated by the deposition of a thin (5.5 micron) film of piezoelectric aluminum nitride (AIN). The completed deposition process yields a thin film resonator (TFR) that is shaped as a 400 micron square and supports a standing bulk acoustic wave in a longitudinal mode at frequencies of approx. 1 GHz. Various deposition and vapor sorption studies indicate that the mass sensitivity of the TFR's rival those of the most sensitive mass sensors currently available, though offering such performance in a markedly smaller device. The third couples a novel form of liquid chromatography with microlithographic miniaturization techniques. The status of the miniaturization effort, the goal of which is to achieve chip-scale separations, is briefly discussed.

We have investigated the absorption spectra of seventeen explosives and related compounds (ERCs) by using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy in the 0.1-2.8 THz region. Most of these substances show characteristic absorption features in this frequency range. The measured absorption coefficients of these ERCs form a database, which is of great importance for biochemical, defense and security related applications.

The reflection spectrum of the explosive RDX was acquired from a diffuse reflection measurement using a THz time-domain spectroscopy system in combination with a diffuse reflectance accessory. By applying the Kramers-Kronig transform to the reflection spectrum, the absorption spectrum (0.2-1.8 THz) was obtained. It agrees with the result from a transmission measurement and distinguishes RDX from other materials. The effect of the reference spectrum was examined by using both a Teflon pellet and a copper plate as references. The strong absorption of RDX at 0.82 THz allowed it to be identified by the diffuse reflection measurement even when the RDX sample was covered with certain optically opaque materials. Our investigation demonstrates that THz technique is capable of detecting and identifying hidden RDX-related explosives in a diffuse reflection mode, which is crucial for the standoff detection in the real world applications.

A direct reading emission spectrometer system is described which permits dynamic background correction measurements at each analytical wavelength. The system utilizes a refractor plate mounted on a tuning fork as a rapid means for square-wave shifting the spectral band pass from each analytical wavelength to the adjacent background wavelength position. A laboratory computer controls the system, receives the data, and performs the background subtraction. Evaluation of the system has shown that photon counting statistics are applicable and that reliable background corrections are obtained. Comparisons of this correction approach with others that have been used have further demonstrated its advantages for multielement analysis by emission spectrometry.

Summary The authors present 35 cases of ulcerative colitis, 29 of whom were treated by psychotherapeutic measures. Psychoanalysis was not used in these patients. By a supportive type of treatment the authors tried to give the patient an opportunity to discharge his aggressive feelings and, by giving him constant sympathy and protection, to help him in reasserting himself. Improvement of social conditions, therapeutic influence on attitude of parents, marriage partners, or employers, also appeared to benefit the course of the disease. The realization on the part of the medical and nursing staff that ulcerative colitis patients are immature personalities, who should be treated as such and that the disease itself has contributed to their regression into more infantile feelings and behavior patterns, has been of great importance in bringing out the patience and care which are necessary to obtain satisfactory results. In general, the effect of psychotherapy was determined by the patient's condition on admission, the time and care the doctor was prepared to give to him and the cooperation obtained from the patient's personal environment. It was further found that this type of "superficial" psychotherapy could be carried out equally well by a physician as by a psychiatrist, provided they were interested enough in this sort of treatment. The results compare favorably with those obtained by other forms of treatment.

The paper presents a review of some applications of the Wigner distribution function to optics. The Wigner distribution function F(x,u) of a signal describes the signal in space x and spatial frequency u, simultaneously, and can be considered as a local spatial frequency spectrum of the signal. Although derived in terms of Fourier optics, the description of a signal by means of its Wigner distribution function closely resembles the ray concept in geometrical optics. Some examples are given to show this resemblance. Properties of the Wigner distribution function are discussed, showing, for instance, its relation to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle and to some well‐known radiometric quantities. The concept of the Wigner distribution function is not restricted to deterministic signals; it can easily be extended to stochastic signals. Some examples of stochastic signals are considered. The propagation of signals through linear systems can readily be expressed in terms of Wigner distribution functions. Again, the description of systems by Wigner distribution functions can be interpreted directly in terms of geometrical optics: for Luneburg’s first‐order system, for instance, such a description immediately yields the ray transformation matrix of the system, and the relation between the input and the output Wigner distributioin function reads Fo(x,u) = Fi(Ax+Bu,Cx+Du). Transport equations for the Wigner distribution function in a general linear medium are derived. In the Liouville approximation they take the form of a first‐order partial differential equation, which allows, once more, a geometric‐optical interpretation: along the path of a geometric‐optical light ray the Wigner distribution function has a constant value.

We report the measurement of the diffuse reflection spectrum of RDX by using THz time-domain spectroscopy. The absorption spectrum obtained from the diffuse Fresnel reflection measurement agrees with that from the transmission measurement. Two materials, polyethylene and flour that have no THz absorption fingerprints were also examined for comparison. When the RDX sample was covered with some optically opaque materials, the THz absorption at 0.82 THz was still identified by the diffuse reflection measurement. Our investigation shows that THz technique is capable of detecting the hidden RDX and related explosives in diffuse reflection geometry, which is well suited for standoff detection in real world.