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The “POWERFUL” multicenter, retrospective, and prospective study investigated the effectiveness of pomalidomide plus low‐dose dexamethasone (POM/LoDex) therapy in relapsed/re-fractory multiple myeloma in routine care in Greece. Ninety‐nine eligible adult patients treated with POM/LoDex according to the approved label after having received ≥2 prior therapies, including lenalidomide and bortezomib, were consecutively enrolled between 16 November 2017 and 21 Feb-ruary 2019 in 18 hematology departments. Fifty patients (50.5%) started POM/LoDex as third‐line treatment. During the treatment period (median: 8.3 months; range: 0.3–47.6 months), the median POM dose was 4 mg/day, and 31.3% of the patients received additional antimyeloma agents. The overall response rate was 32.3%. During a median follow‐up period of 13.8 months (Kaplan–Meier estimate), the median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 10.5 months (95% CI: 7.4–14.4). The PFS was not significantly different between patients receiving POM/LoDex in the third versus later line of therapy, nor between patients receiving concomitant antimyeloma therapy versus POM/LoDEx doublet. During the prospective safety data collection period (median: 7.6 months) among patients with prospective follow‐up (N = 75), POM‐related adverse event incidence rate was 42.7% (serious: 18.7%; grade ≥ 3 hematological POM‐related adverse events: 8.0%). Only neutropenia (13.3%) was reported at a frequency ≥10%. In conclusion, in this real‐world study, POM/LoDex displayed a long PFS with no new safety signals emerging. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Over the last years, the cyanobacteria Spirulina platensis (SP) has attracted special attention, as it possesses remarkable antioxidant activity and high amounts of bioactive compounds, such as phycocyanin, carotenoids and phenolics. Since Spirulina platensis biomass shows extremely high moisture content, dehydration is a crucial treatment step, which ensures the prolonged shelf life of the final product. However, drying affects drastically the qualitative characteristics of heat-sensitive foodstuffs with high nutritional value, such as SP. In this study, four different drying techniques, atmospheric drying (AD), freeze drying (FD), vacuum drying (VD) and accelerated solar drying (ASD), were examined and compared considering crucial parameters, i.e., moisture content reduction, change of structure, colour deterioration, pigment content and antioxidant activity. As shown from the obtained results, vacuum drying achieves faster moisture lowering and higher carotenoid content equal to 0.58 + 0.01 mg (g dry solids)−1. On the other hand, atmospheric drying is efficient in preserving phycocyanin since its content was found equal to 9.65 + 0.19%dry weight, but in general cannot be industrially applied due to the long dehydration time. Finally, accelerated solar dried biomass showed the highest antioxidant activity (31.28 ± 0.90% dry weight) mainly due to the degradation products after heating at high temperatures and stress conditions. © 2021 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Circulating autoantibodies (auto-Abs) neutralizing high concentrations (10 ng/ml; in plasma diluted 1:10) of IFN-α and/or IFN-ω are found in about 10% of patients with critical COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pneumonia but not in individuals with asymptomatic infections. We detect auto-Abs neutralizing 100-fold lower, more physiological, concentrations of IFN-α and/or IFN-ω (100 pg/ml; in 1:10 dilutions of plasma) in 13.6% of 3595 patients with critical COVID-19, including 21% of 374 patients >80 years, and 6.5% of 522 patients with severe COVID-19. These antibodies are also detected in 18% of the 1124 deceased patients (aged 20 days to 99 years; mean: 70 years). Moreover, another 1.3% of patients with critical COVID-19 and 0.9% of the deceased patients have auto-Abs neutralizing high concentrations of IFN-β. We also show, in a sample of 34,159 uninfected individuals from the general population, that auto-Abs neutralizing high concentrations of IFN-α and/or IFN-ω are present in 0.18% of individuals between 18 and 69 years, 1.1% between 70 and 79 years, and 3.4% >80 years. Moreover, the proportion of individuals carrying auto-Abs neutralizing lower concentrations is greater in a subsample of 10,778 uninfected individuals: 1% of individuals 80 years. By contrast, auto-Abs neutralizing IFN-β do not become more frequent with age. Auto-Abs neutralizing type I IFNs predate SARS-CoV-2 infection and sharply increase in prevalence after the age of 70 years. They account for about 20% of both critical COVID-19 cases in the over 80s and total fatal COVID-19 cases. © 2021 The Authors, some rights reserved.

Background: 5-azacytidine (5-AZA) improves survival of patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) and oligoblastic acute myeloid leukemia (AML); however, predictive factors for response and outcome have not been consistently studied. Methods: This study of the Hellenic MDS Study Group included 687 consecutive patients with higher-risk MDS and oligoblastic AML treated with 5-AZA. Results: The International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) revised version (IPSS-R), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) (0 or 1 versus ⩾2) and baseline serum ferritin (SF) levels > 520 ng/ml were shown to independently predict response to 5-AZA. In the survival analysis, the IPSS and IPSS-R risk classification systems along with the ECOG PS and SF levels > 520 ng/ml proved to be independent prognosticators for overall survival (OS), as well as for leukemia-free survival (LFS). Next, we built new multivariate models for OS and LFS, incorporating only ECOG PS and SF levels besides IPSS or IPSS-R risk classification systems. Thereby, the new modified IPSS and IPSS-R risk classification systems (H-PSS, H-PSS-R) could each discriminate a low, an intermediate and a high-risk patient group regarding OS and LFS. The H-PSS and H-PSS-R proved to be better predictors of OS than their previous counterparts as well as the French prognostic score, while the most powerful OS predictor was the new, H-PSS-R system. Conclusions: ECOG PS and SF levels > 520 ng/ml independently predict response to 5-AZA, OS and LFS. Their incorporation in the IPSS and IPSS-R scores enhances these scores’ predictive power in 5-AZA-treated higher-risk MDS and oligoblastic AML patients. © The Author(s), 2020.

Introduction: Invasive candidiasis (IC) can be a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised patients, particularly those with cancer, hematologic diseases and/or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of micafungin in patients with hematologic malignancies or HSCT recipients, relevant to clinical presentation of IC, in real-life practice in Greece. Methods: ASPIRE was a phase IV, multicenter, non-interventional, prospective cohort study, conducted at ten tertiary hospitals in Greece, in adults with hematologic disease. Micafungin treatment for IC or prophylaxis for Candida infection was administered per standard clinical practice until a clinical outcome (success or failure) was reached. Treatment success was defined by the EORTC/MSG criteria for invasive fungal infections (IFI) and was assessed by the investigator. Treatment discontinuation and safety were also evaluated. Results: One hundred forty-three patients were enrolled. Median age was 62; 85 (59.4%) patients were male, and 133 (93.0%) had Greek ethnicity. One hundred twenty-six (88.1%) patients had hematologic malignancies, and 21 (14.7%) had received HSCT. Prophylaxis was administered to 74 (51.7%) patients [median (range) dose: 50 (50–150) mg/day] with no signs of IFI. Overall, 52 (36.4%) patients with possible IFI at baseline received micafungin treatment [100 (50–125) mg/day] versus 12 (17.2%) with probable [100 (75–150) mg/day] and 5 (3.5%) with confirmed [125 (100–150) mg/day] IFI. Treatment success was 91.6% (95% CI 85.80–95.59; n = 131) overall and 90.5% (n = 67) in patients receiving prophylaxis. Median time on treatment was 13 days. Treatment discontinuation (n = 26; 18.2%) was not related to adverse events. No treatment-related serious adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Micafungin treatment for IC or prophylaxis for Candida infection was effective and well tolerated in patients with hematologic disorders in clinical practice in Greece. These results demonstrate that micafungin could be used more widely for prophylaxis. Further work is required to determine the efficacy and safety of micafungin for the management of IFIs in hematologic settings. Funding: Astellas Pharma Inc. © 2019, The Author(s).

Purpose: Τo evaluate the clinical relevance of CEACAM5mRNA-positive circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Methods: Peripheral blood was obtained from 436 patients with mCRC before the initiation of systemic therapy. A second sample was obtained on treatment assessment from 296 (67.9%) patients. The detection of CEACAM5mRNA-positive CTCs was performed using a real-time PCR assay. Results: The patients’ median age was 67 years and PS (EGOG 0–1) 92%; KRAS exon 2 and BRAFV600E mutated primary tumors were identified in 31.9% and 6.4% of the tested patients, respectively, whereas metastasectomy was performed in 17.7% of the patients. Circulating CEACAM5mRNA-positive CTCs were detected in 125 (28.7%) and 85 (28.7%) patients at baseline and on treatment assessment, respectively. The detection of CEACAM5mRNA-positive cells was revealed, in multivariate analysis, as an independent prognostic factor associated with decreased PFS (HR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1–2.5; p = 0.026) and OS (HR 2.2; 95% CI 1.3–3.2; p < 0.001). The detection of CEACAM5mRNA-positive CTCs in patients with KRAS and BRAFV600E mutations was correlated with shorter PFS (p = 0.041 and p = 0.022, respectively). Moreover, OS was significantly shorter in patients with CEACAM5+/KRAS mutations compared to those with CEACAM5+/KRAS wt tumors (p = 0.023). Conclusions: Detection of peripheral blood CEACAM5mRNA-positive CTCs is an adverse prognostic factor correlated with poor clinical outcome in patients with mCRC, especially in patients with KRAS and BRAF mutated tumors. © 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

In the present study, the photocatalytic activity of TiO

We recently reported a truncating deletion in the NFKBIE gene, which encodes IκB, a negative feedback regulator of NF-κB, in clinically aggressive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Because preliminary data indicate enrichment of NFKBIE aberrations in other lymphoid malignancies, we screened a large patient cohort (n 5 1460) diagnosed with different lymphoid neoplasms. While NFKBIE deletions were infrequent in follicular lymphoma, splenic marginal zone lymphoma, and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (

The mechanisms and kinetics of the sonochemical degradation of organic molecules in water are relatively complex since several parameters such as physicochemical properties, substrate concentration, water matrix, reactor geometry, ultrasound properties (frequency, power, emission system) all typically affect the process. In this work, simple kinetic models were used to predict the degradation of 2-chlorophenol and sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate in aqueous solutions and verified against experimental data taken from previous studies. A pseudo-first order kinetic expression can adequately describe the degradation of the phenolic substrate, while a heterogeneous model based on the Langmuir-Hinshelwood equation is suitable for the surfactant degradation.

Involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) is a rare complication of multiple myeloma (MM). Herein, we have described the incidence, characteristics, prognostic factors for post CNS-MM survival, and outcome of CNS-MM and explored the efficacy of novel agents (NA) (thalidomide, bortezomib, lenalidomide) in this setting. Between 2000 and 2013, 31 (0.9 %) out of 3408 newly diagnosed symptomatic MM patients, consecutively diagnosed and treated during the same period in 12 Greek centers, developed CNS-MM (M/F 15/16, median age 59 years, range 20–96 years; newly diagnosed/relapsed-refractory 2/29; median time to CNS-MM diagnosis 29 months). Clinical and laboratory characteristics were retrospectively recorded. Twenty-six percent of patients had circulating plasma cells (PCs) or plasma cell leukemia (PCL) at CNS-MM and 39 % had skull-derived plasmacytomas, suggesting hematological and contiguous spread. Treatment for CNS-MM was offered in 29/31 patients and 11/29 responded (NA 18/29, additional radiotherapy 9/28, intrathecal chemotherapy 13/29). The median post CNS-MM survival was 3 months (95 % CI 1.9–4.1) and did not differ between patients treated with NA and/or radiotherapy vs. others. In the multivariate analysis, prior treatment of MM with NA, extramedullary disease (EMD) during MM course (i.e., plasmacytomas, circulating PCs, or documented PCL) and abnormally high LDH at MM diagnosis were independent prognostic factors, whereas treatment of CNS-MM with NA did not predict for post CNS-MM survival. Despite the relatively limited number of patients due to the rarity of CNS-MM, our results suggest that NA do not seem to improve post CNS-MM survival. Patients with EMD display shortened post CNS-MM survival and should be followed thoroughly. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Colivelin (CL), first reported in 2005, is the most potent member of the humanin family of neuroprotective peptides with in vitro and in vivo rescuing action against insults associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The objective of the present work is the design, synthesis and characterization of specific CL derivatives that can be used as molecular probes in the investigation of the unknown mechanism of CL action. Within this framework, three CL derivatives bearing suitable tags, i.e., the fluorescent moiety FITC, the streptavidin-counterpart biotinyl-group, and the 99mTc-radiometal chelating unit dimethylGly-Ser-Cys, were developed and subsequently applied in biological evaluation experiments. Specifically, the FITC-labeled derivative of CL was used in confocal microscopy, where specific binding at the periphery of F11 cells was observed; the biotin-labeled derivative of CL was used in an in-house developed ELISA-type assay, where specific and concentration-dependent binding with the β-amyloid peptide of AD was shown; finally, the 99mTc-radiolabeled derivative of CL was used in in vivo biodistribution studies in healthy Swiss Albino mice, where 0.58% of the radioactivity administered was measured in the mouse brain 2 min after injection. The above first successful applications of the CL probes demonstrate their potential to contribute in the field of neuroprotective peptides. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Introduction The purpose of this study is to present the five-year survival and function of the renal allograft of recipients who were diagnosed with BK viremia and viruria during the first year after renal transplantation. Patients and Methods BK virus was studied in 32 new renal allograft recipients, from the first postoperative day until 18 months after the transplantation. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect and quantitate BK viral load in serum and urine samples. Results Qualitative analysis with PCR for the DNA of BK virus showed 31 (31/228, 14%) positive serum samples originating from 20 (20/32, 62%) renal allograft recipients and 57 (57/228, 25%) positive urine samples originating from 23 (23/32, 72%) recipients. During the follow up period of 5 years, renal allograft function remained stable (eGFR 18 th month: 53.9 ± 23.9 mL/min/1.73 m 2 and eGFR 5 th year: 52.6 ± 20.6 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ). Comparison of recipients that presented with either BK viremia or viruria with a group that did not present viral reactivation did not reveal a statistically significant difference in eGFR. Furthermore, recipients with significantly high viral load in serum or urine did not present renal allograft dysfunction. Conclusion BK virus is potentially pathogenic in renal allograft recipients. It is certain that there is a reactivation of the virus in a high percentage of transplanted patients mostly in the first year after the surgery, without however a negative effect of the transient viremia and viruria in renal allograft function.

Reaction calorimetry measurements have been performed and used for the calculation of the heat of reaction, the thermal mass of the reactor and for the development of a global kinetic model for the homogeneous catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, which is a commonly encountered unwanted reaction in numerous oxidation processes. The use of this model targets the assessment of the thermal risk associated with the runaway behaviour of this reaction at industrial conditions.

This work presents the challenges and directions in biomaterials research. Biomaterials have been playing an important role in the treatment of disease and the improvement of healthcare. Metals were used in dentistry while synthetic polymers have been used for vascular grafts; polymethylmethacrylate and stainless steel have been used in total hip replacements. Controlled drug delivery systems largely involve biomedical polymers and are used by tens of million of people annually. Furthermore, in tissue engineering, by combining polymers with mammalian cells, it is now possible to engineer skin for patients who have burns or skin ulcers. Until recently, biomaterials were adopted from other areas of science and technology with little design for biomedical use, which did not help to completely resolve issues in biocompatibility, mechanical properties, degradation, etc. Modern biomaterial science is laying the foundation for a fundamental design by taking into consideration cell-matrix interactions, cellular signaling processes, and developmental biology. Concepts that are shaping future directions are biomaterials for specific biomedical applications made from naturally occurring or man-made building blocks or novel applications for biomaterials, such as diagnostics and array technologies.

Background: There is lack of data in Greece on the trends in energy and nutrient intake. The present study aimed to examine differences in these parameters among first-grade children of Crete, Greece, between 1992/93 and 2006/07. Methods: Children (aged 5.7-7.6 years) from two-representative cross-sectional samples participated during 1992/93 (n = 245) and 2006/07 (n = 257). Nutrient and food intakes were assessed using estimated 3-day-food records. Nutrient intakes were estimated as amounts per 4185 kJ (1000 kcal) of energy intake (EI), whereas macronutrients were estimated as percentage of total EI. Results: Between 1992/93 and 2006/07, respectively, significant increases (P < 0.05) were observed in the intake of energy (boys: 7996 versus 8646 kJ; girls: 7265 versus 7963 kJ), calcium (boys: 488 versus 587 mg; girls: 464 versus 594 mg), iron (boys: 5.8 versus 7.3 mg; girls: 5.7 versus 7.4 mg) and vitamins B2 (boys: 1.01 versus 1.17 mg; girls: 1.0 versus 1.16 mg) and B6 (boys: 0.80 versus 0.87 mg; girls: 0.75 versus 0.95 mg), for boys and girls, respectively. Among boys, the intake of protein (13.6 versus 14.6% of EI) and total trans fatty acids (TTFA) (0.84 versus 0.99 g) was also significantly lower in 1992/93 (P < 0.016). Between 1992/93 and 2006/07, total fat (boys: 42.9% versus 42.8%, girls: 42% versus 43.1%) and saturated fat (boys: 15.5% versus 15.4%, girls: 15% versus 15.3%) exceeded the 30-35% and 120% of the recommended energy allowance). Conclusions: The intake of several macronutrients (protein, TTFA, total and saturated fat) in this sample of children did not meet the recommended intakes in either time period. © 2013 The British Dietetic Association Ltd.

A number of studies have looked into the pathophysiological role of angiogenesis in CLL, but the results have often been inconsistent. We aimed to gain direct insight into the angiogenic process in lymph nodes involved by CLL, focusing on proangiogenic cytokines and microvessel morphometry. The tissue levels of VEGF, Th-2 cytokines IL-6 and IL-8, IL-8 receptor CXCR2, and tyrosine p-STAT-3/SOCS-3 axis modulating cytokine expression were evaluated immunohistochemically in 62 CLL/SLL cases. Microvascular characteristics were evaluated by image analysis. Results were analyzed with regard to clinicopathological characteristics. Proliferation centers (PCs) were less well vascularised compared to non-PC areas. IL-8 and CXCR2 expression was distinctly uncommon as opposed to IL-6, VEGF and SOCS-3, which were detected in the vast majority of cases. The latter two molecule expressions were more pronounced in the PCs in ∼40% of the cases. p-STAT-3 immunoreactivity was recorded in 66.67% of the cases with a predilection for PCs. Microvessel morphometry was unrelated to proangiogenic cytokines, p-STAT-3, SOCS-3, or survival. Microvascular caliber and VEGF expression were higher in Binet stage A, whereasIL-6 expression was higher in stage C. VEGF and p-STAT-3 exerted a favorable effect on progression, which remained significant in multivariate analysis, thereby constituting potential outcome predictors in CLL patients. © 2014 Georgia Levidou et al.

Promising approaches to regenerate corneas, heart valves, and thymus have been presented in recent press releases. These are described here: Tsai et al. in The New England Journal of Medicine presented a promising technology to reconstruct damaged ocular surfaces; CryoLife wants to conduct clinical trials for the use of its Synergaft tissue-engineered replacement heart valves in heart reconstruction surgery for children requiring replacement of the pulmonary heart valve; NIST Researchers at Cytomatrix and Massachusetts General Hospital have generated an "artificial thymus" that can efficiently generate large quantities of a wide range of human T-lymphocyte cells, a key element of the body's immune system.

To develop a general model to describe the N-oxidation of the family of pyridines, the homogeneous catalytic N-oxidation of 2-methylpyridine has been studied. The reaction was performed in a semibatch reactor, dosing with hydrogen peroxide. The N-oxidation is accompanied by the competitive decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The system was modeled taking into consideration the fast reversible reactions that result in intermediates, which react further to form the final products. Calorimetric information was used for the calculation of the concentration of reactants. These were subsequently used for the calculation of the reaction rates. It was found that each reaction proceeds through more than one path. The model parameters were evaluated. In spite of the complexity of the reaction system and the generalised expressions used the model can reproduce experimental data efficiently.

Background: Although the expression pattern of phosphorylated (p)-mTOR pathway components has attracted scientific interest in several neoplasms, to our knowledge, there is no published information regarding its significance in mycosis fungoides (MF). Objective: We sought to perform a comprehensive simultaneous assessment of key members of AKT/mTOR pathway along with p-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), NOTCH1, and p-STAT3 in patients with MF. Methods: In all, 54 skin biopsy specimens (21 tumors, 30 plaques, and 3 folliculotropic MF) from 50 patients with MF were analyzed immunohistochemically for p-mTOR, its upstream p-AKT, its downstream effectors p-p70S6K and p-4E-BP1, and for p-ERK1/2, NOTCH1, and p-STAT3. Results: p-mTOR was coexpressed with p-p70S6K in 67.3% of lesions, but coexpression with other molecules was less common. p-p70S6K and marginally NOTCH1 displayed higher H-scores in tumors than in plaques. Significant correlations were recorded between p-ERK and p-4E-BP1, as well as between NOTCH1 and p-p70S6K or p-4E-BP1. NOTCH1, p-4E-BP1, and p-p70S6K expression were associated with advanced stage. In survival analysis simultaneous overexpression of p-AKT and p-p70S6K, along with p-4E-BP1 positivity, adversely affected cancer-specific, disease-free, and progression-free survival in advanced-stage cases. Limitations: A limitation may be the small number of cases included in our investigation, precluding multivariate survival analysis. Conclusions: Activation of AKT/mTOR pathway in MF appears to be correlated with NOTCH1, p-ERK, and p-STAT3 and is implicated in the acquisition of a more aggressive phenotype. The combination of p-AKT, p-p70S6K, and p-4E-BP1 emerges as a significant potential prognostic marker in patients with advanced stage. © 2013 by the American Academy of Dermatology, Inc.

Chronic ulcerative dermatopathy (CUD) also known as chronic erosive dermatopathy, hole-in-the-head, head and lateral line erosion syndrome (HLLE) and lateral line depigmentation (LLD) is a chronic disease of unknown aetiology that affects the lateral line canals of the head and the trunk of various fish species. It has been described only in freshwater species although there are reports that it also affects marine fish. Here, we describe the disease in cultured sharpsnout sea bream using histology and scanning electron microscopy and identify several marine species as CUD sensitive. The results of this study correlate the development of the disease with the use of borehole water, indicating that the aetiology is probably associated with water quality rather than nutritional imbalance or infectious agents.

Over the past 20 yr, great strides have been made toward understanding the role of fluid hemodynamic forces in the vascular wall homeostasis at the molecular level. In vivo studies have demonstrated that blood vessels are adaptive to physiological changes in blood flow, with vessels tending to enlarge in areas of high flow and tending to reduce their lumen diameter in low-flow regimes (1,2). Furthermore, altered hemodynamics have been implicated in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular disorders, such as thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and vessel wall injury. Vascular endothelial cells serve as a barrier between perfused tissues and flowing blood, and they are believed to act as a sensor of the local biomechanical environment. The hemodynamic forces generated in the vasculature include frictional wall shear-stress, cyclic strain, and hydrostatic pressure (3). For the purpose of this chapter, we will focus on methods for examining the link between fluid wall shear-stress and endothelial cell function. Advances in our understanding of the effects of shear-stress on endothelial cell function require that cell populations be exposed to controlled, well-defined, flow-induced shear-stress environments. Since in vivo studies have the inherent problem that they cannot quantitatively define the shearing forces or separate their effects from the other components of the hemodynamic system, in vitro flow studies using cultured cells are extensively used.

New, absolute values of the thermal conductivity of two refrigerants, R134a and R141b, in the liquid phase at saturation are reported. The measurements have been performed in transient hot-wire instruments making use of electrically insulated tantalum wires within the temperature range 240–307 K. The results are estimated to have an accuracy of ±1%.

New absolute measurements of the viscosity of n-decane and binary mixtures of n-heptane with n-decane are presented. The measurements, performed in a vibrating-wire instrument, cover a temperature range 290–330 K and pressures up to 70 MPa. The concentrations studied are 40 and 70% by weight of n-heptane. The overall uncertainty in the reported viscosity data is estimated to be ±0.5%. The present measurements together with other n-heptane+n-alkane viscosity and thermal conductivity measurements, are used to develop a consistent semiempirical scheme for the correlation and prediction of these mixture properties from those of the pure components.

A previously-described method is used for the simultaneous correlation of the coefficients of selfdiffusion, viscosity and thermal conductivity for acetonitrile, carbon disulphide, tetrachloromethane, cyclohexane, ethene and trichloromethane at densities above the critical density. The method, which has been developed from consideration of exact hard-sphere theory of transport properties, introduces just two molecular parameters; a characteristic volume v 0 and a roughness factor R, which take into account departure from spherical shape and molecular roughness. Values are given for these parameters. For a given compound, V 0 is temperature dependent but has the same value, at a given temperature, for the different properties. The R factor has a different value for each property, but these are independent of temperature and density.

Viscosity and thermal conductivity coefficients for binary, ternary, and quaternary n-alkane mixtures are predicted over extended ranges of temperature and pressure, in excellent agreement with experiment, by extension of a method recently described for the correlation of n-alkane transport coefficients. The outstanding advantage of this approach is that there are no adjustable parameters. Furthermore, in contrast with other mixture viscosity equations, this scheme does not require experimental viscosity coefficient data for the pure components under the same conditions of temperature and pressure.

New absolute measurements of the viscosity of binary mixtures of n-heptane with n-hexane and n-nonane are presented. The measurements, performed in a vibrating-wire instrument, cover a temperature range 290–335 K and pressures up to 75 MPa. The concentrations studied are 40 and 70% by weight of n-heptane. The accuracy of the reported viscosity data is estimated to be ±0.5%. The present measurements, together with other n-heptane + n-alkane viscosity and thermal-conductivity measurements, are used to develop a consistent semiempirical scheme for the correlation and prediction of these mixture properties from those of the pure components.

A previously described method, based on considerations of hard-sphere theory, is used for the simultaneous correlation of the coefficients of viscosity, self-diffusion, and thermal conductivity for then-alcohols, from methanol ton-decanol, in excellent agreement with experiment, over extended temperature and pressure ranges. Generalized correlations are given for the roughness factors and the characteristic volume. The overall average absolute deviations of the experimental viscosity, self-diffusion, and thermal conductivity measurements from those calculated by the correlation are 2.4, 2.6, and 2.0%, respectively. Since the proposed scheme is based on accurate density values, a Tait-type equation was also employed to correlate successfully the density of then-alcohols. The overall average absolute deviation of the experimental density measurements from those calculated by the correlation is ±0.05%.

New absolute measurements, by the transient hot-wire technique, of the thermal conductivity of some alkyl ethers and alkanones are presented. The alkyl ethers studied are tert-butyl methyl ether, di-iso-propyl ether and di-butyl ether, while the alkanones studied are 2-butanone, 4-methyl pentan-2-one, and 2-octanone. The temperature range examined was 295–350 K, and the pressure atmospheric. The overall uncertainty in the reported thermal conductivity data is estimated to be better than ±1%, an estimate confirmed by the measurement of the thermal conductivity of water.

New absolute measurements of the viscosity of n-heptane, n-nonane, and n-undecane are presented. The measurements were performed with a vibrating-wire instrument at temperatures of 303.15 and 323.15 K and pressures up to 70 MPa. The overall uncertainty in the reported viscosity data is estimated to be ±0.5%. A recently developed semiempirical scheme for the correlation and prediction of the thermal conductivity, viscosity, and self-diffusion coefficients of n-alkanes is applied to the prediction of the viscosity of n-heptane, n-nonane, and n-undecane. The comparison of these predicted values with the present high-pressure measurements demonstrates the predictive power of this scheme.

New absolute measurements of the viscosity of benzene, toluene, and m-xylene are presented. The measurements were performed in a recently developed vibrating-wire instrument, at temperatures of 303.15 and 323.15 K and pressures up to 80 MPa. The overall uncertainty in the reported viscosity data is estimated to be ±0.5%.

The design and operation of a new vibrating-wire viscometer for the measurement of the viscosity of liquids at pressures up to 100 MPa are described. The design of the instrument is based on a complete theory so that it is possible to make absolute measurements with an associated error of only a few parts in one thousand. Absolute measurements of the viscosity of n-hexane are reported at 298.15 K at pressures up to 80 MPa. The overall uncertainty in the reported viscosity data is estimated to be ±0.5%, an estimate confirmed by the comparison of values of viscosity of slightly inferior accuracy.

The sonochemical degradation of phenol, 2-chlorophenol and 3,4-dichlorophenol in aqueous solutions as a function of several operating conditions has been investigated. Experiments were performed at initial substrate concentrations of 0.1, 0.5 and 1 g l(-1), liquid phase volumes of 0.05, 0.07 and 0.08 l, electric power outputs of 125, 187.5 and 250 W, liquid bulk temperatures of 20, 35, 50 and 70 degrees C and an ultrasound frequency of 20 kHz. Substrate concentration was determined as a function of time by means of high performance liquid chromatography. At the conditions under consideration, the rate of degradation follows first order kinetics with respect to the substrate concentration and increases with increasing electric power and decreasing liquid volume. The relative reactivity appears to decrease in the order: 2-chlorophenol3,4-dichlorophenolphenol. Measurements of liquid phase total organic carbon content showed that degradation by-products are more recalcitrant than the original substrate. The rate of 2-chlorophenol degradation was also found to decrease with decreasing liquid bulk temperature and increasing initial concentration. Addition of t-butanol as a hydroxyl radical scavenger only partially inhibited degradation, thus implying that degradation is likely to proceed via both radical-induced and thermal reactions. Addition of Fe2+ ions at concentrations as low as about 0.2 x 10(3) g l(-1) resulted in increased degradation rates; this is attributed to iron being capable of readily decomposing hydrogen peroxide (generated by water sonolysis) in a Fenton-like process to form hydroxyl radicals as well as being an effective oxidation catalyst. The implications of the use of ultrasound in wastewater treatment are also discussed.

Discusses research on medical applications of nanotechnology in the European Union. Nanobiotechnology is based on the idea that the ability to design synthetic materials on a nanoscale base toward molecular architecture of biologically relevant molecules will ultimately lead to the integration of artificial and biological matter. This concept has applications in the environment, biomedical sensors, and artificial tissues. Biomaterials and medical devices represent a fast emerging market that is estimated at about US$260 billion worldwide, with Europe's share being about 30%. Biomaterial and tissue engineering research are of high quality and in strong competition with the United States, who is still the world leader. The biomimetic approach to developing advanced materials is a new field that provides different solutions to existing challenges. In all living organisms, nature produces a plethora of materials, architectures, systems, and functions, which have been optimized during a long and tough evolution process. An essential feature of these highly structured materials is their structural organization in many scales, as is the case of ceramics and composites found in animal shells or in bone and dental tissues.

Acoustic noise levels for fast MRI pulse sequences were surveyed on 14 systems with field strengths ranging from 0.2 T to 3 T. A microphone insensitive to the magnetic environment was placed close to the magnet isocenter and connected via an extension cable to a sound level meter outside the scan room. Measured noise levels varied from 82.5 +/- 0.1 dB(A) for a 0.23 T system to 118.4 +/- 1.3 dB(A) for a 3 T system. Further measurements on four of the closed-bore systems surveyed showed that: 1) pulse sequence parameters (particularly FOV and TR) were more influential in determining noise level than field strength, 2) the noise level was found to vary along the z-direction with a maximum near the bore entrance, and 3) in one of two systems tested there was a significant increase in noise with a volunteer present instead of a test object. The results underline the importance of hearing protection for patients and for staff spending extended periods in the scan room.

The attachment, proliferation, morphology, and differentiation of two cell types-skeletal muscle cells and chondrocytes-were investigated on different compositions of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(butylene terephthalate) segmented block copolymers. Four weight percentages (40, 55, 60, and 70%) and two different molecular weights (300 and 1000 Da) of poly(ethylene glycol) were tested. Varying the weight percentage and molecular weight of poly(ethylene glycol) resulted in different behaviors for skeletal muscle cells and chondrocytes. The attachment of skeletal muscle was the highest (similar to tissue culture polystyrene) when copolymers containing 55 wt % of poly(ethylene glycol) were used, regardless of the poly(ethylene glycol) molecular weight. Maximum proliferation and differentiation of skeletal muscle cells was achieved when copolymers containing 55 wt % and 300 Da molecular weight of poly(ethylene glycol) were used. In contrast, the weight percentage and molecular weight of poly(ethylene glycol) had no significant effect on chondrocyte attachment and proliferation; the attached chondrocytes retained a differentiated phenotype only when a 70 wt % of poly(ethylene glycol) was used. Cell behavior was correlated with the surface properties of the copolymer films, as indicated by contact-angle measurements. These results suggest that an optimized wt % and molecular weight of poly(ethylene glycol) will be useful depending on the specific cell type.

After cardiovascular intervention, smooth muscle cells (SMC) are directly exposed to blood flow and thus their behavior might be affected by fluid hemodynamic forces. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of fluid shear stress on the growth rate of SMC. Human aortic smooth muscle cells (hASMC) were seeded on fibronectin-coated glass slides and were exposed to different levels of shear stress using parallel plate flow chambers. After 24 h, cell numbers in the stationary and sheared cultures were measured by a Coulter counter. Results demonstrated that increasing shear stress significantly reduces the proliferation rate of hASMC (P0.05). Comparable lactate dehydrogenase levels in the media of stationary and flow cultures provided evidence that the reduction of cell number was not due to cell injury. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunofluorescence studies indicated that the cell cultures were not growth arrested 24 h after exposure to shear stress, and that the differences in PCNA staining between stationary control and flow cultures were comparable to the cell counts.

The design and operation of two independent vibrating-wire viscometers are described. The instruments are intended for operation in the liquid phase at pressures up to 300 MPa and have been designed specifically for this purpose using the detailed theory of the device. Extensive evidence is adduced to demonstrate that the operation of the viscometers is consistent with the theory. Although the instruments attain a precision in viscosity measurements of __+1% when used in an absolute mode the accuracy that can be achieved is no better than __+3%. However, if the instrument is calibrated for two welldefined instrumental parameters, the uncertainty in the reported viscosity is improved to _+0.5%. The results of measurements of the viscosity of normal heptane in the temperature range 303 to 348 K at pressures up to 250 MPa made with one of the viscometers are reported. The results are shown to be totally consistent with measurements reported earlier using the instrument designed for lower pressures.

This study emphasizes the importance of multicellular cultures in providing appropriate signals for vascular organization of skeletal tissues. Eucomed, the European Medical Technology Industry Association, represents directly and indirectly more than 3,500 business entities in Europe and beyond. The Eucomed mission is to create and maintain a suitable framework by enabling the manufacturers of medical technology and other related economic actors to operate, innovate, and market in an open and competitive marketplace, with the ultimate objective to improve the access of patients and clinicians to modern and reliable medical technology products. The paper shows a recent example of the role of Eucomed on the tissue engineering industry as illustrated in its response to the proposal of a regulation launched by the European Commission on 4 May 2005. The proposal covers human-tissue-engineered products, bringing them under the scope of medicinal products. Eucomed's position is that since human-tissue-engineering products are not medicinal products, they cannot be regulated by the existing, unchanged rules for medicinal products. Existing requirements for clinical investigation and for good manufacturing practices for medicinal products should be appropriately adapted from the technical point of view, while maintaining their general ethical requirements. Eucomed has also put forward suggestions to address the specificity of combination products, in particular hybrid products made of human-tissue-engineered products and medical devices.