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Kulon Progo is a poorest district and has the highest development inequality in Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY) based on Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) publication. The local government has made various efforts to overcome the problems, one of which is by establishing growth centers since 2003. However, Kulon Progo Regency has experienced rapid development with the existence of Yogyakarta International Airport, which affected the dynamics of regional growth centers. The purpose of this study is to identify the potential Rural Growth Center (PPD) and identify the spatial patterns of PPD shifts in Kulon Progo to see the trickle down effect. This study used descriptive quantitative methods using scalogram index, centrality index, urban network analysis, and gravity index, also moran’s I index and Local Indicator Of Spatial Association (LISA). The results showed that there was a shift in rural growth centers, but the spatial analysis did not show any trickle down effect from rural growth centers that had been formed before. However, new centers were formed that were not related to the previous rural growth centers. These results indicates that the rural growth centers in Kulon Progo cannot have a growth effect on the surrounding area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Background Postpartum depression constitutes a significant public health issue, with prevalence rates ranging between 8 and 19% in high-income nations. Nevertheless, numerous barriers, including time constraints, societal stigmatization, and feelings of shame, contribute to the limited utilization of healthcare services during the postpartum period. Digital interventions offer an opportunity to enhance care for women experiencing postpartum depressive symptoms. Methods We will conduct a two-arm randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of a smartphone-based intervention in comparison to a treatment-as-usual control group in Germany. Our aim is to randomize 556 participants in a 1:1 ratio. Participants in the intervention group will be provided access to a preventive smartphone-based intervention called “Smart-e-Moms,” which incorporates therapeutic support and comprises 10 concise modules rooted in cognitive-behavioral therapy. For the intervention group, evaluations will take place at baseline (t0), prior to sessions 4 and 8 (intermediate assessments), and upon completing the intervention 6 weeks after baseline (t1). The control group’s assessments will be at baseline (t0) and 6 weeks after baseline. Follow-up assessments are scheduled at 12 and 24 weeks from baseline to examine the short-term stability of any observed effects. We anticipate that participants in the intervention group will exhibit improvements in their postpartum depressive symptoms (as measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale). Additionally, we will analyze secondary outcomes, including maternal bonding, stress levels, self-efficacy, satisfaction with the intervention, and healthcare utilization. Discussion If Smart-e-Moms proves to be effective, it has the potential to play a significant role in postpartum depression care within German-speaking regions. Ideally, this intervention could not only benefit maternal well-being but also improve the prospects for healthy child development. Trial registration German clinical trials registry DRKS00032324. Registered on January 26, 2024.

Background: p‐Phenylenediamine (PPD) is a potent contact allergen found in many hair colour products. However, not all individuals develop allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) although they are regularly exposed to PPD. It is unclear whether these asymptomatic individuals are true non‐responders to PPD or whether they mount a response to PPD without showing any symptoms. Methods: Skin biopsies were collected from 11 asymptomatic hairdressers regularly exposed to PPD and from 10 individuals with known ACD on day 4 after patch testing with 1% PPD in petrolatum and petrolatum exclusively as control. RNA sequencing and confocal microscopy were performed. Results: T cell activation, inflammation and apoptosis pathways were up‐regulated by PPD in both asymptomatic and allergic individuals. Compared to asymptomatic individuals with a negative patch test, individuals with a strong reaction to PPD strongly up‐regulated both pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines genes. Interestingly, PPD treatment induced significant up‐regulation of several genes for chemokines, classical type 2 dendritic cell markers and regulatory T cell markers in both asymptomatic and allergic individuals. In addition, apoptosis signalling pathway was activated in both non‐responders and allergic individuals. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that there are no true non‐responders to PPD but that the immune response elicited by PPD differs between individuals and can lead to either tolerance, subclinical inflammation or allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Hair dye dermatitis is a common problem that is localized to the head or even generalized, and in many countries, it runs as an outbreak problem. Many patients could present with facial melanosis but without an obvious history of dermatitis. Objective To record patients with facial melanosis that was triggered by black hair dying and to highlight this concealed cause of facial pigmentation. Methods This is a cross-sectional descriptive study where 102 patients with black hair dye facial melanosis were seen during the period from 2014-2022. All patients with Fitzpatrick skin type III and IV. Full demographic features were clarified. History and examination were carried out, and skin biopsies for histopathological assessment were done in selected cases. All other causes of facial melanosis were excluded. The therapeutic trial used Mometasone Furoate 0.1% cream twice a day for one month. Results A total of hundred two patients with facial melanosis were analyzed; their ages ranged from 30-60 years with a mean of 50 years,70 (68.6%) males and 32 (31.4%) females with a ratio of 2:1. History and examination showed that all patients were applying black hair dye from 0.5-4 years and the duration of facial pigmentation ranged from 1-5 years. Patients mentioned some itching of the face, while others mentioned a history of an erythematous rash of the face in the early course of the disease. On examination, all patients revealed deep brown to dark hyperpigmentation of the face, neck, and hands. Woods light examination gave no contrast, while histopathological assessment showed an increase in the melanin stores both in the epidermis and dermis. Topical therapy with Mometasone Furoate, 0.1% cream, gave a very satisfactory response by lightening the skin. Conclusion Black hair dye is an important cause of facial melanosis that is often overlooked and confused with other causes of facial melanosis, commonly diffuse lichen planus actinicus, where its therapy will be very difficult unless hair dying is prevented. Therapy with mometasone Furoate 0.1% cream showed a satisfactory result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal comfort is increasingly recognized as vital in healthcare facilities, where patients spend 80–90% of their time indoors. Sensing, controlling, and predicting indoor air quality should be monitored for thermal comfort. This study examines the effects of ventilation design on thermal comfort in hospital rooms, proposing four distinct ventilation configurations, each with three airflow rates of 9, 12, and 15 Air Changes per Hour (ACH). The study conducted various ventilation simulation scenarios for a hospital room. The objective is to determine the effect of airflow and the diffuser location distribution on thermal comfort. The Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations, along with the k–ε turbulence model, were used as the underlying mathematical representation for the airflow. The boundary conditions for the simulations were derived from the ventilation standards set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and insights from previous studies. Thermal comfort and temperature distribution were assessed using indices like Predicted Percentage Dissatisfaction (PPD), Predicted Mean Vote (PMV), and Air Diffusion Performance Index (ADPI). Although most of the twelve scenarios failed to attain thermal comfort, two of those instances were optimal in this simulation. Those instances involved the return diffuser behind the patient and airflow of 9 ACH, the minimum recommended by previous studies. It should be noted that the ADPI remained unmet in these cases, revealing complexities in achieving ideal thermal conditions in healthcare environments. This study extends the insights from our prior research, advancing our understanding of ventilation impacts on thermal comfort in healthcare facilities. It underscores the need for comprehensive approaches to environmental control, setting the stage for future research to refine these findings further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun,1,2 Sabaa Saleh Al-Hemyari,2,3 Moyad Shahwan,4,5 Obaida Jairoun,6 Sa’ed H Zyoud7,8 1Health and Safety Department, Dubai Municipality, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 2Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Pulau Pinang, 11800, Malaysia; 3Pharmacy Department, Emirates Health Services, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 4Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Ajman University, Ajman, 346, United Arab Emirates; 5Centre of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman, 346, United Arab Emirates; 6College of Dentistry, Ajman University, Ajman, 44839, United Arab Emirates; 7Department of Clinical and Community Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, 44839, Palestine; 8Clinical Research Centre, An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, 44839, PalestineCorrespondence: Ammar Abdulrahman Jairoun; Moyad Shahwan, Tel +971558099957, Email Dr_ammar_91_@hotmail.com; moyad76@hotmail.comBackground: p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) has been used over the past five decades as a primary precursor in the production of oxidative hair dyes. Numerous health dangers are associated with the short- and long-term use of PPD, raising concerns about its safety. For instance, mounting data suggests that PPD is linked to dermatitis and allergy cases.Objective: To quantify the PPD content in hair dyes by measuring the PPD concentration after mixing the ingredients of commercial hair dyes.Methods: A total of 290 permanent hair dyes were tested. RP-HPLC-DAD analysis was performed to determine and quantify the PPD content.Results: The estimated mean of the PPD limit was 0.89 (95% CI [0.81– 0.96]). Of the 290 tested hair dyes, 7.2% (n = 21) exceeded the recommended PPD concentration after mixing. Significantly more hair dyes manufactured in India and China had a PPD content exceeding 2% after mixing compared to dyes from other regions (P = 0.001). Moreover, hair dyes manufactured in India and the UAE were more likely to have incomplete descriptions of the conditions of use and warnings on the label (P = 0.002).Conclusion: The effectiveness of the current regulations relevant to these products should be reevaluated. Moreover, through the use of good manufacturing procedures (GMPs), research, and the reporting of adverse reactions, hair dyes should be subjected to better control and monitoring in terms of their safety and quality.Keywords: PPD, gap analysis, allergy, contact dermatitis, permanent hair dyes, sensitization

BackgroundAcross the globe, breastfeeding stands out as a highly effective strategy for reducing infant and child morbidity and mortality. Concurrently, postpartum depression (PPD) emerges as a notable public health issue, adversely affecting both exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) practices for infants and the fulfillment of parenting roles. Despite the lack of substantial evidence in Ethiopia and the specific study areas, indicating the association between PPD and EBF practices, this study endeavors to fill this gap. The primary objective is to examine the correlation between PPD and EBF practices, along with exploring other pertinent factors, in Assosa Town, West Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from 7 March to 5 April 2019. The study involved the recruitment of 462 participants through a systematic random sampling method. Data collection was facilitated by conducting a structured and pre-tested questionnaire. To screen for PPD, we used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) tool. This tool, EPDS, was used solely as a screening tool and not for diagnostic purposes. The collected data were entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and subsequently exported to SPSS version 24 for comprehensive statistical analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between independent variables and dependent variables. Odds ratios, along with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were calculated to ascertain the presence and strength of any associations. Statistical significance was acknowledged at a p-value of

Abstract Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common complication of pregnancy in women, and its pathogenesis mainly involves disturbances of the neuroendocrine regulation, immune system, neurotransmitters, hormone secretion, and the gut microbiome. Gut microbes play essential physiological and pathological roles in the gut-brain axis’ pathways which are involved in various central nervous system (CNS) and psychiatric disorders, including PPD. Numerous studies have identified the fundamental role of the gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis and treatment of PPD patients and also correlates with other pathogenic mechanisms of PPD. Disturbances in gut microbes are associated with the disruption of multiple signaling pathways and systems that ultimately lead to PPD development. This review aimed to elucidate the potential connections between gut microbes and the established PPD network, and this might serve as a guide for the development of new efficient diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic strategies in the management of PPD.

This study advances the field of intelligent manufacturing by integrating automation, information technology, and digitalization into a novel “five horizontal and three vertical” system architecture. We introduce an enhanced model-free adaptive control (MFAC) algorithm that utilizes a dynamic linearization method alongside pseudo-partial derivatives (PPD) for optimizing data transfer within intelligent manufacturing systems. Using CANoe software for simulation, our research demonstrates the improved MFAC algorithm’s superior bus message transmission efficiency by 0.0224 to 0.026 and a significant reduction in the network load factor by 0.2068. These advancements highlight the efficacy of fieldbus technology in reducing network congestion and enhancing real-time performance in intelligent manufacturing environments.

While purified protein derivative (PPD) is commonly used as skin diagnostic reagent for tuberculosis (TB) infection, it cannot distinguish effectively Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) complex and nontuberculous mycobacteria infection. The new skin reagent ESAT6-CFP10 (EC) has favorable sensitivity and specificity, which can overcome limitations associated with PPD. At present, EC skin test reactions are mainly characterized by erythema, while PPD mainly causes induration. We conducted a comparative study on the potential differences between EC-induced erythema and PPD-induced induration using a guinea pig model. The size of EC-dependent erythema was similar to that of PPD-induced induration, and an inflammatory response characterized by the infiltration of monocytes, macrophages and lymphocytes, as well as tissue damage, appeared at the injection site. The lymphocytes included CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells, which released IFN-γ as the main cytokine. Both EC erythema and PPD induration could lead to increased levels of acute-phase proteins, and the differential pathways were similar, thus indicating that the main induced immune pathways were similar. The above results indicated that erythema produced by EC could generate the main delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response characteristic of PPD induration, thereby suggesting that erythema might also have a certain diagnostic significance and provide a possible theoretical basis for its use as a diagnostic indicator for detecting MTB infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indoor air quality is one of the main factors that influence the thermal confort and, consenquently, the human performance inside buildings. Throughout the years, a lot of studies described the relation between the climate confort and the performance .This study follows the thermal sensations of students in a seminar room during the summer and winter periods and presents the results between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley is a long-day plant with a major gene (PPD-H1) that determines its photoperiod sensitivity. Under long days (i.e. 16 h), flowering occurs earlier in sensitive (Ppd-H1) than in insensitive (ppd-H1) genotypes, while under short days (i.e. 12 h) both flower late and more or less simultaneously. We hypothesized that (i) the sensitive line should flower later than the insensitive line under very short days (<12 h), and (ii) both the sensitive and insensitive lines should have similar phenology under very long days (>18 h). When comparing a pair of spring isogenic lines for sensitive and insensitive PPD-H1 alleles (introgressing the PPD-H1 allele into the barley cultivar 'WI4441'), we found responses fully in line with expectations for the commonly explored range from 12 to 16–18 h. When the responses were extended to very short days, sensitivity increased noticeably, and time to flowering of the sensitive line was longer than that of the insensitive one. Under very long days, the sensitive line did not respond further (it seemed to have reached its minimum time to flowering under a 16 h period), while the insensitive line continued shortening its time to flowering until c. 21 h. Consequently, both lines flowered similarly under very long days, which opens opportunities to easily test for differences in earliness per se , as in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymeric PPDs that reduce the pour point of crude oil are one of the most important chemicals utilized in the petroleum industry, especially when transporting waxy oil. The regulation of the structure of such polymers with different hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance makes it possible to select an effective PPD to improve the low-temperature properties of crude oil. On this basis, the current work presents a series of syntheses of copolymers based on α-olefins and maleic anhydride and their modification by the amidation reaction with primary amines: butylamine, hexylamine, hexadecylamine, octadecylamine, and benzylamine. The structure of the copolymers was determined through FTIR spectroscopy and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The molecular weight of the copolymers was identified by the method of light scattering. The study of the effect of modified copolymers on rheological behavior and lowering the pour point was performed for waxy crude oil from the Akshabulak field (Kazakhstan). Rheological tests have shown that the synthesized copolymers improve the fluidity of oil and reduce the values ​of the yield stress of oil. Optical micrograph showed that the modified copolymers form fine crystals of paraffins and exhibit dispersing properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jammertest 2022 was a week-long series of satellite navigation and timing signal jamming and spoofing exercises carried out on the Norwegian island of Andøya in September of 2022. Organized via a collaboration between the Norwegian spectrum management authority, defense research establishment, public roads administration, metrology service, and others, the result was the largest known GNSS jamming and spoofing event open to international collaboration and provided an open-access data and publication policy for participants. This paper reviews the event's organization, scheduled tests, noteworthy jamming observations, noteworthy spoofing observations, and the unexpected observations found during the event and also presents information on what data are publicly available to interested parties, along with the contact information needed to obtain these data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs) are regarded as having potential to participate in power grid regulation. This paper proposes a scheduling strategy with three-stage optimization for regional aggregators jointly participating in day-ahead scheduling to support demand response. The first stage is on the profit of aggregators and peak load of the grid. The line loss and voltage deviation of regulation are considered to ensure stable operation of the power grid at the second stage, which guarantees the fairness of the regulation and the comfort of users. A single temperature adjustment strategy is used to control TCLs to maximize the response potential in the third stage. Finally, digital simulation based on the IEEE 33-bus distribution network system proves that the proposed three-stage scheduling strategy can keep the voltage deviation within ± 5% in different situations. In addition, the Gini coefficient of distribution increases by 20% and the predicted percentage of dissatisfied is 48% lower than those without distribution.

Em termos do gerenciamento eficiente das condições de aderência dos pavimentos aeroportuários brasileiros, a inexistência de uma adequada organização e compreensão dos dados coletados, com vistas à obtenção de informações precisas e confiáveis, ainda é uma dificuldade a ser superada. Diante disso, o objetivo deste estudo é analisar os dados disponíveis das condições de aderência, em pistas de pouso e decolagem de pavimentos aeroportuários nacionais. Realizou-se um estudo de caso, usando-se dados de três pistas de pouso e decolagem (PPD) de diferentes aeroportos. Iniciou-se com uma investigação preliminar dos dados existentes, com recorte temporal de 2015 e 2021. A escolha dos aeroportos ocorreu mediante sua espacialização no território brasileiro e, da quantidade de relatórios disponíveis. Usou-se diferentes técnicas estatísticas e de análise visual para uma melhor compreensão e visualização das informações. Para as PPD avaliadas os dados de coeficiente de atrito tiveram maior homogeneidade, com menores coeficientes de variação, em relação à macrotextura, fato que pode estar relacionado à forma de execução do ensaio utilizado para a obtenção da macrotextura. Com base na distribuição dos dados e a alta quantidade de valores extremos (outliers), considera-se que a mediana pode representar melhor os dados de aderência. Assim, a reestruturação do banco de dados possibilitou a criação de um Dashboard e, a consequente visualização das informações para o período considerado. Portanto, a adequada sistematização permitiu uma melhor compreensão dos dados disponíveis, de modo a auxiliar no processo de tomada de decisão, quanto às atividades de fiscalização, regulação e manutenção dos pavimentos aeroportuários.

BackgroundPostpartum depression (PPD) is associated with several psychological and obstetric factors. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been linked with a high risk of depression, but little is known about the relationship between maternal HBV infection and PPD. We aimed to investigate the association between HBV infection and PPD.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included 3,808 mothers who gave birth in a hospital in southern China. Self-reported Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess PPD. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine whether maternal HBV infection was associated with PPD risk.ResultsOf the 3,808 participants, 11.9% of mothers had PPD at 6 weeks postpartum. Two hundred and seventy-eight (7.3%) and 3,530 (92.7%) were in the HBV and control groups, respectively. Women with HBV infection were more likely to test positive for PPD (14.7 vs.11.7%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HBV-infected women did not have a significantly higher incidence of PPD (OR = 1.23; 95% CI, 0.82–1.84) than those without HBV infection in the study cohort. Parity and postpartum hemorrhage were found to be associated with PPD. In addition, our study showed that e antigen positivity was not associated with PPD risk (OR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.19–1.63).ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first investigation of the relationship between maternal HBV infection and PPD. In a cohort of women without prior history or family history of mental illness, having HBV infection was not significantly associated with self-reporting of PPD compared to not having HBV infection.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common complication of pregnancy in women, and its pathogenesis mainly involves disturbances of the neuroendocrine regulation, immune system, neurotransmitters, hormone secretion, and the gut microbiome. Gut microbes play essential physiological and pathological roles in the gut-brain axis' pathways which are involved in various central nervous system (CNS) and psychiatric disorders, including PPD. Numerous studies have identified the fundamental role of the gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis and treatment of PPD patients and also correlates with other pathogenic mechanisms of PPD. Disturbances in gut microbes are associated with the disruption of multiple signaling pathways and systems that ultimately lead to PPD development. This review aimed to elucidate the potential connections between gut microbes and the established PPD network, and this might serve as a guide for the development of new efficient diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic strategies in the management of PPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pueraria thomsonii Benth. is a perennial leguminous vine with medicinal and nutritional value. However, rapid postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD) reduces its quality and market value. To detect gene expression levels, the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) technique requires stable internal reference genes (IRGs). Our findings indicated that an ethephon (C2H6ClO3P) treatment delayed PPD in P. thomsonii tuberous roots and an RNA-seq analysis revealed a significant number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). To find stable IRGs for the further identification of the genes associated with delayed PPD in P. thomsonii, eight candidate IRGs of the tuberous roots were screened and assessed using qRT-PCR. The expression stability of these genes was determined and ranked using five different algorithms, including NormFinder, BestKeeper, ΔCt, GeNorm, and ReFinder. Consequently, we identified two genes, PtUBC10 and PtACT7, as the best candidate IRGs for qRT-PCR normalization in P. thomsonii, both exposed to ethephon treatment and in different tissues. Moreover, PtUBC10 was found to be the most stably expressed IRG of P. thomsonii during the ethephon treatment. The findings of this investigation furnish significant insights for future gene expression analyses concerning the delay of PPD via ethephon administration, which could also be used in other tuberous plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The description of long photoperiod sensitivity in wheat and barley is a cause of confusion for researchers working with these crops, usually accustomed to free exchange of physiological and genetic knowledge of such similar crops. Indeed, wheat and barley scientists customarily quote studies of either crop species when researching one of them. Among their numerous similarities, the main gene controlling the long photoperiod sensitivity is the same in both crops (PPD1 ; PPD-H1 in barley and PPD-D1 in hexaploid wheat). However, the photoperiod responses are different: (i) the main dominant allele inducing shorter time to anthesis is the insensitive allele in wheat (Ppd-D1a) but the sensitive allele in barley (Ppd-H1) (i.e. sensitivity to photoperiod produces opposite effects on time to heading in wheat and barley); (ii) the main 'insensitive' allele in wheat, Ppd-D1a , does confer insensitivity, whilst that of barley reduces the sensitivity but still responds to photoperiod. The different behaviour of PPD1 genes in wheat and barley is put in a common framework based on the similarities and differences of the molecular bases of their mutations, which include polymorphism at gene expression levels, copy number variation, and sequence of coding regions. This common perspective sheds light on a source of confusion for cereal researchers, and prompts us to recommend accounting for the photoperiod sensitivity status of the plant materials when conducting research on genetic control of phenology. Finally, we provide advice to facilitate the management of natural PPD1 diversity in breeding programmes and suggest targets for further modification through gene editing, based on mutual knowledge on the two crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Considering the importance of the effect of Vitamin D in patients with COVID‑19 or tuberculosis, this study looked at how Vitamin D receptor (VDR) single‑nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affect health‑care workers’ susceptibility to COVID‑19 infection. Methods: Three VDR SNPs (Asm1, Bsm1, Fok1, and Tag1) were investigated by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism in 164 individuals (in two groups): Group á, which consists of samples accrued from 2016 to 2019 from the GenBank TB laboratory before the pandemic, and Group bx, which includes samples collected during the COVID‑19 pandemic (2020–2023) with a purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test prepared. Results: Group á had more genotype AA in the Apa1 gene than Group b́, which was statistically significant (P = 0.00, odds ratio [OR]: 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.11–0.43). Furthermore, the proportion of health‑care workers with COVID‑19‑mutated homozygous and mutated homozygous genotypeAC + CC was higher (P = 0.00, OR: 4.50, 95% CI: 2.32–8.73). This result could show that this gene is mutated and that the candidate is more likely to get COVID-19. In Group á, allele A was found to be more frequent (P = 0.01, OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.48–0.83), whereas in Group b́, allele C was dominant (P = 0.04 OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.01–2.24). Investigations of three genotypes of Bsm1 showed that genotype AG in Group b́ was more relegated than Group á (P = 0.00, OR: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.25–4.42). Conclusion: The Apa1 gene was found to have significant differences in genotypes(AA, AC, and AC + CC) and alleles(A and C) in two groups of health‑care workers with COVID‑19 and cases control. We suggested that further study be done to establish the role of Apa1 and another gene polymorphism in susceptibility to COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European regulations are demanding more than ever to reduce the energy consumption for buildings and at the same time to raise the Indoor Environmental Quality to a higher standard. This challenge implies that the occupants inside the building should benefit from at least the same thermal comfort conditions at a lower energetical cost. The purpose of this research is to improve the performance of the air diffusers ventilation devices with the purpose of obtaining a more efficient mixing of the airflow from the air diffuser towards the ambient air. In this regard, an innovative cross shaped orifices perforated panel is analysed and compared to a regular panel with circular orifices. The experimental approach was carried out in a climatic chamber. The indoor thermal comfort was assessed at the same time by means of two different experimental devices, namely a thermal manikin and Comfort Sense equipment. The equivalent temperature was assess using the thermal manikin. The panels were also evaluated from the noise levels and pressure losses points of view. By evaluating the PMV and PPD thermal comfort indexes, the results highlighted a more comfortable ambience for a specific person in the room for the cross shaped lobed perforated panel in comparison to the circular shaped perforated panel. Furthermore, it seems that the special geometry of the lobed perforated panel does not generate supplementary noise. The pressure losses of the airflow through the perforated panels were reduced as well.

Objective(s): HBsAg vaccine is unable to induce Th1 immune responses. Here, immune responses and long-lived IgG responses of HBsAg-Alum, HBsAg-MF59, as well as HBsAg-MF59 were compared when formulated with PPD. Materials and Methods: BALB/c mice were injected with the vaccines subcutaneously three times with a two-week interval. Then, specific IgG, long-lived IgG responses up to 220 days, and also IgG1 and IgG2a isotypes were assessed using ELISA. Furthermore, IFN-γ and IL-4 were assessed on spleen cell culture supernatant by ELISA. Results: IFN-γ cytokine response between MF59- and Alum-adjuvanted vaccines did not show a significant difference. HBsAg-Alum vaccine revealed an increase in IL-4 cytokine, as compared with those immunized with HBsAg-MF59 at borderline (P=0.0553). In addition, HBsAg-MF59+PPD 10 µg showed a significant decrease in IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines, as compared with HBsAg-MF59. Furthermore, the HBsAg-MF59+PPD10 µg group showed a significant increase in the IL-2/IL-4 ratio, as compared with HBsAg-MF59 (P=0.0339). Specific IgG antibody showed a significant increase in HBsAg-MF59, as compared with HBsAg-Alum. Furthermore, HBsAg-MF59 plus PPD showed a significant increase in IgG responses, as compared with HBsAg-MF59 and HBsAg-Alum groups. Long-lived IgG responses up to 220 days after the final shot showed a significant increase in HBsAgMF59 versus HBsAg-Alum group and PPD in the HBsAg-MF59 vaccine formulation, resulting in a significant increase in IgG responses versus HBsAg-MF59 group. In addition, PPD in the HBsAg-MF59 vaccine formulation suppressed IgG1 response versus HBsAg-Alum. However, HBsAg-MF59 showed a significant increase in IgG2α versus the HBsAg-Alum group (P=0.0190). Immunization with HBsAg-MF59+PPD (10 µg) showed a significant increase versus the HBsAg-MF59 group (P=0.0040). Results from the IgG2a/IgG1 ratio in HBsAg-MF59+PPD1µg and HBsAg-MF59+PPD10 µg groups showed a significant increase as compared with HBsAg-MF59 groups (P

Thermal comfort is an important element in students' learning activities. The object chosen was the classroom of the Sawah Besar 01 Public Elementary School in Semarang, Indonesia built in a densely populated area, resulting in a window design that has varying orientation directions but with a homogenous façade design. This affects the level of thermal comfort in the classroom. Data analysis was carried out quantitatively - namely, to obtain a thermal comfort index, PMV, and PPD according to the Indonesia National Standard and ASHRAE. The thermal comfort conditions of all selected rooms on the 1st and 2nd floors, either indoor or outdoor, did not meet the comfortable thermal comfort standard for classrooms. The PMV index is above +1 and is mostly categorized as slightly warm, warm, and hot, and all of the PPD percentages are above 10%, indicating that most of the occupants are not satisfied with the temperature in the classroom. New façade opening designs and mechanical ventilation aids need to be applied to improve thermal comfort according to the Indonesia National Standard and ASHRAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postpartum mood disorders develop shortly after childbirth in a significant proportion of women and have severe effects. Two evolutionary explanations are currently available. The first is that poor postpartum mental health is a consequence of an evolutionary trade-off – a compromise of neurological changes in the maternal brain during pregnancy which, on the one hand, maintain pregnancy, and on the other, increase the likelihood for postpartum women to develop psychopathology. The second explanation is that poor postpartum mental health is a disease of civilization. This theoretical paper demonstrates that both explanations ignore the crucial event of childbirth. I elaborate on environmental features of childbirth, a physiological process that is substantially different in the current versus evolutionary childbirth and postpartum setting, and argue that maternal brain neuroplasticity and biochemical alterations are not an evolutionary trade-off, but an adaptation. Additionally, the incidents of poor postpartum mental health are better viewed as a maladaptation of the typical modern environments – an evolutionary mismatch. Thus, the potential to suffer from poor mental health in postpartum is an external, contingent happening, dependent on contemporary childbirth and postpartum environments, and not due to any essential property women possess as a result of evolutionary compromise. In fact, women are probably adapted to feel like superwomen right after birth, a state of mind that is an aid in adapting to motherhood. Distinguishing between evolutionary concepts in the context of pregnancy, birth, and motherhood is vital for developing more accurate preventions and interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs) are regarded as having potential to participate in power grid regulation. This paper proposes a scheduling strategy with three-stage optimization for regional aggregators jointly participating in day-ahead scheduling to support demand response. The first stage is on the profit of aggregators and peak load of the grid. The line loss and voltage deviation of regulation are considered to ensure stable operation of the power grid at the second stage, which guarantees the fairness of the regulation and the comfort of users. A single temperature adjustment strategy is used to control TCLs to maximize the response potential in the third stage. Finally, digital simulation based on the IEEE 33-bus distribution network system proves that the proposed three-stage scheduling strategy can keep the voltage deviation within ± 5% in different situations. In addition, the Gini coefficient of distribution increases by 20% and the predicted percentage of dissatisfied is 48% lower than those without distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human performance and health are among the most relevant topics in modern society, especially at young ages, when academic performance is indispensable. Thus, as humans spend most of their life inside a building, thermal comfort and indoor air quality are essential aspects of a room. The aim of the current study is to numerically evaluate the main thermal comfort parameters such as PMV and PPD as well as indoor air quality, i.e., CO2 concentration, in library group study rooms at the University of Gävle in Sweden. Rotroninc Measurement Solutions CL11 sensors were utilized for temperature measurements. Simulation models were created and validated based on building data as well as temperature measurements. Several simulations were conducted throughout the year, covering different periods. The results show that even though the ventilation system, with only temperature control, works as intended for maintaining thermal comfort, the CO2 concentration rises above 1000 ppm when more than one student occupies the rooms, which is not recommended by different thermal comfort ruling institutions. Consequently, a modification to the ventilation system control is recommended, changing it from temperature control to CO2 and temperature control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal comfort is increasingly recognized as vital in healthcare facilities, where patients spend 80–90% of their time indoors. Sensing, controlling, and predicting indoor air quality should be monitored for thermal comfort. This study examines the effects of ventilation design on thermal comfort in hospital rooms, proposing four distinct ventilation configurations, each with three airflow rates of 9, 12, and 15 Air Changes per Hour (ACH). The study conducted various ventilation simulation scenarios for a hospital room. The objective is to determine the effect of airflow and the diffuser location distribution on thermal comfort. The Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations, along with the k–ε turbulence model, were used as the underlying mathematical representation for the airflow. The boundary conditions for the simulations were derived from the ventilation standards set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and insights from previous studies. Thermal comfort and temperature distribution were assessed using indices like Predicted Percentage Dissatisfaction (PPD), Predicted Mean Vote (PMV), and Air Diffusion Performance Index (ADPI). Although most of the twelve scenarios failed to attain thermal comfort, two of those instances were optimal in this simulation. Those instances involved the return diffuser behind the patient and airflow of 9 ACH, the minimum recommended by previous studies. It should be noted that the ADPI remained unmet in these cases, revealing complexities in achieving ideal thermal conditions in healthcare environments. This study extends the insights from our prior research, advancing our understanding of ventilation impacts on thermal comfort in healthcare facilities. It underscores the need for comprehensive approaches to environmental control, setting the stage for future research to refine these findings further.

Phytate is widely distributed in the plant kingdom, and its significance for human nutrition has been often described. Data on phytate is available in very few composition tables, for a limited number of foods and mainly for raw products. With the aim of publishing the first global repository of analytical data on phytate, data on moisture, phytate, zinc, iron and calcium were compiled. Other aspects, such as the analytical method used, biodiversity and processing, were considered, and phytate: mineral ratios were calculated when possible. From a comprehensive literature search, over 250 references were compiled, generating 3377 entries: 39% for raw and 61% for processed foods. Most of the entries were for cereals (35%), followed by legumes (27%) and vegetables (11%). The most common analytical methods used were indirect precipitation (26%) and anion exchange (25%), while separate determination of IPs is the most recommended. The database can be used as a tool for nutrition workers to include into food composition tables and to develop programmes related to mineral deficiencies. These data will be useful for designing diets with enhanced mineral bioavailability and for improving the estimates for nutrient requirements. The database is available at the INFOODS (www.fao.org/infoods/infoods/tables-and-databases/en) and IZiNCG webpages (www.izincg.org).

The goal of this study was to compare the mechanical properties of experimental resin dental composites containing a conventional photoinitiating system (camphorquinone CQ and 2-(dimethylami-no)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA)) to a photoinitiator system containing 1-phenyl-1,2 propanedione (PPD) with 2-(dimethylami-no)ethyl methacrylate) or acting alone phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phosphine oxide (BAPO). The manually produced composites consisted of an organic matrix: bis-GMA (60 wt. %), TEGDMA (40 wt. %), and silanized silica filler (45 wt. %). The composites contained 0.4/0.8 wt. %, 0.8/1.6 wt. %, and 1/2 wt. % of PPD/DMAEMA and another group included 0.25, 0.5, or 1 wt. % of BAPO. Vickers hardness, microhardness (in the nanoindentation test), diametral tensile strength, and flexural strength were assessed, and CIE L* a* b* colorimetric analysis was conducted for each composite produced. The highest average Vickers hardness values were obtained for the composite containing 1 wt. % BAPO (43.73 ± 3.52 HV). There was no statistical difference in the results of diametral tensile strength for the experimental composites tested. The results of 3-point bending tests were the highest for composites containing CQ (77.3 ± 8.84 MPa). Despite the higher hardness of experimental composites including PPD or BAPO, compared with composites with CQ, the overall results indicate that the composite with CQ still represents a better solution when used as a photoinitiator system. Moreover, the composites containing PPD and DMAEMA are not promising in terms of color or mechanical properties, especially as they require significantly longer irradiation times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Textile dye mix (TDM) is included in the European baseline series (EBS), but it is unknown if TDM identifies all patients with a textile dye allergy. Objectives: To assess the added value of performing patch testing with individual textile dyes in addition to TDM. Methods: Two hundred and nine patients suspected to have a contact allergy to textile dyes were patch tested between January 2015 and December 2021 with the EBS, as well as an individual textile dye test series containing textile dyes part of TDM (TDM‐dyes) and outside the scope of TDM (non‐TDM dyes). Results: Fifty‐four patients (25.8%) tested positive for TDM or an individual textile dye. Disperse Orange 3 (9.6%) followed by Disperse Blue 106 (4.8%) were the most common individual textile dyes causing a positive patch test reaction. Of the 54 dye positive patients, 28 (51.9%) had a clinically relevant reaction. No clinically relevant reactions were seen in patients that solely tested positive for non‐TDM dyes. Conclusions: It is beneficial to test individual textile dyes in addition to TDM in patients suspected of having a textile dye allergy. Otherwise, 46.3% of the dye positive patients and 35.7% of the patients with a clinically relevant reaction would have been missed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory disorder characterized by the formation of non‐caseating granulomas. Cutaneous involvement of sarcoidosis is common and has a wide variety of clinical presentations. Herein, we present a case of cutaneous sarcoidosis mimicking pigmented purpuric dermatosis (PPD) in a 26‐year‐old female treated with topical tofacitinib cream and a literature review of all other reported cases of cutaneous sarcoidosis with PPD‐like features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which infects the epidermal cell layers leading to their hyperproliferation. The concept of immunotherapy has recently come to light. It acts by mounting delayed cell-mediated and humoral immunity against the HPV in the host. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the intralesional PPD versus intralesional vitamin D3 for the management of recalcitrant warts. Materials and Methods: This prospective randomized trial was conducted on patients between the ages of 12 and 65 years with two or more recalcitrant extragenital warts. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups, namely, group A (PPD) and group B (vitamin D3). In group A, a purified protein derivative (PPD) of tuberculin was employed without any prior pre-sensitization testing. Each patient in group I received 0.1--0.2 mL of antigen at the base of the largest wart. In group B, the patients received 0.1--0.2 mL in a similar manner. Results: In group A, 39 (78%) patients had complete clearance while, in group B, 38 (76%) had complete clearance in injected warts (p = 0.8). As far as distant warts were concerned, in group A, 35 (70%) had a complete response while, in group B, 29 (48%) had a complete response. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups with a greater degree of clearance in distant warts with the tuberculin PPD (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Both the tuberculin PPD and vitamin D3 are reliable and safe management options for recalcitrant, treatment-resistant, and extensive warts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripartum depression (PPD) is a common mental health complication of pregnancy and increases risk for maternal mortality and poorer outcomes for children. Despite its importance, screening rates vary across organizations and care team members. The goal of the current study was to explore the perspectives from care team members in both behavioral health and acute care settings about how they screen and refer pregnant and post pregnant women for PPD, what training around PPD is currently offered by their organization, and if they could benefit from additional PPD training. Data were collected from an online self-report survey of care team members from behavioral health and acute care settings in the US. Questions focused on (1) when/if the care teams had a screening protocol for PPD, (2) beliefs about the efficacy of their organization's PPD screening, identification, and referral process, and (3) if their organization currently offered or needed training around the topic of PPD. A total of 794 care team members in behavioral health and acute care responded to the survey between December 2021 and May 2022. Nearly, all (96.7%) reported having a specific protocol for screening for PPD when they know a patient is pregnant; however, only 69.6% of respondents routinely screen regardless of symptoms being reported by the patient. While 93.3% of the sample believed their organization does a good job screening for and identifying PPD, gaps in the referral processes were described, especially in acute settings. 95.3% of the sample reported their organization currently gives training in screening, identifying, or treating PPD or in the process for establishing outpatient referrals for PPD care for care team members who have direct contact with pregnant patients; however, 96.5% also reported their organization would benefit from additional training in one or more of these areas. High rates of self-reported PPD screening and training indicate that care team members in both behavioral health and acute care are aware of the importance of maternal mental health issues. However, other research indicates that high rates of screening may not lead to improved outcomes, and there are still high rates of maternal suicide and suicidal ideation in the US. It is possible that high self-reported screening rates may indicate a false sense of security such that care team members feel the issue is addressed while problems remain. Alternatively, many respondents felt their organizations would benefit from further training, perhaps indicating an awareness of this gap. Care team members in behavioral health and acute care settings should increase collaboration to ensure high rates of screening lead to improved maternal mental health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerns about hyperpigmentation and skin appearance have led to increasing research into the prevention and altering of skin pigmentation. Natural compounds may be of interest in the search for skin-lightening actives. Protopanaxadiol (PPD), a gut microbiome-induced ginseng metabolite, has been reported to have anti-melanogenic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidative and anti-melanogenic effects of PPD-enriched rice seed extracts on melan-a cells. The antioxidant and cytotoxicity activities of the extracts were investigated in melan-a cells before measuring their responses to melanogenic activities. The extracts significantly enhanced the antioxidant potency compared with normal rice seed extract. PPD-enriched rice seed extracts (i) significantly downregulated microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, which led to a reduction in tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 and -2, (ii) decrease in the cellular tyrosinase activity and melanin content, (iii) reduction in the number of melanin-containing cells, (iv) promotion of melanogenesis downregulators, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and protein kinase B, and (v) downregulation of the phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and melanin synthesis. These results indicate the feasibility of PPD-enriched rice seed extracts as a novel agent for suppressing melanogenesis and controlling hyperpigmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiple treatment options are available for verruca, however none is completely effective. Conventional modalities such as salicylic acid, cryotherapy have inconsistent treatment efficacies. Newer modalities such as immunotherapy, bleomycin and lasers have shown higher clearance rates of warts in recent studies. Immunotherapy is an innovative approach to treat warts which relies on the principle of enhancement of cell-mediated immunity. This study was done to evaluate the efficacy of immunotherapy with Tuberculin Purified Protein Derivative injection in palmoplantar verruca in our context. Materials and Methods: This is an open labelled, prospective interventional study. Patients with palmoplantar verruca enrolled in the study were injected with purified protein derivative intralesionally by an insulin syringe at a dose of 10 IU (0.1 mL) in the largest wart every 2 weeks until all lesions disappeared or for a maximum of six sessions. They were followed up for 3 months after final treatment session. Results: A total of 54 patients, 34 males and 20 females, were enrolled in the study. Commonest distribution of palmoplantar verruca was in plantar distribution (48.1%). Among them, 12 (22.2%) patients had periungual warts. Complete clearance of warts without any scarring was seen in 66.7% (36) patients with palmoplantar verruca at the end of 6th session whereas 33.3% (18) patients did not respond. Adverse effects noted were erythema, edema and pain at injection site. Conclusion: Intralesional injection of purified protein derivative is an effective and inexpensive treatment option for palmo-plantar verruca with good outcome.

A series of heterocyclic ring-fused analogs of 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) were synthesized and their antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus Newman strain and multidrug-resistant strains (USA300, NRS-1, NRS-70, NRS-100, NRS-108, NRS-271, XJ017, and XJ036) were evaluated. [Display omitted] • Multidrug-resistant bacterial infections are becoming a life-threatening issue. • 20(S)-Protopanaxadiol derivatives were synthesized based on the hit compound. • Most derivatives exhibited moderate to potent antibacterial activities. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections are becoming a life-threatening issue in public health; therefore, it is urgent to develop novel antibacterial agents for treating infections caused by MDR bacteria. The 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) derivative 9 was identified as a novel antibacterial hit compound in screening of our small synthetic natural product-like (NPL) library. A series of novel PPD derivatives with heterocyclic rings fused at the C-2 and C-3 positions of the A-ring were synthesized and their antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) Newman strain and MDR S. aureus strains (USA300, NRS-1, NRS-70, NRS-100, NRS-108, NRS-271, XJ017, and XJ036) were evaluated. Among these compounds, quinoxaline derivative 56 (SH617) exhibited the highest activity with MICs of 0.5–4 μg/mL against the S. aureus Newman strain and the eight MDR S. aureus strains. Its antibacterial activity was comparable to that of the positive control, vancomycin. In the zebrafish, 56 revealed no obvious toxicity even at a high administered dose. In vivo , following a lethal infection induced by USA300 strains in zebrafish, 56 exhibited significantly increased survival rates in a dose-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jammertest 2022 was a week-long series of satellite navigation and timing signal jamming and spoofing exercises carried out on the Norwegian island of Andøya in September of 2022. Organized via a collaboration between the Norwegian spectrum management authority, defense research establishment, public roads administration, metrology service, and others, the result was the largest known GNSS jamming and spoofing event open to international collaboration and provided an open-access data and publication policy for participants. This paper reviews the event’s organization, scheduled tests, noteworthy jamming observations, noteworthy spoofing observations, and the unexpected observations found during the event and also presents information on what data are publicly available to interested parties, along with the contact information needed to obtain these data.

Background: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is still a prominent threat to animal health; lacking an efficient vaccine, other than BCG to get rid of tuberculosis, the most effective way for this is culling and slaughtering the infected animals. There are several cellular, serological, and molecular tests for the diagnosis of the disease but the most practical one at the field level is the double skin testing with bovine and aviary tuberculins. This is not a very specific test but is sensitive enough to identify most diseased animals; adjunct practical tests are desirable to strengthen the utility of skin tests. All lymphoid and myeloid cells participate, in diverse grades, in the immune response to tuberculosis with neutrophils playing an unintended pathologic role. The study aimed to investigate the response of neutrophils to agents present in the sera of tuberculous cows. Methods: We have developed a neutrophil-based test (N BT) to identify diseased cows within a herd suspected of having tuberculosis; a positive N BT correlates with a positive double skin test. In this test, healthy neutrophils are incubated with the sera of healthy or tuberculous cows for 3 and 6 h, and the nuclear morphologic changes are recorded and analyzed. Results: Sera from tuberculous but not from healthy cows induce nuclear alterations including pyknosis, swelling, apoptosis, and sometimes NETosis, in healthy neutrophils, and CFP 10 and ESAT 6 participate in the phenomenon. Conclusion: We propose the N BT as an auxiliary tool for substantiating the diagnosis of bTB reinforcing the PPD test outcome to help decide whether or not a cow should be sacrificed.

Keywords: allergic contact dermatitis; Alopecia areata; case report; hair dye; hair loss; henna tattoos; multiple sclerosis; non-scarring alopecia; PPD; p-phenylenediamine EN allergic contact dermatitis Alopecia areata case report hair dye hair loss henna tattoos multiple sclerosis non-scarring alopecia PPD p-phenylenediamine 536 539 4 11/11/22 20221201 NES 221201 Several types of alopecia may be triggered by scalp allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) including telogen effluvium1 and scarring alopecia.2 We hereby describe an unusual case of alopecia areata (AA) activated by severe ACD to a permanent hair dye. Two years after the events of ACD and AA, the patient was subsequently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). In predisposed individuals, MS may be diagnosed prior to or after AA.10 AA may also be triggered by alemtuzumab, a therapy used in MS. [Extracted from the article]

Objective(s): Here, immune responses and long-lived IgG responses of HBsAg-Alum, HBsAg-MF59, as well as HBsAg-MF59 were compared when formulated with PPD. Materials and Methods: BALB/c mice were vaccinated subcutaneously three times with a twoweek -interval. Then, specific IgG, long-lived IgG responses up to 220 days, and IgG1/ IgG2a isotypes, and IFN-γ and IL-4 on spleen cell culture supernatant were assessed using ELISA. Results: IFN-γ cytokine response between MF59- and Alum-adjuvanted vaccines did not show a significant difference. HBsAg-Alum revealed an increase in IL-4 cytokine versus HBsAg-MF59 at borderline (P=0.0553). In addition, HBsAg-MF59+PPD 10µg showed a significant decrease in IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokines versus HBsAg-MF59. Furthermore, HBsAg-MF59+PPD10 µg showed a significant increase in the IL-2/IL-4 ratio versus HBsAg-MF59 (P=0.0339). Specific IgG antibody showed a significant increase in HBsAg-MF59, as compared with HBsAg-Alum. Furthermore, HBsAg-MF59 plus PPD showed a significant increase in IgG responses versus HBsAg-MF59 and HBsAg-Alum groups. Long-lived IgG responses showed a significant increase in HBsAgMF59 versus HBsAg-Alum group and PPD in the HBsAg-MF59 vaccine formulation, resulting in a significant increase in IgG responses versus HBsAg-MF59 group. In addition, HBsAg-MF59 plus PPD suppressed IgG1 response versus HBsAg-Alum. However, HBsAg-MF59 showed a significant increase in IgG2α versus the HBsAgAlum group (P=0.0190). Immunization with HBsAg-MF59+PPD (10 µg) showed a significant increase versus the HBsAg-MF59 group (P=0.0040). IgG2a/IgG1 ratio in HBsAg-MF59+PPD1µg and HBsAgMF59+PPD10 µg groups showed a significant increase versus HBsAg-MF59 groups (P<0.0345). Conclusion: PPD leads to a more potent long-lived IgG responses in the HBsAg vaccine, highlighting its potential as a component of a complex adjuvant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]