Intra-alveolar neutrophil-derived microvesicles are associated with disease severity in COPD

Despite advances in the pathophysiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), there is a distinct lack of biochemical markers to aid clinical management. Microvesicles (MVs) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of inflammatory diseases including COPD but their association to COPD disease severity remains unknown. We analysed different MV populations in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) taken from sixty-two patients with mild to very severe COPD (51% male; mean age: 65.9 years). These patients underwent comprehensive clinical evaluation (symptom scores, lung function, exercise testing) and the capacity of MVs to be clinical markers of disease severity was assessed. We successfully identified various MV subtype populations within BALF (leukocyte, PMN (polymorphonuclear leukocyte i.e. neutrophil), monocyte, epithelial and platelet MVs) and plasma (leukocyte, PMN, monocyte and endothelial MVs), and compared each MV population to disease severity. BALF neutrophil MVs were the only population to significantly correlate with the clinical evaluation scores including FEV1, mMRC dyspnoea score, 6-minute walk test, hyperinflation and gas transfer. BALF neutrophil MVs, but not neutrophil cell numbers, also strongly correlated with BODE index. We have undertaken, for the first time, a comprehensive evaluation of MV profiles within BALF/plasma of COPD patients. We demonstrate that BALF levels of neutrophil-derived MVs are unique in correlating with a number of key functional and clinically-relevant disease severity indices. Our results show the potential of BALF neutrophil MVs for a COPD biomarker that tightly links a key pathophysiological mechanism of COPD (intra-alveolar neutrophil activation) with clinical severity/outcome

Ultrasound and radiation-induced catalytic oxidation of 1-phenylethanol to acetophenone with iron-containing particulate catalysts

Este trabalho foi financiado pelo Concurso Anual para Projetos de Investigação, Desenvolvimento, Inovação e Criação Artística (IDI&CA) 2019 do Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa. Código de referência IPL/2019/STREAM_ISELIron-containingparticulatecatalystsof0.1–1 µmsizewerepreparedbywetandball-milling procedures from common salts and characterized by FTIR, TGA, UV-Vis, PXRD, FEG-SEM, and XPS analyses. It was found that when the wet method was used, semi-spherical magnetic nanoparticles were formed, whereas the mechanochemical method resulted in the formation of nonmagnetic microscale needles and rectangles. Catalytic activity of the prepared materials in the oxidation of 1-phenylethanol to acetophenone was assessed under conventional heating, microwave (MW) irradiation, ultrasound (US), and oscillating magnetic field of high frequency (induction heating). In general, the catalysts obtained by wet methods exhibit lower activities, whereas the materials prepared by ball milling afford better acetophenone yields (up to 83%). A significant increase in yield (up to 4 times) was observed under the induction heating if compared to conventional heating. The study demonstrated that MW, US irradiations, and induction heating may have great potential as alternative ways to activate the catalytic system for alcohol oxidation. The possibility of the synthesized material to be magnetically recoverable has been also verified.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Performance investigation of hybrid excited switched flux permanent magnet machines using frozen permeability method

This study investigates the electromagnetic performance of a hybrid excited switched flux permanent magnet (SFPM) machine using the frozen permeability (FP) method. The flux components due to PMs, field excitation windings and armature windings have been separated using the FP method. It has been used to separate the torque components due to the PMs and excitations, providing a powerful insight into the torque generation mechanism of hybrid excited SFPM machines. It also allows the accurate calculation of d- and q-axis inductances, which will then be used to calculate the torque, power and power factor against rotor speed to compare the relative merits of hybrid excited SFPM machines with different types of PMs (i.e. NdFeB, SmCo and Ferrite). This offers the possibility of choosing appropriate PMs for different applications (maximum torque or maximum speed). Although only one type of hybrid excited PM machine has been employed to carry out the investigations, the method used in this study can also be extended to other hybrid excited PM machines. The predicted results have been validated by tests

A Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) Feedback Control without a Subsidiary Speed Loop

The aim of this investigation is to design and describe the essential features of a brushless direct-current (BLDC) motor. The static and dynamical state of the BLDC-Motor is designed and calculated.Within this frame-work, it has been shown that while working with the P-controller in conjunction with the subsidiary speed loop and PD-controller (with non-zero error in a steady state) without a subsidiary speed loop, there is PID-controller without a subsidiary speed loop which has zero error in a steady state. The last part of this paper is dedicated to a simulation of the circle rounds of P and PID controllers with and without a subsidiary speed loop in MATLAB–SIMULINK to decide which of these controllers is suitable, available and reliable with a BLDC-Motor and their application in cutting tool machines in general.

Could early infusion of fish-oil-based lipid emulsion affect the need for intensive care in moderately diseased COVID-19 patients? A randomized clinical trial

Abstract Background Sixty moderate diseased COVID-19 patients were divided into two equal groups and were enrolled in a randomized double-blind clinical trial. Group C was delivered standard enteral nutrition plus 100 ml/day of 0.9% normal saline. Group L was delivered fish-oil-based lipid emulsion (FOBLE) supplementation to standard enteral nutrition at a dose of 100 ml/day. Both groups infused at a rate of 12.5 ml/h over 8 h for 5 days. We aimed to compare the effect of FOBLE versus placebo in COVID-19 disease to clarify the impact on the number of patients shifted to the ICU, oxygenation, inflammatory markers, and short-term outcomes (7 days). Results The failed conventional care and shift to ICU was significantly lower in group L in comparison to group C (six patients (20.0%) versus 14 patients (46.7%) shifted to ICU, P-value = 0.028). The inflammatory markers were determined and evaluated. Throughout the trial, there were no significant changes with the exception of the 7th day neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), when the ratio was lower in group L than in group C (6.10 (3.90–7.20) versus 9.65 (8.30–10.90), respectively, P-value 0.001). Conclusions In moderate diseased COVID-19 patients, early administration of parenteral FOBLE as an adjuvant to enteral feeding reduces shifts and so minimizes the burden on the ICU. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov PRS ( NCT04957940 ). Registered on 5 July 2021

Technical considerations for CRT-D implantation in different varieties of persistent left superior vena cava

Purpose: The persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is usually asymptomatic and creates a challenge when detected incidentally during cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) implantation. The purpose of our cases is to show different anatomical variables of PLSVC and different strategies used for CRT-D implantation. Methods: Four cases of PLSVC were presented. Pre-procedural bilateral venography was done to define anatomical variant of PLSVC. The side of approach and vein of approach were chosen according to the anatomical variant. Major challenges, electrical parameters, procedural times, long-term follow up, and complications were addressed. Results: Two cases were de novo CRT-D implantation. One case was an extraction/re-implantation of the coil lead, and one case was an upgrading. In one case, CRT-D implantation was followed by AVN ablation. All cases had successful devices implantation. Two cases had isolated PLSVC: one of them had right approach and the other had left approach. One case had double SVC with no connecting brachiocephalic veins and underwent a left-sided approach. One case had double SVC with a small connecting brachiocephalic vein and had a left approach for implantation with using the small brachiocephalic vein for the RV lead. Electrical parameters were acceptable for all leads implanted. Long-term follow-up was done for 6 months to 5 years. One complication occurred (acute atrial lead dislodgement). Conclusions: In our case series, the presence of PLSVC did not preclude successful placement of pacemaker/defibrillator leads using standard tools. Bilateral venography helped to decide the side and vein of lead insertion

Could Home Monitoring parameters provide information about the impact of the pandemic period on CIED patients? A comparison between 2019 and 2020

none9noneBontempi L.; Aboelhassan M.; Cerini M.; Salghetti F.; Fabbricatore D.; Maiolo V.; Freda L.; Giacopelli D.; Curnis A.Bontempi, L.; Aboelhassan, M.; Cerini, M.; Salghetti, F.; Fabbricatore, D.; Maiolo, V.; Freda, L.; Giacopelli, D.; Curnis, A

A study on mutation points of GDF9 gene and their association with prolificacy in Egyptian small ruminants

Abstract Background Genetic variants of the GDF9 gene were considered to be the potent gene markers for improving fecundity traits in Egyptian sheep and goats. Also, these favorable gene variants could be applied in the breeding program by gene-assisted selection (GAS), aiming towards the potential amelioration of reproduction and production in such small ruminants. The present investigation was designed to evaluate the genetic variants of the GDF9 gene on fecundity traits including the mean number of lambing “MNL” and mean number of twin production “MNTP” of Egyptian sheep and goats. Results This experiment involved 113 mothers, 83 of sheep and 30 of goats, at first, second, third, and fourth parity, and also 26 young females, 12 of sheep and 14 of goats at age of sexual maturation. T-ARMS-PCR analysis was performed on five mutation points (G1, G4, G6, G7, and G8). In sheep, the heterozygous mothers of G4 had significant elevation (P ≤ 0.05) of MNL and MNTP than wild-type homozygous ewes. However, the heterozygous mothers of G1 and G6 gave a reduction of MNL and MNTP as compared to mothers with wild-type genotypes. The ewes of G7 had heterozygous genotype (AG), and the ewes of G8 had wild type (CC). In goat, G4 and G7 were polymorphic, and G1, G6, and G8 were monomorphic type. Based on these findings, it must be selected the young sheep females of heterozygous in G4, and the young goat females of heterozygous in G4 and G7 for participating in a successful breeding program, because they will have potential high fecundity traits. Conclusion The present results confirmed that the genetic variants of the GDF9 gene were considered to be the major gene markers for enhancement of the prolificacy in Egyptian sheep and goats and could be applied in a successful breeding program by gene-assisted selection (GAS) in small ruminants