Evaluation of the importance of immunological profile for pemphigus vulgaris in the light of necessity to modify compensation theory

According to the “desmoglein compensation theory,” anti-Dsg1 and anti-Dsg3 profiles are crucial for the clinical outcome of pemphigus vulgaris. However, recent studies have highlighted several cases with an incompatibility between the antibody profile and clinical manifestation. Data of 37 patients who had been diagnosed pemphigus vulgaris in our Department between January 2014-June 2016 were retrieved from our clinical database. Patients with ABSIS skin involvement scores, oral mucosa extent and severity scores, anti-Dsg1 and Dsg3 antibody profile were included in this retrospective study. Patients with discordance between clinical manifestations and immunological profile were considered as atypical clinical phenotype. Patients with missing data were excluded. In all 37 patients, Dsg1 and Dsg3 antibody titers at the baseline did not correlate with the concurrent ABSIS scores. At follow up, we detected statistically significant correlations between anti Dsg-1 profile and ABSIS skin involvement scores (p=0.006; r=0.588) and between anti-Dsg3 and ABSIS mucosal extent and severity scores (p=0.058; r=0.431). After treatment, the reduction of Dsg-1 antibody titers was statistically significant in remittent patients (p=0.027). We did not detect statistically significant reduction of Dsg-3 antibodies. Four subjects had incompatible antibody profile and clinical activity. Discordance between phenotype-antibody profile and clinical activity-Dsg titers support the idea that non-Dsg antigens may also be the target for pemphigus autoimmunity. </p

Multiplex-PCR-based screening and computational modeling of virulence factors and t-cell mediated immunity in helicobacter pylori infections for accurate clinical diagnosis

The outcome of H. pylori infection is closely related with bacteria's virulence factors and host immune response. The association between T cells and H. pylori infection has been identified, but the effects of the nine major H. pylori specific virulence factors; cagA, vacA, oipA, babA, hpaA, napA, dupA, ureA, ureB on T cell response in H. pylori infected patients have not been fully elucidated. We developed a multiplex- PCR assay to detect nine H. pylori virulence genes with in a three PCR reactions. Also, the expression levels of Th1, Th17 and Treg cell specific cytokines and transcription factors were detected by using qRT-PCR assays. Furthermore, a novel expert derived model is developed to identify set of factors and rules that can distinguish the ulcer patients from gastritis patients. Within all virulence factors that we tested, we identified a correlation between the presence of napA virulence gene and ulcer disease as a first data. Additionally, a positive correlation between the H. pylori dupA virulence factor and IFN-γ, and H. pylori babA virulence factor and IL-17 was detected in gastritis and ulcer patients respectively. By using computer-based models, clinical outcomes of a patients infected with H. pylori can be predicted by screening the patient's H. pylori vacA m1/m2, ureA and cagA status and IFN-γ (Th1), IL-17 (Th17), and FOXP3 (Treg) expression levels. Herein, we report, for the first time, the relationship between H. pylori virulence factors and host immune responses for diagnostic prediction of gastric diseases using computer—based models

Analytical and Numerical Solutions to Static Analysis of Moderately Thick Cross-Ply Plates and Shells

This study aimed to provide a static solution to the boundary value problem presented by symmetric (0&deg;/90&deg;/0&deg;) and antisymmetric (0&deg;/90&deg;) cross-ply composite, moderately thick shallow shells and plates (a special case of the shells) subjected to mixed-type unsolved boundary conditions. The boundary-discontinuous double Fourier series (BDM) method, in which displacements are expressed in trigonometric functions, is employed in a well-established framework. The analytical solution obtained using the BDM is compared with the successful integration of the generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method for the static analysis of composite shells with a roller skate-type boundary condition prescribed on two opposite edges, while the remaining two edges are subjected to simply supported constraints. Comprehensive results are presented in order to show the effects of curvature on the deflections and stresses of moderately thick shallow shells made up of symmetric and antisymmetric cross-ply laminated composite materials. The validity of the proposed model is authenticated through the available HSDT-based literature review, and the convergence characteristics are demonstrated. The changing trends of displacements and stresses are explained in detail by investigating the effect of various parameters such as lamination, material properties, the effect of curvature, etc. Based on the results obtained using the proposed static solution, analytical BDM results were found to be in very close agreement with the numerical GDQ method, especially for symmetric lamination. However, the results obtained using the BDM and GDQ methods for antisymmetric lamination show differences, possibly due to the presence of a discontinuity in the derivatives originating from the bending&ndash;stretching matrix in antisymmetric lamination. Important numerical results presented include the sensitivity of the predicted response quantities of interest to material properties, lamination, and thickness effects, as well as their interactions. The results presented here may also serve as benchmark comparison points with numerical solutions such as finite elements, boundary elements, etc

Analytical and Numerical Solutions to Static Analysis of Moderately Thick Cross-Ply Plates and Shells

This study aimed to provide a static solution to the boundary value problem presented by symmetric (0°/90°/0°) and antisymmetric (0°/90°) cross-ply composite, moderately thick shallow shells and plates (a special case of the shells) subjected to mixed-type unsolved boundary conditions. The boundary-discontinuous double Fourier series (BDM) method, in which displacements are expressed in trigonometric functions, is employed in a well-established framework. The analytical solution obtained using the BDM is compared with the successful integration of the generalized differential quadrature (GDQ) method for the static analysis of composite shells with a roller skate-type boundary condition prescribed on two opposite edges, while the remaining two edges are subjected to simply supported constraints. Comprehensive results are presented in order to show the effects of curvature on the deflections and stresses of moderately thick shallow shells made up of symmetric and antisymmetric cross-ply laminated composite materials. The validity of the proposed model is authenticated through the available HSDT-based literature review, and the convergence characteristics are demonstrated. The changing trends of displacements and stresses are explained in detail by investigating the effect of various parameters such as lamination, material properties, the effect of curvature, etc. Based on the results obtained using the proposed static solution, analytical BDM results were found to be in very close agreement with the numerical GDQ method, especially for symmetric lamination. However, the results obtained using the BDM and GDQ methods for antisymmetric lamination show differences, possibly due to the presence of a discontinuity in the derivatives originating from the bending–stretching matrix in antisymmetric lamination. Important numerical results presented include the sensitivity of the predicted response quantities of interest to material properties, lamination, and thickness effects, as well as their interactions. The results presented here may also serve as benchmark comparison points with numerical solutions such as finite elements, boundary elements, etc

The influences of boron doping in various defect sites on the thermo-mechanical properties of armchair graphene nanoribbons

In this study, the influences of boron (B) atom doping for various sites of Stone-Wales (SW) defects on the thermal conductivity (TC) and mechanical properties of armchair graphene nanoribbon (AGNR) are systematically examined at room temperature using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Firstly, the effects of SW defect and B doping with different concentrations on the TC and mechanical properties are investigated randomly. Additionally, it is observed that as SW defect and B doping exist together in AGNR, the effect of B doping on the TC and mechanical properties is far less than others. Secondly, the influences of four different B doping sites, which are located at the edge and center sites of SW defect, on the TC and mechanical properties of AGNR are examined. MD simulation results show that B doping in the central sites of SW defect indicates higher mechanical properties and TC than those in the edge sites of SW defect. In addition, B doping in the central sites of SW defect further improved the TC and mechanical properties of AGNR compared to random SW defect with B doping. On the other hand, B doping in the edge sites of defective AGNR indicates lower TC and mechanical properties than those in random B doping in defective AGNR. The results of this study may be considered helpful for future works of thermal and mechanical management of AGNRs based nanodevices and to develop thermoelectric applications of AGNRs

Migration of bullet in the spinal canal: A case report

As the spinal canal expands at T10 level naturally, it has been thought that the migration of a bullet within the spinal canal above this level is prevented and the migration of a bullet may only occur between T10 and S1 level. Here, a very rare case of a bullet traversing the length of the spinal canal is reported

Comparison of The Effectiveness of Clomiphene Citrate versus Letrozole in Mild IVF in Poor Prognosis Subfertile Women with Failed IVF Cycles.

Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of clomiphene citrate (CC) vs. letrozole (L) plus human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) in gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol in poor prognosis women with previous failed ovarian stimulation undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

EPC 34, Poems / William Shenstone. Image 054

https://repository.wellesley.edu/epc34/1053/thumbnail.jp

The effects of resveratrol on ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in a rat model.

The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of resveratrol (RSV) over ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in rat model