Maternal serum fructosamine values after delivery of macrosomic babies and unexplained stillbirths

Measurement of serum fructosamine and haemoglobin A, levels and glucose tolerance tests were performed in 75 women in the immediate postpartum period. None had predisposing factors to gestational diabetes. They were divided into three groups: group I consisted of 15 women who delivered an unexplained stillbirth; group 11 of 30 women who gave birth to babies weighing between 2500 g and 3900 g at term; and group III of 30 women who delivered babies weighing≥ 4000 g. There was a significant difference in the mean level of serum fructosamine between the unexplained stillbirth and control groups (P < 0,001). Although the HbA, values varied in the three groups, there was a significant difference between the unexplained stillbirth group and the macrosomic infant group (P < 0,05). All patients had normal glucose tolerance tests

A Linear Epitope in the N-Terminal Domain of CCR5 and Its Interaction with Antibody.

The CCR5 receptor plays a role in several key physiological and pathological processes and is an important therapeutic target. Inhibition of the CCR5 axis by passive or active immunisation offers one very selective strategy for intervention. In this study we define a new linear epitope within the extracellular domain of CCR5 recognised by two independently produced monoclonal antibodies. A short peptide encoding the linear epitope can induce antibodies which recognise the intact receptor when administered colinear with a tetanus toxoid helper T cell epitope. The monoclonal antibody RoAb 13 is shown to bind to both cells and peptide with moderate to high affinity (6x10^8 and 1.2x107 M-1 respectively), and binding to the peptide is enhanced by sulfation of tyrosines at positions 10 and 14. RoAb13, which has previously been shown to block HIV infection, also blocks migration of monocytes in response to CCR5 binding chemokines and to inflammatory macrophage conditioned medium. A Fab fragment of RoAb13 has been crystallised and a structure of the antibody is reported to 2.1 angstrom resolution

Following the status of visual cortex over time in patients with macular degeneration reveals atrophy of visually deprived brain regions

Purpose: Previous research has shown atrophy of visual cortex can occur in retinotopic representations of retinal lesions resulting from eye disease. However, the time course of atrophy cannot be established from these cross-sectional studies, which included patients with long-standing disease of varying severity. Our aim therefore was to measure visual cortical structure over time in participants after onset of unilateral visual loss resulting from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Inclusion criteria were onset of acute unilateral neovascular AMD with bilateral dry-AMD based on clinical examination. Therefore, substantial loss of unilateral visual input to cortex was relatively well-defined in time. Changes in cortical anatomy were assessed in the occipital lobe as a whole, and in cortical representations of the lesion and intact retina, the lesion and intact projection zones, respectively. Whole brain, T1-weighted MRI was taken at diagnosis (before anti-angiogenic treatment to stabilise the retina), during the 3-4-month initial treatment period, with a long-term follow-up ~5 (range 3.8 – 6.1 years) years later. Results: Significant cortical atrophy was detected at long-term follow-up only, with a reduction in mean cortical volume across the whole occipital lobe. Importantly, this reduction was explained by cortical thinning of the lesion projection zone, which suggests additional changes to those associated with normal ageing. Over the period of study, anti-angiogenic treatment stabilised visual acuity and central retinal thickness, suggesting that the atrophy detected was most likely governed by long-term decreased visual input. Conclusions: Our results indicate that consequences of eye disease on visual cortex are atrophic and retinotopic. Our work also raises the potential to follow the status of visual cortex in individuals over time to inform on how best to treat patients, particularly with restorative techniques

Development of a Flexible MIP-Based Biosensor Platform for the Thermal Detection of Neurotransmitters

We have developed high affinity Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) for neurotransmitters such as dopamine, noradrenaline and caffeine. These polymer particles are mixed within the bulk of screen-printed ink allowing masss-producible bulk modified MIP Screen-Printed Electrodes (MIP-SPEs) to be realised. We have explored different SPE supporting surfaces, such as polyester, tracing paper and household-printing paper. The performance of those MIP-SPEs is studied using the Heat-Transfer Method (HTM), a patented thermal method. With the combination of screen-printing techniques and thermal detection, it is possible to develop a portable sensor platform that is capable of low-cost and straightforward detection of biomolecules on-site. In the future, this unique sensor architecture holds great promise for the use in biomedical devices

The development of novel LTA4H modulators to selectively target LTB4 generation

The pro-inflammatory mediator leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is implicated in the pathologies of an array of diseases and thus represents an attractive therapeutic target. The enzyme leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) catalyses the distal step in LTB4 synthesis and hence inhibitors of this enzyme have been actively pursued. Despite potent LTA4H inhibitors entering clinical trials all have failed to show efficacy. We recently identified a secondary anti-inflammatory role for LTA4H in degrading the neutrophil chemoattractant Pro-Gly-Pro (PGP) and rationalized that the failure of conventional LTA4H inhibitors may be that they inadvertently prevented PGP degradation. We demonstrate that these inhibitors do indeed fail to discriminate between the dual activities of LTA4H, and enable PGP accumulation in mice. Accordingly, we have developed novel compounds that potently inhibit LTB4 generation whilst leaving PGP degradation unperturbed. These novel compounds could represent a safer and superior class of LTA4H inhibitors for translation into the clinic

Security evaluation of biometric authentication systems under real spoofing attacks

Multimodal biometric systems are commonly believed to be more robust to spoofing attacks than unimodal systems, as they combine information coming from different biometric traits. Recent work has shown that multimodal systems can be misled by an impostor even by spoofing only one biometric trait. This result was obtained under a ‘worst-case’ scenario, by assuming that the distribution of fake scores is identical to that of genuine scores (i.e. the attacker is assumed to be able to perfectly replicate a genuine biometric trait). This assumption also allows one to evaluate the robustness of score fusion rules against spoofing attacks, and to design robust fusion rules, without the need of actually fabricating spoofing attacks. However, whether and to what extent the ‘worst-case’ scenario is representative of real spoofing attacks is still an open issue. In this study, we address this issue by an experimental investigation carried out on several data sets including real spoofing attacks, related to a multimodal verification system based on face and fingerprint biometrics. On the one hand, our results confirm that multimodal systems are vulnerable to attacks against a single biometric trait. On the other hand, they show that the ‘worst-case’ scenario can be too pessimistic. This can lead to two conservative choices, if the ‘worst-case’ assumption is used for designing a robust multimodal system. Therefore developing methods for evaluating the robustness of multimodal systems against spoofing attacks, and for designing robust ones, remain a very relevant open issue

Surgical complications of Ascaris lumbricoides in children

Aim : To report the surgical complications of Ascaris lumbricoides infestation in children. Materials and Methods : This is a retrospective study and cases of intestinal ascariasis managed conservatively were excluded. Results : Sixteen children presented with Ascariasis sequelae, which included ileal volvulus (n=5), perforations (n=4), intussusception (n=1), biliary ascariasis (n-1) and impacted multiple worm boluses (n=5). Plain abdominal radiographs showed pneumoperitoneum (3), cigar bundle appearance (3) and multiple air and fluid levels (13). Sonography showed floating worms with free fluid (2), sluggish peristalsis and moderate free fluid (7) and intestinal worm bolus (11). The surgical procedures included milking of worms (in all), bowel resection (6), closure of perforation (3) and manual reduction of intussusception (1). Biliary ascariasis was managed conservatively and the progress monitored with sonography. There were 3 deaths all of whom had intestinal volvulus, bowel necrosis and toxemia. Conclusion : Sonography can be helpful in diagnosing the presence of worms, its complications and in evaluating response to treatment. Early surgical intervention in those with worm bolus, peritonism, and volvulus may salvage bowel and reduce mortality