Detection of oligoclonal IgG kappa and IgG lambda bands in cerebrospinal fluid and serum with Hevylite™ antibodies. comparison with the free light chain oligoclonal pattern

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Oligoclonal IgG bands in cerebrospinal fluid that are absent in serum indicate intrathecal IgG synthesis and are a sensitive marker of CNS inflammatory diseases, in particular multiple sclerosis. It may be of interest to determine whether these bands are predominantly IgGκ or IgGλ.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We have used Hevylite™ antibodies and developed a technique for detection of oligoclonal IgGκ and IgGλ bands by means of isoelectric focusing followed by immunoblotting. The same technique was used for oligoclonal free κ and free λ detection. Among several techniques tested, affinity immunoblotting appears to be the most sensitive; it can detect less than 1 ng of IgGκ or IgGλ paraprotein. We compared oligoclonal IgG profiles with those of oligoclonal IgGκ and IgGλ. There was good agreement concerning the presence or absence of intrathecal synthesis. We observed the ratios between oligoclonal IgGκ and IgGλ bands, and they did not always match the ratios between free κ and free λ bands. We were also able to detect antigen-specific CSF-restricted oligoclonal IgGκ and IgGλ bands in neuroborreliosis. It remains to be determined subsequently by a clinically-oriented prospective study, whether predominant IgGκ/IgGλ or free κ/free λ can be observed more frequently in particular diseases with oligoclonal IgG synthesis.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Very sensitive detection of oligoclonal IgGκ and IgGλ bands in cerebrospinal fluid with Hevylite antibodies is feasible; detection of antigen-specific IgGκ or IgGλ is possible as well. In particular situations, e.g. when difficulties arise in distinguishing between oligoclonal and monoclonal pattern, the test may be of considerable clinical value.</p

Microstructure and Thermal Analysis of Brake Pads Developed from Asbestos-Free Materials

This study was conducted on developed asbestos-free brake pad using coconut shell and seashell as fillers. The use of hazardous reinforcement like asbestos fiber in friction materials is being avoided because of its carcinogenic effects. Rule of mixture technique was utilized during sample formulation and a weight percent of 52% filler material, 5% friction modifier, 8% abrasive and 35% binder were utilized for production. &nbsp;A multi-response optimization technique (grey relational analysis) was used to obtain an optimal process parameter of moulding pressure (14 MPa), moulding temperature (140&nbsp;ºC), curing time (8 minutes) and heat treatment time (5 hours) for coconut shell-filled brake pad and moulding pressure (14 MPa), moulding temperature (160&nbsp;ºC), curing time (12 minutes) and heat treatment time (1 hour) for seashell-filled brake pad. Thermal analysis of commercial and optimized samples shows that the commercial brake pads possesses a better thermal stability compared to the optimized formulated brake pad samples with the coconut shell-filled samples showing the least thermal resistance. Also, microstructure analysis of the impact fractured surfaces of the commercial, seashell and coconut shell-filled brake pad was conducted using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results revealed that compare the commercial and seashell-filled samples, there were more uniform distribution of the resin in the coconut shell-filled composite leading to an improved bonding and closer inter- packing distance between its constituent particles and the epoxy resin. It was also revealed that the commercial brake pad possessed a higher thermal stability as the components were not noticeably degraded at temperatures at which the coconut shell and the seashell filled brake pads showed appreciable degradation

The prospective course of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder: findings from the STEP-BD.

OBJECTIVE: In a naturalistic follow-up of adult bipolar patients, the authors examined the contributions of demographic, phenomenological, and clinical variables, including antidepressant use, to prospectively observed mood episode frequency. METHOD: For 1,742 bipolar I and II patients in the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD), episodes of mood disorders were evaluated for up to 1 year of treatment. RESULTS: At entry, 32% of the patients met the DSM-IV criteria for rapid cycling in the prestudy year. Of the 1,742 patients, 551 (32%) did not complete 1 year of treatment. Among the 1,191 patients remaining, those with prior rapid cycling (N=356) were more likely to have further recurrences, although not necessarily more than four episodes per year. At the end of 12 months, only 5% (N=58) of the patients could be classified as rapid cyclers; 34% (N=409) had no further mood episodes, 34% (N=402) experienced one episode, and 27% (N=322) had two or three episodes. Patients who entered the study with earlier illness onset and greater severity were more likely to have one or more episodes in the prospective study year. Antidepressant use during follow-up was associated with more frequent mood episodes. CONCLUSIONS: While DSM-IV rapid cycling was prospectively observed in only a small percentage of patients, the majority of these patients had continued recurrences at lower but clinically significant rates. This suggests that cycling is on a continuum and that prevention of recurrences may require early intervention and restricted use of antidepressants