Comparison of Auxacolor with API 20 C Aux in yeast identification

Objective: To compare Auxacolor with API 20 C Aux for identification of yeasts.Methods: A total of 206 isolates belonging to 25 species was used in this study. Conventional yeast identification methods were used as a reference.Results: With API 20 C Aux, the correct identification rate was 89.3% after 2 days, while 94.7% of the strains were correctly identified after 3 days. One of 14 strains of Candida tropicalis and 10 of 16 strains of Trichosporon cutaneum were not correctly identified. With Auxacolor, the percentages of correct identification after 1 and 2 days were 60.1% and 69.4%, respectively. Most strains of 11 of the 20 species considered in the system were correctly identified, including several of the most frequent yeast species. Several less commonly encountered yeast species were not correctly identified. Suggestions for improvement of the Auxacolor system are given.Conclusions: For the most frequent yeast species, Auxacolor, after adaptation and correction of the identification table, provides a useful alternative to API 20 C Aux. For less frequently encountered yeast species, the use of API 20 C Aux is preferable

Antioxidant concentrations in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder. Antioxidant concentrations are shifted in ADHD patients and antioxidant centred therapies appear to alleviate symptoms significantly1-8. This study aims to investigate antioxidant concentrations in children with ADHD of an Antwerp based population.For the ADHD-cohort, concentrations of lipid-soluble antioxidants (a-tocopherol, g-tocopherol, retinylpalmitate, b-carotene, CoQ10 and retinol) (plasma, n = 12) and glutathione (erythrocytes, n = 4) were measured and consecutively compared to a cohort of non-ADHD children (n = 25-53). Additionally, differences in mean concentrations were compared to literature1,7,8

SI methane hydrate confined in C8-grafted SBA-15: A highly efficient storage system enabling ultrafast methane loading and unloading

Confinement of water and methane in mesopores of hydrophobized SBA-15 is demonstrated to promote methane hydrate formation. In comparison to as-synthesized SBA-15, hydrophobization by C8 grafting accelerates the kinetics of methane storage in and delivery from the hydrate. C8 grafting density was determined at 0.5 groups nm-2 based on TGA and quantitative NMR spectroscopy. Multinuclear 1H-1H DQSQ and 1H-1H RFDR NMR provided spectroscopic evidence for the occurrence of C8 chains inside the mesopores of SBA-15, by showcasing close spatial proximity between the grafted C8 chains and pore-intruded water species. X-ray diffraction demonstrates formation of Structure I hydrate on SBA-15 C8. At 7.0 MPa and 248 K, the water-to-hydrate conversion on hydrophobized SBA-15 C8 reaches 96 pct. as compared to only 71 pct. on a pristine SBA-15 sample with comparable pore size, pore volume and surface area. The clathrate loading amounted to 14.8 g g-1. 2D correlation NMR spectroscopy (1H-13C CP-HETCOR, 1H-1H RFDR) reveals hydrate formation occurs within pores of SBA-15 C8 as well as in interparticle volumes. Following the initial crystallization of SBA-15 C8-supported methane hydrate taking several hours, a pressure swing process at 248 K allows to desorb and re-adsorb methane from the structure within minutes and without thawing the frozen water structure. Fast loading and unloading of methane was achieved in 19 subsequent cycles without losses in kinetics. The ability to harvest the gas and regenerate the structure without the need to re-freeze the water represents a 50 pct. energy gain with respect to melting and subsequently recrystallizing the hydrate at 298 K and 248 K, respectively. After methane desorption, a small amount of residual methane hydrate in combination with an amorphous yet locally ordered ice phase is observed using 13C and 2H NMR spectroscopy

Stepwise approach towards adoption of allergen immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis and asthma patients in daily practice in Belgium : a BelSACI-Abeforcal-EUFOREA statement

Allergic rhinitis (AR) affects 23-30% of the European population with equal prevalence reported in Belgium. Despite guidelines on the correct use of effective treatment, up to 40% of AR patients remain uncontrolled. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has been shown to improve the level of control up to 84% of patients being controlled by AIT. Recently, new guidelines for AIT have been published, supporting the clinical evidence for effectiveness of various subcutaneous and sublingual products for AIT in patients who are allergic to airborne allergens. AIT in AR patients not only reduces nasal and/or ocular symptoms but also induces tolerance and has preventive potential. Adoption of AIT into daily clinical practice in Belgium and other European countries is hampered primarily by reimbursement issues of each of the single products but also by several patient-and physician-related factors. Patients need to be better informed about the effectiveness of AIT and the different routes of administration of AIT. Physicians dealing with AR patients should inform patients on tolerance-inducing effects of AIT and are in the need of a harmonized and practical guide that supports them in selecting eligible patients for AIT, in choosing evidence-based AIT products and in following treatment protocols with proven efficacy. Therefore, a stepwise and holistic approach is needed for better adoption of AIT in the real-life setting in Belgium

Effects of Epithelial IL-13Rα2 Expression in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background: Mucosal IL-13 Receptor alpha 2 (IL13RA2) mRNA expression is one of the best predictive markers for primary non-responsiveness to infliximab therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The objective of this study was to understand how IL-13Rα2, a negative regulator of IL-13 signaling, can contribute to IBD pathology.Methods:IL13RA2 knockout (KO) and wild type (WT) mice were exposed to dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in drinking water to induce colitis. Furthermore, mucosal biopsies and resection specimen of healthy individuals and IBD patients before the start of anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy were obtained for immunohistochemistry and gene expression analysis.Results: After induction of DSS colitis, IL13RA2 KO mice had similar disease severity, but recovered more rapidly than WT animals. Goblet cell numbers and mucosal architecture were also more rapidly restored in IL13RA2 KO mice. In mucosal biopsies of active IBD patients, immunohistochemistry revealed that IL-13Rα2 protein was highly expressed in epithelial cells, while expression was restricted to goblet cells in healthy controls. Mucosal IL13RA2 mRNA negatively correlated with mRNA of several goblet cell-specific and barrier genes, and with goblet cell numbers.Conclusions: The data suggest that IL-13Rα2 on epithelial cells contributes to IBD pathology by negatively influencing goblet cell recovery, goblet cell function and epithelial restoration after injury. Therefore, blocking IL-13Rα2 could be a promising target for restoration of the epithelial barrier in IBD

Strongly Reducing (Diarylamino)benzene-Based Covalent Organic Framework for Metal-Free Visible Light Photocatalytic H2O2 Generation

Photocatalytic reduction of molecular oxygen is a promising route toward sustainable production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This challenging process requires photoactive semiconductors enabling solar energy driven generation and separation of electrons and holes with high charge transfer kinetics. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are an emerging class of photoactive semiconductors, tunable at a molecular level for high charge carrier generation and transfer. Herein, we report two newly designed two-dimensional COFs based on a (diarylamino)benzene linker that form a Kagome (kgm) lattice and show strong visible light absorption. Their high crystallinity and large surface areas (up to 1165 m(2)center dot g(-1)) allow efficient charge transfer and diffusion. The diarylamine (donor) unit promotes strong reduction properties, enabling these COFs to efficiently reduce oxygen to form H2O2. Overall, the use of a metal-free, recyclable photocatalytic system allows efficient photocatalytic solar transformations.DFG, 390540038, EXC 2008: Unifying Systems in Catalysis "UniSysCat"EC/H2020/665501/EU/[PEGASUS]², giving wings to your career./PEGASUS-2EC/H2020/834134/EU/Water Forced in Hydrophobic Nano-Confinement: Tunable Solvent System/WATUSOEC/H2020/647755/EU/First principle molecular dynamics simulations for complex chemical transformations in nanoporous materials/DYNPO

Green synthesis and biotransformation of amorphous Se nanospheres to trigonal 1D Se nanostructures: impact on Se mobility within the concept of radioactive waste disposal

Nuclear waste containing radionuclides including selenium isotopes, Se79, will be disposed of in future deep geological repositories. Due to the long lifetime of these radioisotopes, studies on the impact of microbial processes on their chemical speciation would contribute significantly to understanding the risks associated with these repositories. Here we report a green method for biogenic reduction of SeIJIV), production of amorphous Se(0) (a-Se) nanospheres and their subsequent transformation to one-dimensional (1D) trigonal selenium (t-Se) nanostructures using a combination of methods (XRD, STEM/HAADF, HRTEM/ EDX, ESEM, etc.). The bacterial strain used, Stenotrophomonas bentonitica, was isolated from Spanish bentonites considered as artificial barriers for future Spanish repositories. After 24 h of incubation, 30–200 nm sized biogenic individual a-Se nanospheres were synthesized and then started to coalesce, forming aggregates after 48 and 72 h of incubation. The 144 h sample presented a mixture of single crystal and polycrystalline 1D t-Se nanostructures with different shapes (e.g. nanowires, hexagonal, polygonal, etc.) and diameters of 30–400 nm, in addition to a-Se nanospheres. The HRTEM analysis showed that the 1D nanostructures presented different lattice spacings corresponding to the (100), (101) and (111) planes of t-Se. Thus, a-Se nanospheres were initially synthesized and then would transform into t-Se nanostructures. STEM/HAADF and ESEM revealed that the cells and their extracellular proteins play an important role in this transformation process. Due to the low solubility of t-Se nanostructures compared to that of a-Se nanospheres and SeIJIV), the mobility of selenium in future repositories may be significantly reduced.This work was supported by the Euratom research and training programme 2014-2018 under grant agreement no. 661880

7th Drug hypersensitivity meeting: part two

No abstract availabl

Intravenous alteplase for stroke with unknown time of onset guided by advanced imaging: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data

Background: Patients who have had a stroke with unknown time of onset have been previously excluded from thrombolysis. We aimed to establish whether intravenous alteplase is safe and effective in such patients when salvageable tissue has been identified with imaging biomarkers. Methods: We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data for trials published before Sept 21, 2020. Randomised trials of intravenous alteplase versus standard of care or placebo in adults with stroke with unknown time of onset with perfusion-diffusion MRI, perfusion CT, or MRI with diffusion weighted imaging-fluid attenuated inversion recovery (DWI-FLAIR) mismatch were eligible. The primary outcome was favourable functional outcome (score of 0–1 on the modified Rankin Scale [mRS]) at 90 days indicating no disability using an unconditional mixed-effect logistic-regression model fitted to estimate the treatment effect. Secondary outcomes were mRS shift towards a better functional outcome and independent outcome (mRS 0–2) at 90 days. Safety outcomes included death, severe disability or death (mRS score 4–6), and symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020166903. Findings: Of 249 identified abstracts, four trials met our eligibility criteria for inclusion: WAKE-UP, EXTEND, THAWS, and ECASS-4. The four trials provided individual patient data for 843 individuals, of whom 429 (51%) were assigned to alteplase and 414 (49%) to placebo or standard care. A favourable outcome occurred in 199 (47%) of 420 patients with alteplase and in 160 (39%) of 409 patients among controls (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1·49 [95% CI 1·10–2·03]; p=0·011), with low heterogeneity across studies (I2=27%). Alteplase was associated with a significant shift towards better functional outcome (adjusted common OR 1·38 [95% CI 1·05–1·80]; p=0·019), and a higher odds of independent outcome (adjusted OR 1·50 [1·06–2·12]; p=0·022). In the alteplase group, 90 (21%) patients were severely disabled or died (mRS score 4–6), compared with 102 (25%) patients in the control group (adjusted OR 0·76 [0·52–1·11]; p=0·15). 27 (6%) patients died in the alteplase group and 14 (3%) patients died among controls (adjusted OR 2·06 [1·03–4·09]; p=0·040). The prevalence of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage was higher in the alteplase group than among controls (11 [3%] vs two [<1%], adjusted OR 5·58 [1·22–25·50]; p=0·024). Interpretation: In patients who have had a stroke with unknown time of onset with a DWI-FLAIR or perfusion mismatch, intravenous alteplase resulted in better functional outcome at 90 days than placebo or standard care. A net benefit was observed for all functional outcomes despite an increased risk of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage. Although there were more deaths with alteplase than placebo, there were fewer cases of severe disability or death. Funding: None