Clinical performance of an infliximab rapid quantification assay

Background: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)-based algorithms can be used to guide infliximab (IFX) adjustments in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. This study aimed to explore a rapid IFX-quantification test from a clinical perspective. Methods: This manuscript describes a prospective cohort study involving 110 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients on the maintenance phase of IFX. IFX trough levels were quantified using a rapid quantification assay and a commonly-used reference kit. Results: Irrespective of the assay used to measure IFX, its through levels were statistically different between patients with and without endoscopic remission (Mayo endoscopic score = 0), as well as between patients stratified by their faecal calprotectin (FC) levels. Despite the fact that the two methods correlated well with each other [Spearman's rank correlation coefficient = 0.843, p < 0.001; intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.857, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.791-0.903], there was a discernible systematic variation; values obtained with the reference kit were on average 2.62 units higher than those obtained with the rapid assay. Notwithstanding, 3 mu g/ml was shown to be an acceptable cut-off to assess endoscopic status and inflammatory burden levels using both assays. The percentage of patients that had a positive outcome when the IFX concentration measured by the rapid assay ranked above 3 mu g/ml was 88% both for a Mayo endoscopic score <= 1 and for an FC concentration <250 mu g/g. Conclusions: Based on this study, we concluded that using the rapid IFX assessment system with a 3 mu g/ml threshold is a reliable alternative to the time-consuming enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in patients on the maintenance phase of IFX.Portuguese IBD Group (GEDII, Grupo de Estudo da Doenca Inflamatoria Intestinal)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Corylus avellana L. Husks an Underutilized Waste but a Valuable Source of Polyphenols

[EN] Bioactive potential of hazelnut husks was determined as a function of their cultivar source and extraction solvent. Hazelnut husks from four hazelnut cultivars (Butler, Grada de Viseu, Lansing and Morell) were picked in a hazelnut orchard at harvest and extracted with five solvents with different polarity: water, methanol, acetone, ethyl acetate and hexane. Phenolics were identified by HPLC-DAD and antioxidant activity was determined by three complementary methods: DPPH, FRAP and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. A total of 11 phenolics were identified in studied cultivars and grouped in five main classes namely, ellagitannin (ellagic acid), benzoic acids (gallic acid, protocatechuic acid and vanillic acid), flavonols (kaempferol-3,7-O-diglucoside, kaempferol-3-O-[6-acetylglucoside]-7-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-[6acetylglucoside]-7-O-rhamnoside and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside), flavone (luteolin-7-O-rutinoside) and flavan-3-ol (epicatechin). Cultivar and extraction solvent influenced significantly (p < 0.001) the extraction yield. 'Grada de Viseu' husks presented the highest content of individual phenolics identified, particularly in methanol extracts whilst 'Lansing' showed the lowest levels. Similar pattern was found for antioxidant activities. Methanolic husk extracts exhibited the greatest antioxidant potentials followed by water and acetone. The valorization of hazelnuts by-products gives an important contribution for the isolation and purification of bioactive molecules that can be used for both medicinal and industrial purposes.The author Sandra Cabo acknowledges the financial support by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (PB/BD/113615/2015) under the Doctoral Programme "Agricultural Production Chains-from fork to farm" (PD/00122/2012). The authors also acknowledge the financial support provided by National Funds from FCT, under the project UID/AGR/04033/2019. The authors acknowledge the financial support of INTERACT project "Integrative Research in Environment, Agro-Chains and Technology", no. NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000017, in its line of research entitled ISAC, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through NORTE 2020 (North Regional Operational Program 2014/2020) and Project IBERPHENOL, Project Number 0377_IBERPHENOL_6_E, co-financed by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through POCTEP 2014-2020.Cabo, S.; Aires, A.; Carvalho, R.; Pascual-Seva, N.; Silva, AP.; Gonçalves, B. (2021). Corylus avellana L. Husks an Underutilized Waste but a Valuable Source of Polyphenols. Waste and Biomass Valorization. 12(7):3629-3644. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-020-01246-43629364412

Fault Compensation Controller for Markovian Jump Linear Systems

In this paper, we tackle the fault-compensation controller in the context of Marko- vian Jump Linear Systems (MJLS). More specifically, we propose the design of H∞ Fault- Compensation Controllers under the MJLS formulation, which is provided in terms of linear matrices inequalities optimization problems. These particular controllers have as the main motivation the network communication loss which is inherent to any automation process. We present a numerical example of a coupled tank system, where a Monte Carlo simulation illustrates the feasibility of the proposed solution. The results show that the proposed approach is indeed a valuable alternative to compensate for the fault occurrence

Valores de referência espirométricos para uma população portuguesa adulta caucasiana: estudo piloto

Introdução – Na espirometria a adequabilidade dos valores de referência é necessária para um correto diagnóstico e seguimento da patologia respiratória. Por essa razão, e de acordo com as recomendações internacionais, podem ser necessárias equações de referência derivadas localmente. Objetivo – Pretende-se estimar equações de referência para o FEV1 e FVC a partir de uma amostra de indivíduos residentes em Vila Franca de Xira e comparar os valores estimados com os valores previstos pelas equações da European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) e da Global Lung Function Inititative (GLI). Métodos – Foram incluídos voluntários adultos, caucasianos, residentes no concelho de Vila Franca de Xira, não fumadores, sem patologia respiratória ou exposição profissional de risco, e excluídos atletas de alta competição e instrumentistas de sopro. Resultados – Valores espirométricos de 64 indivíduos, 20 homens (média de idade 45 `18,8 anos, altura 1,72 8cm, peso 76,9 `12,6Kg, índice massa corporal 25,8 `3,12Kg/m2) e 44 mulheres (média de idade 45 `12,6 anos, altura 1,60 `6,25cm, peso 67,3 `13,0Kg, índice massa corporal 26,5 `5,39Kg/m2). Os valores estimados foram significativamente diferentes dos valores previstos pelas equações da ECSC para a FVC e FEV1 nas mulheres (p<0,001; p<0,01) e para a FVC nos homens (p<0,001); e foram também significativamente diferentes dos valores previstos pelo GLI para a FVC em homens e mulheres (p<0,05; p<0,001). Conclusões – Foram estimadas equações de referência para a população de Vila Franca de Xira que, quando comparadas com as equações ECSC e GLI, apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas. Assim sendo, evidencia-se a importância e o contributo deste estudo para a interpretação da espirometria

Gain-Scheduled Controller for Fault Accommodation in Linear Parameter Varying Systems with Imprecise Measurements

We present the design of H∞ and H2 gain-scheduled fault-accommodation controllers for discrete-time Linear Parameter Varying systems. We design our conditions as Bilinear Matrix Inequalities, assuming that the scheduled parameters are imprecise, which is a commonly found characteristic of practical applications that happens due to measurement noise and inaccuracy on its estimation/acquisition procedure. The proposed solution is based on the use of a multi-simplex approach for solving the main conditions, which guarantees the stability of the system under imprecise measurements on the scheduling parameters. The efficacy of the proposed approach is illustrated with a numerical example

Effect of storage conditions on the physical properties of coffee beans with different qualities

The quality of coffee starts in the field, and goes through the harvesting and post-harvesting processes, and continues to storage and transportation. The storage of coffee beans aims to stock a product for a certain period of time. However, factors such as quality and metabolism of the grain, water content, environmental conditions of the warehouse, type of packaging, and storage time influence the maintenance of these characteristics, and may negatively affect sensory aspects of the beverage. The use of high-barrier packaging or refrigerated storage practices are alternatives that can ensure grain quality during storage. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the behavior of raw coffee beans, of different processing and quality levels, packed in impermeable packages and stored in a refrigerated environment. The specialty coffees were previously sampled and characterized as to the drink, with two lots (one of natural coffee and the other of pulped natural coffee) evaluated with a score of 82&nbsp;points, and another lot of natural coffee evaluated with a score of 84&nbsp;points. They were packed in two types of packaging: moisture and gas permeable, and gas, moisture, and light impermeable. The beans were stored in ambient conditions without temperature control and in refrigerated environments. The CO2 concentration inside the packaging was measured, and the physical analyses – water content, color, and apparent specific mass – were performed. According to the results there is less variation in the water content and coloration of the grains stored in high barrier packages. The storage of the beans in refrigerated condition and in high barrier packing is efficient in the retarding of the loss of quality of the coffees during the nine months of the experimen

The infectivity of pig rotavirus in stools

Rotaviruses are the major pathogen for both human and animal. They affect young animals in intensive rearing and cause great economic losses. This study intended to evaluate the infectivity of porcine rotavirus maintained for 32 months at approximately 10ºC. in the original stools specimens. Thirty stools specimens of 1-4-week-old piglets originating from breeding farms located in the southwest region of the Paraná State were selected for this study. They were randomly chosen from stools samples positive for rotavirus by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) at the time of collection. The thirty stools samples maintained for 32 months at approximately 10ºC were re-tested by PAGE and 11 out of 30 were still positive showing the integrity of the eleven bands of viral RNA. To demonstrate the maintenance of viral infectivity, clarified and trypsin-treated stools specimens homogenates were inoculated in MA-104 cell cultures. After an average of 3 blind passages 5 out of 11 samples demonstrated cytophathic effect similar to that of standard simian rotavirus (SA-11). To confirm these findings, a immunofluorescent test was used and demonstrated typical cytoplasmic granular fluorescence. Electron microscopy of stools samples showed that most of the virus particles were single- shelled and some were found to be in an advanced state of degradation. Therefore the conclusion was that porcine rotavirus infectivity is maintained for a long period of time in stool specimens at low temperature. This certainly is an important aspect for the maintenance of viable virus in natural condition as well as for the transmission of the disease.Os rotavírus constituem-se nos principais patógenos da diarréia em humanos e animais. Afetam os animais jovens em criações intensivas e causam grandes perdas econômicas. Este estudo avaliou a infecciosidade do rotavírus suíno mantido por 32 meses a aproximadamente 10ºC nas amostras originais de fezes. Trinta amostras de fezes de leitões de 1-4 semanas de idade, provenientes de granjas da região sudoeste do Paraná, foram selecionadas para o estudo. As amostras foram colhidas no período de março a outubro de 1991 e selecionadas ao acaso dentre as positivas para rotavírus pela eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida (EGPA), à época da colheita. Estas foram retestadas por EGPA 32 meses após manutenção à temperatura de aproximadamente 10ºC. Onze das 30 amostras ainda foram positivas, mostrando a integridade das 11 bandas de RNA viral. Com o intuito de demonstrar a manutenção da infecciosidade viral, os homogenatos fecais clarificados, previamente tratados com tripsina, foram inoculados em culturas de células MA-104. Das 11 amostras, 5 demonstraram efeito citopático semelhante ao do rotavírus símio (SA-11), após em média 3 passagens cegas e confirmado pelo teste de imunofluorescência indireta, demonstrado pela fluorescência específica citoplasmática típicamente granular. A microscopia eletrônica das amostras fecais mostrou que a maioria das partículas virais apresentavam-se sem capsídio externo e outras encontravam-se em adiantado estado de degradação. Concluiu-se, portanto, que a infecciosidade do rotavírus suíno é mantida por longo período em amostras fecais em baixa temperatura. Este certamente é um aspecto importante para a manutenção do vírus viável em condição natural assim como para a transmissão da doença

The role of the femoral anterior offset index (AOI) on the degree of flexion in total knee arthroplasty (TKA)

Background: Anterior projection of the femoral condyles is often disregarded as an issue in knee arthroplasty. Overstuffing the patellofemoral joint may limit knee flexion and be a source of patellofemoral complications, thus having an impact in satisfaction rates after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Our hypothesis is that excessive anterior projection of the femoral condyles as a negative effect in flexion range after TKA, introducing a new concept, the anterior offset index (AOI). Methods: From a group of 99 consecutive patients who underwent TKA using patient specific instrumentation (PSI), we selected the patients with good pre-operative flexion range (above 90º) and a 6-minute walk test (6 MWT) ≥ 0 meters, evaluating the correlation between the AOI and the flexion range. A total of 23 patients were included in the study. Results: A moderate and positive correlation (r=0.488; p=0.018) between AOI and flexion range was found. Conclusions: Our results seem to indicate that the AOI influences postoperative flexion in TKA, in patients with a good pre-operative flexion and good functional outcome. AOI is an important concept to retain when optimizing knee flexion and minimizing patellofemoral complications. However, more studies need to be done in order to clarify the role of all the factors influencing post op flexion after TKA.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio