Raman spectroscopy of human teeth using integrated optical spectrometers

We have designed an arrayed-waveguide grating in silicon oxynitride technology for the detection of Raman signals from tooth enamel in the spectral region between 890 nm and 912 nm. The detected signals for both parallel and cross polarizations are used to distinguish between healthy and carious regions on the tooth surface of extracted human teeth. Our experimental results are in very good agreement with those achieved using conventional Raman spectrometers. Our results represent a step toward the realization of compact, hand-held, integrated spectrometers

Arrayed waveguide grating for polarized Raman spectroscopy of human teeth

We designed an arrayed-waveguide grating spectrometer for the detection of early dental caries in teeth through polarized Raman spectroscopy. Measurement results on extracted human teeth demonstrate the feasibility of the approach

Industrial Process Design for the Production of Aniline by Direct Amination

The objective is to design a plant from raw material to product for the production of aniline by direct amination of benzene. The process design is started on a conceptual level and ended on a basic engineering level as well as a techno-economical evaluation. The amination of benzene by hydroxylamine was used as basis. For the production of hydroxylamine four routes are proposed. The most promising route is the chemical reduction of nitric oxide with hydrogen. The process evaluation shows that 27 % of the atomic nitrogen is lost. The atomic carbon efficiency is close to unity. Furthermore, a significant amount of steam can be produced. From an economical perspective, there is still room for improvement because the return of investment is quite low and the payback period is quite high

Trends in paediatric inpatient antibiotic therapy in a secondary care setting

There is growing attention for antimicrobial stewardship in paediatrics. Currently, little is known about secondary care antibiotic practice. We analysed trends in time with respect to inpatient antibiotic use in a secondary paediatric care setting. Total inpatient antibiotic consumption per year (2010–2015) and antibiotic prescriptions for urinary tract infection (UTI) and lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) were analysed. Variables were total, antibiotic-specific, and intravenous days of therapy (DOT/100PD) and for UT

Aplicación de un proceso de curtido de pieles bovinas sin cromo utilizando oxazolidina en combinación con Caelsalpinia spinosa (tara)

Publicación a texto completo no autorizada por el autorEstablece la relación de las propiedades físico mecánicas con el proceso de curtido de pieles bovinas sin cromo utilizando oxazolidina en combinación con Caelsalpinia spinosa (Tara), establecer la relación de las pruebas sensoriales con el proceso de curtido de pieles bovinas sin cromo y determinar el comportamiento funcional del cuero en la confección de portafolios que podrán ser eco etiquetados como productos libres de cromo. Para realizar la evaluación de una curtición con diferentes niveles de Caelsalpinia spinosa (12, 15 y 18%) en combinación con 5% de oxazolidina, destinados a la confección de marroquinería, se utilizaron 15 pieles vacunas distribuidas en 3 tratamientos, con 10 repeticiones cada uno. Los resultados para las pruebas físicas de los cueros de la tercera etapa de investigación fueron resistencia a la tracción los valores más altos se reportaron en el tratamiento T2 con respuestas de 2214,49 N/cm2, para el porcentaje de elongación los resultados más altos se reportaron en los cueros del tratamiento T1, con resultados de 94,38% y para la resistencia al desgarro los resultados más altos se reportaron en el tratamiento T2 (tara), con valores medios de 109,05 N. Con esto se concluyó que la curtición con oxazolidina, combinada con Caelsalpinia spinosa, permite obtener pieles curtidas excelentes propiedades físicas, sensoriales y una elevada estabilidad frente a los procesos de fabricación y el paso del tiempo, ya que consigue evitar la presencia especialmente de cromo III, tanto en los residuos líquidos como sólidos, para reducir considerablemente el impacto ambiental.Tesi

IgE-expressing memory B cells and plasmablasts are increased in blood of children with asthma, food allergy, and atopic dermatitis

Stemcel biology/Regenerative medicine (incl. bloodtransfusion

Carfilzomib resistance due to ABCB1/MDR1 overexpression is overcome by nelfinavir and lopinavir in multiple myeloma

Proteasome inhibitor (PI) carfilzomib (CFZ) has activity superior to bortezomib (BTZ) and is increasingly incorporated in multiple myeloma (MM) frontline therapy and relapsed settings. Most MM patients ultimately experience PI-refractory disease, an unmet medical need with poorly understood biology and dismal outcome. Pharmacologic targeting of ABCB1 improved patient outcomes, including MM, but suffered from adverse drug effects and insufficient plasma concentrations. Proteomics analysis identified ABCB1 overexpression as the most significant change in CFZ-resistant MM cells. We addressed the functional role of ABCB1 overexpression in MM and observed significantly upregulated ABCB1 in peripheral blood malignant plasma cells (PCs) vs untreated patients' bone marrow PC. ABCB1 overexpression reduces the proteasome-inhibiting activity of CFZ due to drug efflux, in contrast to BTZ. Likewise, the cytotoxicity of established anti-MM drugs was significantly reduced in ABCB1-expressing MM cells. In search for potential drugs targeting ABCB1 in clinical trials, we identified the HIV protease inhibitors nelfinavir (NFV) and lopinavir (LPV) as potent functional modulators of ABCB1-mediated drug export, most likely via modulation of mitochondria permeability transition pore. NFV and LPV restored CFZ activity at therapeutically relevant drug levels and thus represent ready-to-use drugs to be tested in clinical trials to target ABCB1 and to re-sensitize PC to established myeloma drugs, in particular CFZ.Bio-organic Synthesi

Морфология и трехмерные изображения рудника-пещеры Кан-и-Гут

Путём сравнительного анализа и компьютерной обработки данных чертежей и схем из разных источников впервые получена пространственная (3D) модель одного из самых сложных в морфологическом отношении подземелий смешанного типа – рудника-пещеры Кан-и-Гут (Кыргызстан). Описана методика перевода графических данных в цифровой формат. Найдены основные морфометрические параметры полости, представлены трехмерные изображения основных его отделов, обсуждается их морфология. В ряде полостей рудника-пещеры выявлены существенные изменения, произошедшие за последние 50 лет вследствие масштабных обрушений.Шляхом порівняльного аналізу і комп’ютерної обробки даних креслень і схем з різних джерел вперше отримана просторова (3d) модель одного з найскладніших в морфологічному відношенні підземель змішаного типа – копальні-печери Кан-і-Гут (Киргизстан). Описана методика переведення графічних даних в цифровий формат. Знайдені основні морфометричні параметри порожнини, представлені тривимірні зображення основних його відділів, обговорюється їх морфологія. У ряді порожнин копальні-печери виявлені істотні зміни, події за останніх 50 років унаслідок масштабних обвалень.Kan-i-Gut mined cave, located in Kyrgyzstan, is one of the most morphologically complex cavities of mixed genesis. For the first time, a 3D model was developed for this cave by comparative analyses and computer processing of cave maps and mine surveyor plan and profile, obtained from different sources. The methodology of transferring graphical data into digital format is described. Primary morphometric parameters of the mined cave are gathered, and 3D images of its main parts are presented. Essential morphological changes due to vast collapses during the last 50 years were discovered

Development and Function of Immune Cells in an Adolescent Patient with a Deficiency in the Interleukin-10 Receptor

OBJECTIVE:: Monogenic defects in the interleukin-10 (IL-10) pathway are extremely rare and cause infantile-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-like pathology. Understanding how immune responses are dysregulated in monogenic IBD-like diseases can provide valuable insight in “classical” IBD pathogenesis. Here, we studied long-term immune cell development and function in an adolescent IL-10 receptor (IL10RA)-deficient patient who presented in infancy with severe colitis and fistulizing perianal disease and is currently treated with immune suppressants. METHODS:: Biomaterial was collected from the IL10RA-deficient patient, pediatric IBD patients and healthy controls. The frequency and phenotype of immune cells were determined in peripheral blood and intestinal biopsies by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Functional changes in monocyte-derived dendritic cells and T cells were assessed by in vitro activation assays. RESULTS:: The IL10RA-deficient immune system developed normally with respect to numbers and phenotype of circulating immune cells. Despite normal co-stimulatory molecule expression, bacterial lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocyte-derived dendritic cells from the IL10RA-deficient patient released increased amounts of TNFα compared to healthy controls. Upon T-cell receptor ligation, IL10RA-deficient peripheral blood mononuclear cells released increased amounts of T cell cytokines IFNγ and IL-17 agreeing with high numbers of T-bet and IL-17 cells in intestinal biopsies taken at disease onset. In vitro, the immunosuppressive drug thalidomide used to treat the patient decreased peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived TNFα production. CONCLUSIONS:: With time and during immunosuppressive treatment the IL10RA- deficient immune system develops relatively normally. Upon activation, IL-10 is crucial for controlling excessive inflammatory cytokine release by dendritic cells and preventing IFNγ and IL-17-mediated T-cell responses

Dutch trauma system performance: are injured patients treated at the right place?

Background: The goal of trauma systems is to match patient care needs to the capabilities of the receiving centre. Severely injured patients have shown better outcomes if treated in a major trauma centre (MTC). We aimed to evaluate patient distribution in the Dutch trauma system. Furthermore, we sought to identify factors associated with the undertriage and transport of severely injured patients (Injury Severity Score (ISS) >15) to the MTC by emergency medical services (EMS).Methods: Data on all acute trauma admissions in the Netherlands (2015-2016) were extracted from the Dutch national trauma registry. An ambulance driving time model was applied to calculate MTC transport times and transport times of ISS >15 patients to the closest MTC and non-MTC. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with ISS >15 patients' EMS undertriage to an MTC.Results: Of the annual average of 78,123 acute trauma admissions, 4.9% had an ISS >15. The nonseverely injured patients were predominantly treated at non-MTCs (79.2%), and 65.4% of patients with an ISS >15 received primary MTC care. This rate varied across the eleven Dutch trauma networks (36.8%-88.4%) and was correlated with the transport times to an MTC (Pearson correlation -0.753, p=0.007). The trauma networks also differed in the rates of secondary transfers of ISS >15 patients to MTC hospitals (7.8% 59.3%) and definitive MTC care (43.6% - 93.2%). Factors associated with EMS undertriage of ISS >15 patients to the MTC were female sex, older age, severe thoracic and abdominal injury, and longer additional EMS transport times.Conclusions: Approximately one-third of all severely injured patients in the Netherlands are not initially treated at an MTC. Special attention needs to be directed to identifying patient groups with a high risk of undertriage. Furthermore, resources to overcome longer transport times to an MTC, including the availability of ambulance and helicopter services, may improve direct MTC care and result in a decrease in the variation of the undertriage of severely injured patients to MTCs among the Dutch trauma networks. Furthermore, attention needs to be directed to improving primary triage guidelines and instituting uniform interfacility transfer agreements. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Trauma Surger