Gamow-Teller strength distributions in Fe and Ni stable isotopes

We study Gamow-Teller strength distributions in some selected nuclei of particular Astrophysical interest within the iron mass region. The theoretical framework is based on a proton-neutron Quasiparticle Random Phase Approximation built on a deformed selfconsistent mean field basis obtained from two-body density-dependent Skyrme forces. We compare our results to available experimental information obtained from (n,p) and (p,n) charge exchange reactions.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

Isospin mixing and Fermi transitions: Selfconsistent deformed mean field calculations and beyond

We study Fermi transitions and isospin mixing in an isotopic chain 70-78 Kr considering various approximations that use the same Skyrme-Hartree-Fock single particle basis. We study Coulomb effects as well as the effect of BCS and quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA) correlations. A measure of isospin mixing in the approximate ground state is defined by means of the expectation value of the isospin operator squared in N=Z nuclei (which is generalized to N different from Z nuclei). Starting from strict Hartree-Fock approach without Coulomb, it is shown that the isospin breaking is negligible, on the order of a few per thousand for (N-Z)=6, increasing to a few percent with Coulomb. Pairing correlations induce rather large isospin mixing and Fermi transitions of the forbidden type (beta- for NZ). The enhancement produced by BCS correlations is compensated to a large extent by QRPA correlations induced by isospin conserving residual interactions that tend to restore isospin symmetry.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.

Characterization of a possible nosocomial aspergillosis outbreak

ObjectiveTo study the epidemiologic aspects of a suspected outbreak of nosocomial invasive aspergillosis.MethodsSixteen Aspergillus fumigatus strains were isolated from bronchoalveolar washings or sputa of 10 patients during a 9-month period. Furthermore, two environmental samples, isolated in a microbiological screening of the hospital, were also available for analysis. Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis (RAPD) was carried out.ResultsThe analysis performed by RAPD clearly demonstrated substantial genetic variation among the isolates. Both of the two different primers selected for RAPD analysis (R-108 and AP12h) were able to demonstrate that the strains isolated from all patients infected with the same fungal species and the environmental samples were genotypically distinct. The results by RAPD typing demonstrated that this technique could detect variability among isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus from different patients and even from the same patient.ConclusionsRAPD genotyping proved that the outbreak of invasive aspergillosis consisted of a series of events, non-related, and probably not coming from the same source within the hospital. This type of analysis is an easy, quick and highly discriminatory technique that may help in planning epidemiologic studies of aspergillosis

Thermal and phase transformations analysis in a PREMOMET® steel

Thermal analysis in a PREMOMET® steel has been performed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and highresolution dilatometry. The phase transformation temperatures (Ac1, Ac3, Ms and Mf) of this steel were obtained by the two methods at different heating rates showing good agreement between both techniques. The enthalpy of α-γ transformation for this steel was measured using the thermograms acquired by DSC and microstructure was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that this steel retained a martensitic structure for all conditions

Thermal and phase transformations analysis in a PREMOMET® steel

Thermal analysis in a PREMOMET® steel has been performed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and highresolution dilatometry. The phase transformation temperatures (Ac1, Ac3, Ms and Mf) of this steel were obtained by the two methods at different heating rates showing good agreement between both techniques. The enthalpy of α-γ transformation for this steel was measured using the thermograms acquired by DSC and microstructure was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that this steel retained a martensitic structure for all conditions

Intestinal anti-inflammatory effects of goat whey on DNBS-induced colitis in mice

This study evaluated the intestinal anti-inflammatory effects of goat whey in a mouse model of colitis induced by 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid that resembles human IBD. At a concentration of 4 g/kg/day, the goat whey improved the symptoms of intestinal inflammation, namely by decreasing the disease activity index, colonic weight/length, and leukocyte infiltration. Moreover, goat whey inhibited NF-kappa B p65 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways and consequently down-regulated the gene expression of various proinflammatory markers such as IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-17, TNF-alpha, iNOS, MMP-9, ICAM-1. Also, goat whey increased the expression of proteins such as mucins, occludin proteins and cytokine signalling suppressors. The immunomodulatory properties of goat whey were also evaluated in vitro using the murine macrophage cell line Raw 264 and CMT-93 cells derived from mouse rectum carcinomas. The results revealed the ability of goat whey to inhibit the production of NO and reduce IL-6 production in LPS-stimulated cells. In conclusion, goat whey exhibited antiinflammatory effects in the DNBS model of intestinal inflammation, and these observations were confirmed by its immunomodulatory properties in vitro. Together, our results indicate that goat whey could have applications for the treatment of IBD.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Development of COVID-19 monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins as reagents for biomedical research and diagnostic test

Since SARS-COV-2 virus spread worldwide and COVID-19 turned rapidly into a pandemic illness, the necessity for vaccines and diagnostic tests became crucial. The viral surface is decorated with Spike, the major antigenic determinant and main target for vaccine development. Within Spike, the receptor binding domain (RBD), constitutes the main target of highly neutralizing antibodies found in COVID-19 convalescent plasma. Besides vaccination, another important aspect of Spike (and RBD) is their use as immunogen for the development of poli- and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Here we report the development and preliminary biochemical characterization of a set of monoclonal antibodies against the Spike RBD domain along with the recombinant expression of two mayor COVID-19 protein reagents: the viral Spike RBD domain and the extracellular domain of the human receptor ACE2. RBD and the extracellular domain of ACE2 (aa 1-740) were obtained through transient gene transfection (TGE) in two different mammalian cell culture systems: HEK293T adherent monolayers and Expi293 suspension cultures. Due to its low cost and ease scale-up, all transfections were carried with polyethyleneimine (PEI). Expressed proteins were purified from culture supernatants by immobilized metal affinity chromatography. Anti-RBD mAbs were developed from two different immunization schemes: one aimed to elicit antibodies with viral neutralizing potential, and the other with the ability to recognize denatured RBD for routinary lab immunoassays. To achieve this, the first group of mice was immunized with RBD in aluminium salts (RBD/Al) and the other with RBD emulsified in Freunds adyuvant (RBD/FA). Polyclonal and monoclonal antibody reactivities against native or denatured RBD forms were then assessed by ELISA. Complete RBD denaturation was followed by intrinsic fluorescence spectral changes upon different physicochemical stress treatments. As expected, RBD/Al immunized mice developed an antibody response shifted to native RBD while those immunized with RBD/FA showed a high response against both forms of the protein. In accordance with the observed polyclonal response, RBD/FA derived mAbs recognize both, native and denatured RBD. On the contrary, hybridomas generated from the RBD/Al protocol mostly recognize RBD in its native state. Further ELISA binding assays revealed that all RBD/FA derived mAbs can form a trimeric complex with ACE2 and RBD, denoting they would not have viral neutralizing activity. ELISA competition assays with the RBD/ACE2 complex aimed to determine the neutralization potential of the RBD/Al derived mAbs are under way. Overall, the anti-Spike RBD mAbs and the recombinant RBD and ACE2 proteins presented here constitute valuable tools for diverse COVID-19 academic research projects and local immunity surveillance testing.Fil: Acuña Intrieri, M. E. Universidad Nacional de San Martin. Centro de Rediseño E Ingenieria de Proteinas.; ArgentinaFil: Deriane, M.A. Universidad Nacional de San Martin. Centro de Rediseño E Ingenieria de Proteinas.; ArgentinaFil: Miller, C.. Universidad Nacional de San Martin. Centro de Rediseño E Ingenieria de Proteinas.; ArgentinaFil: Czibener, Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Correa, E.. No especifíca;Fil: Cragnaz, L.. No especifíca;Fil: Guerra, L.. No especifíca;Fil: Rodriguez, S.. No especifíca;Fil: Goldbaum, F.A.. Universidad Nacional de San Martin. Centro de Rediseño E Ingenieria de Proteinas.; ArgentinaFil: Seigelchifer, M.. No especifíca;Fil: Comerci, Diego José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Montagna, Georgina Nuri. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Cerutti, Maria Laura. Universidad Nacional de San Martin. Centro de Rediseño E Ingenieria de Proteinas.; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaLVII Annual Meeting of the Argentine Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Research y XVI Annual Meeting of the Argentinean Society for General MicrobiologyVirtualArgentinaSociedad Argentina de Investigación Bioquímica y Biología MolecularAsociación Civil de Microbiología Genera

Effectiveness and safety of obeticholic acid in a Southern European multicenter cohort of patients with primary biliary cholangitis and suboptimal response to ursodeoxycholic acid

Background Obeticholic acid (OCA) was recently approved as the only on-label alternative for patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) with intolerance or suboptimal response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). However, few data are available outside clinical trials. Aim To assess the effectiveness and safety of OCA in a real-world cohort of patients with non-effective UDCA therapy. Methods Open-label, prospective, real-world, multicentre study, enrolling consecutive patients who did not meet Paris II criteria, from 18 institutions in Spain and Portugal. Effectiveness was assessed by the changes in GLOBE and UK-PBC scores from baseline. POISE and Paris II criteria were evaluated after 12 months of OCA . Liver fibrosis was evaluated by FIB-4 and AST to platelet ratio index (APRI). Results One hundred and twenty patients were eligible, median time since PBC diagnosis 9.3 (4.0-13.8) years, 21.7% had cirrhosis, and 26.7% received had previous or concomitant treatment with fibrates. Seventy-eight patients completed at least 1 year of OCA. The Globe-PBC score decreased to 0.17 (95% CI 0.05 to 0.28; P = 0.005) and the UK-PBC score decreased to 0.81 (95% CI -0.19 to 1.80; P = 0.11). There was a significant decrease in alkaline phosphatase of 81.3 U/L (95% CI 42.5 to 120; P < 0.001), ALT 22.1 U/L (95% CI 10.4 to 33.8; P < 0.001) and bilirubin 0.12 mg/dL (95% CI 0 to 0.24; P = 0.044). FIB-4 and APRI remained stable. According to the POISE criteria, 29.5% (23 out of 78) achieved response. The adverse events rate was 35%; 11.67% discontinued (8.3% due to pruritus). Conclusions This study supports data from phase III trials with significant improvement of PBC-Globe continuous prognostic marker score among OCA-treated patients with good tolerability

Addressing the high cervical cancer rates along the Texas-Mexico border through community outreach, patient navigation, and provider training/telementoring

Objective: Cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates are 68% and 57% higher, respectively, along the Texas-Mexico border compared with the rest of the United States. This is likely due to a combination of low health literacy, limited access to affordable screening, and a lack of trained personnel to perform colposcopy, loop electrosurgical excision procedures (LEEP), and appropriate management of women with pre-invasive disease. The objective of our study was to increase cervical cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment rates in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). Method: We initiated a comprehensive program at two health centers and one mobile clinic in the RGV consisting of (1) a public education program designed for community health workers to teach women about cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination coupled with patient navigation to participating clinics; (2) colposcopy and LEEP training for physicians and advanced-practice providers through locally held hands-on courses and mentoring program; and (3) implementation of Project ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes), a well-established telementoring program using video conferencing to connect academic specialists with community providers for case-based learning. We compared screening, diagnosis, and treatment rates pre- and post-program implementation. Results: From November 2014 to June 2018, local providers screened 19,028 women with Pap ± HPV testing (baseline 12,460, 53% increase); performed colposcopy on 2,644 women with abnormal screening results (baseline 945, 180% increase); and performed 483 LEEP procedures for treatment of cervical dysplasia (baseline 0). Ten women were diagnosed with invasive cancer and navigated to one of the participating gynecologic oncologists for treatment (baseline N/A). Five additional providers in the RGV completed the mentoring program to be certified to perform colposcopy (100% increase from baseline of 5) and two additional providers to perform LEEP (baseline 0). ECHO telementoring video conferences have been held every two weeks for a total 94 sessions (average of 22 participants/session) with 182 patient cases presented and discussed. Conclusion: Our comprehensive approach has led to an increase in the number of women undergoing cervical cancer screening and diagnosis/treatment of dysplasia. If sustained, we anticipate these efforts will decrease cervical cancer rates in the RGV. The program is currently being expanded to additional medically underserved regions of Texas