A highly sensitive and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of antibodies to hepatitis C virus

In this study, a 178 amino acids long portion of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core gene was cloned, sequenced, expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified. The resulting antigen (C178) was tested with human sera enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in order to assess its ability to diagnose HCV. It was shown by ELISA that 92% of the patients sera, diagnosed previously by a 3(rd) generation enzyme immunoassay (EIA) as HCV-positive, had antibodies against the C178 antigen. This antigen gave no false positive results when tested with anti-HCV-negative sera

Treatment and long-term outcome in primary nephrogenic diabetes insipidus

Background: Primary nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is a rare disorder and little is known about treatment practices and long-term outcome. Methods: Paediatric and adult nephrologists contacted through European professional organizations entered data in an online form. Results: Data were collected on 315 patients (22 countries, male 84%, adults 35%). Mutation testing had been performed in 270 (86%); pathogenic variants were identified in 258 (96%). The median (range) age at diagnosis was 0.6 (0.0–60) years and at last follow-up 14.0 (0.1–70) years. In adults, height was normal with a mean (standard deviation) score of −0.39 (±1.0), yet there was increased prevalence of obesity (body mass index >30 kg/m2; 41% versus 16% European average; P < 0.001). There was also increased prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) Stage ≥2 in children (32%) and adults (48%). Evidence of flow uropathy was present in 38%. A higher proportion of children than adults (85% versus 54%; P < 0.001) received medications to reduce urine output. Patients ≥25 years were less likely to have a university degree than the European average (21% versus 35%; P = 0.003) but full-time employment was similar. Mental health problems, predominantly attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (16%), were reported in 36% of patients. Conclusion: This large NDI cohort shows an overall favourable outcome with normal adult height and only mild to moderate CKD in most. Yet, while full-time employment was similar to the European average, educational achievement was lower, and more than half had urological and/or mental health problems

Proceedings of the 24th Paediatric Rheumatology European Society Congress: Part three

From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications Router.Publication status: PublishedHistory: collection 2017-09, epub 2017-09-0

Association between the soluble epoxide hydrolase gene and preeclampsia

PubMed ID: 29058492Objective: In this study the association between K55R polymorphism, methylation level of the EPHX2 promoter region, and PE was investigated in 520 individuals including 260 PE patients and 260 healthy pregnant women. Methods: K55R polymorphism and methylation level of the EPHX2 promoter were determined by the real-time PCR using double-dye hydrolysis probes and methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting analysis, respectively. Results: The presence of the K55R polymorphism was significantly higher in cases (28.1%) than controls (17.3%), and was associated with increased risk of PE (OR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.09–2.63). Methylation levels of the EPHX2 promoter region in cases were significantly lower than controls. A 2.83 times increased PE risk was observed in pregnant women with EPHX2 promoter methylation levels of <25% (OR: 2.83; 95% CI: 1.15–6.91). Conclusion: In conclusion, hypomethylation of the promoter region of EPHX2 and K55R polymorphism were associated with significant increased risk of PE. sEH enzyme may play a role in the pathogenesis of PE by contributing to reduction of the vasodilatator, anti-hypertensive, and anti-inflammatory effects of EETs by rapid degradation of these molecules. © 2017 Taylor & Francis.This work was supported by the Scientific Research Project Fund of Cumhuriyet University (grant number T-551)

Combined effect of variable fluid properties on nonisothermal flow of an inelastic fluid with viscous heating

This study investigates the effect of variable thermal conductivity and variable viscosity on the flow characteristics and flow rates of an inelastic fluid, including viscous heating terms in the analysis. The exponential dependence of viscosity on temperature is modeled through Arrhenius law and shear rate dependence is modeled through Carreau rheological equation while it is assumed that the thermal conductivity varies linearly with temperature. Flow governing motion and energy balance equations are coupled and the solution is found iteratively facilitating a pseudospectral method based on the Chebyshev polynomial expansions. Effect of variable thermal conductivity and viscosity as well as the effect of power law index, material time constant, Brinkman and Peclet numbers on the velocity and temperature profiles are presented. Influence of the above parameters on the flow rate is also calculated. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Shallow water experiments of flow past two identical square cylinders in tandem

This study investigates experimentally the flow structure between two identical square cylinders as well as in the wake of downstream cylinder that are in-line positioned in tandem. The experiments are performed in a large scale water channel under shallow water conditions. Time-averaged streamline pattern as well as vorticity and turbulence statistics were calculated using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurement method for different gap ratios (G/D=0.5 to G/D=5, where G is the distance between the cylinders and D is the diameter of cylinder) between the cylinders at a fixed Reynolds number of 4470. The measurements were conducted for both side view and plan view configurations at Froude number Fr = 0.186. The results obtained under shallow water conditions are compared with those obtained under deep water conditions by other researchers and it is found that, as explained in detail in the manuscript, the flow structures are remarkably different especially in the region between the two rectangular cylinders. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Comparison of Design Guidelines for Hot-Rolled I-Shaped Steel Compression Members according to AISC 360-16 and EC3

Thirty-six years after its publication, Turkish Building Code for Steel Structures was replaced with a more rational specification, Specification of Design and Construction of Steel Structures (SDCSS), which was prepared almost entirely based on the current American steel design specification (AISC 360-16). European steel design specification (EC3) is also widely used in Turkey for the design of steel structures constructed with the collaboration of Turkish and European companies. It is essential for a steel designer using both SDCSS and EC3 to comprehend the basic differences between these specifications. This study aims to compare the design guidelines defined in AISC 360-16 (so in SDCSS) and EC3 for rolled I-shaped steel members subjected to axial compression thoroughly. For various steel grades, member lengths, and 153 different European I/H sections, design buckling resistances and design compressive strengths are computed and compared. It is shown that there are at most 3% difference between the effective areas computed using both specifications. It is highly recommended that the change of cross section class be allowed while calculating design buckling resistances. For the studied sections and steel grades, the resistance-to-strength ratios are found to be as high as 1.24 but not smaller than 0.907

Molecular characterization of a full genome Turkish hepatitis C virus 1b isolate (HCV-TR1): A predominant viral form in Turkey

Based on direct sequencing information from 5′UTR and NS5B regions, we identified subtype 1b as a predominant hepatitis C virus genome in Turkey, which affected more than 91% of 79 patients studied. Next, the full genome sequence of a Turkish 1b isolate was obtained by the cloning of polypeptide-encoding region into 7 overlapping fragments. Turkish 1b isolate, which was named HCV-TR1, comprises 9361 nucleotides, including 306 nucleotides of 5′UTR, a single long open reading frame of 9033 nucleotides, and 22 nucleotides of 3′UTR. When compared to HCV 1b polypeptide sequences available at GenBank, the predicted polypeptide displayed a total of 36 amino acid substitutions, of which 16 was specific for HCV-TR1 isolate. Despite these changes, major structural and functional motifs of HCV proteins were maintained in HCV-TR1. In contrast, HCV-TR1 displayed amino acid substitutions in 6 out of 9 major cytotoxic T-cell epitopes. These data suggest that HCV-TR1 encodes functionally intact viral proteins, but it also encodes altered viral epitopes, which may affect host immune-response

Molecular characterization of a full genome Turkish hepatitis C virus 1b isolate (HCV-TR1): A predominant viral form in Turkey

PubMedID: 12416679Based on direct sequencing information from 5'UTR and NS5B regions, we identified subtype 1b as a predominant hepatitis C virus genome in Turkey, which affected more than 91% of 79 patients studied. Next, the full genome sequence of a Turkish 1b isolate was obtained by the cloning of polypeptide-encoding region into 7 overlapping fragments. Turkish 1b isolate, which was named HCV-TR1, comprises 9361 nucleotides, including 306 nucleotides of 5'UTR, a single long open reading frame of 9033 nucleotides, and 22 nucleotides of 3'UTR. When compared to HCV 1b polypeptide sequences available at GenBank, the predicted polypeptide displayed a total of 36 amino acid substitutions, of which 16 was specific for HCV-TR1 isolate. Despite these changes, major structural and functional motifs of HCV proteins were maintained in HCV-TR1. In contrast, HCV-TR1 displayed amino acid substitutions in 6 out of 9 major cytotoxic T-cell epitopes. These data suggest that HCV-TR1 encodes functionally intact viral proteins, but it also encodes altered viral epitopes, which may affect host immune-response.International Center for Genetic Engineering and BiotechnologyThis work was supported by a grant from ICGEB. We thank T. Cagatay and T. Arici for technical help in nucleic acid sequencing

The Treatment of Acute Liver Failure with Fractionated Plasma Separation and Adsorption System: Experience in 85 Applications

Introduction: Artificial liver support systems represent a potential useful option for the treatment of liver failure. The outcomes of patients treated with the fractionated plasma separation and adsorption (FPSA) system are presented. Patients and methods: FPSA was performed 85 times for 27 patients (median 3 treatments/patient) with liver failure [85.2% acute liver failure (ALF) and 14.8% acute-on-chronic liver failure] using the Prometheus 4008H (Fresenius Medical Care) unit. Citrate was used for anticoagulation. A variety of clinical and biochemical parameters were assessed. Comparisons between pretreatment and post-treatment data were performed using paired t-test. Results: The 85 sessions had a mean duration of 6 h. There were significant decreases in total bilirubin (13.18 +/- 9.46 mg/dL vs. 9.76 +/- 7.05 mg/dL; P < 0.0001), ammonia (167.6 +/- 75 mg/dL vs. 120 +/- 43.8 mg/dL; P < 0.0001), blood urea nitrogen (BUN; 12.55 +/- 13.03 mg/dL vs. 8.18 +/- 8.15 mg/dL; P < 0.0001), creatinine (0.54 +/- 0.47 mg/dL vs. 0.46 +/- 0.37 mg/dL; P = 0.0022) levels. and in pH (7.48 +/- 0.05 vs. 7.44 +/- 0.08; P = 0.0045). Four patients (14.8%) received liver transplantation after the treatments; in nine patients, transplantation was not necessary anymore (33%); the remaining 14 patients did not receive a transplantation because they were either not appropriate candidates or no organ was available. Overall survival was 48.1% (4 transplanted and 9 treated patients). No hematological complications related to FPSA were observed. Conclusions: FPSA system is a safe and effective detoxification method for patients with liver dysfunction, including ALF. The system is useful as a symptomatic treatment before liver transplantation; in up to 1/3 of the cases, it can even be used as a sole method of treatment. J. Clin. Apheresis 25:195-201, 2010. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc