Nano encapsulation of Drug-loaded Lipid by Temperature induced Phase Transition

Pluronic nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by means of a temperature-induced phase transition in the mixture composed of Pluronic F-68 and liquid Tween 80/soybean oil containing model drugs such as orlistat, caffeine, and ibuprofen sodium salt. Liquid soybean oil/Tween 80 was used as a solubilizer for model drugs, and Pluronic F-68 was the polymer that stabilizes liquid soybean oil/Tween 80 containing model drugs. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy and particle size analyzer were used to observe the morphology and size distribution of the prepared NPs. X-ray diffractometer was used to understand relationship between the crystalline state of the model drug and its solubility in the aqueous media. To observe the feasibility of Pluronic NPs as a drug delivery system, the release pattern of model drugs was observed

Nano encapsulation of Drug-loaded Lipid by Temperature induced Phase Transition

Pluronic nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by means of a temperature-induced phase transition in the mixture composed of Pluronic F-68 and liquid Tween 80/soybean oil containing model drugs such as orlistat, caffeine, and ibuprofen sodium salt. Liquid soybean oil/Tween 80 was used as a solubilizer for model drugs, and Pluronic F-68 was the polymer that stabilizes liquid soybean oil/Tween 80 containing model drugs. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy and particle size analyzer were used to observe the morphology and size distribution of the prepared NPs. X-ray diffractometer was used to understand relationship between the crystalline state of the model drug and its solubility in the aqueous media. To observe the feasibility of Pluronic NPs as a drug delivery system, the release pattern of model drugs was observed

CANDELS : constraining the AGN-merger connection with host morphologies at z ~ 2

Using Hubble Space Telescope/WFC3 imaging taken as part of the Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey, we examine the role that major galaxy mergers play in triggering active galactic nucleus (AGN) activity at z ~ 2. Our sample consists of 72 moderate-luminosity (L X ~ 1042-44 erg s-1) AGNs at 1.5 < z < 2.5 that are selected using the 4 Ms Chandra observations in the Chandra Deep Field South, the deepest X-ray observations to date. Employing visual classifications, we have analyzed the rest-frame optical morphologies of the AGN host galaxies and compared them to a mass-matched control sample of 216 non-active galaxies at the same redshift. We find that most of the AGNs reside in disk galaxies (51.4+5.8 - 5.9%), while a smaller percentage are found in spheroids (27.8+5.8 - 4.6%). Roughly 16.7+5.3 - 3.5% of the AGN hosts have highly disturbed morphologies and appear to be involved in a major merger or interaction, while most of the hosts (55.6+5.6 - 5.9%) appear relatively relaxed and undisturbed. These fractions are statistically consistent with the fraction of control galaxies that show similar morphological disturbances. These results suggest that the hosts of moderate-luminosity AGNs are no more likely to be involved in an ongoing merger or interaction relative to non-active galaxies of similar mass at z ~ 2. The high disk fraction observed among the AGN hosts also appears to be at odds with predictions that merger-driven accretion should be the dominant AGN fueling mode at z ~ 2, even at moderate X-ray luminosities. Although we cannot rule out that minor mergers are responsible for triggering these systems, the presence of a large population of relatively undisturbed disk-like hosts suggests that the stochastic accretion of gas plays a greater role in fueling AGN activity at z ~ 2 than previously thought

A systematic approach to the evaluation of the coronary microcirculation using bolus thermodilution: CATH CMD

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) can cause myocardial ischemia in patients presenting with angina without obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA). Evaluating for CMD by using the thermodilution technique offers a widely accessible means of assessing microvascular resistance. Through this technique, 2 validated indices, namely coronary flow reserve and the index of microcirculatory resistance, can be computed, facilitating investigation of the coronary microcirculation. The index of microcirculatory resistance specifically estimates minimum achievable microvascular resistance within the coronary microcirculation. We aim to review the bolus thermodilution method, outlining the fundamental steps for conducting measurements and introducing an algorithmic approach (CATH CMD) to systematically evaluate the coronary microcirculation. Embracing a standardized approach, exemplified by the CATH CMD algorithm, will facilitate adoption of this technique and streamline the diagnosis of CMD

Topological data analysis of coronary plaques demonstrates the natural history of coronary atherosclerosis

OBJECTIVES This study sought to identify distinct patient groups and their association with outcome based on the patient similarity network using quantitative coronary plaque characteristics from coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA).BACKGROUND Coronary CTA can noninvasively assess coronary plaques quantitatively.METHODS Patients who underwent 2 coronary CTAs at a minimum of 24 months' interval were analyzed (n = 1,264). A similarity Mapper network of patients was built by topological data analysis (TDA) based on the whole-heart quantitative coronary plaque analysis on coronary CTA to identify distinct patient groups and their association with outcome.RESULTS Three distinct patient groups were identified by TDA, and the patient similarity network by TDA showed a dosed loop, demonstrating a continuous trend of coronary plaque progression. Group A had the least coronary plaque amount (median 12.4 mm(3) [interquartile range (IQR): 0.0 to 39.6 mm(3)]) in the entire coronary tree. Group B had a moderate coronary plaque amount (31.7 mm(3) [IQR: 0.0 to 127.4 mm(3)]) with relative enrichment of fibrofatty and necrotic core (32.6% [IQR: 16.7% to 46.2%] and 2.7% [IQR: 0.1% to 6.9%] of the total plaque, respectively) components. Group C had the largest coronary plaque amount (187.0 mm(3) [IQR: 96.7 to 306.4 mm(3)]) and was enriched for dense calcium component (46.8% [IQR: 32.0% to 63.7%] of the total plaque). At follow-up, total plaque volume, fibrous, and dense calcium volumes increased in all groups, but the proportion of fibrofatty component decreased in groups B and C, whereas the necrotic core portion decreased in only group B (all p< 0.05). Group B showed a higher acute coronary syndrome incidence than other groups (0.3% vs. 2.6% vs. 0.6%; p= 0.009) but both group B and C had a higher revascularization incidence than group A (3.1% vs. 15.5% vs. 17.8%; p < 0.001). Incorporating group information from TDA demonstrated increase of model fitness for predicting acute coronary syndrome or revascularization compared with that incorporating clinical risk factors, percentage diameter stenosis, and high-risk plaque features.CONCLUSIONS The TDA of quantitative whole-heart coronary plaque characteristics on coronary CTA identified distinct patient groups with different plaque dynamics and clinical outcomes. (Progression of AtheRosclerotic PlAque Determined by Computed TomoGraphic Angiography Imaging [PARADIGM]; NCT02803411) (C) 2021 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.Cardiolog

Feeding of Triportheus angulatus (Spix & Agassiz, 1829) in the Camaleão lake, Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil

Periodical flooding cause strong modifications in Central Amazonian floodplain. Periodical rising and decreasing of the water level influences abiotic and biotic factors of the aquatic environments. During the flooding season, there is a high feed availability, in contrast with dry season in which feed availability is at the lowest level. Limnological parameters also change seasonally. Oxygen concentrations vary both daily and seasonally, sometimes even showing hypoxic conditions. Despite these alterations, floodplain lakes are inhabited by several fish species, having the most diverse and abundant fish fauna among the Amazonian environments. This study focused on Triportheus angulatus feeding in temporal distribution in order to understand the influences of hydrological changes on individual size, diet composition and feeding even in low oxygen concentrations. In rising waters season, small individuals are predominant while the decreasing and the dry seasons there are mostly larger ones. There is a seasonal change on diet composition and this is related to feed type that is more available: during the rising, fishes eat mainly insects and zooplankton; in the flood season and drying season, seeds and fruits are predominant, and at the dry season they eat mainly insects. Feed ingestion was higher in the rising waters and mostly in the flood, and it was lower in the drying season. Feeding activity was not related with oxygen concentrations.As inundações periódicas na Amazônia Central causam profundas modificações no meio ambiente. A alternância dos períodos de cheias e secas tem influência nos fatores bióticos e abióticos do meio aquático. Na enchente e na cheia é alta a oferta de alimentos, ampliando o espectro alimentar que é restrito na seca. As variáveis limnológicas também sofrem modificações. As concentrações de oxigênio têm variações sazonais e diárias, às vezes com períodos de hipoxia. Apesar dessas alterações, os lagos de várzea são habitados por muitas espécies de peixes e estão entre os ambientes de maior abundância e riqueza de peixes na Amazônia. A distribuição temporal e a alimentação de Triportheus angulatus (Spix & Agassiz, 1829) foi estudada em um lago de várzea da Amazônia Central para entender a influência das modificações hídricas sobre o tamanho dos indivíduos, a composição da dieta e a ingestão dos alimentos mesmo em condições de baixas concentrações de oxigênio. Na enchente predominam os indivíduos menores, enquanto que na cheia, vazante e seca os maiores. Houve mudança sazonal na composição da dieta que foi relacionada com a disponibilidade de alimentos no ambientena enchente os peixes ingerem principalmente insetos e zooplâncton; na cheia e vazante frutos e sementes, e na seca insetos. O consumo de alimento foi alto na enchente e cheia, decrescendo na vazante e atingindo as menores quantidades na seca. A atividade alimentar, no período estudado, não foi influenciada pelas baixas concentrações de oxigênio existentes no lago

Adverse Events and Safety of SARS-Cov2 Vaccines: What’s New and What’s Next

Just over one year following rollout of the first vaccines for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), 572 million doses have been administered in the United States. Comparatively to the number of vaccines administered, adverse effects such as anaphylaxis have been rare, and seemingly, the more serious the effect, the rarer the occurrence. Despite these adverse effects, there are few, if any, true contraindications to COVID-19 vaccination and most individuals recover without further sequelae. This review provides guidance for the allergist/immunologist regarding appropriate next steps based on patient’s known allergy history or adverse reaction after receipt of COVID-19 vaccine in order to assist in safe global immunization

Correlation Between Pre-annealing Temperature and {110}〈001〉 Annealing Texture in C- and Al-Free Fe-3 Pct Si-0.1 Pct Mn-0.002 Pct S Electrical Steel

In C- and Al-free electrical steel, the increase in primary grain size with increasing pre-annealing temperature causes the transition in annealing texture after final annealing from {110}?+?{100} to {110}. The strip pre-annealed at 1073?K (800?��C) shows a low magnetic induction B8(T) of 1.784?T after final annealing. The strip pre-annealed at 1223?K (950?��C) shows a sharp {110}��001�� Goss texture, producing a high magnetic induction B8(T) of 1.914?T comparable to that of the conventional electrical steels. ? 2017, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society and ASM International.11sciescopu

A case of coronavirus disease 2019 messenger RNA vaccine tolerance and immune response despite presence of anti-polyethylene glycol antibodies

The role of anti-polyethylene glycol (PEG) immunoglobulin (Ig)M, IgG, or IgE antibodies in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine anaphylaxis is unknown. We highlight a case with preexisting anti-PEG antibodies that tolerated vaccination. A 60-year-old woman with debilitating gout experienced HLA-B*58:01-restricted allopurinol drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic syndrome. After 2 years, following therapeutic failure with febuxostat, pegloticase was trialed. After 12 days from initial infusion, she developed angioedema and a diffuse erythematous pruritic rash. She self-treated with diphenhydramine, but symptoms persisted for 2 days. She then developed shortness of breath and throat constriction, requiring antihistamines and systemic steroids from an outside emergency department. She was later discharged with steroids, and symptoms resolved after 7 days. After 7 months, she had negative results from skin prick test (SPT) and intradermal test (IDT) to PEG3350. She was not tested to higher molecular weight PEG at this time. Of note, we detected anti-PEG IgG and IgE antibodies using a previously reported dual cytometric bead assay,1 which had been negative when assessed from biobanked plasma 2 months after the drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic syndrome episode (Table 1). The target beads for the assay used high-affinity murine anti-PEG monoclonal antibody-conjugated cytometric bead array beads conjugated with pegloticase as the target antigen.1 The control beads were conjugated with the same anti-PEG antibodies without pegloticase.1 The positive signal criterion is defined as “target beads MFI (median fluorescence intensity) more than or equal to 1.2 times control beads MFI” and “free PEG inhibition reduces more than or equal to 50% of target beads MFI.”