Variable-heavy (VH) families influencing IgA1&2 engagement to the antigen, FcαRI and superantigen proteins G, A, and L

Interest in IgA as an alternative antibody format has increased over the years with much remaining to be investigated in relation to interactions with immune cells. Considering the recent whole antibody investigations showing significant distal effects between the variable (V) and constant (C)- regions that can be mitigated by the hinge regions of both human IgA subtypes A1 and A2, we performed an in-depth mechanistic investigation using a panel of 28 IgA1s and A2s of both Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab models. FcαRI binding were found to be mitigated by the differing glycosylation patterns in IgA1 and 2 with contributions from the CDRs. On their interactions with antigen-Her2 and superantigens PpL, SpG and SpA, PpL was found to sterically hinder Her2 antigen binding with unexpected findings of IgAs binding SpG at the CH2-3 region alongside SpA interacting with IgAs at the CH1. Although the VH3 framework (FWR) is commonly used in CDR grafting, we found the VH1 framework (FWR) to be a possible alternative when grafting IgA1 and 2 owing to its stronger binding to antigen Her2 and weaker interactions to superantigen Protein L and A. These findings lay the foundation to understanding the interactions between IgAs and microbial superantigens, and also guide the engineering of IgAs for future antibody applications and targeting of superantigen-producing microbes

Complications and outcomes of tubeless versus nephrostomy tube in percutaneous nephrolithotomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

We aimed to perform a systematic review of randomized trials to summarize the evidence on the safety and stone-free rate after Tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) (ureteral stent/catheter, no nephrostomy) compared to Standard PCNL (nephrostomy, with/without ureteral stent/catheter) to evaluate if the tubeless approach is better. The inverse variance of the mean difference with a random effect, 95% Confidence Interval (CI), and p values was used for continuous variables. Categorical variables were assessed using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method with the random effect model, and reported as Risk Ratio (RR), 95% CI, and p values. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 and a 95% CI. 26 studies were included. Mean operative time was significantly shorter in the Tubeless group (MD-5.18 min, 95% CI - 6.56, - 3.80, p < 0.00001). Mean postoperative length of stay was also significantly shorter in the Tubeless group (MD-1.10 day, 95% CI - 1.48, - 0.71, p < 0.00001). Incidence of blood transfusion, angioembolization for bleeding control, pain score at the first postoperative day, the number of patients requiring postoperative pain medication, fever, urinary infections, sepsis, perirenal fluid collection, pleural breach, hospital readmission, and SFR did not differ between the two groups. Incidence of postoperative urinary fistula was significantly lower in the Tubeless group (RR 0.18, 95% CI 0.07, 0.47, p = 0.0005). This systematic review shows that tubeless PCNL can be safely performed and the standout benefits are shorter operative time and hospital stay, and a lower rate of postoperative urinary fistula.Universita Politecnica delle Marche within the CRUI-CARE Agreemen

Il sud-est asiatico nell'anno del serpente. Rapporto 1989 sulla situazione sociale, politica ed economica dell'area

Approfondito rapporto sulla situazione politica ed economica del sud-est asiatico e dei paesi componenti alle soglie degli anni Novanta.- Indice #7- Presentazione #11- Introduzione, Ng Chee Yuen #13- La regione #17- Il Sud-est asiatico nel 1988: presagi del futuro, Stephen Chee #19- Le economie di mercato del Sud-est asiatico, Norbert Wagner #69- Il ruolo del Giappone in un universo emergente: i paesi asiatici del Pacifico, Sueo Sudo #89- Tendenze dell'attività bancaria e finanziaria nei paesi dell'ASEAN, U Tun Wai #111- Birmania #141- La Birmania nel 1988: la «perestroika» dal volto militare, James F. Guyot #143- Brunei #181- Il Brunei Darussalam nel 1988: continuità e tradizione, Abu Bakar Hamzah #183- Cambogia #203- Cambogia: alla ricerca di una soluzione politica, Friedemann Bartu #205- Filippine #223- Le Lilippine nel 1988: il difficile cammino verso la ripresa, Alberto llano #225- Le Lilippine: gestire la riforma in una nuova democrazia, Mario Antonio Lopez #247- Indonesia #267- Una presenza più attiva per l'Indonesia, Jon Halldorsson #269- Indonesia 1988: l'esperimento democratico fa progressi?, J. Soedjati Djiwandono #295- Laos #313- Riforma economica e trasformazione strutturale nel Laos, William Worner #315- Malaysia #345- La Malaysia nel 1988: un sistema politico in frantumi, Stephen Chee #347- La svolta economica in Malaysia, Mohd. Ismail Ahmad #387- Singapore #403- Singapore nel 1988: il sistema politico matura in un clima incerto, Lew Eng Fee #405- L'economia post-recessiva di Singapore nel 1988: andamento e prospettive, Toh Mun Heng #435- Tailandia #459- Fine della «premocracy» in Tailandia, Yos Santasombat #461- Tailandia: Miss Universo 1988, Pasuk Phongpachit #487- Vietnam #505- Il Vietnam nel 1988: una rivoluzione in transizione, William Duiker #50

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals &lt;1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

A Runtime Reconfigurable Implementation of the GSAT Algorithm

. Boolean satisfiability (SAT) problems are an important subset of constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs) which have application in such areas as computer aided design, computer vision, planning, resource allocation and temporal reasoning. In this paper we describe an implementation of an incomplete heuristic search algorithm called GSAT to solve 3--SAT problems. In contrast to other approaches, our design is runtime configurable. The input to this system is a 3--SAT problem from which a software program directly generates a problem--specific configuration which can be directly downloaded to a Xilinx XC6216, avoiding the need for resynthesis, placement and routing for different constraints. We envisage that such systems could be used in hardware based real time constraint solving systems. 1 Introduction A constraint satisfaction problem (CSP) is a problem with a finite set of variables. These variables can take values within a certain finite domain subject to a set of constraints whi..

Vascularized Mastoid Bone Flap Cranioplasty after Translabyrinthine Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery

Objective: We describe a novel technique of cranioplasty using a vascularized mastoid bone flap in patients after translabyrinthine excision of vestibular schwannomas (VS). Postoperative outcomes in terms of pinna and postauricular deformity are evaluated. Study Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Results: Seventeen patients underwent cranioplasty with bone flap after translabyrinthine VS excision. At minimum follow-up of 12 months, none had a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. The measured pinna projections between the operated and non-operated sides had a mean difference of 0.80 mm (±1.70), which is not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The mean depth of the postauricular depressions was 1.38 mm (±0.93). Over the same period, 10 patients underwent translabyrinthine VS surgery without cranioplasty. In this group, there was a significant difference of 4.71 mm (±1.53) in mean pinna underprojections on the operated sides compared with the non-operated sides. Compared with patients who have undergone cranioplasty, the retroauricular depressions were significantly deeper (p < 0.05) with a mean depth of 2.92 mm (±1.21). Conclusions: Vascularized mastoid cortical bone flap cranioplasty is a simple and effective technique to ameliorate the pinna and retroauricular deformities after translabyrinthine VS excision without increased surgical cost or the use of alloplastic materials

The functional impact of implantable hearing devices in patients with single-sided deafness

Introduction Single-sided deafness (SSD) is associated with significant functional impairment such as listening speech in noise and localizing sound. To date, studies on the efficacy of CI and BCI for single-sided deafness are conflicting. Objective Thus, the objective of our study was to describe and compare the functional outcomes between these devices. Methods Thirteen subjects with SSD were prospectively recruited for our study. Six underwent CI and seven received BCI. Word recognition scores (WRS) and disease specific outcome measures were obtained pre-implantation, at 6, and 12 months. Results WRS improved both in quiet and in noise for CI and BCI recipients. On the contrary, CI recipients displayed improvement in Speech Spatial Quality (SSQ) scores. A decreasing trend of improvement in APHAB scores were observed for the BCI group. Conclusion BCI recipients showed a significant improvement in WRS (in noise). Conversely, CI recipients showed a great improvement in SSQ scores. These preliminary findings suggest that true binaural hearing can only be restored with CI for better SSQ performance. However, BCIs could be recommended to a sub-group of patients, if listening to speech in noise is a priority