Assessment of Cytomegalovirus-Specific Cell-Mediated Immunity for the Prediction of Cytomegalovirus Disease in High-Risk Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients: A Multicenter Cohort Study

In high-risk solid-organ transplant recipients receiving antiviral prophylaxis, the measurement of specific cell-mediated immunity using the Quantiferon assay appropriately stratified the individual risk of developing subsequent cytomegalovirus diseas

Defect structures in nematic liquid crystals around charged particles

We numerically study the orientation deformations in nematic liquid crystals around charged particles. We set up a Ginzburg-Landau theory with inhomogeneous electric field. If the dielectric anisotropy varepsilon_1 is positive, Saturn ring defects are formed around the particles. For varepsilon_1<0, novel "ansa" defects appear, which are disclination lines with their ends on the particle surface. We find unique defect structures around two charged particles. To lower the free energy, oppositely charged particle pairs tend to be aligned in the parallel direction for varepsilon_1>0 and in the perpendicular plane for varepsilon_1<0 with respect to the background director . For identically charged pairs the preferred directions for varepsilon_1>0 and varepsilon_1<0 are exchanged. We also examie competition between the charge-induced anchoring and the short-range anchoring. If the short-range anchoring is sufficiently strong, it can be effective in the vicinity of the surface, while the director orientation is governed by the long-range electrostatic interaction far from the surface.Comment: 10 papes, 12 figures, to appear in European Physical Journal

Cluster architecture of old, neglected Croatian grapevine varieties (Vitis vinifera L.)

Grape cluster architecture is an important trait affecting fruit composition and yield. Damage caused by gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) is directly related to cluster density and some other environmental factors. The aim of this study was to quantify characteristics of fully mature clusters of eleven old Croatian grapevine varieties (Vitis vinifera L.) which so far have not been phenotypically described in detail, and to examine Botrytis cinerea disease severity on their grapes under field conditions. Eight variables that describe the appearance of clusters were quantified in three consecutive years including cluster weight, length, width, volume, compactness, rachis weight, number of berries and single berry weight. Two-factor analysis of variance provided estimates of varietal and annual differences. Significant differences among eleven old Croatian varieties for all cluster traits were determined. Results suggest diverse cluster morphology within the old Croatian varieties revealing three variety groups by PCA analysis and their varying degrees of sensitivity to Botrytis. These phenotypic data on cluster structure represent a basis for future research, such as QTL analysis or assessment of productivity of these varieties

Aggressive fibromatosis of the head and neck: a new classification based on a literature review over 40 years (1968-2008)

BACKGROUND: Fibromatosis is an aggressive fibrous tumor of unknown etiology that is, in some cases, lethal. Until now, there has been no particular classification for the head and neck. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to review the current literature in order to propose a new classification for future studies. METHODS: An evidence-based literature review was conducted from the last 40 years regarding aggressive fibromatosis in the head and neck. Studies that summarized patients' data without including individual data were excluded. RESULTS: Between 1968 and 2008, 179 cases with aggressive fibromatosis of the head and neck were published. The male to female ratio was 91 to 82 with a mean age of 16.87 years, and 57.32% of the described cases that involved the head and neck were found in patients under 11 years. The most common localization was the mandible, followed by the neck. All together, 143 patients were followed up, and in 43 (30.07%), a recurrence was seen. CONCLUSION: No clear prognostic factors for recurrence (age, sex, or localization) were observed. A new classification with regard to hormone receptors and bone involvement could improve the understanding of risk factors and thereby assist in future studies

Extraperitoneal urine leak after renal transplantation: the role of radionuclide imaging and the value of accompanying SPECT/CT - a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The differentiation of the nature of a fluid collection as a complication of kidney transplantation is important for management and treatment planning. Early and delayed radionuclide renography can play an important role in the evaluation of a urine leak. However, it is sometimes limited in the evaluation of the exact location and extent of a urine leak.</p> <p>Case Presentation</p> <p>A 71-year-old male who had sudden anuria, scrotal swelling and elevated creatinine level after cadaveric renal transplantation performed Tc-99 m MAG3 renography to evaluate the renal function, followed by an ultrasound which was unremarkable. An extensive urine leak was evident on the planar images. However, an exact location of the urine leak was unknown. Accompanying SPECT/CT images confirmed a urine leak extending from the lower aspect of the transplant kidney to the floor of the pelvic cavity, presacral region and the scrotum via right inguinal canal as well as to the right abdominal wall.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Renal scintigraphy is very useful to detect a urine leak after renal transplantation. However, planar imaging is sometimes limited in evaluating the anatomical location and extent of a urine leak accurately. In that case accompanying SPECT/CT images are very helpful and valuable to evaluate the anatomical relationships exactly.</p

CMV infection of liver transplant recipients: comparison of antigenemia and molecular biology assays

BACKGROUND: CMV is a major clinical problem in transplant recipients. Thus, it is important to use sensitive and specific diagnostic techniques to rapidly and accurately detect CMV infection and identify patients at risk of developing CMV disease. In the present study, CMV infection after liver transplantation was monitored retrospectively by two molecular biology assays - a quantitative PCR assay and a qualitative NASBA assay. The results were compared with those obtained by prospective pp65 antigenemia determinations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 87 consecutive samples from 10 liver transplanted patients were tested for CMV by pp65 antigenemia, and CMV monitor and NASBA pp67 mRNA assay. RESULTS: CMV infection was detected in all patients by antigenemia and CMV monitor, whereas NASBA assay identified only 8/10 patients with viremia. Furthermore, CMV infection was never detected earlier by molecular biology assays than by antigenemia. Only 5/10 patients with CMV infection developed CMV disease. Using a cut off value of 8 cells/50,000, antigenemia was found to be the assay that better identified patients at risk of developing CMV disease. However, the kinetics of the onset of infection detected by NASBA and CMV monitor seemed to have better identified patients at risk of developing CMV disease. Furthermore, before onset of disease, CMV pp67 mRNA was found to have similar or better negative and positive predictive values for the development of CMV disease. CONCLUSIONS: The present data, suggests that the concomitant use of antigenemia and pp67 mRNA assay gives the best identification of patients at risk of developing CMV disease

Evaluation of the Effect of a Combined Chemical and Thermal Modification of Wood though the Use of Bicine and Tricine

The effects of thermal modification of wood have been well established, particularly in terms of reductions in mechanical performance. In recent years, there has been an increase in studies related to the Maillard reaction. More commonly associated with food chemistry, it involves the reaction of amines and reducing sugars during cooking procedures. This study has attempted to combine the use of amines and thermal modification, with subsequent properties investigated for the treatment of spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). In this initial study, the combined effects of chemical treatments by tricine and bicine were investigated with thermal modification. Along with some preliminary data on mechanical properties, the modifications which appeared in the wood structure were evaluated by infrared spectroscopy and biological studies according to EN113 and EN117 methodologies. The hierarchal study interpretation of FTIR suggested interactions between the bicine or tricine and the wood, which was partly supported by the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOC), though other tests were not as conclusive. The potential of the method warrants further consideration, which will be described