Flow Cytometry Assay for Quantitation of Therapeutical Anti-D IgG during Process Control in the Pharmaceutical Production

Individuals who do not possess the D antigen in their red blood cells generate Anti-D antibodies against an antigenic challenge. Prophylaxis with Anti-D immunoglobulin prevents sensitization. The determination of adequate doses of Anti-D in plasma and pharmaceutical products is carried out by radio immuno assay (RIA) and enzyme immuno assay (EIA) or hemagglutination. An in house technique was developed for the quantitation of Anti-D antibodies, as an alternative test to the reference method. It was specific and with good recovery and did not present false positives or autoagglutination. The dose-response curve (mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) versus logarithm of concentration (log C)) was linear (correlation coefficient of 0.99). The method was validated following the criteria of the NIBSC (National Institute of Biological Standards and Control) and the European Pharmacopoeia. Flow cytometry allowed obtaining accurate, precise, sensitive and specific determinations at different concentrations in different biological matrices. The method can be used in highly diluted samples, has a strong fluorescence signal, is simple, fast, reliable and of relatively low cost. Flow cytometry is more efficient than hemagglutination and easier than RIA. With similar security and efficiency standards, it is cheaper than EIA an RIA. This method as a more suitable choice

Variation of input-output properties along the somatodendritic axis of pyramidal neurons

The firing evoked by injection of simulated barrages of EPSCs into the proximal dendrite of layer 5 pyramidal neurons is greater than when comparable inputs are injected into the soma. This boosting is mediated by dendritic Na+ conductances. However, the presence of other active conductances in the dendrites, some of which are nonuniformly distributed, suggests that the degree of boosting may differ along the somatodendritic axis. Here, we injected EPSC barrages at the soma and at the proximal, middle, and distal segments of the apical dendrite and measured boosting of subthreshold and suprathreshold responses. We found that although boosting was maintained throughout the apical dendrite, the degree of boosting changed nonmonotonically with distance from the soma. Boosting dipped in the middle dendritic segments as a result of the deactivation of the hyperpolarization-activated cation current, I-h, but increased in the distal dendrites as a result of the activation of Ca2+ conductances. In the distal dendrites, EPSC barrages evoked repetitive bursts of action potentials, and the bursting pattern changed systematically with the magnitude of the input barrages. The quantitative changes in boosting along the somatodendritic axis suggest that inputs from different classes of presynaptic cells are weighted differently, depending on the location of the synaptic contacts. Moreover, the tight coupling between burst characteristics and stimulus parameters indicate that the distal dendrites can support a coding scheme that is different from that at sites closer to the soma, consistent with the notion of a separate dendritic integration site

Localization and extinction of bacterial populations under inhomogeneous growth conditions

The transition from localized to systemic spreading of bacteria, viruses and other agents is a fundamental problem that spans medicine, ecology, biology and agriculture science. We have conducted experiments and simulations in a simple one-dimensional system to determine the spreading of bacterial populations that occurs for an inhomogeneous environment under the influence of external convection. Our system consists of a long channel with growth inhibited by uniform UV illumination except in a small ``oasis'', which is shielded from the UV light. To mimic blood flow or other flow past a localized infection, the oasis is moved with a constant velocity through the UV-illuminated ``desert''. The experiments are modeled with a convective reaction-diffusion equation. In both the experiment and model, localized or extinct populations are found to develop, depending on conditions, from an initially localized population. The model also yields states where the population grows everywhere. Further, the model reveals that the transitions between localized, extended, and extinct states are continuous and non-hysteretic. However, it does not capture the oscillations of the localized population that are observed in the experiment.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figure

Phase-dependent exciton transport and energy harvesting from thermal environments

Non-Markovian effects in the evolution of open quantum systems have recently attracted widespread interest, particularly in the context of assessing the efficiency of energy and charge transfer in nanoscale biomolecular networks and quantum technologies. With the aid of many-body simulation methods, we uncover and analyse an ultrafast environmental process that causes energy relaxation in the reduced system to depend explicitly on the phase relation of the initial state preparation. Remarkably, for particular phases and system parameters, the net energy flow is uphill, transiently violating the principle of detailed balance, and implying that energy is spontaneously taken up from the environment. A theoretical analysis reveals that non-secular contributions, significant only within the environmental correlation time, underlie this effect. This suggests that environmental energy harvesting will be observable across a wide range of coupled quantum systems.Comment: 5 + 4 pages, 3 + 2 figures. Comments welcom

Administración y Gestión de la Calidad Total en la Farmacia Oficinal: "Evaluación preliminar del plan desarrollado". (Parte 2)

To speak of quality pre-supposes that it is both appropriate and possible to verify the distinguishing elements orattributes that are characteristic of an object or entity. The consideration of Quality in pharmaceutical services, impliesthat the service provided fully fulfils the expectations of those using the service.In this report the preliminary results of the first stages of the application of the Quality Scheme and its impact on thegrowth of pharmaceutical service are considered.From the results obtained it became apparent that a successful outcome of the scheme depends upon the consolidationof the pharmacist - patient/client relationship. This factor was found to be of prime importance and was considered asa central element in the process of pharmaceutical care, within the concept of total quality.On the other hand, the analysis of the results of the bookkeeping records (not given in this report), shows that as aconsequence of the management scheme and the planning of the strategic processes of the service, greater efficiency inthe management of financial resources and a restriction on costs had been achieved.In summary, the application of the quality scheme produced an increase in profits, as a direct consequence of thereduction of costs related to non-quality activities (poor attention given to the patient, lack of information, high numberof returned expired drugs, etc.) and an increase in productivity associated with drug dispensing and good pharmaceuticalattention practices.Finally, it may be stated that our hypothesis was correct and that the development of quality and its pursuance go handin hand with the development and professional advancement within the ethical framework of the provision of a service.Hablar de calidad presupone que es oportuno y posible la verificación de las características o atributos que sonpropios de un objeto o entidad. Cuando planteamos la Calidad en un servicio de farmacia estamos diciendo que estecumple plenamente con las expectativas de quién se asiste por él.En este reporte acercamos los resultados preliminares de la primera etapa de aplicación del Plan de Calidad y suimpacto en el crecimiento del servicio farmacéutico.Del análisis de los resultados obtenidos se desprende que para el éxito definitivo del plan, es de suma importanciala consolidación de la relación Farmacéutico – Paciente/usuario como elemento central del proceso de atenciónfarmacéutica dentro de un concepto de calidad total.Por otra parte, el análisis de los resultados contables (no expuestos en este trabajo) ponen de manifiesto el logrode la eficiencia en el manejo de los recursos financieros y en la contención de costos, como consecuencia del plan degestión y el planeamiento de los procesos estratégicos del servicio.En resumen, desde la aplicación del plan de calidad, se produjo un incremento de las ganancias, como consecuenciadirecta de la reducción de costos relacionados con acciones de no calidad (mala atención al paciente, falta deinformación, elevado número de devoluciones de medicamentos por vencimiento, etc.) y por un aumento de laproductividad asociada a la dispensa del medicamento y a las buenas prácticas de atención farmacéutica.Finalmente podemos decir que nuestra hipótesis se cumple y que el desarrollo de la calidad y su búsqueda estánunidos al desarrollo y crecimiento profesional en un marco ético y de servicio