Specific Antibodies to Recombinant Allergens of \u3cem\u3eAspergillus fumigatus\u3c/em\u3e in Cystic Fibrosis Patients with ABPA

Background Aspergillus fumigatus, a widely distributed fungus, has been implicated in causing life threatening infections as well as severe asthma and allergic diseases in man. Allergic affliction like allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a disabling lung disease frequently seen in patients with asthma and cystic fibrosis. Immunodiagnosis of the former is comparatively easier due to the availability of purified antigens and sensitive methods. However, this is not true with cystic fibrosis patients where the prevalence of ABPA is fairly high and the morbidity and mortality are significant. Methods In the present study, we have evaluated purified recombinant allergens from A. fumigatus, namely Asp f 1, f 2, f 3, f 4, and f 6 using ELISA and a semi-automated method (ImmunoCAP). We studied 17 patients each from cystic fibrosis with ABPA, and cystic fibrosis with asthma, 22 cystic fibrosis with no ABPA or asthma, and 11 age matched controls. Results The results indicate that no antigen, antibody or method is capable of differentiating cystic fibrosis (CF) with ABPA from other CF patients, although some allergens showed strong reaction or showed more prevalence among the patients studied. Conclusion When results of several allergens such as Asp f 1, f 2, f 3, f 4, and f 6 in their binding to IgA, IgG, and IgE antibodies were analyzed, a more strong discrimination of CF patients with ABPA was possible from the other groups studied

Isotropy, shear, symmetry and exact solutions for relativistic fluid spheres

The symmetry method is used to derive solutions of Einstein's equations for fluid spheres using an isotropic metric and a velocity four vector that is non-comoving. Initially the Lie, classical approach is used to review and provide a connecting framework for many comoving and so shear free solutions. This provides the basis for the derivation of the classical point symmetries for the more general and mathematicaly less tractable description of Einstein's equations in the non-comoving frame. Although the range of symmetries is restrictive, existing and new symmetry solutions with non-zero shear are derived. The range is then extended using the non-classical direct symmetry approach of Clarkson and Kruskal and so additional new solutions with non-zero shear are also presented. The kinematics and pressure, energy density, mass function of these solutions are determined.Comment: To appear in Classical and Quantum Gravit

Cancer Information Seeking Preferences among health professionals serving American Indians in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin

This article identifies cancer information resources used by health professionals in tribal health departments or Indian Health Service clinics serving American Indian communities in Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota

IL-4 alpha chain receptor (IL-4Rα) polymorphisms in allergic bronchopulmonary sspergillosis

BACKGROUND: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis occurs in 7–10% of cystic fibrosis (CF) and 1–2% of asthmatic patients. HLA-DR restriction and increased sensitivity to IL-4 stimulation have been proposed as risk factors in these populations. OBJECTIVE: We examined for the presence of IL-4 receptor alpha chain (IL-4Rα) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ABPA and whether these accounted for increased sensitivity to IL-4 stimulation. METHODS: One extracellular (ile75val) and four cytoplasmic IL-4Rα SNPs were analyzed in 40 CF and 22 asthmatic patients and in 56 non-ABPA CF and asthmatic patients. Sensitivity to IL-4 stimulation was measured by induction of CD23 expression on B cells. RESULTS: IL-4Rα SNPs were observed in 95% of ABPA patients. The predominant IL-4Rα SNP was the extracellular IL-4Rα SNP, ile75val, observed in 80% of ABPA patients. CONCLUSION: The presence of IL-4Rα SNPs, principally ile75val, appears to be a genetic risk for the development of ABPA

The Stability of an Isentropic Model for a Gaseous Relativistic Star

We show that the isentropic subclass of Buchdahl's exact solution for a gaseous relativistic star is stable and gravitationally bound for all values of the compactness ratio $u [\equiv (M/R)$, where $M$ is the total mass and $R$ is the radius of the configuration in geometrized units] in the range, $0 < u \leq 0.20$, corresponding to the {\em regular} behaviour of the solution. This result is in agreement with the expectation and opposite to the earlier claim found in the literature.Comment: 9 pages (including 1 table); accepted for publication in GR

The influence of Mn on the tensile properties of SSM-HPDC A1-Cu-Mg-Ag alloy A201

Synopsis: A201 aluminium alloy is a high strength casting alloy with a nominal composition of Al-4.6Cu-0.3Mg-0.6Ag. It is strengthened by the Ω(Al2Cu) phase and the θ’(Al2Cu) phase during heat treatment. Further strengthening of this alloy system can be obtained through the addition of transition elements, but care must be taken as other elements might have adverse effects on the mechanical properties. The objective of this study is to determine the influence of Mn on the tensile properties of rheo-processed Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloy A201. ThermoCalc software was used to predict the different phases that can be expected in the alloys, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was used to investigate the actual phases that formed. The influence of these phases on tensile properties is quantified. SEM and ThermoCalc revealed that there is an increased amount of the Al20Cu2Mn3 with increasing Mn. The tensile properties showed that high amounts of Mn do have adverse effects on the tensile properties of alloy A201, especially the ductility

Invariant construction of solutions to Einstein's field equations - LRS perfect fluids II

The properties of LRS class II perfect fluid space-times are analyzed using the description of geometries in terms of the Riemann tensor and a finite number of its covariant derivatives. In this manner it is straightforward to obtain the plane and hyperbolic analogues to the spherical symmetric case. For spherically symmetric static models the set of equations is reduced to the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equation only. Some new non-stationary and inhomogeneous solutions with shear, expansion, and acceleration of the fluid are presented. Among these are a class of temporally self-similar solutions with equation of state given by $p=(\gamma-1)\mu, 1<\gamma<2$, and a class of solutions characterized by $\sigma=-\Theta/6$. We give an example of geometry where the Riemann tensor and the Ricci rotation coefficients are not sufficient to give a complete description of the geometry. Using an extension of the method, we find the full metric in terms of curvature quantities.Comment: 24 pages, 1 figur

N‐Substituted Nipecotic Acids as (S )‐SNAP‐5114 Analogues with Modified Lipophilic Domains

Potential mGAT4 inhibitors derived from the lead substance (S )‐SNAP‐5114 have been synthesized and characterized for their inhibitory potency. Variations from the parent compound included the substitution of one of its aromatic 4‐methoxy and 4‐methoxyphenyl groups, respectively, with a more polar moiety, including a carboxylic acid, alcohol, nitrile, carboxamide, sulfonamide, aldehyde or ketone function, or amino acid partial structures. Furthermore, it was investigated how the substitution of more than one of the aromatic 4‐methoxy groups affects the potency and selectivity of the resulting compounds. Among the synthesized test substances (S )‐1‐{2‐[(4‐formylphenyl)bis(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐methoxy]ethyl}piperidine‐3‐carboxylic acid, that features a carbaldehyde function in place of one of the aromatic 4‐methoxy moieties of (S )‐SNAP‐5114, was found to have a pIC50 value of 5.89±0.07, hence constituting a slightly more potent mGAT4 inhibitor than the parent substance while showing comparable subtype selectivity

Contrasting Neogene–Quaternary continental margin evolution offshore mid-north Norway: Implications for source-to-sink systems

The Neogene–Quaternary development of the ∼700 km long mid-Norwegian and Lofoten–Vesterålen continental margin is reconstructed using a dense grid of 2D seismic data and exploration wellbores. Overall, widespread ocean current-controlled contourite drifts built up along the whole margin segment from the mid-Miocene onwards (c. 11 Ma, Kai Formation). The onset (c. 8.8 Ma) of a large inner shelf progradation (Molo Formation) was, however, restricted to the southern part of the study area, the inner mid-Norwegian shelf. In the Quaternary (c. 2.7 Ma), grounded ice sheets repeatedly brought large sediment volumes (Naust Formation) to the shelf beyond the Molo Formation. A similar build-out is less pronounced further north, where contourite drift growth instead continued and resulted in build-up of the Lofoten and Vesterålen drifts. In contrast, the drifts of the southern part of the study area occur for the most part stratigraphically below, interbedded with and distal to the progradational Molo and Naust deposits. The study area exemplifies pronounced variability in Neogene–Quaternary continental margin growth. The wide and gently dipping mid-Norwegian margin facilitated coastal and shelf progradation related to fluvial and glacial processes, while the narrow and steep Lofoten–Vesterålen margin received little input from these sources although exposed to the same paleoclimate. Instead, erosion of canyons promoted downslope reworking across the slope and into the deep basins. This low sediment input is interpreted to be controlled by the alpine relief in the north resulting in a small source area and thus low fluvial and glacial sediment input. To the south, hinterland relief allowed for a much larger fluvial and later, glacial source area. Both margin segments were also influenced by contour currents throughout the studied period. We emphasize their importance for understanding the role of erosion and deposition in source-to-sink systems, and thus the need for these processes to be integrated within source-to-sink model