Use and abuse of the quasi-steady-state approximation

The transient kinetic behaviour of an open single enzyme, single substrate reaction is examined. The reaction follows the Van Slyke–Cullen mechanism, a spacial case of the Michaelis–Menten reaction. The analysis is performed both with and without applying the quasi-steady-state approximation. The analysis of the full system shows conditions for biochemical pathway coupling, which yield sustained oscillatory behaviour in the enzyme reaction. The reduced model does not demonstrate this behaviour. The results have important implications in the analysis of open biochemical reactions and the modelling of metabolic systems

Materiales activados alcalinamente a base de residuos de vidrio y escoria para aislamiento térmico y acústico

Porous alkali activated materials (AAM), can be obtained from waste glass powder and slag mixtures by alkali activation with NaOH solution. To obtain an adequate porous microstructure, the hardened AAM pastes were thermally treated at temperatures ranging between 900°C and 1000°C, for 60 or 30 minutes. Due to the intumescent behaviour specific for this type of materials, an important increase of the volume and porosity occurs during the thermal treatment. The partial substitution of waste glass powder with slag, determines the increase of compressive strength assessed before (up to 37 MPa) and after (around 10 MPa) thermal treatment; the increase of slag dosage also determines the increase of the activation temperature of the intumescent process (above 950°C). The high porosity and the specific microstructure (closed pores with various shapes and sizes) of these materials recommend them to be utilised as thermal and acoustical insulation materials.Los materiales activados alcalinamente porosos (AAM) se pueden obtener a base de polvo de residuos de vidrio y mezclas de escoria mediante activación alcalina con una solución de hidróxido de sodio (NaOH). Para obtener una microestructura porosa adecuada, las pastas de AAM endurecidas se trataron térmicamente a temperaturas que oscilan entre 900°C y 1000°C durante 60 o 30 minutos. Debido al comportamiento intumescente específico de este tipo de material, se produce un aumento significativo en el volumen y la porosidad durante el tratamiento térmico. La sustitución parcial del polvo de residuos de vidrio por escoria conlleva un aumento en las resistencias a compresión previamente evaluadas (hasta 37 MPa) y después (aproximadamente 10 MPa) del tratamiento térmico; el aumento de la dosis de escoria también determina el aumento de la temperatura de activación del proceso intumescente (por encima de 950°C). La alta porosidad y la microestructura específica de estos materiales recomiendan que se utilicen como materiales de aislamiento térmico y acústico

Effects of Renal Sympathetic Denervation on 24-hour Blood Pressure Variability

Background: In patients with arterial hypertension, increased blood pressure (BP) variability contributes to end organ damage independently from mean levels of arterial BP. Increased BP variability has been linked to alterations in autonomic function including sympathetic overdrive. We hypothesized that catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) confers beneficial effects on BP variability. Methods and Results: Eleven consecutive patients with therapy-refractory arterial hypertension (age 68.9 ± 7.0 years; baseline systolic BP 189 ± 23 mmHg despite medication with 5.6 ± 2.1 antihypertensive drugs) underwent bilateral RDN. Twenty-four hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) was performed before RDN and 6 months thereafter. BP variability was primarily assessed by means of standard deviation of 24-h systolic arterial BP (SDsys). Secondary measures of BP variability were maximum systolic BP (MAXsys) and maximum difference between two consecutive readings of systolic BP (Δmaxsys) over 24 h. Six months after RDN, SDsys, MAXsys, and Δmaxsys were significantly reduced from 16.9 ± 4.6 to 13.5 ± 2.5 mmHg (p = 0.003), from 190 ± 22 to 172 ± 20 mmHg (p < 0.001), and from 40 ± 15 to 28 ± 7 mmHg (p = 0.006), respectively, without changes in concomitant antihypertensive therapy. Reductions of SDsys, MAXsys, and Δmaxsys were observed in 10/11 (90.9%), 11/11 (100%), and 9/11 (81.8%) patients, respectively. Although we noted a significant reduction of systolic office BP by 30.4 ± 27.7 mmHg (p = 0.007), there was only a trend in reduction of average systolic BP assessed from ABPM (149 ± 19 to 142 ± 18 mmHg; p = 0.086). Conclusion: In patients with therapy-refractory arterial hypertension, RDN leads to significant reductions of BP variability. Effects of RDN on BP variability over 24 h were more pronounced than on average levels of BP

Deep remineralization method used in initial caries lesions treatment

Summary In the clinical study were evaluated 30 pacientes having 72 initial caries lesions who were splited in 3 groups (first group included pacientes with lesions treated using deep remineralization method, the second group pacientes having lesions treated using clasical fluorization and the third group pacientes who did not received any treatment for the caries lesions). The results have demonstrated higher efficiency of deep fluorization method when compare with the clasical fluorization. Good effects of this therapy were obtained both in depth and in width of the caries lesions. An important advantage of this method consisted in a long time remineralization and a deep remineralization of the caries defect.Rezumat Cercetările clinice realizate pe 30 pacienţi, respectiv 86 leziuni carioase incipiente repartizate pe 3 loturi (lot 1 tratament prin remineralizare profundă, lot 2 tratament prin fluorizare clasică, lot 3-Martor, care nu a fost supus nici unui tratament de fluorizare, decât că au fost aplicate măsuri de îndepărtare a factorilor etiologici). S-a demonstrat eficacitatea net superioară a metodei de remineralizare profundă instituită în leziunile carioase incipiente, obţinându-se astfel un efect terapeutic mai bun atât în profunzime cât şi în suprafaţa acestuia. Un alt avantaj major este obţinerea unui efect remineralizant de mai lungă durată şi o remineralizare a focarului până în profunzimea defectului

Clinical study to evaluate the factors involved in the evolution of the halitosis in a group of students

Halitoza este o problemă medico-socială universală, în toate comunităţile şi se referă la mirosul neplăcut care se emană din cavitatea orală. Obiectivele acestui studiu sunt: de a investiga prevalenţa halitozei evaluându-se prin mijloace clinice, paraclinice şi printr-un screening tip anchetă a prezenţei halitozei, a factorilor cauzali implicaţi: patologia cavităţii orale asociate, cum ar fi cariile dentare şi boala parodontală, practicile de igienă orală, şi bolile generale implicate, în rândul unui eşantion de studenţi de la Facultatea de Medicină Dentară UMF Gr.T. Popa. Analiza rezultatelor obţinute cu stabilitatea corespondenţei dintre percepţia propriei halitoze şi a măsurilor de igienă orală efectuate de participanţii la studiu. Caracteristicile şi etiologia respiraţiei urât mirositoare s-au analizat pe un grup de 176 de studenţi, anul III-IV de la facultatea de Medicină Dentară, care au fost supuşi unei evaluări: printr-un chestionar standard şi un examen clinic odonto-parodontal complet, inclusiv a unui examen paraclinic cu un dispozitiv portabil (Detector de halenă ), stabilindu-se punctajele organoleptice măsurate.Halitosis is a universal medical and social problem in all communities and refers to the bad odor that emanates from the oral cavity. The objectives of this study are: to investigate the prevalence of the Halitosis by clinical and laboratory methods, to determine the causal factors involved: oral cavity associated pathology such as dental caries and periodontal disease, oral hygiene practices, and general diseases involved among a sample of students from the Faculty of Dental Gr. T. Popa. Stability analysis results obtained with the correspondence between their perception of halitosis and oral hygiene measures by survey participants. Characteristics and etiology of bad breath were analyzed in a group of 176 students. They were subjected to an assessment: through a standard questionnaire and a clinical examination including a paraclinical examination with a portable device (Halitosis Detector)

Espon-Interstrat. Espon in Integrated Territorial Strategies.

The INTERSTRAT project’s overall aim is “to encourage and facilitate the use of ESPON 2013 Programme findings in the creation and monitoring of Integrated Territorial Development Strategies (ITDS) and to support transnational learning about the actual and potential contribution of ESPON to integrated policy-making.” We defined integrated territorial development as ‘the process of shaping economic, social and environmental change through spatially sensitive policies and programmes’

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals ex vivo signatures of SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells through ‘reverse phenotyping’

Abstract The in vivo phenotypic profile of T cells reactive to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 antigens remains poorly understood. Conventional methods to detect antigen-reactive T cells require in vitro antigenic re-stimulation or highly individualized peptide-human leukocyte antigen (pHLA) multimers. Here, we use single-cell RNA sequencing to identify and profile SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. To do so, we induce transcriptional shifts by antigenic stimulation in vitro and take advantage of natural T cell receptor (TCR) sequences of clonally expanded T cells as barcodes for ‘reverse phenotyping’. This allows identification of SARS-CoV-2-reactive TCRs and reveals phenotypic effects introduced by antigen-specific stimulation. We characterize transcriptional signatures of currently and previously activated SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells, and show correspondence with phenotypes of T cells from the respiratory tract of patients with severe disease in the presence or absence of virus in independent cohorts. Reverse phenotyping is a powerful tool to provide an integrated insight into cellular states of SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells across tissues and activation states

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries