Cytomegalovirus replication kinetics in solid organ transplant recipients managed by preemptive therapy.

After allotransplantation, cytomegalovirus (CMV) may be transmitted from the donor organ, giving rise to primary infection in a CMV negative recipient or reinfection in one who is CMV positive. In addition, latent CMV may reactivate in a CMV positive recipient. In this study, serial blood samples from 689 kidney or liver transplant recipients were tested for CMV DNA by quantitative PCR. CMV was managed using preemptive antiviral therapy and no patient received antiviral prophylaxis. Dynamic and quantitative measures of viremia and treatment were assessed. Median peak viral load, duration of viremia and duration of treatment were highest during primary infection, followed by reinfection then reactivation. In patients who experienced a second episode of viremia, the viral replication rate was significantly slower than in the first episode. Our data provide a clear demonstration of the immune control of CMV in immunosuppressed patients and emphasize the effectiveness of the preemptive approach for prevention of CMV syndrome and end organ disease. Overall, our findings provide quantitative biomarkers which can be used in pharmacodynamic assessments of the ability of novel CMV vaccines or antiviral drugs to reduce or even interrupt such transmission

CTLA4CT60 gene polymorphism is not associated with differential susceptibility to pemphigus foliaceus

Pemphigus foliaceus is an organ-specific autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibodies against the extracellular region of desmoglein 1, a protein that mediates intercellular adhesion in desmosomes. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) is a key negative regulator of the T cell immune response, playing an important role in T cell homeostasis and maintenance of peripheral tolerance. Polymorphisms in the CTLA4 gene have been associated with autoimmune diseases and the functional CT60 single nucleotide polymorphism (rs3087243, also named 6230G > A) has been proposed to be a casual variant in several of these diseases. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether this polymorphism is associated with inter-individual variation in susceptibility to pemphigus foliaceus. The population sample in this case-control association study comprised 248 patient and 367 controls. We did not found a significant association of pemphigus foliaceus with the CT60 variants. We conclude that the CTLA4CT60 polymorphism is not an important factor for pemphigus foliaceus pathogenesis in the population analyzed

Properties and use of Moringa oleifera biodiesel and diesel fuel blends in a multi-cylinder diesel engine

Researchers have recently attempted to discover alternative energy sources that are accessible, technically viable, economically feasible, and environmentally acceptable. This study aims to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of Moringa oleifera biodiesel and its 10% and 20% by-volume blends (B10 and B20) in comparison with diesel fuel (B0). The performance and emission of M. oleifera biodiesel and its blends in a multi-cylinder diesel engine were determined at various speeds and full load conditions. The properties of M. oleifera biodiesel and its blends complied with ASTM D6751 standards. Over the entire range of speeds, B10 and B20 fuels reduced brake power and increased brake specific fuel consumption compared with B0. In engine emissions, B10 and B20 fuels reduced carbon monoxide emission by 10.60% and 22.93% as well as hydrocarbon emission by 9.21% and 23.68%, but slightly increased nitric oxide emission by 8.46% and 18.56%, respectively, compared with B0. Therefore, M. oleifera is a potential feedstock for biodiesel production, and its blends B10 and B20 can be used as diesel fuel substitutes

Pancreas allograft thrombosis following intravenous immunoglobulin administration to treat parvovirus B19 infection.

Pancreas graft thrombosis is one of the commonest non-immunological causes for early graft loss after transplantation. This case report describes a patient who developed graft thrombosis after intravenous immunoglobulin administration to treat acute parvovirus B19 infection. The potential role of hypercoagulability in graft thrombosis and the implications for immunoglobulin therapy in transplant patients with hypercoagulable states is discussed

Properties and use of Moringa oleifera biodiesel and diesel fuel blends in a multi-cylinder diesel engine

Researchers have recently attempted to discover alternative energy sources that are accessible, technically viable, economically feasible, and environmentally acceptable. This study aims to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of Moringa oleifera biodiesel and its 10% and 20% by-volume blends (B10 and B20) in comparison with diesel fuel (B0). The performance and emission of M. oleifera biodiesel and its blends in a multi-cylinder diesel engine were determined at various speeds and full load conditions. The properties of M. oleifera biodiesel and its blends complied with ASTM D6751 standards. Over the entire range of speeds, B10 and B20 fuels reduced brake power and increased brake specific fuel consumption compared with B0. In engine emissions, B10 and B20 fuels reduced carbon monoxide emission by 10.60% and 22.93% as well as hydrocarbon emission by 9.21% and 23.68%, but slightly increased nitric oxide emission by 8.46% and 18.56%, respectively, compared with B0. Therefore, M. oleifera is a potential feedstock for biodiesel production, and its blends B10 and B20 can be used as diesel fuel substitutes

CT60 genotype does not affect CTLA-4 isoform expression despite association to TID and AITD in northern Sweden

Background: Polymorphisms in and around the CTLA-4 gene have previously been associated to TiD and AITD in several populations. One such single nucleotide polymorphism ( SNP), CT60, has been reported to affect the expression level ratio of the soluble ( sCTLA- 4) to full length CTLA- 4 ( flCTLA- 4) isoforms. The aims of our study were to replicate the association previously published by Ueda et al. of polymorphisms in the CTLA- 4 region to T1D and AITD and to determine whether the CT60 polymorphism affects the expression level ratio of sCTLA- 4/ flCTLA- 4 in our population. Methods: Three SNPs were genotyped in 253 cases ( 104 AITD cases and 149 T1D cases) and 865 ethnically matched controls. Blood from 23 healthy individuals was used to quantify mRNA expression of CTLA- 4 isoforms in CD4(+) cells using real- time PCR. Serum from 102 cases and 59 healthy individuals was used to determine the level of sCTLA- 4 protein. Results: Here we show association of the MH30, CT60 and JO31 polymorphisms to T1D and AITD in northern Sweden. We also observed a higher frequency of the CT60 disease susceptible allele in our controls compared to the British, Italian and Dutch populations, which might contribute to the high frequency of T1D in Sweden. In contrast to previously published findings, however, we were unable to find differences in the sCTLA- 4/ flCTLA- 4 expression ratio based on the CT60 genotype in 23 healthy volunteers, also from northern Sweden. Analysis of sCTLA- 4 protein levels in serum showed no correlation between sCTLA- 4 protein levels and disease status or CT60 genotype. Conclusion: Association was found between TID/ AITD and all three polymorphisms investigated. However, in contrast to previous investigations, sCTLA- 4 RNA and protein expression levels did not differ based on CT60 genotype. Our results do not rule out the CT60 SNP as an important polymorphism in the development of T1D or AITD, but suggest that further investigations are necessary to elucidate the effect of the CTLA- 4 region on the development of T1D and AITD