Exploring sub-optimal response to tumour necrosis factor inhibitors in axial spondyloarthritis

Objectives: The aim was to define sub-optimal response to TNF inhibitors (TNFi), compare long-term drug survival rates and identify predictors of sub-optimal response in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients in a UK cohort. Methods: All axSpA patients attending two centres who commenced TNFi between 2002 and 2016 were included. Routinely recorded patient data were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with paired BASDAI at baseline, 3 and/or 6 months were included for analysis. Sub-optimal response was defined as achieving a ≥ 2-point reduction in BASDAI but not BASDAI50, post-treatment BASDAI remaining at ≥4, and in the opinion of the treating physician these patients demonstrated a meaningful clinical response. Results: Four hundred and ninety-nine patients were included: 82 (16.4%) patients were classified as having a sub-optimal response; 64 (78%) males, 78 (95.1%) AS and 55/67 (82.1%) HLA-B27 positive. Results are reported as the mean (s.d.). Time to diagnosis was 10 (8.6) years, age at diagnosis was 37 (11.7) years, and age at initiating index TNFi was 48 (11.1) years. Individual index TNFi were Humira (adalimumab, n = 41, 50%), Enbrel (etanercept, n = 27, 32.9%), Remicade (infliximab, n = 5, 6.1%), Simponi (golimumab, n = 3, 3.7%) and Cimzia (certolizumab pegol, n = 6, 7.3%). The rate of attrition was greater among sub-optimal responders at 2 and 5 years (P < 0.05), but not at 10 years (P = 0.06), compared with responders. Older age at initiation of TNFi was a predictor of sub-optimal response (odds ratio 1.04, 95% CI 1.01, 1.09, P < 0.05). Conclusion: A significant proportion of patients continued TNFi despite demonstrated sub-optimal response. Further research needs to be undertaken in order to understand this group

First-principles studies on structural, electronic and optical properties of Fe-doped NiS2 counter electrode for Dye- sensitised solar cells using DFT+U / Nur Aisyah Ab Malik Marwan …[et al.]

The structural, electronic, and optical properties of nickel disulfide (NiS2) and iron (Fe)-doped NiS2 were computed by using first-principles calculations through the density functional theory (DFT) method. The Fe was used as a dopant element to understand the behaviour and the key mechanism of Fe-doped NiS2 as a counter electrode in dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSC). The results indicated that the structural properties of the NiS2 as the cubic crystal structure with the space group Pa3 (205) (pyrite structure type) agree with experimental data. The density of states (DOS) of NiS2 and Fe-doped NiS2 shows a gapless bandgap due to Mott-Hubbard insulator behavior. As for optical properties, the optical absorption of NiS2 is shifted towards the infrared (IR) region when doping with Fe while the conductivity of Fe-doped NiS2 is slightly higher in conductivity. These optical properties show that Fe-doped NiS2 is suitable for the photocatalytic activity and may provide an excellent electron charge transfer for a counter electrode in DSSC

Histologi Ikan Kerapu Pada Bak-Bak Pemeliharaan Dengan Treatment Spirulina Platensis Dan Infeksi Paparan Viral Nervous Necrosis (VNN)

Ikan kerapu adalah ikan laut yang bernilai ekonomis tinggi terdapat di perairan laut Indonesia Di Indonesia kegiatan pemeliharaan ikan kerapu semakin digalakkan berbanding lurus dengan bertambahnya permintaan untuk komoditas ikan tersebut, baik memenuhi permintaan dalam negeri, maupun luar negeri yang semakin hari semakin besar. Pemeliharaan ikan kerapu masih banyak ditemukan berbagai kendala, salah satunya adalah tingkat kematian masih tinggi yang diakibat penyakit infeksi Viral Nervous Necrosis (VNN). Viral Nervous Necrosis (VNN) telah banyak dilaporkan menginfeksi ikan laut yang dibudidayakan di Indonesia dan telah ditetapkan dalam Kepmen nomor 26 tahun 2013 sebagai Hama Penyakit Ikan Karantina (HPIK) Golongan I. Spirulina platensis merupakan salah satu jenis mikroalga sebagai sumber protein sel tunggal karena kandungan proteinnya yang tinggi antara 50 74% perberat kering. Dengan perkembangan bioteknologi penelitian dan pemanfaatan mikroalga diarahakan pada pengembangan produk baru dalam bidang perikanan. Metode diagnosis pathogen virus dapat dilakukan dengan cara melihat gejala klinis, histopatologi, mikroskop elektron, isolasi agen virus dalam kultur sel yang kemudian diikuti dengan identifikasi secara molekuler atau dengan metode Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Analisa histopatologi dapat digunakan sebagai biomarker untuk mengetahui kondisi kesehatan ikan melalui perubahan struktur yang terjadi pada organ-organ penting ikan kerapu menjadi sasaran utama dari penyakit infikus dan pengobatan dengan antibiotik. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah Untuk mengetahui kualitas histologi ikan kerapu (Cromileptes altivelis) dengan Treatment Spirulina platesis pada bak pemeliharaan infeksi Viral Nervous Necrosis. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode deskriptif dan eksperimental dimana prosedur penelitian meliputi meliputi kultur Spirulina platensis, perhitungan kepadatan sel, ekstraksi VNN, aklimatisasi, Treatment mikroalga, analisis kualitas air, prosedur Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) dan analisis kualitas histopatologi. Hasil Pertumbuhan sel Spirulina ditandai dengan bertambah pekatnya warna hijau pada media pemeliharaan ikan kerapu cantang. ertumbuhan S. platensis dilihat dari produksi biomassa pada medium air perlakuan menunjukkan bahwa pertumbuhan pada setiap perlakuan mengalami fase lag. Berdasarkan kualitas histopatologi, Treatment Spirulina tanpa VNN, lebih sedikit mengalami kerusakan jaringan dibandingkan dengan Treatment Spirulina dengan penambahan VNN. Pada Treatment dengan penambahan ekstraksi VNN ditemukan keruskan jaringan seperti nekrosis, kongesti, vakuolisasi dan hemoregge. Untuk hasil kualitas air dari dua parameter fisika dan kimia masih dalam batas yang normal untuk pemeliharaan ikan kerapu cantang

Experimental and Theoretical Studies on Extract of Date Palm Seed as a Green Anti-Corrosion Agent in Hydrochloric Acid Solution

Extracts from plant materials have great potential as alternatives to inorganic corrosion inhibitors, which typically have harmful consequences. Experimental and theoretical methodologies studied the effectiveness of agricultural waste, namely, date palm seed extract as a green anti-corrosive agent in 0.5 M hydrochloric acid. Experimental results showed that immersion time and temperature are closely related to the effectivity of date palm seed as a corrosion inhibitor. The inhibition efficiency reduced from 95% to 91% at 1400 ppm when the immersion time was increased from 72 h to 168 h. The experimental results also indicated that the inhibition efficiency decreased as the temperature increased. The presence of a protective layer of organic matter was corroborated by scanning electron microscopy. The adsorption studies indicated that date palm seed obeyed Langmuir adsorption isotherm on the carbon steel surface, and Gibbs free energy values were in the range of −33.45 to −38.41 kJ·mol−1. These results suggested that the date palm seed molecules interacted with the carbon steel surface through mixture adsorption. Theoretical calculations using density functional theory showed that the capability to donate and accept electrons between the alloy surface and the date palm seed inhibitor molecules is critical for adsorption effectiveness. The HOMO and LUMO result indicated that the carboxyl (COOH) group and C=C bond were the most active sites for the electron donation-acceptance type of interaction and most auxiliary to the adsorption process over the Fe surface

Studies of the absorbance peak on the N719 dye influence by combination between Cadmium Selenide (CdSe)QDs and Zinc Sulfide(ZnS)QDs

The absorption rate of the photoanode can be influenced by the combination between the difference semiconductor quantum dot sensitizer. Six samples were prepared with difference weight percent (wt%) of ZnS from 0% to 50% and constant wt% of CdSe which then will be called as semiconductor QDs were immersed in 0.5mM of N719 dye. The purity of ZnS powder and CdSe powder was determined using x-ray diffraction (XRD).The ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (Uv-Vis) use to investigate the absorption spectrum and absorbance peak of this sample. 50 wt% of ZnS is the best composition to increase the absorbance peak of the photoanode. The Cyclic voltammetry (CV) of varying wt% of ZnS, found that the 40 wt% of ZnS is suitable combination for a DSSC’s photoanode and produced the higher current

Quantum dot solar cell studies on the influence of Cadmium Selenide(CdSe)QDs and the Zinc Sulfide(ZnS)QDs in the photoanode

The mixture between the difference semiconductor quantum dot sensitizer which is cadmium selenide(CdSe) and zinc sulfide (ZnS) into the Dye-synthesis solar cell (DSSCs) can affect the value of resistance and capacity photoanode in the system.In this experiment, each sample consists difference weight percent of Zinc sulfide and the constant weight percent of CdSe. Docter blade technique is used to stick and spread evenly the mixture CdSe/ZnS QD on the surface of the thin film. To prove the assembled of CdSe/ZnS on the thin film were observed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The resistance and capacity of the photoanode were characterized by using impedance spectroscopy(EIS). The smallest resistance is 37.1kΩ produce by CdSe/ZnS(20 wt%) and the largest resistance 825KΩ produce by CdSe/ZnS(50 wt%) while the highest capacity is 12 µF in the CdSe/ZnS(40 wt%) and the lowest capacity is CdSe/ZnS(20 wt%) which is 538 nF. The most suitable composition to be used as photoanode is CdSe/ZnS(40 wt%) because it has high capacity and low resistance

Quantum dot solar cell studies on the influence of Cadmium Selenide(CdSe)QDs and the Zinc Sulfide(ZnS)QDs in the photoanode

The mixture between the difference semiconductor quantum dot sensitizer which is cadmium selenide(CdSe) and zinc sulfide (ZnS) into the Dye-synthesis solar cell (DSSCs) can affect the value of resistance and capacity photoanode in the system.In this experiment, each sample consists difference weight percent of Zinc sulfide and the constant weight percent of CdSe. Docter blade technique is used to stick and spread evenly the mixture CdSe/ZnS QD on the surface of the thin film. To prove the assembled of CdSe/ZnS on the thin film were observed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The resistance and capacity of the photoanode were characterized by using impedance spectroscopy(EIS). The smallest resistance is 37.1kΩ produce by CdSe/ZnS(20 wt%) and the largest resistance 825KΩ produce by CdSe/ZnS(50 wt%) while the highest capacity is 12 µF in the CdSe/ZnS(40 wt%) and the lowest capacity is CdSe/ZnS(20 wt%) which is 538 nF. The most suitable composition to be used as photoanode is CdSe/ZnS(40 wt%) because it has high capacity and low resistance

Studies of the absorbance peak on the N719 dye influence by combination between Cadmium Selenide (CdSe)QDs and Zinc Sulfide(ZnS)QDs

The absorption rate of the photoanode can be influenced by the combination between the difference semiconductor quantum dot sensitizer. Six samples were prepared with difference weight percent (wt%) of ZnS from 0% to 50% and constant wt% of CdSe which then will be called as semiconductor QDs were immersed in 0.5mM of N719 dye. The purity of ZnS powder and CdSe powder was determined using x-ray diffraction (XRD).The ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (Uv-Vis) use to investigate the absorption spectrum and absorbance peak of this sample. 50 wt% of ZnS is the best composition to increase the absorbance peak of the photoanode. The Cyclic voltammetry (CV) of varying wt% of ZnS, found that the 40 wt% of ZnS is suitable combination for a DSSC’s photoanode and produced the higher current

First-principles calculation on electronic properties of zinc oxide by zinc 13air system

First-principles calculations are performed to study the electronic properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) formed on an anode after discharging a Zn 13air system. Prior to calculation, the ZnO is characterised by X-ray diffraction using Rietveld refinement. Diffracted patterns proved the formation of single phase ZnO, while Rietveld analysis shows that the ZnO has a hexagonal wurtzite structure with lattice parameters, a= 3.244 and c =5.199 A � . Geometry optimisation of the hexagonal wurtzite structure of the ZnO is performed using various exchange 13correlation energy functionals. The local density approximation functional method is used to explain the structure, electronic band structure and density of state properties of hexagonal ZnO. The calculated energy band gap was 0.75 eV while the density of states reveals that the O 2p (the top valence band) and Zn 4s (the bottom conduction band) states domination