Resonance-thrombography indices of the haemostatic process in relation to risk of incident coronary heart disease: 9 years follow-up in the Caerphilly Prospective Heart Disease Study

Global assays, such as resonance-thrombography (RTG), which measure the interaction between platelets, coagulation and fibrinolysis have been used as summary measures of risk for over two decades but have not been evaluated in epidemiological studies. We examined whether RTG indices are risk indicators for incident coronary heart disease (CHD). RTG indices, related haematological variables and other risk factors were measured between 1984 and 1988 in a cohort of 2398 British men. Reaction time (r) and amplitude of fibrin leg (AF) were associated with lifestyle risk factors. During 9 years of follow-up, 282 (12%) men developed a major new CHD event, as classified by World Health Organization criteria. On adjustment for age, only r and AF measured at baseline were related to risk of incident CHD. On multivariate adjustment in a multiple logistic regression model that included age, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lifestyle risk factors and use of prescribed medicine, these associations weakened but remained significant. Additional adjustment for fibrinogen, viscosity, white cell count and fibrin D-dimer either reduced these associations to non- significance (AF) or to borderline significance(r)

Implementation of environmentally conscious design in low voltage products : IEC 62430

Environmentally conscious design (ECD), also called as eco-design, is a systematic approach to reduce harmful environmental impacts of the products or services throughout their whole life cycle. IEC 62430:2019 is a standard addressing this goal. The motivation for organizations in implementing the standard can be driven by market demand, incoming regulations and laws, or a sustainable brand image. Organizations can have problems recognizing their current status in eco-design or challenges in implementing environmentally conscious principles in their processes and management. The first step in this research was to conduct a literature review of the main eco-design drivers and challenges and the most used eco-design tools. The drivers provide information about the benefits that implementing IEC 62430 in companies could bring. The drivers lead from innovation and lower environmental impacts to improved image and revenues. This thesis was conducted for the company Smart Power, a unit of ABB, which manufactures low voltage products. The case company has done many actions to achieve environmental improvement in its processes but wishes to continuously develop its principles towards circular economy. Smart Power’s documentation and processes were evaluated to analyse its ECD compliance. The main challenges to implementing ECD policies were recognized, and they were compared to challenges that were recognized in the literature review. Development suggestions were given to Smart Power, so the company is able to work on achieving IEC 62430 certification or compliance if it wishes. The next step was to compare the results from the target company to theory bases, to find similarities and differences. The most common challenges that were recognised from the theoretical bases and case study were related to management. Even a good strategy does not guarantee environmental improvement in processes and product design, the management’s commitment and allocation of enough resources to design processes and selecting sustainable suppliers has a big effect on implementing eco-design. Communication needs to work for internal and external stakeholders to add knowledge.Ympäristötietoinen suunnittelu (ECD), jota kutsutaan myös ekosuunnitteluksi, on järjestelmällinen lähestymistapa tuotteiden tai palvelujen haitallisten ympäristövaikutusten vähentämiseksi niiden koko elinkaaren ajan. IEC 62430:2019 on standardi, joka vastaa tähän tavoitteeseen. Organisaatioiden motivaatiota standardin käyttöönottoon voivat ohjata markkinoiden kysyntä, tulevat säädökset ja lait tai kestävä brändikuva. Organisaatioilla voi olla vaikeuksia tunnistaa heidän nykytilansa ekosuunnittelussa tai haasteita ympäristötietoisten periaatteiden toteuttamisessa prosesseissaan ja johtamisessaan. Ensiksi toteutettiin kirjallisuuskatsaus yleisimmistä ekosuunnittelun ajureista, haasteista ja käytetyimmistä työkaluista. Ajureiden selvittämisestä saadaan tietoa hyödyistä, joita IEC 62430:n käyttöönotto voi tuoda yrityksille. Tunnistetut ekosuunnittelu ajurit kuten innovaatiot ja pienemmät ympäristövaikutukset voivat johtaa muihin etuihin kuten parempaan yritys imagoon ja sitä kautta tuloihin. Tämä opinnäytetyö tehtiin Smart Powerille, joka on ABB:n yksikkö, joka valmistaa pienjännitetuotteita. Yritys on tehnyt monia toimia parantaakseen prosessejaan ympäristöystävällisemmiksi, mutta haluaa jatkuvasti kehittää toimintaansa kohti kiertotaloutta. Smart Powerin dokumentaatio ja prosessit arvioitiin sen ECD-yhteensopivuuden analysoimiseksi. ECD käytäntöjen toteuttamisen tärkeimmät haasteet tunnistettiin ja niitä verrattiin kirjallisuuskatsauksessa tunnistettuihin haasteisiin. Smart Powerille annettiin kehitysehdotuksia, joiden avulla yritys voi halutessaan lähteä parantamaan käytäntöjään IEC 62430 -sertifioinnin ja standardin vaatimusten täyttämiseksi. Seuraava vaihe oli vertailla kohdeyrityksestä saatuja tuloksia teoriasta saatuihin tuloksiin ja löytää niiden yhtäläisyydet ja eroavaisuudet. Yleisimmät teoriaosiosta ja tapaustutkimuksesta tunnistetut haasteet liittyivät johtamiseen. Hyväkään strategia ei takaa ympäristön parantamista prosessien ja tuotteiden suunnittelussa, vaan johdon sitoutumisella ja riittävällä resurssien allokoinnilla prosessien suunnitteluun ja kestävien toimittajien valintaan on suuri vaikutus ekologisen suunnittelun toteuttamiseksi. Viestinnän on toimittava, jotta sisäiset ja ulkoiset sidosryhmät voivat saada tarpeeksi tietoa ECD:n toteuttamiseen ja siihen panostamiseen

Identification of a fibrin concentration that promotes skin cell outgrowth from skin explants onto a synthetic dermal substitute

Background Our overall objective is to develop a single-stage in-theatre skin replacement by combining small explants of skin with a synthetic biodegradable dermal scaffold. The aim of the current study is to determine the concentration of fibrin constituents and their handling properties for both adhering skin explants to the scaffold and encouraging cellular outgrowth to achieve reepithelialization. Methods Small skin explants were combined with several concentrations of thrombin (2.5,4.5,and 6.5 I.U) and fibrinogen (18.75,67, and 86.5 mg/ml), cultured in Green's media for 14 days and cellular outgrowth was measured using Rose Bengal staining. They were also cultured on electrospun scaffolds for 14 and 21 days. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was undertaken to visualize the interface between skin explants and scaffolds and metabolic activity and collagen production were assessed. Results A thrombin/fibrinogen combination of 2.5 I. U/ml /18.75 mg/ml showed significantly greater cell viability as assessed by Rose Bengal stained areas at days 7 and 14. This was also seen in DAPI images and H&E stains skin explant/scaffold constructs. Fibrin with a concentration of thrombin 2.5 I.U./ml took 5–6 min to set, which is convenient for distributing skin explants on the scaffold. Conclusion The study identified concentrations of thrombin (2.5 I.U/ml) and fibrinogen (18.75 mg/ml), which were easy to handle and aided the retention of skin explants and permitted cell outgrowth from explants

Cell-Free Synthesis of the Mitochondrial ADP/ATP Carrier Protein of Neurospora crassa

ADP/ATP carrier protein was synthesized in heterologous cell-free systems programmed with Neurospora poly(A)-containing RNA and homologous cell-free systems from Neurospora. The apparent molecular weight of the product obtained in vitro was the same as that of the authentic mitochondrial protein. The primary translation product obtained in reticulocyte lysates starts with formylmethionine when formylated initiator methionyl-tRNA (fMet-tRNAfMet) was present. The product synthesized in vitro was released from the ribosomes into the postribosomal supernatant. The evidence presented indicates that the ADP/ATP carrier is synthesized as a polypeptide with the same molecular weight as the mature monomeric protein and does not carry an additional sequence

Guidelines on fibrinogen assays

No abstract available

Characterizing natural hydrogel for reconstruction of three‐dimensional lymphoid stromal network to model T‐cell interactions

Hydrogels have been used in regenerative medicine because they provide a three‐dimensional environment similar to soft tissues, allow diffusion of nutrients, present critical biological signals, and degrade via endogenous enzymatic mechanisms. Herein, we developed in vitro system mimicking cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions in secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs). Existing in vitro culture systems cannot accurately represent the complex interactions happening between T‐cells and stromal cells in immune response. To model T‐cell interaction in SLOs in vitro, we encapsulated stromal cells in fibrin, collagen, or fibrin–collagen hydrogels and studied how different mechanical and biological properties affect stromal network formation. Overall, fibrin supplemented with aprotinin was superior to collagen and fibrin–collagen in terms of network formation and promotion of T‐cell penetration. After 8 days of culture, stromal networks formed through branching and joining with other adjacent cell populations. T‐cells added to the newly formed stromal networks migrated and attached to stromal cells, similar to the T‐cell zones of the lymph nodes in vivo. Our results suggest that the constructed three‐dimensional lymphoid stromal network can mimic the in vivo environment and allow the modeling of T‐cell interaction in SLOs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 2701–2710, 2015.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112007/1/jbma35409.pd

Prophylaxis for venous thromboembolic disease in pregnancy and the early postnatal period

Some women are at risk of forming blood clots in a deep vein during pregnancy, after a caesarean birth, or during the first few weeks after childbirth. If part of the clot breaks off and lodges in a blood vessel in the lungs, it can be life-threatening. Preventive treatments include blood-thinning drugs to prevent clots, support stockings, and exercise soon after the birth to keep circulation moving. However, some drugs might cause problems such as increased blood loss after the birth. Drugs used include heparin, low molecular weight heparin and aspirin. We included 16 randomised controlled studies in the review but only 13 trials with 1774 women contributed data for the outcomes of interest. We did not find enough evidence from the trials to be sure about the effects of these different preventive treatments.This means there is not enough evidence to show which are the best ways to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) during or following pregnancy, or after a caesarean birth

Fabrication of multi-well chips for spheroid cultures and implantable constructs through rapid prototyping techniques

Three-dimensional (3D) culture models are widely used in basic and translational research. In this study, to generate and culture multiple 3D cell spheroids, we exploited laser ablation and replica molding for the fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) multi-well chips, which were validated using articular chondrocytes (ACs). Multi-well ACs spheroids were comparable or superior to standard spheroids, as revealed by glycosaminoglycan and type-II collagen deposition. Moreover, the use of our multi-well chips significantly reduced the operation time for cell seeding and medium refresh. Exploiting a similar approach, we used clinical-grade fibrin to generate implantable multi-well constructs allowing for the precise distribution of multiple cell types. Multi-well fibrin constructs were seeded with ACs generating high cell density regions, as shown by histology and cell fluorescent staining. Multi-well constructs were compared to standard constructs with homogeneously distributed ACs. After 7 days in vitro, expression of SOX9, ACAN, COL2A1, and COMP was increased in both constructs, with multi-well constructs expressing significantly higher levels of chondrogenic genes than standard constructs. After 5 weeks in vivo, we found that despite a dramatic size reduction, the cell distribution pattern was maintained and glycosaminoglycan content per wet weight was significantly increased respect to pre-implantation samples. In conclusion, multi-well chips for the generation and culture of multiple cell spheroids can be fabricated by low-cost rapid prototyping techniques. Furthermore, these techniques can be used to generate implantable constructs with defined architecture and controlled cell distribution, allowing for in vitro and in vivo investigation of cell interactions in a 3D environment

Sustainability program brands: Platforms for collaboration and co-creation

While CSR and Sustainability have been widely debated topics over the past decades, there is still evidence of unethical practices by businesses, as witnessed through corporate scandals across a number of industry sectors. This highlights the need for firms to collaborate to actively prevent malpractices and instead find ways to improve standards along the whole value chain. With the increased pressure from various stakeholders, calling for firms to address these issues in a collaborative and holistic manner, the development of models facilitating collaboration is vital. Taking a communication perspective, this paper seeks to improve the knowledge on how organisations can manage diverse stakeholders to improve value chain collaboration towards more sustainable practices. Based on a multiple case study methodology, involving in-depth interviews with senior directors in the food and drink value chain, a framework is developed, depicting the value of a branded sustainability program as a useful platform for stimulating collaboration and co-creation from diverse and/or competing stakeholders. The framework builds on, and contributes to several literature strands including CSR/Sustainability communication, Coopetition and Branding