DIAGNOSTIC IMMINOARRAY ASSAY FOR CHARACTERIZATION OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN IGG AND IGM LEVEL IN SYPHILIS PATIENTS SERUM TOWARDS 12 RECOMBINANT ANTIGENS OF T. PALLIDUM BEFORE AND AFTER THE THERAPY

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (9) ◽  
pp. 546-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Runina ◽  
M. V. Shpilevaya ◽  
M. A. Filippova ◽  
G. L. Katunin ◽  
A. A. Kubanov
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Treatment ◽  
Immunoglobulin Level ◽  
Successful Therapy ◽  
Passive Hemagglutination ◽  
Microarray Assay ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Syphilis Treatment ◽  
High Level

The aim of the study was to characterize the dynamics of immunoglobulin IgG and IgM level in syphilis patients serum at different stages of the disease before and after the therapy towards 12 diagnostic antigens of T. pallidum in an microarray assay and to evaluate these data as possible prognostic markers. The dynamics of immunoglobulin IgG and IgM level was measured in the reaction of indirect immunofluorescence using microarray and compared to the results of non-treponemal RPR test and treponemal tests as EIA and reaction of passive hemagglutination. In microarray assay diagnostically high level of IgM in patients with primary, secondary and early latent and late latent syphilis decreased dramatically to zero after the successful therapy. Continuously high level of IgM after the therapy proposes the persistence of infection agents in the organism and points out the need of additional antimicrobial treatment. In most of the cases anti-treponemal IgG level also declined after the successful therapy and this confirms the appropriate treatment. The results of microarray assay coincide with the results of other mentioned laboratory tests for syphilis diagnostics. Microarray assay with the recombinant T. pallidum antigens gives the perspective for creating methods with wider spectrum of diagnostic and therapy control options using the IgM immunoglobulin level as a marker for successful syphilis treatment.

Epigenomic changes after acupuncture treatment in patients suffering from burnout

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Petitpierre ◽  
Ludwig Stenz ◽  
Ariane Paoloni-Giacobino
Keyword(s):  
Acupuncture Treatment ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
Personal Accomplishment ◽  
Steroid Synthesis ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Before And After ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Brain

Introduction: The effects of acupuncture treatment in patients suffering from burnout may imply an epigenetic control mediated by DNA methylation changes. In this observational study, a genome-wide characterization of epigenetic changes in blood DNA, before and after acupuncture treatment, was performed in a cohort of 11 patients suffering from burnout. Methods: Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and DNA was extracted from blood samples and analyzed by Illumina EPIC BeadChip. Results: Before acupuncture, all patients suffered of emotional exhaustion (EE) (MBI-EE score, 44±6), 81% suffered of depersonalization (DP) (MBI-DP score, 16±6), and 72% of low feelings of personal accomplishment (PA) (MBI-PA score, 29±9). After acupuncture, all MBI dimensions improved significantly (EE, 16±11 [p=1.5*10-4]; DP, 4±5 [p=5.3*10-4]; and PA, 40±6 [p=4.1*10-3]). For each patient, both methylomes obtained before and after acupuncture co-clustered in the multidimensional scaling plot, indicating a high level of similarity. Genes corresponding to the 10 most differentially methylated CpGs showed enrichment in the brain dopaminergic signalling, steroid synthesis and in the insulin sensitivity pathways. Conclusion: Acupuncture treatment was found to be highly effective on all burnout dimensions and the epigenetic targets identified were involved in some major disturbances of this syndrome.

scholarly journals Innovative Approach to the Creation of Textile Materials with Antimicrobial Properties

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 56-66
Author(s):  
Irina Martirosyan ◽  
Elena Pakholiuk ◽  
Vira Lubenets ◽  
Olena Komarovska-Porokhnyavets ◽  
Natalya Monka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Absorption Spectrometry ◽  
Antimicrobial Treatment ◽  
Alcoholic Solution ◽  
Textile Materials ◽  
Before And After ◽  
High Level ◽  
Tissue Safety ◽  
Biocidal Properties

Introduction. In recent years, there has been a constant search for more advanced and environmentally friendlymeans for antimicrobial treatment of cellulose-containing tissues of various intended uses in the textile industry.Problem Statement. The problem of protection of textile materials and products from microbiological destruction is complex and multifaceted and needs to be solved. Today, one of the methods of protection is to provide textile materials with biocidal properties, which not only prevents the growth of bacteria, but can also ensure a high level of tissue safety. Therefore, we are faced with the task of finding new safe biocidal products.Purpose. The research has been made to determine the level of safety of textile materials treated by biocidalsubstances with the thiosulfonate structure including Ethylthiosulfanilate, Methylthiosulfanilate and Allylthiosulfanilate.Materials and Methods. The fabrics of different chemical composition were used in the study, designed for themanufacture of overalls. New preparations of thiosulfonate structure were chosen for impregnation: ethylthiosulfanilate (ETS), methylthiosulfanilate (MTS) and allylthiosulfanilate (ATS). The presence of heavy metals and pesticides was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry with the use of a ZEENIT 650P spectrometer (Germany).Results. It has been established that the detected level of heavy metals and pesticides in the studied textile materials is insignificant and is within the regulatory requirements. It has been confirmed that the studied biocidal substances are low-toxic and environmentally friendly, because before and after treatment they did not change the hygienic parameters of tissues. A method for imparting biocidal properties to textile materials for the manufacture of overalls, in particular by impregnating textile materials with an alcoholic solution of biocidal products, has been developed. Also due to this treatment, the water absorption of materials decreases by an average of 40%.Conclusions. The treatment of textile materials with biocidal preparations of the thiosulfonate structure allowsobtaining simultaneously two desired effects for these fabrics: the appropriate bioresistance and water resistance. 

An Electron Microscope Study of Interdiffusion and Compound Formation in Ta-Au Thin Films

1973 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 32-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. C. Tisone ◽  
S. Lau
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Electron Microscope Study ◽  
Thermally Grown Oxide ◽  
Ion Milling ◽  
Compound Formation ◽  
Technology Application ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Au Thin Films

In a study of the properties of a Ta-Au metallization system for thin film technology application, the interdiffusion between Ta(bcc)-Au, βTa-Au and Ta2M-Au films was studied. Considered here is a discussion of the use of the transmission electron microscope(TEM) in the identification of phases formed and characterization of the film microstructures before and after annealing.The films were deposited by sputtering onto silicon wafers with 5000 Å of thermally grown oxide. The film thicknesses were 2000 Å of Ta and 2000 Å of Au. Samples for TEM observation were prepared by ultrasonically cutting 3mm disks from the wafers. The disks were first chemically etched from the silicon side using a HNO3 :HF(19:5) solution followed by ion milling to perforation of the Au side.

scholarly journals Adsorption Studies on Magnetic Nanoparticles Functionalized with Silver to Remove Nitrates from Waters

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 1757
Author(s):  
Yesica Vicente-Martínez ◽  
Manuel Caravaca ◽  
Antonio Soto-Meca ◽  
Miguel Ángel Martín-Pereira ◽  
María del Carmen García-Onsurbe
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Nanoparticles ◽  
Nitrate Content ◽  
Adsorption Efficiency ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Dependent Behavior ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Naoh Solution ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Interference Studies

This paper presents a novel procedure for the treatment of contaminated water with high concentrations of nitrates, which are considered as one of the main causes of the eutrophication phenomena. For this purpose, magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with silver (Fe3O4@AgNPs) were synthesized and used as an adsorbent of nitrates. Experimental conditions, including the pH, adsorbent and adsorbate dose, temperature and contact time, were analyzed to obtain the highest adsorption efficiency for different concentration of nitrates in water. A maximum removal efficiency of 100% was reached for 2, 5, 10 and 50 mg/L of nitrate at pH = 5, room temperature, and 50, 100, 250 and 500 µL of Fe3O4@AgNPs, respectively. The characterization of the adsorbent, before and after adsorption, was performed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Nitrates can be desorbed, and the adsorbent can be reused using 500 µL of NaOH solution 0.01 M, remaining unchanged for the first three cycles, and exhibiting 90% adsorption efficiency after three regenerations. A deep study on equilibrium isotherms reveals a pH-dependent behavior, characterized by Langmuir and Freundlich models at pH = 5 and pH = 1, respectively. Thermodynamic studies were consistent with physicochemical adsorption for all experiments but showed a change from endothermic to exothermic behavior as the temperature increases. Interference studies of other ions commonly present in water were carried out, enabling this procedure as very selective for nitrate ions. In addition, the method was applied to real samples of seawater, showing its ability to eliminate the total nitrate content in eutrophized waters.

scholarly journals Benefit of a pharmacist-led intervention for medication management of renal transplant patients: a controlled before-and-after study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 204062232110052
Author(s):  
Jeremy Chambord ◽  
Lionel Couzi ◽  
Pierre Merville ◽  
Karine Moreau ◽  
Fabien Xuereb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medication Adherence ◽  
Immunosuppressive Therapy ◽  
Medication Management ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Patient Knowledge ◽  
Transplant Patients ◽  
Before And After ◽  
High Level

Aims: To assess the effect of a pharmacist-led intervention, using Barrows cards method, during the first year after renal transplantation, on patient knowledge about their treatment, medication adherence and exposure to treatment in a French cohort. Methods: We conducted a before-and-after comparative study between two groups of patients: those who benefited from a complementary pharmacist-led intervention [intervention group (IG), n = 44] versus those who did not [control group (CG), n = 48]. The pharmacist-led intervention consisted of a behavioral and educational interview at the first visit (visit 1). The intervention was assessed 4 months later at the second visit (visit 2), using the following endpoints: treatment knowledge, medication adherence [proportion of days covered (PDC) by immunosuppressive therapy] and tacrolimus exposure. Results: At visit 2, IG patients achieved a significantly higher knowledge score than CG patients (83.3% versus 72.2%, p = 0.001). We did not find any differences in treatment exposure or medication adherence; however, the intervention tended to reduce the proportion of non-adherent patients with low knowledge scores. Using the PDC by immunosuppressive therapy, we identified 10 non-adherent patients (10.9%) at visit 1 and six at visit 2. Conclusions: Our intervention showed a positive effect on patient knowledge about their treatment. However, our results did not show any improvement in overall medication adherence, which was likely to be because of the initially high level of adherence in our study population. Nevertheless, the intervention appears to have improved adherence in non-adherent patients with low knowledge scores.

scholarly journals Molecular characterization of a ceftriaxone-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain found in Switzerland: a case report

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Konrad Egli ◽  
Anna Roditscheff ◽  
Ursula Flückiger ◽  
Martin Risch ◽  
Lorenz Risch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neisseria Gonorrhoeae ◽  
23S Rrna ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Specific Pcr ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
23S Rrna Gene ◽  
Allele Type ◽  
Ciprofloxacin Resistance

Abstract Background The resistance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to ceftriaxone is unusual in Switzerland. The underlying genotype responsible for resistance is suspected to be novel. Generally, resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng) involves a comprehensive set of genes with many different mutations leading to resistance to different β-lactams and fluoroquinolones. Case presentation A patient had a positive result from specific PCR for Ng. We routinely culture all clinical specimens with a positive NG-PCR. In this particular case, we isolated a strain with resistance to ceftriaxone in Switzerland. A total of seven different genes (penA, ponA, porinB, mtr, gyrA, parC, 23S rRNA gene) in this strain were partially sequenced for comparison with phenotypic susceptibility testing. Interestingly, two different mutations in the porinB gene were observed, and data on this gene are limited. Information on the identified allele type of the penA gene is very limited as well. Three different mutations of parC and gyrA that correlate with ciprofloxacin resistance were found. The combination of ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin resistance makes an appropriate treatment difficult to obtain due to multidrug resistance. Conclusion The combined results for all genes show the appearance of new mutations in central Europe either due to worldwide spread or the emergence of new genetic combinations of mutations.

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