Barite-Free Non-Aqueous Drill-In Fluid System Maximizes Productivity in High Temperature Wells

Minimizing formation damage is vital for maximizing productivity when an openhole (slotted liner) completion strategy is used, and it is particularly challenging in high temperature wells with bottomhole static temperature approaching 190°C (374°F). A barite-weighted fluid system for such high temperature wells was identified as unsuitable due to lack of ability to remediate via acid treatment. This paper discusses how a customized barite-free non-aqueous drill-in fluid system was used to successfully achieve productivity objectives for three such wells. Based on reservoir and well data provided, a 1.15 to 1.20 sg (9.60 to 10.0 lbm/gal) barite-free, non-aqueous drill-in fluid system was designed using a high density calcium chloride/calcium bromide brine as the internal phase to compensate for the absence of barite as a weighting agent. An engineered acid-soluble bridging package was included to protect the reservoir from excess filtrate invasion and allow for potential remediation by acid treatment at a later stage. The fluid system was subjected to formation response testing, and the results obtained proved satisfactory, confirming the fluid system was suited for drilling the reservoir. A similar solids-free system using higher density brine as the internal phase, was also formulated. This was spotted in the open hole once drilling was completed to help eliminate any potential for solids settling before running the slotted liner. Three wells were successfully drilled and completed. The barite-free system remained stable, allowed for trouble-free fluids-handling and drilling operations, and performed as expected. To aid in minimizing fluid invasion into the reservoir, onsite particle size distribution (PSD) measurements were performed in order to optimize bridging material additions while drilling and enhance efficiency in managing the solids control system. Because of the extremely high bottomhole temperature, a mud cooler was installed to help control the flowline temperature below 60°C (140°F); this helped maintain fluid stability and preserve functionality of downhole tools in this hostile environment. The solids-free system was successfully spotted in the open hole after drilling the section before well completion. This eliminated any settling potential and reduced flowback of solids during production. The recorded productivity of these wells met expectations.

Study the effect of low pH on Ruditapes decussatus (Mollusca: Bivalvia)

The grooved carpet shell clam (Ruditapes decussatus) is one of the most economically essential mollusks in Mediterranean lagoons and sandy beaches, with fisheries and aquaculture both contributing to its abundance. The goal of this research is to see how varying amounts of acidity affect this calcifying organism. 420 ppm (ambient control), 550 ppm, 750 ppm, and 1050 ppm were used to incubate juvenile clams in CO2 enriched saltwater. With increasing pCO2 , the biological parameters evaluated revealed a small decline. Differences, however, were not substantial. In terms of overall weight, the reduction was greatest at 550 and 1050 ppm. Furthermore, clams kept at 550 parts per million had the lowest condition index and the greatest mortality rate of 8%. Both the 550 ppm and the control 420 ppm groups demonstrated an increase in metabolic rate and ammonia excretion in the physiological response testing. With increasing acidification, the algal feed clearance rate declined, with the highest average value in the control (420 ppm) group and the lowest average value in the extremely high pCO2 (1050 ppm) group. Ocean acidification may put further strain on R. decussatus' health and economic value by the end of the century

Therapeutic Benefit of Galectin-1: Beyond Membrane Repair, a Multifaceted Approach to LGMD2B

Two of the main pathologies characterizing dysferlinopathies are disrupted muscle membrane repair and chronic inflammation, which lead to symptoms of muscle weakness and wasting. Here, we used recombinant human Galectin-1 (rHsGal-1) as a therapeutic for LGMD2B mouse and human models. Various redox and multimerization states of Gal-1 show that rHsGal-1 is the most effective form in both increasing muscle repair and decreasing inflammation, due to its monomer-dimer equilibrium. Dose-response testing shows an effective 25-fold safety profile between 0.54 and 13.5 mg/kg rHsGal-1 in Bla/J mice. Mice treated weekly with rHsGal-1 showed downregulation of canonical NF-κB inflammation markers, decreased muscle fat deposition, upregulated anti-inflammatory cytokines, increased membrane repair, and increased functional movement compared to non-treated mice. Gal-1 treatment also resulted in a positive self-upregulation loop of increased endogenous Gal-1 expression independent of NF-κB activation. A similar reduction in disease pathologies in patient-derived human cells demonstrates the therapeutic potential of Gal-1 in LGMD2B patients.

Reduced Programming Time and Strong Symptom Control Even in Chronic Course Through Imaging-Based DBS Programming

Objectives: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) programming is based on clinical response testing. Our clinical pilot trial assessed the feasibility of image-guided programing using software depicting the lead location in a patient-specific anatomical model.Methods: Parkinson's disease patients with subthalamic nucleus-DBS were randomly assigned to standard clinical-based programming (CBP) or anatomical-based (imaging-guided) programming (ABP) in an 8-week crossover trial. Programming characteristics and clinical outcomes were evaluated.Results: In 10 patients, both programs led to similar motor symptom control (MDS-UPDRS III) after 4 weeks (medicationOFF/stimulationON; CPB: 18.27 ± 9.23; ABP: 18.37 ± 6.66). Stimulation settings were not significantly different, apart from higher frequency in the baseline program than CBP (p = 0.01) or ABP (p = 0.003). Time spent in a program was not significantly different (CBP: 86.1 ± 29.82%, ABP: 88.6 ± 29.0%). Programing time was significantly shorter (p = 0.039) with ABP (19.78 ± 5.86 min) than CBP (45.22 ± 18.32).Conclusion: Image-guided DBS programming in PD patients drastically reduces programming time without compromising symptom control and patient satisfaction in this small feasibility trial.

Humoral and cellular immune responses upon SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with anti-CD20 therapies: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 1342 patients

Background Immune responses upon SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients receiving anti-CD20 therapies are impaired but vary considerably. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on SARS-CoV-2 vaccine induced humoral and cell-mediated immune response in patients previously treated with anti-CD20 antibodies. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Medrxiv and SSRN using variations of search terms 'anti-CD20', 'vaccine' and 'COVID' and included original studies up to August 21st,2021. We excluded studies with missing data on humoral or cell-mediated immune response, unspecified methodology of response testing, unspecified timeframes between vaccination and blood sampling or low number of participants (n<=3). We excluded individual patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection or incomplete vaccine courses. Primary endpoints were humoral and cell-mediated immune response rates. Pre-specified subgroups were time of vaccination after anti-CD20 therapy (< vs > 6 months), time point of response testing after vaccination (< vs > 4 weeks) and disease entity (autoimmune vs cancer vs renal transplant). We used random-effects models of proportions. Findings Ninety studies were assessed. Inclusion criteria were met by 23 studies comprising 1342 patients. Overall rate of humoral response was 0.41 (95% CI 0.35-0.47). Overall rate of cell-mediated immune responses was 0.71 (95% CI 0.47-0.90). Longer time interval since last anti-CD20 therapy was associated with higher humoral response rates > 6 months 0.63 (95% CI 0.53-0.72) vs < 6 months 0.2 (95% CI 0.03-0.43); p = 0.001. Compared to patients with haematological malignancies or autoimmune diseases, anti-CD20 treated kidney transplant recipients showed the lowest vaccination response rates. Interpretation Patients on anti-CD20 therapies can develop humoral and cell-mediated immune responses after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, but subgroups such as kidney transplant recipients or those with very recent B-cell depleting therapy are at high risk for non-seroconversion and should be individually assessed for personalized SARS-CoV-2 vaccination strategies. Potential limitations are small patient numbers, heterogeneous diseases and assays used. Funding This study was funded by Bern University Hospital.