The catalytic oxidation of toluene, chosen as VOC probe molecule, was investigated over Co
3
O
4
, CeO
2
and over Co
3
O
4
–CeO
2
mixed oxides and compared with the catalytic behavior of a ...conventional Pt(1 wt%)/Al
2
O
3
catalyst. Complete toluene oxidation to carbon dioxide and water was achieved over all the investigated systems at temperatures below 500 °C. The most efficient catalyst, Co
3
O
4
(30 wt%)–CeO
2
(70 wt%), showed full toluene conversion at 275 °C, comparing favorably with Pt/Al
2
O
3
(100% toluene conversion at 225 °C).
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The REDUC clinical study Part B investigated Vacc-4x/rhuGM-CSF therapeutic vaccination prior to HIV latency reversal using romidepsin. The main finding was a statistically significant reduction from ...baseline in viral reservoir measurements. Here we evaluated HIV-specific functional T-cell responses following Vacc-4x/rhuGM-CSF immunotherapy in relation to virological outcomes on the HIV reservoir.
This study, conducted in Aarhus, Denmark, enrolled participants (n = 20) with CD4>500 cells/mm3 on cART. Six Vacc-4x (1.2 mg) intradermal immunizations using rhuGM-CSF (60 μg) as adjuvant were followed by 3 weekly intravenous infusions of romidepsin (5 mg/m2). Immune responses were determined by IFN-γ ELISpot, T-cell proliferation to p24 15-mer peptides covering the Vacc-4x region, intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) to the entire HIVGag and viral inhibition.
The frequency of participants with CD8+ T-cell proliferation assay positivity was 8/16 (50%) at baseline, 11/15 (73%) post-vaccination, 6/14 (43%) during romidepsin, and 9/15 (60%)post-romidepsin. Participants with CD8+ T-cell proliferation assay positivity post-vaccination showed reductions in total HIV DNA post-vaccination (p = 0.006; q = 0.183), post-latency reversal (p = 0.005; q = 0.183), and CA-RNA reductions post-vaccination (p = 0.015; q = 0.254). Participants (40%) were defined as proliferation ‘Responders’ having ≥2-fold increase in assay positivity post-baseline. Robust ELISpot baseline responses were found in 87.5% participants. No significant changes were observed in the proportion of polyfunctional CD8+ T-cells to HIVGag by ICS. There was a trend towards increased viral inhibition from baseline to post-vaccination (p = 0.08).
In this ‘shock and kill’ approach supported by therapeutic vaccination, CD8+ T-cell proliferation represents a valuable means to monitor functional immune responses as part of the path towards functional HIV cure.
•HIV ‘Shock & Kill’ approaches benefit from inclusion of an immune component.•CD8+ T-cell proliferation is a functional immune assay to measure vaccine effect•T-cell proliferation is sensitive to the influence of therapies on immune responses.•T-cell proliferation can correlate with vaccine induced reductions in HIV reservoirs.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Multiple approaches utilizing viral and DNA vectors have shown promise in the development of an effective vaccine against HIV. In this study, an alternative replication-defective flavivirus vector, ...RepliVax (RV), was evaluated for the delivery of HIV-1 immunogens. Recombinant RV-HIV viruses were engineered to stably express clade C virus Gag and Env (gp120TM) proteins and propagated in Vero helper cells. RV-based vectors enabled efficient expression and correct maturation of Gag and gp120TM proteins, were apathogenic in a sensitive suckling mouse neurovirulence test, and were similar in immunogenicity to recombinant poxvirus NYVAC-HIV vectors in homologous or heterologous prime-boost combinations in mice. In a pilot NHP study, immunogenicity of RV-HIV viruses used as a prime or boost for DNA or NYVAC candidates was compared to a DNA prime/NYVAC boost benchmark scheme when administered together with adjuvanted gp120 protein. Similar neutralizing antibody titers, binding IgG titers measured against a broad panel of Env and Gag antigens, and ADCC responses were observed in the groups throughout the course of the study, and T cell responses were elicited. The entire data demonstrate that RV vectors have the potential as novel HIV-1 vaccine components for use in combination with other promising candidates to develop new effective vaccination strategies.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The preferential oxidation of CO in H
2-rich gas was studied over gold catalysts supported on ceria modified by rare earths (RE
=
La, Sm, Gd and Y). The ceria supports were prepared by ...mechanochemical activation or co-precipitation. The amount of RE
2O
3 was 10
wt%. Gold (2
wt%) was added by the deposition-precipitation method. The samples were characterized using XRD, HRTEM, HAADF, TPR, and Raman spectroscopy. It was established that catalysts prepared by co-precipitation were more active than samples made by mechanochemical activation. A gold catalyst on yttrium-modified ceria, prepared by co-precipitation, exhibited the highest catalytic activity and selectivity, and high stability. No substantial differences in the size distribution and average size of the nanogold particles in the studied catalysts were observed. The main reason for the differences in PROX activity of these gold catalysts was searched into the role of the ceria supports, depending on the preparation method, and the nature of the modifier.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
•Gold on Fe-doped ceria prepared by mechanical mixing (MM) or by impregnation (IM).•Significantly higher WGS activity of gold catalysts on MM compared to IM supports.•Not very different PROX activity ...and selectivity for both methods of synthesis.•Relationship between structural features and catalytic activity.•Role of separate hematite phase for the catalytic behavior in WGSR and PROX.
Two series of Fe-doped (5, 10 and 20wt% Fe2O3) ceria oxides were synthesized by mechanochemical mixing (MM) and impregnation (IM) methods. The Au catalysts (3wt%) supported on these mixed oxides were tested in WGSR and PROX. Gold catalysts on supports prepared by IM exhibited WGS activity lower than that of gold on undoped ceria. Significantly better WGS performance was demonstrated over gold catalysts on supports synthesized by MM. The observed differences in the catalytic behavior were explained by the crucial role of the gold dispersion depending on the preparation method. The highest WGS activity of Au5FeCeMM catalyst was attributed to the cooperative catalytic work of Fe-modified ceria and magnetite with the highest extent of non-stoichiometricity. In contrast to WGSR, the catalytic behavior in PROX over gold catalysts on supports prepared by both methods did not differ significantly. Fe likely acted as a ceria modifier because no changes in Fe-phases and Fe valence state were observed upon reaction. The nanosized hematite particles covering the ceria grains in the case of the IM method could diminish the ceria basicity explaining the observed good and stable PROX performance over Au10FeCeIM catalyst in the presence of CO2 and water.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Background & Aims
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapies with interferon‐free second‐generation direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) are highly effective and well tolerated. They have the potential to increase ...treatment eligibility and efficacy in HIV‐infected patients. We assessed the impact of DAAs on treatment uptake and efficacy, as well as its impact on the burden of liver disease in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS).
Methods
We describe clinical and virological characteristics of patients treated with second‐generation DAAs. We compared treatment incidence, sustained virological response (SVR)12 and liver fibrosis stages between three time periods: period 1, 01/2009‐08/2011 (prior to the availability of DAAs); period 2, 09/2011‐03/2014 (first generation DAAs); period 3, 04/2014‐12/2015 (second generation DAAs).
Results
At the beginning of the third period, 876 SHCS participants had a chronic HCV infection of whom 180 (20%) started treatment with a second‐generation DAA. Three‐quarters of them had advanced liver fibrosis (Metavir ≥ F3) of whom 80% were cirrhotics. SVR12 was achieved in 173/180 (96%) patients, three patients died and four experienced a virological failure. Over the three time periods, treatment uptake (4.5/100 py, 5.7/100 py, 22.4/100 py) and efficacy (54%, 70%, 96% SVR12) continuously increased. The proportion of cirrhotic patients with replicating HCV infection in the SHCS declined from 25% at the beginning to 12% at the end of the last period.
Conclusions
After the introduction of second‐generation DAAs, we observed an increase in treatment uptake and efficacy which resulted in a significant reduction in the number of cirrhotic patients with a replicating HCV infection in the SHCS.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the success and the survival rate of dental implants placed in augmented bone after sinus lifting procedures. Material and Methods. 31 patients were mainly ...enrolled for a residual upper jaw crest thickness of 3 mm. CBCT scans were performed before and after the augmentation technique and at the follow-up appointments, at 3, 6, 12, 24, and up to 60 months. The follow-up examination included cumulative survival rate of implants, peri-implant marginal bone loss, and the height of sinus floor augmentation. Results. This retrospective study on 31 patients and 45 implants later inserted in a less than 3 mm crest showed excellent survival rates (99.5%), one implant was lost before loading due to an acute infection after 24 days, and two implants did not osteointegrate and were removed after 3 months. The radiological evaluation showed an average bone loss of 0.25 mm (±0.78 mm) at the first follow-up appointment (3 months) up to 0.30 mm (±1.28 mm) after 60-month follow-up. Conclusion. In this study it was reported how even in less than 3 mm thick crest a transcrestal technique can predictably be used with a long-term clinical and radiological outcome, giving patients excellent stability of the grafted material and healthy clinical results.
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CMK, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Auxiliary power sources (LED and laser) are used in in-office teeth bleaching techniques to accelerate the redox reaction of the whitening gel to increase ease of use, to improve comfort and safety, ...and to decrease the procedure time.
The aim this study is to evaluate the efficiency of the teeth whitening procedures performed with hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, LED or Laser activated.
18 patients, affected by exogenous dyschromia, were treated with a bleaching agent composed by 35% hydrogen peroxide and 10% carbamide peroxide. They were divided into two groups: in the first group the bleaching agent was activated by a LED lamp; in the second group it was activated by a Laser diode lamp. Both groups were subjected to 3 bleaching cycle of 15' each. The chromatic evaluations were performed before and after one week from the treatment, using a chromatic scale and a spectrophotometer. The mean value of pre, post bleaching and follow-up were analyzed using a T-test, with results statistically significant for P<0,05.
Results showed that the variations in brightness, chroma and hue are significantly influenced by the interaction between the whitening agent and the original colour of the teeth. Laser-activation has marginally improved the bleaching effectiveness. All patients treated with laser activation complained an increase in dental sensitivity.
The use of laser-activating systems did not improve the efficacy of bleaching.
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