IgE is an immunoglobulin that plays a central role in acute allergic reactions and chronic inflammatory allergic diseases. The development of a drug able to neutralize this antibody represents a ...breakthrough in the treatment of inflammatory pathologies with a probable allergic basis. This review focuses on IgE-related chronic diseases, such as allergic asthma and chronic urticaria (CU), and on the role of the anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, omalizumab, in their treatment. We also assess the off-label use of omalizumab for other pathologies associated with IgE and report the latest findings concerning this drug and other new related drugs. To date, omalizumab has only been approved for severe allergic asthma and unresponsive chronic urticaria treatments. In allergic asthma, omalizumab has demonstrated its efficacy in reducing the dose of inhaled corticosteroids required by patients, decreasing the number of asthma exacerbations, and limiting the effect on airway remodeling. In CU, omalizumab treatment rapidly improves symptoms and in some cases achieves complete disease remission. In systemic mastocytosis, omalizumab also improves symptoms and its prophylactic use to prevent anaphylactic reactions has also been discussed. In other pathologies such as atopic dermatitis, food allergy, allergic rhinitis, nasal polyposis, and keratoconjunctivitis, omalizumab significantly improves clinical manifestations. Omalizumab acts in two ways: by sequestering free IgE and by accelerating the dissociation of the IgE-Fcε receptor I complex.
The lack of the sulfur beneficial lubricity in ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) may lead to premature wear and failure of diesel-fuel systems. Mixing of small percentages of, for instance, biodiesels ...and other biofuels is typically used to add lubricity in ULSD. N-butanol has been recently proved to mix in or replace diesel without compromising engine combustion performance. But anti-wear properties of mixing N-Butanol in ULSD have not previously been studied. This paper presents a tribology study on the effects of N-Butanol in ULSD in a steel-on steel sliding contact. The research work employed a pin on disk tribometer for friction-force data acquisition, and wear was measured by specimen weight-change. The wear results and the friction force evolution observed in tests indicate that the dilutions of ULSD with N-Butanol can lead to a reduction of wear and that there is an optimum rate of dilution, of around 25% of N-Butanol in ULSD, that minimizes wear and increases the mixture lubricity as compared to those of both pure ULSD and pure N-Butanol.
Network analysis is an important conceptual and analytical approach in mental health research. However, few studies have used network analysis to examine the structure of cognitive performance in ...psychotic disorders.
We examined the network structure of the cognitive scores of a sample of 207 first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients and 188 healthy controls. Participants were assessed using a battery of 10 neuropsychological tests. Fourteen cognitive scores encompassing six cognitive domains and premorbid IQ were selected to perform the network analysis.
Many similarities were found in the network structure of FEP patients and healthy controls. Verbal memory, attention, working memory and executive function nodes were the most central nodes in the network. Nodes in both groups corresponding to the same tests tended to be strongly connected.
Verbal memory, attention, working memory and executive function were central dimensions in the cognitive network of FEP patients and controls. These results suggest that the interplay between these core dimensions is essential for demands to solve complex tasks, and these interactions may guide the aims of cognitive rehabilitation. Network analysis of cognitive dimensions might have therapeutic implications that deserve further research.
Tuberculosis (TB) has a high incidence, prevalence and mortality in the world. Due to its high level of transmission and long-term pharmacological treatment, it is important to have sensitive and ...specific diagnostic tests. Recently, the PureLyse® system, which is a novel DNA extraction method, was proposed to be an important tool for molecular diagnosis of TB. Here, we compare the PureLyse® system followed by an IS6110 nested PCR (PureLyse® – IS6110 nested PCR) with the Xpert® MTB/RIF test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) identification in 40 clinical samples. Among the 40 samples, 26 samples were positive and 14 negative for the Xpert® MTB/RIF test as well as for the PureLyse® - IS6110 nested PCR. According to the Xpert® MTB/RIF test, positive samples presented different bacillary concentrations from “High” to “Very low” and rifampin resistance was observed in 5 samples. The concordance of both molecular methods makes the PureLyse® - IS6110 nested PCR suitable for MTBC detection in patients for low-income resources.
•The PureLyse® system coupled with an IS6110 nested PCR was compared with the Xpert® MTB/RIF test for MTBC identification.•Both methods showed concordance in the results for MTBC identification.•The PureLyse® - IS6110 nested PCR could be an important tool for MTBC detection in patients with low-income resources.
Nanofluids, the suspensions of nano-size powders in ordinary fluids, are of technical interest for their enhanced cooling properties, but their possible erosion-corrosion effects on cooling-system ...materials are mostly unknown. This paper discusses the rationale for designing and developing a new test-rig with flow-through parallel to the tested surfaces. The instrument conduct-chamber accommodates multiple specimens for simultaneous testing, and controlled fluid speed and temperature. This study shows that the new rig yields measurable surface-modifications from nanofluid action in reasonable test-times. Results are presented for a nanofluid (of 2%-alumina-nanopowder in water) that is recirculated in parallel-flow contact with polished aluminum and copper. Surface modifications are assessed by roughness, weighing of removed-material, and optical-microscopy, and results indicate that nanopowders can lead to patterns of wear, erosion and corrosion that are substantially different than those typically obtained from the base-fluids.
Nanofluids are nanosize-powder suspensions that are of interest for their enhanced thermal transport properties. They are studied as promising alternatives to ordinary cooling fluids, but the ...tribiological effects of nanofluids on cooling-system materials are largely unknown. The authors have developed methodology that uses jet impingement on typical cooling-system materials to test such effects. The work is presented of the authors’ research on the interactions of a typical nanofluid (2% volume of alumina nanopowders in a solution of ethylene glycol in water) which is impinged on aluminum and copper specimens for tests as long as 112 hours. The surface changes were assessed by roughness measurements and optical-microscope studies. Comparative roughness indicate that both the reference cooling fluid of ethylene glycol and water and its nanofluid with 2% alumina produce roughness changes in aluminum (even for the shortest 3-hour test), but no significant roughness differences were observed between them. No significant roughness changes were observed for copper. Microscopy observations, however, show different surface modifications in both aluminum and copper by both the nanofluid and its base fluid. The possible mechanisms of early erosion are discussed. These investigations demonstrate suitable methods for the testing of nanofluid effects on cooling system-materials.
The growing research interest on nanofluids, the suspensions of nano-size powders in ordinary fluids with enhanced cooling properties, has led the authors to study surface modifications (i.e., ...possible erosion-corrosion effects) from nanofluid interactions with typical heat-exchanger materials. This article discusses existing instruments and the rationale for designing a new ad-hoc test rig using jet-impingement at speeds from 3.5 m/s to 35 m/s. Preliminary tests used typical nanofluids—2% volume alumina-nanopowder in water—which were jet-impinged at 15.5 m/s speed on aluminum and copper specimens. The instrument, methodologies and assessment tools proved to be appropriate to test for the nanofluid interactions with material surfaces. The studied surface modifications, which were assessed by roughness measurements, weighing for removed-material, and optical-microscopy, suggest that addition of nano-powders can lead to patterns of erosion-corrosion that are substantially different than those typically obtained from base fluids.
The purpose of this paper is to present experimental research work seeking a better understanding of triboemission and its role in tribochemistry. A new instrument is described for measuring the ...intensity and retarded-energy spectra of electrons and ions triboemitted from various sliding contacts. This instrument was designed to accommodate a variety of contact geometries and it features a wide range of applied loads and sliding speeds under high vacuum or controlled atmosphere conditions. The particle-measurement technique employs a channel electron multiplier in the pulse-counting mode. Experimental results are reported on triboemission intensity from sliding contact of diamond on three related materials: alumina, single crystal sapphire (Al
2O
3), and aluminum. Significant negatively-charged particle triboemission was observed from diamond-on-alumina and diamond-on-sapphire contacts. The retarded-energy spectrum of the negative-particle triboemission also was measured. Emission of positively-charged particles was found to be of relatively low intensity. Lower levels of negatively-charged triboemission, as compared to those from alumina and sapphire, were found from diamond-on-aluminum. These results are discussed with a focus on the possible role of charged particle emission in tribochemical processes and, in particular, on tribopolymerization as an effective mechanism of ceramic lubrication.
The triboemission of charged particles during sliding contact is one measurable but often neglected output during wear of ceramics. Previous research work by the authors suggested that some ...boundary-lubricant reactions may be initiated and controlled by triboemitted electrons, but the origin and mechanisms of the triboemission phenomena remain largely unknown. The authors used a new tribometer, whose features and capabilities were previously reported, to measure electron triboemission outputs from the sliding contacts of diamond-on-ceramics and other material systems under vacuum. Characterizations were previously presented in the time-domain for those outputs.
This paper introduces a new characterization of electron triboemission from ceramics by considering the frequency of occurrence of the emission events. A literature review is included on statistical models for the triboemission phenomena. A transformation to frequency-domain reveals patterns of decaying frequencies of occurrence for increasing number of events in the triboemission outputs from diamond-on-alumina and diamond-on-sapphire contacts. The patterns are complex and several classic frequency distributions are tested for describing it. A new distribution, which was developed by the authors as a “truncated compound Poisson”, shows the best fit to the triboemission data. Finally, the possibility is discussed of using frequency-domain analysis to obtain new understanding of possible mechanisms for charged-particle triboemission.
Avocado (Persea americana) is an important tropical fruit and a good source of lipophilic phytochemicals such as monounsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, vitamin E and sterols that have been ...inversely related to cardiovascular diseases. However, their antioxidant capacities have received far less attention compared with hydrophilic phytochemicals in this fruit. In this context, this study evaluated the effect of the stage of ripeness of ‘Hass’ avocado on the content of lipophilic and hydrophilic phytochemicals and their correlation with the antioxidant capacity. In every ripeness stage the fatty acids, total phenolic and flavonoid content as well as the antioxidant capacity were evaluated. Physiological and physico-chemical analysis were also performed including respiration rate, ethylene production, firmness, color (L*, °Hue, and Chroma), dry matter and oil content. In general, total phenols increased during ripening, while flavonoids slightly decreased. The main fatty acid identified was oleic acid (about 67–70% of total content). In general, a significant increase in monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids was observed during avocado ripening while polyunsaturated fatty acid content decreased (p<0.05). Lipophilic extracts showed higher values of antioxidant capacity than hydrophilic, however, both extracts had similar trends for DPPH, TEAC and ORAC assays. DPPH and TEAC assays had a positive correlation with some unsaturated fatty acids. Avocado at different ripeness stages showed a better antioxidant capacity in the lipophilic fraction, which correlated with the fatty acid content evaluated.
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