Six influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses were detected in Sapporo, Japan, between November and December 2013. All six viruses possessed an H275Y substitution in the neuraminidase protein, which confers ...cross-resistance to oseltamivir and peramivir. No epidemiological link among the six cases could be identified; none of them had received neuraminidase inhibitors before specimen collection. The haemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of the six viruses were closely related to one another, suggesting clonal spread of a single resistant virus.
A major problem in gel permeation chromatography (GPC) or size exclusion chromatography is non-specific binding of applied proteins to the column matrix (stationary phase). We have tested an aqueous ...arginine solution as the GPC mobile phase on silica-based and polymer-based columns, using mouse monoclonal antibody and recombinant human activin, interleukin-6, basic fibroblast growth factor, and interferon-γ as model proteins. We observed that addition of arginine to the mobile phase improves separation of the proteins and their soluble aggregates from the GPC columns, which suggests that arginine is an effective additive for the GPC mobile phase.
It has been shown that the recovery of monomeric antibodies from protein A affinity chromatography is enhanced significantly by using arginine as an eluent. To extend the applications of arginine to ...antibody purification and obtain an insight into the mechanism of arginine elution, we compared arginine with citrate, guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCl), arginine derivatives, and other amino acids in protein A chromatography. We also applied arginine to elution of polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) in antigen affinity chromatography. As described previously, arginine was effective in eluting monoclonal antibodies IgG1 and IgG4. Two arginine derivatives, acetyl-arginine and agmatine, resulted in efficient elution at pH 4.0 or higher, and this was comparable to arginine. On the other hand, other amino acids, such as glycine, proline, lysine, and histidine, are much less effective than arginine under identical pH conditions. Whereas elution increased with arginine concentration, elution with citrate was insignificant in excess of 1
M at pH 4.3. Arginine was also effective in fractionation of pAbs using antigen-conjugated affinity columns. Although GdnHCl was also effective under similar conditions, the eluted material showed more aggregation than did the protein eluted by arginine.
Reproductive behavior in
Drosophila has both stereotyped and plastic components that are driven by age- and sex-specific chemical cues. Males who unsuccessfully court virgin females subsequently ...avoid females that are of the same age as the trainer. In contrast, males trained with mature mated females associate volatile appetitive and aversive pheromonal cues and learn to suppress courtship of all females. Here we show that the volatile aversive pheromone that leads to generalized learning with mated females is (
Z)-11-octadecenyl acetate (
cis-vaccenyl acetate, cVA). cVA is a major component of the male cuticular hydrocarbon profile, but it is not found on virgin females. During copulation, cVA is transferred to the female in ejaculate along with sperm and peptides that decrease her sexual receptivity. When males sense cVA (either synthetic or from mated female or male extracts) in the context of female pheromone, they develop a generalized suppression of courtship. The effects of cVA on initial courtship of virgin females can be blocked by expression of tetanus toxin in
Or65a, but not
Or67d neurons, demonstrating that the aversive effects of this pheromone are mediated by a specific class of olfactory neuron. These findings suggest that transfer of cVA to females during mating may be part of the male's strategy to suppress reproduction by competing males.
Effects of irradiation on thyroid diseases such as thyroid nodules and autoimmune thyroid diseases have not been evaluated among people exposed to radiation more than 50 years in the past.
To ...evaluate the prevalence of thyroid diseases and their radiation-dose responses in atomic bomb survivors.
Survey study comprising 4091 cohort members (mean age, 70 SD, 9 years; 1352 men and 2739 women) who participated in the thyroid study at the Radiation Effects Research Foundation. Thyroid examinations were conducted between March 2000 and February 2003.
Prevalence of thyroid diseases, including thyroid nodules (malignant and benign) and autoimmune thyroid diseases, and the dose-response relationship of atomic bomb radiation in each thyroid disease.
Thyroid diseases were identified in 1833 (44.8%) of the total participants (436 men 32.2% of men and 1397 women 51.0% of women) (P<.001). In 3185 participants, excluding persons exposed in utero, not in the city at the time of the atomic bombings, or with unknown radiation dose, the prevalence of all solid nodules, malignant tumors, benign nodules, and cysts was 14.6%, 2.2%, 4.9%, and 7.7%, respectively. The prevalence of positive thyroid antibodies, antithyroid antibody-positive hypothyroidism, and Graves disease was 28.2%, 3.2%, and 1.2%, respectively. A significant linear dose-response relationship was observed for the prevalence of all solid nodules, malignant tumors, benign nodules, and cysts (P<.001). We estimate that about 28% of all solid nodules, 37% of malignant tumors, 31% of benign nodules, and 25% of cysts are associated with radiation exposure at a mean and median thyroid radiation dose of 0.449 Sv and 0.087 Sv, respectively. No significant dose-response relationship was observed for positive antithyroid antibodies (P = .20), antithyroid antibody-positive hypothyroidism (P = .92), or Graves disease (P = .10).
A significant linear radiation dose response for thyroid nodules, including malignant tumors and benign nodules, exists in atomic bomb survivors. However, there is no significant dose response for autoimmune thyroid diseases.
Non-specific symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections make it difficult for many countries without ongoing transmission of a novel coronavirus to rule out other possibilities including ...influenza before isolating imported febrile individuals with a possible exposure history. The incubation period helps differential diagnosis, and up to two days is suggestive of influenza. It is worth including the incubation period in the case definition of novel coronavirus infection.
Abstract
Aims
Oesophageal fistula represents a rare but dreadful complication of atrial fibrillation catheter ablation. Data on its incidence, management, and outcome are sparse.
Methods and results
...This international multicentre registry investigates the characteristics of oesophageal fistulae after treatment of atrial fibrillation by catheter ablation. A total of 553 729 catheter ablation procedures (radiofrequency: 62.9%, cryoballoon: 36.2%, other modalities: 0.9%) were performed, at 214 centres in 35 countries. In 78 centres 138 patients 0.025%, radiofrequency: 0.038%, cryoballoon: 0.0015% (P < 0.0001) were diagnosed with an oesophageal fistula. Peri-procedural data were available for 118 patients (85.5%). Following catheter ablation, the median time to symptoms and the median time to diagnosis were 18 (7.75, 25; range: 0–60) days and 21 (15, 29.5; range: 2–63) days, respectively. The median time from symptom onset to oesophageal fistula diagnosis was 3 (1, 9; range: 0–42) days. The most common initial symptom was fever (59.3%). The diagnosis was established by chest computed tomography in 80.2% of patients. Oesophageal surgery was performed in 47.4% and direct endoscopic treatment in 19.8% and conservative treatment in 32.8% of patients. The overall mortality was 65.8%. Mortality following surgical (51.9%) or endoscopic treatment (56.5%) was significantly lower as compared to conservative management (89.5%) odds ratio 7.463 (2.414, 23.072) P < 0.001.
Conclusion
Oesophageal fistula after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is rare and occurs mostly with the use of radiofrequency energy rather than cryoenergy. Mortality without surgical or endoscopic intervention is exceedingly high.
Structured Graphical Abstract
Structured Graphical Abstract
Summary of the POTTER-AF study results. CI, confidence interval; OR, odds ratio.
Acidic pH is commonly used to elute antibodies from Protein-A affinity column, although low pH may result in aggregation of the proteins. As an alternative, here arginine was tested as an eluent and ...compared with a more conventional eluent of citrate. Using purified monoclonal antibodies, recovery of antibodies with 0.1
M citrate, pH 3.8, was less than 50% and decreased further as the pH was increased to 4.3. At the same pH, the recovery of antibodies was greatly increased with 0.5
M arginine and more so with 2
M arginine. Even at pH 5.0, 2
M arginine resulted in 31% recovery, although the elution under such condition showed extensive tailing. Such tailing was observed at pH 3.8 when 0.1
M citrate was used. Size exclusion analysis indicated that the eluted antibodies were mostly monomeric whether eluted with citrate or arginine. This demonstrates the usefulness of arginine as an efficient eluent for Protein-A chromatography.
Objective
Epidemiologic analyses indicate a lack of association between BMI (kg/m2) and mortality among Hispanic adults. Because BMI provides only a surrogate for the real variable of interest, ...adiposity, this study evaluated associations between measures of body composition and mortality.
Methods
Using data from US‐residing Mexican Americans in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III (n = 4,480) and NHANES 1999‐2010 (n = 5,849), the association between seven measures of body composition measured via anthropometry and bio‐electrical impedance analysis (i.e., waist circumference, waist‐to‐height ratios WHtR, skinfolds, lean mass, fat mass, percent body fat, and BMI) and all‐cause and cardiovascular and diabetes mortality were examined. Additional analyses were stratified by gender.
Results
Waist circumference (hazard ratio HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01‐1.07) and WHtR (HR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.03‐1.14) were weakly associated with an increased all‐cause mortality, while WHtR was associated with an increased risk of diabetes‐related death (HR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.07‐1.49). In gender‐stratified analyses, there was an increased risk of mortality in females who had increases in WHtR and waist circumference for all‐cause mortality and cardiovascular deaths.
Conclusions
Waist circumference and WHtR were associated with increased risk of all‐cause and diabetes‐related mortality in US‐residing Mexican American adults.
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