Phospholipids modulate the biophysical properties and vasoactivity of PACAP-(1--38).

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the interactions between pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP)-(1--38) and phospholipids in vitro and to determine whether these phenomena modulate, in part, the vasorelaxant effects of the peptide in the intact peripheral microcirculation. We found that the critical micellar concentration of PACAP-(1--38) was 0.4-0.9 microM. PACAP-(1--38) significantly increased the surface tension of a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine monolayer and underwent conformational transition from predominantly random coil in saline to alpha-helix in the presence of distearoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine-polyethylene glycol (molecular mass of 2,000 Da) sterically stabilized phospholipid micelles (SSM) (P < 0.05). Using intravital microscopy, we found that aqueous PACAP-(1--38) evoked significant concentration-dependent vasodilation in the intact hamster cheek pouch that was significantly potentiated when PACAP-(1--38) was associated with SSM (P < 0.05). The vasorelaxant effects of aqueous PACAP-(1--38) were mediated predominantly by PACAP type 1 (PAC(1)) receptors, whereas those of PACAP-(1--38) in SSM predominantly by PACAP/vasoactive intestinal peptide type 1 and 2 (VPAC(1)/VPAC(2)) receptors. Collectively, these data indicate that PACAP-(1--38) self-associates and interacts avidly with phospholipids in vitro and that these phenomena amplify peptide vasoactivity in the intact peripheral microcirculation.     

Results in children of acute lymphoid leukaemia protocol ICIG-ALL 9 consisting of chemotherapy for only nine months followed by active immunotherapy

Summary Protocol ICIG-ALL 9 with only nine months' remission chemotherapy followed by active immunotherapy has given a proportion of about 50% of the patients on the plateau of the first remission curve, while 60% of the children are on the plateau of survival curve.These results do not differ from those of another protocol (ICIG-ALL 10) conducted on an identical population of patients and comprising a 25 month remission chemotherapy before immunotherapy.This observation, confirmed by a randomized trial of the EORTC Haemopathy Working Party, suggests that between the 9th and the 25th month, active immunotherapy is as efficient as maintenance chemotherapy.The overall results of this protocol with short chemotherapy followed by active immunotherapy have been compared with those of another prolonged maintenance chemotherapy before immunotherapy protocol (ICIG-ALL 11), and with published protocols comprising only long maintenance chemotherapy: protocol 9 is, as far as the first remission plateau and the survival plateau are concerned, superior to most of these protocols (if not all their branches).Lethal toxicity of active immunotherapy is nil, in contrast to the proportion of deaths (4–28%) occurring during remission in the patients submitted to maintenance chemotherapy.However, not all patients with so-called acute lymphoid leukaemias should be treated identically: our early prognosis parameters (WHO cytological types and volume of the tumour, in this study) allow us to distinguish a good prognosis group in which protocol 9 gave an 80% cure expectancy.The patients with a poor prognosis should be the object of further research for a more efficient therapy. Even if this should be more intensive, the risk is justified in this group, while it is not so for the good prognosis group.     

Susceptibility of potato tuber moth (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) to postharvest gamma irradiation

Gamma irradiation doses applied to inhibit potato sprouting were tested against potato tuber moth larval and pupal stages. Young larvae and pupae were more susceptible to irradiation injuries than older ones. When larvae of different ages were exposed to doses > or = 100 Gy, only 13-35% pupated, but no adult emergence was obtained. The exposure of 1-1.5- or 3-3.5-d-old pupae to 150 Gy induced high level of sterility and remarkable reduction in female mating ability and fecundity, whereas the reduction was less noticeable for 5-5.5-d-old pupae. Postharvest gamma irradiation of potatoes could be considered as an efficient control approach against potato tuber moth larval and pupal infestations.     

Efficient lipase-selective synthesis of dilauryl mannoses by simultaneous reaction–extraction system

An efficient method for enzymatic-selective synthesis of dilauryl mannoses was developed using lipase-catalyzed condensation of d-mannose and lauric acid in a simultaneous reaction–extraction system. The highest equilibrium conversion of diesters of 51% (1,6-diester: 14%; 3,6-diester: 18%; 4,6-diester: 19%) and the total conversion of mono and dilauryl mannoses of 76% were achieved at the n-hexane/acetonitrile ratio of 1:1, the molar ratio of lauric acid to mannose of 4:1, 60 g/l molecular sieves and 5 g/l lipase at 50°C for 72 h in 15 ml SRE system. The new system will be important for the synthesis of dilauryl mannoses.     

Incidence,Characteristics and Risk Factors of Acute Kidney Injury among Dengue Patients: A Retrospective Analysis

Background

Dengue induced acute kidney injury (AKI) imposes heavy burden of illness in terms of morbidity and mortality. A retrospective study was conducted to investigate incidence, characteristics, risk factors and clinical outcomes of AKI among dengue patients.

Methodology

A total 667 dengue patients (2008–2013) were retrospectively evaluated and were stratified into AKI and non-AKI groups by using AKIN criteria. Two groups were compared by using appropriate statistical methods.

Results

There were 95 patients (14.2%) who had AKI, with AKIN-I, AKIN-II and AKIN-III in 76.8%, 16.8% and 6.4% patients, respectively. Significant differences (P<0.05) in demographics and clinico-laboratory characteristics were observed between patients with and without AKI. Presence of dengue hemorrhagic fever [OR (95% CI): 8.0 (3.64–17.59), P<0.001], rhabdomyolysis [OR (95% CI): 7.9 (3.04–20.49)], multiple organ dysfunction [OR (95% CI): 34.6 (14.14–84.73), P<0.001], diabetes mellitus [OR (95% CI): 4.7 (1.12–19.86), P = 0.034], late hospitalization [OR (95% CI): 2.1 (1.12–19.86), P = 0.033] and use of nephrotoxic drugs [OR (95% CI): 2.9 (1.12–19.86), P = 0.006] were associated with AKI. Longer hospital stay (>3 days) was also observed among AKI patients (OR = 1.3, P = 0.044). Additionally, 48.4% AKI patients had renal insufficiencies at discharge that were signicantly associated with severe dengue, secondary infection and diabetes mellitus. Overall mortality was 1.2% and all fatal cases had AKI.

Conclusions

The incidence of AKI is high at 14.2% among dengue patients, and those with AKI portended significant morbidity, mortality, longer hospital stay and poor renal outcomes. Our findings suggest that AKI in dengue is likely to increase healthcare burden that underscores the need of clinicians’ alertness to this highly morbid and potentially fatal complication for optimal prevention and management.     

Mixed Convection Flow of Viscoelastic Fluid by a Stretching Cylinder with Heat Transfer

Flow of viscoelastic fluid due to an impermeable stretching cylinder is discussed. Effects of mixed convection and variable thermal conductivity are present. Thermal conductivity is taken temperature dependent. Nonlinear partial differential system is reduced into the nonlinear ordinary differential system. Resulting nonlinear system is computed for the convergent series solutions. Numerical values of skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number are computed and discussed. The results obtained with the current method are in agreement with previous studies using other methods as well as theoretical ideas. Physical interpretation reflecting the contribution of influential parameters in the present flow is presented. It is hoped that present study serves as a stimulus for modeling further stretching flows especially in polymeric and paper production processes.     

Heat Generation/Absorption Effects in a Boundary Layer Stretched Flow of Maxwell Nanofluid: Analytic and Numeric Solutions

Analysis has been done to investigate the heat generation/absorption effects in a steady flow of non-Newtonian nanofluid over a surface which is stretching linearly in its own plane. An upper convected Maxwell model (UCM) has been utilized as the non-Newtonian fluid model in view of the fact that it can predict relaxation time phenomenon which the Newtonian model cannot. Behavior of the relaxations phenomenon has been presented in terms of Deborah number. Transport phenomenon with convective cooling process has been analyzed. Brownian motion “D_b” and thermophoresis effects “D_t” occur in the transport equations. The momentum, energy and nanoparticle concentration profiles are examined with respect to the involved rheological parameters namely the Deborah number, source/sink parameter, the Brownian motion parameters, thermophoresis parameter and Biot number. Both numerical and analytic solutions are presented and found in nice agreement. Comparison with the published data is also made to ensure the validity. Stream lines for Maxwell and Newtonian fluid models are presented in the analysis.