Reconstruction of the historic time course of blood‐borne virus contamination of clotting factor concentrates, 1974–1992

Factor VIII and IX clotting factor concentrates manufactured from pooled plasma have been identified as potent sources of virus infection in persons with hemophilia (PWHs) in the 1970s and 1980s. To investigate the range and diversity of viruses over this period, we analysed 24 clotting factor concentrates for several blood-borne viruses. Nucleic acid was extracted from 14 commercially produced clotting factors and 10 from nonremunerated donors, preserved in lyophilized form (expiry dates: 1974–1992). Clotting factors were tested by commercial and in-house quantitative PCRs for blood-borne viruses hepatitis A, B, C and E viruses (HAV, HBV, HCV, HEV), HIV- types 1/2, parvoviruses B19V and PARV4, and human pegiviruses types 1 and 2 (HPgV-1,-2). HCV and HPgV-1 were the most frequently detected viruses (both 14/24 tested) primarily in commercial clotting factors, with frequently extremely high viral loads in the late 1970s–1985 and a diverse range of HCV genotypes. Detection frequencies sharply declined following introduction of virus inactivation. HIV-1, HBV, and HAV were less frequently detected (3/24, 1/24, and 1/24 respectively); none were positive for HEV. Contrastingly, B19V and PARV4 were detected throughout the study period, even after introduction of dry heat treatment, consistent with ongoing documented transmission to PWHs into the early 1990s. While hemophilia treatment is now largely based on recombinant factor VIII/IX in the UK and elsewhere, the comprehensive screen of historical plasma-derived clotting factors reveals extensive exposure of PWHs to blood-borne viruses throughout 1970s-early 1990s, and the epidemiological and manufacturing parameters that influenced clotting factor contamination

Grain refinement by AlN particles in Mg-Al based alloys

AlN has been identified as a potential grain refiner for magnesium alloys using the edge-to-edge matching calculations. Experimental results indicate that the maximum grain refining efficiency of AlN in Mg-Al alloys occurs in samples cast from a melt temperature of 765 degrees C. Under these conditions, an addition of 0.5 wt% AlN reduces the grain size of Mg-3 wt% Al alloy from 450 to 120 mu m. No further reduction is observed when more AlN is added to the melt. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Brain interleukin asymmetries and paw preference in mice

International audienc

Development and usability test of an intelligent cardiovascular risk elimination application for patients with coronary heart disease

Abstract Background The mortality of coronary heart disease (CHD) can be largely reduced by improving CHD risk factors through facilitating adherence to unhealthy lifestyle modification (UhLM) and secondary preventive medications (SPMs). Current interventions, however, have been unsatisfactory worldwide. Purpose To develop an Individualized, Intelligent and Integrated Cardiovascular Application for Risk Elimination system (iCARE) for facilitating adherence to UhLM and SPMs, and test its usability and feasibility for implementation. Methods Based on a set of individualized interventions formulated in our preliminary work, we developed iCARE using mHealth techniques and a user-centred approach, which included 3 phases: (1) identifying patient preferences regarding formats for providing interventions; (2) designing the functions, architecture, and user interface (UI); (3) developing the iCARE using prototyping techniques. Usability test was conducted in patients with acute coronary syndromes and/or underwent percutaneous coronary intervention from January to March 2019 in two University affiliated hospitals in our city. The iCARE was implemented in 4 cardiac units of the same hospitals thereafter. Results The iCARE architecture and UI are displayed in Fig 1. Different from most current available mHealth CHD management system, the iCARE has a set of interventions and IF-THEN algorithms triggering interventions to ensure that patients receive individualized recommendations for UhLM and SPMs adherence. To improve effectiveness of iCARE interventions, visualization was used to augment patients' perceptions of risks of non-adherence to UhLM and SPMs, and effectiveness of adopting healthy lifestyles etc. Interventions are triggered by results of initial assessment and health data from daily monitoring. The initial assessment is conducted before patients are discharged, and a health report as well as individualized goals for risk reduction are formulated automatically. Daily diet, physical activities, smoking, medication adherence, blood pressure, blood sugar, and symptoms are monitored either through wearable devices or manual entry. Instant and individualized feedbacks as well as recommended actions are sent to patients automatically. A build-in artificial intelligent Q-A function was also included in iCARE. For the usability test, 88 patients with 71.3% male and mean age of 60 (SD 9.9) were recruited, 87.5% were satisfied with iCARE; 89.5% and 81.4% reported that iCARE was useful and easy to use, respectively. Currently, a total of 201 patients with 83.1% male and mean age of 54 (SD 10.2) were recruited from June 2019 to January 2020, and 46 of them have been followed up for 3 months. Conclusions The iCARE has achieved its functions of serving as an individualized and intelligent CHD management tool to improve adherence to UhLM and SPMs. The usability is satisfactory and it is feasible to implement in clinical settings. Figure 1. The iCARE system. iCARE, Individualized, Intelligent and Integrated Cardiovascular Applicaton for Risk Elimination (iCARE) system, CHD, coronary heart disease. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): National Natural Science Funding of China </jats:sec