Characterization and epitope mapping of human monoclonal antibodies to PDC-E2, the immunodominant autoantigen of primary biliary cirrhosis

Further to define the epitopes of PDC-E2, the major autoantigen in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), we have developed and characterized five human monoclonal antibodies. These antibodies were derived by fusing a regional hepatic lymph node from a patient with PBC with the mouse human heterohybrid cell line F3B6. Previous studies of epitope mapping of PDC-E2 have relied on whole sera and have suggested that the immunodominant epitope lies within the inner lipoyl domain of the molecule. However, selective absorption studies using whole sera and a series of overlapping recombinant peptides of PDC-E2 have suggested that the epitope may also include a large conformational component. Moreover, several laboratories have suggested that autoantibodies against the 2-oxo acids dehydrogenase autoantigens are cross-reactive. The five monoclonal antibodies generated included three IgG2a and two IgM antibodies and were studied for antigen specificity using recombinant PDC-E2, recombinant BCKD-E2, histone, dsDNA, IgG (Fc), collagen and a recombinant irrelevant liver specific control, the F alloantigen. The antibodies were also used to probe blots of human, bovine, mouse and rat mitochondria. Finally, fine specificity was studied by selective ELISA and absorption against overlapping expressing fragments of PDC-E2. All five monoclonals, but none of the other mitochondrial autoantigens were specific for PDC-E2. In fact, although affinity purified antibodies to PDC-E2 from patients with PBC cross-reacted with protein X, the human monoclonals did not, suggesting that protein X contains an epitope distinct from that found on PDC-E2. Additionally, all three IgG2 monoclonals recognized distinct epitopes within the inner lipoyl domain of PDC-E2. © 1992

Intrauterine condom catheter tamponade in the management of atonic postpartum haemorrhage: a case series from a tertiary care centre in Central India

Background: Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide with a prevalence rate of approximately 6% and 50% is due to atonic PPH. According to WHO 2014-  in India 45,000 maternal deaths take place annually and 20-60% are due to postpartum hemorrhage. Various medical and surgical methods are available. Uterine balloon tamponade is one of the methods reported increasingly with good success rates avoiding surgical morbidity.Methods: Prospective data of all women who went into atonic primary PPH after 28 weeks of gestation was collected over a period of one year.Results: Out of the 252 women who had atonic PPH, 23 were inserted with condom balloon catheter after medical management. Success rate was 18/23 (78.2%).Conclusions: Condom catheter is a non-invasive, effective, conservative method of PPH management.  In cases of failure it provides a temporary tamponade effect and time to prepare for other interventions

Les propositions de modes d'évaluation du rendement des policiers communautaires

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal

A novel circulating fluidized bed

A novel type of circulating fluidized bed has been investigated and tested. While a conventional circulating fluidized bed unit consists of two vessels standing side by side - a fast bed operating at high gas velocity, and a slow bed which acts as a recycle vessel and operates at a much lower velocity - the novel design incorporates the two beds into a unique concentric arrangement. The inner column acts as the fast bed and the annular region acts as the slow bed. A baffle to separate the gas-solid mixture at the top of the inner column has been designed and tested. The baffle works reasonably well but design optimization is needed. Two types of air inlets for aeration of the insert have been tried: vertical and tangential. The vertical air inlet has been found to produce the highest solids circulation rates. Two types of solids have been investigated: polyvinyl chloride resin and cracking catalyst. The use of the heavier and smaller cracking catalyst particles resulted in higher circulation rates and greater solids hold-up in the inner column. The hydrodynamic behavior of the system has been studied using pressure and circulation flux measurements. The solids circulation flux, the axial pressure profile, and the absolute pressure inside the system are generally all strong functions of air velocity in both the inner and outer sections, solids inventory, type of particle, and type of air inlet.Applied Science, Faculty ofChemical and Biological Engineering, Department ofGraduat

L\u27\ue9tude de la protection des mat\ue9riaux \ue0 la Station exp\ue9rimentale de La Mabok\ue9

Volume: 1Start Page: 18End Page: 1

Protection des mat\ue9riaux. — La protection des appareils optiques en climat tropical

Volume: 2Start Page: 37End Page: 3

Algologie. — Florule algologique de la R\ue9publique Centrafricaine. I Diatom\ue9es de quelques collections d\u27eau de la sous-pr\ue9fecture de M\u27Baiki et du parc Saint-Floris

Volume: 2Start Page: 20End Page: 3