Observations on the ex situ perfusion of livers for transplantation.

Normothermic ex situ liver perfusion might allow viability assessment of livers before transplantation. Perfusion characteristics were studied in 47 liver perfusions, of which 22 resulted in transplants. Hepatocellular damage was reflected in the perfusate transaminase concentrations, which correlated with posttransplant peak transaminase levels. Lactate clearance occurred within 3 hours in 46 of 47 perfusions, and glucose rose initially during perfusion in 44. Three livers required higher levels of bicarbonate support to maintain physiological pH, including one developing primary nonfunction. Bile production did not correlate with viability or cholangiopathy, but bile pH, measured in 16 of the 22 transplanted livers, identified three livers that developed cholangiopathy (peak pH 7.5). In the 11 research livers where it could be studied, bile pH > 7.5 discriminated between the 6 livers exhibiting >50% circumferential stromal necrosis of septal bile ducts and 4 without necrosis; one liver with 25-50% necrosis had a maximum pH 7.46. Liver viability during normothermic perfusion can be assessed using a combination of transaminase release, glucose metabolism, lactate clearance, and maintenance of acid-base balance. Evaluation of bile pH may offer a valuable insight into bile duct integrity and risk of posttransplant ischemic cholangiopathy

Synthesis, crystal structure and Raman spectrum of K2[(Pt2)(HPO4)4(H2O)2] containing (Pt2)6+ ions

In the crystal structure of the acid platinum phosphate dipotassium di-μ-hydrogenphosphato-bis­[aqua­platinum(III)](Pt—Pt), K2[Pt2(HPO4)4(H2O)2], the (Pt2)6+ dumbbells within the paddle-wheel complex show Pt—Pt distances of 2.4944 (5) and 2.4892 (5) Å. The pottassium ions are seven-fold coordinated by hydrogenphosphate groups. In the crystal, O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds help to establish the packing. The Raman spectrum was recorded

Nutritional Content of Bromelain Enzyme Fermented Coconut Dregs as Feed for Oreochromis Niloticus

The aims of the study is to nutritional content of bromelain enzyme fermented coconut dregs as feed for oreochromis niloticus. The research procedure bromelain enzyme preparation, coconut dregs fermentation process, experimental design. The result of the research is the proximate test that has been carried out on coconut pulp that has been fermented using the bromelain enzyme, it reveals many things. Namely, the water content and ash content of the coconut pulp that has been fermented using the bromelain enzyme is deemed excellent since it displays a value of less than 12 percent . It is different with crude protein which is less than the National Norm on feed since it only displays a value of 6.20 percent when the standard is 20-35 percent . Another with crude fat and crude fiber. Crude fat and crude fiber in coconut dregs that have been fermented with bromelain enzymes have risen and are far from standard. The normal crude fat is only 2-10 percent , whereas the crude fat in coconut pulp after fermentation with bromelain enzymes is more than 20 percent . And the normal crude fiber is only 4-18 percent , this is less than the crude fiber in fermented coconut pulp because it displays more than 29 percent

Zur Umsetzung von Platin und Platinverbindungen mit konzentrierter Schwefelsäure bei hohen Temperaturen - Mit einem Anhang zur Struktur von (UO2)2(SO4)(HSO4)2 -

Durch Umsetzung von Schwefelsäure mit elementaren Platin konnte das erste binäre, saure Sulfat des Platins, Pt2(SO4)2(HSO4)2, dargestellt und strukturell charakterisiert werden. In der Verbindung liegen [Pt2(SO4)4]-Baueinheiten vor, die zu Schichten verknüpft sind. Die Schichten werden durch Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen zusammengehalten. Durch die Umsetzung von Oleum mit elementarem Platin konnte ein weiteres binäres Sulfat, Pt3(SO4)4, dargestellt werden. In diesem Sulfat sind [Pt2(SO4)4]-Baueinheiten durch SO42--Ionen zu Schichten verknüpft. Zwischen diesen Schichten liegen die Pt2+-Ionen, die eine oktaedrische Koordination aufweisen. Pt3(SO4)4 zeichnet sich durch seine hohe Löslichkeit in Wasser und durch eine niedrige Zersetzungstemperatur von 516 °C aus. Das Zersetzungsprodukt ist ein sehr fein strukturierter Platinschwamm, dessen Poren eine Größe bis hinab zu 25 nm aufweisen. Aus der wässrigen Lösung von Pt3(SO4)4 konnte ein weiteres Sulfat, (H3O)2[Pt2(SO4)4(H2O)2]∙4H2O, durch Rekristallisation erhalten werden. Im Gegensatz zu den beiden binären Sulfaten, in denen die [Pt2(SO4)4]-Einheiten zu Schichten verknüpft sind, liegen hier monomere [Pt2(SO4)4(H2O)2]-Gruppen vor, in denen die H2O Moleküle die terminalen Positionen der Pt2-Hantel einnehmen. Den gleichen Aufbau weist die Verbindung (NH4)2[Pt2(SO4)4(H2O)2] auf, die durch die Umsetzung von Pt(NO3)2 mit Schwefelsäure darstellbar ist. Die Umsetzung der bereits seit längerem bekannten Verbindung K2[Pt2(SO4)4(H2O)2] mit Schwefelsäure führt zu K3[Pt2(SO4)4(HSO4)2], welches als Substitutionsprodukt des Hydrates angesehen werden kann, in dem die H2O-Moleküle gegen HSO4--Gruppen ersetzt sind. Die monomeren [Pt2(SO4)4H(HSO4)2]-Einheiten werden über ein zusätzliches Proton unter Ausbildung von [H(HSO4)2]-Gruppen verbunden. Die Umsetzung von K2PtCl4 mit Schwefelsäure führt zu dem Sulfat K4[Pt2(SO4)5], in dem die [Pt2(SO4)4]-Baueinheiten über SO42--Gruppen zu unendlichen Ketten gemäß [Pt2(SO4)4/1(SO4)2/2]4- verknüpft sind. Die Umsetzung von Rb2PtCl4 und Cs2PtCl4 führt zu den Verbindungen Rb[Pt2(SO4)3(HSO4)] und Cs[Pt2(SO4)3(HSO4)]. In beiden Verbindungen sind die Pt2-Hanteln über tetraedrische Anionen zu Schichten verknüpft. Die Schichten werden über Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen miteinander und den Rb+- bzw. Cs+-Ionen verknüpft. Mit den Verbindungen A4[Pt12(SO4)12O8] (A = NH4+, K+, Rb+, Cs+) konnten erstmals Oxidsulfate des Platins dargestellt werden. Diese zeichnen sich durch das bislang beispiellose Clusteranion [Pt12(SO4)12O8]4- aus, in dem sechs Pt26+-Hanteln über acht O2--Ionen zu einem verzerrten Pt12-Ikosaeder verknüpft sind. In den kleinen Dreiecksflächen des Ikosaeders liegen acht O2--Ionen und über den verbleibenden zwölf großen Dreiecksflächen stehen zwölf dreizählig angreifende SO42--Gruppen. Durch die Umsetzung von UO3 mit Schwefelsäure konnte ein neues Uranylsulfat (UO2)2(SO4)(HSO4)2 dargestellt und strukturell charakterisiert werden. In diesem Uranylsulfat werden die UO2+-Kationen durch fünf Sulfatgruppen koordiniert, so dass sich eine pentagonale Bipyramide als Koordinationspolyeder ergibt

Linnaruumis rakendatavad looduskaitsemeetodid elurikkuse säilitamiseks

Linnastumine on viimaste aastakümnete jooksul kujunenud olulisimaks maakasutust muutvaks protsessiks. Linnade laienemine mõjutab elurikkust läbi elupaikade kao ja killustumise, mikroklimaatiliste tingimuste muutuse ning keskkonnareostuse, mis toob kaasa bioloogilise mitmekesisuse languse. Looduslikku elupaigastruktuuri jäljendavalt planeeritud linn võib oma heterogeense maastikuga pakkuda mitmekülgseid alternatiivseid elupaigavõimalusi paljudele elustikurühmadele. Linnade elurikkuse hoidmiseks on oluline hoida ning luua liigirikka taimestikuga haljasalasid, mis on omavahel hästi ühendatud. Elurikkust toetab ka kodumaiste taimedega haljastamine ning niitmiskoormuse vähendamine. Bakalaureusetöö eesmärk on anda ülevaade, millised elustiku kaitse meetmed linnas on tulemuslikud, soodustades linnalooduse liigirikkuse säilimist ja taastamist

Adaptation of HIV-1 Envelope Glycoprotein gp120 to Humoral Immunity over the Course of the Epidemic

Since 2009, a large panel of broad and potent monoclonal neutralizing antibodies (MoNAbs) against HIV-1 have been isolated. These MoNAbs can protect from lllV-1 infection and suppress established infection in animal models. Because their efficacy should be evaluated in human clinical trials, it is of importance to define the sensitivity of the most contemporary transmitted variants to these MoNAbs. We, and others previously, reported that HIV-1 has become more resistant to neutralization over the course of the epidemic (Bunnik et al., Nature Med 2010, Bouvin-Pley et al., PloS Pathog 2013). Methods: Here we extended the analyses to the most potent MoNAbs described since then, either more recently isolated or improved by structure-based gene modifications. Results: We fully confirmed the first observations showing an increasing resistance of HIV-1 clade B over time to MoNAbs targeting the major gp l20 epitopes but not to MoNAbs targeting the gp41 MPER. Despite this evolution, some MoNAbs still were able to neutralize efficiently the most recently transmitted HIV-1 variants (2006-2010). The most potent MoNAbs were the bi-specific PG9- and PG16-iMab that alone were able to neutralize an variants at less than 0.4 mg/mL. The sensitivity to iMAb remained similar over time, suggesting that the trend of increasing resistance to PG9-/PG16-iMAb may be attributed only to die antigen binding domain of PG9/PG16. NIH45-46m2 (and -m7), 10-1074 and 10E8 were also highly potent and, if combined, reached the potency of PG9-/PG16-iMAb. We also observed that 3BNC 117 was almost as potent as the modified NIH45-46 antibodies, and that the lama-derived JM4IgG2b was the most potent Ab among those that do not target the major gp 120 neutralizing epitopes. Conclusions: These data clearly suggest a continuous drift of the env gene of HIV-1 elude B over the epidemic, and that not a single epitope is concerned but the entire gp120 as a whole. The consequences of this adaptation on the envelope functionality are being explored

Digital and technological innovation in vector-borne disease surveillance to predict, detect, and control climate-driven outbreaks

Vector-borne diseases are particularly sensitive to changes in weather and climate. Timely warnings from surveillance systems can help to detect and control outbreaks of infectious disease, facilitate effective management of finite resources, and contribute to knowledge generation, response planning, and resource prioritisation in the long term, which can mitigate future outbreaks. Technological and digital innovations have enabled the incorporation of climatic data into surveillance systems, enhancing their capacity to predict trends in outbreak prevalence and location. Advance notice of the risk of an outbreak empowers decision makers and communities to scale up prevention and preparedness interventions and redirect resources for outbreak responses. In this Viewpoint, we outline important considerations in the advent of new technologies in disease surveillance, including the sustainability of innovation in the long term and the fundamental obligation to ensure that the communities that are affected by the disease are involved in the design of the technology and directly benefit from its application

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has resulted in a myriad of interventions with the urgent aim of reducing the public health impact of this virus. However, a wealth of evidence both from high-income and low-income countries is accruing on the broader consequences of such interventions on economic and public health inequalities, as well as on pre-existing programmes targeting endemic pathogens. We provide an overview of the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on hepatitis B virus (HBV) programmes globally, focusing on the possible consequences for prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Ongoing disruptions to infrastructure, supply chains, services and interventions for HBV are likely to contribute disproportionately to the short-term incidence of chronic hepatitis B, providing a long-term source of onward transmission to future generations that threatens progress towards the 2030 elimination goals

Polymorphisms Predicting Phylogeny in Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)

Hepatitis B viruses (HBV) are compact viruses with circular genomes of ∼3.2kb in length. Four genes (HBx, Core, Surface and Polymerase) generating seven products are encoded on overlapping reading frames. Ten HBV genotypes have been characterised (A-J), which may account for differences in transmission, outcomes of infection, and treatment response. However, HBV genotyping is rarely undertaken, and sequencing remains inaccessible in many settings. We used a machine learning approach based on random forest algorithms (RFA) to assess which amino acid (aa) sites in the genome are most informative for determining genotype. We downloaded 5496 genome-length HBV sequences from a public database, excluding recombinant sequences, regions with conserved indels, and genotypes I/J. Each gene was separately translated into aa, and the proteins concatenated into a single sequence (length 1614aa). Using RFA, we searched for aa sites predictive of genotype, and assessed co-variation among the sites with a Mutual Information (MI)-based method. We were able to discriminate confidently between genotypes A-H using 10 aa sites. 5/10 sites were identified in Polymerase (Pol), of which 4/5 were in the spacer domain, and a single site in reverse transcriptase. A further 4/10 sites were located in Surface protein, and a single site in HBx. There were no informative sites in Core. Properties of the aa were generally not conserved between genotypes at informative sites. Co-variation analysis identified 55 pairs of highly-linked sites. Three RFA-identified sites were represented across all pairs (two sites in spacer, and one in HBx). Residues that co-vary with these sites are concentrated in the small HBV surface gene. We also observe a cluster of sites adjacent to the Surface promoter region that co-vary with a spacer residue. Overall, we have shown that RFA analysis is a powerful tool for identifying aa sites that predict HBV lineage, with an unexpectedly high number of such sites in the spacer domain, which has conventionally been viewed as unimportant for structure or function. Our results improve ease of genotype prediction from limited regions of HBV sequence, and may have implications for understanding HBV evolution and the role of the spacer domain