Immunogenicity and immunoprotection of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) Cap protein displayed by Lactococcus lactis

The capsid (Cap) protein, an important immunoprotective protein of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), was expressed on the cell surface of the Gram-positive food-grade bacterium, Lactococcus lactis. Cap protein was fused to the peptidoglycan binding domain (known as the protein anchor domain, PA) of the lactococcal AcmA cell-wall hydrolase. The Cap protein fusion was non-covalently rebound to the surface of non-genetically modified, non-living high-binder L. lactis cells (designated Gram-positive enhancer matrix (GEM) particles). Expression of the recombinant GEM-displaying capsid protein (GEM-PA-Cap) was verified by Western blotting and immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy assays. To evaluate the immunogenicity of the recombinant Cap protein (rCap), 20 PCV2-seronegative piglets were immunized with the GEM-PA-Cap subunit vaccine, GEM alone, or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, challenge control and empty control). Each group consisted of five piglets. The results showed that the level of PCV2-specific antibodies in piglets immunized with the GEM-PA-Cap subunit vaccine was significantly higher than that of the piglets immunized with GEM alone or the control group at all the time points post-vaccination (P < 0.01). After challenge with the PCV2 wild-type strain, piglets that received the GEM-PA-Cap subunit vaccine showed significantly higher average daily weight gain (DWG) and shorter fever duration than the other two groups (P < 0.001). Furthermore, a significant reduction in the gross lung lesion scores and lymph node lesion scores was noted in the GEM-PA-Cap-immunized group compared with the scores of the GEM or PBS-treated group (P < 0.01). The results suggest that recombinant rCap displayed by L. lactis GEM particles provided the piglets with significant immunoprotection from PCV2-associated disease. Thus, the novel GEM-PA-Cap subunit vaccine has potential to be considered an effective and safe candidate vaccine against PCV2 infection in piglets.     

Dry eye signs and symptoms in aromatase inhibitor treatment and the relationship with pain

PurposeAromatase inhibitors (AIs) limit the synthesis of oestrogen in peripheral tissues thus lowering levels of oestrogen. The primary aim was to evaluate whether women treated with AIs have altered dry eye symptoms and signs. A sub-aim was to investigate whether symptoms of dry eye in postmenopausal women were associated with symptoms of non-eye pain, ocular pain and self-rated pain perception.MethodsThis cross-sectional, observational, single visit study recruited 56 postmenopausal women (mean age 64.1 + 7.9 years) and 52 undergoing AI treatment (mean age 66.6 + 9.0). Ocular symptoms (OSDI, MGD14) and pain questionnaires (PSQ, OPAS) were administered and signs of dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction were evaluated.ResultsAlmost half of each group reported dry eye symptoms, defined as OSDI>12 (48% control, 46% AI). The PSQ score was significantly higher in the AI group (p = 0.04). Neither frequency or severity of dry eye (or MGD) symptoms scores were significantly different between groups. In the AI group, meibomian gland expressibility score was worse (p = 0.003); there were no differences in any other signs. Higher OSDI scores were associated with higher OPAS eye-pain scores (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), but not OPAS non-eye pain (r = 0.09, p = 0.35). Pain perception (PSQ) showed a moderate positive association with OPAS eye-pain (r = 0.30, p = 0.003).ConclusionsIn this study elevated ocular symptoms were observed in both the AI treated and the untreated groups, with no difference between the groups. Women undergoing AI treatment for early stage breast cancer had worse meibum expressibility score and increased pain perception compared to an untreated group of women.     

Influence of granulation temperature on particle size distribution of granules in twin-screw granulation (TSG)

This study investigated an influence of granulation temperature during twin-screw granulation (TSG) on particle size distributions (PSDs). The influence of the granulation temperature on granule size distributions varied, depending on the liquid to solid (L/S) ratio, the kind of binders, the method of binder addition, and the filler material. The PSD of granules was broad and bimodal at a barrel temperature of 30?°C. Granules size distributions became narrow and second height decreased at high barrel temperature. While the L/S ratio had an effect on the sharpness of granule size distributions, this effect was minor compared to the granulation temperature. Granule size distributions were influenced by binder addition methods. When the binder was added as solution, PSD became broad. In formulations using lactose as filler, PSD became broad and bimodal at 90?°C. Much lactose was dissolved in granulation solution at high temperature, because the solubility of lactose rises significantly with the solution temperature leading to higher effective L/S ratio in the granulator. Hence, granulation was proceeded and large granules were formed. From these results, the granulation temperature is one of important parameters to obtain mono-modal PSD in TSG.     

Composites with AIEgens for Temperature Sensing and Strain Measurement

Traditional fluorescent molecules are easily quenched in most solid applications. Materials with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristics offer a new way to solve this problem. In this paper, polymer composites consisting of tetraphenylethene (TPE) with AIE properties and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) are developed by a simple blending method. The prepared material shows a variable fluorescent emission with different TPE concentrations in the polymer matrix. Such a unique phenomenon arises mainly from the transition of the AIEgen from the crystal to the amorphous state. Interestingly, the fluorescent emission of composites is strongly affected by external factors, such as temperature and mechanical conditions, thus giving the material a stimuli‐sensitive fluorescence property. Specifically, the fluorescence intensity of composites decreases with an increasing temperature, and the same response exhibits when the mechanical force is applied to the material. The excellent response of composites to the temperature and mechanical deformation guarantees the sensory applications of the developed material.     

Electroactive High‐Temperature Shape Memory Polymers with High Recovery Stress Induced by Ground Carbon Fibers

Electroactive shape memory polymers (SMPs) are suitable for remote controllable actuators or applications where direct heat is inconvenient, and herein an electroactive shape memory polyimide (EASMPI) is reported for the first time. EASMPI is synthesized by incorporating ground carbon fibers (GCFs) into a polyimide matrix to form a compact conductive network, and percolation threshold of 0.312 S m^?1 meets the demands of both electroactive and shape memory effects. The glass transition temperature of 302 °C for EASMPI is much higher than that of other electroactive SMPs, and its shape recovery is activated effectively by a voltage of 15.87 V. Recovery stress is crucial for shape memory materials to output work, and EASMPI produces high recovery stress of 40.1 MPa. The possible mechanisms are discussed, and GCF mainly accounts for its electroactivity and recovery stress. EASMPI shows vast potential in practical applications with its electroactive shape memory effect and high recovery stress at high temperature.     

Resistance to cyclic fatigue of reciprocating instruments determined at body temperature and phase transformation analysis

The purpose of this study was to compare cyclic fatigue (CF) resistance of reciprocating instruments at body temperature and relate the findings to their martensitic transformation temperatures. Contemporary nickel‐titanium (NiTi) reciprocating instruments WaveOne Primary, WaveOne Gold Primary and EdgeFile X1 (n = 20 each and #25 tip diameter) were tested for CF resistance at body temperature (37 ± 1°C). Instruments were actioned according to manufacturer guidelines until fracture occurred in a simulated canal (angle of curvature = 60°, radius of curvature = 3 mm and centre of curvature = 5 mm from the tip). Time to fracture was recorded, and data analysed using Weibull analysis. Two instruments of each were tested using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to assess phase transformation temperatures. Reciprocating instruments manufactured with new alloys seem to be safer to CF than those manufactured with traditional M‐Wire at body temperature. Martensitic transformation temperatures seem not to relate with fatigue behaviour for reciprocating motions.     

体温对大脑认知功能状态影响与调控策略研究进展

人若长期暴露在高低温极端环境下会使机体不适,极大影响其脑的认知功能,以致警觉度、注意力、工作记忆等功能受损。皮肤温度刺激作为简便易行的体温调控物理方法,可在一定程度上稳定并提高大脑的认知功能状态。综述目前国内外相关研究的现状与存在的问题,指出现未明确了解的调控体温、保护大脑神经和提高认知功能的机制,还有待探索的最佳目标刺激温度和时间,以达到快速有效提高大脑认知能力的目的。展望今后的研究策略,应紧密结合低温刺激,从大脑神经保护机制和大脑认知功能内在机理两个方面来研究制定体温调控策略,才有望找到快速有效调控、安全稳妥保护大脑认知功能的最佳方案。     

Effect of Tepid Sponge on changes in body temperature in children under five who have fever in Dr. Achmad Mochtar Bukittinggi Hospital

Objective

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of Tepid Sponge on changes in body temperature in children aged under five who had a fever in Dr. Achmad Mochtar Bukittinggi Hospital.

An exploration of the disease burden due to Cryptosporidium in consumed surface water for sub-Saharan Africa

The protozoan pathogen Cryptosporidium is an important cause of diarrhoeal disease, but in many contexts its burden remains uncertain. The Global Waterborne Pathogen model for Cryptosporidium (GloWPa-Crypto) predicts oocyst concentrations in surface water at 0.5 by 0.5° (longitude by latitude) resolution, allowing us to assess the burden specifically associated with the consumption of contaminated surface water at a large scale. In this study, data produced by the GloWPa-Crypto model were used in a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) for sub-Saharan Africa, one of the regions most severely affected by diarrhoeal disease. We first estimated the number of people consuming surface water in this region and assessed both direct consumption and consumption from a piped (treated) supply. The disease burden was expressed in disability adjusted life years (DALYs). We estimate an annual number of 4.3 × 10⁷ (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 7.4 × 10⁶–5.4 × 10⁷) cases which represent 1.6 × 10⁶ (95% UI 3.2 × 10⁵–2.3 × 10⁶) DALYs. Relative disease burden (DALYs per 100,000 persons) varies widely, ranging between 1.3 (95% UI 0.1–5.7) for Senegal and 1.0 × 10³ (95% UI 4.2 × 10²–1.4 × 10³) for Eswatini. Countries that carry the highest relative disease burden are primarily located in south and south-east sub-Saharan Africa and are characterised by a relatively high HIV/AIDS prevalence. Direct surface water consumption accounts for the vast majority of cases, but the results also point towards the importance of stable drinking water treatment performance. This is, to our knowledge, the first study to utilise modelled data on pathogen concentrations in a large scale QMRA. It demonstrates the potential value of such data in epidemiological research, particularly regarding disease aetiology.     

低温等离子射频消融术治疗扁桃体炎的效果观察

目的:探讨低温等离子射频消融术治疗扁桃体炎的效果。方法:将中山市古镇人民医院在2017年5月-2018年12月诊治的86扁桃体炎患者纳入研究,随机分成对照组和观察组,每组43例,对照组采用扁桃体剥离术,观察组采用低温等离子射频消融术。结果:观察组总有效率为97.67%(42/43),出血率为2.33%(1/43),对照组总有效率为83.72%(36/43),出血率为16.28%(7/43),手术时间明显短于对照组,术中出血量明显少于对照组,疼痛评分明显低于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:对扁桃体炎患者采用低温等离子射频消融术治疗,效果确切,具有重要的临床应用价值。