Reactive Compatibilization of PA6/LDPE Blends with Glycidyl Methacrylate Functionalized Polyolefins

Summary: Blends of polyamide‐6 (PA6) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) were compatibilized by melt mixing with various polyolefins functionalized with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA), i.e., GMA grafted LDPE (LDPE‐g‐GMA), GMA grafted styrene‐ethylene/butylene‐styrene block copolymer (SEBS‐g‐GMA) and ethylene‐co‐glycidyl methacrylate copolymer (E‐GMA). Blends with PA6/LDPE composition ratios of 25/75 and 75/25 wt.‐%/wt.‐% were prepared in a Brabender internal mixer and their properties were evaluated by SEM, rheological measurements and DSC. Morphological investigation by SEM showed a neat improvement of phase dispersion and interfacial adhesion in all compatibilized blends when compared to PA6/LDPE binary blends. The variation of the dispersed phase size was analyzed as a function of blend composition, compatibilizer concentration and GMA content. The emulsification curves of compatibilized blends showed that the equilibrium size of dispersed particles at the saturation concentration of copolymer was lower when PA6 was the major component. The finest dispersion of the LDPE phase (<0.25 μm) was observed in the presence of SEBS‐g‐GMA copolymer. LDPE‐g‐GMA and E‐GMA displayed a similar compatibilizing efficiency. In all cases, the blends with a polyamide matrix presented a marked rise in torque and melt viscosity with increasing compatibilizer content. These effects were accounted for by a reaction between the epoxide groups of LDPE‐g‐GMA and the carboxyl/amine end‐groups of PA6, leading to the formation of an interchain graft copolymer. The phase transition processes of PA6 in the blends were influenced by the compatibilizer content and the interfacial interactions between the polymer components, suggesting a different role for the compatibilizer at the PA6/LDPE interface.

SEM micrograph of PA6/LDPE 25/75 blend compatibilized with 2.5 phr SEBS‐g‐GMA.     

The clinical-grade 42-kilodalton fragment of merozoite surface protein 1 of Plasmodium falciparum strain FVO expressed in Escherichia coli protects Aotus nancymai against challenge with homologous erythrocytic-stage parasites

A 42-kDa fragment from the C terminus of major merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) is among the leading malaria vaccine candidates that target infection by asexual erythrocytic-stage malaria parasites. The MSP1(42) gene fragment from the Vietnam-Oak Knoll (FVO) strain of Plasmodium falciparum was expressed as a soluble protein in Escherichia coli and purified according to good manufacturing practices. This clinical-grade recombinant protein retained some important elements of correct structure, as it was reactive with several functional, conformation-dependent monoclonal antibodies raised against P. falciparum malaria parasites, it induced antibodies (Abs) that were reactive to parasites in immunofluorescent Ab tests, and it induced strong growth and invasion inhibitory antisera in New Zealand White rabbits. The antigen quality was further evaluated by vaccinating Aotus nancymai monkeys and challenging them with homologous P. falciparum FVO erythrocytic-stage malaria parasites. The trial included two control groups, one vaccinated with the sexual-stage-specific antigen of Plasmodium vivax, Pvs25, as a negative control, and the other vaccinated with baculovirus-expressed MSP1(42) (FVO) as a positive control. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Ab titers induced by E. coli MSP1(42) were significantly higher than those induced by the baculovirus-expressed antigen. None of the six monkeys that were vaccinated with the E. coli MSP1(42) antigen required treatment for uncontrolled parasitemia, but two required treatment for anemia. Protective immunity in these monkeys correlated with the ELISA Ab titer against the p19 fragment and the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain 2 fragment of MSP1(42), but not the MSP1(42) protein itself or the EGF-like domain 1 fragment. Soluble MSP1(42) (FVO) expressed in E. coli offers excellent promise as a component of a vaccine against erythrocytic-stage falciparum malaria.     

External quality assurance as a revalidation method for pathologists in pediatric histopathology: Comparison of four international programs

Aim  

External quality assurance (EQA) is an extremely valuable resource for clinical pathologists to maintain high standards, improve diagnostic skills, and possibly revalidate medical license. The aim of this study was to participate in and compare four international slide survey programs (UK, IAP-Germany, USA-Canada, Australasia) in pediatric histopathology for clinical pathologists with the aim to use it as a revalidation method.     

Recruiting and retaining GPs and patients in intervention studies: the DEPS-GP project as a case study

Background  

Recruiting and retaining GPs for research can prove difficult, and may result in sub-optimal patient participation where GPs are required to recruit patients. Low participation rates may affect the validity of research.     

药物洗脱支架用于急性心肌梗死的临床观察

目的评价药物涂层支架用于急性心肌梗死的安全性及临床疗效。方法34例发病1周以内的急性心肌梗死患者梗塞相关动脉机械性再灌注治疗时使用药物涂层支架,并于术后3～12个月进行门诊及电话随访,必要时复查冠状动脉造影,观察住院及随访期间心血管事件发生率(死亡、再发急性心肌梗死及血管重建术)。结果37枚药物涂层支架(CYPHER15枚,TAXUS22枚)植入34个梗塞相关动脉(其中3处病变各植入2枚支架),支架长度(22.7±9.0)mm,支架直径(3.1±0.3)mm;10例(29.4%)接受直接经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI),3例(8.8%)为挽救性PCI。支架植入成功率100%。1例(2.9%)支架内急性血栓形成,行急诊血管重建术。平均随访间期(5.9±2.8)个月,2例(5.9%)于随访期间因再发原部位心肌梗死入院治疗,1例因非靶血管病变致心绞痛于术后10个月入院治疗。住院及随访期间无死亡病例发生。结论研究提示药物涂层支架用于急性心肌梗死患者治疗梗塞相关动脉行机械性再灌注安全,可获得与药物涂层支架用于择期的、相对简单的冠状动脉病变的类似疗效。     

成年大鼠去皮层血管引起前脑室下区祖细胞增殖迁移并形成迁移路至损伤部位(一)祖细胞增殖迁移的部位在背外侧脑室下区

成年哺乳动物脑室下区(SVZ)富有神经干细胞、神经细胞祖细胞和胶质细胞祖细胞,它们能生成新的神经细胞、星状胶质细胞和少突胶质细胞。SVZ中的神经细胞祖细胞能形成切线形式的嘴侧迁移流(RMS)到嗅球,在嗅球分化成成熟的中间神经元。近年来证明成年动物实验性脑损伤和变性疾病都能引起SVZ细胞增生并能向非嗅球区迁移。本研究将成年大鼠一侧大脑皮层血管去除,15d和30d后取前脑作冠状及矢状连续切片,用BrdU和PCNA抗体显示前脑室下区正在分裂的细胞;用Tuj1抗体显示神经元祖细胞;用GFAP和vimentin抗体显示胶质细胞祖细胞。结果证明去除一侧皮层血管引起术侧及其对侧的背外侧脑室下区(dl-SVZ)的上述免疫反应阳性细胞明显增多,并向胼胝体迁移,在胼胝体内形成放射形式迁移路至损伤部位。本研究表明背外侧脑室下区的范围应包括背外侧角、外侧伸展和侧脑室上壁的SVZ,它们是切线形式和放射形式两种不同方向的迁移路祖细胞的共同源地。     

Hybridization studies of cultured human pituitary prl and gh producing adenoma cells: Effects of thyrotropin-releasing hormone,somatostatin, and phorbol ester

The effects of the hypothalamic hormones, thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), and somatostatin (SRIH), and of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) on PRL and GH secretion and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were analyzed in 10 GH and/or PRL producing adenomas after culturing the tumor cells in the presence of these secretagogues for 7 days. The expression of chromogranin A and B mRNAs was also examined. All four of the clinically diagnosed GH adenomas expressed or secreted both GH and PRL while four of six clinically diagnosed prolactinomas produced or secreted both PRL and GH. Prolactinomas had less than 10% of tumor cells expressing chromogranin A mRNA while more than 40% of the adenoma cells expressed chromogranin B mRNA. TRH stimulated PRL secretion and increased PRL mRNA levels while SRIH decreased GH secretion and mRNA expression in some cases. Unexpectedly, PMA stimulated PRL mRNA levels four- to sevenfold above control levels in two adenomas and generally stimulated chromogranin A and B mRNA expression but not GH mRNA, as determined by Northern hybridization and in situ hybridization analyses. These results indicate that cultured prolactinoma cells express significantly more chromogranin B mRNA than chromogranin A mRNA, and that PMA increases PRL mRNA expression in some prolactinomas, although the effect of PMA on various adenomas reflects the heterogeneity of these tumors with respect to protein kinase C stimulation.     

Pleiotropic genomic variants at 17q21.31 associated with bone mineral density and body fat mass: a bivariate genome-wide association analysis

Osteoporosis and obesity are two severe complex diseases threatening public health worldwide. Both diseases are under strong genetic determinants as well as genetically correlated. Aiming to identify pleiotropic genes underlying obesity and osteoporosis, we performed a bivariate genome-wide association (GWA) meta-analysis of hip bone mineral density (BMD) and total body fat mass (TBFM) in 12,981 participants from seven samples, and followed by in silico replication in the UK biobank (UKB) cohort sample (N = 217,822). Combining the results from discovery meta-analysis and replication sample, we identified one novel locus, 17q21.31 (lead SNP rs12150327, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"NC_000017.11","term_id":"568815581"}}NC_000017.11:g.44956910G > A, discovery bivariate P = 4.83 × 10⁻⁹, replication P = 5.75 × 10⁻⁵) at the genome-wide significance level (ɑ = 5.0 × 10⁻⁸), which may have pleiotropic effects to both hip BMD and TBFM. Functional annotations highlighted several candidate genes, including KIF18B, C1QL1, and PRPF19 that may exert pleiotropic effects to the development of both body mass and bone mass. Our findings can improve our understanding of the etiology of osteoporosis and obesity, as well as shed light on potential new therapies.Subject terms: Genome-wide association studies, Gene expression profiling