Serum concentrations of lectin-pathway components in healthy neonates, children and adults: mannan-binding lectin (MBL), M-, L-, and H-ficolin, and MBL-associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2)

This study aimed to measure serum concentrations of five lectin-pathway components, mannan-binding lectin (MBL), M-ficolin, L-ficolin, H-ficolin, and MBL-associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2), in healthy neonates and children, to determine if they change with age and to compare them with serum concentrations in healthy adults. Concentrations were measured in 141 preterm and 30 term neonates, in 120 children including infants and adolescents, and in 350 adults (97 for L-ficolin) by inhouse time-resolved immunofluorometric assays or commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The adjacent categories method applying Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests was used to determine age categories where concentrations differed significantly. Displaying serum concentration vs. age, an inverted-U shape (higher concentrations in children than in neonates and adults) was found for MBL and the ficolins, and an S-shape for MASP-2. Serum concentrations of all five lectin-pathway components were significantly lower in preterm neonates <32-wk gestational age compared to older neonates, infants, and children. Only M-ficolin in children >1 yr and H-ficolin in term neonates and in children were found to be comparable with adult values. MBL, M-, L-, and H-ficolin, and MASP-2 serum concentrations show important changes with age. The respective normal ranges for adults should not be used in the pediatric population. The age-specific pediatric ranges established here may be used instead.

M-ficolin concentrations in cord blood are related to circulating phagocytes and to early-onset sepsis

The pattern-recognition molecule M-ficolin is synthesized by monocytes and neutrophils. M-ficolin activates the complement system in a manner similar to mannan-binding lectin (MBL), but little is known about its role in host defense. Neonates are highly vulnerable to bacterial sepsis, in particular, due to their decreased phagocytic function.

Lack of increase in intracranial pressure after epidural blood patch in spinal cerebrospinal fluid leak

Epidural blood patch (EBP) is one therapeutic measure for patients suffering from spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) or post-lumbar puncture headaches. It has been proposed that an EBP may directly seal a spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula or result in an increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) by a shift of CSF from the spinal to the intracranial compartment. To the best of our knowledge this is the first case of a patient with SIH and neurological deterioration in whom ICP was measured before, during, and after spinal EBP.

The impact of social presence on team performance in social networking platforms

Next to the extensive use of social networking platforms (SNPs) for communication and relationship building with friends and relatives, SNPs are also increasingly used for enhancing collaboration at work. SNP usage at the workplace is fundamentally different and it is unclear how SNPs can improve collaboration as well as in what way their designs should be modified and adapted to collaboration settings. This research identifies specific SNP functions that enhance social presence as particularly beneficial for collaboration. Consequently, two designs of SNPs, one with high social presence and one with low social presence, are outlined and its impacts on collaboration are discussed. A framework is constructed that illustrates how social presence in SNPs can improve team performance through enhancing transactive memory within teams (intra-group collaboration) and relational capital across teams (inter-group collaboration). In addition, it is outlined how this framework could be evaluated in an experimental setting of teams working on a complex group task.