Different Plasma Markers of Inflammation Are Influenced by Immune Recovery and cART Composition or Intensification in Treated HIV Infected Individuals

Abstract Background HIV-1 infection increases plasma levels of inflammatory markers. Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) does not restore inflammatory markers to normal levels. Since intensification of cART with raltegravir reduced CD8 T-cell activation in the Discor-Ral and IntegRal studies, we have evaluated the effect of raltegravir intensification on several soluble inflammation markers in these studies. Methods Longitudinal plasma samples (0–48 weeks) from the IntegRal (n = 67, 22 control and 45 intensified individuals) and the Discor-Ral studies (44 individuals with CD4 T-cell counts<350 cells/µl, 14 control and 30 intensified) were assayed for 25 markers. Mann-Whitney, Wilcoxon, Spearman test and linear mixed models were used for analysis. Results At baseline, different inflammatory markers were strongly associated with HCV co-infection, lower CD4 counts and with cART regimens (being higher in PI-treated individuals), but poorly correlated with detection of markers of residual viral replication. Although raltegravir intensification reduced inflammation in individuals with lower CD4 T-cell counts, no effect of intensification was observed on plasma markers of inflammation in a global analysis. An association was found, however, between reductions in immune activation and plasma levels of the coagulation marker D-dimer, which exclusively decreased in intensified patients on protease inhibitor (PI)-based cART regimens (P = 0.040). Conclusions The inflammatory profile in treated HIV-infected individuals showed a complex association with HCV co-infection, the levels of CD4 T cells and the cART regimen. Raltegravir intensification specifically reduced D-dimer levels in PI-treated patients, highlighting the link between cART composition and residual viral replication; however, raltegravir had little effect on other inflammatory markers.

Estudo por espectroscopia no infravermelho da interação metal-suporte em Pt/TiO2. A influência da adsorção de hidrogênio

The influence of the presence of hydrogen on Pt/TiO2 catalysts submitted to reduction treatment has been studied by FT-IR at room temperature. After submitting to LTR treatment, the hydrogen spillover has been detected and the presence of hydrogen at the bulk is shown to produce a strong absorption in the infrared spectral region. After HTR treatment, the hydrogen is strongly chemissorbed.

Ultralow-density nanocage-based metal-oxide polymorphs

For two important metal oxides (MO, M=Mg, Zn) we predict, via accurate electronic structure calculations, that new low-density nanoporous crystalline phases may be accessible via the coalescence of nanocluster building blocks. Specifically, we consider the assembly of cagelike (MO)12 clusters exhibiting particularly high gas phase stability, leading to new polymorphs with energetic stabilities rivaling (and sometimes higher) than those of known MO polymorphs.

Filmes de metal-hexacianoferrato: uma ferramenta em química analítica

Chemically modified electrodes based on hexacyanometalate films are presented as a tool in analytical chemistry. Use of amperometric sensors and/or biosensors based on the metal-hexacyanoferrate films is a tendency. This article reviews some applications of these films for analytical determination of both inorganic (e.g. As3+, S2O3(2-)) and organic (e.g. cysteine, hydrazine, ascorbic acid, gluthatione, glucose, etc.) compounds.

Recovery of Hemicelluloses from Wood Hydrolysates by Membrane Filtration

Hemicelluloses are among the most important natural resources that contain polysaccharides. In this study the separation and purification of hemicelluloses from water extraction liquors containing wood hemicelluloses, lignin compounds and monosaccharide by using membrane filtration was investigated. The isolation of the hemicelluloses from the wood hydrolysates was performed in two steps: concentration of high molar mass hemicelluloses by ultrafiltration and separation of low molar mass hemicelluloses from monomeric sugars using tight ultrafiltration membranes. The purification of the retained hemicelluloses was performed by diafiltration. During the filtration experiments, the permeate flux through ultrafiltration and tight ultrafiltration membranes was relatively high. The fouling ability of the used membranes was relatively low. In our experiments, the retention of hemicelluloses using two filtration steps was almost complete. The separation of monosaccharides from hemicelluloses was relatively high and the purification of hemicelluloses by diafiltration was highly efficient. The separation of lignin from hemicelluloses was partially achieved. Diafiltration showed potential to purify retained hemicelluloses from lignin and other organics. The best separation of lignin from hemicelluloses in the first filtration step was obtained using the UC005 membrane. The GE-5 and ETNA01PP membranes showed potential to purify and separate lignin from hemicelluloses. However, the feed solution of the second filtration stages (from different ultrafiltration membranes) affected the permeate flux and the separation of various extracted compounds from hemicelluloses. The GE-5 and ETNA01PP membranes gave the efficient purification of the hemicelluloses when using diafiltration. Separation of degraded xylan from glucomannan (primary spruce hemicelluloses) was also possible using membrane filtration. The best separation was achieved using the GE-5 membrane. The retention of glucomannan was three times higher than xylan retention.

Metallien talteenotto kloridiliuoksesta

Diplomityön tarkoituksena oli tutkia ja kehittää menetelmä arvometallien kuten kuparin, sinkin, koboltin ja nikkelin talteenottoon metallikloridiliuoksesta. Tavoitteena oli valita taloudellisin ja ympäristöystävällisin menetelmä, jolla saadaan nämä arvometallit myyntituotteiksi. Lisäksi puhdistetun prosessiveden tuli täyttää asetetut tavoitteet. Kirjallisuustyön perusteella laskettiin viidelle eri prosessivaihtoehdolle ainetaseet HSC Sim 6.0 ohjelmalla, joka on HSC Chemistry-pohjainen prosessien simulointi- ja mallinnusohjelma. Kaikissa vaihtoehdoissa oli ensimmäisenä prosessiosana kuparin, sinkin, koboltin ja nikkelin sulfidisaostus ja sakan pesu. Sulfidisaostusta seurasi vaihtoehtoisesti joko 1) hapetus hapella ja hydroksidisaostus, 2) hapetus vetyperoksidilla ja hydroksidisaostus, 3) pelkkä hydroksidisaostus, 4) hapetus SO2/O2-kaasuseoksella ja hydroksidisaostus tai 5) karbonaattisaostus. Taselaskennan perusteella valittiin kokeelliseen osaan tutkittavat prosessivaihtoehdot, jotka olivat sulfidisaostus, hydroksidisaostus, SO2/O2- hapetus ja hydroksidisaostus sekä karbonaattisaostus. Kokeissa arvometallit saatiin talteenotettua sulfidisaostuksella selektiivisimmin lämpötilassa 55 °C ja pH:ssa 4. Näissä olosuhteissa reagenssin kulutus verrattaessa muihin tehtyihin sulfidisaostuksiin oli pienin. Sakka laskeutui ja suotautui hyvin. Loppusakan sisältämien metallien (kupari, sinkki ja koboltti) pitoisuudet olivat korkeimmat. Myös nikkelin määrä oli suuri. Mangaani ja rauta saatiin talteenotettua selektiivisimmin karbonaattisaostuksella lämpötilassa 65 °C. Sakka sisälsi eniten mangaania. Sakka laskeutui ja suotautui hyvin. Tällä menetelmällä puhdistetun prosessiveden laatu täytti asetetut tavoitteet.

Apolipoprotein E and Recovery from Traumatic Brain Injury

The outcome from traumatic brain injury (TBI) is variable and only partly explained by known prognostic factors. This is especially true for predicting long-term outcome. Genetic factors may influence the brain`s susceptibility to injury or capacity for repair and regeneration. To examine the association of apolipoproteinE (apoE) genotype with long-term outcome, hippocampal volumes and general brain atrophy, we determined the apoE genotype from 61 TBI patients who had been injured over on average 31 years earlier. The long-term outcome was evaluated with repeated neuropsychological testing and by applying various measures of everyday functioning and quality of life. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based volumetric analyses of the hippocampus and lateral ventricles were performed. In the prospective study, the purpose was to examine the association between apoE genotype and visibility of traumatic brain lesions during the first year after TBI and the ability of apoE genotype, the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), MRI findings and duration of posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) to predict the one-year outcome. Thirty-three patients with TBI were studied and the outcome was evaluated with the Head Injury Symptom Checklist (HISC) and the Glasgow Outcome Scale extended version (GOS-E) scores one year after the injury. MRI and apoE genotyping were carried out. After three decades, neither hippocampal nor lateral ventricle volumes differed significantly in those patients with the apoE ε4 allele vs those without this allele, but the TBI patients with the apoE ε4 allele showed significantly poorer general cognitive level than those without this allele. This decline was wholly accounted for by a subgroup of patients who had developed incident or clinical dementia. In the prospective study the apoE genotype was not associated with visible MRI changes or outcome. The duration of PTA and acute MRI were the best predictors of one-year outcome in TBI. A portion of the TBI patients with the apoE ε4 allele seem to be at risk of long-term cognitive decline. This association may involve mechanisms other than those responsible for the development of brain atrophy. The early MRI and PTA have an important role in assessing the injury severity and prognosis.

Relato de uma experiência pedagógica no ensino de química: formação profissional com responsabilidade ambiental

The toxic heavy metals can not be transformed in other less toxic substances as organic wastes through chemical process. Various chemistry courses at Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Humanities (FFCLRP/USP) use heavy metals in their experimental classes. In this context, a course were created: "Heavy Metal Wastes generated in the teaching and research laboratories: disposal or recovery" and has a specific goal to capacitate the students to define the adequate strategy for disposal or recovery of the chemical wastes, in particular heavy metals, through an interdisciplinary approaching. This course was given to 25 students during the second semester of 2000 and 2001. The environmental responsibility desired for the professional and citizen can be promoted.

Electroluminescence of silicon- and some metal oxides

In the present work electroluminescence in Si-SiO2 structures has been investigated. Electroluminescence has been recorded in the range of 250-900 nm in a system of electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor at the room temperature. The heating process of electrons in SiO2 was studied and possibility of separation it into two phases has been shown. The nature of luminescence centers and the model of its formation were proposed. This paper also includes consideration of oxide layer formation. Charge transfer mechanisms have been attended as well. The nature of electroluminescence is understood in detail. As a matter of fact, electron traps in silicon are the centers of luminescence. Electroluminescence occurs when electrons move from one trap to another. Thus the radiation of light quantum occurs. These traps appear as a result of the oxide growth. At the same time the bonds deformation of silicon atoms with SiOH groups is not excludes. As a result, dangling bonds are appeared, which are the trapping centers or the centers of luminescence.

Offdesign operation of kraft recovery boiler

A model to solve heat and mass balances during the offdesign load calculations was created. These equations are complex and nonlinear. The main new ideas used in the created offdesign model of a kraft recovery boiler are the use of heat flows as torn iteration variables instead of the current practice of using the mass flows, vectorizing equation solving, thus speeding up the process, using non dimensional variables for solving the multiple heat transfer surface problem and using a new procedure for calculating pressure losses. Recovery boiler heat and mass balances are reduced to vector form. It is shown that these vectorized equations can be solved virtually without iteration. The iteration speed is enhanced by the use of the derived method of calculating multiple heat transfer surfaces simultaneously. To achieve this quick convergence the heat flows were used as the torn iteration parameters. A new method to handle pressure loss calculations with linearization was presented. This method enabled less time to be spent calculating pressure losses. The derived vector representation of the steam generator was used to calculate offdesign operation parameters for a 3000 tds/d example recovery boiler. The model was used to study recovery boiler part load operation and the effect of the black liquor dry solids increase on recovery boiler dimensioning. Heat flows to surface elements for part load calculations can be closely approximated with a previously defined exponent function. The exponential method can be used for the prediction of fouling in kraft recovery boilers. For similar furnaces the firing of 80 % dry solids liquor produces lower hearth heat release rate than the 65 % dry solids liquor if we fire at constant steam flow. The furnace outlet temperatures show that capacity increase with firing rate increase produces higher loadings than capacity increase with dry solids increase. The economizers, boiler banks and furnaces can be dimensioned smaller if we increase the black liquor dry solids content. The main problem with increased black liquor dry solids content is the decrease in the heat available to superheat. Whenever possible the furnace exit temperature should be increased by decreasing the furnace height. The increase in the furnace exit temperature is usually opposed because of fear of increased corrosion.

Digestão fotoquímica, assistida por microondas, de águas naturais: aplicação em estudos de partição e especiação do cobre

The efficiency of a new procedure for the digestion of natural waters, based on a microwave-activated photochemical reactor was evaluated in this work. Fluorescence spectra showed a 99% reduction in the emission of a 40 mg L-1 humic acid solution after 15 min of UV irradiation. In the presence of H2O2, only 3 min were necessary to accomplish a reduction of almost 100% in the emission and 6 min to reduce the concentration of dissolved organic carbon by 95%. The copper recovery from synthetic samples containing commercial humic acid, from soil suspensions, as well as from natural waters varied between 91.5 and 106.6%. The digestion of dissolved and unfiltered samples was successfully accomplished in 6 and 12 min, respectively. No contaminations or sample losses were observed. Results of copper speciation in natural waters showed that this metal is predominantly bound to natural ligands. Only 3-6% of the total recoverable copper is present in the labile form.

Análise sistemática de reagentes e resíduos sem identificação

This work presents a detailed routine applied to the identification of unknown chemicals and wastes. 786 specimens were analyzed during 20 months. Unknown materials fell into three basic classes: (i) commercial chemicals without labels or illegible ones; (ii) laboratory synthesis products; (iii) used solvents (including mixtures). Uranium and thorium were recovered form their wastes. Unknown chemicals were mainly inorganic compounds, many of which had never been opened. Alkaline salts were dominant, but also precious metal compounds were identified. Laboratory synthesis products were organic compounds. The final destination depended on the nature of the chemical. Most organic compounds were sent to incineration; inorganic salts were distributed among several public organizations, including secondary and technical schools. The work described in this paper greatly reduced the amount of wastes that had to be sent to disposal.

Music-supported training is more efficient than functional motor training for recovery of fine motor skills in stroke patients

MOTOR IMPAIRMENTS ARE COMMON AFTER STROKE but efficacious therapies for these dysfunctions are scarce. Extending an earlier study on the effects of music-supported training (MST), behavioral indices of motor function were obtained before and after a series of training sessions to assess whether this new treatment leads to improved motor functions. Furthermore, music-supported training was contrasted to functional motor training according to the principles of constraint-induced therapy (CIT). In addition to conventional physiotherapy, 32 stroke patients with moderately impaired motor function and no previous musical experience received 15 sessions of MST over a period of three weeks, using a manualized, step-bystep approach. A control group consisting of 15 patients received 15 sessions of CIT in addition to conventional physiotherapy. A third group of 30 patients received exclusively conventional physiotherapy and served as a control group for the other three groups. Fine as well as gross motor skills were trained by using either a MIDI-piano or electronic drum pads programmed to emit piano tones. Motor functions were assessed by an extensive test battery. MST yielded significant improvement in fine as well as gross motor skills with respect to speed, precision, and smoothness of movements. These improvements were greater than after CIT or conventional physiotherapy. In conclusion, with equal treatment intensity, MST leads to more pronounced improvements of motor functions after stroke than CIT.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor as a potential biomarker of cognitive recovery in schizophrenia

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been proposed as a biomarker of schizophrenia and, more specifically, as a biomarker of cognitive recovery. Evidence collected in this review indicates that BDNF is relevant in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and could play a role as a marker of clinical response. BDNF has been shown to play a positive role as a marker in antipsychotic treatment, and it has been demonstrated that typical antipsychotics decrease BDNF levels while atypical antipsychotics maintain or increase serum BDNF levels. Furthermore, BDNF levels have been associated with severe cognitive impairments in patients with schizophrenia. Consequently, BDNF has been proposed as a candidate target of strategies to aid the cognitive recovery process. There is some evidence suggesting that BDNF could be mediating neurobiological processes underlying cognitive recovery. Thus, serum BDNF levels seem to be involved in some synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission processes. Additionally, serum BDNF levels significantly increased in schizophrenia subjects after neuroplasticity-based cognitive training. If positive replications of those findings are published in the future then serum BDNF levels could be definitely postulated as a peripheral biomarker for the effects of intensive cognitive training or any sort of cognitive recovery in schizophrenia. All in all, the current consideration of BDNF as a biomarker of cognitive recovery in schizophrenia is promising but still premature.