Ihmisen papilloomaviruksen serologinen diagnostiikka kahdella eri menetelmällä mitattuna

Ihmisen papilloomavirus (HPV) on pieni kaksisäikeinen DNA-virus, joka infektoi erilaistumiseen kykeneviä ihon ja limakalvon epiteelisoluja. Virus leviää sukupuoliyhdynnän välityksellä, mutta sillä on myös muita leviämistapoja. HPV-infektio voi aiheuttaa syöpää genitaalialueiden lisäksi esimerkiksi pään ja kaulan alueella. Tutkimukseni tavoitteena oli selvittää uuden lateral flow –menetelmään perustuvan Prevo-Check-pikatestin (Abviris, Hünfelden, Saksa) herkkyyttä HPV16-vasta-aineiden osoittamiseksi seerumista. Prevo-Check-testi tehdään sormenpäästä otetusta veripisarasta tai seeruminäytteestä. Tutkimuksessa vertasin Prevo-Check-testituloksia aikaisemmin Luminex-pohjaisella menetelmällä saatuihin tuloksiin. Testit perustuvat HPV16L1-proteiinin vasta-aineiden osoittamiseen, mutta niissä käytetyt antigeenit ovat erilaisia. Luminex-menetelmässä tulokset ilmoitettiin keskifluoresenssi-intensiteettinä (MFI), ja raja positiiviselle näytteelle asetettiin arvolle 400 MFI. Prevo-Check-tulokset analysoitiin testitikun värireaktion perusteella. Tutkimusaineistona käytettiin seeruminäytteitä 34 miehestä, jotka olivat osallistuneet suomalaiseen HPV-infektion tartuntatapoja ja luonnollista taudinkulkua selvittävään tutkimukseen (HUPA). Tutkimukseeni valitut seeruminäytteet olivat Luminex-menetelmän perusteella joko pysyvästi HPV16-seropositiivisia tai juuri HPV-serokonvertoituneita. Näytteitä oli yhteensä 40. Jokainen testattiin kuudella eri näytevolyymilla. Prevo-Check-testi antoi positiivisen tuloksen vain noin 15 %:sta Luminex-menetelmällä positiivisiksi diagnosoiduista näytteistä. Näytteet, joista todettiin korkeat HPV-vasta-ainetiitterit Luminex-menetelmällä (MFI >1500), olivat positiivisia myös Prevo-Check-pikatestillä. Lisäksi Prevo-Check-testi tunnisti positiiviseksi yhden näytteen, jonka MFI oli matala (noin 600). Pieni näytevolyymi ja näytteen pitkä reagointiaika antoivat säännöllisesti negatiivisen Prevo-Check-testituloksen. Prevo-Check-testin herkkyys ei lisääntynyt, vaikka seeruminäytteen volyymi viisinkertaistettiin. Luminex- ja Prevo-Check –menetelmien herkkyyserot johtuvat todennäköisesti antigeeninä käytetyn HPV16L1–proteiinin eri muodoista ja niiden erilaisesta kyvystä sitoutua seerumin HPV-vasta-aineeseen. Lisäksi Prevo-Check-testissä seerumin HPV-vasta-aineiden annetaan sitoutua HPVL1-antigeeniin ennen näytteiden analysointia. Mikäli Prevo-Check-pikatesti osoittaisi seropositiivisuuden ainoastaan kliinisesti relevanteissa infektioissa, eli produktiivisissä ja kroonisissa HPV16-infektioissa, sillä olisi suuri merkitys HPV-tartunnan diagnosoinnissa ja leviämisen ehkäisyssä. Pikatestikäyttö edellyttää kuitenkin menetelmän jatkokehittämistä ja sen herkkyyden lisätutkimusta.

Institutions de microfinance et prêteurs informels de l’agriculture familiale en Côte d’ivoire : de la cohabitation à la fusion

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ENGINEERING HIERARCHICAL MESO-/MICROPOROUS LAMELLAR ZEOLITES WITH VARIABLE TEXTURAL AND CATALYTIC PROPERTIES

Meso-/microporous zeolites combine the charactersitics of well-defined micropores of zeolite with efficient mass transfer consequences of mesopores to increase the efficiency of the catalysts in reactions involving bulky molecules. Different methods such as demetallation and templating have been explored for the synthesis of meso-/microporous zeolites. However, they all have limitations in production of meso-/microporous zeolites with tunable textural and catalytic properties using few synthesis steps. To address this challenge, a simple one-step dual template synthesis approach has been developed in this work to engineer lamellar meso-/microporous zeolites structures with tunable textural and catalytic properties. First, one-step dual template synthesis of meso-/microporous mordenite framework inverted (MFI) zeolite structures was investigated. Tetrapropyl ammonium hydroxide (TPAOH) and diquaternary ammonium surfactant ([C22H45-N+(CH3)2-C6H12-N+(CH3)2-C6H13]Br2, C22-6-6) were used as templates to produce micropores and mesopores, respectively. The variation in concentration ratios of dual templates and hydrothermal synthesis conditions resulted in production of multi-lamellar MFI and the hybrid lamellar-bulk MFI (HLBM) zeolite structures. The relationship between the morphology, porosity, acidity, and catalytic properties of these catalysts was systematically studied. Then, the validity of the proposed synthesis approach for production of other types of zeolites composites was examined by creating a meso-/microporous bulk polymorph A (BEA)-lamellar MFI (BBLM) composite. The resulted composite samples showed higher catalytic stability compared to their single component zeolites. The studies demonstrated the high potential of the one-step dual template synthesis procedure for engineering the textural and catalytic properties of the synthesized zeolites.

Processamento e caracterização da blenda poli (metacrilato de metila) (PMMA) elastomerico e poli (tereftalato de etileno) (PET) pós-consumo

This work studied the immiscible blend of elastomeric poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) bottle grade with and without the use of compatibilizer agent, poly(methyl methacrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate - co-ethyl acrylate) (MGE). The characterizations of torque rheometry, melt flow index measurement (MFI), measuring the density and the degree of cristallinity by pycnometry, tensile testing, method of work essential fracture (EWF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed in pure polymer and blends PMMA/PET. The rheological results showed evidence of signs of chemical reaction between the epoxy group MGE with the end groups of the PET chains and also to the elastomeric phase of PMMA. The increase in the concentration of PET reduced torque and adding MGE increased the torque of the blend of PMMA/PET. The results of the MFI also show that elastomeric PMMA showed lower flow and thus higher viscosity than PET. In the results of picnometry observed that increasing the percentage of PET resulted in an increase in density and degree crystallinity of the blends PMMA/PET. The tensile test showed that increasing the percentage of PET resulted in an increase in ultimate strength and elastic modulus and decrease in elongation at break. However, in the phase inversion, where the blend showed evidence of a co-continuous morphology and also, with 30% PET dispersed phase and compatibilized with 5% MGE, there were significant results elongation at break compared to elastomeric PMMA. The applicability of the method of essential work of fracture was shown to be possible for most formulations. And it was observed that with increasing elastomeric PMMA in the formulations of the blends there was an improvement in specific amounts of essential work of fracture (We) and a decrease in the values of specific non-essential work of fracture (βWp)

Efeito da adição do poli(etileno acrilato de metila) (ema) e da fibra de linter de algodão nas propriedades do poli(tereftalato de etileno) reciclado (petrec)

The development of new materials to fill the demand of technological advances is a challenge for many researchers around the world. Strategies such as making blends and composites are promising alternatives to produce materials with different properties from those found in conventional polymers. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of adding the copolymer poly(ethylene methyl acrylate) (EMA) and cotton linter fibers (LB) on the properties of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PETrec) by the development of PETrec/EMA blend and PETrec/EMA/LB blend composite. In order to improve the properties of these materials were added as compatibilizers: Ethylene - methyl acrylate - glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer (EMA-GMA) and maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PE-g-MA). The samples were produced using a single screw extruder and then injection molded. The obtained materials were characterized by thermogravimetry (TG), melt flow index (MFI) mensurements, torque rheometry, pycnometry to determinate the density, tensile testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The rheological results showed that the addition of the EMA copolymer increased the viscosity of the blend and LB reduces the viscosity of the blend composite. SEM analysis of the binary blend showed poor interfacial adhesion between the PETrec matrix and the EMA dispersed phase, as well as the blend composite of PETrec/EMA/LB also observed low adhesion with the LB fiber. The tensile tests showed that the increase of EMA percentage decreased the tensile strength and the Young s modulus, also lower EMA percentage samples had increased the elongation at break. The blend composite showed an increase in the tensile strength and in the Young`s modulus, and a decrease in the elongation at break. The blend formulations with lower EMA percentages showed better mechanical properties that agree with the particle size analysis which showed that these formulations presented a smaller diameter of the dispersed phase. The blend composite mechanical tests showed that this material is stronger and stiffer than the blend PETrec/EMA, whose properties have been reduced due to the presence of EMA rubbery phase. The use of EMA-GMA was effective in reducing the particle size of the EMA dispersed phase in the PETrec/EMA blend and PE-g-MA showed evidences of reaction with LB and physical mixture with the EMA

Efficacia del Tocilizumab nel trattamaneto del rigetto umorale cronico attivo nel paziente trapiantato di rene

In the last decades significant improvements has been reached in short term graft survival, conversely long-term graft survival in still an open challenge for the scientific community. One of the major causes of long term graft loss is represented by chronic- active antibody mediated rejection (cAMR), a recently identified entity whose diagnosis is based on laboratoristic and histologic elements: the presence of DSA associated to specific morphological lesions as inflammation and microvascular damage associated or not to C4d deposition. Treatment of cAMR is an open field of debate. Tocilizumab, an anti-IL6 monoclonal antibody has been recently proposed as a first line treatment for cAMR, showing encouranging results. We describe our monocentric experience using Tocilizumab as first-line therapy for cAMR. Graft function (eGFR), proteinuria and DSA have been evaluated every 6 month for 24 months; histology have been performed after 12 months of treatment. No adverse events have been observed during study period. 12 patients completed the study with a follow-up of 24 months. Kidney function showed a worsening during follow-up that reaches statistical significance at 12 and 24 months (eGFR from 32.2±13.9 ml/min to 26.9±13 ml/min), but far less than expected for these kind of patients. 4 patients (30%) reached ESRD during follow-up, 3 requiring renal replacement therapy. We did not observed any statically significant variation in proteinuria and in DSA MFI levels. From a histological point of view, we observed a significant improvement in active cAMR lesions (C4d deposition and Acute tissue injury (MTA, g>0/ptc>0, v>0) and no progression among chronic lesions (Transplant glomerulopathy, PTC multilayering and aterial intimal fibrosis) Tocilizumab shown good results, with a stabilization of graft function, a reduction in kidney inflammation and active lesions in kidney biopsy and not allowing progression of chronic lesions.

Analisi delle prestazioni tecnico-meccaniche di polimeri rigenerati

Il progetto alla base della presente tesi è stato sviluppato all’interno di Raviplast, società cooperativa nata nel 2013 dall’intenzione di un gruppo di lavoratori e tecnici di grande professionalità di dare seguito ad una lunga storia industriale. Raviplast si occupa della produzione di imballaggi flessibili in polietilene a bassa densità (LDPE), in particolare sacchi collati, saldati, a valvola, a tasca, a bocca aperta, tubolari e cappucci monopiega. L’intera gamma di prodotti viene ottenuta attraverso un unico processo industriale cioè la co-estrusione a bolla di film. All’interno di questo elaborato di tesi verrà descritto come le proprietà meccaniche, termiche e chimiche di prodotti formati da polietilene a bassa densità vergine differiscano rispetto a quelle di un prodotto con percentuale di polietilene a bassa densità riciclato crescente. Nel corso dell’esperienza sono state indagate le caratteristiche del granulo di polimero vergine riciclato per verificare l’omogeneità di proprietà come temperatura di fusione, densità e melt flow index (MFI), e poter operare al meglio la produzione. Sul prodotto finito, sia vergine che rigenerato, sono state testate la trazione longitudinale e trasversale al dinamometro, la temperatura di fusione tramite calorimetria differenziale a scansione (DSC) e prove ad impatto tramite caduta di dardo. Le proprietà indagate sono state confrontate per valutare con occhio critico quali accorgimenti adottare nel corso della produzione.