In vivo and in vitro immunological changes induced by a short course of grass allergy immunotherapy tablets

BACKGROUND

The fast-dissolving grass allergy immunotherapy tablet (grass AIT), Grazax, has proven effective in grass pollen-induced rhinoconjunctivitis.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the immunological and cutaneous changes induced after a short course with grass AIT.

METHODS

We performed a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial with 78 patients randomly assigned to receive either grass AIT or placebo in a 2:1 ratio. Treatment lasted at least 8 weeks before the grass pollen season (GPS), and continued until the season finished. Specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G4, IgE, and IgE-blocking factor to Phleum pratense were measured at the beginning of the trial and at different intervals during treatment. Immediate and delayed skin tests with P pratense were also performed. Safety endpoints were defined in terms of adverse events reported.

RESULTS

A total of 75 patients completed the trial (50 active and 25 placebo). P pratense IgG4, IgE, and IgE-blocking factor in actively treated patients increased significantly from baseline to the start of the GPS compared to placebo (P > .001, P = .017, and P = .005, respectively). The immediate cutaneous response was reduced during therapy in actively treated subjects, whereas placebo-treated subjects showed a decrease only after the start of the GPS. The delayed response to the intradermal test in grass AIT-treated subjects diminished, although not in a significantly different way from the placebo-treated subjects.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with grass AIT for grass pollen allergic rhinoconjunctivitis induces immunological changes after only 1 month of treatment.

Novel composite photocatalyst made of TiO(2) nanoparticles

A novel photocatalyst based on TiO(2) nanoparticles was developed for application in fluidised bed photocatalytic reactors for water treatment. The mechanically robust photocatalyst consists of composite spheres made of TiO(2) nanoparticles and TiO(2) commercial powder. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and specific surface area analysis (BET) were used to characterise the catalyst. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated using model pesticide micro-pollutant. A complete model comprised of radiation, kinetic, and reactor bed models was also developed, allowing for detailed analysis of the photoreactor.

BRCA1 5272-1G>A and BRCA2 5374delTATG are founder mutations of high relevance for genetic counselling in breast/ovarian cancer families of Spanish origin

The distribution of BRCA1 and BRCA2 germ line mutations in breast/ovarian cancer families varies among different populations, which typically present a wide spectrum of unique mutations. Splicing mutation 5272-1G>A of BRCA1 and frameshift mutation 5374delTATG of BRCA2 are highly prevalent mutations in Castilla-León (Spain), accounting for 18.4% and 13.6% of BRCA1 and BRCA2 positive families, respectively. To test the presence of founder effects, 9 Spanish 5272-1G>A and 13 5374delTATG families were genotyped with polymorphic markers linked to BRCA1 or BRCA2. All the 5272-1G>A families shared a common haplotype in eight markers (1.1 Mb region) and the mutation age was estimated in 15 generations (approximately 380 years). A conserved haplotype associated to 5374delTATG was observed in four markers (0.82 Mb). The mutation occurred approximately 48 generations ago (approximately 1200 years). Each mutation likely arose from a common ancestor that could be traced to a small area of Castilla-León and expanded to other Spanish regions. They can have a significant impact on the clinical management of asymptomatic carriers as well as on the genetic screening strategy to be followed in populations with Spanish ancestries.

[Risk factors associated with the complications of surgical treatment of intracranial arachnoid cysts in adult patients. Retrospective case series analysis]

INTRODUCTION

We analyzed the surgical results in patients operated for an arachnoid cyst evaluating the different surgical techniques employed, the average life of each procedure and the rate of postoperative complications. This study describes the results from our institution.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We included all patients operated with a diagnosis of intracranial arachnoid cyst from January 2001 to December 2006. We evaluated the effectiveness of each surgical technique and the average life of each procedure, as well as adverse events associated with surgical treatment.

RESULTS

The gender distribution was 15 men and 13 women, with an average of 34 years and with a range of 17 to 65 years at time of surgery. The predominant symptom was headache. The location of the arachnoid cyst was 24 supratentorial and 4 infratentorial. 48 surgeries were performed. There were complications in 11 patients in the study group; the craniotomy was the procedure with a longer life (1245 days). The half-life of the craniotomy more fenestration was significantly higher than the rest of the procedures (853 vs. 193 days with a P: 0.0333) and the arachnoid cyst grade III of Galassi is a risk factor for reoperative in our study group with an odds ratio of 13,417.

CONCLUSION

In our experience the fenestration by craniotomy was the procedure with fewer complications and increased time of effectiveness. Treatment complications are strongly related to cyst location and size.

Miscanthus x giganteus extractives: a source of valuable phenolic compounds and sterols

The chemical composition of the lipophilic extracts of bark and core, of the Miscanthus x giganteus stalk, was studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Aromatic compounds, sterols, and fatty acids, followed by long-chain fatty alcohols, were the major families of components present in the M. x giganteus stalk. Aromatic compounds are more abundant in the M. x giganteus bark (521 mg/kg of bark), with vanillic acid, vanillin, and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde as the major compounds of this family. In the M. x giganteus core, sterols represent about 949 mg/kg of dry core with beta-sitosterol, 7-oxo-beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol as the major components. The detection of small amounts of esters in the GC-MS analysis with short columns explains the small increase in the abundance of the identified families after alkaline hydrolysis. The high content of valuable sterols and aromatic compounds in M. x giganteus and, particularly, in the core, which is considered a residue in most applications, can open new perspectives for the integrated upgrading of this grass within the biorefinery perspective.

Epidemiologic observations on Hymenoptera allergy in Spain: the Alergológica-2005 study

BACKGROUND

To date there has been an absence of nation-wide epidemiologic studies on insect allergy in Spain.

OBJECTIVES

To measure the frequency and to determine the characteristics of Hymenoptera hypersensitivity in a Spanish population at a particular point in time and compare with the data obtained in a similar study carried out in 1992.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An observational, prospective and cross-sectional study (Alergológica-2005) was carried out all over Spain.

RESULTS

The number of patients included in the study was 4991, of whom 77 (1.54%) were diagnosed with insect sting allergy. This represented an increase of 0.7% compared to Alergológica-1992. The honey bee was responsible for 45.5% of reactions, Vespula spp for 27.3% and Polistes spp for 23.4%. 64.9% of reactions were systemic. The group with Hymenoptera allergy had a predominance of males (69.1% vs. 42.7% in the general sample, P < .0001), older patients (median age 37,4 vs. 32,1, P < .013), and homes in rural zones (33% vs. 18.3%, P < .004). The median of days necessary to reach a diagnosis was lower (P < .0001). This population needed assistance in emergency units and hospitalisation more frequently. They had a low score on the mental component of the quality of life questionnaire.

CONCLUSIONS

There was an increase in cases diagnosed with insect allergy with regard to Alergológica-1992. The typical patient profile is of a man, living in a small village, working outdoors with significant exposure to insect stings and in contact with farm animals, without atopic diseases. Bees and wasps are equally responsible of the stings. The need of emergency assistance in those patients is higher and the waiting time to be attended by an allergist is shorter.

Pulping cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) with peroxyformic acid (MILOX) in one single stage

In this work, depithed cardoon stalk (Cynara cardunculus) has been used with the objective of obtaining bleachable pulps. The material, once properly prepared, was subjected to one-step peroxyformic acid delignification. In order to study the process, a face-centred second order factorial design was developed which allowed the determination of the influences of four variables: concentrations of formic acid and hydrogen peroxide in the cooking liquor and the time and temperature of the treatment. Empirical mathematical models have been obtained which predict the yield, kappa index, residual lignin content, and viscosity of the pulps. These models demonstrate that in general the delignification was extensive, producing pulps with kappa indexes less than 25 in the majority of cases, with good yields in the range of 45-60%. However, the pulps seem to have been degraded in the reaction media, as can be deduced from the low viscosity values found: 260-520 mL/g.

The magnetization reversal process in spin spring magnets

The behavior of soft magnetic films in spring magnets, as a function of the intensity and orientation of an external magnetic field, is described in the framework of spin-polarized non-collinear electronic structure calculations. As experimentally observed, the critical intensity of the external field required for the onset of the non-collinear spiral formation depends on both the thickness of the soft magnetic phase and the orientation of the field. The spin spiral structure undergoes a change of chirality in rotating fields. Our theoretical approach opens new prospects for investigating the response of other nanostructures to external magnetic fields beyond usual phenomenological models.

Engineering the magnetic structure of Fe clusters by Mn alloying

We propose to tailor the magnetic structure of atomic clusters by suitable doping, which produces the nanometric equivalent to alloying. As a proof of principle, we perform a theoretical analysis of Fe(6-x)Mn(x) clusters (x = 0-5), which shows a modulation of the magnetic moment of the clusters as a function of Mn doping and, more importantly, a collinear to noncollinear transition at x = 4.

[Linking: relationships between health professionals in the informal health networks]

BACKGROUND

During the last years, the french health system has been developing formal health networks. So, it was necessary to study informal health networks as <<social actors>> networks. More precisely, we studied the nature of relationships between various stakeholders around general practionners wich are commonly considering as the <<pivot>> stakeholder of the health system private sector.

METHODS

Fieldwork (ethnography based on direct observations and interviews) was conducted between October 2002 and april 2004, in the South-East of France. Ten monographs of general practioner's offices were achieved in a rural area; then, we achieved fieldwork of the informal health networks identified.

RESULTS

There is a cultural frame wich is common to all private professionals. This frame includes a triple ideal (teamwork built up the hospital model, independance, and an relational approach with patients). This frame does not square with the real practices. In fact, regulation mechanisms preserve the balance of relashionships between professionnal groups, by restricting/promoting exchanges and complex alliance strategies. These mecanisms include: (1) a few professionnal's rule as disponibility (to the patients and to the professionnals), as communication about patient, as patient's reference, as obligation to communicate between professionals; (2) some constraints such as territory superposition and competition with other professional groups; (3) some needs for: rileiving (of emotions and worries connected to work), sharing (decisions, responsabilities), of delegation (medical treatment, practices), protection against social and legal risk through the creation of trust relationships. These trust relationships are based on several logics (affinity, solidarity, similarity). The study shows the major place of the patient who is often the main organizer of his network, and even though he makes an important structuring work between medical staff, and an information transfer (on his diagnosis, on his treatment, and << on >> professionals). The patient's role of <<coordination>> is underestimated.

CONCLUSION

The results show that in studied informal networks, professionnals do not have a transversal view of the patient's care management. This is due to the lack of knowledge of each health agent about the work of others, to the symbolic compartmentalization between professional groups, and because the difficulties encountered (i.e. burden work).

A density-functional study of the structures, binding energies and magnetic moments of the clusters Mo(N) (N = 2-13), Mo(12)Fe, Mo(12)Co and Mo(12)Ni

We report the results of density-functional calculations of the structures, binding energies and magnetic moments of the clusters Mo(N) (N = 2-13), Mo(12)Fe, Mo(12)Co and Mo(12)Ni that were performed using the SIESTA method within the generalized gradient approximation for exchange and correlation. For pure Mo(N) clusters, we obtain collinear magnetic structures in all cases, even when the self-consistent calculations were started from non-collinear inputs. Our results for these clusters show that both linear, planar and three-dimensional clusters have a strong tendency to form dimers. In general, even-numbered clusters are more stable than their neighbouring odd-numbered clusters because they can accommodate an integer number of tightly bound dimers. As a consequence, the binding energies of pure Mo(N) clusters, in their lowest-energy states, exhibit an odd-even effect in all dimensionalities. Odd-even effects are less noticeable in the magnetic moments than in the binding energies. When comparing our results for pure Mo clusters with those obtained recently by other authors, we observe similarities in some cases, but striking differences in others. In particular, the odd-even effect in three-dimensional Mo clusters was not observed before, and our results for some clusters (e.g. for planar Mo(3) and Mo(7) and for three-dimensional Mo(7) and Mo(13)) differ from those reported by other authors. For Mo(12)Fe and Mo(12)Ni, we obtain that the icosahedral configuration with the impurity atom at the cluster surface is more stable than the configuration with the impurity at the central site, while the opposite occurs in the case of Mo(12)Co. In Mo(12)Co and Mo(12)Ni, the impurities exhibit a weak magnetic moment parallely coupled to the total magnetic moment of the Mo atoms, whereas in Mo(12)Fe the impurity shows a high moment with antiparallel coupling.

The significance of intraoperative measurements in acquired ptosis surgery

During a series of 101 levator procedures to correct acquired ptosis we measured the motility of the aponeurosis, the necessary advancement of the aponeurosis to adjust the eyelid height and the motility of Whitnall's ligament. We compared these intraoperative data with the data of the preoperative examination and did not find any correlation. The necessary amount of advancement of the aponeurosis to adjust the height of the eyelid was not related to the motility of the aponeurosis, the levator function or the amount of ptosis. However, we did find that the motility of Whitnall's ligament is closely related to the motility of the aponeurosis. Therefore connecting both structures is useful in ptosis adjustment without risking limited eyelid motility.