Filtration and tubular handling of EWE-hC3Nb1, a complement inhibitor nanobody, in wild type mice and a mouse model of proteinuric kidney disease

Tubular activation and deposition of filtered complement proteins have been implicated in the progression of proteinuric kidney disease. The potent C3b-specific nanobody inhibitor of the alternative pathway, EWE-hC3Nb1, is likely freely filtered in the glomerulus to allow complement inhibition in the tubular lumen and may provide a novel treatment option to prevent tubulointerstitial injury. However, more information on the pharmacokinetic properties and renal tubular handling of EWE-hC3Nb1 nanobody is required for its pharmacological application in relation to kidney disease. Here, we examined the pharmacokinetic properties of free EWE-hC3Nb1 in mouse plasma and urine, following subcutaneous injection in wild-type control and podocin knock out (KO) mice with severe proteinuria. Tubular handling of filtered EWE-hC3Nb1 was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on kidney tissue from control, proteinuric mice, and KO mice deficient in the proximal tubule endocytic receptor megalin. Rapid plasma absorption and elimination of EWE-hC3Nb1 was observed in both control and proteinuric mice; however, urinary excretion of EWE-hC3Nb1 was markedly increased in proteinuric mice. Urinary EWE-hC3Nb1 excretion was amplified in megalin KO mice, and substantial accumulation of EWE-hC3Nb1 was observed in megalin-expressing renal proximal tubules by IHC. Moreover, free EWE-hC3Nb1 was found to be rapidly cleared from plasma. In conclusion, filtered EWE-hC3Nb1 is reabsorbed by a megalin-dependent process in the proximal tubules. Increased load of filtered proteins in the tubular fluid may inhibit the megalin-dependent uptake of EWE-hC3Nb1 in proteinuric mice. Treatment with EWE-hC3Nb1 may allow investigation of the effects of complement inhibition in the tubular fluid.

Psychoeducation for adult ADHD: a scoping review about characteristics, patient involvement, and content

BACKGROUND

Psychosocial interventions such as psychoeducation are increasingly being used to treat adult ADHD, both as an alternative and as a supplement to pharmacotherapy. A thorough overview of the literature on psychoeducation for adult ADHD is lacking. The objectives of this scoping review were therefore to identify the characteristics of psychoeducation interventions designed for adults with ADHD, examine how the patient experience or perspective is considered during the intervention's development and implementation, determine the typical themes covered, and explore how 'psychoeducation' is defined in these interventions.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was performed to identify records in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, AMED, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Two or more reviewers were included in every step of the screening process and the final selection of included studies. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist (Supplementary Material 1) was used to report the results, and the framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley was used as a guide throughout the scoping process.

RESULTS

A total of 2121 records were identified through the literature search. After screening and full-text analysis, ten studies were included for final analysis. Most studies were conducted in Europe and followed a group format. Seven main themes were identified: Information about the diagnosis, treatment options, somatic health and ADHD, the insider perspective, ADHD and social life, coping and psychological skills, and ADHD and work. There was significant overlap in themes covered, but coverage of each theme varied. Themes deemed important by newer research, such as sexuality and gender-specific issues, were missing. Only one intervention involved patients in its development and implementation, and two interventions involved family members. There was variation in how psychoeducation was defined in the included studies, and the implications of this are discussed.

CONCLUSION

The literature on psychoeducation for adult ADHD is not ready for any systematic effect estimation. Before such estimations are conducted, a shared understanding and definition of psychoeducation are needed. The involvement of end users in the development and delivery of interventions may aid reach this goal but results from this review indicate that such practices are rare.

Measuring patient satisfaction with four items: validity of the client satisfaction questionnaire 4 in an outpatient population

INTRODUCTION

Patient satisfaction with mental health services has for several decades been considered an important component when evaluating service quality. It is often assessed in the context of monitoring quality of care, developing or evaluating newly implemented interventions or changes in practice. Because of this, patient satisfaction questionnaires are often added to longer questionnaire batteries, and shorter questionnaires are preferred to prevent respondent fatigue and non-compliance and to secure easy implementation. However, most studies use unvalidated patient satisfaction measures, making comparisons between studies difficult. Validation studies of short patient satisfaction measures are therefore warranted.

METHODS

The primary aim was to examine the construct validity and internal reliability of the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-4 (CSQ-4) in a Norwegian outpatient mental health setting. A total of 467 patients were recruited from an outpatient psychiatric care clinic in Central Norway. The secondary aim was to examine an earlier proposed cutoff for classifying dissatisfied patients in this new population. A principal component analysis was conducted to evaluate factor structure, correlation analyses were conducted to test for predicted relationships, and Cronbach's alpha was calculated to examine internal reliability.

RESULTS

The CSQ-4 showed a clear unidimensional structure with one factor explaining 80% of its variance. Its internal reliability was very high, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.92. As hypothesised this study found no statistically significant sex differences in satisfaction and no statistically significant association between age and satisfaction. Positive changes in symptoms during treatment and higher post-treatment functional impairment were associated with higher patient-reported treatment satisfaction scores, which indicates good construct validity.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to evaluate the CSQ-4 in a psychiatric population. The CSQ-4 demonstrated good structural validity and internal reliability and was correlated with outcome variables in terms of symptom change and post-treatment functioning. In sum, this indicates that the CSQ-4 is a good short alternative for evaluating patient satisfaction in routine outpatient mental health care.

The construct validity of an abridged version of the general self-efficacy scale for adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Objectives

The General Self-Efficacy (GSE) scale is a validated self-rated questionnaire increasingly used in mental health research. However, despite several psychometric advantages of the GSE scale, its validity in those diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has not yet been examined. Moreover, a shorter version of the GSE scale would contribute to a more rational use of resources in extensive multivariate studies. Therefore, as self-rated scales to measure self-efficacy in this population are lacking, the current study aims to develop a condensed version of the GSE for adults with ADHD.

Methods

A group of patient collaborators (user representatives) from an ADHD organization and health professionals shortened the original 10-item GSE scale to six items and evaluated the content validity of the revised scale. Second, 525 potential participants were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study conducted in 2021 (between January 19th and February 7th). Of them, 403 filled out the GSE-6 for ADHD and two scales measuring psychological well-being and mental health (the five-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index, WHO-5, and the four-item Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-4). The psychometric properties of the new scale were examined, testing a priori formulated hypotheses.

Results

The brief GSE-6 for ADHD displayed good internal consistency with a Cronbach's α of 0.907. No floor or ceiling effect was detected. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a one-factor structure. The GSE-6 also showed a moderate positive correlation with the WHO-5 (rs = 0.578) and a moderate negative correlation with the depression and anxiety rating scale PHQ-4 (rs = -0.595).

Conclusion

The 6-item GSE for ADHD was evaluated to have good content validity. The scale demonstrated good psychometric properties. The results indicate that the GSE-6 may help assess self-efficacy in adults with ADHD.

Mechanical Interlocking to Unlock the Reinforcing Potential of Carbon Nanotubes

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) present extraordinary mechanical properties, with Youngs' modulus>1 TPa and tensile strength>50 GPa; this makes them ideal candidates as fillers for the reinforcement of polymers. However, the performance of SWNTs in this field has fallen behind expectations. This is due to a combination of imperfect individualization of the SWNTs and poor load transfer from the polymer to the SWNTs. Here, we study the reinforcement of polymers of different chemical nature using mechanically interlocked derivatives of single-walled carbon nanotubes (MINTs). We compare the mechanical properties of fibers made of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polysulfone (PSU) and their composites made with pristine SWNTs, MINTs, and the corresponding supramolecular models. With very low loading of MINTs (0.01 % w/w), improvements of more than 100 % on Youngs Modulus and the tensile strength are observed for both the nonpolar aliphatic PMMA and the very polar aromatic PSU polymers, while pristine carbon nanotubes and the supramolecular nanofillers showed smaller reinforcement. These data, together with our previous report on the reinforcement of polystyrene (nonpolar and aromatic), indicate that derivatization of SWNTs as MINTs is a valid general strategy to optimize the interaction between SWNT fillers and the polymer matrix.

Atomic Layer Deposition as the Enabler for the Metastable Semiconductor InN and Its Alloys

Indium nitride (InN) is a low-band-gap semiconductor with unusually high electron mobility, making it suitable for IR-range optoelectronics and high-frequency transistors. However, the development of InN-based electronics is hampered by the metastable nature of InN. The decomposition temperature of InN is lower than the required growth temperature for most crystal growth techniques. Here, we discuss growth of InN films and epitaxial layers by atomic layer deposition (ALD), a growth technique based on self-limiting surface chemical reactions and, thus, inherently a low-temperature technique. We describe the current state of the art in ALD of InN and InN-based ternary alloys with GaN and AlN, and we contrast this to other growth technologies for these materials. We believe that ALD will be the enabling technology for realizing the promise of InN-based electronics.

Interlocking Matrix and Filler for Enhanced Individualization and Reinforcement in Polymer-Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Composites

Poor individualization and interfacial adhesion prevent single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)-polymer composites from reaching outstanding mechanical properties. With much larger diameters, but common structural features (high aspect ratio and absence of functional groups for covalent or supramolecular attachment with the polymer), carbon fibers face similar problems, which are addressed by covering the fibers with a thin layer of polymer. This sizing strategy has allowed carbon fibers to become the filler of choice for the highest performing materials. Inspired by this, here we investigate the use of the mechanical bond to wrap SWNTs with a layer of polymeric material to produce SWNTs mechanically interlocked with a layer of polymer. We first validate the formation of mechanically interlocked nanotubes (MINTs) using mixtures of SWNTs of relatively large average diameter (1.6 ± 0.4 nm), which are commercially available at reasonable prices and therefore could be technologically relevant as polymer fillers. We then design and synthesize by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) a polymer decorated with multiple U-shaped molecules, which are later ring-closed around the SWNTs using metathesis. The obtained hybrids contain a high degree of individualized SWNTs and exhibit significantly increased mechanical properties when compared to the matrix polymer. We envision that this strategy could be employed to produce SWNTs interlocked with polymer layers with various designs for polymer reinforcement.

Identification of 5-HT2 Serotonin Receptor Modulators through the Synthesis of a Diverse, Tropane- and Quinuclidine-alkaloid-Inspired Compound Library

The recombination of natural product (NP) fragments in unprecedented ways has emerged as an important strategy for bioactive compound discovery. In this context, we propose that privileged primary fragments predicted to be enriched in activity against a specific target class can be coupled to diverse secondary fragments to engineer selectivity among closely related targets. Here, we report the synthesis of an alkaloid-inspired compound library enriched in spirocyclic ring fusions, comprising 58 compounds from 12 tropane- or quinuclidine-containing scaffolds, all of which can be considered pseudo-NPs. The library displays excellent predicted drug-like properties including high Fsp3 content and Lipinski's rule-of-five compliance. Targeted screening against selected members of the serotonin and dopamine G protein-coupled receptor family led to the identification of several hits that displayed significant agonist or antagonist activity against 5-HT2A and/or 5-HT2C, and subsequent optimization of one of these delivered a lead dual 5-HT2B/C antagonist with a highly promising selectivity profile.

Thermal decomposition of trimethylindium and indium trisguanidinate precursors for InN growth: An ab initio and kinetic modeling study

Indium nitride (InN) is an interesting material for future electronic and photonic-related applications, as it combines high electron mobility and low-energy band gap for photoabsorption or emission-driven processes. In this context, atomic layer deposition techniques have been previously employed for InN growth at low temperatures (typically <350 °C), reportedly yielding crystals with high quality and purity. In general, this technique is assumed to not involve any gas phase reactions as a result from the time-resolved insertion of volatile molecular sources into the gas chamber. Nonetheless, such temperatures could still favor the precursor decomposition in the gas phase during the In half-cycle, therefore altering the molecular species that undergoes physisorption and, ultimately, driving the reaction mechanism to pursue other pathways. Thence, we herein evaluate the thermal decomposition of relevant In precursors in the gas phase, namely, trimethylindium (TMI) and tris(N,N'-diisopropyl-2-dimethylamido-guanidinato) indium (III) (ITG), by means of thermodynamic and kinetic modeling. According to the results, at T = 593 K, TMI should exhibit partial decomposition of ∼8% after 400 s to first generate methylindium and ethane (C2H6), a percentage that increases to ∼34% after 1 h of exposure inside the gas chamber. Therefore, this precursor should be present in an intact form to undergo physisorption during the In half-cycle of the deposition (<10 s). On the other hand, the ITG decomposition starts already at the temperatures used in the bubbler, in which it slowly decomposes as it is evaporated during the deposition process. At T = 300 °C, the decomposition is a fast process that reaches 90% completeness after 1 s and where equilibrium, at which almost no ITG remains, is achieved before 10 s. In this case, the decomposition pathway is likely to occur via elimination of the carbodiimide ligand. Ultimately, these results should contribute for a better understanding of the reaction mechanism involved in the InN growth from these precursors.

Biased quartz crystal microbalance method for studies of chemical vapor deposition surface chemistry induced by plasma electrons

A recently presented chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method involves using plasma electrons as reducing agents for deposition of metals. The plasma electrons are attracted to the substrate surface by a positive substrate bias. Here, we present how a standard quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) system can be modified to allow applying a DC bias to the QCM sensor to attract plasma electrons to it and thereby also enable in situ growth monitoring during the electron-assisted CVD method. We show initial results from mass gain evolution over time during deposition of iron films using the biased QCM and how the biased QCM can be used for process development and provide insight into the surface chemistry by time-resolving the CVD method. Post-deposition analyses of the QCM crystals by cross-section electron microscopy and high-resolution x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy show that the QCM crystals are coated by an iron-containing film and thus function as substrates in the CVD process. A comparison of the areal mass density given by the QCM crystal and the areal mass density from elastic recoil detection analysis and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry was done to verify the function of the QCM setup. Time-resolved CVD experiments show that this biased QCM method holds great promise as one of the tools for understanding the surface chemistry of the newly developed CVD method.

A digital Norwegian version of the client satisfaction questionnaire 8: factor validity and internal reliability in outpatient mental health care

BACKGROUND

Validated measures of patient-reported experiences are essential for assessing and improving the quality of mental health services and interventions. In Norwegian mental healthcare settings, the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8) is increasingly being used for this purpose, but the validity and reliability of the Norwegian translation have not been investigated.

METHODS

We examined the factor structure and internal consistency of a digitally administrated Norwegian translation of the CSQ-8 in a sample of 338 patients recruited from outpatient treatment. The relationship between satisfaction scores and the change in symptom severity during treatment, measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-4, was also investigated.

RESULTS

The Norwegian CSQ-8 showed a clear unidimensional structure with one factor explaining 74% of the variance. Internal consistency was very high, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.95. Satisfaction showed a small-to-moderate negative relationship with change in symptom severity. Satisfaction scores were negatively skewed, and the presence of ceiling effects is discussed.

CONCLUSION

Our results support the use of the Norwegian CSQ-8 as a valid and reliable measure of satisfaction with mental healthcare services. Further studies are needed to determine the test-retest reliability of the questionnaire, its sensitivity to change, and to assess its propensity to ceiling effects.

Novel homozygous CD46 variant with C-isoform expression affects C3b inactivation in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a thrombotic microangiopathy that may lead to organ failure. Dysregulation of the complement system can cause aHUS, and various disease-related variants in the complement regulatory protein CD46 are described. We here report a pediatric patient with aHUS carrying a hitherto unreported homozygous variant in CD46 (NM_172359.3:c.602C>T p.(Ser201Leu)). In our functional analyses, this variant caused complement dysregulation through three separate mechanisms. First, CD46 surface expression on the patient's blood cells was significantly reduced. Second, stably expressing CD46(Ser201Leu) cells bound markedly less to patterns of C3b than CD46 WT cells. Third, the patient predominantly expressed the rare isoforms of CD46 (C dominated) instead of the more common isoforms (BC dominated). Using BC1 and C1 expressing cell lines, we found that the C1 isoform bound markedly less C3b than the BC1 isoform. These results highlight the coexistence of multiple mechanisms that may act synergistically to disrupt CD46 function during aHUS development.

Structure-Guided Engineering of a Complement Component C3-Binding Nanobody Improves Specificity and Adds Cofactor Activity

The complement system is a part of the innate immune system, where it labels intruding pathogens as well as dying host cells for clearance. If complement regulation is compromised, the system may contribute to pathogenesis. The proteolytic fragment C3b of complement component C3, is the pivot point of the complement system and provides a scaffold for the assembly of the alternative pathway C3 convertase that greatly amplifies the initial complement activation. This makes C3b an attractive therapeutic target. We previously described a nanobody, hC3Nb1 binding to C3 and its degradation products. Here we show, that extending the N-terminus of hC3Nb1 by a Glu-Trp-Glu motif renders the resulting EWE-hC3Nb1 (EWE) nanobody specific for C3 degradation products. By fusing EWE to N-terminal CCP domains from complement Factor H (FH), we generated the fusion proteins EWEnH and EWEµH. In contrast to EWE, these fusion proteins supported Factor I (FI)-mediated cleavage of human and rat C3b. The EWE, EWEµH, and EWEnH proteins bound C3b and iC3b with low nanomolar dissociation constants and exerted strong inhibition of alternative pathway-mediated deposition of complement. Interestingly, EWEnH remained soluble above 20 mg/mL. Combined with the observed reactivity with both human and rat C3b as well as the ability to support FI-mediated cleavage of C3b, this features EWEnH as a promising candidate for in vivo studies in rodent models of complement driven pathogenesis.

Structural insights into the function-modulating effects of nanobody binding to the integrin receptor αMβ2

The integrin receptor α_Mβ₂ mediates phagocytosis of complement-opsonized objects, adhesion to the extracellular matrix, and transendothelial migration of leukocytes. However, the mechanistic aspects of α_Mβ₂ signaling upon ligand binding are unclear. Here, we present the first atomic structure of the human α_Mβ₂ headpiece fragment in complex with the nanobody (Nb) hCD11bNb1 at a resolution of 3.2 Å. We show that the receptor headpiece adopts the closed conformation expected to exhibit low ligand affinity. The crystal structure indicates that in the R77H α_M variant, associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, the modified allosteric relationship between ligand binding and integrin outside–inside signaling is due to subtle conformational effects transmitted over a distance of 40 Å. Furthermore, we found the Nb binds to the αI domain of the α_M subunit in an Mg²⁺-independent manner with low nanomolar affinity. Biochemical and biophysical experiments with purified proteins demonstrated that the Nb acts as a competitive inhibitor through steric hindrance exerted on the thioester domain of complement component iC3b attempting to bind the α_M subunit. Surprisingly, we show that the Nb stimulates the interaction of cell-bound α_Mβ₂ with iC3b, suggesting that it may represent a novel high-affinity proteinaceous α_Mβ₂-specific agonist. Taken together, our data suggest that the iC3b–α_Mβ₂ complex may be more dynamic than predicted from the crystal structure of the core complex. We propose a model based on the conformational spectrum of the receptor to reconcile these observations regarding the functional consequences of hCD11bNb1 binding to α_Mβ₂.

Texture evolution in rhombohedral boron carbide films grown on 4H-SiC(̅) and 4H-SiC(0001) substrates by chemical vapor deposition

Boron carbide in its rhombohedral form (r-BxC), commonly denoted B4C or B13C2, is a well-known hard material, but it is also a potential semiconductor material. We deposited r-BxC by chemical...

Thermal atomic layer deposition of In2O3 thin films using a homoleptic indium triazenide precursor and water

Indium oxide (In2O3) is an important transparent conducting material widely used in optoelectronic applications. Herein, we study the deposition of In2O3 by thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) using our recently...

Synthesis, Characterization, and Thermal Study of Divalent Germanium, Tin, and Lead Triazenides as Potential Vapor Deposition Precursors

Only a few M-N bonded divalent group 14 precursors are available for vapor deposition, in particular for Ge and Pb. A majority of the reported precursors are dicoordinated with the Sn(II) amidinates, the only tetracoordinated examples. No Ge(II) and Pb(II) amidinates suitable for vapor deposition have been demonstrated. Herein, we present tetracoordinated Ge(II), Sn(II), and Pb(II) complexes bearing two sets of chelating 1,3-di-tert-butyltriazenide ligands. These compounds are thermally stable, sublime quantitatively between 60 and 75 °C (at 0.5 mbar), and show ideal single-step volatilization by thermogravimetric analysis.

Resolving Impurities in Atomic Layer Deposited Aluminum Nitride through Low Cost, High Efficiency Precursor Design

A heteroleptic amidoalane precursor is presented as a more suitably designed candidate to replace trimethylaluminum (TMA) for atomic layer deposition of aluminum nitride (AlN). The lack of C-Al bonds and the strongly reducing hydride ligands in [AlH₂(NMe₂)]₃ (1) were specifically chosen to limit impurities in target aluminum nitride (AlN) films. Compound 1 is made in a high yield, scalable synthesis involving lithium aluminum hydride and dimethylammonium chloride. It has a vapor pressure of 1 Torr at 40 °C and evaporates with negligible residual mass in thermogravimetric experiments. Ammonia (NH₃) plasma and 1 in an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process produced crystalline AlN films above 200 °C with an Al:N ratio of 1.04. Carbon and oxygen impurities in resultant AlN films were reduced to <1% and <2%, respectively. By using a precursor with a rational and advantageous design, we can improve the material quality of AlN films compared to those deposited using the industrial standard trimethylaluminum and could reduce material cost by up to 2 orders of magnitude.

Erythrina Alkaloid Analogues as nAChR Antagonists-A Flexible Platform for Leads in Drug Discovery

Erythrina alkaloids and their central nervous system effects have been studied for over a century, mainly due to their potent antagonistic actions at β2-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). In the present work, we report a synthetic approach giving access to a diverse set of Erythrina natural product analogues and present the enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-Cocculine and (+)-Cocculidine, both found to be potent antagonists of the β2-containing nAChRs.

Area Selective Deposition of Metals from the Electrical Resistivity of the Substrate

Area selective deposition (ASD) of films only on desired areas of the substrate opens for less complex fabrication of nanoscaled electronics. We show that a newly developed CVD method, where plasma electrons are used as the reducing agent in deposition of metallic thin films, is inherently area selective from the electrical resistivity of the substrate surface. When depositing iron with the new CVD method, no film is deposited on high-resistivity SiO2 surfaces whereas several hundred nanometers thick iron films are deposited on areas with low resistivity, obtained by adding a thin layer of silver on the SiO2 surface. On the basis of such a scheme, we show how to use the electric resistivity of the substrate surface as an extension of the ASD toolbox for metal-on-metal deposition.

Synthesis and Thermal Study of Hexacoordinated Aluminum(III) Triazenides for Use in Atomic Layer Deposition

Amidinate and guanidinate ligands have been used extensively to produce volatile and thermally stable precursors for atomic layer deposition. The triazenide ligand is relatively unexplored as an alternative ligand system. Herein, we present six new Al(III) complexes bearing three sets of a 1,3-dialkyltriazenide ligand. These complexes volatilize quantitatively in a single step with onset volatilization temperatures of ∼150 °C and 1 Torr vapor pressures of ∼134 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that these Al(III) complexes exhibited exothermic events that overlapped with the temperatures of their mass loss events in thermogravimetric analysis. Using quantum chemical density functional theory computations, we found a decomposition pathway that transforms the relatively large hexacoordinated Al(III) precursor into a smaller dicoordinated complex. The pathway relies on previously unexplored interligand proton migrations. These new Al(III) triazenides provide a series of alternative precursors with unique thermal properties that could be highly advantageous for vapor deposition processes of Al containing materials.

Six aluminum(III) 1,3-dialkyltriazenides were synthesized and their thermal properties explored. The compounds were purified by recrystallization and could be easily sublimed. Thermogravimetric analysis of compounds showed that all, except one, gave a single step evaporation with onset volatilization temperatures of ∼150 °C. DFT calculations revealed a unique decomposition pathway that leads to a small and more reactive Al species that would be highly advantageous for the surface reactions of atomic layer deposition.

Nanobodies Provide Insight into the Molecular Mechanisms of the Complement Cascade and Offer New Therapeutic Strategies

The complement system is part of the innate immune response, where it provides immediate protection from infectious agents and plays a fundamental role in homeostasis. Complement dysregulation occurs in several diseases, where the tightly regulated proteolytic cascade turns offensive. Prominent examples are atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and Alzheimer’s disease. Therapeutic intervention targeting complement activation may allow treatment of such debilitating diseases. In this review, we describe a panel of complement targeting nanobodies that allow modulation at different steps of the proteolytic cascade, from the activation of the C1 complex in the classical pathway to formation of the C5 convertase in the terminal pathway. Thorough structural and functional characterization has provided a deep mechanistic understanding of the mode of inhibition for each of the nanobodies. These complement specific nanobodies are novel powerful probes for basic research and offer new opportunities for in vivo complement modulation.

Validity of a Norwegian version of the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ): Associations with problem drinking, nicotine dependence and problematic social media use

The aim of the current study was to test the validity of the Norwegian version of the Desire Thinking Questionnaire (DTQ). Three cross-sectional surveys were conducted investigating the psychometric properties of the DTQ in alcohol use (N = 588), nicotine use (N = 446) and social media use (N = 359). Principal components and confirmatory factor analyses supported the original two-factor solution consisting of verbal perseveration (VP) and imaginal prefiguration (IP); however, one item was removed to obtain good fit. Internal consistency was acceptable. Both IP and VP showed significant correlations with problem drinking, nicotine dependence and problematic social media use. Regression analyses, controlling for demographics and negative affect, found IP and VP to be significantly associated with all dependent variables. The results confirm that desire thinking is an important construct across different addictive behaviours.

A Complement C3-Specific Nanobody for Modulation of the Alternative Cascade Identifies the C-Terminal Domain of C3b as Functional in C5 Convertase Activity

The complement system is an intricate cascade of the innate immune system and plays a key role in microbial defense, inflammation, organ development, and tissue regeneration. There is increasing interest in developing complement regulatory and inhibitory agents to treat complement dysfunction. In this study, we describe the nanobody hC3Nb3, which is specific for the C-terminal C345c domain of human and mouse complement component C3/C3b/C3c and potently inhibits C3 cleavage by the alternative pathway. A high-resolution structure of the hC3Nb3-C345c complex explains how the nanobody blocks proconvertase assembly. Surprisingly, although the nanobody does not affect classical pathway-mediated C3 cleavage, hC3Nb3 inhibits classical pathway-driven hemolysis, suggesting that the C-terminal domain of C3b has an important function in classical pathway C5 convertase activity. The hC3Nb3 nanobody binds C3 with low nanomolar affinity in an SDS-resistant complex, and the nanobody is demonstrated to be a powerful reagent for C3 detection in immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Overall, the hC3Nb3 nanobody represents a potent inhibitor of both the alternative pathway and the terminal pathway, with possible applications in complement research, diagnostics, and therapeutics.

Complement Receptor 2 Based Immunoassay Measuring Activation of the Complement System at C3-Level in Plasma Samples From Mice and Humans

We aimed at establishing a sensitive and robust assay for estimation of systemic complement activation at complement component C3 level in mouse and human plasma samples. In order to capture the activation products iC3b and C3dg in a specific and physiological relevant manner we utilized a construct consisting of the iC3b/C3dg-binding site of human complement receptor 2 (CR2) attached to an Fc-part of mouse IgG. This construct binds C3dg and iC3b from both mice and humans. We purified the CR2-IgG construct from mouse B myeloma cell line supernatants, J558L-CR2-IgG, by protein G affinity chromatography. The CR2-IgG construct was used for capturing C3 fragments in microtiter wells and an anti-mouse or an anti-human-C3 antibody was used for detection of bound C3 fragments. Initially we tested the specificity of the assays with the use of purified C3 fragments. Further, with the use of the CR2-based assay, we measured an up to three-fold higher signal in activated mouse serum as compared to non-activated mouse serum, whereas activated serum from a C3 knock-out mouse gave no signal. We tested in vivo generated samples from a mouse experiment; complement activation was induced by injecting cobra venom factor or heat aggregated IgG into C57bl6 mice, followed by withdrawal of EDTA blood samples at different time points and measurement of iC3b/C3dg. We observed a clear time-dependent distinction in signals between samples with expected high and low complement activation. Furthermore, with the use of the assay for human C3 fragments, we observed that patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (n = 144) had significantly higher iC3b/C3dg levels as compared to healthy individuals (n = 144) (p < 0.0001). We present two functional immunoassays, that are able to measure systemic levels of the C3-activation products iC3b and C3dg in mice and humans. To our knowledge, these are the first assays for complement activation that use a physiological relevant capture construct such as CR2. These assays will be a relevant tool when investigating mouse models and human diseases involving the complement system.

A C3-specific nanobody that blocks all three activation pathways in the human and murine complement system

The complement system is a tightly controlled proteolytic cascade in the innate immune system, which tags intruding pathogens and dying host cells for clearance. An essential protein in this process is complement component C3. Uncontrolled complement activation has been implicated in several human diseases and disorders and has spurred the development of therapeutic approaches that modulate the complement system. Here, using purified proteins and several biochemical assays and surface plasmon resonance, we report that our nanobody, hC3Nb2, inhibits C3 deposition by all complement pathways. We observe that the hC3Nb2 nanobody binds human native C3 and its degradation products with low nanomolar affinity and does not interfere with the endogenous regulation of C3b deposition mediated by Factors H and I. Using negative stain EM analysis and functional assays, we demonstrate that hC3Nb2 inhibits the substrate-convertase interaction by binding to the MG3 and MG4 domains of C3 and C3b. Furthermore, we notice that hC3Nb2 is cross-reactive and inhibits the lectin and alternative pathway in murine serum. We conclude that hC3Nb2 is a potent, general, and versatile inhibitor of the human and murine complement cascades. Its cross-reactivity suggests that this nanobody may be valuable for analysis of complement activation within animal models of both acute and chronic diseases.

Biased agonism of clinically approved μ-opioid receptor agonists and TRV130 is not controlled by binding and signaling kinetics

Binding and signaling kinetics have previously proven important in validation of biased agonism at GPCRs. Here we provide a comprehensive kinetic pharmacological comparison of clinically relevant μ-opioid receptor agonists, including the novel biased agonist oliceridine (TRV130) which is in clinical trial for pain management. We demonstrate that the bias profile observed for the selected agonists is not time-dependent and that agonists with dramatic differences in their binding kinetic properties can display the same degree of bias. Binding kinetics analyses demonstrate that buprenorphine has 18-fold higher receptor residence time than oliceridine. This is thus the largest pharmacodynamic difference between the clinically approved drug buprenorphine and the clinical candidate oliceridine, since their bias profiles are similar. Further, we provide the first pharmacological characterization of (S)-TRV130 demonstrating that it has a similar pharmacological profile as the (R)-form, oliceridine, but displays 90-fold lower potency than the (R)-form. This difference is driven by a significantly slower association rate. Finally, we show that the selected agonists are differentially affected by G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 and 5 (GRK2 and GRK5) expression. GRK2 and GRK5 overexpression greatly increased μ-opioid receptor internalization induced by morphine, but only had modest effects on buprenorphine and oliceridine-induced internalization. Overall, our data reveal that the clinically available drug buprenorphine displays a similar pharmacological bias profile in vitro compared to the clinical candidate drug oliceridine and that this bias is independent of binding kinetics suggesting a mechanism driven by receptor-conformations. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'New Vistas in Opioid Pharmacology'.

Ethylene glycol: Evidence of glucuronidationin vivoshown by analysis of clinical toxicology samples

In the search for improved laboratory methods for the diagnosis of ethylene glycol poisoning, the in vivo formation of a glucuronide metabolite of ethylene glycol was hypothesized. Chemically pure standards of the β‐O‐glucuronide of ethylene glycol (EG‐GLUC) and a deuterated analog (d₄‐EG‐GLUC) were synthesized. A high‐performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry method for determination of EG‐GLUC in serum after ultrafiltration was validated. Inter‐assay precision (%RSD) was 3.9% to 15.1% and inter‐assay %bias was −2.8% to 12.2%. The measuring range was 2–100 μmol/L (0.48–24 mg/L). Specificity testing showed no endogenous amounts in routine clinical samples (n = 40). The method was used to analyze authentic, clinical serum samples (n = 31) from patients intoxicated with ethylene glycol. EG‐GLUC was quantified in 15 of these samples, with a mean concentration of 6.5 μmol/L (1.6 mg/L), ranging from 2.3 to 15.6 μmol/L (0.55 to 3.7 mg/L). In five samples, EG‐GLUC was detected below the limit of quantification (2 μmol/L) and it was below the limit of detection in 11 samples (1 μmol/L). Compared to the millimolar concentrations of ethylene glycol present in blood after intoxications and potentially available for conjugation, the concentrations of EG‐GLUC found in clinical serum samples are very low, but comparable to concentrations of ethyl glucuronide after medium dose ethanol intake. In theory, EG‐GLUC has a potential value as a biomarker for ethylene glycol intake, but the pharmacokinetic properties, in vivo/vitro stability and the biosynthetic pathways of EG‐GLUC must be further studied in a larger number of patients and other biological matrices.

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Dihydro-β-erythroidine

Erythrina alkaloids represent a rich source of complex polycyclic, bioactive natural products. In addition to their sedative and hypotensive effect, their curare-like activity and structural framework have made them attractive targets for synthetic and medicinal chemists. (+)-Dihydro-β-erythroidine (DHβE), the most potent nicotine acetylcholine receptor antagonist (nAChR) of the Erythrina family, is synthesized for the first time in 13 steps from commercially available material.

Plasma CVD of hydrogenated boron-carbon thin films from triethylboron

Low-temperature chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of B-C thin films is of importance for neutron voltaics and semiconductor technology. The highly reactive trialkylboranes, with alkyl groups of 1-4 carbon atoms, are a class of precursors that have been less explored for low-temperature CVD of B-C films. Herein, we demonstrate plasma CVD of B-C thin films using triethylboron (TEB) as a single source precursor in an Ar plasma. We show that the film density and B/C ratio increases with increasing plasma power, reaching a density of 2.20 g/cm³ and B/C = 1.7. This is attributed to a more intense energetic bombardment during deposition and more complete dissociation of the TEB molecule in the plasma at higher plasma power. The hydrogen content in the films ranges between 14 and 20 at. %. Optical emission spectroscopy of the plasma shows that BH, CH, C₂, and H are the optically active plasma species from TEB. We suggest a plasma chemical model based on β-hydrogen elimination of C₂H₄ to form BH₃, in which BH₃ and C₂H₄ are then dehydrogenated to form BH and C₂H₂. Furthermore, C₂H₂ decomposes in the plasma to produce C₂ and CH, which together with BH and possibly BH_3-x(C₂H₅)_x are the film forming species.

High-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in human papillomavirus self-sampling of screening non-attenders

BACKGROUND

Self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) offered to women who do not participate in cervical cancer screening is an increasingly popular method to increase screening coverage. The rationale behind self-sampling is that unscreened women harbour a high proportion of undetected precancer lesions. Here, we compare the cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (⩾CIN2) detection rate between non-attenders who participated in self-sampling and women attending routine screening.

METHODS

A total of 23 632 women who were qualified as non-attenders in the Copenhagen Region were invited for HPV-based self-sampling. Of these, 4824 women returned a self-sample, and HPV-positive women were referred for cytology and HPV co-testing as follow-up. The entire cohort and a reference cohort (3347 routinely screened women) were followed for histopathology confirmed ⩾CIN2. Odds ratio (OR) and the relative positive predictive value of ⩾CIN2 detection between the two populations were estimated.

RESULTS

Women participating in self-sampling had a higher ⩾CIN2 detection than women undergoing routine cytology-based screening (OR=1.83, 95% CI: 1.21-2.77) and a similar detection as routinely screened women tested with cytology and HPV testing (OR=1.03, 95% CI: 0.75-1.40). The positive predictive value for ⩾CIN2 was higher in screening non-attenders than in routinely HPV- and cytology-screened screened women (36.5% vs 25.6%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Self-sampling offered to non-attenders showed higher detection rates for ⩾CIN2 than routine cytology-based screening, and similar detection rates as HPV and cytology co-testing. This reinforces the importance of self-sampling for screening non-attenders in organised cervical cancer screening.

An anti vimentin antibody promotes tube formation

In recent years, there has been an increasing appreciation of the importance of secreted and extracellular proteins that traditionally have been considered as intracellular components. Vimentin is a highly abundant intermediate filament protein, and its intracellular functions have been investigated in a large number of studies. Recently, however, vimentin has been shown to take part in significant processes outside the cell. Our understanding of the functions of extracellular vimentin is, however, limited. In this study we demonstrate that a vimentin specific antibody, obtained by phage antibody technology, promotes tube formation of endothelial cells in a 2D matrigel assay. By binding vimentin, the antibody increases the tube formation by 21% after 5 hours of incubation. Addition of the antibody directly to cultured endothelial cells does not influence endothelial cell migration or proliferation. The enhanced tube formation can be seen for up to 10 hours where after the effect decreases. It is shown that the antibody-binding site is located on the coil 2 domain of vimentin. To our knowledge this is the first study that demonstrates an enhanced tube formation by binding vimentin in a 2D matrigel assay under normoxic conditions.

Abstract P5-05-03: Upregulated purinergic signaling enhances cell proliferation in human and murine breast carcinomas

The composition of the extracellular tumor microenvironment differs from that of most other tissues and is thought to provide cancer cells with a growth and survival advantage compared to normal cells. In solid tumors, the extracellular concentration of ATP can be elevated to ~100 µm and extracellular pH can be as low as 6.5. In the current project, we investigate the consequences of purinergic signaling in human and murine breast carcinomas: we study intracellular Ca2+ signals and associated changes in cell proliferation during stimulation with extracellular nucleotides.

We employ biopsies of human and murine primary breast carcinomas and compare them with matched normal breast tissue. Human biopsies are obtained with written informed consent from patients undergoing breast conserving surgery at Aarhus University Hospital or Regional Hospital Randers in Denmark. Murine biopsies are from mice overexpressing unactivated ErbB2 specifically in the breast tissue. We isolate epithelial organoids (~150 µm diameter) from tissue biopsies by partial digestion with collagenase III. Organoids loaded with the Ca2+-sensitive fluorophore Fura-2 are studied by fluorescence microscopy. In separate experiments, cell proliferation is quantified by detecting newly synthesized DNA using immunofluorescence imaging of organoids incubated with the thymidine analogue bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU).

We find that intracellular Ca2+ responses during stimulation with extracellular ATP are elevated 2- to 10-fold in breast carcinomas from mice and humans, respectively, compared to matched normal breast tissue. We observe similar differences between breast cancer tissue and normal breast tissue in response to stimulation with the P2Y2/P2Y4-agonist UTP, whereas virtually no rise in the intracellular concentration of Ca2+ is observed in response to the P2X7-agonist 3'-O-(4-benzoyl)benzoyl-ATP. Application of cyclopiazonic acid – an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase – also cause exaggerated intracellular Ca2+ responses in breast cancer compared to normal breast tissue. Consistent with the elevated Ca2+ responses, stimulation with 100 µm ATP or 100 µm UTP increases the rate of cell proliferation (i.e., fraction of BrdU-positive cells) by ~2-fold in the breast cancer tissue.

In conclusion, we find that purinergic signaling is upregulated in human and murine breast carcinomas compared to normal breast tissue. Activation of purinergic receptors – most likely P2Y2 and/or P2Y4 – enhances cell proliferation in breast cancer tissue. We propose that the high ATP levels in the tumor microenvironment promote breast cancer development or progression and that the associated signaling pathways represent promising targets for therapy.

Citation Format: Mele M, McWhan K, Henningsen M, Vahl P, Jensen V, Johansen T, Pedersen H, Christiansen P, Bødtkjer E. Upregulated purinergic signaling enhances cell proliferation in human and murine breast carcinomas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-05-03.

Upregulation of Mrps18a in breast cancer identified by selecting phage antibody libraries on breast tissue sections

Background

One of the hallmarks of cancer is an altered energy metabolism, and here, mitochondria play a central role. Previous studies have indicated that some mitochondrial ribosomal proteins change their expression patterns upon transformation.

Method

In this study, we have used the selection of recombinant antibody libraries displayed on the surface of filamentous bacteriophage as a proteomics discovery tool for the identification of breast cancer biomarkers. A small subpopulation of breast cells expressing both cytokeratin 19 and cytokeratin 14 was targeted using a novel selection procedure.

Results

We identified the mitochondrial ribosomal protein s18a (Mrps18a) as a protein which is upregulated in breast cancer. However, Mrps18a was not homogeneously upregulated in all cancer cells, suggesting the existence of sub-populations within the tumor. The upregulation was not confined to cytokeratin 19 and cytokeratin 14 double positive cells.

Conclusion

This study illustrates how phage display can be applied towards the discovery of proteins which exhibit changes in their expression patterns. We identified the mitochondrial protein Mrps18a as being upregulated in human breast cancer cells compared to normal breast cells.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-016-2987-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

192 PREMATURATION OF BOVINE CUMULUS-OOCYTE COMPLEXES WITH CYCLIC ADENOSINE MONOPHOSPHATE MODULATORS AFFECTS BOTH OOCYTE AND BLASTOCYST ULTRASTRUCTURE

Oocytes resume meiosis spontaneously when subjected to in vitro maturation (IVM). Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) elevating agents have been used for artificial blocking of meiotic resumption (pre-IVM) to allow the oocyte to prepare for maturation, potentially increasing its developmental competence. However, the ultrastructural effects of this pharmacological approach on oocytes and embryos remain to be addressed. We assessed the effects of pre-IVM with cAMP modulators in oocytes (10 for each group) at the end of IVM and in blastocyst (10 for each group) after 7 days of culture. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were subjected to pre-IVM for 2 h with forskolin (Sigma, St. Louis, MO, USA; 100 μM) and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) (IBMX, Sigma, 500 μM) followed by 24 h of IVM with FSH-enriched media (IVF Vet Solutions, Adelaide, Australia). Simultaneously, another group of COC was subjected to conventional IVM (con-IVM) for 24 h (EmbryoTransBiotech, Copenhagen, Denmark) with BSA (4 mg mL–1, Sigma), gentamycin (50 mg mL–1), and FSH (0.1 IU mL–1). Matured oocytes were collected for qualitative ultrastructural analysis or followed to IVF. The morphology was carefully evaluated on serially sectioned oocytes and embryos, where each serial section (~60.2-μm section per oocyte/embryo) was analysed under light microscopy. Subsequently, the equatorial section from each oocyte and the section giving the optimal representation of the inner cell mass in each blastocyst was re-embedded and sectioned for electron microcopy as previously described (Hyttel and Madsen 1987 Acta Anat. 129, 12–14). Blastocyst rates did not differ between groups. Ultrastructural analyses revealed subtle ultrastructural differences between pre-IVM and con-IVM conditions. In both groups, oocytes had matured to metaphase II. The perivitelline space of pre-IVM oocytes was significantly narrower than con-IVM. The cytoplasmic vesicles were more abundant and globally distributed in pre-IVM oocytes, whereas at con-IVM a vesicle-free periphery of the ooplasm was frequent, except for cortical granules and clusters of mitochondria associated with smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER). We observed typical hooded mitochondria and cortical granules either clustered in the periphery or solitarily distributed in the cortical ooplasmic region for both groups. In the blastocysts, differences were noted with respect to especially distribution of ribosomes. In pre-IVM blastocysts, ribosomes were mostly organised in free clusters (polysomes) and peripherally located in cells of the inner cell mass. Con-IVM blastocysts showed ribosomes preferentially associated with the rough ER and often associated with mitochondria. Lipid droplets and rounded mitochondria were observed in both groups as well as apically located tight junctions and desmosomes between adjacent trophectoderm (TE) cells. Pleomorphic and elongated mitochondria were abundant in the TE of pre-IVM blastocysts, whereas the mitochondrial population was more homogenous at con-IVM. These findings suggest that pre-IVM for 2 h affects oocyte and blastocyst ultrastructure. Research was supported by grants 12/50533-2 and 12/23409-9 from FAPESP.

Hotspots of narrow endemisms: adequate focal points for conservation in Dendrochilum (Orchidaceae)

The general aim of conservation is to ensure persi- stence of biodiversity value. Given certain measures (financial, logistic, etc.) the specific goal must be to maximize the amount of biodiversity value to be secured by these means. Several area selection met- hods are available for such purpose, and they repres- ent very different conservation philosophies (Williams et al. 1996; Humphries 2006). Two funda- mentally different approaches exist: (1) locating hot- spots of species richness or narrow endemism, and (2) designating conservation areas according to com- plementarity methods. 

Tying up Nicotine: New Selective Competitive Antagonist of the Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Conformational restriction of the pyrrolidine nitrogen in nicotine by the introduction of an ethylene bridge provided a potent and selective antagonist of the α4β2-subtype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Resolution by chiral SFC, pharmacological characterization of the two enantiomers, and determination of absolute configuration via enantioselective synthesis showed that the pharmacological activity resided almost exclusively in the (R)-enantiomer.

Biological conversion of aripiprazole lauroxil - An N-acyloxymethyl aripiprazole prodrug

N-acyloxyalkylation of NH-acidic compounds can be a prodrug approach for e.g. tertiary or some N-heterocyclic amines and secondary amides and have the potential to modify the properties of the parent drug for specific uses, for example its physicochemical, pharmacokinetic or biopharmaceutical properties. Aripiprazole lauroxil was prepared as a model compound for such prodrugs and its bioconversion was investigated both in vitro and in vivo. Theoretically, N-acyloxyalkyl derivates of NH-acid compounds undergo a two-step bioconversion into the parent NH-acidic drug through an N-hydroxyalkyl intermediate. However, to our knowledge no published studies have investigated the formation of an intermediate in vivo. In the present study, it was demonstrated that the assumed N-hydroxymethyl intermediate was readily observed both in vitro and in vivo. In vivo, the observed plasma concentration of the intermediate was at the same level as the drug (aripiprazole). When prodrug intermediates are formed, it is important to make a proper pharmacological, pharmacokinetic and toxicological evaluation of the intermediates to ensure patient safety; however, several challenges were identified when testing an N-acyloxyalkyl prodrug. These included the development of a suitable bioanalytical method, the accurate prediction of prodrug bioconversion and thereby the related pharmacokinetics in humans and the toxicological potential of the intermediate.

Tools for optimization of adoptive cellular therapy (TRAN3P.908)

The transfusion of T lymphocytes is a promising treatment for viral infections in immune-compromised patients, and has induced regression of cancer in early-stage clinical trials. Adoptive T cell therapy can be optimized in several ways: -Patient stratification - only those that benefit from therapy are treated -Measurement of T-cell immunity pre and post treatment - has the desired immune response been induced and is additional therapy needed -Quantitative quality control of the cellular product prior to infusion Multiple adoptive cell therapy trials are investigating the benefit of transferring CMV-specific T cells to transplant patients to avoid reactivation of CMV. We used the MHC multimer based Dextramer CMV assay, to quantitate CMV-specific T cells in whole blood and processed cell samples. The reconstitution of CMV immunity was followed in &gt;90 transplant patients and it was shown that induction of CMV-specific immunity upon adoptive transfer of CMV-specific T cells could be reliably measured. We showed that CMV Dextramers can be used to characterize cellular products with respect to CMV-specific T-cell composition upon in vitro expansion. The CMV Dextramer assay is a valuable tool that may improve CMV-specific adoptive cellular therapy by allowing: -Stratification - Identification of patients with low CMV-specific immunity -Immune monitoring - Determination of the induced cellular response in patients -Quality control - QC of manufactured cellular products

The association between content of the elements S, Cl, K, Fe, Cu, Zn and Br in normal and cirrhotic liver tissue from Danes and Greenlandic Inuit examined by dual hierarchical clustering analysis

PROJECT

Meta-analysis of previous studies evaluating associations between content of elements sulphur (S), chlorine (Cl), potassium (K), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and bromine (Br) in normal and cirrhotic autopsy liver tissue samples.

PROCEDURE

Normal liver samples from 45 Greenlandic Inuit, median age 60 years and from 71 Danes, median age 61 years. Cirrhotic liver samples from 27 Danes, median age 71 years. Element content was measured using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.

STATISTICS

Dual hierarchical clustering analysis, creating a dual dendrogram, one clustering element contents according to calculated similarities, one clustering elements according to correlation coefficients between the element contents, both using Euclidian distance and Ward Procedure.

RESULTS

One dendrogram separated subjects in 7 clusters showing no differences in ethnicity, gender or age. The analysis discriminated between elements in normal and cirrhotic livers. The other dendrogram clustered elements in four clusters: sulphur and chlorine; copper and bromine; potassium and zinc; iron. There were significant correlations between the elements in normal liver samples: S was associated with Cl, K, Br and Zn; Cl with S and Br; K with S, Br and Zn; Cu with Br. Zn with S and K. Br with S, Cl, K and Cu. Fe did not show significant associations with any other element.

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to simple statistical methods, which analyses content of elements separately one by one, dual hierarchical clustering analysis incorporates all elements at the same time and can be used to examine the linkage and interplay between multiple elements in tissue samples.

Chemical vapour deposition of epitaxial rhombohedral BN thin films on SiC substrates

Epitaxial growth of rhombohedral boron nitride (r-BN) on different polytypes of silicon carbide (SiC) is demonstrated using thermally activated hot-wall chemical vapour deposition and triethyl boron and ammonia as precursors.