Unraveling Reactivity Differences: Room-Temperature Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP) versus Frontal ROMP.

In this study, we explore the distinct reactivity patterns between frontal ring-opening metathesis polymerization (FROMP) and room-temperature solventless ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Despite their shared mechanism, we find that FROMP is less sensitive to inhibitor concentration than room-temperature ROMP. By increasing the initiator-to-monomer ratio for a fixed inhibitor/initiator quantity, we find reduction in the ROMP background reactivity at room temperature (i.e., increased resin pot life). At elevated temperatures where inhibitor dissociation prevails, accelerated frontal polymerization rates are observed because of the concentrated presence of the initiator. Surprisingly, the strategy of employing higher initiator loading enhances both pot life and front speeds, which leads to FROMP rates exceeding prior reported values by over 5 times. This counterintuitive behavior is attributed to an increase in the proximity of the inhibitor to the initiator within the bulk resin and to whether the temperature favors coordination or dissociation of the inhibitor. A rapid method was developed for assessing resin pot life, and a straightforward model for active initiator behavior was established. Modified resin systems enabled direct ink writing of robust thermoset structures at rates much faster than previously possible.

[Peculiarities of vitamin status in men and women with cardiovascular disease and obesity].

We explored the characteristics of the vitamin status in 471 patients with cardiovascular diseases, according to sex, and BMI values. All patients underwent examination of the system Nutritest-IP: studying their actual meals at home, determined anthropometric measurement, body composition, using biochemical methods evaluated the state of the protein, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, the functional state of liver and biliary tract, hemostasis, vitamin provision. The results suggest a lack of availability of patients with vitamins C and B group. The number of patients with deficient serum beta-carotene increased proportional to body mass index. The concentration of beta-carotene decreased and vitamin E - increased in blood serum proportionally to increase the degree of obesity. Thus the availability of vitamins in the blood serum depends from sex and body mass index values of the patients. These data suggest that the rate of supply of vitamins are reliable markers to assess the adequacy of the diet consumed by the content of vitamins in people with normal body weight. Appraisingly the content of beta-carotene and vitamin E in the serum of patients it should be taken into account that they have overweight or obese, and abnormality of lipid spectrum of blood serum.

[Specular microscopy findings in active uveitis]. / Résultats de la microscopie spéculaire au cours des uvéites actives.

PURPOSE: To study the effect of ocular inflammation in active uveitis on the corneal endothelium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective cross-sectional study involving 63 eyes of 38 patients with active newly-diagnosed uveitis. Eighty-four eyes of 42 non-uveitic subjects served as a control group. All patients underwent detailed ophthalmic examination, laser flare photometry, and non-contact specular microscopy. Eyes with uveitis had a follow-up visit at one month after initiation of treatment, including laser flare photometry and specular microscopy. RESULTS: The mean age of the active uveitis patients was 33 (range: 9-67 years) with 21 men (55%) and 17 women (45%). For the uveitis patients at baseline, the mean flare value was 32ph/ms (range: 15-100ph/ms) with flare photometry value ≥50ph/ms in 13 eyes (21%) and<50ph/ms in 50 eyes (79%). At baseline, cell density (CD) of the uveitis patients was similar to CD in control eyes (p꞊0.16). The percent of hexagonality was significantly lower (p<0.0001), and the coefficient of variance (CV) (p<0.0001) and central corneal thickness (CCT) (p<0.0001) were significantly higher than in the control group. After one month, there was a significant decrease in flare photometry values (p<0.0001), with a mean flare value of 14.5ph/ms (range: 4-60ph/ms). In the active uveitis group, the overall results of specular microscopy did not significantly vary between the initial examination and the 1-month examination. For eyes with flare photometry value ≥50ph/ms at baseline, CD and hexagonal cell count significantly increased on the 1-month examination (p꞊0.01 and p꞊0.02 respectively), while CV and CCT decreased significantly at the one-month follow-up visit (p꞊0.007/p꞊0.03 respectively). For eyes with flare photometry value at baseline <50ph/ms, there was no significant differences in specular microscopy results between the initial examination and the 1-month examination. CONCLUSIONS: In eyes with newly-diagnosed uveitis and active anterior chamber inflammation, specular microscopy shows transient qualitative abnormalities of the corneal endothelium that depend on the severity of the anterior chamber inflammation as measured by the laser flare meter.

Increased coated-platelet levels in chronic haemodialysis patients.

AIM: To determine if levels of coated-platelets, which are potentially pro-thrombotic, are increased in end-stage renal disease patients on haemodialysis, a condition associated with high cardiovascular disease risk. METHODS: In a cross-sectional observational study, coated-platelet levels were measured by flow cytometry in 25 end-stage renal failure haemodialysis patients and 25 controls without renal disease. Associations between coated-platelet levels and clinical and biochemical factors relevant to renal and cardiovascular disease were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD coated-platelet levels were higher in the dialysis group than in the control group (39.3+/-14.3% vs 30.9+/-10.3%, P=0.02). The number of subjects with high coated-platelet levels (>40%) was larger in the dialysis than in the control group (13/25 vs 4/25, chi(2) test, P=0.007). On univariate analysis, coated-platelet levels correlated with serum C-reactive protein levels in renal failure (r=0.47, P=0.02) and inversely with white cell count in the control group (r= -0.60, P=0.001). Coated-platelet levels were higher in dialysis patients reporting alcohol abstinence than among those reporting 'social' drinking (44.3+/-12.6 vs 28.8+/-13.5%, P=0.01). Age, gender, body weight, smoking, diabetes, lipid levels and lipid-lowering drugs were not associated with coated-platelet levels (all P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Coated-platelet levels are increased in haemodialysis patients relative to subjects with normal renal function, and are related to inflammation and alcohol abstinence. Other vascular risk factors, such as smoking, lipids and diabetes, were not related to coated-platelet levels. Coated-platelets may be implicated in the increased thrombosis and vascular risk in end-stage renal disease.

Eye and Behçet's disease.

Behçet's disease is a chronic multisystem disorder characterized by relapsing inflammation for which the underlying histopathology is an occlusive vasculitis. The disease has a high prevalence in the Mediterranean region, Far and Middle Eastern countries. It is clinically characterized by oral and genital ulcerations, ocular inflammatory involvement, skin lesions, vascular involvement and numerous other systemic manifestations. Uveitis is by far the most common ocular manifestation of Behçet's disease. It typically presents in the form of relapsing-remitting panuveitis with retinal vasculitis that may result in severe visual loss. Management of Behçet's uveitis relies on corticosteroid therapy, conventional immunosuppressive drugs and biological agents and requires a close collaboration between ophthalmologist and internist. A better understanding of auto-inflammatory process and of the role of cytokines implicated in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease will enable researchers to develop more specific and effective therapy.

[Eye and Behçet's disease]. / Œil et maladie de Behçet.

Behçet's disease is a chronic multisystem disorder characterized by relapsing inflammation for which the underlying histopathology is an occlusive vasculitis. The disease has a high prevalence in the Mediterranean region, Far and Middle Eastern countries. It is clinically characterized by oral and genital ulcerations, ocular inflammatory involvement, skin lesions, vascular involvement and numerous other systemic manifestations. Uveitis is by far the most common ocular manifestation of Behçet's disease. It typically presents in the form of relapsing-remitting panuveitis with retinal vasculitis that may result in severe visual loss. Management of Behçet's uveitis relies on corticosteroid therapy, conventional immunosuppressive drugs and biological agents and requires a close collaboration between ophthalmologist and internist. A better understanding of the auto-inflammatory process and of the role of cytokines implicated in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease will enable researchers to develop more specific and effective therapy.

The role of abdominal radiography in the evaluation of the nontrauma emergency patient.

PURPOSE: To characterize the utility of abdominal radiography for nontrauma emergency patients in a single-institution setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following approval from the Director of Professional Services, a retrospective review of radiography and of patient records was conducted for patients who presented to a nontrauma emergency department over a period of 6 months and who were imaged by using abdominal radiography. Only the first radiograph per patient was used for analysis. The interpretations were sorted as normal, nonspecific, or abnormal. The patients' medical records were reviewed to determine whether further imaging was performed (computed tomography, ultrasonography, or upper gastrointestinal imaging) and results were compared with abdominal radiography. Chart reviews were conducted to identify patients in whom abdominal radiography alone influenced treatment. RESULTS: In 874 patients, interpretation of abdominal radiography was normal in 34% (n = 300), nonspecific in 46% (n = 406), and abnormal in 19% (n = 168). Further imaging was performed for 50% (436) of all patients. Of 300 patients whose abdominal radiography results were normal, 42% (n = 125) had follow-up imaging; 72% (n = 90) of these showed abnormal, 78% (165 of 212) showed nonspecific, and 87% (86 of 99) showed abnormal findings. Of 438 patients who did not undergo follow-up imaging, 75% (n = 327) were discharged. For all indications other than catheter placement, abdominal radiography helped confirm the suspected diagnosis in 2%-8% of cases. In 37 (4%) of 874 patients, abdominal radiography was possibly helpful in changing patient treatment without a follow-up study. CONCLUSION: Abdominal radiography is often requested; however, its results contribute to patient treatment in a small percentage of cases. With the exception of catheter placement, if a patient requires investigation beyond clinical history, physical examination, and lab results, the emergency physician should be encouraged to request more definitive imaging.

The virological aspects of hepatitis B.

Human hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a hepatotropic virus that is responsible for a significant burden of disease, causing liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is a small DNA virus with a replication strategy that is similar to that of a retrovirus. HBV is prone to mutagenesis and under the influence of diverse selection pressures, has evolved into a pool of quasispecies, genotypes and mutants, which confers a significant survival advantage. The genome is small, circular, and compact but has a complex replication strategy. The viral life cycle involves the formation of a covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which is organized into a minichromosome that is the template for the synthesis of viral mRNA. HBV DNA (double-stranded linear form) can also integrate into the host genome, ensuring lifelong persistence of the virus. To date, despite great advances in therapeutics, once HBV is chronically established, it is incurable. This is by virtue of many aspects of its virological structure and viral life cycle. In this review, we aim to discuss important aspects of the virology of HBV with a focus on clinical implications.

[Effects of cytokines on the immunogenic properties of hepatitis A vaccine].

Cytokines were found, in experiments with guinea pigs, to have a stimulating action on the immunogenic potency of hepatitis A vaccine (Hep-A-in-Vac). The most pronounced effects were produced by rhIL-1b, rhTNF-alpha, thymosin-a1, the "neothym" hybrid protein and immunophan. Injections of cytokines as of adjuvants stimulated the formation of antibodies titers that exceeded 2-10-fold those observed in control animals immunized by Hep-A-in-Vac alone. Immunization of guinea pigs made alongside with injections of the above cytokines ensured a 100% seroconversion in animals after the administration of drugs was completed. The number of seropositive animals in the control group was 75-89%.

[Cytokines in vaccines and interferon preparations]. / Tsitokiny v vaktsinakh i preparatakh interferona.

Virus vaccines prepared on the basis of cells of mammals (rabies, poliomyelitis, measles and hepatitis A vaccines) contain cytokines (IL-1 beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha), whose concentration depends on the kind of the vaccine. Cell lines (green monkey kidney cells, VERO, 4647), used for the preparation of commercial and experimental vaccines, do not produce spontaneously any of the above cytokines. Cell line L-68, used for the manufacture of experimental measles vaccine, is capable of the spontaneous synthesis of IL-6. In Russian and foreign preparations of interferon the presence of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha has been detected; the content of these cytokines is determined by the specific features of the methods used manufacturing these preparations.

[The study of the clinical potency of antiatherogenic diet containing flavonoids in cardiovascular patients]. / Effektivnost' antiaterogennoi diety, soderzhashchei flavonoidy, u bol'nykh s serdechno-sosudistymi zabolevaniiami.

At 60 patients with coronary artery disease and high blood pressure studied effects of a diet with low lipid and flavons. The application of a diet and flavons promoted positive dynamics (changes) of clinical manifestations of disease, lipid spectrum and antioxidants.

[Clinical use of flavonoid enriched biologically active food supplements in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis in combination with chronic cholecystitis or bile ducts dyskinesia]. / Opyt klinicheskogo primeneniia flavonoidsoderzhashchikh biologicheski aktivnykh dobavok k pishche u bol'nykh khronicheskim atroficheskim gastritom na fone khronicheskogo kholetsistita libo diskinezii zhelchevyvodiashchikh putei.

60 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis and secretory insufficiency allied with chelicobacterial infection in combination with chronic unlithic cholecystitis or diskinesia of choledoch ways were explored with a view to study the efficiency of dietary cure including biologically active food supplements--flavonoids source. Fortification of the patients food intake with flavonoids-containing biologically active food supplements benefits mucous membrane of gastroduodenal zone that is evidenced in decrease of activity of pyloric chelicobacteriosis and resolvent and reparative effect, it also contributes to normalization of hepatobiliaric system condition and antioxidant status.

[The use of antioxidants for the correction of coronary risk factors in patients with myocardial ischemia]. / Ispol'zovanie antioksidantov s tsel'iu korrektsii faktorov koronarnogo riska u bol'nykh ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa.

The investigation of influent of soy isoflavones and vitamin-antioxidants on lipid spectrum of blood, coronary risk factors and indexes of antioxidant status in patients with ischemic heart disease. Observation has shown, that the use in the diet-therapy in patients with ischemic heart disease of soy isoflavones and vitamin-antioxidants is rather perspective.

[Effects of biologically active supplements on the antioxidant and vitamin status of patients with hypertension and ischemic heart disease]. / Vliianie biologicheski aktivnykh dobavok na antioksidantnyi status i obespechennost' vitaminami u bol'nykh gipertonicheskoi i ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa.

Biologically active additives in integrated therapy of patients with cardiovascular diseases against a background body overweight. The influence of antiaterosclerotic diet with including some biologically active additives, which contain vitamins C, E, B2, B6, beta-carotene, Zn, Mg, Na, K, Ca, I was studied in 91 patients with ischemic heart disease, hypertension disease. The usage of biologically active additives during 4 weeks has promoted positive changes of clinical symptoms of diseases against a background of lowering of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and increasing of vitamins A, E, C, B2, B6.

[Biologically active food supplements in comprehensive therapy of patients with ischemic heart disease and hypertension and the background of overweight]. / Biologicheski aktivnye dobavki k pishche v kompleksnoi terapii bol'nykh ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa, gipertonicheskoi bolezn'iu na fone izbytochnoi massy tela.

The influence of anti-atherosclerotic diet with including some biologically active additives, with contain vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, Zn, Cr, Se was studied in 80 patients with ischemic heart disease, hypertension disease. The usage of biologically active additives during 4 weeks has promoted positive changes of clinical symptoms of diseases against a background of lowering of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and increasing of IgA, IgG, vitamins A, E, C.

[Correction of mineral metabolism impairment with an allowance for seasonal fluctuations in patients with ischemic heart disease and hypertensive disease with overweight]. / Korrektsiia narusheniia mineral'nogo obmena s uchetom ego sezonnykh kolebanii u bol'nykh ishemicheskoi bolezn'iu serdtsa i gipertonicheskoi bolezn'iu s izbytochnoi massoi tela.

The influence of antiaterosclerotic diet with including some biologically active supplements (BAS), containing Zn, Mg, Na, K, Ca, vit C, E, B2, B6, beta-carotene, I was studied in 164 patients with ischemic heart disease and hypertension disease. BAS has been use with an allowance for seasonal fluctuations of microelements sufficiency. The usage of BAS "Lifepack" has priority in spring. The usage of biologically active supplements during 4 weeks in spring has promoted positive changes of clinical symptoms of diseases against a background of lowering increasing of K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn.