Relationship between skin temperature monitoring with Smart Socks and plantar pressure distribution: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Increased skin temperature at the plantar aspect of the foot can predict foot ulceration. However its relation to plantar pressure overload is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of 'smart socks', monitoring plantar temperature under real-life conditions, to predict plantar pressure distribution. METHOD: The 'smart socks' have seven thermal sensors woven into the fabric of the sock to measure the temperature beneath the foot in real-life conditions. The upper part of the sock is connected to a central unit through which changes in the sensor resistance is converted into temperature changes. Participants were instructed to wear the socks for three continuous hours. Plantar pressure was measured by the MatScan plantar-pressure measurement system (Tekscan Inc., US). RESULTS: The study included 25 healthy volunteers (11 males, 14 females, mean age was 41.1 years (standard deviation (SD): 17.6) years, a mean body mass index of 29.4 kg/m2 (SD: 6.95). Temperature changes at sensor (S) five significantly correlated with metatarsal (M) 2 pressure time integral (PTI) (r=0.519, p=0.008), M3 PTI (r=0.435, p=0.03), M4 PTI (r=0.452, p=0.023). Changes at S5 also significantly correlated with peak pressure at M2 (r=0.66, p=0.000), M3 (r=0.52, p=0.01), and M4 (r=0.60, p=0.002). Temperature changes at S6 were significantly correlated with changes at S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, and S7. CONCLUSION: Temperature changes at the plantar aspect of the foot measured by the smart socks are correlated with plantar pressure distribution. Furthermore, two sensors at positions S5 and S6 were sufficient to predict plantar pressure changes.

Expired Antifungal Drugs as Effective Corrosion Inhibitors for Carbon Steel in 1 M HCl Solution: Practical and Theoretical Approaches.

The anticorrosion potency of two expired antifungal drugs, namely, bifonazole (BIF) and terconazole (TER), for X65 carbon steel (X65CS) in a 1.0 M HCl solution was estimated using practical and computational measurements. The results of all methods applied showed that the percentage of anticorrosive efficacy (% AE) increased for expired BIF and TER and reduced at elevated temperatures. The % AE values of expired BIF and TER (375 mg L-1) reached 92.08 and 94.19%, respectively, using polarization methods. The anticorrosion activities of the two expired drugs were interpreted based on their adsorption on the X65CS surface. The adsorption occurred according to the Langmuir isotherm model. The polarization results indicated that the expired drugs BIF and TER were mixed inhibitors. The impedance results showed a single capacitive loop, confirming that the charge transfer process controlled the corrosion of X65CS. Expired BIF and TER served as good pitting inhibitors by shifting the pitting potential to positive values. The thermodynamic functions of activation and adsorption were defined and explained. Density functional theory and Monte Carlo simulations were used to investigate the BIF and TER inhibitors. The theoretical parameters were consistent with the experimental results. The anticorrosion efficiencies determined using the various methods were in complete agreement.

Enhanced and Proficient Soft Template Array of Polyaniline-TiO2 Nanocomposites Fibers Prepared Using Anionic Surfactant for Fuel Cell Hydrogen Storage.

Porous TiO2-doped polyaniline and polyaniline nanocomposite fibers prepared by the in situ polymerization technique using anionic surfactant in an ice bath were studied. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and XRD patterns for structural analysis. The surface morphology of the polyaniline and its nanocomposites was examined using SEM images. DC conductivity shows the three levels of conductivity inherent in a semiconductor. Among the nanocomposites, the maximum DC conductivity is 5.6 S/cm for 3 wt.% polyaniline-TiO2 nanocomposite. Cyclic voltammetry shows the properties of PANI due to the redox peaks of 0.93 V and 0.24 V. Both peaks are due to the redox transition of PANI from the semiconductor to the conductive state. The hydrogen absorption capacity is approximately 4.5 wt.%, but at 60 °C the capacity doubles to approximately 7.3 wt.%. Conversely, 3 wt.% PANI-TiO2 nanocomposites have a high absorption capacity of 10.4 wt.% compared to other nanocomposites. An overall desorption capacity of 10.4 wt.% reduced to 96% was found for 3 wt.% TiO2-doped PANI nanocomposites.

The interplay of interleukin-17A and breast cancer tumor microenvironment as a novel immunotherapeutic approach to increase tumor immunogenicity.

Based on its known role in mediating tumor progression and the correlation with poor response to chemotherapy, we hypothesized that blocking interleukin-17A (IL-17A) by anti-IL-17 monoclonal antibodies might have the ability to suppress programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) and to modulate the expression and function of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in BC microenvironment. We also compared the apoptotic activity of anti-IL-17 with those acquired from our previous work on monoclonal antibodies against IL-6. The influence of anti-IL-17 was investigated in two doses on localized freshly resected tissues from 50 patients with BC. Results revealed increased IL-17A in BC tumor tissues versus surrounding tissues. Additionally, PD-L1 expression was inhibited in cultures treated with both doses of anti-IL-17. Frequencies of MDSCs were reduced in those cultures with anti-IL-17 with reduced suppressive activity. The induced apoptosis in the tumor cells was significantly increased. Anti-IL-17 antibodies effect was related to late stages, vascular metastasis, and hormonal status. Results of the current work suggest a promising role for anti-IL-17 monoclonal antibodies in enhancement of anti-tumor immunological activity in BC, potentially involving suppression of immune checkpoint PD-L1 and MDSCs inhibition with a marked response in aggressive disease.

TGF-ß Enhances the Anti-inflammatory Effect of Tumor- Infiltrating CD33+11b+HLA-DR Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Gastric Cancer: A Possible Relation to MicroRNA-494.

BACKGROUND: Accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) constitutes a key mechanism of tumor immune evasion in gastric cancer (GC). Therefore, searching for more accurate prognostic factors affecting their immunosuppressive role has become a growing interest in cancer immunotherapy research. Increased expression of microRNA-494 was noticed in MDSCs from tumor-bearing mice, suggesting another new therapeutic objective for cancer treatment. It was also discovered that tumor-derived transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß) is responsible for the up-regulation of microRNA-494 in MDSCs. The purpose of this study was to address the effect of recombinant (rTGF-ß) on the anti-inflammatory activity of MDSCs in GC and its possible association with micro-RNA-494 expression in tumor tissue. METHODS: Freshly obtained GC tumor tissue samples and peripheral blood were used for isolation of CD33+11b+HLADR- MDSCs cells from 40 GC patients and 31 corresponding controls using flow cytometry. MDSCs were co-cultured with isolated autologous T cells to assess proliferation and cytokine production in the presence and absence of rTGF-ß. Real-time PCR and Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay were used to evaluate tumor expression of miRNA-494 and TGF-ß respectively. RESULTS: Results showed that rTGF-ß markedly increased the suppressive ability of tumor MDSCs on proliferation of autologous T cells and interferon gamma production. However, no inhibitory effect was observed for MDSCs from circulation. In addition, infiltration of MDSCs in tumors is associated with the prognosis of GC. MiRNA-494 was also extensively expressed in tumor samples with a significant correlation to MDSCs. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that tumor-derived MDSCs but not circulatory MDSCs have an immunosuppressive effect on T cells, potentially involving TGF-ß mediated stimulation.  Results also suggest a role for miRNA-494 in GC progression. Therefore, control of TGF-ß and miRNA-494 may be used as a treatment strategy to downregulate the immunosuppressive effect of MDSCs.
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Increase in the detection rate of viral and parasitic enteric pathogens among Egyptian children with acute diarrhea.

INTRODUCTION: Acute diarrhea continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children from developing countries. Determination of the frequency of diarrhea in an area, along with the proportion of disease caused by specific enteric agents of different origins, is considered the first step in controlling diarrheal diseases. METHODOLOGY: From 2005 to 2007, a hospital-based surveillance was conducted in two locations in Egypt to determine the causes of acute diarrhea in children younger than 5-years seeking treatment. Five additional enteric viral and parasitic pathogens were tested using commercially-available enzyme immunoassays (EIA) to re-evaluate the prevalence of diarrheal pathogens in undiagnosed cases. RESULTS: Adenovirus, astrovirus, norovirus and G. lamblia were detected as the sole pathogen in 2% (n=34), 3% (n=56), 9% (n=191) and 7% (n=146) of the cases, respectively. E. histolytica was never detected as the sole pathogen. The percentage of diarrheal cases with a known cause increased significantly, from 48% (n=1,006) to 74% (n=1,568) (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In our study, the incorporation of immunoassays yielded useful data in identifying pathogens in previously pathogen-negative diarrhea cases.