314 research outputs found
Predictors and Dynamics of the Humoral and Cellular Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccines in Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Observational Study
No full textBackground Preliminary evidence suggests patients on hemodialysis have a blunted early serological response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Optimizing the vaccination strategy in this population requires a thorough understanding of predictors and dynamics of humoral and cellular immune responses to differentSARS-CoV-2 vaccines.Methods This prospective multicenter study of 543 patients on hemodialysis and 75 healthy volunteers evaluated the immune responses at 4 or 5 weeks and 8 or 9 weeks after administration of the BNT162b2or mRNA-1273 vaccine, respectively. We assessed antiSARS-CoV-2 spike antibodies and T cell responses by IFN-? secretion of peripheral blood lymphocytes upon SARS-CoV-2 glycoprotein stimulation (QuantiFERON assay) and evaluated potential predictors of the responses.Results Compared with healthy volunteers, patients on hemodialysis had an incomplete, delayed humoral immune response and a blunted cellular immune response. Geometric mean antibody titers at both timepoints were significantly greater in patients vaccinated with mRNA-1273 versus BNT162b2, and a larger proportion of them achieved the threshold of 4160 AU/ml, corresponding with high neutralizing antibody titers in vitro(53.6% versus 31.8% at 8 or 9 weeks, P Conclusions The mRNA-1273 vaccine's greater immunogenicity may be related to its higher mRNA dose. This suggests a high-dose vaccine might improve the impaired immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients on hemodialysis.This research was supported by Amgen (DONATION-331036).
A. De Vriese and J. Van Praet designed the study; R. Caluw e, A. De Bel, A. De Vriese, P. Doubel, L. Heylen, M. Schoutteten, J. Van Praet, B. Van Vlem, and L. Viaene provided study materials or patients; D. De Bacquer, A. De Vriese, M. Reynders, and J. Van Praet analyzed the data; D. De Bacquer and J. Van Praet made the figures; A. De Vriese drafted the paper; D. De Bacquer, M. Reynders, and J. Van Praet revised it critically for important intellectual content; all authors approved the final version
of the manuscript. The authors are indebted to Tessa Acke, Manuela Caster, Evelyne Deglorie, Mirjam Demesmaecker, Suzanne Driessens, Inne Hoebrekx, Annelien Leunen, Carine Lowis, Isabel Moyaert, Danny Pauwels, Joris Penders, Melissa Renders, Carmen Reynders, Sofie Tombeur, Katrien Uyttersprot, Femke Van Den Berg, Kristel Van Varenbergh, Tine Verheyen, Manon Verhulst, and Sophie Vleeschouwers for their invaluable help in the collection of the patient data and analysis of the samples
Reenchantment as Resonance
No full textThe standard thesis of the disenchantment of the world appears as a self-referential claim maintaining something about the claimant. In a nutshell, it contends that we, moderns, live in a world that does not resonate with us, which is mute, indifferent, mindless and therefore usable, exploitable, consumable, but not intrinsically worthy or meaningful.
In my essay, I discuss an alternative view of the relationship between self and world by taking three interrelated steps. First, starting from a first-person perspective, I wonder why the experiences of enchantment have to cave in and give way to disillusionment: is this an inescapable feature of the human condition and, if such is the case, what sort of inescapability are we dealing with here? Second, as long as episodes of enchantment do happen, I ask then what kind of human potential is embodied by them. Third, I conclude my argument by considering whether there are ways to account for the reasons supporting the two contrasting stances (i.e., enchantment and disenchantment) without making them mutually incompatible.
To this aim, I proceed by (a) examining Alfred Schutz’s notion of “multiple realities”, (b) outlining the critique of Weber’s disenchantment thesis undertaken by Hans Joas in his book The Power of the Sacred, (c) testing the fruitfulness of the metaphor of “religious unmusicality” and, finally, (d) focusing on Hartmut Rosa’s theory of resonance and asking whether a resonant world can be plausibly described as a reenchanted world. My answer to the last question is a qualified yes, to the effect that a resonant mode of relationship between self and world can be regarded as the product of a non-alienated way of life that empowers the subject by making her more receptive to the inherent worth built into the human agents’ intentional environment
The identity of Euthales filiformis de Vriese from Western Australia
No full textEuthales filiformis de Vriese (7) was described from a specimen collected in Western Australia ‘in solo sublimoso fertili prope praedium rusticum Dom. Marell, York d. 30 m. Martii 1840. Herb. Preiss No. 1889.’ As appears from the original description de Vriese himself had already his doubts about its belonging to Euthales, a Goodeniaceous genus: ‘dichotoma, filiformis; foliis radicalibus squamaeformibus, caulibus ramisque aphyllis; calycibus 5-fidis, subaequalibus (Caetera non vidi). Habitus Junci bufonii, sed genus dubium.’ In a later publication of de Vriese (8) the calyx is said to be trifid, but this is obviously a printing error.
It is a matter of course that Bentham (2), who had not seen the plant, was unable to recognize it from this very inadaequate diagnosis, and supposed that it might belong to some quite different genus. On what grounds the Index Kewensis (4) referred Euthales filiformis to the synonymy of Velleia trinervis (R.Br.) Labill. (= Euthales trinervis R. Br.), with which species it certainly has nothing to do, is unknown to me. There is a short note on Euthales filiformis in Krause’s monograph on the Goodeniaceae (5), which gives nothing new as it simply goes back to Bentham’s observation, but apart from this I have not found de Vriese’s species mentioned in more recent literature. Its name is not accounted for in Gardner’s enumeration of West Australian plants (3)
Diagnosis of complement alternative pathway disorders
No full textKidney diseases resulting from abnormal control of the complement alternative pathway include atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, C3 glomerulonephritis, and dense-deposit disease, as well as atypical postinfectious glomerulonephritis. Although clinically diverse, they all result from loss of surface or fluid-phase complement control, caused by acquired or genetic defects in the complement alternative pathway. As such, the diagnostic approach is similar and includes a comprehensive biochemical, genetic, and pathologic analysis of the complement pathway. The biochemical test battery includes functional activity measurements of the entire complement pathway, functional and quantitative analysis of individual components and regulators, and quantification of activation products. In patients with a thrombotic microangiopathy, ADAMTS-13 activity should be determined to exclude a thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. The spectrum of genes currently known to be involved in the pathogenesis of alternative pathway disorders is rapidly expanding. Pathologic analysis of a kidney biopsy specimen is sophisticated with ad hoc immunofluorescence studies and laser microdissection with mass spectrometry. The identification of the underlying defect in the alternative pathway based on this comprehensive analysis will allow treatment to be directed to the site of dysregulation. © 2015 International Society of Nephrology
Angiopteris cochinchinensis de Vriese Ameliorates LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury via Src Inhibition
No full textGrowing demand for treatment options against acute lung injury (ALI) emphasizes studies on plant extracts harboring anti-inflammatory effects. According to GC-MS analysis, Angiopteris cochinchinensis de Vriese consists of various flavonoids with anti-inflammatory activities. Thus, in this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of an extract of Angiopteris cochinchinensis de Vriese (Ac-EE) were assessed using RAW264.6 murine macrophages and a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI model. Ac-EE reduced the nitric oxide production in murine macrophages increased by LPS induction. Moreover, protective effects of Ac-EE on lung tissue were demonstrated by shrinkage of edema and lung injury. Reduced neutrophil infiltration and formation of hyaline membranes were also detected in lung tissues after H&E staining. Semiquantitative RT-PCR, quantitative real-time PCR, and ELISA showed that Ac-EE inhibits the production of proinflammatory mediators, including iNOS and COX-2, and cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. An Ac-EE-mediated anti-inflammatory response was derived from inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway, which was evaluated by luciferase reporter assay and Western blotting analysis. A cellular thermal shift assay revealed that the prime target of Ac-EE in alleviating inflammation was Src. With its direct binding with Src, Angiopteris cochinchinensis de Vriese significantly mitigates lung injury, showing possibilities of its potential as an effective botanical drug
The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of vancomycin in clinical practice: evidence and uncertainties
No full textVancomycin has been used extensively since the late 1950s. Despite the introduction of several new valuable anti-Gram-positive antibiotics during recent years and the waning susceptibility of staphylococci to vancomycin, it remains the gold standard for the treatment of bacteraemia caused by methicillin-resistant staphylococci. Vancomycin has clear dose-response and dose-toxicity correlations. It is widely accepted that these correlations are best predicted by the AUC/MIC model, with target levels of >400 being the clinical cut-off. The experimental base of this model is less robust than frequently believed, and several important issues in vancomycin resistance, such as biofilm resistance and the inoculum effect, are not included. Based on this model, current dosing guidelines propose intermittent dosing of vancomycin with target trough levels of 15-20 mg/L. Dose adaptations according to renal function have been proposed but are not yet validated. Clinical data also support the use of continuous infusion with target plateau levels of 20-25 mg/L, with similar efficacy at the cost of lower nephrotoxicity. Despite decades of intense clinical use and numerous studies and publications, the optimal dosing strategy for vancomycin reconciling the high needs of the dose-response relationship with the serious drawbacks of the dose-toxicity relationship remains to be established
Enteromorpha muscoides Cremades
No full textEnteromorpha muscoides (Clemente and Rubio) Cremades, in Cremades and Pérez-Cirera, 1990: 489 Mentioned by Dickie (1877a ~ E. ramulosa (J. E. Smith) Carmichael, in W. Hooker) but not among our recent collection. Cremades and Pérez-Cirera (1990: 489) are of the opinion that Ulva muscoides and U. ramulosa are conspecific.Published as part of Coppejans, Eric, Leliaert, Frederik, Verbruggen, Heroen, de Clerck, Olivier, Schils, Tom, de Vriese, Thomas & Marie, Daniel, 2004, The marine green and brown algae of Rodrigues (Mauritius, Indian Ocean), pp. 2959-3020 in Journal of Natural History 38 (23) on page 2965, DOI: 10.1080/00222930410001695024, http://zenodo.org/record/525184
Ex-situ conservation of the native orchid Coelogyne rochussenii de Vriese from the Bukit Rimbang and Baling Wildlife Reserve Areas
No full textThe native orchid Coelogyne rochussenii de Vriese is critically endangered, hence, conservative measures are needed to prevent extinction. Meanwhile, in-situ conservation is constrained by time, resources, and costs. Therefore, this study aims to identify the most effective method for ex-situ conservation, especially with basal medium and activated charcoal, to determine the fastest germination. The completely randomized factorial design of four different basal media treatments including Knudson C, Vacin and Went, Murashige and Skoog, and Hyponex + vitamin medium were used. These treatments were combined with the application of activated charcoal at four different levels, with concentrations of 0, 1, 2, and 3 g/L-1, meanwhile, the parameters observed include germination day and percentage, as well as contamination percentage. The results showed that the conservation of Native orchid C. rochussenii de Vriese using various growing media and activated charcoal had a significant effect on the growth of the embryo culture. Based on the results, the Hyponex + vitamin medium with 3 g/L-1 accelerated germination days to 29.33, increased germination percentage to 92.06%, and reduced contamination to 0%
Variasi isozim pada hutan tanaman Pinus merkusii Jungh. et de Vriese di Jawa=Isozyme Variation of Pinus Merkusii fungh. et de Vriese
No full textThe genetic variation of P. merkusii was investigated using seven loci from three enzyme systems, namely Esterase (EST), Glutamate oxaloacetate transarninase (GOT), and Shikimate dehydrogenase (ShDH) as marker genes. Three P. merkusii plantation populations in Sumedang, Kebasen, and jember were chosen for this study.
Electrophoretic analysis of megagametophyte tissues in the three plantations revealed that overall genetic similarity was very high. The meanproportion of polymorphic loci was 85.7 percent, the mean number of alleles per locus was 2.286, and the mean expected heterozigosity was 0.259. Based on the inter-population genetic relationship among all plantations, Nei's genetic distances cluster analysis showed that all plantations have a low level and similar genetic base. However, in general it can be concluded that P. merkusii plantation population in Java has a moderate genetic variation.
Keywords:Pinus merkusii Jungh. et de Vriese -- enzyme system -polymorphic loci -- expected heterozigosity -- genetic distance -- cluster analysis
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