1,088 research outputs found
Immune mechanisms and potential immunological treatment in atherosclerosis
No full textOur immune system is an important and central part of the defence mechanisms of our body. It carries out various important functions such as protecting us from invading microorganisms, removing dead cells, and producing antibodies for future defence. For this, proper synchronization between the innate and adaptive immunity is required. Our innate immune system acts as the first line of defence by eliminating non-specifically various pathogens and by activating antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that inform B-cells and T-cells of the adaptive immune system. B-cells can exhibit more specific actions against pathogens by an intricately regulated production of antibodies directed against antigens expressed by the pathogens. T-cells can produce cytokines and chemokines to alarm the complete immune system recruiting immune cells such as natural killer cells, mast cells and neutrophils. The immune system can also produce antibodies against self-antigens (autoantibodies). Autoantibodies can have pathogenic effects that cause autoimmune diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosis. Interestingly, it has been shown recently that autoantibodies can also have protective effects alleviating diseases such as lupus nephritis and atherosclerosis. This thesis focuses specifically on homeostatic functions of the human autoantibodies anti-phoshorylcholine (anti-PC) and anti-malondialdehyde (anti-MDA) and their prevalence in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD).1. Study I: Investigates the role of anti-PC and anti-MDA antibodies in patients undergoing hemodialysis and explores the associations with all-cause mortality in both males and females, also their relation to inflammation.2. Study II: Evaluates the potential of natural immunization in hibernating bears, tigers, and polar bears with respect to the levels of anti-PC and anti-MDA antibodies.3. Study III: Evaluates the role of antibodies against anti-PC antibodies among 60-Year-Olds with its clinical role and simulated interactions.4. Study IV: Investigates the role of anti-PC antibody levels in Covid-19 patients and also investigates the interaction of spike protein with phosphorylcholine by using an in silico approach.List of scientific papersI. Samal SK, Qureshi AR, Rahman M, Stenvinkel P and Frostegard J. Different subclasses and isotypes of antibodies against phosphorylcholine in haemodialysis patients: association with mortality. Clin exp Immunol. 2020;201:94. https://doi.org/10.1111/cei.13441 II. Samal SK, Qureshi AR, Rahman M, Stenvinkel P and Frostegard J. Antibodies against Malondialdehyde in Haemodialysis Patients and Its Association with Clinical Outcomes: Differences between Subclasses and Isotypes. J Clin Med. 2020;9:753. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9030753 III. Samal SK, Frobert O, Kindberg J, Stenvinkel P and Frostegard J. Potential natural immunization against atherosclerosis in hibernating bears. Sci Rep. 2021;11:12120. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91679-1 IV. Samal SK, Panda PK, Vikström M, et al. Antibodies Against Phosphorylcholine Among 60-Year-Olds: Clinical Role and Simulated Interactions. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. 2022; 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2022.809007 V. Samal SK*, Busch M*, Panda KP, Kumar N, Timmermans S, Schurgers LJ, Reutelingsperger CR, Paassen PV*, Frostegård J*. Antibodies against phosphorylcholine are associated with less severe disease in COVID-19: clinical role and simulated interactions using In-silico methods. *Denotes equal author contribution. [Manuscript]</p
sj-docx-1-ijs-10.1177_10668969241246463 - Supplemental material for Iron-Associated Mucosal Changes: A Potentially Under Recognized Entity in Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Biopsies
No full textSupplemental material, sj-docx-1-ijs-10.1177_10668969241246463 for Iron-Associated Mucosal Changes: A Potentially Under Recognized Entity
in Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Biopsies by Susama Patra, Ajit Sahu, Somanath Padhi, Hemanta Kumar Nayak and Subash Chandra Samal in International Journal of Surgical Pathology</p
Inducing two-way shape memory effect in Nitinol-Polymer Composite
No full textTitle: Inducing Two-way Shape Memory Effect in NiTi-polymer Composite Author: Jakub Zeman Supervisor: Sneha Manjaree Samal, Ph.D., Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences Abstract: Two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) allows material to ac- tively deform between two remembered shapes without the application of ex- ternal force. The most common stimulus is temperature change with several approaches to induce shape memory effect in the material. The approach stud- ied in this thesis utilizes Nitinol and shape memory polymer. By combining these two materials, bistable TWSME was induced in the composite. Bistable TWSME allows the material to be in both of its remembered shapes at a single temperature. The shape of the material depends on the temperature profile by which the target temperature was reached. To create the composite Nitinol foil was shape set and its surface laser lined to increase adhesion with the polymer. Out of the studied polymers, the best properties for the preparation of com- posite were exhibited by a blend of 60 % TPU and 40 % PCL by weight. The composite was then prepared by hot press and tested. Keywords: inducing two-way shape memory effect, Nitinol, shape memory polymer, composite
Evaluation of the genetic diversity of avian paramyxovirus type 4
No full textAvian paramyxoviruses (APMVs) belong to the genus Avulavirus in the family Paramyxoviridae and include at least nine serotypes, APMV-1 to -9, as well as two additional provisional serotypes. Newcastle disease virus (NDV), which comprises APMV-1, is the most extensively studied APMV because it is an important poultry pathogen. A moderate level of antigenic and genetic diversity is recognized for APMV-1 isolates, but our knowledge of the antigenic and genetic diversity of the other APMV serotypes is limited. APMV-4 is frequently isolated from waterfowl around the world. To date complete genome sequences of APMV-4 are available for only strains, which were isolated from ducks in Hong Kong, Korea and Belgium over a period of 37 years. We have carried out genome sequencing from the nucleocapsid (N) gene-end signal to the polymerase (L) gene-start signal of five APMV-4 strains recently isolated from Italy. Each of the eight APMV-4 strains has the same F protein cleavage site, DIQPR↓F. They also share a high level of nucleotide and amino acid sequence identity: for example, the F and HN glycoproteins have greater than 97% sequence identity between the various strains. Thus, comparison of these eight strains of APMV-4 did not provide evidence of substantial diversity, in contrast to similar studies with APMV-2, -3, and -6, in which the F and HN glycoproteins exhibited up to 20–30% amino acid sequence variation within a subgroup. Reciprocal cross-HI assay using post infection chicken sera also failed to detect significant antigenic variation among the available APMV-4 strains
Vyvolání obousměrné tvarové paměti v NiTi-polymerovém kompozitu
No full textNázev práce: Vyvolání obousměrné tvarové paměti v NiTi-polymerovém kompozitu Autor: Jakub Zeman Katedra: Katedra fyziky materiálů, Matematicko-fyzikální fakulta, Uni- verzita Karlova Vedoucí bakalářské práce: Sneha Manjaree Samal, Ph.D., Fyzikální ústav Akademie věd České republiky Abstrakt: Obousměrná tvarová paměť umožňuje deformaci materiálu mezi dvěma zapamatovatelnými tvary bez působení vnějších sil, přičemž aktivaci změny tvaru se využívá nejčastěji změna teploty. Mezi řadou způsobů, jak dosáhnout obousměrné tvarové paměti, byla v této práci využita kombinace kovového materiálu Nitinol a vybraného polymeru s tvarovou pamětí. V kom- pozitním materiálu z těchto dvou složek bylo dosaženo bistabilní obousměrné tvarové paměti. Bistabilní obousměrná tvarová paměť je unikátní tím, že umožňuje existenci materiálu v obou zapamatovaných stavech při stejné teplotě. Bylo prokázáno, že rozhodujícím faktorem pro dosažení určitého tvaru je předešlý teplotní průběh kompozitního materiálu. Pro zlepšené spojení kovového Niti- nolu a polymerního materiálu byl povrch NiTi upraven laserem. Mezi několika studovanými polymery prokázal nejlepší vlastnosti polymer vyrobený ze dvou složek, a to 60...Title: Inducing Two-way Shape Memory Effect in NiTi-polymer Composite Author: Jakub Zeman Supervisor: Sneha Manjaree Samal, Ph.D., Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences Abstract: Two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) allows material to ac- tively deform between two remembered shapes without the application of ex- ternal force. The most common stimulus is temperature change with several approaches to induce shape memory effect in the material. The approach stud- ied in this thesis utilizes Nitinol and shape memory polymer. By combining these two materials, bistable TWSME was induced in the composite. Bistable TWSME allows the material to be in both of its remembered shapes at a single temperature. The shape of the material depends on the temperature profile by which the target temperature was reached. To create the composite Nitinol foil was shape set and its surface laser lined to increase adhesion with the polymer. Out of the studied polymers, the best properties for the preparation of com- posite were exhibited by a blend of 60 % TPU and 40 % PCL by weight. The composite was then prepared by hot press and tested. Keywords: inducing two-way shape memory effect, Nitinol, shape memory polymer, composite 1Department of Physics of MaterialsKatedra fyziky materiálůMatematicko-fyzikální fakultaFaculty of Mathematics and Physic
Reviewing the Entity: Retropharyngeal Fibrolipoma and a Rare Case Report
No full textIntroduction: Fibrolipoma, a subtype of lipoma is painless, well-circumscribed, slow-growing, submucosal benign adipocyte tumour. It is uncommon in the oral cavity and oropharyngeal region, with rare incidence in the retropharynx even rarest in pediatric age group. Case Report: A very unusual case of fibrolipoma is presented in a pediatric patient, who had a huge retropharyngeal fibrolipoma and who presented with breathing difficulty and increasing stridor. It was managed by intro-oral approach excision. Conclusion: Although rare, retropharyngeal benign tumours should be kept in mind during the differential diagnosis of a paediatric stridor case. Early diagnosis is the key for a better outcome and to alleviate the worsening morbidity
Intraorbital and Intracranial Complications of Acute Rhinosinusitis: A Rare Case Report
No full textIntroduction:
Complications of acute sinusitis affecting multiple sites are very uncommon in the antibiotic era. However, a significant proportion of patients (5–40%) suffering from acute sinusitis can have these complications mostly due to the delayed diagnosis of the disease. Patients can have variable presentations according to the site and extent of the infection.
Case Report:
A 21-year-old male student presented with subperiosteal abscess and a brain abscess with a history of acute sinusitis. The patient had short history of left-side hemiplegia with foot drop. Endoscopic orbital decompression was performed and the subperiosteal abscess was drained when it did not respond to medical treatment. Complete clinical and radiological recovery was achieved after 1 month of medical treatment.
Conclusion:
Complications affecting the multiple sites in acute sinusitis is very uncommon in the antibiotic era. A proper history and thorough clinical examination along with a radiological evaluation are key factors in the final diagnosis of the patients with suspected complications. A quick multidisciplinary approach among otorhinologsts, ophthalmologists and general physicians is always necessary to avoid unwanted life-threatening complications
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