Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Polymer-Infiltrated Tetrapodal Zinc Oxide in Different Variants.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of weight ratio, the shape of the precursor particles, and the application of a phosphate-monomer-containing primer on the mechanical properties of polymer infiltrated ceramic networks (PICNs) using zinc oxide. Two different types of zinc oxide particles were used as precursors to produce zinc oxide networks by sintering, each with two different densities resulting in two different weight ratios of the PICNs. For each of these different networks, two subgroups were built: one involving the application of a phosphate-monomer-containing primer prior to the infiltration of Bis-GMA/TEGDMA and one without.

Clinical and immunologic outcome of patients with cartilage hair hypoplasia after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH) is a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the RMRP gene. Beside dwarfism, CHH has a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations including variable grades of combined immunodeficiency, autoimmune complications, and malignancies. Previous reports in single CHH patients with significant immunodeficiencies have demonstrated that allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an effective treatment for the severe immunodeficiency, while growth failure remains unaffected.

First successful bone marrow transplantation for X-linked chronic granulomatous disease by using preimplantation female gender typing and HLA matching.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from an human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical donor is currently the only proven curative treatment for chronic granulomatous disease. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with alternative donors is associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Therefore, we performed in vitro fertilization and preimplantation HLA matching combined with female sexing for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in chronic granulomatous disease.

Correlation between recent thymic emigrants and CD31+ (PECAM-1) CD4+ T cells in normal individuals during aging and in lymphopenic children.

CD31(+)CD45RA(+)RO(-) lymphocytes contain high numbers of T cell receptor circle (TREC)-bearing T cells; however, the correlation between CD31(+)CD4(+) lymphocytes and TREC during aging and under lymphopenic conditions has not yet been sufficiently investigated. We analyzed TREC, telomere length and telomerase activity within sorted CD31(+) and CD31(-) CD4(+) lymphocytes in healthy individuals from birth to old age. Sorted CD31(+)CD45RA(+)RO(-) naive CD4(+) lymphocytes contained high TREC numbers, whereas CD31(+)CD45RA(-)RO(+) cells (comprising < or =5% of CD4(+) cells during aging) did not contain TREC.

Psychological distress in primary care patients with heart failure: a longitudinal study.

Background: Psychological distress is a common phenomenon in patients with heart failure. Depressive symptoms are often under-diagnosed or inadequately treated in primary care.

Aim: To analyse anxiety and/or depression in primary care patients with heart failure according to psychosocial factors, and to identify protective factors for the resolution of psychological distress.

Hepatic veno-occlusive disease in pediatric stem cell transplantation: impact of pre-emptive antithrombin III replacement and combined antithrombin III/defibrotide therapy.

Background And Objectives: Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) remains a serious complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Based on a protective effect of antithrombin III (ATIII) on endothelial cells, we assessed the incidence of VOD after pre-emptive ATIII replacement and the outcome of VOD after combined high dose defibrotide (DF) and ATIII therapy.

Design And Methods: This prospective case series comprised two phases.