Scaling-down biopharmaceutical production processes via a single multi-compartment bioreactor (SMCB).

Biopharmaceutical production processes often use mammalian cells in bioreactors larger than 10,000 L, where gradients of shear stress, substrate, dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide, and pH are likely to occur. As former tissue cells, producer cell lines such as Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells sensitively respond to these mixing heterogeneities, resulting in related scenarios being mimicked in scale-down reactors. However, commonly applied multi-compartment approaches comprising multiple reactors impose a biasing shear stress caused by pumping.

AV interval optimization using pressure volume loops in dual chamber pacemaker patients with maintained systolic left ventricular function.

Background: Atrioventricular (AV) interval optimization is often deemed too time-consuming in dual-chamber pacemaker patients with maintained LV function. Thus the majority of patients are left at their default AV interval.

Objective: To quantify the magnitude of hemodynamic improvement following AV interval optimization in chronically paced dual chamber pacemaker patients.

[External radiation exposure and effective half-life in Lu-177-Dota-Tate therapy].

The aim of the study was to estimate the external radiation exposure emitted by the patient to his surroundings after discharge. Being in compliance with legal requirements is especially important when doing multiple therapies. To estimate the effective half-life to be used quite realistically, the individual effective half-lives for 41 patients with 52 therapies were calculated.

[123I]AM281 single-photon emission computed tomography imaging of central cannabinoid CB1 receptors before and after Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol therapy and whole-body scanning for assessment of radiation dose in tourette patients.

Background: The cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist Delta9-THC has been suggested for treatment of Tourette syndrome (TS). Based on animal studies, the CB1 antagonist [123I]AM281 (N-(Morpholin-4-yl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-(4-[123I]iodophenyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide) has been proposed for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in humans. Our aims were to 1) evaluate specific binding of [123I]AM281 to CB1 receptors in TS patients and 2) assess radiation exposure associated with the use of AM281 labeled with 123I for SPECT and 124I for positron emission tomography.

Serum level of soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor II (75 kDa) indicates inflammatory activity of sarcoidosis.

Objectives: Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) is a key cytokine involved in granuloma formation of sarcoidosis. Since soluble TNF receptors (sTNF-R) are known to inhibit TNF effects, we were interested in whether they are elevated in the serum of sarcoidosis patients.

Methods: We determined serum levels of sTNF-R I (55 kDa) and sTNF-R II (75 kDa) in 49 patients with sarcoidosis and 22 controls.