Immune monitoring of anti cytomegalovirus antibodies and risk of cytomegalovirus disease in heart transplantation.

We sought to determine whether quantitative assessment of anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies could be useful to identify patients at risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease after heart transplantation (HT). 75 patients who underwent HT at a single health care center were prospectively studied. Induction therapy included 2 doses of daclizumab and maintenance tacrolimus (n=42) or cyclosporine (n=29), mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone.

Image distortion and spatial resolution of a commercially available cone-beam computed tomography machine.

Introduction: Our objective was to evaluate images produced by a commercially available cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) machine (i-CAT model 9140-0035-000C, Imaging Sciences International, Hatfield, Pa) for measurement and spatial resolution (ie, the ability to separate 2 objects in close proximity in the image) for all settings and in all dimensions.

Methods: A custom phantom containing 0.3 mm diameter chromium metal markers approximately 5 mm apart in 3 planes of space was developed for analyzing distortion and measurement accuracy.

Solid-phase chemical amination of a lipase from Bacillus thermocatenulatus to improve its stabilization via covalent immobilization on highly activated glyoxyl-agarose.

In this paper, the stabilization of a lipase from Bacillus thermocatenulatus (BTL2) by a new strategy is described. First, the lipase is selectively adsorbed on hydrophobic supports. Second, the carboxylic residues of the enzyme are modified with ethylenediamine, generating a new enzyme having 4-fold more amino groups than the native enzyme.

Cone beam computed tomography: an innovative tool for airway assessment.

Improvements in airway imaging technology provide the potential for an improved understanding of airway pathology and upper airway mechanics. We present here a preliminary report on the applicability of cone beam computed tomography technology in conjunction with multidimensional digital analysis for the purposes of clinical airway management. The use of this technology for airway imaging in anesthesiology has not been reported.

Influence of CBCT exposure conditions on radiation dose.

Background: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been changing the way dental practitioners use imaging. The radiation dose to the patient and how to effectively reduce the dose is still not completely clear to most users of this technology.

Objective: The objective of this study was to quantitate the change in radiation dose when using different CBCT settings.

Image quality produced by different cone-beam computed tomography settings.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate image quality at different cone-beam computed tomography settings and 3 fields of view.

Methods: A Hitachi CB MercuRay (Hitachi Medical Systems, Tokyo, Japan) was modified to allow different setting combinations. The variables consisted of 4 milliampere settings (2, 5, 10, and 15 mA), 2 kilovolt (peak) settings (100 and 120 kV[p]), presence or absence of a copper filter, and 3 fields of view (6, 9, and 12 in).

Evaluation of a software program for applying the American Board of Orthodontics objective grading system to digital casts.

Introduction: The American Board of Orthodontics' objective grading system (ABO OGS) is currently the gold standard for evaluating plaster casts of completed orthodontic cases.

Methods: Thirty-six cases of finished orthodontic casts in plaster and digital form were scored by using 2 methods: an electronic version of the ABO OGS designed to be used with digital casts (OrthoCAD, Cadent, Fairview, NJ) and the ABO gauge designed to be used with plaster casts. The 2 scoring methods were compared using descriptive analysis (range, absolute mean difference, and standard deviation), the Spearman rank correlation coefficient, and the Wilcoxon rank sum test.

Advances in the design of new epoxy supports for enzyme immobilization-stabilization.

Multipoint covalent immobilization of enzymes (through very short spacer arms) on support surfaces promotes a very interesting 'rigidification' of protein molecules. In this case, the relative positions of each residue of the enzyme involved in the immobilization process have to be preserved unchanged during any conformational change induced on the immobilized enzyme by any distorting agent (heat, organic solvents etc.).

Influence of induction therapy, immunosuppressive regimen and anti-viral prophylaxis on development of lymphomas after heart transplantation: data from the Spanish Post-Heart Transplant Tumour Registry.

Background: Lymphoma after heart transplantation (HT) has been associated with induction therapy and herpesvirus infection. It is not known whether anti-viral agents administered immediately after HT can reduce the incidence of lymphoma.

Methods: This study was a retrospective review of 3,393 patients who underwent HT in Spain between 1984 and December 2003.

Modeling external risks in project management.

To ascertain the viability of a project, undertake resource allocation, take part in bidding processes, and other related decisions, modern project management requires forecasting techniques for cost, duration, and performance of a project, not only under normal circumstances, but also under external events that might abruptly change the status quo. We provide a Bayesian framework that provides a global forecast of a project's performance. We aim at predicting the probabilities and impacts of a set of potential scenarios caused by combinations of disruptive events, and using this information to deal with project management issues.

Relapsing Rhodococcus equi infection in a heart transplant recipient successfully treated with long-term linezolid.

We report a heart transplant recipient with Rhodococcus equi and Cryptococcus neoformans infection. Despite an initially relapsing course and the acquisition of resistance in vivo, the patient responded to 5 months of linezolid and 6 months of fluconazole. This is the 1st R.

Gastrointestinal complications in heart transplant patients: MITOS study.

Introduction: The most frequent immunosuppressive treatment complications in solid organ transplant recipients are gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.

Materials And Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study to evaluate the prevalence and management of GI complications in transplanted patients was conducted via a written questionnaire given to doctors at their practice.

Results: This study included 1788 patients; 181 corresponded to heart transplant recipients.

The potential impact of substitutive therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin on the outcome of heart transplant recipients with infections.

Hypogammaglobulinemia has been proposed to be a risk factor for infection after heart transplantation (OHT). Infection is a leading cause of morbility and mortality among these patients. In a retrospective study we analyzed the impact of substitutive therapy with nonspecific intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) on the outcomes of heart transplant patients with infections.

Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in heart transplant recipients: is hypogammaglobulinemia the answer?

Background: Information regarding Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) after solid-organ transplantation (SOT) is scarce, particularly after heart transplantation (HT). Although host immune response to C. difficile plays a substantial role in the outcome of this infection, the responsibility of hypogammaglobulinemia (HGG) as a predisposing condition for CDAD has not been studied in SOT.

Immobilization of enzymes on heterofunctional epoxy supports.

Immobilization of enzymes and proteins on activated supports permits the simplification of the reactor design and may be used to improve some enzyme properties. In this sense, supports containing epoxy groups seem to be useful to generate very intense multipoint covalent attachment with different nucleophiles placed on the surface of enzyme molecules (e.g.

[Ventricular assist devices as a bridge to transplantation].

We carried out an analysis of the results obtained in patients (n=23) who received a ventricular assist device before heart transplantation between 1988 and 2005. Their mean age was 52.5 (8.

Impaired anti-pneumococcal polysaccharide antibody production and invasive pneumococcal infection following heart transplantation.

An increased risk of invasive pneumococcal infection has been described among adult heart transplant (HT) recipients. Vaccination has been recommended before HT but the appropriate time for revaccination is not known. In a preliminary analysis of a prospective study involving a cohort of 32 HT recipients receiving daclizumab and triple immunosuppresion therapy, a progressive decline in pneumococcal polysaccharide antibody (anti-PPS) levels was observed during the first year after HT.

Improved catalytic properties of immobilized lipases by the presence of very low concentrations of detergents in the reaction medium.

The addition of a very small concentration of a detergent (in many instances under the critical micellar concentration (cmc)) has been found to greatly increase the activity of immobilized lipases, using those from Pseudomonas fluorescens (PFL) and Candida antarctica (isoform B) as model enzymes. However, the detergents may also have a negative effect on enzyme activity; in fact, for all enzyme preparations and substrates the activity/detergent concentration curve reached a maximum value and started to decrease, in many instances even under the initial value. The concentration and nature of the detergent (SDS, CTAB, Triton X-100, or X-45) that permitted the maximum hyperactivation was different depending on the substrate.

A comparison of scanned lateral cephalograms with corresponding original radiographs.

Introduction: Digital cephalometric radiography is gaining popularity in orthodontic practices. However, few studies have compared measurements and superimpositions on analog radiographs with those made on scanned digital images. The objectives of this study were to evaluate distortion associated with scanning lateral cephalograms and printing to hard copy, and to assess the accuracy of digital images for regular cephalometric tasks.

Glutaraldehyde cross-linking of lipases adsorbed on aminated supports in the presence of detergents leads to improved performance.

Lipases from Candida rugosa (CRL) and lipase isoforms A and B from Candida antarctica (CAL-A and CAL-B) were adsorbed on aminated supports in the presence of detergents to have individual lipase molecules. Then, one fraction was washed to eliminate the detergent, and both preparations were treated with glutaraldehyde. The presence of detergent during the cross-linking of the lipases to the support permitted an increase in the recovered activity (in some instances, even by a 10-fold factor).

Cephalometric changes in overbite and vertical facial height after removal of 4 first molars or first premolars.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcome of standard edgewise orthodontic treatment with extraction of 4 first molars (6xT group) or Tweed edgewise treatment with extraction of 4 first premolars (4xT group).

Materials And Methods: A cephalometric analysis that isolated tipping and bodily tooth movements of the maxillary and mandibular incisors and measured vertical skeletal changes in the anterior region of the maxilla and mandible was used. Thirty subjects treated by 10 practitioners comprised the 6xT group, whereas 31 subjects treated in the Case Western Reserve University orthodontic clinic were used in the 4xT group.

Diels-Alder ligation of peptides and proteins.

The development of the Diels-Alder cycloaddition as a new method for the site-specific chemoselective ligation of peptides and proteins under mild conditions is reported. Peptides equipped with a 2,4-hexadienyl ester and an N-terminal maleimide react in aqueous media to give cycloadducts in high yields and depending on the amino acid sequence with high stereoselectivity. Except for the cysteine SH group the transformation is compatible with all amino acid side chain functional groups.