Increasing Performance of Spiral-Wound Modules (SWMs) by Improving Stability against Axial Pressure Drop and Utilising Pulsed Flow.

Spacer-induced flow shadows and limited mechanical stability due to module construction and geometry are the main obstacles to improving the filtration performance and cleanability of microfiltration spiral-wound membranes (SWMs), applied to milk protein fractionation in this study. The goal of this study was first to improve filtration performance and cleanability by utilising pulsed flow in a modified pilot-scale filtration plant. The second goal was to enhance membrane stability against module deformation by flow-induced friction in the axial direction ("membrane telescoping").

Comparative Assessment of Tubular Ceramic, Spiral Wound, and Hollow Fiber Membrane Microfiltration Module Systems for Milk Protein Fractionation.

The fractionation efficiency of hollow fiber membranes (HFM) for milk protein fractionation was compared to ceramic tubular membranes (CTM) and spiral wound membranes (SWM). HFM combine the features of high membrane packing density of SWM and the more defined flow conditions and better control of membrane fouling in the open flow channel cross-sections of CTM. The aim was to comparatively analyze the effect of variations in local pressure and flow conditions while using single industrially sized standard modules with similar dimensions and module footprints (module diameter and length).

Structural Characterisation of Deposit Layer during Milk Protein Microfiltration by Means of MRI and Compositional Analysis.

Milk protein fractionation by microfiltration membranes is an established but still growing field in dairy technology. Even under cross-flow conditions, this filtration process is impaired by the formation of a deposit by the retained protein fraction, mainly casein micelles. Due to deposition formation and consequently increased overall filtration resistance, the mass flow of the smaller whey protein fraction declines within the first few minutes of filtration.

PPMS onset upon adalimumab treatment extends the spectrum of anti-TNF-α therapy-associated demyelinating disorders.

Since their introduction in 1999, anti-tumour necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) therapies have been suspected repeatedly to be associated with the occurrence of central nervous system (CNS) demyelinating disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS). However, recent publications were restricted to descriptions of monophasic demyelinating events or cases of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). We here provide the first case report of primary progressive MS (PPMS) onset upon anti-TNF-α therapy as well as a literature review of previously published cases of anti-TNF-α therapy-associated MS onset.

Data concerning the chromatographic isolation of bovine IgG from milk- and colostral whey.

Data included are related to the research article "Isolation of biofunctional bovine immunoglobulin G from milk- and colostral whey with mixed-mode chromatography at lab and pilot scale" (Heidebrecht et al., 2018) [1]. Data show individual bovine whey proteins in flow-through and elution fractions using different chromatographic resins as well as different binding and elution conditions.

Isolation of biofunctional bovine immunoglobulin G from milk- and colostral whey with mixed-mode chromatography at lab and pilot scale.

The aim of the present work was to develop a new scalable and cost-efficient process to isolate bovine immunoglobulin G from colostral whey with high purity and minimal loss of activity. The mixed mode material Mercapto-Ethyl-Pyridine-Hypercel™ was identified appropriate for direct capture of immunoglobulin G. The binding mechanism is primarily based on hydrophobic interactions at physiological conditions.

An exploratory, prospective, open-label trial of ingenol mebutate gel 0.05% for the treatment of external anogenital warts.

Background: Anogenital warts (AGW) can cause physical discomfort and decreased quality of life. Recent case reports suggest that ingenol mebutate gel might be an effective treatment of AGW.

Objective: To explore primarily the safety, and secondarily the efficacy of ingenol mebutate gel 0.

An observational study to evaluate the long-term outcomes of treatment with etanercept in patients with plaque-type psoriasis.

Background: There is an unmet need for long-term, real-life data on the effect of a drug-free interval between treatment cycles in patients with plaque psoriasis being treated with etanercept, which is licensed for intermittent and continuous treatment.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the average duration of the drug-free interval between etanercept treatment cycles in patients with plaque psoriasis.

Methods: This was a non-interventional, open-label, multicentre, prospective study in patients for whom the decision had already been made to initiate treatment with etanercept during routine practice in German centres.

Dispersal variability and associated population-level consequences in tree-killing bark beetles.

Background: Dispersal is a key process in the response of insect populations to rapidly changing environmental conditions. Variability among individuals, regarding the timing of dispersal initiation and travelled distance from source, is assumed to contribute to increased population success through risk spreading. However, experiments are often limited in studying complex dispersal interactions over space and time.

Association between skin and joint involvement in patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with adalimumab: analysis of data from a German non-interventional study.

Background: The association between skin and joint manifestations in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) requires further characterization.

Objective: We evaluated the association between severity of skin disease and joint involvement and the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab in PsA patients by baseline psoriasis severity.

Methods: Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used to evaluate data from 1,918 PsA patients starting adalimumab treatment.

Advances in forefoot trauma.

Forefoot traumas, particularly involving the metatarsals, are commonly occurring injuries. There have been several advances in management of these injuries. These advances include updates in operative technique, internal fixation options, plating constructs, and external fixation.

Secukinumab induction and maintenance therapy in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II regimen-finding study.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-17A has major proinflammatory activity in psoriatic lesional skin.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and safety of secukinumab, a fully human IgG1κ monoclonal anti-IL-17A antibody, in moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in a phase II regimen-finding study.

Methods: A total of 404 patients were randomized to subcutaneous placebo (n = 67) or one of three secukinumab 150 mg induction regimens: single (week 0; n = 66), early (weeks 0, 1, 2, 4; n = 133) and monthly (weeks 0, 4, 8; n = 138 patients).

[Vohwinkel syndrome. Hearing loss and keratoderma on the hands and feet].

The combination of sensorineural hearing loss and keratoderma on the hands and feet is rare. We report the case of a child that failed newborn hearing screening and also showed keratoderma on both hands and feet. The child's father exhibited the same constellation of symptoms, which is typical for mutilating keratoderma with deafness (Vohwinkel syndrome).

[Fingertip necroses of unknown origin].

A 63-year old woman presented with dry necrotic areas on the distal and medial phalanges of her right index and middle finger caused by burns while smoking. Differential diagnostic considerations included occlusive arterial disease, vasculitis, endangiitis obliterans, peripheral embolisms and exposure to chemicals. The patient had the habit of smoking her cigarettes until the last possible drag, putting her skin in direct contact with the burning tobacco.

Imaging of nonthrombotic pulmonary embolism: biological materials, nonbiological materials, and foreign bodies.

Nonthrombotic pulmonary embolism is defined as embolization to the pulmonary circulation caused by a wide range of substances of endogenous and exogenous biological and nonbiological origin and foreign bodies. It is an underestimated cause of acute and chronic embolism. Symptoms cover the entire spectrum from asymptomatic patients to sudden death.

Non-invasive lipid measurement in living insects using NMR microscopy.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) microscopy allows us to image and quantify the distribution of NMR-active nuclei in living specimens. Using high-field NMR microscopy at a magnetic field strength of 14.1 T and strong gradients up to 3 T m(-1), we show that separation of fat and water nuclear resonances in living insects can be achieved.

Protein biomarkers for in vitro testing of toxicology.

The vision of the toxicology in the 21st century movement is to overcome the currently used animal tests and identify molecular pathways of toxicity, using human in vitro systems with the aim to provide the most relevant mechanistic information for human risk assessment. It is expected to translate key surrogate biomarkers to novel types of toxicity-related high throughput screening of the many thousands of compounds which need to be tested during development phases of the pharmaceutical industry and with regard to the REACH legislation in Europe. Systems biology, an emerging and increasingly popular field of research, appears to be the discipline of choice to integrate results from transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics and metabonomics technologies used to analyze samples from toxicological models.

Human epidermal Langerhans cells replenish skin xenografts and are depleted by alloreactive T cells in vivo.

Epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) are potent APCs surveying the skin. They are crucial regulators of T cell activation in the context of inflammatory skin disease and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In contrast to other dendritic cell subtypes, murine LC are able to reconstitute after local depletion without the need of peripheral blood-derived precursors.

Protein biomarkers for in vitro testing of embryotoxicity.

There are new challenges for hazard and risk assessment in the chemical industry with regard to REACH legislation in Europe and related activities in the U.S. and Japan, which require the development of novel in vitro models for the molecular characterization of drug- or chemical-related effects replacing conventional animal testing.

Unexpected common mechanistic pathways for embryotoxicity of warfarin and lovastatin.

Novel molecular content for fast in vitro strategies in the context of safety tests concerning developmental toxicity has a potential to substantially reduce animal experiments according to the "3R" concept (Reduce/Refine/Replace). Here we present and discuss data from a differential proteomic profiling of samples generated using embryonic stem cell derived in vitro models treated with a set of model substances. Among substance-dependent proteomic changes, potential surrogate markers were some isoforms of heat shock proteins and a component of the Ras pathway, present in several redundant isoforms due to posttranslational modifications.

Pimecrolimus (Novartis).

Pimecrolimus, an ascomycin macrolactam derivative, is an inhibitor of T-cell and mast cell activation under development by Novartis for the potential treatment of psoriasis and allergic dermatitis. Novartis is developing both topical and oral formulations of the compound. By December 1998, the topical form of the compound was in phase III trials and the oral form was in phase II trials.

Age-specific patterns in honeydew production and honeydew composition in the aphid Metopeurum fuscoviride: implications for ant-attendance.

The intensity of the mutualistic relationship between aphids and ants depends mainly on the composition and amount of honeydew. We used the model system Tanacetum vulgare-Metopeurum fuscoviride to study age-related differences in honeydew production and composition and its effect on the mutualism between M. fuscoviride and the ant Lasius niger.