Marked hemoglobin mass expansion and plasma volume contraction in Sherpas acclimatizing to 5,400 m altitude.

In lowlanders, high altitude (HA) acclimatization induces hemoconcentration by reducing plasma volume (PV) and increasing total hemoglobin mass (Hb). Conversely, Tibetan highlanders living at HA are reported to have a similar hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) as lowlanders near sea level, and we investigated whether this reflects alterations in the PV or the Hb response to HA. Baseline assessment of PV and Hb was performed by carbon monoxide rebreathing at low altitudes (∼1,400 m) in Sherpas (an ethnic group of Tibetans living in Nepal) and native lowlanders.

The physiological basis for individualized oxygenation targets in critically ill patients with circulatory shock.

Background: Circulatory shock, defined as decreased tissue perfusion, leading to inadequate oxygen delivery to meet cellular metabolic demands, remains a common condition with high morbidity and mortality. Rapid restitution and restoration of adequate tissue perfusion are the main treatment goals. To achieve this, current hemodynamic strategies focus on adjusting global physiological variables such as cardiac output (CO), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, and arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SaO).

Substrate selectivity and catalytic activation of the type III CRISPR ancillary nuclease Can2.

Type III CRISPR-Cas systems provide adaptive immunity against foreign mobile genetic elements through RNA-guided interference. Sequence-specific recognition of RNA targets by the type III effector complex triggers the generation of cyclic oligoadenylate (cOA) second messengers that activate ancillary effector proteins, thus reinforcing the host immune response. The ancillary nuclease Can2 is activated by cyclic tetra-AMP (cA4); however, the mechanisms underlying cA4-mediated activation and substrate selectivity remain elusive.

Pushing the boundaries of phosphorylase cascade reaction for cellobiose production II: Model-based multiobjective optimization.

The inherent complexity of coupled biocatalytic reactions presents a major challenge for process development with one-pot multienzyme cascade transformations. Kinetic models are powerful engineering tools to guide the optimization of cascade reactions towards a performance suitable for scale up to an actual production. Here, we report kinetic model-based window of operation analysis for cellobiose production (≥100 g/L) from sucrose and glucose by indirect transglycosylation via glucose 1-phosphate as intermediate.

Pushing the boundaries of phosphorylase cascade reaction for cellobiose production I: Kinetic model development.

One-pot cascade reactions of coupled disaccharide phosphorylases enable an efficient transglycosylation via intermediary α-d-glucose 1-phosphate (G1P). Such transformations have promising applications in the production of carbohydrate commodities, including the disaccharide cellobiose for food and feed use. Several studies have shown sucrose and cellobiose phosphorylase for cellobiose synthesis from sucrose, but the boundaries on transformation efficiency that result from kinetic and thermodynamic characteristics of the individual enzyme reactions are not known.

Critical care staffing ratio and outcome of COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care unit admission during the first pandemic wave: a retrospective analysis across Switzerland from the RISC-19-ICU observational cohort.

Study Aim: The surge of admissions due to severe COVID-19 increased the patients-to-critical care staffing ratio within the ICUs. We investigated whether the daily level of staffing was associated with an increased risk of ICU mortality (primary endpoint), length of stay (LOS), mechanical ventilation and the evolution of disease (secondary endpoints).

Methods: We employed a retrospective multicentre analysis of the international Risk Stratification in COVID-19 patients in the ICU (RISC-19-ICU) registry, limited to the period between March 1 and May 31, 2020, and to Switzerland.

A Method to Determine the Efficacy of a Commercial Phage Preparation against Uropathogens in Urine and Artificial Urine Determined by Isothermal Microcalorimetry.

Background: Urinary tract infections are commonly encountered and often treated with antibiotics. However, the inappropriate use of the latter has led to the appearance of resistant strains. In this context we investigate the use of calorimetry to rapidly determine if a phage cocktail can be used as alternative to antibiotics.

Detection and Drug Susceptibility Testing of Using Isothermal Microcalorimetry.

Background: Gonorrhea is a frequently encountered sexually transmitted disease that results in urethritis and can further lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and possibly disseminated gonococcal infections. Thus, it must be diagnosed promptly and accurately. In addition, drug susceptibility testing should be performed rapidly as well.

Three-level hybrid modeling for systematic optimization of biocatalytic synthesis: α-glucosyl glycerol production by enzymatic trans-glycosylation from sucrose.

Mechanism-based kinetic models are rigorous tools to analyze enzymatic reactions, but their extension to actual conditions of the biocatalytic synthesis can be difficult. Here, we demonstrate (mechanistic-empirical) hybrid modeling for systematic optimization of the sucrose phosphorylase-catalyzed glycosylation of glycerol from sucrose, to synthesize the cosmetic ingredient α-glucosyl glycerol (GG). The empirical model part was developed to capture nonspecific effects of high sucrose concentrations (up to 1.

Enzyme-Mediated Lignocellulose Liquefaction Is Highly Substrate-Specific and Influenced by the Substrate Concentration or Rheological Regime.

The high viscosities/yield stresses of lignocellulose slurries makes their industrial processing a significant challenge. However, little is known regarding the degree to which liquefaction and its enzymatic requirements are specific to a substrate's physicochemical and rheological properties. In the work reported here, the substrate- and rheological regime-specificities of liquefaction of various substrates were assessed using real-time in-rheometer viscometry and offline oscillatory rheometry when hydrolyzed by combinations of cellobiohydrolase ( Cel7A), endoglucanase ( Cel45A), glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 10 xylanase, and GH family 11 xylanase.

On the donor substrate dependence of group-transfer reactions by hydrolytic enzymes: Insight from kinetic analysis of sucrose phosphorylase-catalyzed transglycosylation.

Chemical group-transfer reactions by hydrolytic enzymes have considerable importance in biocatalytic synthesis and are exploited broadly in commercial-scale chemical production. Mechanistically, these reactions have in common the involvement of a covalent enzyme intermediate which is formed upon enzyme reaction with the donor substrate and is subsequently intercepted by a suitable acceptor. Here, we studied the glycosylation of glycerol from sucrose by sucrose phosphorylase (SucP) to clarify a peculiar, yet generally important characteristic of this reaction: partitioning between glycosylation of glycerol and hydrolysis depends on the type and the concentration of the donor substrate used (here: sucrose, α-d-glucose 1-phosphate (G1P)).

Energy from Waste--clean, efficient, renewable: transitions in combustion efficiency and NOx control.

Traditionally EfW (Energy from Waste) plants apply a reciprocating grate to combust waste fuel. An integrated steam generator recovers the heat of combustion and converts it to steam for use in a steam turbine/generator set. This is followed by an array of flue gas cleaning technologies to meet regulatory limitations.

Persistence of engineered nanoparticles in a municipal solid-waste incineration plant.

More than 100 million tonnes of municipal solid waste are incinerated worldwide every year. However, little is known about the fate of nanomaterials during incineration, even though the presence of engineered nanoparticles in waste is expected to grow. Here, we show that cerium oxide nanoparticles introduced into a full-scale waste incineration plant bind loosely to solid residues from the combustion process and can be efficiently removed from flue gas using current filter technology.

The lateral condyle index: a new index for assessing the length of the lateral articular trochlea as predisposing factor for patellar instability.

The central trochlea has been considered as the major location of dysplasia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the lateral trochlea on patellar stability and to establish a new method for measuring the lateral trochlea on sagittal magnetic resonance (MR) images. Twenty-eight knees of 23 patients suffering from lateral patellar subluxation (12 knees with radiological signs of central trochlear dysplasia) and of 46 patients without patellofemoral complaints (without central trochlear dysplasia) were analysed.

Perioperative ultrasound-guided wire marking of calcific deposits in calcifying tendinitis of the rotator cuff.

The identification of a calcific deposit in the rotator cuff can often cause difficulties. A new technique is described to identify the calcific deposit perioperatively with a ultrasound-guided wire. The technique allows a safe direct marking of calcific deposits making the procedure faster especially in difficult cases.

3D representation of the surface topography of normal and dysplastic trochlea using MRI.

The three-dimensional (3D) image of the articular surface topography of the normal and the dysplastic trochlea has not been defined. The aim of this study was to represent both the normal and dysplastic trochlear geometry in 3D using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Using the segmentation software program Amira (Mercury Computer Systems, Inc.

A new bipolar blood sealing system embedded in perioperative strategies vs. a conventional regimen for total knee arthroplasty: results of a matched-pair study.

From a prospective matched-pair study in 40 patients it can be concluded that the use of a new bipolar sealer system for electrocoagulation is effective in Total Knee Arthroplasty in reducing the visible total blood loss until drain removal on day two after surgery by more than 28% as compared to a conventional regimen. Together with shed blood autotransfusion, it reduced homologous blood transfusions by a factor of five. No complications occurred.

In-vitro reconstruction of massive rotator cuff ruptures with triceps tendon or coracoacromial ligament.

The possibility of reconstructing a massive rotator cuff rupture with a free graft of the triceps tendon or the coracoacromial ligament was tested experimentally in an anatomical and biophysical cadaver investigation. After dissection of the rotator cuff, a section of the supraspinatus tendon was removed to simulate a defect in the cuff. In dissection of the grafts, a bony squama was incorporated by osteotomy.