Clearance of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus in an Immunocompromised Patient Mediated by Convalescent Plasma without B-Cell Recovery

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This case report presents a patient who had difficulty eradicating the corona virus due to being treated with Rituximab, which depletes B lymphocyte cells and therefore disables the production of neutralizing antibodies. The combined use of external anti-viral agents like convalescent plasma, IVIG and Remdesivir successfully helped the patient’s immune system to eradicate the virus without B-cell population recovery. In vitro studies showed that convalescent plasma is the main agent that helped in eradicating the virus.     

Platelet-aggregation inhibition and hemodynamic effects of beraprost sodium, a new oral prostacyclin derivative: a study in healthy male subjects

The antiaggregation and hemodynamic effects of the new prostacyclin analogue beraprost sodium were investigated in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of Latin-square design. Twelve healthy Caucasian males randomly received 8-day oral treatments of 20, 40, and 60 micrograms of beraprost sodium and a placebo. One-week washout periods followed each treatment. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic measurements were performed on days 1 and 8 for each period of treatment. All three doses of beraprost sodium significantly inhibited platelet aggregation on day 8 (compared with placebo) during the 1st h after drug intake. Incubation of the 60-micrograms beraprost sodium samples with ADP (2, 5, and 10 microM) and collagen (1.25 micrograms/mL) decreased platelet aggregation by 10, 19, 16, and 6 +/- 4% (mean +/- SE), respectively, compared with placebo. No significant hemodynamic effects on blood pressure, heart rate, and digital pulse were observed. The 60-micrograms dose of beraprost sodium did significantly decrease the IRZ index (which may reflect the left ventricular pre-ejection period) on days 1 and 8. Some subjects experienced headache and facial flushing, effects that were dose dependent and reversible. Beraprost sodium at 20- to 60-micrograms doses exerts platelet antiaggregation (day 8 of therapy) and slight hemodynamic (days 1 and 8 of treatment) effects in Caucasian males. Beraprost sodium hemodynamic effects and potential benefits in patients with cardiovascular disease should be explored further.     

Metabolism of alkane by yeast

We demonstrated two NAD⁺-linked alcohol dehydrogenases in cell free extracts ofCandida tropicalis grown onn-tetradecane. Comparative studies of localization, properties and regulation indicate that these enzymes are involved in two different pathways ofn-alkane metabolism, one cytoplasmic and the other mitochondrial. Kinetic properties, such as the variation of the K_m and V_max as a function of substrate chain length of the soluble NAD⁺-linked alcohol dehydrogenase, might involve hydrophobic interactions between the substrate and the enzyme. One of five papers being published from the Symposium “Biochemistry of Hydrocarbon Degradation,” presented at the AOCS Meeting, Chicago, September 1970.     

Multicentric Castleman''s disease with mediastinal involvement in a patient with HIV infection]

Congenital nephrotic syndrome of Finnish type is a rare disease in Taiwan characterized by intrauterine onset of massive urinary loss of protein. We describe a typical baby of congenital nephrotic syndrome with generalized edema occurring at 3 months of age. Renal biopsy at 4 months of age showed a tubular microcystic change in histology. He had a partial response to corticosteroid. We tried persantin, indomethacin, and captopril since 10 months of age without significant improvement. The baby suffered from recurrent infections and respiratory difficulties due to having upper airway edema since 3 months of age. The baby passed away at 1 year and 2 months of age with severe psychomotor retardation. The first try of the combination of persantin, indomethacin, and captopril for congenital nephrotic syndrome is described.     

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Is Associated with Platelet Activity and Bleeding Tendency in Patients with Gaucher Disease

Bleeding tendency, a prominent feature of patients with Gaucher disease (GD), is associated with abnormal platelet function. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a protein with neuroprotective potential stored in alpha granules of circulating platelets. Here we studied BDNF levels in 50 patients with type I GD (GD1) and their correlation with platelet activity and bleeding tendency. Flow cytometry was used to test unstimulated and stimulated measurement of platelet surface-activated expression of αIIbβ3 integrin, P-selectin and lysosomal-associated membrane protein (LAMP3/CD63). Serum and plasma BDNF levels were quantified using ELISA. The bleeding history was recorded by a bleeding questionnaire. Serum BDNF levels were positively correlated with platelet count and moderately correlated with unstimulated and stimulated platelet P-selectin expression. Patients with more than one bleeding manifestation were shown to have lower serum BDNF levels, albeit similar platelet count. Plasma BDNF levels were significantly elevated in splenectomized patients and showed a moderate positive correlation with stimulated platelet CD63 expression. These observations demonstrate the first association between BDNF levels in the peripheral blood with platelet dysfunction and increased bleeding manifestation. The role of measuring serum BDNF for assessing platelet alpha degranulation defects and bleeding risk in patients with GD and the general population needs further study.     

The value of early transjugular liver biopsy after liver transplantation

Conventional percutaneous liver biopsy in the early postoperative period, within 30 days, following liver transplantation may be impossible due to coagulopathy and/or ascites. The use of transjugular liver graft biopsy (TJLB) in this setting is an attractive alternative in that a tissue diagnosis can be obtained despite the relative contraindications for percutaneous biopsy during this period. During the early posttransplant period, 124 TJLBs were performed in 105 liver patients, the majority (89%) of whom had standard liver transplantation without preservation of the native inferior vena cava; the others (11%) had the native inferior vena cava intact. The technical success rate was 87%, with adequate specimen for definitive diagnosis in most instances (86%), which included both rejection (61%) and nonrejection (39%) diagnoses on final histopathology. The biopsy diagnosis influenced clinical management in the majority of cases (65%), with decisions made to perform retransplantation (3%), to influence initiation of antirejection therapy (59%), and to institute antiviral therapy (3%). There was no morbidity or mortality associated with TJLB and it is feasible, safe, and effective in the early period after liver transplantation.     

YBCO Thin Film Preparation on Unbuffered Ag Substrate by Resistive Evaporation

It is widely accepted that thin film formation of YBCO on conducting and flexible substrate is one of the keys for further development of advanced devices in the microelectronics. Various fabrication methods such as spray pyrolysis, powder-in-tube processing, dip-coating rolling-assisted biaxially textured substrate, etc., widely used for YBCO thick films (few tens of m) production. However in this work we report for the first time on the preparation of YBCO thin film on unbuffered silver substrate using a simple conventional vacuum system equipped with only one single resistively heated evaporation source. The subsequent heat treatment was carried out under a low oxygen partial pressure and temperature that never exceeded 740° C. A thin film of Ag was first deposited on MgO substrate. A pulverized stoichiometric mixture of Y, Cu, and BaF ₂ was then deposited on this film. The amorphous YBCO film of a 500-nm thickness was obtained after the heat treatment. The results of the film evaluation are presented and discussed.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy—principles and applications

The photoemission process and principles are briefly reviewed. The electron spectrometer, the specimen preparation chamber and, in particular, the associated ultra-high vacuum system and the technique for obtaining the ultimate vacuum, as well as the in situ preparation techniques, are described in detail. Some applications and their results are given.