A program for the optimization of cyclosporine therapy using population kinetics modeling

Cyclosporine is one of the most widely used immunosuppressive agents in organ transplantation. Due to large inter- and intra-individual variations, its behavior in the specific patient is still difficult to predict. Dosage optimization is thus mainly performed on a trial-and-error basis. In this paper, we present a new program based on the population kinetics approach, which was designed to help physicians in the difficult task of adjusting patient specific cyclosporine dosing regimens. Dose optimization is carried out by model simulation, using a two-compartment mathematical model of cyclosporine kinetics to predict the drug behavior in the patient. Two of the model parameters are assumed from the literature, the other two are estimated from the patient data through a Bayesian estimation procedure. Previous information needed by the Bayesian algorithm is derived by a population analysis, performed beforehand and based on a nonlinear mixed effect model. A user-friendly graphical interface written in Delphi under Windows makes the program easily accessible to physicians. A preliminary retrospective validation of the program, performed on data from 18 renal transplanted patients, yielded very satisfactory results.     

Association phenomena of a chiral perylene derivative in solution and in poly(ethylene) dispersion

In this work, the aggregation behaviour of a chiral perylene derivative, that is, N,N′-bis-(R)-(1′-phenylethyl)-perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxyldiimide (R-Pery), was studied by means of ¹H NMR (including DOSY techniques), circular dichroism, UV–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopies in various conditions. The acquired data demonstrate that R-Pery tends to aggregate in pure solvents at high concentrations (>10^?5 M in DMSO and >10^?3 M in CHCl₃), whereas aggregation occurred at lower concentrations by adding a poor solvent, such as water (to DMSO) or CH₃CN (to chloroform). Interesting results were obtained studying the optical behaviour of R-Pery when dispersed into a linear low-density polyethylene matrix (LLDPE). In particular, the aggregation extent of R-Pery into LLDPE was investigated by means of UV–Vis, fluorescence and CD spectroscopies as a function of dye concentration as well as thermal stimuli. The optical responsiveness of R-Pery (both in absorption and in emission) versus moderate temperature changes (i.e., for T > 35 °C) suggests applications of polymer dispersions as smart and reversible indicators to thermal solicitations.     

Experimental Study of the NO Oxidation to NO2 Over Metal Promoted Zeolites Aimed at the Identification of the Standard SCR Rate Determining Step

Steady state and transient kinetic runs devoted to the comparative analysis of NO oxidation and standard SCR reactions over commercial Cu- and Fe-promoted zeolite catalysts are herein presented with the aim to clarify whether NO oxidation to NO₂ is the rate determining step (rds) of the standard SCR reaction. It is found that this statement seems questionable in the light both of the herein collected experimental results and of scattered evidence from the literature.     

No wavefront sensor adaptive optics system for compensation of primary aberrations by software analysis of a point source image. 1. Methods

Adaptive optics (AO) has been recently used for the development of ophthalmic devices. Its main objective has been to obtain high-resolution images for diagnostic purposes or to estimate high-order eye aberrations. The core of every AO system is an optical device that is able to modify the wavefront shape of the light entering the system; if you know the shape of the incoming wavefront, it is possible to correct the aberrations introduced in the optical path from the source to the image. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the feasibility, although in a simulated system, of estimating and correcting an aberrated wavefront shape by means of an iterative gradient-descent-like software procedure, acting on a point source image, without expensive wavefront sensors or the burdensome computation of the point-spread-function (PSF) of the optical system. In such a way, it is possible to obtain a speed and repeatability advantage over classical stochastic algorithms. A hierarchy in the aberrations is introduced, in order to reduce the dimensionality of the state space to be searched. The proposed algorithm is tested on a simple optical system that has been simulated with ray-tracing software, with randomly generated aberrations, and compared with a recently proposed algorithm for wavefront sensorless adaptive optics.     

Effect of dietary supplementation with olive pomaces on the performance and meat quality of growing rabbits

The aim was to investigate the effects of three types (A, B and C) of stoned and dehydrated olive pomaces (OPs), differing in olive cultivar, on productive performance and meat quality of growing rabbits. The inclusion of OPs (5%) negatively affected the performance of rabbits as it reduced the feed intake, growth rate, carcass weight and dressing out percentage (P<0.05). Compared with the control, the meat of OP rabbits had a greater amount of monounsaturated and a lower amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (P<0.05), independent of the type of OP used. Oxidative processes in the meat of OPA and OPB were higher (P<0.05), whereas OPC showed the same levels as the control group. This was due to the higher total polyphenol concentration and to the concomitant lower peroxide value of OPC. These results recommend the use of OP in rabbit diet with caution, taking into account the quality of the by-product in terms of oxidative status.     

Multicenter Collaborative Trial Evaluation of a Method for Detection of Human Adenoviruses in Berry Fruit

The qualitative performance characteristics of a qPCR-based method to detect human adenoviruses in raspberries were determined through a collaborative trial involving 11 European laboratories. The method incorporated a sample process control (murine norovirus) and an internal amplification control. Trial sensitivity or correct identification of 25-g raspberry samples artificially contaminated with between 5?×?10² and 5?×?10⁴?PFU was 98.5%; the accordance and concordance were 97.0%. The positive predictive value was 94.2%. The trial specificity or percentage correct identification of non-artificially contaminated samples was 69.7%; the accordance was 80.0% and the concordance was 61.7%. The negative predictive value was 100%. Application of a method for the detection of human adenoviruses in food samples could be useful for routine monitoring for food safety management. It would help to determine if a route of contamination exists from human source to food supply chain which pathogenic viruses such as norovirus and hepatitis A virus could follow.     

Co‐agent mediated functionalization of LDPE/iPP mixtures for compatibilization of WEEE‐recovered polyvinylchloride

Mixtures of low density polyethylene/isotactic polypropylene (LDPE/iPP) 80/20 w/w were functionalized in the melt by using maleic anhydride (MAH) as the functionalizing agent, 2,5‐bis(tert‐butylperoxy)‐2,5‐dimethylhexane (L101) as the peroxide initiator and butyl 3‐(2‐furyl)propenoate (BFA) as a co‐agent suitable to prevent the degradation of iPP and to promote inter‐macromolecular reactions. The use of BFA was aimed at favouring the control of radical‐induced side reactions and the formation of interfacial graft copolymers. The functionalization degree and the modification of macromolecular architecture, which were evaluated by selective solvent extractions combined with IR, DSC and SEM analyses, were modulated by varying the L101/MAH/BFA ratio in the feed. The optimized product in terms of functionalization degree value and processability was successfully tested as compatibilizer in a polyolefin/polyvinylchloride mixture, where the polyvinylchloride component resulted from the management of waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry