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Blood System (blood + system)
Selected AbstractsStaphylococcus aureus biofilm formation and tolerance to antibiotics in response to oscillatory shear stresses of physiological levelsFEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Victoria Kostenko Abstract Bacterial infections in the blood system are usually associated with blood flow oscillation generated by some cardiovascular pathologies and insertion of indwelling devices. The influence of hydrodynamically induced shear stress fluctuations on the Staphylococcus aureus biofilm morphology and tolerance to antibiotics was investigated. Fluctuating shear stresses of physiologically relevant levels were generated in wells of a six-well microdish agitated by an orbital shaker. Numerical simulations were performed to determine the spatial distribution and local fluctuation levels of the shear stress field on the well bottom. It is found that the local biofilm deposition and morphology correlate strongly with shear stress fluctuations and maximum magnitude levels. Tolerance to killing by antibiotics correlates with morphotype and is generally higher in high shear regions. [source] Cost-effectiveness of blood programmes , the Asia Pacific Blood Network perspectiveISBT SCIENCE SERIES: THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTRACELLULAR TRANSPORT, Issue n2 2009C.-K. Lin Globally, cost management of blood programs is seen as a critical strategic issue. This needs to be balanced with other strategic priorities, including sustainability of the blood system and provision of sufficient, safe and appropriate products and services for patient care. Asia Pacific blood services seek improvement in cost efficiencies through both local initiatives, and through partnering with other countries via international networks such as the Asia Pacific Blood Network (APBN). Through the APBN, blood services participate in 2 key areas that have the potential to yield improved cost efficiencies. These are a.,Comparison of Practice b.,Knowledge Exchange This paper outlines the way in which the APBN members have utilised these opportunities to identify and understand internal and external cost drivers and through this, help address challenges. Cost data is less useful in effecting change than measures of operational efficiency, as well as utilisation and wastage rates. Some common tools and approaches will be discussed, although it is recognized that for each country with its unique set of stakeholders, geography, and socio-political, legal, regulatory and economic parameters, the decisions made may well be quite different but appropriate for the local context. [source] Self-Assembled Nanogel of Hydrophobized Dendritic Dextrin for Protein DeliveryMACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE, Issue 7 2009Yayoi Ozawa Abstract Highly branched cyclic dextrin derivatives (CH-CDex) that are partly substituted with cholesterol groups have been synthesized. The CH-CDex forms monodisperse and stable nanogels with a hydrodynamic radii of ,10 nm by the self-assembly of 4,6 CH-CDex macromolecules in water. The CH-CDex nanogels spontaneously trap 10,16 molecules of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled insulin (FITC-Ins). The complex shows high colloidal stability: no dissociation of trapped insulin is observed after at least 1 month in phosphate buffer (0.1 M, pH 8.0). In the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA, 50 mg,·,mL,1), which is a model blood system, the FITC-Ins trapped in the nanogels is continuously released (,20% at 12 h) without burst release. The high-density nanogel structure derived from the highly branched CDex significantly affects the stability of the nanogel,protein complex. [source] Bacterial infection of a model insect: Photorhabdus luminescens and Manduca sextaCELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2002Carlos P. Silva Summary Invertebrates, including insects, are being developed as model systems for the study of bacterial virulence. However, we understand little of the interaction between bacteria and specific invertebrate tissues or the immune system. To establish an infection model for Photorhabdus, which is released directly into the insect blood system by its nematode symbiont, we document the number and location of recoverable bacteria found during infection of Manduca sexta. After injection into the insect larva, P. luminescens multiplies in both the midgut and haemolymph, only later colonizing the fat body and the remaining tissues of the cadaver. Bacteria persist by suppressing haemocyte-mediated phagocytosis and culture supernatants grown in vitro, as well as plasma from infected insects, suppress phagocytosis of P. luminescens. Using GFP-labelled bacteria, we show that colonization of the gut begins at the anterior of the midgut and proceeds posteriorly. Within the midgut, P. luminescens occupies a specific niche between the extracellular matrix and basal membrane (lamina) of the folded midgut epithelium. Here, the bacteria express the gut-active Toxin complex A (Tca) and an RTX-like metalloprotease PrtA. This close association of the bacteria with the gut, and the production of toxins and protease, triggers a massive programmed cell death of the midgut epithelium. [source] Effects of two whole blood systems (DALI and Liposorber D) for LDL apheresis on lipids and cardiovascular risk markers in severe hypercholesterolemiaJOURNAL OF CLINICAL APHERESIS, Issue 6 2007Carsten Otto Abstract LDL apheresis is an extracorporal modality to lower the concentration of atherogenic lipoproteins, e.g., LDL cholesterol. We compared two recently introduced whole-blood LDL apheresis systems inpatients with hypercholesterolemia in a randomized cross-over trial with respect to their effects on lipoproteins as well as on other cardiovascular risk markers. Six patients (4 women, 2 men, median age 62.5 years, median BMI 25.9 kg/m2) on regular LDL apheresis were randomly assigned to receive six weekly treatments with either DALI (Fresenius) or Liposorber D (Kaneka). After 6 weeks, the patients were switched to the other device (again six weekly treatments). Blood was drawn before and immediately after LDL apheresis at three time points (last regular apheresis before the study; after six treatments with DALI and after six treatments with Liposorber D). LDL cholesterol concentration before the sixth apheresis (DALI 129 mg/dL, Liposorber D 132 mg/dL) as well as LDL cholesterol reduction during the sixth apheresis (DALI 68.3% and Liposorber D 68.4%) were similar with the two systems. CRP and fibrinogen concentrations were lower but interleukin-6, myeloperoxidase, and resistin concentrations were higher after the last Liposorber treatment compared with DALI (P < 0.05, respectively). No differences were observed concerning adiponectin, ghrelin, and PYY levels. In conclusion, both devices were highly effective in eliminating atherogenic lipoproteins. CRP and fibrinogen were better eliminated with Liposorber D. However, following Liposorber D, interleukin-6 levels were higher than after DALI possibly indicating an increased inflammatory activation. J. Clin. Apheresis, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||