The utilization of concentrated solar energy as external heat source for methane steam reforming has been investigated. Molten salts at temperatures up to 550°C can be used as solar heat carrier and storage system, and hydrogen selective membranes can be used to drive reforming reaction at lower temperatures than conventional (<550°C), with hydrogen purification achieved thereby. The combination of new technologies such as membranes and membrane reactors, concentrating solar power (CSP) systems, and molten salt heat carriers, allows a partial decarbonation of the fossil fuel together with the possibility to carry solar energy in the current natural gas grid. Different plant configurations and operating conditions have been analyzed using a mathematical model and AspenPlus simulator. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2008

To characterize the epidemiology and prognostic factors of invasive fusariosis in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients, the records of HSCT recipients from 9 hospitals (7 in Brazil and 2 in the United States) were retrospectively reviewed. Sixty-one cases were identified: 54 in allogeneic HSCT recipients and 7 in autologous HSCT recipients. The incidence of fusariosis among allogeneic HSCT recipients varied between a range of 4.21-5.0 cases per 1000 in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)--matched related transplant recipients to 20.19 cases per 1000 in HLA-mismatched transplant recipients. The median time period between transplantation and diagnosis of fusariosis was 48 days. Among allogeneic HSCT recipients, a trimodal distribution was observed: a first peak before engraftment, a second peak at a median of 62 days after transplantation, and a third peak >1 year after transplantation. The actuarial survival was 13% (median, 13 days). Persistent neutropenia was the single prognostic factor for death identified by multivariate analysis.

Glucosyltransferases (Gtfs) produced by the mutans streptococci are recognized as virulence factors in dental caries, and the inhibition of Gtfs by secretory immunoglobulin A is predicted to provide protection against this disease. The basis of such mucosal immunity is linked to the ability to reliably stimulate production of secretory immunoglobulin A against Gtfs. In this regard, we are exploring the immungenicities of various Gtf peptides genetically fused to the B subunit of cholera toxin (CTB), a known mucosal adjuvant. In this work, we have created a gene fusion linking the GtfB active-site (AS) peptide DANFDSIRVDAVDNVDADLLQIA to the amino terminus of CTB. This sequence, deduced from the nucleotide sequence of gtfB from Streptococcus mutans GS5, has been found to be strongly conserved in Gtfs from several mutans streptococci. We have purified this recombinant protein (AS:CTB) from Escherichia coli carrying the fusion gene under the control of the lactose operon promoter. This protein was immunogenic in rabbits and produced specific serum antibodies against both the Gtf peptide and the CTB moiety. The antiserum was tested for its ability to inhibit GtfB activity obtained from a mutant of S. mutans able to make only this enzyme and none of the other usual Gtfs or fructosyltransferase. Approximately 50% of the GtfB activity was inhibited in such assays. These results suggest that the AS of this enzyme is accessible to antibody binding and that this region of the protein may be considered a vulnerable target for vaccine design and development. The AS:CTB was able to bind GM 1 ganglioside in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, indicating that the recombinant protein retained this property, which is thought to be critical to the mucosal immunoadjuvant properties of CTB. Thus, this protein may be promising as a candidate anticaries vaccinogen alone or in combination with other Gtf peptides or conjugates. Glucosyltransferases (Gtfs) that synthesize glucan polymers from sucrose are recognized as virulence factors in smoothsurface dental decay caused by Streptococcus mutans. This was initially postulated because carious lesions were observed in experimental animals only when sucrose was included in their diets (25). The definitive role of Gtfs as virulence factors in cariogenicity was demonstrated with Gtf-deficient mutants that were created by allelic exchange (31, 48). Such mutants were reduced in cariogenicity in rat models compared with their wild-type progenitors. Typical strains of S. mutans appear to carry a repertoire of three Gtf genes, all of which contribute to maximal cariogenicity in rats (5, 7, 32, 49). In S. mutans GS5, the product of the gtfB gene synthesizes primarily a waterinsoluble glucan polymer rich in ␣-1,3-linked glucose molecules. The gtfD gene product, on the other hand, forms a water-soluble glucan composed of ␣-1,6-linked glucose molecules. The third gene, gtfC, encodes an enzyme that is able to synthesize both water-insoluble and water-soluble glucan polymers. In many wild-type strains, g...

The natural history and pathogenic processes of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are complex, variable, and dependent upon a multitude of viral and host factors and their interactions. The CCR5-Delta32 allele remains the most important genetic factor known to be associated with host resistance to the HIV-1 infection. However, other mutations in the CCR5, CCR2, CX(3)CR1, CXCL12 (SDF1), and CCL5 (RANTES) genes have been identified and associated with host resistance and/or susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and disease progression. Some studies have also suggested that chemokine receptor gene polymorphisms may affect response to potent antiretroviral therapy. This article reviews the polymorphisms already described in the mutant chemokine receptors or ligands and their impact on the host susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and on the clinical course of the disease, as well as the development of new anti-HIV therapies that takes into account these potential targets in the host. These genetic polymorphisms could be used as genetic markers to detect individuals at higher risk of developing either a faster disease progression or therapeutic failure. Once these individuals are identified, therapeutic strategies based on either different, more aggressive drugs or combinations of drugs can be used, either alone or in combination with shorter intervals for therapeutic monitoring. Pharmacogenetics is very likely to underlie future therapies for HIV-1 infection, and current patients with multi-resistance to the existing antiretroviral agents could also benefit from this approach. These developments also underscore the importance of continuing the investigation of new therapies targeted to the host in order to inhibit the HIV-1 entry into the host cells.

This is a report on four persons in one family with a condition similar to that described by Ramon et al [Oral Surg 24:436-48, 1967] in two sibs born to a consanguineous couple. Our patients also had mental deficiency, epilepsy, cherubism due to fibrous dysplasia of the maxillae, gingival fibromatosis, hypertrichosis, and stunted growth. This appears to be an autosomal recessive trait in both families. Our patients are the second set reported with this syndrome; they also have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which was not described in the family reported by Ramon et al [Oral Surg 24:436-48, 1967]. We conclude that the Ramon syndrome should also include juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Summary:In order to assess the effect of delaying G-CSF administration after autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation on the duration of neutropenia, 87 patients were randomized to receive G-CSF 5 g/kg/day starting on day +1 (n = 45) or +5 (n = 42) following PBPC transplantation, until recovery of the neutrophils. The duration of neutropenia (Ͻ0.5 ؋ 10 9 /l) was shorter in the day +1 group (7 vs 8 days; P = 0.02), especially in patients receiving melphalan 200 mg/m 2 and CD34 + cell doses Ͼ3.0 ؋ 10 6 /kg. These patients had a later onset of neutropenia after transplant. There were no differences in time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment, or in the incidence of fever and documentation of infection. Although the duration of antibiotic therapy (7 vs 10.5 days; P = 0.01) and time to hospital discharge (13 vs 15 days; P = 0.02) were shorter in the day +1 group, these differences could not be predicted by the day of G-CSF initiation in multivariate analysis. Starting G-CSF on day +1 does not result in faster neutrophil engraftment but in later onset and consequently, slightly shorter duration of neutropenia in patients who receive melphalan 200 mg/m 2 and CD34 + cell doses Ͼ3.0 ؋ 10 6 /kg. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2002) 29, 745-751.

No abstract

Eighty patients with paracoccidioidomycosis were typed for 43 HLA specificities from loci A, B, C and DR. A highly significant increased frequency of HLA-B40 (relative risk 29.2) and HLA-Cw1 (relative risk 8.8) were found in patients compared to control subjects. The frequencies HLA-A2, B7 and B21 were also increased in patients and haplotypes-B40-Cw1 and -A2-B40 were positively correlated with the disease. DR antigen frequencies were not significantly altered in the patients and evidence of a protective effect was not found for any of the 43 antigens tested. These findings further support the involvement of the HLA system in the genetic susceptibility to paracoccidioidomycosis and the importance of ethnic variability in this association.