Nanoparticle Improved Separations: from Capillary to Slab Gel Electrophoresis

Publication date: Available online 15 November 2016
Source:TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry
Author(s): Mohammad Zarei, Mohanna Zarei, Masoomeh Ghasemabadi
The potential application of nanoparticles (NPs) in various fields of separation science has been recognized and significant improvements have been achieved. The properties including electronic, magnetic, thermal, optical, mechanical, and catalytic can be tuned by the size, shape, and chemical structure of NPs. These unique properties and high surface-to-volume ratio have led to application in several analytical methods especially in capillary-based separation techniques. To understand the potentials of novel NPs in electrophoretic separations, we review here advances in materials development alongside a review of the directions in application of NPs in capillary-based systems and gel electrophoresis separations. This review describes recent advances in the use of NPs in electrophoretic separation techniques with emphasis on application in slab gel electrophoresis.

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Superelasticity and shape memory effect in Cu–Al–Mn–V shape memory alloys

Publication date: 5 February 2017
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 115
Author(s): Shuiyuan Yang, Fan Zhang, Jialin Wu, Yong Lu, Zhan Shi, Cuiping Wang, Xingjun Liu
In this study, Cu–Al–Mn–V alloys with bcc phase separation were designed through changing V and Mn contents, resulting in complex microstructure consisted of L21 parent, small amounts of δ(V, Mn) and 2H(γ^'1) martensite. The amounts of δ(V, Mn) phase and 2H(γ^'1) martensite increase with the increase of V content. The results further show that the stabilization of stress-induced 2H(γ^'1) martensite from L21 parent occurs among all Cu–Al–Mn–V alloys during deformation. Thus the same alloy not only exhibits superelasticity, but also shape memory effect after unloading when heated. The superelasticity and shape memory effect are summarized to three situations. Situation I includes Cu63.7Al25.3V1.9Mn9.1 and Cu63.7Al25.8V2.2Mn8.3 alloys (at.%), which have excellent superelasticity strains being up to 5.4% and 3.9% respectively. Cu63.8Al25.4V4.2Mn6.6 and Cu63.0Al26.2V4.7Mn6.1 alloys are situation II, and exhibit good shape memory effects being up to 3.5% and 3.9% respectively. The superelasticity and shape memory effect of Cu62.8Al26.2V2.6Mn8.4 alloy that is situation III are between the above two situations. The obtained results may open an avenue to design copper-based shape memory alloys simultaneously have superelasticity and shape memory effect under the same composition and deformation temperature through applying stress.

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Anaphylaxis induced by ingested molds

Publication date: Available online 15 November 2016
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Ricardo Moreno-Borque, Teresa Collazo-Lorduy, Mariangélica Bermúdez-Martínez, Pilar Gajate-Fernández, Paula Sánchez-López, María Moreno-Geada, Nuria Plaza-Sánchez




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Prevalence of food allergies in South Asia

Publication date: Available online 15 November 2016
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Schweta R. Arakali, Todd D. Green, Chitra Dinakar
ObjectiveTo evaluate the published medical literature on the prevalence and types of food allergies in South Asia.Data SourcesA PubMed search was performed using the keywords India and food allergy, Asia and food allergy, and South Asia and food allergy for any period. Articles cited in selected studies were reviewed for their appropriateness of inclusion into this review.Study SelectionPublications were included that were original research and fit the topic of food allergy and South Asia. South Asia is defined as region inclusive of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.ResultsA total of 169 articles were initially identified, and 47 were reviewed in detail for inclusion in this review. The primary focus was placed on 10 studies that consisted of case reports of newly reported or documented food allergy, survey studies that investigated food allergy prevalence in specific demographics, and prospective and cross-sectional studies with case controls, all of which investigated food allergy prevalence by allergy testing in a selected population.ConclusionThe medical literature on the prevalence and types of food allergy in South Asia indicates that there is a variety of unusual and unique allergens and an overall low incidence of food allergy. There is also an association of increased food allergy prevalence in individuals who live in metropolitan regions or who migrate to communities that have adopted westernization.



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Diurnal variations in subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy reactions

Publication date: Available online 15 November 2016
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Aakash A. Bavishi, Leslie C. Grammer, Jacqueline Pongracic, Karen Rychlik, Rajesh Kumar, Phyllis Zee, Paul A. Greenberger, Anna B. Fishbein
BackgroundCircadian rhythms underlie many immune responses and allergic diseases. Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) can result in adverse reactions; however, it is unclear whether such reactions have a diurnal pattern.ObjectiveTo assess whether the timing of SCIT affects the rate of adverse reactions.MethodsThis study was a retrospective medical record review of adult patients (n = 289) who received SCIT at the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation, Chicago, Illinois, during a 10-year period (2004–2014). Injections were given in the outpatient setting. There were a total of 17,457 injections with 574 reactions. Covariates included age, sex, median income, asthma status, vial contents, number of injections, and previous immunotherapy reactions. Logistical regression was used to calculate the odds of having a reaction with time of SCIT administration as the primary determinate.ResultsImmunotherapy reactions occurred more frequently after afternoon or evening (pm) injections (328/8721 = 3.8%) vs morning (am) injections (246/8736 = 2.8%), (χ² = 12.26, P < .01). Systemic reactions, defined as World Allergy Organization grade 1 or higher, did not have diurnal variation (59/8721 = 0.67% for pm vs am 56/8736 = 0.64% for morning; χ² = 0.08; P = .77). pm injections resulted in higher odds of reaction compared with am injection in a fully adjusted logistic regression model (odds ratio = 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.20–1.70; P < .01). When considering time as 4 categories, the highest odds of reaction were noted for the period from 15:01 to 17:30 (odds ratio, 1.55; 95% confidence interval, 1.21–2.00; P < .01).Conclusionpm injections of SCIT are associated with increased cutaneous reaction rates when compared with am injections. In patients experiencing bothersome local reactions, it may be beneficial to administer SCIT in the morning.



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Successful desensitization to natalizumab using a 1-solution protocol

Publication date: Available online 15 November 2016
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Eva Pérez-Rodríguez, Miguel Ángel Hernández-Pérez, Juan Antonio Martínez-Tadeo




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Skin testing and drug challenge outcomes in antibiotic-allergic patients with immediate-type hypersensitivity

Publication date: Available online 15 November 2016
Source:Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
Author(s): Stephanie L. Mawhirt, Luz S. Fonacier, Rose Calixte, Mark Davis-Lorton, Marcella R. Aquino
BackgroundThe evaluation of antibiotic immediate-type hypersensitivity is intricate because of nonstandardized skin testing and challenge method variability.ObjectiveTo determine the safety outcomes and risk factors for antibiotic challenge reactions in patients reporting a history of antibiotic immediate-type hypersensitivity.MethodsA 5-year retrospective review of patients evaluated for immediate-type antibiotic allergy was conducted. Data analyzed included patient demographics, index reaction details, and outcomes of skin testing and challenges, classified as single-step or multistep.ResultsAntibiotic hypersensitivity history was identified in 211 patients: 78% to penicillins, 10% to fluoroquinolones, 7.6% to cephalosporins, and 3.8% to carbapenems. In total, 179 patients completed the challenges (median age 67 years, range 50–76 years, 56% women), and compared with nonchallenged patients, they reported nonanaphylactic (P < .001) and remote index (P = .003) reactions. Sixteen patients (8.9%) experienced challenge reactions (5 of 28 for single-step challenge, 11 of 151 for multistep challenge), and 11 of these patients had negative skin testing results before the challenge. Challenge-reactive patients were significantly younger (P = .007), more often women (P = .036), and had additional reported antibiotic allergies (P = .005). No correlation was detected between the reported index and observed challenge reaction severities (κ = −0.05, 95% confidence interval −0.34 to 0.24). Anaphylactic rates were similar during single-step and multistep challenges (3.6% vs 3.3%).ConclusionIn the present population, younger women with multiple reported antibiotic allergies were at greatest risk for challenge reactions. Negative skin testing results did not exclude reactions, and index severity was not predictive of challenge outcome. The multistep and full-dose methods demonstrated a comparable reaction risk for anaphylaxis.



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