ABSTRACT
COVID-19 is a pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2. In Chile, half a million people have been infected and more than 16,000 have died from COVID-19. As part of the clinical trial NCT04384588, we quantified IgG against S1-RBD of SARS-CoV-2 (anti-RBD) in recovered people in Santiago and evaluated their suitability as COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors. ELISA and a luminescent SARS-CoV-2 pseudotype were used for IgG and neutralizing antibody quantification. 72.9% of the convalescent population (468 of 639) showed seroconversion (5-55 µg/mL anti-RBD IgG) and were suitable candidates for plasma donation. Analysis by gender, age, and days after symptom offset did not show significant differences. Neutralizing activity correlated with an increased concentration of anti-RBD IgG (p < 0.0001) and showed a high variability between donors. We confirmed that the majority of the Chilean patients have developed anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The quantification of anti-RBD IgG in convalescent plasma donors is necessary to increase the detection of neutralizing antibodies.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/immunology , COVID-19/therapy , SARS-CoV-2/physiology , Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood , Antibodies, Neutralizing/therapeutic use , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Antibodies, Viral/therapeutic use , Chile , Female , Humans , Immunization, Passive/methods , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Pandemics , Seroconversion , Young Adult , COVID-19 SerotherapyABSTRACT
The stretching and compression effects on puckered arsenene nanotubes (AsNTs) are investigated by using density functional calculations. The atomic arrangement determines the nanotube properties and relative stability; therefore, zigzag, chiral, and armchair present different properties. Since the AsNT properties depend on the diameter, three cases are considered: (a) (0, 9) and (9, 0), (b) (0, 14) and (14, 0), and (c) (0, 19) and (19, 0) NTs. For all calculated parameters of the smallest NTs, it is found that the armchair (0, 9) nanotube is always more stable than the zigzag (9, 0) nanotube. On the other hand, for the two largest NTs, a structural transition from armchair to zigzag is found upon stretching. Phase transitions are of great interest, in part because they result in changes of the properties of the material under study, changes that can be used in many technologies. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a structural transition in a puckered nanotube has been predicted. Our results show that the electronic band gap of the AsNTs can be modulated by increasing or decreasing the axial lattice parameter. It is also found that semiconductor NTs are more stable than metallic NTs.
ABSTRACT
The increase in total hip arthroplasty occurs by many factors, such as increasing life expectancy, improving surgical technique as well as innovating the design and implant material. However, despite technological advances, peri-prosthetic infection has remained one of the most devastating complications. This study evaluates the prophylactic application of calcium sulfate pearls medicated in the femoral canal and acetabular surface to prevent peri-prosthetic infections in patients who underwent total uncemented primary hip arthroplasty against a control group by measuring acute phase reactants. 146 patients, 67 were applied calcium sulfate pearls medicated and 79 prophylactic antibiotic intravenous in the period from 2013 to 2016. To perform the diagnosis of peri-prosthetic infection was assessed PCR associated with VSG, communication between fistula and prostheses and positive culture in 2 or more different sites. There was a decrease in the values of acute-phase reactants in patients who were given calcium sulfate pearls. 14 patients presented infection in the control group and 3 in the study group. The prophylactic use of calcium sulphate pearls within the medullary canal and acetabular surface is an option for the prophylaxis of peri-prosthetic infections, however the study deserves follow-up with more patients.
El incremento en la cirugía de artroplastía total de cadera es motivado por muchos factores, como el aumento en la expectativa de vida, mejoría continua en la técnica quirúrgica e innovaciones en el diseño y los materiales de los implantes que, sumados, han convertido a este procedimiento en una solución efectiva a la degeneración articular, con excelentes resultados. Sin embargo, a pesar de los avances tecnológicos, la infección periprotésica se ha mantenido como una de las complicaciones más devastadoras. Este estudio evalúa la aplicación profiláctica de perlas de sulfato de calcio medicadas en el canal femoral y superficie acetabular para prevenir infecciones periprotésicas en pacientes que fueron sometidos a una artroplastía total de cadera primaria no cementada contra un grupo control mediante la medición de reactantes de fase aguda y cultivo de líquido sinovial. Se sometieron al estudio 146 individuos: 67 a quienes se les aplicaron perlas de sulfato de calcio medicado y 79 a quienes se les aplicó antibiótico profiláctico intravenoso de Septiembre de 2013 a Agosto de 2016. Como método diagnóstico de infección periprotésica temprana se evaluaron la proteína C reactiva asociada a velocidad de sedimentación globular aumentada, una fístula que comunicara con la prótesis, cultivo positivo de dos o más sitios periprotésicos de líquido sinovial o tejido. Los resultados clínicos demostraron que hubo una disminución en los valores de los reactantes de fase aguda en los sujetos a quienes se les aplicaron las perlas de sulfato de calcio medicado. Se encontró que 14 personas presentaron infección en el grupo con profilaxis parenteral, comparado con tres del grupo con profilaxis local con perlas de sulfato de calcio medicado; ambos grupos con ceftriaxona. Se consideró que el uso profiláctico de perlas de sulfato de calcio dentro de canal medular y la superficie acetabular es una buena opción para prevenir infecciones periprotésicas en quienes han sido sometidos a una artroplastía total de cadera primaria no cementada; sin embargo el estudio amerita seguimiento con más pacientes para tener significancia estadística.
Subject(s)
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip , Calcium Sulfate , Hip Prosthesis , Calcium Sulfate/therapeutic use , Humans , Prosthesis Design , Prosthesis Failure , ReoperationABSTRACT
The structure of penta-graphene (penta-C), an irregular pentagonal two-dimensional (2D) structure, has been predicted recently. In this communication we carried out a dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT-D) study of the penta-C doped with Si, Ge and Sn atoms and its related hydrogenated penta-C structures (H-penta-C-X). We predict various new structures as thermally stable based on Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) calculations. Moreover, their dynamical stability is attested by phonon dispersions spectra. In general, we found that the bandgap value of doped structures reduces, while H-penta-C-X show large bandgap values. This feature can be exploited for potential uses of hydrogenated doped-penta-C structures as dielectric layers in electronic devices.
ABSTRACT
The study of black phosphorus nanotubes (PNTs) had been devoted to zigzag and armchair structures, with no consideration of chiral structures to date. In this communication, we studied the structural and electronic (band structure) properties of chiral nanotubes using a periodic plane wave-pseudopotential approach. We found that some chiral nanotubes display similar bandgaps and binding energies per atom (BEA) as armchair PNTs and Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) calculations attest their thermal stability. Interestingly, we determined that the bandgap is tuned by varying the PNTs chirality and it is not related to their diameters. This feature can be exploited in optical and electronic applications wherein a direct and sizable bandgap is required.
Subject(s)
Infant, Newborn , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Humans , Male , PhospholipidsABSTRACT
A soy flour and oatmeal formula added with vitamins and minerals is presented. Nitrogen balance is carried out in 6 malnourished infants undergoing recovery as compared with a commercial milk formula, finding no significant statistical differences between the two formulas.