Activity

Chitin was converted into chitosan with a 70-80% degree of deacetylation (DDA) in a short period while using homogenous conditions. These promising results provide the first proof of concept of the ability of BetG and [Ch]ClLA-based DESs to be used as a greener approach for the chitin homogeneous N-deacetylation. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.The THP-1 cell line is broadly used as a model for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with MLL fusion and to study monocyte differentiation and function. We studied THP-1 cells obtained from two major biorepositories. The two cell lines were closely related with a percentage match of short tandem repeat (STR) profiles ranging from 93.75% to 100%, depending on the algorithm used. Nevertheless, we found that the two cell lines presented discordant HLA type, cytogenetic aberrations and AML-related gene expression (including critical targets of MLL fusion). These discrepancies resulted mainly from loss of heterozygosity (LOH) involving five chromosomal regions. In view of their aberrant expression of key “leukemia” genes (e.g., LIN28B, MEIS1 and SPARC), we argue that one of the THP-1 cell lines may not be a reliable model for studying leukemia. Their defective expression of HLA molecules and abnormal adhesion properties is also a caveat for studies of antigen presentation. In a more general perspective, our findings show that seemingly minor discrepancies in STR profiles among cell lines may be the sign of major genetic drift, of sufficient magnitude to affect the reliability of cell line-based research. © 2020 UICC.Theory predicts that trophic specialization (i.e., low dietary diversity) should make consumer populations sensitive to environmental disturbances, yet diagnosing specialists is complicated both by the difficulty of precisely quantifying diet composition and by definitional ambiguity-what makes a diet ‘diverse’? We sought to characterize the relationship between taxonomic dietary diversity (TDD) and phylogenetic dietary diversity (PDD) in a species-rich community of large mammalian herbivores in semi-arid East African savanna. We hypothesized that TDD and PDD would be positively correlated within and among species, because taxonomically diverse diets are likely to include plants from many lineages. By using DNA metabarcoding to analyze 1,281 fecal samples collected across multiple seasons, we compiled high-resolution diet profiles for 25 sympatric large-herbivore species. For each of these populations, we calculated TDD and PDD with reference to a DNA reference library for local plants. Contrary to our hypotht highly sensitive to environmental changes that locally disadvantage entire plant lineages-such as changing rainfall patterns, altered fire regimes, and woody encroachment, all of which influence the relative abundance of the grass lineage (Poaceae) relative to trees and shrubs in ecosystems worldwide. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.BACKGROUND Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp (EPDS) is a chronic condition characterised by erosive plaques and subsequent scarring alopecia as a result of local trauma or inflammation. A number of therapeutic approaches have been described in the literature but there is no consensus of opinion on optimal treatment of disease. OBJECTIVE To provide evidence-based recommendations for topical and systemic treatment of adult patients with EPDS by performing a systematic review. METHODS MEDLINE, MEDLINE in-process, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to 26th June 2019 in accordance with PRISMA guidelines for studies involving of adult patients treated for EPDS with at least one reported response to treatment. The study was registered on PROSPERO. Texts were reviewed independently by two authors. Risk of bias and quality were assessed using the Quality Appraisal Checklist for Case Series Studies . RESULTS A total of 75 studies were included, involving 171 patients. Many treatments have been reported in the literature with varying degrees of therapeutic success. Results were highly heterogeneous and methodological quality was very low. We were unable to perform a meta-analysis on the data. CONCLUSIONS The limited available evidence supports use of topical corticosteroids, with or without oral zinc, followed by maintenance therapy with topical calcineurin inhibitors as effective in managing this condition. Topical photodynamic therapy is also potentially beneficial in the management of EPDS. Prospective, comparative, randomised controlled trials are required in order to provide further evidence to guide treatment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.BACKGROUND Valid patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures are required to evaluate alopecia areata (AA) treatments. OBJECTIVES To develop a content-valid and clinically meaningful PRO measure to assess AA scalp hair loss with scores comparable to the 5-response level AA Investigator Global Assessment (AA-IGA™). METHODS A draft PRO measure was developed based on input from 10 AA clinical experts. The PRO measure was cognitively debriefed, modified, and finalized through two rounds of qualitative semi-structured interviews with patients with AA who had experienced ≥50% scalp hair loss. Data were thematically analysed. RESULTS Adults (Round 1 n=25; Round 2 n=15) and adolescents aged 15-17 (Round 1 n=5) in North America participated. All patients named scalp hair loss as a key AA sign/symptom. Patients demonstrated the ability to self-report their current amount of scalp hair using percentages. In Round 1 not all patients interpreted the measurement concept consistently; therefore, the PRO was modified to clarify the measurement concept to improve usability. Following modifications, Round 2 patients responded without difficulty to the PRO measure. Patients confirmed that they could use the 5-level response scale to rate their scalp hair loss (No missing hair, 0%; Limited, 1-20%; Moderate, 21-49%; Large, 50-94%; Nearly all or all, 95-100%). learn more Almost all patients deemed hair regrowth resulting in ≤20% scalp hair loss a treatment success. CONCLUSIONS The Scalp Hair Assessment PRO™ is a content-valid, clinically meaningful assessment of distinct gradations of scalp hair loss for evaluating AA treatment for patients with ≥50% hair loss at baseline. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.