Methods:

HLA cross-matching,

panel reactive antibodies (PRA), and sCD30 levels were determined prior to transplantation in 72 patients. Soluble CD30 levels and PRA were re-assessed at day 3Methyladenine 7, 14, 21, and 28, and monthly up to the sixth.

Results:

Twenty-four subjects had a positive PRA and 17 experienced ARE. Nine of 17 ARE subjects demonstrated positive PRA and 16 had HLA mismatches. Positive PRA was more frequent in ARE subjects (p = 0.03). Eight subjects with ARE had donor-specific antibodies (DSA) in serum samples pre-transplantation, two subjects developed DSA. Three subjects without ARE had positive PRA only in post-transplantation samples. Soluble CD30 levels were higher in pre-transplant samples and ARE subjects than non-ARE subjects

(p = 0.03). Post-transplant sCD30 levels were elevated in subjects who experienced rejection and were significantly higher at seven d (p = 0.0004) and six months (p = 0.03).

Conclusions:

Higher sCD30 levels following transplant were associated with ARE. Elevated sCD30 levels may represent a risk factor for acute rejection.”
“The detailed characterization of the terbium related optical properties of low doped oxyorthosilicates of lutetium and yttrium is reported. The introduction of terbium ions generates an ultraviolet absorption band peaked at about 242 nm and line shaped emissions in the 350-600 nm range. The transitions are related to the (5)D(3) and (5)D(4) levels and the analysis of the decay time measurements allows GANT61 learn more to individuate a cross relaxation mechanism among Terbium ions. We propose a three level kinetic model which is able to reproduce the experimental data allowing to discriminate among the radiative and nonradiative contributions

to the transitions in the case of low content of Tb ions (nominal content 10 ppm). The reported study addresses two important goals, providing, from one side, a detailed characterization of possible inorganic phosphors, and from the other side, since traces of unwanted elements were identified in numerous commercial samples of cerium doped oxyorthosilicates, it can contribute to increase the performance of scintillator devices by revealing the optical features of one of the more diffuse and critical impurities. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3467788]“
“Evaluation of: Pearce RJ, Pota H, Evehe MSB et al.: Multiple origins and regional dispersal of resistant dhps in African Plasmodium falciparum malaria. PLoS Med. 60), e1000055 (2009). Widespread resistance to current antimalarial drugs is a major factor in the extremely high levels of mortality and disabling illness that still prevail in many developing countries.