Covalent modification of protein by drugs may disrupt self-tolerance, leading to lymphocyte activation. Until now, determination of the threshold required for this process has not been possible. Therefore, we performed quantitative mass spectrometric analyses to define the epitopes formed in tolerant and hypersensitive patients taking the β-lactam antibiotic piperacillin and the threshold required for T cell activation. A hydrolyzed piperacillin hapten was detected on four lysine residues of human serum albumin (HSA) isolated from tolerant patients. The level of modified Lys541 ranged from 2.6 to 4.8%. Analysis of plasma from hypersensitive patients revealed the same pattern and levels of modification 1–10 d after the commencement of therapy. Piperacillin-responsive skin-homing CD4+ clones expressing an array of Vβ receptors were activated in a dose-, time-, and processing-dependent manner; analysis of incubation medium revealed that 2.6% of Lys541 in HSA was modified when T cells were activated. Piperacillin–HSA conjugates that had levels and epitopes identical to those detected in patients were shown to selectively stimulate additional CD4+ clones, which expressed a more restricted Vβ repertoire. To conclude, the levels of piperacillin–HSA modification that activated T cells are equivalent to the ones formed in hypersensitive and tolerant patients, which indicates that threshold levels of drug Ag are formed in all patients. Thus, the propensity to develop hypersensitivity is dependent on other factors, such as the presence of T cells within an individual’s repertoire that can be activated with the β-lactam hapten and/or an imbalance in immune regulation.
Alloys of Bi2[Te1-x Sex]3 were prepared by melting technique with different values of Se percentage (x=0,0.1,0.3,0.5,0.7,0.9 and 1). Thin films of these alloys were prepared by using thermal evaporation technique under vacuum of 10-5 Torr on glass substrates, deposited at room temperature with a deposition rate (12nm/min) and a constant thickness (450±30 nm). The concentrations of the initial elements Bi, Te and Se in the Bi2 [Te1-x Sex]3 alloys with different values of Se percentage (x), were determined by XRF,The morphological and structural properties were determined by AFM and XRD techniques. AFM images of Bi2[Te1-x Sex]3 thin films show that the average diameter and the average surface roughness inc
... Show MoreThe aim of this study was to determine the influence of feeding diets containing different levels of sesame seeds and oil on the egg quality of laying quail. A total of 120, 10 weeks old, were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary groups and fed for 12 weeks diets containing 0% sesame seeds + 0% sesame oil (control group; C) or 0.5% sesame oil (T1), 1% sesame oil (T2), 1% sesame seeds (T3), and 2% sesame seeds (T4).The study was terminated when the birds were 22 weeks of age. Egg quality characteristics involved in the present study were egg weight, yolk diameter, yolk height, yolk weight, albumen height, albumen weight,Haugh unit, shell weight, shell thickness, shell percentage, yolk percentage, and albumen percentage. The addition of sesame
... Show MoreBACKGROUND: The degree of the development of coronary collaterals is long considered an alternate – that is, a collateral – source of blood supply to an area of the myocardium threatened with vascular ischemia or insufficiency. Hence, the coronary collaterals are beneficial but can also promote harmful (adverse) effects. For instance, the coronary steal effect during the myocardial hyperemia phase and that of restenosis following coronary angioplasty. OBJECTIVES: Our study explores the contribution of coronary collaterals – if any exist – while considering other potential predictors, including demographics and medical history, toward the left ventricular (LV) dysfunction measured through the LV ejection fraction (LVEF). METH
... Show MoreThe genus of Chrysobothris Eschscholtz, 1829 is one of the most diverse and widespread genera of the family Buprestidae of some 700 described species distributed throughout the world. In Iraq, particularly in the Kurdistan region, about 4 species had been recorded so far, many of these species are sympatric, share larval host plants, and are difficult to reliably separate morphologically. The current study investigates species limits and relationships among the recognized species occurring within the Erbil Province; mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase (COX I) molecular analysis confirmed the monophyly of two Chrysobothris species, Ch. affinis (Fabricius, 1794) and Ch. chrysostigma (Linnaeus, 1758). Implications of the resultant larval mor
... Show MoreUnderstanding the effects of fear, quadratic fixed effort harvesting, and predator-dependent refuge are essential topics in ecology. Accordingly, a modified Leslie–Gower prey–predator model incorporating these biological factors is mathematically modeled using the Beddington–DeAngelis type of functional response to describe the predation processes. The model’s qualitative features are investigated, including local equilibria stability, permanence, and global stability. Bifurcation analysis is carried out on the temporal model to identify local bifurcations such as transcritical, saddle-node, and Hopf bifurcation. A comprehensive numerical inquiry is carried out using MATLAB to verify the obtained theoretical findings and und
... Show MoreFootball is a game derived from the integration of football and tennis skills and some of the laws of volleyball and yard measurements, and since it is a newly created game must be studied and cover all aspects related to them to reach them to the highest levels. It is known that each game or sports activity should have Physical capabilities and motor skills, which is important to determine the level of technical performance where the abilities of the game contribute to mastering skills. The significance of the research in determining the standard levels of physical and motor abilities of the football players to help young professionals and the sponsors to increase the efficiency of these capabilities and thus raise the level of per
... Show MoreThe study aimed to prepare rehabilitation exercises using some rubber ropes for people with partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, to recognize their effect on the recovery of motor tides and to reduce the pain of those with partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee joint, and adopted the experimental method by designing the experimental and controlled groups on a sample of those with partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of men (30-35) One year of those who attend the Physiotherapy Center/Rafidain University College of 12 injured were deliberately selected from their community of origin by (100%), and after determining the measuring tools and preparation of exercises applied with rubber r
... Show MoreAbstract
Objective(s): To evaluate the level of Psychological Empowerment among Nurses as perceived by their Point of View, and identify the differences in nurses' Psychological Empowerment with regard to age, gender, graduation level, and years of work employment.
Methodology: A descriptive analytic design was conducted on nurses in Psycho-social health Units in Primary Health Care Centers in Kirkuk Governorate, to achieve the objectives of the study. A convenient (non-probability) sample of 84 nurses was selected. The data collected through self-report method for the period from 25th August to 10th October 2022. The questionnaire was adopted
... Show MoreThis study addressed the work stress sources and level of the communicator in public relations in governmental institutions in the United Arab Emirates. The importance of this study is the lack of studies on work stress of the communicator in public relations. The study aimed to investigate the work stress source Physical, individual, groups, organizational and Professional source which effect on the performance of communicator in public relations. The researcher used the descriptive approach and questionnaire as an essential tool for collecting information. Some of the important results of the study are The communicator in public relations facing stress in work by 42% which affect on his performance by average level. The organizational
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