Common Donor Research Articles

Cosublimation: A Rapid Route Toward Otherwise Inaccessible Halogen-Bonded Architectures

Several synthetic techniques are available for the preparation of halogen-bonded adducts, including traditional solvent-evaporation methods and mechanochemistry. With the intention of reducing solvent usage and experimental times, we establish cosublimation as a synthetic technique for preparing halogen-bonded cocrystals, focusing on the C–I···N motif involving nitrogen-containing heterocycles. We selected four common halogen-bond donors (I2, 1,4-diiodobenzene, 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene, 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene) and four halogen-bond acceptors (2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, 2,2′-bipyridyl, 1-adamantanecarbonitrile), by virtue of their range in volatility, and explored all 16 combinations via the following methods: solvent evaporation, overnight cosublimation in a sealed glass tube using a two-zone furnace, and expedited cosublimation in a vacuum sublimation apparatus. We show that the raw crystals obtained from overnight cosublimation are of suitable quality f...

Modern techniques and alternative flaps in microsurgical breast reconstruction.

Breast reconstruction with autologous tissue has become an essential part of the breast cancer patient care algorithm, with the abdomen being the most common tissue donor site. However, within this field, the technology and surgical techniques available to the reconstructive breast surgeon have evolved over time. This review aims to summarize the literature surrounding current techniques in microsurgical breast reconstruction including the use of alternative, nonabdominal flaps.

Electron mobility of non-fullerene acceptors using a time of flight method

Organic solar cells are a promising renewable energy technology, offering the advantages of mechanical flexibility and solution processability. The charge carrier mobility is an important parameter as it influences the competition between charge extraction and recombination and therefore the cell efficiency. We report the electron mobility of two high performance non-fullerene acceptors ITIC and IDTBR in neat films and blended with their common donors. In a pure film ITIC has a zero-field electron mobility of 7.4 × 10−4 cm2/Vs, which dropped to 1.0 × 10−4 cm2/Vs when put into a blend with PTB7-Th or P3HT. The IDTBR:P3HT blend was found to have a slightly lower electron mobility of 5.6 × 10−5 cm2/Vs. The measured electron mobility is the same order of magnitude as the hole mobility in these blends, leading to balanced transport and efficient photovoltaic cells.

Donor derived Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection after solid-organ transplantation: A comprehensive review.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis may be transmitted via the allograft to cause a morbid and potentially fatal infection after solid organ transplantation (SOT). We reviewed all reported cases of donor-derived tuberculosis (DDTB) to provide an update on its epidemiology, clinical course, and outcome after SOT. MEDLINE, OVID, and EMBASE were reviewed from its inception until December 31, 2016 using key words donor-derived infection, tuberculosis and solid organ transplant or transplantation. We retrieved 36 cases of proven (n=17), probable (n=8), and possible (n=11) DDTB among 16 lung, 13 kidney, 6 liver, and 1 heart recipients. Most patients were male (21/35, 60%) with median age of 48 (range 23-68)years. Median time to clinical presentation or diagnosis was 2.7months (range 0.2-29). The most common donor risk factor was residence in a TB-endemic area (13/28, 46.4%). Fever was the most frequent presenting symptom (20/36, 56.5%). Diagnosis of tuberculosis was mostly made via AFB smear or mycobacterial culture (30/36, 83.3%). Allograft involvement was expectedly common; there were almost equal proportions of pulmonary (36%), extra-pulmonary (28%) and disseminated (36%) cases. All cases of pulmonary TB were identified only among lung transplant recipients. The median duration of TB treatment was 10.5 (range 3-24)months. Graft loss occurred in four (4/22, 18.2%) patients. All-cause mortality was 25% (9/36); four of nine deaths were attributed to TB. Donor-derived TB presents early after SOT, most commonly as fever, and carries a high mortality risk. Donors should be screened, with particular attention to TB risk factors. Fever during the early post-operative period should prompt a thorough evaluation for DDTB in endemic regions and among patients with "at-risk" donors.

Study on Carbazole-like Polymer Solar Cell Materials

<p>With the development of modern industry, the global energy crisis and air pollution problems become increasingly prominent. Solar energy has emerged as an ideal renewable energy by many countries’ attention. Solar cells are the most promising use of solar energy in the kind of concern. Compared with inorganic solar cells, polymer solar cells performance is more excellent and carbazole polymer materials with rigid fused ring structure, intramolecular electron transfer, good transport and easy to introduce a variety of multi-functional groups into the carbazole. The advantages of the ring in the field of solar cell materials show a wide range of potential applications. This paper describes the principles of polymer solar cells and several common donor materials. The precursors of carbazole polymers were designed and synthesized, and their structures were characterized. </p>

Genital Sensibility in the Neophallus: Getting a Sense of the Current Literature and Techniques.

Phalloplasty attempts to achieve a functional and aesthetic phallus. Sensation is a key component for sexual pleasure. Sensation is also important for protection in the setting of penile implant insertion. Little data are available on genital sensibility outcomes after phalloplasty, and there are no standardized approaches for assessment of either sensibility or erogenous perception. A literature search of PubMed, Google Scholar, and MEDLINE databases was conducted with terms related to genital sensibility after phalloplasty. Data on patient demographics, nerves used for coaptation, and measurements of genital sensibility were collected. Pooled event rates were determined for recovered glans sensibility and recovered erogenous sensation using a Freeman-Tukey arcsine transformation. A total of 341 articles were identified of which 26 met the inclusion criteria for final analysis. The dorsal cutaneous branch of the pudendal nerve and ilioinguinal were the most common donor nerves. The lateral and medial antebrachial cutaneous and lateral femoral cutaneous were the most common recipient nerves. Pooled event rates suggest that some recovered glans sensibility occurs in more than 70% of cismale patients and in more than 90% of transmale patients. Recovered "erogenous" sensation occurs in more than 75% of cismale patients and more than 95% of transmale patients. In cismale patients, outcomes of recovered glans sensibility and erogenous sensation may be better for upper extremity recipient nerves than lower extremity recipient nerves. Based on the limited data in current literature on genital sensibility after phalloplasty, it is difficult to draw evidence-based conclusions. Yet data support improved outcomes with innervation. A validated outcome measure of "erogenous sensation" and a standardized approach to measuring cutaneous sensibility are required.

Sensory and functional morbidity following sural nerve harvest in paediatric patients

The sural nerve is a common donor site for nerve reconstruction. The only study describing outcomes in paediatric patients was following bilateral sural nerve harvest before the age of 1 year. Bilateral nerve harvest at such a young age may limit patients' ability to perceive a sensory difference. The objective of this study was to understand the sensory and functional deficit after unilateral sural nerve harvest in paediatric patients. A prospective case series was performed in children (age 6-18 years) following unilateral sural nerve harvest. The contralateral foot was used as a control. Sensory Threshold Evaluation was performed by Weinstein Enhanced Sensory Test (WEST) - Foot, and a Functional Sensory and Pain Questionnaire was administered. Sural nerve harvest was performed by a minimally invasive technique using a nerve stripper. Twenty-eight feet of 14 patients that underwent unilateral sural nerve harvest were assessed. As a group, the 14 feet with sural nerve harvest demonstrated significantly higher thresholds in the four areas tested (p <0.05), thus identifying objective sensory loss at each location. The location of sensory loss in each patient was variable, with heavier sensory thresholds detected in 69.6% of areas tested than those in the corresponding location in the contralateral foot. Greater sensory loss was detected at the proximal lateral foot than at the distal lateral foot. Responses to the questionnaire revealed that only one patient perceived a sensory loss that affected their function. Unilateral sural nerve harvest in paediatric patients resulted in measurable sensory loss. Despite loss of innervation, only two patients reported intermittent dysaesthesia or cold sensitivity, and the majority of the patients reported no functional deficit.

Tuning H- and J-Aggregate Behavior in π-Conjugated Polymers via Noncovalent Interactions

We study how tailoring noncovalent interactions through the regiochemistry of common donor–acceptor polymers can alter their excited-state electronic properties. Specifically, we compare two regioregular analogues (referred to as P1 and P2) of the widely used donor–acceptor copolymer poly[4,8-bis(5-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophen-2-yl)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-co-3-fluorothieno[3,4-b]thiophene-2-carboxylate], which differ only in the orientation of a fluorine atom on the thieno[3,4-b]thiophene acceptor units with respect to the benzodithiophene unit. We show that in thin films, this subtle change along the polymer backbone results in a transformation from typical H-like to an unusual HJ-like aggregate behavior, indicating significant differences in intrachain exciton coupling along the polymer backbone and interchain coupling between polymer chains. We also use electroabsorption spectroscopy to relate the dominant coupling mechanisms to differences in the excess polarization volume of the excitons in P1 and P...

Reconstruction of iliac crest defect after autogenous harvest with bone cement and screws reduces donor site pain

BackgroundThe iliac crest is the most common autogenous bone graft donor site, although associated with postoperative pain, functional disability, cosmesis, morphology and surgical satisfaction. We assessed each aspect above by comparing iliac crest reconstruction with bone cement and screws following harvest with no reconstruction.MethodsWe evaluated patients who underwent large iliac crest harvesting, including ten patients who underwent iliac crest defect reconstruction with bone cement and cancellous screws (R group) and ten randomly matched patients without reconstruction (NR group) were evaluated prospectively in the same period. Local pain, cosmesis and other complications were assessed postoperatively at 1 week, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months.ResultsPain, cosmesis and satisfaction of patients significantly differed between the two groups. The R group exhibited less complications and lower pain visual analogue scores at postoperative 1 week (p < 0.001), 6 weeks (p < 0.001) and 3 months (p < 0.01) but not at 6 months, at which time patients reported almost no pain. One patient reported pain for more than 1 year in the NR group. The R group exhibited better cosmesis, morphology and satisfaction than the NR group. In the NR group, one patient suffered pain when sitting up and another when wearing a belt.ConclusionPostoperative pain can be reduced and cosmesis can be improved through reconstructing the iliac crest defects after autogenous harvesting with bone cement and cancellous screws. The technique is simple, safe and easy to implement.

Virtual surgical planning and intraoperative navigation for mandibular reconstruction: from accurate to minimal invasive

Simultaneous restoration of function and appearance should be performed in mandibular reconstruction. Option of reconstructive techniques is determined by cause, location, extent, and classification of the mandibular defects. Vascularize bone graft is one of the most popular technique in current clinical practice of mandibular reconstruction. Fibula is the most common donor site for mandibular reconstruction. The disadvantage of low height of neo-mandible reconstructed by single fibular segment can be solved by vascularized double barrel fibula graft. Using virtual surgical planning and intraoperative navigation for mandibular reconstruction leads to simplify surgical procedure, reduce operating time and injury, and decrease donor site morbidity so that accurate mandibular reconstruction could be completed. Direction of minimal invasive surgery for mandibular reconstruction will be developed by intraoral approach and intraoral anastomosis.

Utility of Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) in the Investigation of a Cluster of Candida albicans Infection in Recipients of Solid Organs from a Common Donor

Utility of Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) in the Investigation of a Cluster of Candida albicans Infection in Recipients of Solid Organs from a Common Donor

Autologous reconstruction following nipple sparing mastectomy: a comprehensive review of the current literature.

As surgical methods continue to evolve and patients become more educated consumers of their medical care, both oncologic breast surgeons and reconstructive plastic surgeons should understand the current options for surgical management of breast cancer. This review evaluates the current autologous breast reconstruction options following nipple sparing mastectomy (NSM). A comprehensive review of the current literature discussing autologous reconstruction after NSM was performed. Fat grafting alone has been used to reconstruct small to medium sized-breasts over multiple injection sessions. Goldilocks mastectomy-like reconstructions can be used for larger, more ptotic breasts. Pedicled latissimus dorsi (LD) flaps can be used, but usually need to be modified to ensure sufficient breast volume. While the lower abdominal tissue remains the most common donor site in free tissue transfer, other donor sites can be used if there is insufficient volume or inadequate perforators. Periareolar incisions are associated with the highest rates of overall complications and nipple areola complex necrosis. It has not been determined whether implant-based or autologous reconstructions have lower complication rates. Both prior radiation and large, ptotic breasts present unique challenges during reconstruction. Overall, there is a high rate of patient satisfaction with breast reconstruction following NSM. Autologous breast reconstruction after NSM is a safe method of breast cancer surgical management with aesthetically excellent results. Multiple techniques have been described along the reconstructive ladder. Special consideration should be given to choices of incision, previously irradiated breasts, and large, ptotic breasts.

Bromate and Nitrate Bioreduction Coupled with Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate Production in a Methane-Based Membrane Biofilm Reactor.

This work demonstrates bromate (BrO3-) reduction in a methane (CH4)-based membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR), and it documents contrasting impacts of nitrate (NO3-) on BrO3- reduction, as well as formation of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), an internal C- and electron-storage material. When the electron donor, CH4, was in ample supply, NO3- enhanced BrO3- reduction by stimulating the growth of denitrifying bacteria ( Meiothermus, Comamonadaceae, and Anaerolineaceae) able to reduce BrO3- and NO3- simultaneously. This was supported by increases in denitrifying enzymes (e.g., nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, nitrous-oxide reductase, and nitric-oxide reductase) through quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis and metagenomic prediction of these functional genes. When the electron donor was in limited supply, NO3- was the preferred electron acceptor over BrO3- due to competition for the common electron donor; this was supported by the significant oxidation of stored PHB when NO3- was high enough to cause electron-donor limitation. Methanotrophs (e.g., Methylocystis, Methylomonas, and genera within Comamonadaceae) were implicated as the main PHB producers in the biofilms, and their ability to oxidize PHB mitigated the impacts of competition for CH4.

An Iterative Approach To Evaluate and Guide Fine Chemical Processes: An Example from Chloroaluminum Phthalocyanine for Photovoltaic Applications

This work demonstrates the use of a sustainability methodology that combines process-based life cycle assessment (LCA) and green chemistry metrics to evaluate and guide fine chemical synthesis. Using green chemistry principles and an iterative approach, alternatives are developed and evaluated using the proposed methodology until an alternative that simultaneously reduces the environmental impact, cost, and chemical hazard is found. The approach is demonstrated for chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (ClAlPc), which is a common donor material in organic photovoltaic. This study (1) demonstrates a new method to evaluate fine chemical manufacturing containing uncharacterized chemicals that combine LCA and green chemistry metrics, (2) provides life cycle inventories associated with various methods for ClAlPc synthesis, and (3) reports an optimized process for high-purity ClAlPc which simultaneously reduces the relative environmental impact by 3%, the cost by 9%, and the chemical hazard by 23% compared to the basel...

Comparing morbidities of bone graft harvesting from the anterior iliac crest and proximal tibia: a retrospective study

BackgroundThe anterior iliac crest (AIC) and proximal tibia (PT) are common donor sites for autologous bone graft harvesting. We compared pain levels at these harvest sites on 1 day, 5 days, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks post-harvest.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 18 patients undergoing autologous bone grafting surgery at a level I trauma center between June 2013 and October 2014. Ten grafts were harvested from the AIC group and eight from the PT group. A standard visual analog scale (VAS) was used to rate pain at the harvest sites on postoperative day (POD) 1, 5, 14, 28, and 56 and at the recipient site on POD 1.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences between both groups in age (p = 0.474), gender (p = 1.00), incidence of harvest site morbidity (p = 1.00), and average VAS at the recipient site on POD 1 (p = 0.471). VAS at the harvest site on POD 1, 5, and 14 confirmed statistically that pain was more severe in the AIC group than in the PT group (p < 0.001). However, no significant difference was observed on POD 28 and 56 between both groups. Pain was significantly less on POD 1 in the PT group at the harvest site than at the recipient site (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe PT is a suitable harvest site, producing statistically less pain for at least two postoperative weeks than the AIC. Besides, patients report less postoperative pain at the PT harvest site than at the recipient site.

A Persulfide Donor Responsive to Reactive Oxygen Species: Insights into Reactivity and Therapeutic Potential

AbstractPersulfides (RSSH) have been hypothesized as critical components in sulfur‐mediated redox cycles and as potential signaling compounds, similar to hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Hindering the study of persulfides is a lack of persulfide‐donor compounds with selective triggers that release discrete persulfide species. Reported here is the synthesis and characterization of a ROS‐responsive (ROS=reactive oxygen species), self‐immolative persulfide donor. The donor, termed BDP‐NAC, showed selectivity towards H2O2 over other potential oxidative or nucleophilic triggers, resulting in the sustained release of the persulfide of N‐acetyl cysteine (NAC) over the course of 2 h, as measured by LCMS. Exposure of H9C2 cardiomyocytes to H2O2 revealed that BDP‐NAC mitigated the effects of a highly oxidative environment in a dose‐dependent manner over relevant controls and to a greater degree than common H2S donors sodium sulfide (Na2S) and GYY4137. BDP‐NAC also rescued cells more effectively than a non‐persulfide‐releasing control compound in concert with common H2S donors and thiols.

Synthesis of novel 3′-azido-3′-deoxy-α-L-ribo configured nucleosides: A comparative study between chemical and chemo-enzymatic methodologies

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Gene Editing with CRISPR/Cas9 Technology before Cell Transplantation Using a Mouse Model of Hirschsprung's Disease

Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is a common congenital gastrointestinal motility disorder presented with the regional absence or reduction of enteric neurons in the colon. The Dominant megacolon (Sox10Dom) mouse is an animal model of HSCR, where a frameshift mutation in the Sox10 gene has been located. Recently, the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients has raised the possibility of using autologous cell transplantation to treat HSCR patients, if the gene mutation in patient‐derived iPSCs can be corrected before transplantation. In this study, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated 9 (Cas9) gene editing technology was used to correct the Sox10 mutation in iPSCs derived from Sox10Dom/Dom embryos. 4 sgRNAs targeting the mutation site were designed, and a common donor plasmid carrying the correct sequence for the homology directed repair (HDR) was constructed. A SmaI digestion site was introduced to the correct sequence of the donor plasmid for detecting the HDR efficiency. The T7E1 assay demonstrated that the sgRNAs 1, 2 and 3 had high indel efficiency, and SmaI digestion showed 23.9% HDR efficiency. Using SmaI digestion, 8 homozygous and 4 heterozygous isogenic lines with the corrected Sox10 sequence were obtained, among which 3 homozygous corrected lines did not show meaningful off‐targets. Immunofluorescence staining showed that stem cell markers Oct4, Sox2 and SSEA‐1 were highly expressed in corrected iPSCs (Sox10Cor/Cor iPSCs). Neural crest cells (NCCs) are the progenitors of enteric neurons and glia cells. To determine the ability of iPSCs to differentiate into NCCs before and after the gene correction, a three‐step protocol was used to induce mouse iPSCs into NCCs, which were found to exhibit properties similar to enteric neural crest cells within the developing gut. Immunofluorescence staining showed that NCC markers Sox10, Nestin, AP2α and Ednrb were expressed in NCCs derived from Sox10+/+ iPSCs. Real time RT‐PCR also demonstrated that Sox10, p75 and Nestin were highly expressed in Sox10+/+ iNCCs. Flow cytometric cell analyses showed 25% p75‐positive cells in Sox10+/+ iPSCs‐induced NCCs. Immunofluorescence staining also showed that NCC markers Sox10, Nestin and Ednrb were expressed in NCCs derived from Sox10Dom/Dom and Sox10Cor/Cor iPSCs. Sox10+/+, Sox10Dom/Dom and Sox10Cor/Cor iPSCs‐derived NCCs were successfully directed to differentiate into neurons, glia, myocytes, osteoblasts and chondrocytes in vitro. Real‐time RT‐PCR showed rescued expression of nestin, p75 and Ednrb in Sox10Cor/Cor iPSCs‐derived NCCs when compared those derived from Sox10Dom/Dom. Our results demonstrated the successful use of CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated gene editing to correct the Sox10 mutation in Sox10Dom/Dom mouse iPSCs. After gene editing, the iPSCs could be induced to form neural crest cells for the potential use in cell transplantation to generate enteric neurons in the gut.Support or Funding InformationThe work was supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No.: CUHK 14102214)This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Epidemiological and Genetic Characteristics of Rabies Virus Transmitted Through Organ Transplantation.

In January 2016, two patients died of rabies after receiving kidney transplants from a common organ donor at a hospital in Changsha, Hunan, China. The medical records, epidemiological data of the organ donor, two kidney and a liver recipients were reviewed. Intravitam saliva samples of the two kidney recipients were tested for rabies virus (RABV) using real-time RT-PCR, and the nucleoprotein (N) gene was amplified and sequenced by Sanger sequencing. Whole genome sequences were analyzed using next-generation sequencing. The N genes of the two kidney recipients showed 100% nucleic acid identity. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete genome, N and glycoprotein (G) genes indicated that the RABV was homologous with dog isolates from the Hunan province and belong to the China I lineage, which is widespread in China. The organ donor was a 22-month-old boy who died from unknown acute progressive encephalitis. After undergoing sub-hypothermia hibernation therapy, rabies-associated symptoms were atypical, and rabies was neglected because serum RABV-specific antibodies were negative. An unknown wound on the forehead of the donor was found 2 months before the onset of symptoms. Based on the clinical, epidemiological, and molecular findings, we speculated that the RABV initially originated in the donor from a dog bite, and was then transmitted to the recipients by organ transplantation. An uncertain exposure history and misdiagnosis played important roles in the spread of the RABV. Rabies should be considered in patients with acute progressive encephalitis of unexplained etiology, especially in potential organ donors.

Zn vacancy-donor impurity complexes in ZnO

Results from hybrid density functional theory calculations on the thermodynamic stability and optical properties of the Zn vacancy ($V_{\text{Zn}}$) complexed with common donor impurities in ZnO are reported. Complexing $V_{\text{Zn}}$ with donors successively removes its charge-state transition levels in the band gap, starting from the most negative one. Interestingly, the presence of a donor leads only to modest shifts in the positions of the $V_{\text{Zn}}$ charge-state transition levels, the sign and magnitude of which can be interpreted from a polaron energetics model by taking hole-donor repulsion into account. By employing a one-dimensional configuration coordinate model, luminescence lineshapes and positions were calculated. Due to the aforementioned effects, the isolated $V_{\text{Zn}}$ gradually changes from a mainly non-radiative defect with transitions in the infrared region in \textit{n}-type material, to a radiative one with broad emission in the visible range when complexed with shallow donors.