Incompatible Groups Research Articles

Effect of Donor/Recipient ABO Mismatch on Outcome of Allogenic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children: Single-Center Study.

ABO blood group mismatch between donor and recipient is thought to be associated with several immunopharmacological complications but is not considered a major contraindication to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, the impact of such a mismatch on overall survival, transplant-related mortality, graft-versus-host disease, and time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment seems to be conflicting. This retrospective cohort was carried out on children and adolescents who underwent allogenic HSCT between January 2016 and January 2023. ABO compatibility state was assessed and grouped into compatible, minor, major, and bidirectional incompatible groups. The effect of ABO compatibility on various transplantation outcomes was assessed. Forty-three children (25 males and 18 females) with different diagnoses were included. More than half of the patients had no ABO mismatch. Major ABO mismatch was found to be associated with a higher incidence of acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD), whereas near significantly higher mortality was observed in the minor mismatch group. Otherwise, no association was found between ABO mismatch and platelet or neutrophil engraftment. ABO mismatch does not affect the overall survival or the posttransplant engraftment of patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT. aGVHD was observed to be the only factor affected by ABO compatibility.

Cu-Catalyzed Tandem C-N and C-C Bond Formation Leading to 4(1H)-Quinolones: A Scaffold with Diverse Biological Properties from Totally New Raw Materials in a Single Step.

A novel Cu-catalyzed tandem C-N and C-C bond-formation reaction has been developed to furnish 2-substituted-4-(1H)-quinolones. 4-(1H)-quinolones play an important role in medicinal chemistry. Many 2-aryl(alkyl)-4(1H)-quinolones are found to exhibit diverse biological properties. While traditional methods have inherent issues [like starting materials with incompatible functional groups (NH2 and keto groups)], many modern methods either require activated starting materials (like Ynones) or employ expensive metals (Pd, Rh, Au, etc.) involving carbonylation using CO or metal complexes. Our protocol presents an environmentally friendly one-step method for the construction of these useful 2-substituted-4-(1H)-quinolones from easily available aryl boronic acid (or pinacolate ester) and nitriles as new raw materials, using a cheap Cu-catalyst and O2 (air) as a green oxidant. We further extended its application to the synthesis of various natural products, including the first formal total synthesis of punarnavine. A plausible mechanism involving an aryl nitrilium ion (formed due to the intermolecular C-N bond-forming coupling between aryl boron species and the nitrile group) followed by tandem intramolecular C-C bond formation has been proposed.

Genomic epidemiology and heterogeneity of Providencia and their bla NDM-1-carrying plasmids

ABSTRACT Providencia as an opportunistic pathogen can cause serious infection, and moreover the emergence of multi-drug-resistant Providencia strains poses a potentially life-threatening risk to public health. However, a comprehensive genomic study to reveal the population structure and dissemination of Providencia is still lacking. In this study, we conducted a genomic epidemiology analysis on the 580 global sequenced Providencia isolates, including 257 ones sequenced in this study (42 ones were fully sequenced). We established a genome sequence-based species classification scheme for Providencia, redefining the conventional 11 Providencia species into seven genocomplexes that were further divided into 18 genospecies, providing an extensively updated reference for Providencia species discrimination based on the largest Providencia genome dataset to date. We then dissected the profile of antimicrobial resistance genes and the prevalence of multi-drug-resistant Providencia strains among these genocomplexes/genospecies, disclosing the presence of diverse and abundant antimicrobial resistance genes and high resistance ratios against multiple classes of drugs in Providencia. We further dissected the genetic basis for the spread of bla NDM-1 in Providencia. bla NDM-1 genes were mainly carried by five incompatible (Inc) groups of plasmids: IncC, IncW, IncpPROV114-NR, IncpCHS4.1-3, and IncpPrY2001, and the last three were newly designated in this study. By tracking the spread of bla NDM-1-carrying plasmids, IncC, IncpPROV114-NR, IncpCHS4.1-3, and IncpPrY2001 plasmids were found to be highly involved in parallel horizontal transfer or vertical clonal expansion of bla NDM-1 among Providencia. Overall, our study provided a comprehensive genomic view of species differentiation, antimicrobial resistance prevalence, and plasmid-mediated bla NDM-1 dissemination in Providencia.

Canker Development and Biocontrol Potential of CHV-1 Infected English Isolates of Cryphonectria parasitica Is Dependent on the Virus Concentration and the Compatibility of the Fungal Inoculums.

Biological control of Cryphonectria parasitica fungus, causal agent of chestnut blight, by virus infection (hypovirulence) has been shown to be an effective control strategy against chestnut blight in Europe and some parts of North America. The most studied mycovirus is the Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV-1) type species of the Hypoviridae family. To efficiently provide biocontrol, the virus must be able to induce hypovirulence in its fungal host in chestnut trees. Here, two different CHV-1 subtype I virus strains (E-5 and L-18), gained by transmissions, were tested for their hypovirulence induction, biocontrol potential, and transmission between vegetatively compatible (VCG) and incompatible fungal isolate groups in sweet chestnut seedlings and branches. Both strains of CHV-1 showed great biocontrol potential and could protect trees by efficiently transmitting CHV-1 by hyphal anastomosis between fungal isolates of the same VCG and converting virulent to hypovirulent cankers. The hypovirulent effect was positively correlated with the virus concentration, tested by four different reverse-transcription PCRs, two end-point and two real-time methods, one of which represents a newly developed real-time PCR for the detection and quantification of CHV-1.

Ecological speciation of Japanese hedgehog mushroom: Hydnum subalpinum sp. nov. is distinguished from its sister species H. repando-orientale by means of integrative taxonomy

Hydnum repando-orientale is an East Asian species closely related to H. boreorepandum and H. repandum; all three species produce edible mushrooms. We identified two ecological groups of H. repando-orientale in Japan: a temperate group occurring in Fagaceae-dominated forest at < 1200 m a.s.l. (ROF) and a subalpine group occurring in coniferous forest in highland at > 1900 m a.s.l. (ROC). We re-examined the taxonomy of the two ecological groups of H. repando-orientale using integrative approaches. Phylogenies of the two ecological groups and other related species were inferred from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and gene portions encoding the large subunit of nc rRNA (LSU), translation elongation factor-1 alpha (TEF1), RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1), and RNA polymerase II second-largest subunit (RPB2). The concatenated phylogenetic tree separated the two ecological groups into well-supported sister clades. Also, species delimitations based on the topological congruence (GCPSR) and coalescent models (GMYC and BP&P) supported to separate the two ecological groups. Morphological analysis showed that ROC specimens had significantly larger basidiospores, compared with ROF specimens. Mon-mon mating tests using six ROF, three ROC, and three H. boreorepandum strains each showed independent incompatible groups, whereas one ROC strain showed compatibility with both ROC and ROF populations. Based on these results, we defined the ROC group as a new species, H. subalpinum. Because H. repando-orientale and H. subalpinum have smaller genetic divergence in nc rDNA and maintain slight sexual compatibility, they may have recently speciated in East Asia.

A study of blood group conversion in patients with ABO incompatible hematopoietic stem cell transplantation—A decade survey

BackgroundABO incompatibility is not a contraindication but would affect the prognosis of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The dynamic change of blood phenotype is not only related to the patient's status, but also the basis for the implementation of compatible blood transfusion. The criteria for judging a complete transformation to donor-type and the principle of blood transfusion at relapse need to be unified. We aimed to illustrate the significance of blood group monitoring after allo-HSCT. Material and methodsWe collected 263 patients underwent ABO incompatible allo-HSCT from January 2010 to December 2019, and monitored blood type regularly according to the frequency of the patient's return visits till complete conversion or death. Non-parametric test was used to find differences among incompatible groups. We analyzed factors potentially influence blood type conversion by Binary Logistic model. Cox regression model was used to illustrate the relationship between blood-type conversion and prognosis. ResultsThe median days of conversion were 107, 91 and 108 in major-, minor- and bidirectional groups respectively. Blood type conversion correlated with HLA compatibility (P = 0.012, OR=2.69) and acute graft-versus-host-disease (P = 0.001, OR=0.06). Patients with incomplete blood type conversion had a higher death rate than those with complete blood type conversion(P = 0.003, OR=3.703). DiscussionBlood type monitoring can help to evaluate the prognosis of transplantation and assess the risk of death. It is recommended to monitor the changes of blood group antigens and antibodies, especially within a year after transplantation, to predict the risk of adverse events (such as GVHD, recurrence, death, etc.).

PEMERIKSAAN GOLONGAN DARAH DI PONDOK TAHFIDZ AL QUR’AN AS SYUHADA FII SABILILLAH KECAMATAN TAMALANREA KOTA MAKASSAR

One of the prevention efforts in handling complications of the disease is to do a blood type examination. Blood type is an important thing in donating, because someone who gets a blood transfusion must match the blood group of the donor. Blood transfusion of incompatible groups can cause several immunological transfusion reactions and clinical aspects such as incompatibility of the ABO blood group system. Knowing blood type is an important part for every human being. Many of us don't know what type of blood type we have.. This case becomes very crucial when the individual experiences an accident, such as an accident that involves a lot of blood coming out. The action of handling the patient becomes late, because this individual does not yet know the type of blood group he has. Knowing your blood type helps the body stay healthy, plan for the future and prevent complications. Based on the survey and interviews of the service team with the caretaker of the cottage, there are still some residents in the cottage who do not know their blood type. so that the service team carries out community service activities in the form of blood type checks. The purpose of this community service is to find out the blood type of the residents of the Tahfidz Al Qur'an As-Syuhada Fii Sabilillah cottage, Tamalanrea District, Makassar City. There are three stages carried out in this activity, namely the planning stage, the preparation stage and the implementation stage. At the implementation stage, the blood group examination is carried out using the slide method which is a simple, fast and easy method. This blood type examination was attended by 46 residents of the cottage, male and female and aged 1-50 years. The results obtained from the blood group examination are that there are residents of the cottage who have blood type A as much as 23.90%, who have blood type B as much as 39.10% and who have blood type AB as much as 2.20% and who have blood type O as much as 34 ,80 %

BIRTH OF A SURREAL IMAGE IN ATTRIBUTIVE CONSTRUCTIONS

Introduction. The article focuses on the problems of the surreal images in the poetry of David Gascoigne – one of the leaders of surrealist movement in Great Britain.Surrealist image remains a complex phenomenon with weird, fantastic, dream-like qualities. To create surreality, it must conform to rigid criteria of juxtaposing distant realities.Purpose of this paper is to define the types of semantic connections between the elements in the adjective/participle-noun constructions in Gascoigne’s poetry and to analyze the linguistic mechanisms of creating a surreal image.Methods. The research was carried out by means of the methods of structural, semantic and contextual analysis.Results. Despite the fact that British surrealism was less automatic than the French original, the poems of David Gascoyne show the avant-garde tendency to the liberation of the language from the established norms and freeing the poems of narrative contexts. Reading surrealist poetry involves constant and systematic decoding of strange, sometimes absurd, often violent images.The paper looks at various types of adjective-noun constructions in Gascoigne’s poetic collection created both in accordance with the system of the language and by its violation, and analyses the ways of rendering the unconscious and creating the surreality.Conclusions. Analyses of adjective/participle-noun combinations shows the mechanisms of image creation the poet uses in his works – expressions with literal meaning in inappropriate, metaphorical, hallucinatory contexts where they acquire new semantic shades of meaning, and combinations of lexemes that belong to incompatible semantic groups. The most complicated surrealist images are born of the interlocking of several tropes or are the product of the poet’s appeal to dream-like states and his contacts with the artists. The links of meaning in these wordcombinations are hard to find, which doesn’t lead to the destruction of the image but inspires readers’ spontaneous associations.

Evaluation of different types of feline blood groups in cats of Isfahan, Iran

There is a high demand for pet veterinary care due to the increasing tendency to keep pets in Iranian households. These include blood transfusions because incompatible blood groups can lead to some negative effects such as isoerythrolysis in cats. This study was the first attempt to evaluate the distribution of blood type of cats in Iran. Blood samples were collected from 63 domestic short hair cats in Isfahan, Iran and blood groups were determined by the kit card agglutination method (Rapid Vet-H IC Feline kits, Agrolabo, Scarmagno, Italy). According to the results, the frequency of blood types of A, B, and AB were 96.8%, 3.2%, and 0%, respectively. Card agglutination method is a fast method with high validity. Therefore, it is recommended for determining blood types in donor and recipient in veterinary hospitals and breeding centers.

Determination of incompatibility group plasmids and copy number of the bla NDM-1 gene in carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strains recovered from different hospitals in Kerman, Iran.

Introduction. New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae has become a serious global health concern.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Due to the high genetic diversity among NDM-positive K. pneumoniae, we need further surveillance and studies to better understand the relationships between them. In addition, the coexistence of several plasmid replicon types in NDM-positive K. pneumoniae may affect the copy number of bla NDM, the MIC level to antibiotics, as well as increasing the chance of horizontal gene transfer.Aim. The aim of this study was to determine incompatible plasmid groups and copy numbers of bla NDM, and to investigate the genetic relationship of 37 NDM-positive K. pneumoniae in Kerman, Iran.Methodology. The bla NDM-1 gene was detected and confirmed by PCR-sequencing. The plasmid replicon types were determined by PCR-based replicon typing (PBRT) and the copy number of bla NDM-1 was determined by quantitaive real time-PCR (qPCR). Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR typing was used to detect genetic relationships between the strains.Results. In this study, 10 different replicon types, including Frep [n=25 (67.5 %)], FIIAs [n=11 (29.7 %)], FIA [n=5 (13.5 %)], FIB [n=3 (8.1 %)], I1-Iγ [n=2 (5.4 %)], L/M [n=7 (18.9 %)], A/C [n=7 (18.9 %)], Y [n=3 (8.1 %)], P [n=1 (2.7 %)] and FIC [n=1 (2.7 %)] were reported. The copy numbers of the bla NDM-1 gene varied from 30.00 to 5.0×106 and no statistically significant correlation was observed between a rise of the MIC to imipenem and the copy numbers of bla NDM-1 (P>0.05). According to RAPD typing results, 35 strains were divided into five clusters, while two strains were non-typeable.Conclusion. The spread of NDM-1-producing K. pneumoniae strains that carry several plasmid replicon types increases the chance of horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in hospital settings. In this study, 10 different replicon types were identified. We could not find any relationship between the increase of MIC levels to imipenem and the copy numbers of bla NDM-1. Therefore, due to the identification of different replicon types in this study, the type and genetic characteristics of bla NDM-1-carrying plasmids, and other factors such as antibiotic selective pressure, probably affect the copy number of bla NDM-1 and change the MIC level to imipenem.

Strengthening mechanism of the mechanical properties of graft copolymers with incompatible pendant groups: nano-clusters and weak cross-linking.

It is known that the adhesive property and mechanical strength of an apolar polymer can be improved by grafting with polar side chains, whereas the underlying mechanism is still elusive. In this work, the equilibrium structure and mechanical moduli of the melt of graft copolymers have been explored by dissipative particle dynamics. Due to the strong immiscibility of the non-polar backbone and polar side chains, nano-clusters of side chains formed and acted as physical crosslinkers. Moreover, non-affinity adsorption of polar side chains in the melt to the wall was observed, revealing an improvement in the adhesion property. Subjecting graft copolymers to cyclic deformation, the storage and loss moduli were acquired, and they grew with increasing grafting density. The melt strength in terms of the crossover frequency ascended with more side chains on the backbone. Our findings reveal that the strengthening of the mechanical properties of graft copolymers can be attributed to the formation of weakly cross-linked structures, thus offering an insight into the molecular design to aid the development of stronger graft copolymers.

A nanostructured bifunctional acid–base catalyst resin formed by lyotropic liquid crystal monomers

An ordered, nanoporous polymer resin was prepared from the self-assembly of lyotropic liquid crystal monomers and employed as a heterogeneous, bifunctional catalyst. This material contains antagonistic acid and base sites in the periodic nanopores and efficiently catalyzes a model tandem reaction (i.e., the deacetalization–nitroaldol reaction between benzaldehyde dimethyl acetal and nitromethane to yield β-nitrostyrene) with excellent product selectivity. This lyotropic liquid crystal-based solid catalyst represents one of the few examples of polymeric tandem catalysts synthesized by a “bottom-up” strategy that imparts control over the stoichiometry of acidic and basic monomers and is the only reported example of a lyotropic liquid crystal-based polymer that contains mutually incompatible catalytic groups. Furthermore, this heterogeneous catalyst is highly active, exhibiting a turnover frequency for this tandem test reaction that exceeds other reported catalytic polymeric materials.

Quality System of Kidney Donation for Transplantation From Living Donors in Poland

ObjectiveThe program aims to build and develop a high-quality donation system at the hospital and national level. Thirty coordinator posts for the transplantation of kidneys from living donors (LDs) were created. The coordinators’ tasks were identified as determining or excluding the possibility of LD donation for kidney transplantation for every potential kidney recipient referred to the waiting list, qualifying potential LDs, supervising health monitoring for LDs and kidney recipients, and education and promotion of transplantation from LDs. MethodsThe coordinators’ reports and verification of data in the national transplant register from June 1, 2018 to November 30, 2019 were analyzed. EthicsThe study was conducted according to principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, and the Declaration of Istanbul participation was on a voluntary basis. ResultsInformation on possible LDs was obtained from 707 (43%) of the 1630 potential recipients entered on the waiting list. In 373 cases there was no potential LD; 16 recipients did not give consent for kidney transplantation from a LD; for 318 recipients, 340 potential LDs were identified; 90 potential LDs were rejected at the initial stage for medical reasons; 60 potential donors were rejected at further stages of the qualification process; 3 persons resigned from donation; and 23 recipients were transplanted from deceased donors. Kidneys from 73 LDs were qualified and transplanted. On November 30, 2019, 91 potential donors were awaiting further qualification. As part of the program, 27 potential pairs for paired kidney exchange were reported to Poltransplant (17 pairs with positive HLA crossmatch, 10 with incompatible blood groups). ConclusionsThe creation of posts for coordinators for LD kidney transplantation in centers that qualify for LD kidney transplantation enabled systematic monitoring of donation potential, which led to an increase in the number of LD kidney transplants in 2019. Making full use of donation potential should significantly increase these numbers in the coming years.

Novels in the Time of Democratic Writing: The American Example. Nancy Armstrong and Leonard Tennenhouse. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2018. Pp. 252.

<i>Novels in the Time of Democratic Writing: The American Example</i>. Nancy Armstrong and Leonard Tennenhouse. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2018. Pp. 252.

Analysis of Intraspecies Genetic Variability among Collections of Medicinal Red Belt Conk Mushroom, Fomitopsis pinicola (Agaricomycetes).

Intraspecies genetic variability of the medicinal dikaryotic polypore mushroom Fomitopsis pinicola was analyzed by using variable internal transcribed space (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA gene cluster and the somatic compatibility test. The results revealed very low ITS sequence polymorphism among strains of F. pinicola from geographically distant origins (Russia, Finland, and France). Because of its conserved structure, the ITS region of the ribosomal DNA cluster can be proposed as a reliable molecular code for identifying and taxonomically verifying F. pinicola sensu stricto species. Four types of somatic incompatibility interactions were found in the Moscow population; 29 dikaryotic isolates revealed 27 somatically incompatible groups with an overall diversity index (HVC) of 0.782. Moderate antagonistic (somatically incompatible) interactions were predominant, with a frequency (p) of 0.56; strong antagonism with the heavily pigmented interaction zone was estimated as p = 0.35. These findings regarding the genetic diversity of natural F. pinicola isolates will assist further research and development of novel strains useful in food, medicine, and industrial applications.

Draft Genome Sequencing of Rhizoctonia solani Anastomosis Group 3 (AG3- PT) Causing Stem Canker and Black Scurf of Potato

Rhizoctonia solani is a soil-borne basidiomycete fungus with a necrotrophic lifestyle being classified into fourteen reproductively incompatible anastomosis groups (AGs). AG3-PT (a potato subgroup) is associated with quantitative and qualitative yield losses through stem canker and black scurf in potato. Here we present the first draft sequence of the R. solani [AG3-PT] strain RS-20 with a G-C content of 48.3%. It consists of 11,431 total predicted protein coding regions including 181 tRNA and 31 rRNA coding genes. The initial pBLAST revealed more than 97% hits among AG groups where as only 1.7% of genes hit with other organisms. The R. solani genome is found to be dominated with tri mer repeats. The genome-wide evolutionary studies revealed the close association of AG3-PT with AG3. The draft sequence represents a helpful resource not only for understanding the core genes involved in pathogenecity but also evolution and adaptive behaviour within the R. solani species complex.

Incompatible type A plasma transfusion in patients requiring massive transfusion protocol: Outcomes of an Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma multicenter study.

As part of an Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma multi-institutional trial, registry and blood bank data were collected from eight trauma centers for trauma patients (age, ≥ 15 years) receiving emergency release plasma transfusions as part of MTPs from January 2012 to August 2016. Incompatible type A plasma was defined as transfusion to patient blood type B or type AB. Of the 1,536 patients identified, 92% received compatible plasma transfusions and 8% received incompatible type A plasma. Patient characteristics were similar except for greater penetrating injuries (48% vs 36%; p = 0.01) in the incompatible group. In the incompatible group, patients were transfused more plasma units at 4 hours (median, 9 vs. 5; p < 0.001) and overall for stay (11 vs. 9; p = 0.03). No hemolytic transfusion reactions were reported. Two transfusion-related acute lung injury events were reported in the compatible group. Between incompatible and compatible groups, there was no difference in the rates of acute respiratory distress syndrome (6% vs. 8%; p = 0.589), thromboembolic events (9% vs. 7%; p = 0.464), sepsis (6% vs. 8%; p = 0.589), or acute renal failure (8% vs. 8%, p = 0.860). Mortality at 6 (17% vs. 15%, p = 0.775) and 24 hours (25% vs. 23%, p = 0.544) and at 28 days or discharge (38% vs. 35%, p = 0.486) were similar between groups. Multivariate regression demonstrated that Injury Severity Score, older age and more red blood cell transfusion at 4 hours were independently associated with death at 28 days or discharge; Injury Severity Score and more red blood cell transfusion at 4 hours were predictors for morbidity. Incompatible transfusion was not an independent determinant of mortality or morbidity. Transfusion of type A plasma to patients with blood groups B and AB as part of a MTP does not appear to be associated with significant increases in morbidity or mortality. Therapeutic study, level IV.

The impact of metabolic syndrome and prevalent liver disease on living donor liver transplantation: a pressing need to expand the pool.

Organ shortage has been the ongoing obstacle to expanding liver transplantation worldwide. Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is hoped to improve this shortage. The aim of the present study is to analyze the impact of metabolic syndrome and prevalent liver disease on living donations. From July 2007 to May 2012, 1065 potential living donors were evaluated according to a stepwise evaluation protocol. The age of the worked-up donors ranged from 18 to 45 years. Only 190 (18%) were accepted for donation, and 875 (82%) were rejected. In total, 265 (24.9%) potential donors were excluded because of either diabetes or a body mass index >28. Some potential donors were excluded at initial screening because of incompatible blood groups (115; 10.8%), social reasons (40; 3.8%), or elevated liver enzymes (9; 1%). Eighty-five (8%) donors were excluded because of positive hepatitis serology. Steatosis resulted in the exclusion of 84 (8%) donors. In addition, 80 (7.5%) potential donors were rejected because of variations in biliary anatomy, and 20 (2%) were rejected because of aberrant vascular anatomy. Rejection due to biliary-related aberrancy decreased significantly in the second half of our program (11 vs. 4%, p = 0.001). In total, 110 (10.3%) potential donors were rejected because of insufficient remnant volume (<30%) as determined by CT volumetry, whereas 24 (2.2%) were rejected because of a graft-to-recipient body weight ratio less than 0.8%. Metabolic syndrome and viral hepatitis negatively impacted our living donor pool. Expanding the donor pool requires the implementation of new strategies.

TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR 1 IN CHILDREN OF EARLY AGE WITH LIVER TRANSPLANTATION

Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) plays a key role in the development of the immune response, as well as in the process of liver regeneration. Measuring the level of TGF-β1 may have important clinical implications in liver transplantation, because cytokine concentration in the tissue and in blood plasma varies with different liver diseases. Aim. To analyze the dynamics of TGF-β1 levels in children-recipients with liver transplant from related donors, including from incompatible blood groups. Materials and methods. The study involved 127 children aged 3 to 72 months (median – 8, average age – 12 ± 14 months), including 57 boys and 70 girls, with liver cirrhosis, developed as the result of congenital and hereditary diseases of the hepatobiliary system. All patients underwent transplantation of the left lateral liver sector from living related donors: 98 patients were transplanted fragment of a liver from identical or AB0-compatible donors and 29 – from incompatible donors. The concentration of TGF-β1 was determined by enzyme immunoassay method in blood plasma samples. Results. Average level of TGF-β1 in blood plasma of children with liver cirrhosis, developed as the result of congenital and hereditary diseases of the hepatobiliary system was 5,2 ± 5,5 ng/ml. A month after liver transplantation from a related donor level of TGF-β1 in blood plasma of recipients increased to 8,1 ± 9,6 ng/ml. One year after transplantation, the average level of TGF-β1 in the recipients of liver fragment was 7,7 ± 8,4 ng/ml, and signifi cantly (p = 0,00) differed from the level prior to transplantation. No association between TGF-β1 level in a month and a year after transplantation and the compatibility of the recipient with AB0 donor was found. A correlation (r = –0,23, p < 0,05) between level of TGF-β1 prior to transplantation and the development of graft dysfunction was observed: in recipients with graft dysfunction (16 cases) cytokine level prior to surgery was lower (p = 0,047) than in other recipients. Conclusion . Liver transplantation leads to a signifi cant increase in the level of TGF-β1 in the blood plasma of children and that level is not different in recipients after transplantation of a liver fragment from AB0-compatible and AB0-incompatible donors and in recipients with anti-group antibodies before and/or after transplantation, and without them.

A dynamic duo: pairing click chemistry and postpolymerization modification to design complex surfaces.

Advances in key 21st century technologies such as biosensors, biomedical implants, and organic light-emitting diodes rely heavily on our ability to imagine, design, and understand spatially complex interfaces. Polymer-based thin films provide many advantages in this regard, but the direct synthesis of polymers with incompatible functional groups is extremely difficult. Using postpolymerization modification in conjunction with click chemistry can circumvent this limitation and result in multicomponent surfaces that are otherwise unattainable. The two methods used to form polymer thin films include physisorption and chemisorption. Physisorbed polymers suffer from instability because of the weak intermolecular forces between the film and the substrate, which can lead to dewetting, delamination, desorption, or displacement. Covalent immobilization of polymers to surfaces through either a "grafting to" or "grafting from" approach provides thin films that are more robust and less prone to degradation. The grafting to technique consists of adsorbing a polymer containing at least one reactive group along the backbone to form a covalent bond with a complementary surface functionality. Grafting from involves polymerization directly from the surface, in which the polymer chains deviate from their native conformation in solution and stretch away from the surface because of the high density of chains. Postpolymerization modification (PPM) is a strategy used by our groups over the past several years to immobilize two or more different chemical functionalities onto substrates that contain covalently grafted polymer films. PPM exploits monomers with reactive pendant groups that are stable under the polymerization conditions but are readily modified via covalent attachment of the desired functionality. "Click-like" reactions are the most common type of reactions used for PPM because they are orthogonal, high-yielding, and rapid. Some of these reactions include thiol-based additions, activated ester coupling, azide-alkyne cycloadditions, some Diels-Alder reactions, and non-aldol carbonyl chemistry such as oxime, hydrazone, and amide formation. In this Account, we highlight our research combining PPM and click chemistry to generate complexity in polymer thin films. For the purpose of this Account, we define a complex coating as a polymer film grafted to a planar surface that acts as a template for the patterning of two or more discrete chemical functionalities using PPM. After a brief introduction to grafting, the rest of the review is arranged in terms of the sequence in which PPM is performed. First, we describe sequential functionalization using iterations of the same click-type reaction. Next, we discuss the use of two or more different click-like reactions performed consecutively, and we conclude with examples of self-sorting reactions involving orthogonal chemistries used for one-pot surface patterning.