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Industrial Workplaces
Published in Christopher S. Cox, Christopher M. Wathes, Bioaerosols Handbook, 2020
Opportunist pathogens include those present naturally or as contaminants in the work environment but under normal circumstances their presence poses little risk to an exposed but healthy worker. However, if a susceptible individual comes into contact with the pathogen, infection may arise. An example of this is Legionnaires’ disease caused by aerosols of Legionella pneumophila. This bacterium may be present in small numbers in many hot water systems, when many people are exposed to low levels of aerosolized droplets supporting bacterial cells. Although the infective dose is not known, the evidence from recent outbreaks has suggested that few viable cells are needed to cause infection when deposited in the lung of a susceptible individual. Risk of infection is significantly increased for older males, smokers, those with high alcohol consumption, diabetics or those undergoing immunosuppressant treatment, i.e., where the body’s natural immune system is compromised.3
Carbon Nanotubes Used as Nanocarriers in Drug and Biomolecule Delivery
Published in Raj K. Keservani, Anil K. Sharma, Rajesh K. Kesharwani, Drug Delivery Approaches and Nanosystems, 2017
Hua He, Deli Xiao, Lien Ai Pham-Huy, Pierre Dramou, Chuong Pham-Huy
Dexamethasone (DEX) is a synthetic glucocorticoid hormone commonly used as immunosuppressant and antiinflammatory drug to treat many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. SWCNTs have been used as host-carrier film for the electrically stimulated delivery of DEX. An accelerated cellular uptake and a complete drug release of DEX were observed due to electrostatic repulsions between SWCNTs and DEX when −0.8 V potential was applied. The passive release of DEX was decreased by the addition of SWCNTs, due to the possible attractive interactions between the drug and SWCNTs. This new technique of drug delivery may improve the antiinflammatory therapy of dexamethasone in the future (Luo et al., 2011; Naficy et al., 2009; Tripathi et al., 2015). Ketoprofen, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID), is used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases (arthritis, headache, etc.) by its inhibition of the prostaglandin production in the body. An electro-sensitive transdermal DDS, composed of a semiinterpenetrating polymer network (polyethylene oxide-pentaerythritol triacrylate) as the matrix and MWCNTs was demonstrated to increase the electrical sensitivity of (S)-(+)-ketoprofen. The amount of released drug increases with enhanced applied potentials, which can be attributed to higher electrical conductivity of CNTs (Tripathi et al., 2015).
Reduction and Fixation of Sacroiliac joint Dislocation by the Combined Use of S1 Pedicle Screws and an Iliac Rod
Published in Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski, Donald L. Wise, Debra J. Trantolo, Michael J. Yaszemski, Augustus A. White, Advances in Spinal Fusion, 2003
Kai-Uwe Lewandrowski, Donald L. Wise, Debra J. Trantolo, Michael J. Yaszemski, Augustus A. White
Current medical management of ankylosing spondylitis focuses on symptom control as well as long-term disease modification. Four therapies form the mainstay of treatment: patient education, exercise, NSAIDs, and immune system-modifying agents [30]. Patients should be made aware of the possibility of disease progression and the risk of fractures related to fusion and secondary osteoporosis. Regular stretching and vigorous aerobic exercise appear to provide immediate gains in flexibility and may help decrease secondary osteoporosis of the spine by reducing immobility [31,32]. First-line drug therapy includes the use of NSAIDs for symptom control. Most NSAIDs have efficacy in pain management, with several having randomized trial proof of efficacy, including indomethacin, naproxen, and celecoxib [30]. NSAIDs reduce pain and morning stiffness but do not stop the course of the disease or the associated underlying inflammation of the spine [30,33]. In those patients with inflamed peripheral joints, the anti-inflammatory agent sulfasalazine and the immunosuppressant methotrexate and careful use of corticosteroids can be helpful, although none of these agents controls the spinal inflammation [30].
Mathematical and statistical model misspecifications in modelling immune response in renal transplant recipients
Published in Inverse Problems in Science and Engineering, 2018
H. T. Banks, R. A. Everett, Shuhua Hu, Neha Murad, H. T. Tran
Kidney rejection is one of the most common causes for renal graft failures (64%), followed by infections such as polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN) (7%) [4]. In order to prevent the body from rejecting the transplant, patients are generally required to take immunosuppressants for their remaining life. However this usually leaves the patient susceptible to various bacterial and viral pathogens and can even reactivate latent viruses pre-existing in the recipient and/or donor’s organ. Common viruses that impact transplant recipients include human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), Epstein–Barr virus, human herpes virus (HHV)-6, HHV-7 and human polyomavirus 1 (BK virus) [5]. Thus for a renal transplant to be successful, a crucial but fragile balance needs to be struck between over-suppression and under-suppression of the immune system. While the former can weaken the body’s immune response making it susceptible to infections, the latter can cause the immune response to fight the renal graft leading to kidney rejection.