In total, 24 mucosal areas were examined.

Results. The FCM was able to distinctly define epithelial cells, bacterial plaque, and

inflammatory cells Selleckchem Copanlisib and to image submucosal structures by detecting their intrinsic fluorescence.

Conclusions. When compared with other devices, this FCM allowed the user to image each oral site at higher magnification, thus resulting in a clearer view.”
“Calcinosis cutis is a common clinical feature of dermatomyositis and scleroderma but rarely reported in association with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Calcinosis cutis in SLE occurs without calcium and phosphorus metabolic abnormalities and may be localized or generalized. The pathophysiology remains unclear and no effective therapy is currently available. We report a 30-year-old woman with a 13-year history of SLE who developed multiple calcinosis cutis around both knees and we review the relevant published work.”
“Introduction: Acanthophis genus (i.e. death adders) and the Naja genus (i.e. cobras) belong to the family elapidae. The current study compared the in vitro cytotoxicity of venoms from four Acanthophis spp. and three Naja spp. on rat aortic smooth muscle cells, A7r5, and rat skeletal muscle cells, 16. The ability of CSL death adder antivenom and SAIMR antivenom, for Acanthophis spp. and Naja spp. venom respectively, to negate the cytotoxicity was also examined. Methods: A cell proliferation assay was used to determine cell

viability following treatment with venom in the presence or absence of antivenom. Sigmoidal growth curves were obtained, and IC(50) values were determined. Results: Acanthophis PARP inhibitor spp. and Naja spp. venoms produced concentration-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation in both cell lines. Naja spp. venoms were significantly more cytotoxic than the most potent

Acanthophis venom (i.e. A. antarcticus) in both cell lines. Naja spp. venoms also displayed Selleck MK-1775 higher sensitivity in L6 cells. SAIMR antivenom significantly inhibited the cytotoxic actions of all Naja spp. venoms in both A7r5 and 16 cells. However, death adder antivenom (CSL Ltd) was unable to negate the cytotoxic effects of Acanthophis spp. venoms. Discussion: Concentrations of the predominantly cytotoxic Naja spp. venoms used were approximately three times less than the predominantly neurotoxic Acanthophis spp. venoms. SAIMR antivenom was partially effective in neutralising the effects of Naja spp. venoms. Death adder antivenom (CSL Ltd) was not effective in negating the cytotoxic effects of venom from Acanthophis spp. These results indicate that the cell-based assay is suited to the examination of cytotoxic snake venoms and may be used in conjunction with organ bath experiments to pharmacologically characterise snake venoms. Furthermore, the results suggest that the use of a skeletal muscle cell line is likely to be more clinically relevant for the examination of cytotoxic snake venoms. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc.

The strain influence on the bandgap is evaluated by using the k x p formalism. Furthermore, an empirical expression is proposed which allows us to calculate the AlInGaN band-gap and high-energy Selleckchem GSI-IX inter-band transitions in the whole compositional range (x, y). The band-gap values obtained from the empirical expression are in good agreement with both the calculated ab initio and the experimental values determined by SE. VC 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3603015]“
“Heterotopic triplets hardly take place, but nowadays the extended use of assisted reproductive technologies is increasing the

ectopic pregnancies rate and subsequently the heterotopic pregnancies, leading to a potentially dangerous condition for the woman and the intrauterine pregnancy.

Fourteen cases previously reported in the literature of patients

presenting an intrauterine twin pregnancy which became complicated by a tubal ectopic pregnancy have been reviewed. The case of a patient following a homologous intrauterine insemination treatment, resulting in live birth of both twins, is also described.

Although the diagnosis of heterotopic triplets with tubal ectopic is challenging, a timely surgical treatment will preserve intrauterine gestation with a great chance of a successful obstetric outcome for both twins.”
“We developed L1(1)-type Co-Ni-Pt BAY 57-1293 in vitro ordered alloy films for use as a material for creating thermally assisted magnetic recording media with high recording densities. We examined the temperature dependence of magnetic properties of L1(1)-type (Co1-xNix)(50)Pt-50 ordered alloy films. These films had a uniaxial magnetic anisotropy of 10(7) erg/cm(3) at an LCL161 mw x

of less than similar to 0.8. The Curie point was monotonously reduced when the Ni content steadily increased. The composition of Co15Ni35Pt50 (x – 0.7) provided both a high magnetic anisotropy of 1.4 x 10(7) erg/cm(3) and a low Curie point of 583 K, which are favorable for thermally assisted magnetic recording media. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3608123]“
“Modern imaging techniques are becoming increasingly important in assessing the course of arthritis and in permitting measurement of response to treatment as part of the follow-up of patients. They include ultrasonography (US), MRI, PET/CT, and biofluorescence. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, clinical evaluation is significantly less sensitive than either US or MRI in detecting synovitis. As a result, imaging is a useful alternative to achieving proper assessment of disease activity. The different areas in which the new imaging techniques could help practicing rheumatologists and internal physicians include the following: early and differential diagnosis of arthritis, evaluation of disease activity, prognosis, assessment of treatment efficacy, assessment of remission, and evaluation of subclinical disease.

We are reporting a mutation (W104R) at exon 5 of GHR gene that is not previously reported, and it is a novel mutation.”
“Objective:

We sought to examine repeat versus primary renal transplantations using sirolimus-based regimens.

Methods:

We compared 98 repeat versus 200 matched primary recipients treated de novo with sirolimus plus cyclosporine. Every repeat case received polyclonal antibody

induction and continuous steroids. Outcomes were evaluated over a mean five-year follow-up by univariate and multivariate techniques. Kaplan-Meier plots were analyzed with using log-rank statistics with significance at P < 0.05.

Results:

Significant differences in demographic features included greater panel reactive antibody (PRA), PF-00299804 cell line younger age, fewer HLA-mismatches and more pre-emptive repeat versus primary grafts. Neither graft and patient survivals, nor incidences of biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR), chronic vasculopathy or tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis among biopsies performed for cause Bafilomycin A1 chemical structure were significantly different at 1 and 5 years. Younger recipients, better HLA matches and absence of diabetes promoted repeat graft survival; whereas older age, longer cold ischemia time and BPAR reduced primary

transplant outcomes. Renal function was similar at 1, 3, 12, 24, 48 and 60 months.

Conclusion:

At 5 years this sirolimus regimen achieved similar efficacy for repeat versus primary transplantations.”
“Release ICG-001 in vivo of nitrogen and phosphorus into effluent of activated sludge process was reported in the recent researches of sludge reduction induced by oligochaetes. In this

study, batch test and radioisotope (32)P tracer test were therefore carried out to further investigate nutrients release and phosphorus distribution among supernatant, sludge and worm during predation of oligochaetes on sludge. Results showed that more nutrients release into supernatant occurred in the tests of worms with sterilized sludge than that of worms with activated sludge, and release of nitrogen and phosphorus was few in the tests of worms with activated sludge. Statistical analysis showed that no factor was significantly correlated with phosphorus concentration in the supernatant, but time and worm were only two factors significantly affecting total nitrogen (TN) concentration in the supernatant in the test of worms with activated sludge. Through test of radioisotope (32)P tracer, (32)P mainly distributed in activated sludge and supernatant, and more release of (32)P into the supernatant occurred in the test of sludge with worms. After 24 h, (32)P concentration of supernatant in the test of sludge with worms was 9% higher than that in the test of sludge without worms, and (32)P concentration of worm increased by 2.7%. Additionally, the release rate of phosphorus into supernatant caused by worm’s predation on activated sludge was 0.1211 mgTP/gWorm (wet weight) h.

Glycogen was examined both in the liver and skeletal muscles of control and extract treated diabetic rats, whereas, the activity of glycolytic enzyme glucokinase and gluconeogenic enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase was examined in the liver. Oral administration of aqueous extract of C. ternatea leaves (400 mg/kg body weight) and flowers (400 mg/kg body weight) for 84 days significantly reduced serum glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, creatinine and the activity

of gluconeogenic enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase, but increased serum insulin, HDL-cholesterol, protein, liver and skeletal muscle glycogen content and the activity of glycolytic enzyme glucokinase. For all the above biochemical parameters investigated, C. ternatea leaves treated rat showed a little better activity than C. ternatea flowers treated OSI-744 cell line diabetic rats. The present investigation suggests that C. ternatea leaves and flowers extract exhibit antihyperglycaemic and antihyperlipidaemic effects and learn more consequently may alleviate liver and renal damage associated with alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus in rats.”
“The aim of this study was to evaluate neurological manifestations of primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS) and investigate the etiology and pathogenesis

of peripheral and central nervous complications in pSS. Thirty-two patients with pSS were enrolled in the present study, 20 of whom had neurological involvement plus sicca symptoms. The clinical features were evaluated by neurological examinations including nerve conduction study, magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrospinal fluid, and electroencephalogram. The frequency of fever was significantly higher (P = 0.006) in pSS with neurological involvement than in pSS without neurological involvement. There AZD9291 in vitro was

no statistical significance in other factors between the two groups. Peripheral nervous system (PNS), central nervous system (CNS), and both PNS and CNS involvements were revealed in 14, 3, and 3 patients, respectively. Optic neuritis and trigeminal neuralgia were revealed frequently in cranial neuropathy. Anti-aquaporin 4 antibody was detected in one patient with optic neuritis. Of the nine patients with polyneuropathy, eight patients presented pure sensory neuropathy including small fiber neuropathy (SFN). pSS with SFN appeared to have no clinically abnormal features, including muscle weakness and decreasing deep tendon reflex. Skin biopsy revealed epidermal nerve fiber degenerated in one pSS patient with pure sensory neuropathy who was diagnosed as having SFN. Our observations suggest that a number of mechanisms can be attributed to neurological involvements in pSS rather than just the mechanisms previously described (i.e., vasculitis and ganglioneuronitis). Presumably, specific autoantibodies may directly induce injury of the nervous system.”
“Lung cancer classification is of paramount importance in determining the treatment for oncologic patients.

This finding suggested that the antidepressant-like profile seems to involve the serotonergic system as underlying mechanism.”
“A group of N-phenylacetamide, N-phenylpropanamide and N-benzylamide derivatives bearing 5-membered heterocyclic rings such as pyrazole, 1,2,4-triazole and imidazole rings at omega position were synthesized and their anticonvulsant activity was evaluated

in the maximal electroshock test. The results indicated that the 1,2,4-triazole ring leads to superior activity than the pyrazole ring and inserting a CH(2) group into the anilide structure leading to N-benzyl derivatives did not change the anticonvulsant activity, but caused a noticeable decrease in duration of action. The most active compound was 2-(1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-y1)-N(2,6-dimethylphenyl)acetamide.”
“A sensitive and selective high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed www.selleckchem.com/products/gsk923295.html and validated for estimation of lamotrigine (CAS 84057-84-1) in human plasma and saliva. The chromatographic separation was achieved with a reversed phase column and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 20 mM ammonium acetate buffer pH 6.5 (30:70) with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The calibration curve was linear within the working range for both plasma and saliva. The validated method has been successfully applied for a study of lamotrigine in human plasma and

saliva to establish the correlation between these two matrices. A scatter plot AG-881 of plasma click here versus salivary lamotrigine concentrations showed a good linear relationship between them (Pearson correlation coefficient, r = 0.6832, p < 0.001).”
“Background

and objective: The purpose of the present study was to compare the bioavailability of a new methyldopa (CAS 555-30-6) tablet formulation with that of a reference formulation in 12 healthy male subjects using a modified HPLC method.

Methods: The study was designed as an open label, single-dose, randomized study with a cross-over design. Under fasting conditions, each subject received one 250-mg tablet orally as a single dose of a test or reference formulation on two treatment days. The treatment periods were separated by a one-week washout period. The blood samples were collected at different time points after each administration and determined using a rapid and reliable modified HPLC method. The method used was validated for specificity, accuracy, precision and sensitivity. The pharmacokinetic parameters (C(max), AUC(0-t), AUC(0-infinity)) were statistically compared by analysis of variance (ANOVA) for test and reference formulations.

Results and discussion: All validation criteria for the developed HPLC method were in acceptable range. The maximum plasma concentration (C(max)) of alpha-methyldopa was 270.3-1864.9 ng/ml for the test and 224.5-1585.6 ng/ml for the reference formulation. The mean AUC(0-infinity) of alpha-methyldopa was 2002.1-10614.8 and 2076.8-9056.

It was also shown that over-expression of 14-3-3 chi leads to hypersensitivity of Arabidopsis seedlings to C/N stress conditions. These results indicate that ATL31 targets and ubiquitinates 14-3-3 proteins for degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system during the response to cellular C/N status.”
“The epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae, a major cause of meningitis, pneumonia, bacteraemia and acute otitis media in both children and adults, has been

altered by the availability of the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) and selection pressure from broad-spectrum antibiotics. In Spain, the rates of antimicrobial consumption and resistance are high; of all S. pneumoniae isolates collected between 2001 and 2003, 9.2% were penicillin-resistant and 26.4% were

penicillin-intermediate. These rates were even higher in children aged <= 4 years; 52.3% Omipalisib datasheet of isolates were penicillin-resistant or penicillin-intermediate. Serogroup 14 comprises nearly 9% of pneumococcal strains and exhibits the highest resistance to penicillin (69%). Since the introduction of PCV7 in Madrid, the isolates collected from hospitalized children aged <15 years from 21 hospitals revealed that only 8% of cases involving S. pneumoniae isolates were due to PCV7 serotypes, and no PCV7 vaccination failures were identified. These isolates demonstrated low rates of penicillin-non-susceptible PRIMA-1MET and erythromycin-non-susceptible strains. Among multiresistant strains, serotype 19A was identified as most important. Although the recent WHO position paper on childhood immunizations speaks to the growing resistance of pneumococci, antibiotic resistance in Spain is noted to be decreasing and

must be evaluated in conjunction with global studies.”
“Solid semi-crystalline starch and hydrosoluble glycogen define two distinct physical states of the same type of storage polysaccharide. Appearance of semi-crystalline storage polysaccharides appears linked to the requirement of unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacteria to fuel nitrogenase and protect it from oxygen through respiration of vast amounts of stored carbon. Starch metabolism itself resulted from the merging of the bacterial and eukaryote pathways of storage EPZ-6438 mouse polysaccharide metabolism after endosymbiosis of the plastid. This generated the three Archaeplastida lineages: the green algae and land plants (Chloroplastida), the red algae (Rhodophyceae), and the glaucophytes (Glaucophyta). Reconstruction of starch metabolism in the common ancestor of Archaeplastida suggests that polysaccharide synthesis was ancestrally cytosolic. In addition, the synthesis of cytosolic starch from the ADP-glucose exported from the cyanobacterial symbiont possibly defined the original metabolic flux by which the cyanobiont provided photosynthate to its host.

Hep-2 cells treated with a 10 mg/mL extract of cheonggukjang containing 0.3% PLE showed the highest growth inhibition rate of 84.74%.”
“Improving our knowledge of the links between ecology and evolution is especially critical in the actual context of global rapid environmental changes. A critical step in that direction is to quantify how variation

in ecological factors linked to habitat modifications might shape observed levels of genetic variability in wild populations. Still, little is known on the factors affecting levels and distribution of genetic diversity at the individual level, despite its vital underlying role in evolutionary processes. In this study, we assessed the effects of habitat quality on population HSP mutation structure and individual genetic diversity of tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) breeding along a gradient of agricultural intensification in southern Quebec, Canada. Using a landscape genetics Etomoxir mw approach, we found that individual genetic diversity was greater in poorer quality habitats. This counter-intuitive result was partly explained by the settlement patterns of tree swallows across the landscape. Individuals of higher genetic diversity arrived earlier on their breeding grounds and settled in the first available habitats, which correspond to intensive cultures. Our results highlight

the importance of investigating the effects of environmental variability on individual genetic diversity, and of integrating information on landscape structure when conducting such studies.”
“BACKGROUND: Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BUS) is the main long-term complication after lung transplantation. Previous

studies indicate that neutrophil mobilization causes learn more high protease concentrations in the lung allograft during BUS. This study assessed net protease activity and the functional aspect of proteases in BOS.

METHODS: The net gelatinase and net serine protease activity was assessed in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from 12 pairs of 24 lung allograft recipients with and without BUS, carefully selected from a larger cohort that was otherwise clinically matched. We determined the identity and total activity of gelatinases and concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 9, as well as the concentration of serine protease, neutrophil elastase (NE), and one major antiprotease, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI).

RESULTS: Net gelatinase activity was substantially increased in BUS (n = 12), with total MMP-9 activity exceeding total MMP-2 activity (p < 0.01). Correspondingly, the total mean (interquartile range) concentration of MMP-9 was increased in BUS (62 [160] ng/ml) vs non-BUS (20 [24] ng/ml; p < 0.05), but not MMP-2 (BUS: 0.6 [0.7]; non-BUS: 0.6 [0.8] ng/ml, p = 0.23). Notably, net gelatinase activity correlated with MMP-9 (p = 0.9, p < 0.01) and percentage of neutrophils (p = 0.8, p < 0.01).

73 vs. 0.69, P = 0.1750). Mixed effects models indicated that RP was associated with higher utility at 24 month (OR = 1.12, P = 0.027), after controlling for covariates. RP was associated with improved functioning for role physical, role emotional,

vitality, mental health and bodily pain, and impaired urinary function. Higher scores on generic health subscales were indicative of higher utility. Also, for prostate-specific HRQoL, higher scores on bowl function, sexual function, urinary bother, and bowel bother were associated with higher utility.

Conclusions Treatment appears to have significant association with post-treatment Veliparib utility. Thus, utility assessment provides an important quantitative tool to support patient and physician clinical

treatment decision-making process in prostate cancer care.”
“Purpose This study reports how QOL (quality of life) assessments differ between patients on prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) and their proxies (family caregivers and nurses).

Methods SB273005 We enrolled consecutive subjects on PMV for more than 21 days from five institutions. We conducted QOL assessments using the Taiwanese version of the EQ5D in face-to-face interviews. Direct caregivers (family members and nurses) also completed the EQ-5D from the patient’s point of view.

Results For 55 of the 142 enrolled patients who were able to assess their QOL, we recruited 44 patient-family caregiver pairs, 53 patient-nurse pairs, and 42 family caregiver-nurse pairs. There were 81 family caregiver-nurse pairs out of 87 patients with poor cognition. The agreement between patient-family caregiver pairs was generally higher than that of patient-nurse pairs. As the proportions

of exact agreement between family caregivers and nurses for patients with poor cognition were 98-99% for observable dimensions of mobility, self-care, and usual activities, they lead to a minimal difference Selleck IPI-549 in the final values.

Conclusions QOL assessments from family caregivers agreed more closely with patients than did those from nurses using EQ-5D evaluations for patients with clear cognition, but either proxy was acceptable for rating PMV patients with poor cognition.”
“Purpose To derive preference weights in Trinidad and Tobago for Quality of Well-being Scale (QWB) health states in order to calculate QWB scores that can be compared to scores calculated from US-derived preference weights. The comparison was to determine whether the QWB scores from these different preference weights would lead to similar conclusions.

Methods We conducted in-person household interviews to elicit preferences for 65 health states using a probability sample of 235 adults from Port of Spain, Chaguanas and San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago. A regression model with correction for within-person clustering of observations was used to obtain preference weights based on case judgments on a 0 (dead) to 10 (“”perfect health”) scale.

“
“Purpose: To investigate the gene polymorphism of CYP2D6*10 (C188T) in the Hui people and study its correlation between CYP2D6*10 gene mutation and structure and function of its encoding protein.

Methods: 150 unrelated Hui ethnic group volunteers participated in this study. A total of 500 mu L heparin-treated blood from each volunteer was extracted with the TIANGEN DNA Mini

Kit. Allele specific amplification PCR and Gene sequencing were used to detect the CYP2D6 alleles *10. Bioinformatics and computer modeling methods were used to predict the spatial structure and function of the protein encoded by the wild type gene and mutant gene.

Results: The mutation frequency of C188T allele (T) of CYP2D6*10 in Ningxia Hui people was 47.5 %, compared with Turkish (14.5 %), Ethiopia (8.6 %), Spanish (1.9 %), and they were significantly different, (p < 0.01;) The result from ProtParam shows that mutant protein was more unstable GDC-0973 concentration than the wild-type protein. The isoelectric point, molecular weight and hydrophilicity were similar in terms of mutant protein and wild-type protein. Analysis of the gene sequence of CYP2D6*10 using DNAStar/Protein software indicates that the mutant protein had one more Gamier-Robson Turn while MotifScan analysis showed that the wild-type protein had 2 P450 enzyme

activation sites and that there was none in the mutant protein. Analysis using SignalP demonstrated that the wild-type protein had signal peptide while the mutant protein had none. Analysis using TMHMM Server showed that both of them had a selleck inhibitor CA3 nmr transmembrane region. The foregoing differences between the mutant protein and the wild-type protein could influence the activity of CYP2D6.

Conclusion: Gene mutation can change the spatial structure and function of CYP2D6.

This change may be the main reason for the decreased activity of the enzyme.”
“Purpose of review

Systemic sclerosis is commonly complicated by pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH-SSc) and is a leading cause of death in this population. We will review existing challenges and recent advances in the treatment of this disease.

Recent findings

Traditionally employed outcome measures in pulmonary arterial hypertension research may not be applicable in PAH-SSc. Importantly, new therapies that target abnormal cellular proliferation in the pulmonary vasculature are currently under investigation and may be particularly relevant to PAH-SSc.

Summary

Pulmonary arterial hypertension complicating systemic sclerosis occurs commonly and portends a poor prognosis. However, recent advances in our understanding of the disease in the context of systemic sclerosis may lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that will ultimately improve quality of life and survival in this population.”
“Objective: alpha 1-Antitrypsin (AAT) is protective of tissue damage induced by enzymes of inflammatory cell source.

The experimental results showed that SPEEK-alt-BI membranes exhibited promising oxidative and

hydrolysis stabilities. Although the base moieties in SPEEK-alt-BI main chain would capture proton and form reversible salt hindering the proton transfer capability, the conductivity of membrane VX-770 Transmembrane Transporters inhibitor 60SPEEK-alt-BI-H [Sulfonation degree (S.D.), 60% in form of proton] could achieve 22.61 mS/cm at 80 degrees C and 100% humidity. Meanwhile, the conductivity of membrane could reach 40.12 mS/cm with phosphorus acid doping. The methanol permeation coefficient of 60SPEEK-alt-BI membrane is 2.3 x 10(-8) cm2/s at 20 degrees C, which is magnitude lower than that of Nafion (R) 117, 1.11 x 10(-6) cm2/s. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012″
“The behavior of the transition temperature and critical current density for a Mo/Nb repeated bilayer system as a function of the number of periods was explored. The measured values of the transition temperature are compared to the

theoretical predictions for the proximity effect in the dirty limit. We find that the transition temperature does not decrease as the number of periods increase. In addition, inductive critical current density measurements also show a scaling that indicates the superconductivity properties are not dependent on the number of bilayers. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3650239]“
“Many studies involving lexical access in picture-naming tasks have been undertaken at a point in time, mainly focusing on age of acquisition (AoA). To identify the real determinates of lexical access in recovery and their traces in the brain, we carried out a longitudinal study on AZD7762 concentration a Chinese pure anomic patient using multiple logistic regression analysis. We found that AoA played an important role in early recovery but not in total recovery, whereas familiarity was significant in the whole process. From a new dynamic

point of view, our results indicate that selleck AoA and familiarity are the main determinants of lexical access in anomia recovery. We suggest that the changing effects of AoA during recovery may be related to the pathologic process; AoA and familiarity should be taken into account in constructing materials to assess and treat anomic patients.”
“The crosslinking of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) using crosslinking agents (CAs) based on a peroxide/sulfur/accelerator system is a very attractive new method that has been reported recently. The present work deals with the study of the dynamic rheological behavior of iPP during and after the crosslinking process. The influence of the CA concentration and the processing temperature T on the rheological behavior of the iPP was analyzed. The kinetics of the crosslinking reaction was established using the technique described by G. A. Harpell and D. H. Walrod. This reaction is found to be of order one. At T = 180 degrees C, the crosslinking reaction was faster.