Lack of association between glucocorticoid use and presence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study

Lupus nephritis is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus, but little is known about the pathogenic processes that underlie the progressive decay in renal function. A common finding in lupus nephritis is thickening of glomerular basement membranes associated with immune complex deposition. It has been speculated that alterations in the synthesis or degradation of membrane components might contribute to such changes, and thereby to initiation and progression of nephritis through facilitation of immune complex deposition. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes that are intimately involved in the turnover of major glomerular basement membrane constituents, including collagen IV and laminins. Alterations in the expression and activity of MMPs have been described in a number of renal diseases, suggesting their relevance to the pathogenesis of various glomerulopathies. The same is true for their natural inhibitors, the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase family. Recent data from our group have identified an increase in proteolytic activity within the glomerulus coinciding with the development of proteinuria in the mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus. (NXB × NZW)F₁ Here we review current understanding of MMP/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase function within the kidney, and discuss their possible involvement in the development and progression of lupus nephritis.     

赤红壤早稻田甲烷排放通量及其影响因素

用封闭箱法对广东省赤红壤早稻田CH4排放通量进行了观测。结果表明,CH4排放有明显的季节变化规律,3个排放高峰分别出现在水稻分蘖末期、孕穗抽穗期和乳熟期,平均通量为5.7mg.m-2.h-1。在测定期内,CH4排放与5和10cm土壤温度呈显著正相关,与土壤Eh呈显著负相关,与土壤pH值、水层深浅相关不明显。     

In situ fluorescent nick translation procedure for plant chromosomes

Pectinase and cellulase, which are used to macerate plant material, always show traces of DNase activities that result in DNA nicking. Moreover, the DNA polymerase I usually applied in the in situ nick translation techniques shows both 5' to 3' and 3' to 5' exonuclease activities. As a result, significant nonspecific labeling appears in control preparations that are not digested by a restriction endonuclease. Our procedure includes blocking nonspecific nick labeling before incubation with restriction enzymes (HpaII and HaeIII). This is achieved by incorporation of ddGTP into DNA by the Taq polymerase which lacks 3' to 5' exonuclease activity. This method gives satisfactory results because it eliminates nonspecific nick translation signals that are present after applying the methods described for animal material.     

DrugViz: a Cytoscape plugin for visualizing and analyzing small molecule drugs in biological networks

SUMMARY: DrugViz is a Cytoscape plugin that is designed to visualize and analyze small molecules within the framework of the interactome. DrugViz can import drug-target network information in an extended SIF file format to Cytoscape and display the two-dimensional (2D) structures of small molecule nodes in a unified visualization environment. It also can identify small molecule nodes by means of three different 2D structure searching methods, namely isomorphism, substructure and fingerprint-based similarity searches. After selections, users can furthermore conduct a two-side clustering analysis on drugs and targets, which allows for a detailed analysis of the active compounds in the network, and elucidate relationships between these drugs and targets. DrugViz represents a new tool for the analysis of data from chemogenomics, metabolomics and systems biology. AVAILABILITY: DrugViz and data set used in Application are freely available for download at http://202.127.30.184:8080/software.html.     

A Dutch guideline for the treatment of scoliosis in neuromuscular disorders

Background

Children with neuromuscular disorders with a progressive muscle weakness such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Spinal Muscular Atrophy frequently develop a progressive scoliosis. A severe scoliosis compromises respiratory function and makes sitting more difficult. Spinal surgery is considered the primary treatment option for correcting severe scoliosis in neuromuscular disorders. Surgery in this population requires a multidisciplinary approach, careful planning, dedicated surgical procedures, and specialized after care.

Methods

The guideline is based on scientific evidence and expert opinions. A multidisciplinary working group representing experts from all relevant specialties performed the research. A literature search was conducted to collect scientific evidence in answer to specific questions posed by the working group. Literature was classified according to the level of evidence.

Results

For most aspects of the treatment scientific evidence is scarce and only low level cohort studies were found. Nevertheless, a high degree of consensus was reached about the management of patients with scoliosis in neuromuscular disorders. This was translated into a set of recommendations, which are now officially accepted as a general guideline in the Netherlands.

Conclusion

In order to optimize the treatment for scoliosis in neuromuscular disorders a Dutch guideline has been composed. This evidence-based, multidisciplinary guideline addresses conservative treatment, the preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative care of scoliosis in neuromuscular disorders.     

Antibodies to mutated citrullinated vimentin and disease activity score in early arthritis: a cohort study

Introduction  

The aim of our study was to investigate the association between arthritic disease activity and antibodies to mutated citrullinated vimentin (anti-MCV), because such a relation has been suggested.     

Molecular Evidence for the Last Survivor of an Ancient Kangaroo Lineage

The Australasian marsupial family Macropodidae includes potoroos and bettongs (Potoroinae) as well as larger kangaroos, wallabies, and pademelons (Macropodinae). Perhaps the most enigmatic macropodid is the banded hare wallaby, Lagostrophus fasciatus, a taxon listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. Lagostrophus had traditionally been grouped as a sister-taxon to hare wallabies (Lagorchestes), in a clade with hypsodont macropodines, or intercalated in some other fashion within Macropodinae. Flannery (1983, 1989) proposed a radically different hypothesis wherein Lagostrophus is outside of Macropodinae and is more closely related to extinct sthenurine (short-faced) kangaroos. Given this controversy, we addressed the phylogenetic placement of the banded hare wallaby using molecular sequences for three mitochondrial genes (12S rRNA, valine tRNA, 16S rRNA) and one nuclear gene (protamine P1). Diverse phylogenetic methods all provided robust support for a macropodine clade that excludes the banded hare wallaby. The split between macropodines and the banded hare wallaby was estimated at approximately 20 million years ago (mya) using the Thorne/Kishino relaxed molecular clock method. Whereas our molecular results neither corroborate nor refute the sthenurine hypothesis, since all short-faced kangaroos and their immediate ancestors are extinct, the overriding implication of molecular phylogenetic analyses is manifest: the banded hare wallaby is the only living relict of an ancient kangaroo lineage. Regardless of its precise relationships, special efforts should be directed at conserving this unique and endangered taxon, which has not been recorded from mainland Australia since 1906 and is now restricted to two tiny islands off the coast of Western Australia.Supplementary material to this paper is available in electronic form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1022697300092     

An investigation of the relationship between fecal and rumen bacterial concentrations in sheep

With no acceptable method for collecting fresh rumen fluid from zoo ruminants, it was proposed that fecal bacterial concentrations may be correlated with rumen bacteria. If so, fecal bacterial concentrations could be used to study both the effects of diet on rumen bacteria as well as rumen abnormalities. Total and cellulolytic bacterial concentrations were determined in whole rumen contents and feces of sheep using a most‐probable‐number (MPN) assay. In a Latin square design, four crossbred ewes were fed diets of 100% long or chopped orchardgrass hay (OH) and 60% ground or whole shelled corn plus 40% chopped OH. In a second trial, the sheep were fed a pelleted complete feed at varying levels of intake i.e., control at 2.0% of body weight and at 1.8, 1.6, and 1.2% of body weight. Higher total rumen bacterial concentrations (P<0.01) were found on the high concentrate diets as compared with the high forage diets. Grinding the corn also increased total bacterial concentrations (P<0.05). Fecal concentrations of total bacteria were higher (P<0.01) with the high concentrate diets. Chopping the forage decreased the concentration of fecal cellulolytic bacteria (P<0.05) but had no effect on their concentration in the rumen. An inverse linear relationship (P<0.01) was observed between total bacterial concentrations in the feces and diet intake. Although relationships were observed between the rumen and feces for total and cellulolytic bacterial concentrations, they were dependent on diet, particle size, and level of intake. Thus, fecal bacterial concentrations cannot be used to reliably predict rumen bacterial concentrations. Zoo Biol 27:100–108, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Strain persistence of invasive Candida albicans in chronic hyperplastic candidosis that underwent malignant change

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess persistence and tissue invasion of Candida albicans strains isolated from a 65 year‐old patient with chronic hyperplastic candidosis (CHC), that subsequently developed into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Materials and Methods: C. albicans (n=7) were recovered from the oral cavity of the patient over seven years. Confirmation of CHC and SCC in this patient was achieved by histopathological examination of incisional biopsy tissue. DNA fingerprinting was performed on the seven isolates from the CHC patient together with a further eight isolates from patients with normal oral mucosa (n=2), chronic atrophic candidosis (n=1), SCC (n=1) and CHC (n=4). Genotyping involved the use of inter‐repeat PCR using the eukaryotic repeat primer 1251. Characterisation of the tissue invasive abilities of the isolates was achieved by infecting a commercially available reconstituted human oral epithelium (RHE; SkinEthic, Nice, France). After 24 h. C. albicans tissue invasion was assessed by histopathological examination. Results: DNA fingerprinting demonstrated strain persistence of C. albicans in the CHC patient over a seven year period despite provision of systemic antifungal therapy. The strain of C. albicans isolated from this patient was categorised as a high invader within the RHE compared to other isolates. Conclusions: Candidal strain persistence was evident in a patient with CHC over seven years. This persistence may be due to incomplete eradication from the oral cavity following antifungal therapy or subsequent recolonisation from other body sites or separate exogenous sources. The demonstration of enhanced in vitro tissue invasion by this particular strain may, in part, explain the progression to carcinoma.