Possible rheumatoid arthritis subtypes in terms of rheumatoid factor,depression, diagnostic delay and emotional expression: an exploratory case-control study

Introduction

Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been implicated in the pathology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly as vulnerable personality types are exposed to chronic stress. Emotions are powerful modulators of stress responses. However, little is known about whether patients with RA process emotions differently to matched controls. In this study we: 1) assessed whether the trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) scores of patients with RA differ from healthy controls at the facet level; 2) explored any subgroups in RA, in terms of trait EI and common risk factors.

Methods

A total of 637 patients with RA were compared to 496 controls on the trait EI Questionnaire (TEIQue). RA subgroups were explored in terms of trait EI, rheumatoid factor status (RF+/-), depression and time from onset of symptoms until diagnosis (diagnostic delay).

Results

The RA group rated themselves lower on Adaptability, Stress-management, Emotion management, Self-esteem, Sociability, Assertiveness, Impulsiveness and Well-being, and higher on Empathy and Relationships than healthy controls. The RF- subtype reported more time with depression (25.2 vs. 11.3 months), a longer diagnostic delay (3.0 vs. 1.7 years), and greater emotional expression (5.15 vs. 4.72), than the RF+ subtype. These differences were significant at the P <0.05 level, but not following strict Bonferroni corrections and should therefore be treated as indicative only. RF- patients with a longer diagnostic delay reported depression lasting three times longer (42.7 months), when compared to three other subtypes (11.0 to 12.7 months).

Conclusions

RA patients and controls differ in their emotion-related personality traits, as operationalized by trait EI. These differences may make people with RA more susceptible to chronic stress and HPA-axis dysregulation. RA may be a highly heterogeneous illness where at least two subtypes may be characterized by personality, psychiatric and immunological differences. RF- status, as well as diagnostic delay and emotional expression, may predict future risk of depression. Research on the causes of RA could benefit from a systems science approach.     

Transgene stacking and marker elimination in transgenic rice by sequential Agrobacterium-mediated co-transformation with the same selectable marker gene

Rice chitinase (chi11) and tobacco osmotin (ap24) genes, which cause disruption of fungal cell wall and cell membrane, respectively, were stacked in transgenic rice to develop resistance against the sheath blight disease. The homozygous marker-free transgenic rice line CoT23 which harboured the rice chi11 transgene was sequentially re-transformed with a second transgene ap24 by co-transformation using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain harbouring a single-copy cointegrate vector pGV2260∷pSSJ1 and a multi-copy binary vector pBin19∆nptII-ap24 in the same cell. pGV2260∷pSSJ1 T-DNA carried the hygromycin phosphotransferase (hph) and β-glucuronidase (gus) genes. pBin19∆nptII-ap24 T-DNA harboured the tobacco osmotin (ap24) gene. Co-transformation of the gene of interest (ap24) with the selectable marker gene (SMG, hph) occurred in 12 out of 18 T₀ plants (67%). Segregation of hph from ap24 was accomplished in the T₁ generation in one (line 11) of the four analysed co-transformed plants. The presence of ap24 and chi11 transgenes and the absence of the hph gene in the SMG-eliminated T₁ plants of the line 11 were confirmed by DNA blot analyses. The SMG-free transgenic plants of the line 11 harboured a single copy of the ap24 gene. Homozygous, SMG-free T₂ plants of the transgenic line 11 harboured stacked transgenes, chi11 and ap24. Northern blot analysis of the SMG-free plants revealed constitutive expression of chi11 and ap24. The transgenic plants with stacked transgenes displayed high levels of resistance against Rhizoctonia solani. Thus, we demonstrate the development of transgene-stacked and marker-free transgenic rice by sequential Agrobacterium-mediated co-transformation with the same SMG.     

Molecular and culture dependent characterization of endolithic bacteria in two beach sand samples and description of Rhizobium endolithicum sp. nov.

The taxonomic position of a streptomycete isolated from a potato tubercle was determined by using a polyphasic approach. The organism had chemotaxonomic and morphological properties consistent with its classification in the genus Streptomyces and formed a distinct phyletic line in the Streptomyces 16S rRNA gene tree. It was found to be closely related to Streptomyces celluloflavus NRRL B-2493^T (99.4 % 16S rRNA gene similarity) and shared a 99.0 % 16S rRNA gene similarity value with Streptomyces albolongus NRRL B-3604^T and Streptomyces cavourensis subsp. cavourensis NBRC 13026^T; low levels of DNA–DNA relatedness with these organisms showed that the isolate belonged to a distinct genomic species. The isolate was distinguished readily from the type strains of these species using a combination of morphological and other phenotypic properties. On the basis of these results, it is proposed that isolate ASBV-1^T (= CBMAI 1465^T = CCMA 894^T = NRRL B-24922^T) be classified as the type strain of Streptomyces araujoniae sp. nov.     

Gas exchange,carbon balance and stomatal traits in wild and cultivated rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.) genotypes

Carbon balancing within the plant species is an important feature for climatic adaptability. Photosynthesis and respiration traits are directly linked with carbon balance. These features were studied in 20 wild rice accessions Oryza spp., and cultivars. Wide variation was observed within the wild rice accessions for photosynthetic oxygen evolution or photosynthetic rate (A), dark (R _d), and light induced respiration (LIR) rates, as well as stomatal density and number. The mean rate of A varied from 10.49 μmol O₂ m^?2 s^?1 in cultivated species and 13.09 μmol O₂ m^?2 s^?1 in wild spp., The mean R _d is 2.09 μmol O₂ m^?2 s^?1 and 2.31 μmol O₂ m^?2 s^?1 in cultivated and wild spp., respectively. Light induced Respiration (LIR) was found to be almost twice in wild rice spp., (16.75 μmol O₂ m^?2 s^?1) compared to cultivated Oryza spp., Among the various parameters, this study reveals LIR and A as the key factors for positive carbon balance. Stomatal contribution towards carbon balance appears to be more dependent on abaxial surface where several number of stomata are situated. Correlation analysis indicates that R _d and LIR increase with the increase in A. In this study, O. nivara (CR 100100, CR 100097), O. rufipogon (IR 103404) and O. glumaepatula (IR104387) were identified as potential donors which could be used in rice breeding program. Co-ordination between gas exchange and patchiness in stomatal behaviour appears to be important for carbon balance and environmental adaptation of wild rice accessions, therefore, survival under harsh environment.     

Defensive Role of Quercetin Against Imbalances of Calcium,Sodium, and Potassium in Galactosemic Cataract

Galactosemic cataracts are characterized by electrolyte disturbances resulting in osmotic imbalance and loss of transparency. We have studied the defensive role of quercetin, a bioflavonoid, against the alterations of calcium (Ca²⁺), sodium (Na⁺), and potassium (K⁺) concentrations in galactose-induced cataract in a rodent model. The experimental study was conducted on weanling male Wistar rats with an average body weight of 34 ± 0.9 g. Different groups received normal stock AIN 93 diet (group A, n = 8), AIN 93 diet with 30% galactose (group B, n = 8), and AIN 93 diet with 30% galactose + quercetin at 400 mg/100 g diet (group C, n = 8). Aldose reductase activity and protein content and concentrations of Ca²⁺, Na+, and K⁺ were determined in normal and cataractous lenses. Treatment with quercetin resulted in a significant decrease in Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ and aldose reductase levels and an increase in K⁺ and protein levels in galactosemic cataractous lenses. These results imply that inclusion of quercetin contributes to lens transparency through the maintenance of characteristic osmotic ion equilibrium and protein levels of the lens.     

Nucleosides and oligonucleotides with diynyl side chains: the huisgen-sharpless cycloaddition "click reaction" performed on DNA and their constituents

Phosphoramidite building blocks related to the four canonical DNA constituents and oligonucleotides with octadiynyl side chains (5b-8b) or dipropargyl ether residues (5c) were synthesized. Nucleosides and oligonucleotides were functionalized at the terminal triple bonds employing the Huisgen-Sharpless cycloaddition "click reaction."     

Luminescence and dosimetry approach in terbium(III)-activated tungstate double perovskite

A series of tungstate double perovskite Ca₃WO₆ doped with Tb³⁺ was prepared by a combustion process using urea as a flux. The crystal structure identification of Ca₃WO₆:Tb³⁺ phosphors was done using X-ray diffraction patterns, and a monoclinic structure was discovered. The Fourier transform infrared spectrum of Ca₃WO₆:Tb³⁺ displayed characteristic vibrations of tungstate bonds. Under 278 nm excitation, Ca₃WO₆:Tb³⁺ exhibited intense downconversion green emission, which corresponded to the ⁵D₄–⁷F_J (J = 4,5) transitions of Tb³⁺. The phosphor exhibited the highest photoluminescence (PL) intensity when it was doped with 1 mol% of Tb³⁺; later intensity quenching appeared to be due to the multipolar interaction at higher dopant concentrations. Moreover, high-quality thermoluminescence (TL) was detected when phosphors were irradiated using beta rays. The effects of Tb³⁺ concentration and beta dose on TL intensity were the two major aspects studied in detail. The TL intensity demonstrated excellent linear response to the applied range of beta dose. The trap parameters of the studied phosphors were computed by the peak shape approach and glow curve deconvolution. The fading effect on TL intensity was studied by recording the TL glow curves after 1 month of beta irradiation. Obtained results from the PL and TL characterizations showed that the phosphors under study have the potential to be used in lighting displays and in thermoluminescence dosimetry.     

Optimization of mycophenolic acid production in solid state fermentation using response surface methodology

Mycophenolic acid (MPA) can be produced in solid state fermentation. An isolate of Penicillium brevi-compactum ATCC 16024 grown on moist wheat bran produced a titre of 425 mg per kg of wheat bran. Central composite rotatable design and response surface methodology were employed to derive a statistical model for media optimization towards production of mycophenolic acid. Five levels with a five factorial design were adopted. The correlation coefficient was 0.82, ensuring a satisfactory adjustment of the model to the experimental values. This statistical design was very effective in improving the titre of mycophenolic acid up to 3286 mg per kg of wheat bran. Received 24 July 1998/ Accepted in revised form 4 December 1998