Aspects of early arthritis. Definition of disease states in early arthritis: remission versus minimal disease activity

With regard to rheumatoid arthritis, remission as currently used in the literature can have two meanings: either a state with persistent absence of clinical and radiological signs of disease activity without being treated for a specific time period, or it may point to a disease state with minimal disease activity during antirheumatic treatment. A risk factor for the first is absence of autoantibodies, with the anti-CCP-antibodies as best predictors, whereas risk factors for achieving a drug-induced state of minimal disease activity are not well defined. These definitions of remission refer to different disease states; therefore, we propose that the term remission is reserved for patients that are not treated with antirheumatic drugs.     

TILLING by Sequencing (TbyS) for targeted genome mutagenesis in crops

TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes) by Sequencing (TbyS) refers to the application of high-throughput sequencing technologies to mutagenised TILLING populations as a tool for functional genomics. TbyS can be used to identify and characterise induced variation in genes (controlling traits of interest) within large mutant populations, and is a powerful approach for the study and harnessing of genetic variation in crop breeding programmes. The extension of existing TILLING platforms by TbyS will accelerate crop functional genomics studies, in concert with the rapid increase in genome editing capabilities and the number and quality of sequenced crop plant genomes. In this mini-review, we provide an overview of the growth of TbyS and its potential applications to crop molecular breeding.     

Bioaccumulation of selected metals in the gill,liver and muscle tissue of rednose labeo Labeo rosae from two impoundments on the Olifants River,Limpopo river system,South Africa

Metal concentrations in the gill, muscle and liver tissues of Labeo rosae from two impoundments, Loskop and Flag Boshielo dams on the Olifants River, were evaluated in 2011 to detect patterns in metal associations between tissues and impoundments. Elevated concentrations of Ba, Zn, B, Al, Si and Fe, relative to a pristine site in the catchment, were found in the muscle, liver and gill tissues at both impoundments. Molybdenum concentrations were exceptionally high in all tissues at Loskop Dam and in liver at Flag Boshielo Dam. No definite pattern in the ratio metal concentrations within, or between, fish tissues was identified. The expected trend, liver > gills > muscle, was found at both impoundments, but was less prominent at Loskop Dam. Metal concentrations in muscle of Loskop Dam fish were significantly higher than in those at Flag Boshielo Dam. The inverse was true for liver. The long-term impact of elevated metal concentrations on fish health at both impoundments raises concern.     

DNA affinity binding studies using a fluorescent dye displacement technique: the dichotomy of the binding site

We have observed a number of discrepancies and contradictions in the use of a fluorescent intercalator displacement assay in surveying the binding affinities of dinuclear polypyridyl ruthenium(II) complexes with DNA. By a modification of the assay using the fluorescent minor-groove binder 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, rather than intercalating dyes (ethidium bromide or thiazole orange), results were obtained for all complexes studied which were consistent with relative affinities and stereoselectivities observed with other techniques, including NMR, affinity chromatography and equilibrium dialysis. It is believed that the difference in binding mode between the minor groove-binding Ru(II) complexes and the intercalating fluorescent dyes they are displacing may contribute to these discrepancies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Competition between Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Staphylococcus epidermidis during iron-limited or replete continuous culture

Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain P9-2 was grown in iron-limited or replete continuous culture at a dilution rate of 0.05 h-1, in the presence and absence of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Gonococci maintained expression of pili (P+) and the transparent colony phenotype in pure culture during transitions of iron- and cystine-limited growth. They competed well with staphylococci during iron-limited co-culture and comprised greater than 95% of the population. Transition to cystine-limited growth allowed the staphylococcus to predominate but the gonococcus did not wash out. Furthermore, the gonococcal opaque colony phenotype (O+), indicating synthesis of outer membrane proteins II, was now expressed. Restoration of iron limitation returned the co-culture to its original composition but with P+O+ gonococci dominating. These results suggest that environments might exist in Man where gonococci can compete successfully with normal indigenous bacteria during infection.