What have we learned from clinical trials in primary Sj?gren's syndrome about pathogenesis?

In vitro and in vivo experimental data have pointed to new immunopathogenic mechanisms in primary Sj?gren's syndrome (pSS). The availability of targeted treatment modalities has opened new ways to selectively target these mechanistic pathways in vivo. This has taught us that the role of proinflammatory cytokines, in particular TNFα, is not crucial in the immunopathogenesis of pSS. B cells appear to play a major role, as depletion of B cells leads to restoration of salivary flow and is efficacious for treatment of extraglandular manifestations and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. B cells also orchestrate T-cell infiltration and ductal epithelial dearrangement in the salivary glands. Gene profiling of salivary gland tissue in relation to B-cell depletion confirms that the axis of IFNα, B-cell activating factor, B-cell activation, proliferation and survival constitutes a major pathogenic route in pSS.     

Interaction between upper airway negative pressure pulses and CO2 on breathing pattern

The interaction between CO2 and negative pressure pulses on breathing pattern was investigated in 10 anesthetized, spontaneously breathing rabbits. The upper airway was functionally isolated into a closed system. A servo-respirator triggered by the inspiratory activity of the diaphragm was used to apply pressure pulses of -15 cmH2O to the isolated upper airway in early inspiration while the animal was breathing room air, 100% O2, 6% CO2 in O2, or 9% CO2 in O2. The negative pressure pulses produced a reversible inhibition of inspiration in most trials with resultant increase in inspiratory duration (TI); no change was observed in peak diaphragmatic electromyogram (Dia EMG) or expiratory duration, whereas a decrease was seen in mean inspiratory drive (peak Dia EMG/TI). This prolongation of inspiratory duration and decrease in mean inspiratory drive with negative pressure pulses persisted at higher levels of CO2; the slopes of the test breaths were not significantly different from that of control breaths. These results suggest that upper airway negative pressure pulses are equally effective in altering the breathing pattern at all levels of CO2.     

Structural complexes in the squid giant axon membrane sensitive to ionic concentrations and cardiac glycosides

Giant nerve fibers of squid Sepioteuthis sepioidea were incubated for 10 min in artificial sea water (ASW) under control conditions, in the absence of various ions, and in the presence of cardiac glycosides. The nerve fibers were fixed in OsO4 and embedded in Epon, and structural complexes along the axolemma were studied.     

Impact of early applied upper limb stimulation: The EXPLICIT-stroke programme design

Background  

Main claims of the literature are that functional recovery of the paretic upper limb is mainly defined within the first month post stroke and that rehabilitation services should preferably be applied intensively and in a task-oriented way within this particular time window. EXplaining PLastICITy after stroke (acronym EXPLICIT-stroke) aims to explore the underlying mechanisms of post stroke upper limb recovery. Two randomized single blinded trials form the core of the programme, investigating the effects of early modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (modified CIMT) and EMG-triggered Neuro-Muscular Stimulation (EMG-NMS) in patients with respectively a favourable or poor probability for recovery of dexterity.     

Essential arginyl residues in yeast enolase.

Yeast enolase is rapidly inactivated by butanedione in borate buffer, complete inactivation correlating with the modification of 1. 8 arginyl residues per subunit. Protection against inactivation is provided by either an equilibrium mixture of substrates or inorganic phosphate, a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme. Complete protection by substrates correlates with the shielding of 1. 3 arginyl residues per subunit, while phosphate protects 1. 0 arginyl residue per subunit from modification.     

Diagnostic strategies for C-reactive protein

Background  

Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) has been identified in prospective epidemiological research as an independent risk marker for cardiovascular disease. In this paper, short-term biological variation of CRP is documented and a strategy to test the reliability of a single CRP sample is proposed.     

Effect of Trail Bifurcation Asymmetry and Pheromone Presence or Absence on Trail Choice by Lasius niger Ants

During foraging, ant workers are known to make use of multiple information sources, such as private information (personal memory) and social information (trail pheromones). Environmental effects on foraging, and how these interact with other information sources, have, however, been little studied. One environmental effect is trail bifurcation asymmetry. Ants forage on branching trail networks and must often decide which branch to take at a junction (bifurcation). This is an important decision, as finding food sources relies on making the correct choices at bifurcations. Bifurcation angle may provide important information when making this choice. We used a Y‐maze with a pivoting 90° bifurcation to study trail choice of Lasius niger foragers at varying branch asymmetries (0°, [both branches 45° from straight ahead], 30° [branches at 30° and 60° from straight ahead], 45°, 60° and 90° [one branch straight ahead, the other at 90°]). The experiment was carried out either with equal amounts of trail pheromone on both branches of the bifurcation or with pheromone present on only one branch. Our results show that with equal pheromone, trail asymmetry has a significant effect on trail choice. Ants preferentially follow the branch deviating least from straight, and this effect increases as asymmetry increases (47% at 0°, 54% at 30°, 57% at 45°, 66% at 60° and 73% at 90°). However, when pheromone is only present on one branch, the graded effect of asymmetry disappears. Overall, however, there is an effect of asymmetry as the preference of ants for the pheromone‐marked branch over the unmarked branch is reduced from 65%, when it is the less deviating branch, to 53%, when it is the more deviating branch. These results demonstrate that trail asymmetry influences ant decision‐making at bifurcations and that this information interacts with trail pheromone presence in a non‐hierarchical manner.     

Periodontal disease in feral pigs (Sus scrofa) from Queensland, Australia

Periodontal lesions were present in 26 of 107 feral pigs (Sus scrofa) that were shot in southern Queensland. The severity of the lesions varied from gingivitis to extensive destruction of the alveolus and its contents. Examination of slaughtered domestic pigs revealed a similar prevalence of lesions (12 of 52). Only cheek teeth were affected, and molars were affected more frequently than premolars. In both feral and domestic pigs, prevalence of periodontal disease affecting bone increased with age. Although periodontal disease is recognized as a common and often serious problem in many mammalian species, both domestic and wild, it has rarely been recorded in the pig. It is considered that the most severe lesions would have interfered with mastication but that the contribution of the disease to mortality of feral pigs in Australia is probably not great.