Search

The use of osteometry for human identification is a key element in the field of forensic sciences. Currently, the osteometry focuses on the use of digital techniques such as photography or 3D scans, to study and measure bones, offering advantages like easy access, preservation of bones, and worldwide collaboration possibilities. The study aims to analyze whether digital tools such as Anatomage can be used to collect reliable data. The study compares measurements of the sacral bone from 41 individuals from Orgiva Collection using both traditional and digital methods. The variables analyzed were described previously, including landmarks and positions, and were coded by differentiating the measurements between dry bone (caliper) and digital measurement (Anatomage). Results indicate minimal differences between digital and dry bone measurements, with only one variable showing a significant differences in the effect size analysis (d > 0.80). The TEM analysis showed four variables as non-acceptable (rTEM > 1.5), possibly due to the landmark location or the experience using the tool to locate landmarks. Digital resources are valuable for morphometric evaluations and human identification within forensic sciences. However, caution is necessary to ensure accurate landmark localization and validate these tools across various bone types and larger sample sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that chemical functionalization of surfaces has demonstrated to be an important strategy to modify electron transport mechanism of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). In this work, with the aim to explore the potential of functionalized single walled carbon nanotubes (f-SWNTs) in flexible thermoelectrics for the development of thermal energy harvesting devices, we present a systematic study on the thermoelectric behavior of SWNTs and f-SWNTs based films, and demonstrate the impact that functional groups play in modifying their thermoelectric performance. The selected functional groups were carboxylic acid (COOH), octadecyl amine (ODA), poly (m-amino benzenesulfonic acid) (PABS) and amide (NH2). Experimental measurements reveal that, at room temperature the thermoelectric power factor (TPF) of the films based on SWNTs is up to two orders of magnitude higher than the f-SWNTs based films, whereas despite of slight thermoelectric differences among f-SWNTs, the SWNTs-COOH material presents the best TPF in comparison to the rest of the f-SWNTs. Likewise, by realizing proof-of-concept flexible thermoelectric devices using SWNTs and SWNTs/ABS(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer), the SWNTs based device presents three and a half fold more maximum output power than the SWNTs/ABS based device. Thereby, as unveiled by X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy analyses, in SWNTs chemical functionalization disrupts the conducting π-bonding, and a substantial content of organic molecules covalently attached to the SWNTs surface are detected, giving rise to the formation of localized defect sites, which act as scattering centers for electrons and phonons. Meanwhile, in SWNTs films the creation of random networks promote the formation of high contact resistances between nanotubes due to functionalizers, as a consequence, the thermal and electron transfer mechanisms are seriously altered, affecting significantly the thermoelectric performance of the devices based on f-SWNTs based films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G0W0 equations are represented on the space generated by auxiliary functions used for the variational fitting of Coulomb potentials in density functional theory. It is shown that the Coulomb coupling matrix found in auxiliary density perturbation theory is just the discrete representation of the polarization function on the basis of auxiliary functions. In a similar way very compact expressions are found for the dielectric matrix and the screened potential. Additionally, a linearized form of analytic continuation is proposed by importing information from electron propagator methods about the location of Green’s function poles. Implementation into the software packages Nagual and deMon2k was performed. Numerical results are presented for a small set of molecules and for the GW100 set, including the use of Hartree–Fock and Kohn–Sham reference states with double and triple zeta basis sets. Accuracy of results demonstrates the reliability of the approach implemented in this work which is the most natural in the context of auxiliary density functional theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Colombiana de Ciencia Animal - RECIA is the property of Revista Colombiana de Ciencia Animal - RECIA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Mining in Colombia affects 488,672 ha (298,391 in coal mining and 190,281 in gold mining). However, Colombia has insufficient studies on mining and its repercussions, which limits estimates of mining impacts on ecosystems and the human population. Due to the rise of mining activities in Colombia, the negative impacts generated by coal and Hg will also continue to increase. This review analyzes national information levels on coal and Hg in island/coastal/marine as well as freshwater ecosystems and human groups using fishery resources as a framework. This is because fish are the main source of animal protein in marine coastal-island and mainland communities. Here, 15 of 32 Colombian departments have records on total mercury (THg) in water, sediments, fish, and human communities. Around 205 ton/year of mercury is discharged into the ecosystem. In human hair for example (15.3 to 50.15 μg/g), mercury exceeds the international maximum levels allowed (ILA) and the national standard (5.0 μg/g). Mercury levels in freshwater fish show 3.3 μg/g of THg and levels in marine and coastal-island fish are 1.2 μg/g THg exceeding the ILA (0.5 μg/g) standard for fish that will be consumed. Carnivorous species have a THg between 0.04 and 2.55 μg/g suggesting bioaccumulation and magnification of heavy metals. These findings were then compared with available international information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Scientia et Technica is the property of Scientia et Technica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Several of the over 200 known species of Agave L. are currently used for production of distilled beverages and biopolymers. The plants live in a wide range of stressful environments as a result of their resistance to abiotic stress (drought, salinity, and extreme temperature) and pathogens, which gives the genus potential for germplasm conservation and biotechnological applications that may minimize economic losses as a result of the global climate change. However, the limited knowledge in the genus of genome structure and organization hampers development of potential improved biotechnological applications by means of genetic manipulation and biocatalysis. We reviewed Agave and plant sequences in the GenBank NCBI database for identifying genes with biotechnological potential for fermentation, bioenergy, fiber improvement, and in vivo plant biopolymer production. Three‐dimensional modeling of enzyme structures in plant accessions revealed structural differences in sucrose 1‐fructosyltransferase, fructan 1‐fructosyltransferase, fructan exohydrolase (1‐FEH), cellulose synthase (CES), and glucanases (EGases) with possible effects in fructan, sugar, and biopolymer production. Although the coding genes of FEH and enzymes involved in biopolymer production (CES, sucrose synthase, and EGases) remain unidentified in Agave L., our results could aid isolation of such genes in Agave. By comparing nucleotide and amino acid sequences in accessions of Agave and other plants, knowledge may be gained about transcriptional regulation and enzymatic activity factors. Future study is needed of biotechnological application of Agave genes for crop breeding aided by genetic engineering and biocatalysis. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:1314–1334, 2018 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose Netrin-1, an axon guidance protein, reduces serum levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and stabilizes the blood−brain barrier limiting the entrance of immune cells into the central nervous system. The aim was to investigate its presence in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis ( EAE) model and in multiple sclerosis ( MS) patients with and without clinical activity. Methods Netrin-1 levels were evaluated in EAE mouse tissues. Afterwards, serum netrin-1 was cross-sectionally quantified in 90 patients with different MS phenotypes and 30 control subjects. An additional group of 10 relapsing−remitting MS ( RRMS) patients was longitudinally evaluated throughout a relapse ( RRMSr) with an interval of 60 days. Tumour necrosis factor α ( TNFα), a reference inflammatory cytokine, and netrin-1 were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice showed significantly lower netrin-1 levels and higher TNFα amounts in sera, spinal cord and cerebella than healthy control mice. MS patients showed significantly lower serum netrin-1 levels than controls (511.62 ± 209.30 and 748.32 ± 103.24 pg/ml, respectively; P ≤ 0.005). The lowest protein levels were found in RRMSr, remaining significantly lower throughout the relapse. TNFα serum concentrations were higher in MS patients compared to controls, and negatively correlated with netrin-1 levels ( r = −0.3734, P ≤ 0.0001). Conclusions Netrin-1 decreased in EAE and in MS patients, mainly during relapse, suggesting an anti-inflammatory role of netrin-1. Further research should be performed in a larger cohort of patients to validate netrin-1 as a biomarker of MS inflammatory activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the presence of John Cunningham virus (JCV) DNA in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) treated with rituximab (RTX).Method: We assessed the JCV DNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC), serum, and urine samples by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in a cohort of 42 ARD patients (20 of whom were being treated with RTX) and 42 healthy donors. Approximately 1 year later, we collected further samples from 32 of these 42 ARD patients, all of whom were being treated with RTX. We studied the association between these viral DNA prevalences and various clinical and demographic variables.Results: The viral prevalence in PBMC, serum, and urine samples was 2.4% (1/42), 0%, and 50% (21/42), respectively, in the healthy donors, and 26% (8/31), 16% (5/31), and 86% (25/29), respectively, in the patients treated with RTX. The viral prevalences were not associated with any of the demographic or clinical variables included in the study.Conclusions: We detected a viral reactivation in PBMCs and serum during the RTX treatment that did not seem to be influenced by either use of immunosuppressive drugs or the length of treatment with the monoclonal antibody. Although this reactivation was asymptomatic, the viral presence in blood could increase the probability of the appearance of a neurotrophic variant of JCV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole-genome duplication (polyploidy) occurs frequently and repeatedly within species of plants. According to the source of the genomes giving origin to a polyploid plant species, these are classified into allopolyploid (when two or more genomes are combined through either intraspecific or interspecific hybridization) and autopolyploid (when a single genome becomes duplicated). According to the time period in which polyploidy occurred plant species are classified as paleopolyploid (ancient polyploids), mesopolyploid (less ancient polyploids), and neopolyploid (recent polyploids). Many plant species appearing as diploid are actually paleopolyploids (ancient polyploids) derived from at least one event of whole-genome duplication followed by a process known as diploidization, which consists in massive gene loss and genomic reorganization (diploidized paleopolyploids). Many polyploid species of plants have been shown to present morphological and physiological characteristics making them further attractive for industry than their lower ploidy level counterparts. Polyploidy is a fundamental but relatively underexplored biological process. With the aim of understanding the factors involved in the formation of polyploid plant species, many studies have been carried out on synthetic polyploidy obtained by mitotic inhibitors and hybridization. However, the rapid progress of genetic engineering techniques makes genetic modification (GM) to become a feasible strategy for obtaining polyploid plants. In this review we discuss advances made about factors known to influence plant polyploidy and we suggest that in a future, this knowledge could be used for generating polyploids in vitro by GM and for crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technique of anatomical wax modelling reached its heyday in Italy during the 18th century, through a fruitful collaboration between sculptors and anatomists. It soon spread to other countries, and prestigious schools were created in England, France, Spain and Austria. Paris subsequently replaced Italy as the major centre of manufacture, and anatomical waxes were created there from the mid-19th century in workshops such as that of Vasseur-Tramond. This workshop began to sell waxes to European Faculties of Medicine and Schools of Surgery around 1880. Little is known of the technique employed in the creation of such artefacts as this was deemed a professional secret. To gain some insight into the methods of construction, we have studied a Vasseur-Tramond wax model in the Valladolid University Anatomy Museum, Spain, by means of multi-slice computerised tomography and X-ray analysis by means of environmental scanning electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the hair. These results have revealed some of the methods used to make these anatomical models and the materials employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective For decades it has been known that the HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (SE) alleles are associated with an increased risk of development and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recently, the following variations in the peptide-binding grooves of HLA molecules that predispose to RA development have been identified: Val and Leu at HLA-DRB1 position 11, Asp at HLA-B position 9, and Phe at HLA-DPB1 position 9. This study was undertaken to investigate whether these variants are also associated with radiographic progression in RA, independent of SE and anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) status. Methods A total of 4,911 radiograph sets from 1,878 RA patients included in the Leiden Early Arthritis Clinic (The Netherlands), Umeå (Sweden), Hospital Clinico San Carlos-Rheumatoid Arthritis (Spain), and National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases (US) cohorts were studied. HLA was imputed using single-nucleotide polymorphism data from an Immunochip, and the amino acids listed above were tested in relation to radiographic progression per cohort using an additive model. Results from the 4 cohorts were combined in inverse-variance weighted meta-analyses using a fixed-effects model. Analyses were conditioned on SE and ACPA status. Results Val and Leu at HLA-DRB1 position 11 were associated with more radiographic progression (meta-analysis P = 5.11 × 10−7); this effect was independent of SE status (meta-analysis P = 0.022) but not independent of ACPA status. Phe at HLA-DPB1 position 9 was associated with more severe radiographic progression (meta-analysis P = 0.024), though not independent of SE status. Asp at HLA-B position 9 was not associated with radiographic progression. Conclusion Val and Leu at HLA-DRB1 position 11 conferred a risk of a higher rate of radiographic progression independent of SE status but not independent of ACPA status. These findings support the relevance of these amino acids at position 11. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis ( RA) is a chronic polygenic inflammatory disease associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and high risk of cardiovascular disease ( CVD). In this study, we evaluated the potential association of 9p21.3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs) - previously linked to coronary artery disease - and CVD risk in 2001 Spanish RA patients genotyped for 9p21.3 SNPs using TaqMan™ assays. Carotid intima media thickness ( cIMT) and presence of carotid plaques were also analyzed. Cox regression model did not disclose significant differences between patients who experienced CVD and those who did not. Neither association was found between cIMT or carotid plaques and SNPs allele distribution. In conclusion, results do not support a role of rs10116277 or rs1537375 SNPs in CVD risk in Spanish RA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis ( RA) is an inflammatory disease associated with high risk of cardiovascular ( CV) events. Recently, the rs964184 polymorphism has been associated with coronary artery disease in nonrheumatic Caucasian individuals. 2160 Spanish RA patients were genotyped for the rs964184 polymorphism. Sex, age at diagnosis and traditional CV risk factors (diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and smoking habit) were associated with increased risk of CV events. Interestingly, RA patients carrying the rs964184 GG genotype had significantly higher risk of CV events than those with CC genotype [hazard ratio ( HR) = 2.91, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 1.36-6.26, P = 0.006] after adjusting the results for sex, age at diagnosis and traditional CV risk factors. Our results indicate that rs964184 polymorphism is associated with CV disease in RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High deforestation rates in tropical countries continue to reduce forest cover and thereby habitat quantity and quality. However, in some places the forest is recovering and expanding thus offsetting the biodiversity and ecosystem service losses. In order to characterize the forest recovery, land use and land cover (LUC) changes were analyzed using aerial photographs, taken between 1952 and 2009, of a peri-urban watershed in the Andes region of Venezuela. The qualities of the changes were assessed using landscape indices and hemeroby indicators. In that period, the forest cover increased about 18 %, mainly due to abandoned pastures on steep slopes. At the same time, the urban area expanded about 4 % on valley bottoms, while pastures and crop fields were reduced about 20 %. The results also showed that forest patches were aggregating, whereas pastures were fragmenting. A reduction in direct human impacts on forests growing on abandoned pastures resulted in a slight recovery of the lower montane cloud forest structure and plant composition. But non-native species were found in all LUC categories. During the study period, we documented not only forest recovery, but also urban area growth, intensified land use and invasions by non-native species all of which could partially counterbalance the positives of forest recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The methionine sulfoxide reductase A ( MSRA) gene is related to oxidative stress that has been involved in the susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in genome-wide pathway analysis and replication studies. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the MSRA gene is implicated in susceptibility to cardiovascular (CV) disease in RA patients. Methods: A total of 1302 patients fulfilling the 1987 American College of Rheumatism classification criteria for RA were genotyped for the MSRA rs10903323 (G/A) polymorphism. Two hundred and thirty-three (17.9%) patients experienced CV events. Human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 genotyping was performed using molecular-based methods. Multiple logistic regression models were constructed with adjustments for gender, age at RA diagnosis, follow-up, rheumatoid shared epitope, and traditional CV risk as potential confounders. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in the allele or genotype frequencies for the MSRA rs10903323 polymorphism between RA patients who experienced CV events and those who did not. However, an adjusted logistic regression model disclosed that the minor allele G yielded a marginally significant increased risk of CV events in this series of patients with RA [p = 0.05, odds ratio (OR) 1.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-2.85]. When the logistic regression model was adjusted for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody status instead of for shared epitope, an increased risk of having ischaemic heart disease was found in patients carrying the minor allele G (p = 0.04, OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.03-3.88). Conclusion: The MSRA rs10903323 gene polymorphism may be implicated in the increased risk to develop CV events, in particular ischaemic heart disease, observed in RA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need to improve the way in which wastes, such as sewage sludges, are managed and a potential way to proceed would be to transform them into biochar. On the other hand, there is a growing interest in the use of soil biochemical properties as indicators of soil quality because they are sensitive to alterations in soil management. Thus, we have studied the effect of a biochar obtained from sewage sludge on soil biochemical properties in an organic soil using two doses of biochar and comparing these results with the control soil and with soils amended with the same two doses of unpyrolyzed sewage sludge. Microbial biomass C, soil respiration, net N mineralization and several enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, phosphomoesterase and arylsulphatase) were monitored. The geometric mean of enzyme activities (GMea) was used as a soil quality index. Individual biochemical properties showed a different response to the treatments, while GMea showed an increase in the quality of soils amended with the high biochar dose and a decrease in those amended with a high sewage sludge dose. The geometric mean of enzyme activities was a suitable index to condense the whole set of soil enzyme values in a single numerical value, which was sensitive to management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a key mediator of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its actions may be controlled by the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R). IL-6 transducer (IL-6ST/ gp130) is the signal transducing subunit of the IL-6R. We assessed the influence of the IL6R and the IL6ST/gp130 genes in the risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease in RA. For this purpose, 1250 Spanish patients with RA were genotyped for the IL6R rs2228145 and IL6ST/gp130 rs2228044 functional gene polymorphisms. Patients were stratified according to the presence or absence of CV events. Also, a subgroup of patients without CV events was assessed for the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis using two surrogate markers of atherosclerosis (flow-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and carotid intima-media thickness). No significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies for both gene polymorphisms between patients with and without CV events were observed. It was also the case when values of surrogate markers of atherosclerosis were compared according to IL6R and IL6ST genotype frequencies. In conclusion, our results do not confirm an association of IL6R rs2228145 and IL6ST/gp130 rs2228044 polymorphisms with CV disease in RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThe different incidence rates of, and risk factors for, depression in different countries argue for the need to have a specific risk algorithm for each country or a supranational risk algorithm. We aimed to develop and validate a predictD-Spain risk algorithm (PSRA) for the onset of major depression and to compare the performance of the PSRA with the predictD-Europe risk algorithm (PERA) in Spanish primary care.MethodA prospective cohort study with evaluations at baseline, 6 and 12 months. We measured 39 known risk factors and used multi-level logistic regression and inverse probability weighting to build the PSRA. In Spain (4574), Chile (2133) and another five European countries (5184), 11 891 non-depressed adult primary care attendees formed our at-risk population. The main outcome was DSM-IV major depression (CIDI).ResultsSix variables were patient characteristics or past events (sex, age, sex×age interaction, education, physical child abuse, and lifetime depression) and six were current status [Short Form 12 (SF-12) physical score, SF-12 mental score, dissatisfaction with unpaid work, number of serious problems in very close persons, dissatisfaction with living together at home, and taking medication for stress, anxiety or depression]. The C-index of the PSRA was 0.82 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79–0.84]. The Integrated Discrimination Improvement (IDI) was 0.0558 [standard error (s.e.)=0.0071, Zexp=7.88, p<0.0001] mainly due to the increase in sensitivity. Both the IDI and calibration plots showed that the PSRA functioned better than the PERA in Spain.ConclusionsThe PSRA included new variables and afforded an improved performance over the PERA for predicting the onset of major depression in Spain. However, the PERA is still the best option in other European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In spite of the extensive potential of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in cell therapy, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that regulate their therapeutic properties. We aimed to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in controlling the transition between the resting and reparative phenotypes of hMSCs, hypothesizing that these miRNAs must be present in the undifferentiated cells and downregulated to allow initiation of distinct activation/differentiation programs. Differential miRNA expression analyses revealed that miR-335 is significantly downregulated upon hMSC differentiation. In addition, hMSCs derived from a variety of tissues express miR-335 at a higher level than human skin fibroblasts, and overexpression of miR-335 in hMSCs inhibited their proliferation and migration, as well as their osteogenic and adipogenic potential. Expression of miR-335 in hMSCs was upregulated by the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, a positive regulator of MSC self-renewal, and downregulated by interferon-γ (IFN-γ), a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has an important role in activating the immunomodulatory properties of hMSCs. Differential gene expression analyses, in combination with computational searches, defined a cluster of 62 putative target genes for miR-335 in hMSCs. Western blot and 3′UTR reporter assays confirmed RUNX2 as a direct target of miR-335 in hMSCs. These results strongly suggest that miR-335 downregulation is critical for the acquisition of reparative MSC phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Discrimination in research of new drugs for older people is frequent. We examined research protocols submitted to a research ethics committee, to ascertain whether they stipulated unjustified upper age limits, and whether these age limits are changing in time. METHODS: Systematic review of protocols of studies submitted to the Research Ethics Committee of a public university hospital, in four different years, looking for unjustified upper age limits. Studies that dealt with topics or conditions that automatically excluded older people were not examined. RESULTS: In the first three cohorts of protocols of intervention studies (1994, 1999, 2004), 36% to 40% stipulated an upper age limit. In 2007, only 19% of the protocols showed an unjustified limit. Non-intervention trials rarely had upper age limits. Age limits were arbitrarily chosen (65, 70, 75 or 80 years were chosen as cut-off points in most cases). Five to 6% of the protocols specifically concerned older persons, with no change in time. CONCLUSIONS: Unjustified age limits are frequent in the protocols of intervention studies, although the numbers have been falling recently. Ethics research committees are in a strong position to influence research practice and to reduce unethical age discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the role of signal transducer and activator of transcription four (STAT4) in other immune-mediated diseases. Methodology-wise, the researchers used a study group that comprised of 2,776 Spanish individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease. Allele and genotype frequencies in subjects and control subjects were compared by chi-square test. Based on the results, the STAT4 gene is emerging as a common risk for complex diseases.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is largely considered to be a non-inflammatory disease, although there is compelling evidence that subclinical inflammation is a common event, even in the absence of acute inflammatory flares. In this study we analyze, by means of CD5 and CD69 expression, the infiltration and early activation of CD5+cells, mostly lymphocytes, in both synovial membrane and synovial fluid from advanced OA patients and compare them with samples from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls. The number of infiltrating CD5+ cells in both synovial membrane and synovial fluid from patients with advanced OA was significantly reduced as compared with rheumatoid arthritis patients. However, synovial membrane and synovial fluid CD5+ cells on OA exhibited a phenotype with evidence of recent activation comparable to that observed in RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To reevaluate the efficacy and safety of adjunctive low-dose methotrexate (MTX) in giant cell arteritis (GCA). METHODS: An individual patient data meta-analysis of 3 randomized placebo-controlled trials in patients with newly diagnosed GCA was performed. Treatment consisted of initial high-dose corticosteroids and randomly assigned oral MTX therapy (7.5-15 mg/week) or placebo. Time-to-event outcomes were compared between groups using Cox proportional hazards models stratified by trial, and continuous outcomes were compared by calculating weighted mean differences. RESULTS: The combined data set comprised 161 patients, of whom 84 received MTX and 77 received placebo. The mean duration of followup was 54.7 weeks (SD 39.2 weeks). Hazard ratios (HRs) for a first and second relapse of GCA were 0.65 (P = 0.04) and 0.49 (P = 0.02), respectively, in patients receiving MTX as compared with patients receiving placebo. Accordingly, a predicted 3.6 individuals (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.2-56.8) and 4.7 individuals (95% CI 3.3-21.9) need to be treated with MTX to prevent the occurrence of one first or one second relapse, respectively, up to 48 weeks. Use of MTX resulted in a reduction in the corticosteroid cumulative dose by 842 mg within 48 weeks (P < 0.001). Moreover, MTX treatment was associated with a higher probability of achieving sustained discontinuation of corticosteroids for > or =24 weeks (HR 2.84, P = 0.001). Dropout rates and occurrence of adverse events did not differ between treatment groups. CONCLUSION: In GCA, adjunctive treatment with MTX lowers the risk of relapse and reduces exposure to corticosteroids. These findings indicate that MTX could be considered as a therapeutic option in addition to standard-of-care treatment with corticosteroids for patients with GCA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractA number of studies have shown the importance of dermatoglyphics as markers of prenatal disturbance in developmental disorders of unknown origin. Genetic and non-genetic factors are involved in the aetiology of intellectual disability (ID), although the cause remains unknown in up to 50% of cases. The aim of the present study was to analyse dermatoglyphic traits and abnormal palmar flexion creases as markers of environmental prenatal stress in children with idiopathic ID (IID) using a case-control study design. Three dermatoglyphic variables, which have been reported as altered in other congenital disorders, were considered were studied in a sample of 62 children with IID (IQ < 70) and 75 healthy controls (IQ > 70): (1) fingerprint patterns; (2) total a–b ridge count (TABRC); and (3) abnormal palmar flexion creases (APFCs). More arches, the simplest fingerprint pattern, and more radial loops, an unusual pattern, were found in IID cases in comparison to controls (χ23 = 9.26; P = 0.02), with especially marked differences in boys (χ23 = 6.5; P = 0.0008). A significant increase of APFCs was also found in the affected children (χ24 = 28.52; P < 0.00; odds ration = 3.86, 95% confidence interval = 1.77–8.47). For TABRC, the differences between IID cases and controls failed to reach the conventional level of significance. These findings suggest that environmental factors acting early in development, or mechanisms involving an interaction of genotype and environment could be involved in the aetiology of some cases of ID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of operating conditions on permeate flux was investigated using organic ultrafiltration membranes to treat a synthetic cutting-oil emulsion containing 0.05 to 0.8 wt. % oil. A commercial cutting oil, Alba-Kool, and four organic ultrafiltration membranes, two made of polysulfone (PM10 and PM30) and the other two of regenerated cellulose (YM10 and YM30), with cut-off sizes of 10 000 or 30 000 Dalton, were used. All experiments were performed in a commercially available stirred ultrafiltration cell. Within the range of operating conditions studied, it was found that the highest fluxes were obtained at the following conditions: crossflow velocity (rotation speed) of 375 rpm, temperature of 40 °C and transmembrane pressure of 0.1–0.15 MPa. Oil rejections between 99 and 99.9% were obtained. Complete membrane regeneration was achieved with a 2 vol. % aqueous solution of a commercial cleaning agent (Derquim+, Panreac). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 102-T/C polymorphism of the 5-HT[sub 2A] receptor gene was analysed in 159 patients with major depression and 164 unrelated and healthy controls using a case-control design. Allele and genotype frequencies did not differ between cases and controls. No differences according to sex, age of onset, melancholia, suicidal behaviour or family history of psychiatric illness were found. However, genotype distributions significantly differed between patients with seasonal pattern in their episodes (MDS) and patients with no seasonal pattern (N-MDS) (x² = 10.63; P = 0.004). A seasonal pattern was 7.57 times more frequent in 102C-allele carriers than in 102T homozygous (95.1% of patients MDS carried 102C-allele vs 72% of patients N-MDS (x² = 9.45, df=1, P = 0.002; OR = 7.57 (95% CI: 1.65-48.08)). These results suggest that variation in the 5-HT2A receptor gene may play a role in the development of major depression with seasonal pattern and support the existence of a genetic and etiological heterogeneity underlying the diagnosis of major depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Corticosteroids remain the cornerstone of therapy for giant-cell arteritis, but relapse during dose tapering and corticosteroid-related adverse events often complicate management of this condition. Although several approaches, including combined therapy with cytotoxic agents, have been suggested to overcome these problems, no study has clearly shown benefits of alternate treatments.Objective: To analyze the safety and efficacy of combined therapy with corticosteroids and methotrexate in giant-cell arteritis.Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.Setting: University-based clinic.Patients: 42 patients with new-onset giant-cell arteritis according to biopsy.Intervention: High initial doses of corticosteroid were given; the dose was then tapered quickly until therapy was completely withdrawn. Methotrexate or placebo was given weekly from the start of corticosteroid therapy for 24 months.Measurements: Number of relapses, cumulative dose of corticosteroid, and number of adverse events were assessed on completion of follow-up.Results: Compared with combined prednisone and placebo therapy, treatment with prednisone and methotrexate reduced the proportion of patients who experienced at least one relapse (45% vs. 84.2%; P = 0.02) and the proportion of patients who experienced multiple relapses (P = 0.004). The mean cumulative dose of prednisone was 4187 +/- 1529 mg in the methotrexate group and 5489.5 +/- 1396 mg in the placebo group (mean difference, 1302 mg [95% CI, 350 to 2253 mg]; P = 0.009). Overall, the rate and severity of adverse events were similar between groups. Treatment was discontinued in 3 patients in the methotrexate group who experienced definite drug-related adverse events. In sensitivity analysis that included patients lost to follow-up, differences between groups in number of relapses and cumulative dose of prednisone were significant.Conclusions: Treatment with methotrexate plus corticosteroid is a safe alternative to corticosteroid therapy alone in patients with giant-cell arteritis and is more effective in controlling disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emulsified oils contained in aqueous effluents from cold-rolling mills of the steel industry can be effectively removed via an integrated process consisting of a coagulation/flocculation stage followed by ultrafiltration of the resulting aqueous phase. The effects of CaCl2, NaOH, and lime on the stability of different industrial effluents were studied in the coagulation experiments. The flocculants tested were inorganic prehydrolyzed aluminum salts and quaternary polyamines. Ultrafiltration of the aqueous phase from the coagulation/flocculation stage was carried out in a stirred cell using Amicon PM30 and XM300 organic membranes. Permeate fluxes were measured for industrial effluents to which the indicated coagulants and flocculants had been added. Oil concentrations in the permeate were 75% lower than the limits established by all European Union countries. Complete regeneration of the membrane was accomplished with an aqueous solution of a commercial detergent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which described the functional analysis of the antigen CD28 in human T cells from healthy elderly donors. Subjects and methods; Results; Conclusion.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by autoantibody production of unknown origin. Since T-B cell interaction is a key event to produce antibodies, we investigated this interaction through study of CD69, CD40 ligand (CD40L) and CD23 expression (three very early activation antigens). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from inactive lupus patients were studied following culture with either medium alone, anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb), recombinant interleukin-4 (rIL-4) or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)±ionomycin. Analysis of CD23 expression on lupus B cells in basal conditions and after anti-CD3 challenge of PBMC, a reflection of cognate interaction between T and B cells, was clearly defective. Conversely, CD23 expression on lupus B cells following non-cognate T cell signals (rIL-4) was preserved. CD69 and CD40L expression was also impaired in lupus T cells following anti-CD3 challenge. Nonetheless, activation by means of PMA and/or ionomycin was preserved both in T cells (CD69 and CD40L expression) and in B cells (CD23 expression). These results indicate that B cells from inactive lupus patients display a normal early response to direct B-cell stimuli. Conversely, T-dependent B-cell stimuli are clearly defective in SLE patients in remission. These results indicate that T-B cognate interaction related to defective T cell activation located between surface membrane and protein kinase C (PKC)/ionomycin function is an intrinsic characteristic of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Genome-wide studies have identified the chromosomal region 16p13 in the susceptibility to type 1 diabetes (T1D) and multiple sclerosis (MS). This region includes the gene and an adjacent gene, (MHC class II transactivator), previously associated with susceptibility to MS and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The role of polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of T1D, MS and RA and its relationship with the association reported with a haplotype were investigated. Methods: (rs2903692/rs6498169/rs11074956) polymorphisms were analysed in 435 patients with MS, 316 with T1D and 600 with RA and in 550 ethnically matched controls. The rs3087456G/rs4774C risk haplotype was studied in an independent RA cohort. Results: rs2903692 conferred a protective effect on patients with T1D, MS and RA. The described association of rs6498169 with MS was replicated in MS and RA cohorts. The effect of the rs3087456G/rs4774C haplotype on RA susceptibility was confirmed, and the haplotype was found to be in negative linkage disequilibrium with the rs2903692A/rs6498169A haplotype. Conclusions: Associations of polymorphisms with T1D and MS were successfully replicated in a Spanish population. A novel association of rs6498169 with a predisposition to RA was described which is consistent with previous results. These data provide evidence for the influence of variants within this chromosomal region on the development of complex diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article presents information on a study to find out if an intervention program integrated into the health system could return workers to their jobs more quickly and reduce the cost of temporary disability due to musculoskeletal disorders (MSD). The study consisted of 13,077 patients in Madrid, Spain, who had received a certificate of temporary work disability from the national Social Security agency because of MSD. Patients were excluded if the cause of MSD was a workplace accident, trauma, or surgery. Patients in the study were randomly assigned to receive the intervention or standard care. Patients in the intervention group were seen periodically by a specialist in MSD illnesses as often as necessary. Duration of temporary disability was significantly shorter in the intervention group than in the control group. Fewer intervention patients went on permanent disability than control patients. By the end of the second year, every dollar invested in the program saved between $8 and $20.