Biased t cell receptor v gene usage in rheumatoid arthritis. oligoclonal expansion of t cells expressing vα2 genes in synovial fluid but not in peripheral blood

Objective. To analyze the T cell receptor (TCR) variable (V) region gene usage in the rheumatoid joint. Methods. Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) were used to determine the prevalence of selected V elements on T cells in synovial fluid (SF) from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and in peripheral blood (PB) from RA patients and normal controls. V_α2-positive PB and SF T cells from 1 patient were cloned by immediated limiting-dilution and analyzed by restriction mapping. Results. In 9 of 14 RA patients, SF was enriched in at least 1 of the selected V elements, compared with PB. TCR genes of the V_α2 family were the most frequently overrepresented in the SF (4 patients). The expanded V_α2-positive cells were oligoclonal in SF but heterogeneic in PB. Conclusion. Our data showing biased and clonally restricted TCR elements in the rheumatoid joint indicate major histocompatibility complex–restricted antigen recognition, rather than a “superantigen,” in the pathogenesis of RA.     

Life stress,psychological symptoms and weight reducing behavior in adolescent girls: A prospective analysis

Daily and major life stress, psychological symptoms, and dieting were measured in 143 adolescent girls ages 14–18 at the beginning and end of a 4-month prospective study. Two hypothetical relations among the variables were examined; (1) that weight reducing in adolescents is predicted by stress and psychological symptoms prospectively, versus (2) that stress and psychological symptoms are a consequence of increased weight-reducing efforts. Stress and symptoms were related to weight reducing in cross-sectional correlations. Multiple regressions and LISREL analyses showed that future levels of psychological stress, but not symptoms, were predicted by weight-reducing behavior when baseline scores were controlled. The hypothesis that negative psychological functioning predicts more dieting in the future was not supported. Besides potential physical health hazards of weight reducing during adolescence and its apparent status as a risk factor for eating disorders, this indicates that weight reducing also may have some negative psychological impact on the young dieter.     

Impact of APRF+ in Combination with Autogenous Fibroblasts on Release Growth Factors,Collagen, and Proliferation and Migration of Gingival Fibroblasts: An In Vitro Study

The present study aimed to compare the action of advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF+) alone with the action of A-PRF+ combined with autologous gingival fibroblasts. The components released from A-PRF+ conditioned with autogenous fibroblasts that were quantified in the study were fibroblast growth factor (FGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), trans-forming growth factor-beta1 and 2 (TGFβ1 and TGFβ2), and soluble collagen. A-PRF+ combined with fibroblasts demonstrated significantly higher values of released VEGF at every time point and, after 7 days, significantly higher values of released TGFβ2. A viability test after 72 h showed a significant increase in proliferation fibroblasts after exposition to the factors released from A-PRF+ combined with fibroblasts. Similarly, the degree of wound closure after 48 h was significantly higher for the factors released from A-RRF+ alone and the factors released from A-RRF+ combined with fibroblasts. These results imply that platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) enhanced with fibroblasts can be an alternative method of connective tissue transplantation.     

Laser Structured Dental Zirconium for Soft Tissue Cell Occupation—Importance of Wettability Modulation

Various approaches are being pursued to physico-chemically modify the zirconia neck region of dental implants to improve the integration into the surrounding soft tissue. In this study, polished zirconia discs were laser microstructured with periodic cavities and convex waves. These zirconia samples were additionally activated by argon plasma using the kINPen^®09. The surface topography was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and the surface wettability by water contact angle. The in vitro study with human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1) was focused on cell spreading, morphology, and actin cytoskeleton organization within the first 24 h. The laser-induced microstructures were originally hydrophobic (e.g., 60 µm cavities 138.4°), but after argon plasma activation, the surfaces switched to the hydrophilic state (60 µm cavities 13.7°). HGF-1 cells adhered flatly on the polished zirconia. Spreading is hampered on cavity structures, and cells avoid the holes. However, cells on laser-induced waves spread well. Interestingly, argon plasma activation for only 1 min promoted adhesion and spreading of HGF-1 cells even after 2 h cultivation. The cells crawl and grow into the depth of the cavities. Thus, a combination of both laser microstructuring and argon plasma activation of zirconia seems to be optimal for a strong gingival cell attachment.     

A Reverse Dynamical Investigation of the Catastrophic Wood-Snow Avalanche of 18 January 2017 at Rigopiano,Gran Sasso National Park,Italy

On 18 January 2017 a catastrophic avalanche destroyed the Rigopiano Gran Sasso Resort & Wellness(Rigopiano Hotel) in the Gran Sasso National Park in Italy,with ...     

Methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis. a five-year prospective multicenter study

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of oral methotrexate (MTX) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a long-term prospective trial. Methods. One hundred twenty-three patients with RA who completed a 9-month multicenter randomized trial comparing MTX and auranofin enrolled in this 5-year prospective study of MTX. Results. Significant (P = 0.0001) improvement compared with baseline was noted in all clinical disease variables, functional status, and the Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). “Marked improvement” occurred in 87 (71%) and 85 (69%) of the patients, respectively, in the joint pain/tenderness index and the joint swelling index at the last evaluable visit. Forty-four patients (36%) withdrew during the study. Eight (7%) withdrew due to lack of efficacy, and 8 (7%) due to adverse experiences, including 1 patient with cirrhosis. At 5 years, 64% of patients were still taking MTX and completed the study. Conclusion. This large prospective study of long-term MTX treatment demonstrates sustained clinical response and improvement in the Westergren ESR and functional assessment scores, with an acceptable toxicity profile.     

Understanding the metal free alginate gelation process

Alginate is a natural polysaccharide that has been recently gaining increasing attention as a biomaterial in the field of tissue engineering due to its favourable biocompatibility and gelation properties. Alginate hydrogels are commonly made by ionic crosslinking in the presence of divalent cations. Only a few studies have attempted to prepare alginate hydrogels without the presence of metal cations. Here the formation of metal free alginate hydrogels in the presence of the amino-acid glutamine is investigated. The transition from sol to gel is monitored by rheological measurements in the viscoelastic regime that reveal how the charged or neutral form of glutamine induces deep differences in the gelling ability. In particular, we show that the storage, G′, and loss, G′′, moduli differ significantly by shifting the glutamine zwitterionic equilibrium. Protonated amino acid could induce a shielding effect of the electrostatic repulsion of the alginate chains. Stable gels are obtained in the presence of a larger amount of free organic acid that gives rise to chain crosslink junctions and chain–chain stabilization. This opens up the possibility of preparing metal-free alginate hydrogels based on amino acid equilibria being pH sensitive.

Alginate gelling by ionic cross-linking using multivalent ions has been known and exploited for several decades. We focus on the possibility to obtain alginate hydrogels without using metal cation in order to obtain metal-free alginates hydrogels.