Anti-cardiolipin and Anti-β2-glycoprotein I Antibodies in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)frequently suffer from thromboembolic events.Anti-cardiolipin (aCL) antibodies have been shown to beassociated with thrombosis. Recently, the antibodies against the anti-cardiolipin cofactor₂-glycoprotein I(a₂GPI) have been found with higherspecificity for thrombosis. The presence of theseantibodies was assessed in 128 patients with IBD [83 with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 45 withCrohn's disease (CD)] and 100 healthy controls (blooddonors). Patients with UC and CD had a significantlyhigher prevalence of aCL (18.1% and 15.6%, respectively) than healthy controls (HC) (3%). Eleven IBDpatients (8.6%) but no HC had a₂GPI.None of the IBD patients with a history of thrombosishad aCL and only one of them (a UC patient with deepvein thrombosis of the right leg) had a high titer of IgGa₂GPI. In conclusion, these data showthat both aCL and a₂GPI aresignificantly associated with IBD but further studiesare needed to determine the significance of our findings.     

Developing a Sound Body: Open Trial Results of a Group Healthy Lifestyle Intervention for Young Adults with Psychosis

Community Mental Health Journal - The mortality disparity for persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) due to cardiovascular disease is a devastating problem. Many risk factors are...     

The impact of Degraded distractors on (Nondegraded) target identification

In this series of experiments, based on Biederman's Recognition by Components theory, we postulate that corners (vertices) of objects are crucial in programming and execution of goal-directed action. We used a distractor interference paradigm to present line drawings of letters (M and W) with distractors (also M and W), which were either nondegraded or degraded (that is, corners or line segments missing). Degraded distractors caused less interference overall (reduced response times and errors) than Nondegraded distractors, when these were presented peripherally or at fixation (Experiments 1 and 2). When presented at fixation, however, distractors with corners missing caused greater interference than distractors with line segments missing. This pattern was not replicated with non-identical, non-mirror reversed stimuli (H and E: Experiment 3). We speculate that corners are critical in determining the extent of distractor interference. When missing from view, and given sufficient attentional resources and structural similarity, they may be reconstructed by the visuomotor system to aid performance to the target.     

The Effect of the β-Al5FeSi Phases on Microstructure,Mechanical and Fatigue Properties in A356.0 Cast Alloys with Higher Fe Content without Additional Alloying of Mn

Secondary-cast aluminum alloys have increasing industrial applications. Their biggest deficiency is their impurity content, especially Fe, which has low solubility in Al and almost all the content creates intermetallic phases. This work examines the effect of higher Fe content on the microstructure and properties of A356.0 alloy. At the same time, no other possibility existed to affecting the brittleness of the formation of the β phases. The calculation of Fe_crit, ratio of Mn/Fe, quantitative and computed tomography analysis of porosity and Fe plate-like phases, measurement of mechanical and fatigue properties, and fractography analysis were performed in this study. The results show that gravity die casting into a sand mold, and the non-usage of Mn addition or heat treatment, do not have a negative effect on increasing the size of the Fe-rich plate-like phases. The longest Fe-rich phases have limited the pore growth and ratios, but their higher thickness led to greater porosity formation. The mechanical and fatigue properties correlate with the Fe_crit level and the highest were for the experimental alloy with 0.454 wt.% of Fe. The experimental results confirmed the fact that if the Fe plate-like phases have a length of up to 50 µm, the fatigue properties depend more on the size of porosity. If the length of the Fe needles is more than 50 µm, then the properties are mainly affected by the length of these Fe phases.     

Infliximab treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, with dose titration based on the Disease Activity Score: dose adjustments are common but not always sufficient to assure sustained benefit

BACKGROUND: Randomised controlled trials have shown that treatment with anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents is effective in refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of anti-TNF in a general unselected group of patients with refractory RA. METHODS: 68 patients with active RA despite treatment with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs were studied during 12 infliximab infusions. Infliximab (3 mg/kg/infusion) was given every 8 or 6 weeks. Clinical efficacy was assessed by the Disease Activity Score (DAS) index (44 joints). Dose adjustments were based on residual disease activity (DAS score >2.4). The primary end points were the percentage of patients achieving good or moderate response by the EULAR response criteria and the proportion of patients requiring dose adjustment. RESULTS: 20 (29%) patients discontinued treatment owing to side effects, early inefficacy, or other considerations. Among the patients who continued treatment, 27 (56%) and 32 (67%) were responders on the 6th and 12th infliximab infusion, respectively. In the same patients, disease activity gradually improved without modifications in the initial dosing in 10 (21%), whereas in 38 (79%) the dose of infliximab and/or methotrexate was increased. Intensification of treatment led to a significant decrease in the mean DAS score in this group (from 5.27 just before dose modification to 4.54 before the 12th infusion, p<0.002). The EULAR response category improved in only 10/38 (26%), however. CONCLUSIONS: In this initial observational study of patients with RA treated with recommended doses of infliximab, adjustments in treatment were common but not always sufficient to maintain adequate disease control. Longitudinal controlled trials are needed to define the optimal dose escalation in patients with suboptimal response.     

Hidradenitis suppurativa associated with Crohn’s disease and spondyloarthropathy: response to anti-TNF therapy

An association of hidradenitis suppurativa with Crohns disease is supported by previous repent. We here report a patient with hidradenitis suppurativa who subsequently developed peripheral arthritis, sacroiliitis, and Crohns disease. A significant attenuation of bowel, cutaneous, and joint symptoms was achieved after treatment with monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor (TNF). The pathogenetic aspects according to the literature and response to the various therapeutic measures applied are also presented.     

Placing actions in context: motor facilitation following observation of identical and non-identical manual acts

It has been argued that through a process of internal ‘simulation’, we automatically map observed actions directly onto our motor system to facilitate imitation. Instead, here we show that observed actions influence the kinematic parameters of manual responses in a dynamic, context-dependent fashion. Participants observed object-directed hand actions in imitative and complementary action contexts, and performed identical (same grip-type) and non-identical (opposite grip-type) responses to a similar object, respectively. In imitative contexts, identical actions were performed optimally. In complementary contexts, however, non-identical actions were enhanced relative to identical actions. A further experiment using arrow cues instead of hand actions confirmed that these results were specific to action observation. Our findings demonstrate that action context plays a critical role in determining the relationship between action observation and execution. Crucially, this relationship is not fixed, but depends on an agent’s goal when observing others act.     

Lupus nephritis flares

The clinical course of lupus nephritis varies remarkably among SLE patients, even between those with the same histological type. Current immunosuppressive agents induce remission in the majority of the patients with proliferative lupus nephritis, but a substantial proportion of them - ranging in different studies from 27% to 66% - will flare. Flares represent a significant problem because of the potential for cumulative damage that may lead to deterioration of renal function as well as toxicity due to the additional immunosuppression. Maintenance therapy with azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil or quarterly pulses of cyclophosphamide is usually recommended. Renal flares can be characterized as nephritic or nephrotic and can be mild or severe. The majority of the patients that flare restore renal function, if diagnosed early and treated promptly. However, current immunosuppressive agents have limitations concerning efficacy and toxicity profiles. Unresolved management issues include the value of repeat renal biopsy and issues related to optimal strategy/regimen to prevent flares. Renal flares are an important feature of the natural history of lupus nephritis and provide an opportunity for additional preventive strategies, as well as measures of efficacy in future therapeutic trials.