Increased apoptotic blood neutrophils and macrophages and decreased clearance of apoptotic neutrophils in systemic lupus erythematosus

published_or_final_versio

The effects of topical triptolide in an animal model of contact dermatitis

published_or_final_versio

Acupuncture transmitted infections.

published_or_final_versio

A man with hypophosphataemia

Case report; A section on BMJ, 2011, v. 342, p. 715published_or_final_versio

Effects of triptolide, an active ingredient of trypterygium Wilfordii Hook F (Thunder God Vine, a traditional Chinese herb), on rheumatoid synovial fibroblast function

published_or_final_versio

Which population level environmental factors are associated with asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema? Review of the ecological analyses of ISAAC Phase One.

The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase One showed large worldwide variations in the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema, up to 10 to 20 fold between countries. Ecological analyses were undertaken with ISAAC Phase One data to explore factors that may have contributed to these variations, and are summarised and reviewed here.In ISAAC Phase One the prevalence of symptoms in the past 12 months of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema were estimated from studies in 463,801 children aged 13 - 14 years in 155 centres in 56 countries, and in 257,800 children aged 6-7 years in 91 centres in 38 countries. Ecological analyses were undertaken between symptom prevalence and the following: Gross National Product per capita (GNP), food intake, immunisation rates, tuberculosis notifications, climatic factors, tobacco consumption, pollen, antibiotic sales, paracetamol sales, and outdoor air pollution.Symptom prevalence of all three conditions was positively associated with GNP, trans fatty acids, paracetamol, and women smoking, and inversely associated with food of plant origin, pollen, immunisations, tuberculosis notifications, air pollution, and men smoking. The magnitude of these associations was small, but consistent in direction between conditions. There were mixed associations of climate and antibiotic sales with symptom prevalence.The potential causality of these associations warrant further investigation. Factors which prevent the development of these conditions, or where there is an absence of a positive correlation at a population level may be as important from the policy viewpoint as a focus on the positive risk factors. Interventions based on small associations may have the potential for a large public health benefit

Artificial membrane-binding proteins stimulate oxygenation of stem cells during engineering of large cartilage tissue

Restricted oxygen diffusion can result in central cell necrosis in engineered tissue, a problem that is exacerbated when engineering large tissue constructs for clinical application. Here we show that pre-treating human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) with synthetic membrane-active myoglobin-polymer–surfactant complexes can provide a reservoir of oxygen capable of alleviating necrosis at the centre of hyaline cartilage. This is achieved through the development of a new cell functionalization methodology based on polymer–surfactant conjugation, which allows the delivery of functional proteins to the hMSC membrane. This new approach circumvents the need for cell surface engineering using protein chimerization or genetic transfection, and we demonstrate that the surface-modified hMSCs retain their ability to proliferate and to undergo multilineage differentiation. The functionalization technology is facile, versatile and non-disruptive, and in addition to tissue oxygenation, it should have far-reaching application in a host of tissue engineering and cell-based therapies

Poisson-Boltzmann for oppositely charged bodies: an explicit derivation

The interaction between charged bodies in an ionic solution is a general problem in colloid physics and becomes a central topic in the study of biological systems where the electrostatic interaction between proteins, nucleic acids, membranes is involved. This problem is often described starting from the simple one-dimensional model of two parallel charged plates. Several different approaches to this problem exist, focusing on different features. In many cases, an intuitive expression of the pressure exerted on the plates is proposed, which includes an electrostatic plus an osmotic contribution. We present an explicit and self-consistent derivation of this formula for the general case of any charge densities on the plates and any salt solution, obtained in the framework of the Poisson-Boltzmann theory. We also show that, depending on external constraints, the correct thermodynamic potential can differ from the usual PB free energy. The resulting expression predicts, for asymmetric, oppositely charged plates, the existence of a non trivial equilibrium position with the plates separated by a finite distance. It is therefore crucial, in order to study the kinetic stability of the corresponding energy minimum, to obtain its explicit dependence on the plates charge densities and on the ion concentration. An analytic expression for the position and value of the corresponding energy minimum has been derived in 1975 by Ohshima [Ohshima H., Colloid and Polymer Sci. 253, 150-157 (1975)] but, surprisingly, this important result seems to be overlooked today. We retrieve the expressions obtained by Ohshima in a simpler formalism, more familiar to the physics community, and give a physical interpretation of the observed behavior.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Molecular Physic

A survey of knowledge, attitudes and practices towards avian influenza in an adult population of Italy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several public health strategic interventions are required for effective prevention and control of avian influenza (AI) and it is necessary to create a communication plan to keep families adequately informed on how to avoid or reduce exposure. This investigation determined the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors relating to AI among an adult population in Italy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From December 2005 to February 2006 a random sample of 1020 adults received a questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of transmission and prevention about AI, attitudes towards AI, behaviors regarding use of preventive measures and food-handling practices, and sources of information about AI.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A response rate of 67% was achieved. Those in higher socioeconomic classes were more likely to identify the modes of transmission and the animals' vehicles for AI. Those older, who knew the modes of transmission and the animals' vehicles for AI, and who still need information, were more likely to know that washing hands soap before and after touching raw poultry meat and using gloves is recommended to avoid spreading of AI through food. The risk of being infected was significantly higher in those from lower socioeconomic classes, if they did not know the definition of AI, if they knew that AI could be transmitted by eating and touching raw eggs and poultry foods, and if they did not need information. Compliance with the hygienic practices during handling of raw poultry meat was more likely in those who perceived to be at higher risk, who knew the hygienic practices, who knew the modes of transmission and the animals' vehicles for AI, and who received information from health professionals and scientific journals.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Respondents demonstrate no detailed understanding of AI, a greater perceived risk, and a lower compliance with precautions behaviors and health educational strategies are strongly needed.</p