Diagnosis, classification, and assessment in psoriatic arthritis

There have been considerable advances in the classification and assessment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). In this report, we give an overview of historic and current classification criteria and discuss its role and limitations in research and clinical practice. We discuss the most commonly used assessment instruments for arthritis, psoriasis, onychodystrophy, enthesitis, dactylitis and axial PsA with a focus on clinical practice. We pay particular attention to the current evidence for the use of composite outcome measures, and their use in randomised controlled trials and routine care.</p

Heavy metal stress influence the andrographolide content, phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of Andrographis paniculata

Heavy metals (HM) are toxic components present in the earth’s crust that can have a negative impact on plants as well as animals. Andrographis paniculata or ‘King of bitters’ belonging to the family Acanthaceae, is a medicinal herb traditionally used in the treatment of fever, common cold etc. In the present study, the effect of heavy metals (copper, tin and cobalt) on the andrographolide content, biochemical parameters like chlorophyll, carotenoid, protein, Total phenolic content (TPC), Total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant activity in A. paniculata were analysed. Saplings of A. paniculata were treated at 50 and 100 mM concentrations, three different times at a time interval of 7 days. Andrographolide production was found to increase in copper and cobalt treated saplings when compared with the control. From the results, maximum andrographolide concentration was found in the saplings treated with 50 mM copper (8.51 mg/g of DW) and 50 mM tin (8.10 mg/g of DW) respectively. 50 mM cobalt treated plants have shown the highest concentration of TPC (17.21 mg/g of extract) and TFC (6.97 mg/g of extract). Notable variations in other biochemical parameters like total chlorophyll, carotenoid content and antioxidant activities were observed in all treatments compared with the control

Context-Dependent Remodeling of Rad51–DNA Complexes by Srs2 Is Mediated by a Specific Protein–Protein Interaction

The yeast Srs2 helicase removes Rad51 nucleoprotein filaments from single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), preventing DNA strand invasion and exchange by homologous recombination. This activity requires a physical interaction between Srs2 and Rad51, which stimulates ATP turnover in the Rad51 nucleoprotein filament and causes dissociation of Rad51 from ssDNA. Srs2 also possesses a DNA unwinding activity and here we show that assembly of more than one Srs2 molecule on the 3′ ssDNA overhang is required to initiate DNA unwinding. When Rad51 is bound on the double-stranded DNA, its interaction with Srs2 blocks the helicase (DNA unwinding) activity of Srs2. Thus, in different DNA contexts, the physical interaction of Rad51 with Srs2 can either stimulate or inhibit the remodeling functions of Srs2, providing a means for tailoring DNA strand exchange activities to enhance the fidelity of recombination

Tuberculous Infection of Thyroid Gland: A Case Report

Introduction. Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality and almost one-third of the world is infected with this disease. Tuberculosis has been reported in many parts of the human body. But thyroid gland involvement is extremely rare and its true incidence is unknown. Case Presentation. We present the case of a 26-year-old woman who presented with a thyroid cyst which turned out to be a primary mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Conclusion. The correct diagnosis of thyroid tuberculosis is important because of the availability of medical treatment and the limited role of surgery

APOPTOSIS INDUCING EFFECT OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESIZED USING MAGNOLIA CHAMPACA LEAF EXTRACT ON MCF-7 CELL LINE

Objective: To synthesize silver nanoparticle (AgNP) using the ethanolic leaf extract of Magnolia champaca (MC-AgNP) and to evaluate its cytotoxicity and apoptotic activity in MCF-7 cell line, and to analyse active Caspase-3 expression in inducing apoptosis. Methods: AgNP was green synthesized using ethanolic leaf extract of MC. Shape and size were analysed by SEM and particle size analyser. Cytotoxicity was tested to find IC50 value. Apoptosis was explored by mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) assay and active Caspase-3 expression study using flow cytometry. Results: AgNP synthesized was observed to be in spherical shape through SEM micrograph with 164.6 nm in size. IC50 value of 15.90 µg/ml was obtained after 24 h of drug treatment. Changes in ΔΨm and positive active Caspase-3 protein expression were observed. Conclusion: The present results suggest that MC-AgNP has potential anticancer property and also induced cell death via apoptosis through caspase dependent pathway in MCF-7 cells

Modeling of Dynamic Responses in Building Insulation

In this research a measurement systemwas developedfor monitoring humidity and temperature in the cavity between the wall and the insulating material in the building envelope. This new technology does not disturb the insulating material during testing. The measurement system can also be applied to insulation fixed ten or twenty years earlier and sufficiently reveals the quality of the insulation. A mathematical model is proposed to characterize the dynamic responses in the cavity between the wall and the building insulation as influenced by weather conditions.These dynamic responses are manifested as a delay of both humidity and temperature changes in the cavity when compared with the changes in the ambient surrounding of the building. The process is then modeled through numerical methods and statistical analysis of the experimental data obtained using the new system of measurement

Electron Transfer Precedes ATP Hydrolysis during Nitrogenase Catalysis

The biological reduction of N2 to NH3 catalyzed by Mo-dependent nitrogenase requires at least eight rounds of a complex cycle of events associated with ATP-driven electron transfer (ET) from the Fe protein to the catalytic MoFe protein, with each ET coupled to the hydrolysis of two ATP molecules. Although steps within this cycle have been studied for decades, the nature of the coupling between ATP hydrolysis and ET, in particular the order of ET and ATP hydrolysis, has been elusive. Here, we have measured first-order rate constants for each key step in the reaction sequence, including direct measurement of the ATP hydrolysis rate constant: kATP = 70 s−1, 25 °C. Comparison of the rate constants establishes that the reaction sequence involves four sequential steps: (i) conformationally gated ET (kET = 140 s−1, 25 °C), (ii) ATP hydrolysis (kATP = 70 s−1, 25 °C), (iii) Phosphate release (kPi = 16 s−1, 25 °C), and (iv) Fe protein dissociation from the MoFe protein (kdiss = 6 s−1, 25 °C). These findings allow completion of the thermodynamic cycle undergone by the Fe protein, showing that the energy of ATP binding and protein–protein association drive ET, with subsequent ATP hydrolysis and Pi release causing dissociation of the complex between the Feox(ADP)2 protein and the reduced MoFe protein

The state of the art—psoriatic arthritis outcome assessment in clinical trials and daily practice

Psoriatic arthritis is a heterogeneous condition with substantial challenges in optimising outcome measures for both clinical trials and daily practice. As with other inflammatory arthritides, there is no gold standard instrument for measuring disease activity or impact, both of which are key to evaluate therapeutic approaches in trials and monitor disease in daily practice. A wide range of domains have been highlighted in the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) core domain set for psoriatic arthritis; reflecting the disease involvement in multiple tissues (joints, tendons, skin, and spine) and the heterogenous impact of the disease on individuals. This Review summarises the current evidence around outcome measure selection, considering factors such as unidimensional versus multidimensional outcomes, continuous versus binary measures, and the feasibility of these approaches in trials compared with clinical practice

How do parents frame their engagement experience in early intervention? A grounded theory study

PURPOSE: Parent and therapist engagement and partnership are critical in early intervention physiotherapy and occupational therapy for infants with cerebral palsy to improve outcomes. The main aim of this study was to understand how parents perceive their engagement experience in early intervention over time. METHODS: Grounded theory methodology was used. Twenty parents of diverse backgrounds participated in 22 interviews (including some repeated longitudinally) to reflect on their engagement experience within the context of early intervention community services provided in the UK NHS. RESULTS: The findings highlight how parents' perspectives of their engagement in EI change according to critical circumstances, including their preceding neonatal trauma, the at-risk CP label, firmer diagnosis of CP and their child's response to intervention. We theorise that this disrupted transition experience to parenthood becomes part of parental framing (or sense-making) of their engagement in EI. Overlapping frames of uncertainty, pursuit and transformation capture and explain nuances in parents' engagement patterns within EI over time. CONCLUSION: This theorising has implications for early intervention therapists in how they engage in the lives of families and partner with parents to support healthier parental transition, wellbeing and subsequent improved infant outcomes