Electrospun Metallic Nanofibers Fabricated by Electrospinning and Metallization

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Histamine and Histamine H4 Receptor Promotes Osteoclastogenesis in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Histamine H4 receptor (H4R) has immune-modulatory and chemotaxic effects in various immune cells. This study aimed to determine the osteoclastogenic role of H4R in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The concentration of histamine in synovial fluid (SF) and sera in patients with RA was measured using ELISA. After RA SF and peripheral blood (PB) CD14+ monocytes were treated with histamine, IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22, and a H4R antagonist (JNJ7777120), the gene expression H4R and RANKL was determined by real-time PCR. Osteoclastogenesis was assessed by counting TRAP-positive multinucleated cells in PB CD14+ monocytes cultured with histamine, Th17 cytokines and JNJ7777120. SF and serum concentration of histamine was higher in RA, compared with osteoarthritis and healthy controls. The expression of H4R was increased in PB monocytes in RA patients. Histamine, IL-6, IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22 induced the expression of H4R in monocytes. Histamine, IL-17, and IL-22 stimulated RANKL expression in RA monocytes and JNJ7777120 reduced the RANKL expression. Histamine and Th17 cytokines induced the osteoclast differentiation from monocytes and JNJ7777120 decreased the osteoclastogenesis. H4R mediates RANKL expression and osteoclast differentiation induced by histamine and Th17 cytokines. The blockage of H4R could be a new therapeutic modality for prevention of bone destruction in RA

Computed tomography-based assessment of radiographic progression in spine and sacroiliac joints after pregnancy in women with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis

BackgroundMechanical stress are one of the pathogenesis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). During pregnancy, the mechanical overload on the spine and pelvis increases due to gravid uterus. We aimed to investigate whether pregnancy affects radiographic progression in patients with radiographic axSpA (r-axSpA) based on computed tomography (CT) evaluations.Materials and methodsThis retrospective study included women with r-axSpA aged 19–49 years who underwent at least two CT evaluations of the whole spine and/or sacroiliac joints (SIJs) at intervals of 2–4 years. To compare radiographic progression after delivery, we classified the patients into two groups: delivery group and controls. The delivery group was restricted to women who had the first CT ∼2 years before delivery and the second CT ∼2 years after delivery. The CT Syndesmophyte Score (CTSS) (0–522) and SIJ scores (0–40) were used to evaluate spinal syndesmophytes and erosion, joint space narrowing, and sclerosis of the SIJs.ResultsA total of 21 women in the delivery group and 38 women in the control group were included. The median (Q1–Q3) CTSS at baseline in the delivery group and controls was 19 (16–23) and 20 (13.25–27.75), and the median progression was 1 (0–3) and 0 (0–1) during the median 2.9-year follow-up, respectively. The median (Q1–Q3) SIJ score at baseline in the delivery group and controls was 13 (8–22) and 11 (6–22), and the median progression was 1.5 (0–3) and 1 (0–2), respectively. Using cut-off 0.5, 52.9, and 61.9% of r-axSpA patients and 39.3 and 44.4% of controls showed progression of whole spine and SIJs, respectively. However, no difference in proportion of spinal and SIJ progression and absolute score changes per time point was observed between two groups. Moreover, the SIJ score changes were comparable according to the delivery method.ConclusionPregnancy and delivery do not affect the radiographic progression of the spine and SIJs in women with r-axSpA assessed by CT

Accuracy of analytical approaches to thermal response test interpretation

Thermal conductivity obtained via thermal response test (TRT) is one of the essential parameters for the design of shallow geothermal systems, especially a borehole heat exchanger (BHE). During TRT analysis, several factors (e.g., start time of analysis and test duration) could influence the estimated thermal conductivity. In addition, the influence of the factors may be different depending on the characteristics of the borehole and ground. This study investigated the effects of the start time and test duration through numerically generated TRT data under a diversity of environment and BHE information such as the thermal conductivity of grouting and ground. The generated numerical data were analyzed with three analytical approaches having different assumptions about the heat source to interpret the sensitivity of factors in the TRT analysis. By conducting the analytical sensitivity analysis, the importance of determining the appropriate start time and test duration could be emphasized when designing the test

Intraabdominal Cryptococcal Lymphadenitis in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Cryptococcal infection is a rare, yet well recognized complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We present a case of mesenteric and retroperitoneal cryptococcal lymphadenitis resulting in the obstruction of the stomach and proximal duodenum in a patient suffering from SLE, while recently she did not receive any immunosuppressive treatment. A 42-yr-old woman was admitted due to high fever and diffuse abdominal pain for three weeks. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed multiple conglomerated lymphadenopathies in the retroperitoneum and the mesentery resulting in luminal narrowing of the third portion of the duodenum. Cryptococcal lymphadenitis was proven by needle biopsy and she was treated with intravenous liposomal amphotericin B, followed by oral fluconazole. After fourteen-month antifungal therapies, the clinical symptoms and follow-up images improved. This case emphasize that the intrinsic immunological defects of SLE may be directly responsible for the predisposition to fungal infections

Serum Pro-hepcidin Could Reflect Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between serum pro-hepcidin concentration and the anemia profiles of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to estimate the pro-hepcidin could reflect the disease activity of RA. RA disease activities were measured using Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), tender/swollen joint counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP). Anemia profiles such as hemoglobin, iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), ferritin, and transferrin levels were measured. Serum concentration of pro-hepcidin, the prohormone of hepcidin, was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Mean concentration of serum pro-hepcidin was 237.6±67.9 ng/mL in 40 RA patients. The pro-hepcidin concentration was correlated with rheumatoid factor, CRP, ESR, and DAS28. There was a significant correlation between pro-hepcidin with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. The pro-hepcidin concentration was significantly higher in the patients with active RA (DAS28>5.1) than those with inactive to moderate RA (DAS28≤5.1). However, the pro-hepcidin concentration did not correlate with the anemia profiles except hemoglobin level. There was no difference of pro-hepcidin concentration between the patients with anemia of chronic disease and those without. In conclusion, serum concentration of pro-hepcidin reflects the disease activity, regardless of the anemia states in RA patients, thus it may be another potential marker for disease activity of RA