163 research outputs found
Understanding Autoimmune Mechanisms in Multiple Sclerosis Using Gene Expression Microarrays: Treatment Effect and Cytokine-related Pathways
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system disease in which activated
autoreactive T-cells invade the blood brain barrier and initiate an inflammatory
response that leads to myelin destruction and axonal loss. The etiology of MS, as
well as the mechanisms associated with its unexpected onset, the unpredictable
clinical course spanning decades, and the different rates of progression leading
to disability over time, remains an enigma. We have applied gene expression
microarrays technology in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to better
understand MS pathogenesis and better target treatment approaches. A signature
of 535 genes were found to distinguish immunomodulatory treatment effects
between 13 treated and 13 untreated MS patients. In addition, the expression
pattern of 1109 gene transcripts that were previously reported to significantly
differentiate between MS patients and healthy subjects were further analyzed to
study the effect of cytokine-related pathways on disease pathogenesis. When
relative gene expression for 26 MS patients was compared to 18 healthy controls,
30 genes related to various cytokine-associated pathways were identified. These
genes belong to a variety of families such as interleukins, small inducible cytokine
subfamily and tumor necrosis factor ligand and receptor. Further analysis disclosed
seven cytokine-associated genes within the immunomodulatory treatment
signature, and two cytokine-associated genes SCYA4 (small inducible cytokine A4)
and FCAR (Fc fragment of IgA, CD89) that were common to both the MS gene
expression signature and the immunomodulatory treatment gene expression
signature. Our results indicate that cytokine-associated genes are involved in various
pathogenic pathways in MS and also related to immunomodulatory treatment effects
Rapid WolffâKishner reductions in a silicon carbide microreactor
WolffâKishner reductions are performed in a novel silicon carbide microreactor. Greatly reduced reaction times and safer operation are achieved, giving high yields without requiring a large excess of hydrazine. The corrosion resistance of silicon carbide avoids the problematic reactor compatibility issues that arise when WolffâKishner reductions are done in glass or stainless steel reactors. With only nitrogen gas and water as by-products, this opens the possibility of performing selective, large scale ketone reductions without the generation of hazardous waste streams.Novartis-MIT Center for Continuous ManufacturingNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (post-doctoral fellowship
New pharmacological treatments of rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis a chronic, symmetric, inflammatory disease, with complex pathophysiology and complex treatment that causes multiple physical problems and inability to carry out daily tasks of living. it is important to diagnose and treat it correctly in order to improve the quality of life of the patients and avoid future complication. there are many new pharmacological treatments to the diseases and the thesis talk about them.egységes, osztatlanåltalånos orvosango
Substrate dependent reaction channels of the WolffâKishner reduction reaction: A theoretical study
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