Chemical Resolution at Ionic Crystal Surfaces Using Dynamic Atomic Force Microscopy with Metallic Tips

We demonstrate that well prepared and characterized Cr tips can provide atomic resolution on the bulk NaCl(001) surface with dynamic atomic force microscopy in the noncontact regime at relatively large tip-sample separations. At these conditions, the surface chemical structure can be resolved yet tip-surface instabilities are absent. Our calculations demonstrate that chemical identification is unambiguous, because the interaction is always largest above the anions. This conclusion is generally valid for other polar surfaces, and can thus provide a new practical route for straightforward interpretation of atomically resolved images

HAE therapies: past present and future

Advances in understanding the pathophysiology and mechanism of swelling in hereditary angioedema (HAE) has resulted in the development of multiple new drugs for the acute and prophylactic treatment of patients with HAE. This review will recap the past treatment options, review the new current treatment options, and discuss potential future treatment options for patients with HAE

ADAMTS13 autoantibodies in patients with thrombotic microangiopathies and other immunomediated diseases

Autoantibodies neutralizing human ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif), the metalloprotease that physiologically cleaves von Willebrand factor, are a major cause of severe deficiency of the protease and of acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). We evaluated prevalence of anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies in 59 patients with thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) and in 160 patients with immunologic or thrombocytopenic diseases different from TTP, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies directed against ADAMTS13 were found in 97% of untreated patients with acute acquired TMA who had plasma levels of ADAMTS13 activity below 10%. The corresponding prevalence of IgM antibodies was 11%. In contrast, anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies of G or M isotypes were detected in 20% of patients with TMA with ADAMTS13 activity above 10%. The ELISA was more sensitive than the standard functional inhibitor assay for detecting antibodies against ADAMTS13. Patients with thrombocytopenia from various causes (n = 50), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; n = 40), and the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS; n = 55) had prevalences of IgG antibodies of 8%, 13%, and 5% respectively, only slightly higher than the prevalence in 111 healthy donors (4%). A rather high prevalence of anti-ADAMTS13 IgM antibodies was found in patients with SLE and APS (18% each). The clinical significance of IgM antibodies in these groups is unclear. In conclusion, the ELISA method detected anti-ADAMTS13 IgG antibodies in a very large proportion of patients with acquired TMA associated with severe ADAMTS13 deficiency, and was more sensitive than the inhibitor assa

Detection of bphAa Gene Expression of Rhodococcus sp. Strain RHA1 in Soil Using a New Method of RNA Preparation from Soil

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