The comparative responsiveness of Hospital Universitario Princesa Index and other composite indices for assessing rheumatoid arthritis activity

Objective To evaluate the responsiveness in terms of correlation of the Hospital Universitario La Princesa Index (HUPI) comparatively to the traditional composite indices used to assess disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to compare the performance of HUPI-based response criteria with that of the EULAR response criteria. Methods Secondary data analysis from the following studies: ACT-RAY (clinical trial), PROAR (early RA cohort) and EMECAR (pre-biologic era long term RA cohort). Responsiveness was evaluated by: 1) comparing change from baseline (Delta) of HUPI with Delta in other scores by calculating correlation coefficients; 2) calculating standardised effect sizes. The accuracy of response by HUPI and by EULAR criteria was analyzed using linear regressions in which the dependent variable was change in global assessment by physician (Delta GDA-Phy). Results Delta HUPI correlation with change in all other indices ranged from 0.387 to 0.791); HUPI's standardized effect size was larger than those from the other indices in each database used. In ACT-RAY, depending on visit, between 65 and 80% of patients were equally classified by HUPI and EULAR response criteria. However, HUPI criteria were slightly more stringent, with higher percentage of patients classified as non-responder, especially at early visits. HUPI response criteria showed a slightly higher accuracy than EULAR response criteria when using Delta GDA-Phy as gold standard. Conclusion HUPI shows good responsiveness in terms of correlation in each studied scenario (clinical trial, early RA cohort, and established RA cohort). Response criteria by HUPI seem more stringent than EULAR''s

Real-time instrument for ambient monitoring of hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl sulfide, and other reduced organosulfur species using ozone chemiluminescent detection

The chemiluminescent reactions of H/sup 2/S and other gaseous sulfides with ozone at 298/sup 0/K have been investigated, with the aim of developing a simple, selective, real-time monitor for these naturally emitted compounds. A commercial chemiluminescent ozone monitor has been adapted, for detection of the ozone/sulfide chemiluminescence between 300 and 400 nm wavelenght. Excess ozone was supplied to the reaction chamber from an electrical discharge ozone source. Response to dimethyl sulfide was enhanced by the use of air in the ozone source rather than oxygen. This effect was found to be caused by the presence of oxides of nitrogen produced in the ozonizer; a similar enhancement was not observed for the other sulfide compounds studied. Observed chemiluminescence signal decreased in the order CH/sub 3/SH > CH/sub 3/SCH/sub 3/ > H/sub 2/S > thiophene, with detection limits of 0.1, 0.3, 4, and 12 ppb respectively, at an instrument time constant of 60 sec. Calibration plots were linear at low sulfide concentrations, and showed less-than-first order dependence on sulfide at higher concentrations. A very small signal from ethylene was the only interference found from several compounds tested; sample air humidity has a small but significant effect on the instrument response

Analysis of Maternal-Offspring HLA Compatibility, Parent-of-Origin Effects, and Noninherited Maternal Antigen Effects for HLA-DRB1 in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective. Genetic susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is well established, with the HLA class II DRB1 and DQB1 loci demonstrating the strongest association. However, HLA may also influence SLE through novel biologic mechanisms in addition to genetic transmission of risk alleles. Evidence for increased maternal-offspring HLA class II compatibility in SLE and differences in maternal versus paternal transmission rates (parent-of-origin effects) and nontransmission rates (noninherited maternal antigen [NIMA] effects) in other autoimmune diseases have been reported. Thus, we investigated maternal-offspring HLA compatibility, parent-of-origin effects, and NIMA effects at DRB1 in SLE. Methods. The cohort comprised 707 SLE families and 188 independent healthy maternal-offspring pairs (total of 2,497 individuals). Family-based association tests were conducted to compare transmitted versus nontransmitted alleles (transmission disequilibrium test) and both maternally versus paternally transmitted (parent-of-origin) and nontransmitted alleles (using the chi-square test of heterogeneity). Analyses were stratified according to the sex of the offspring. Maternally affected offspring DRB1 compatibility in SLE families was compared with paternally affected offspring compatibility and with independent control maternal-offspring pairs (using Fisher's test) and was restricted to male and nulligravid female offspring with SLE. Results. As expected, DRB1 was associated with SLE (P < 1 x 10(-4)). However, mothers of children with SLE had similar transmission and nontransmission frequencies for DRB1 alleles when compared with fathers, including those for the known SLE risk alleles HLA-DRB1*0301, *1501, and *0801. No association between maternal-offspring compatibility and SLE was observed. Conclusion. Maternal-offspring HLA compatibility, parent-of-origin effects, and NIMA effects at DRB1 are unlikely to play a role in SLE.Transplantation and autoimmunit

Test of QCD analytic predictions for the multiplicity ratio between gluon and quark jets

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