355 research outputs found
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Multiple shape memory behavior of highly oriented longâchainâbranched poly(lactic acid) and its recovery mechanism
YesThe shape memory effect of highly oriented longâchainâbranched poly(lactic acid) (LCBâPLA) prepared through solidâphase die drawing technology was studied by comparison with PLA. When the recovery temperature increased from 60°C to 120°C, for PLA, only oneâstep recovery at about 80°C can be observed and the recovery ratio was below 21.5%, while, for LCBâPLA, multiple recovery behavior with high recovery ratio of 78.8% can be achieved. For oriented PLA, the recovery curve of the final sample showed the same trend with that of sample suffering just free drawing; while for oriented LCBâPLA, the recovery curve of the final sample showed the same trend with that of sample suffering just die drawing. After shape recovery, the mechanical properties of LCBâPLA showed a linear downward trend with the recovery temperature. Together with amorphous phase, the oriented mesomorphic phase, which formed during solid die drawing, can act as switching domains. And thus, upon heating, the chain segment of amorphous phase relaxed at first and triggered the first macroscopical shape recovery, leading to the decrease of long period (Lac) and the thickness of the amorphous layer (La). Then, with further increasing temperature, the oriented mesomorphic phase gradually relaxed resulting subsequently multiâshape recovery, and the Lac and the La further decreased. Therefore, by regulating the recovery temperature of oriented LCBâPLA, the shape recovery ratio and mechanical strength can be controlled effectively, and thus the selfâreinforced and selfâfastening effect can be achieved simultaneously for PLA as bone fixation material
Prediction and benefits of minimal disease activity in patients with psoriatic arthritis and active skin disease in the ADEPT trial
Objectives: To determine the proportion of patients with psoriatic arthritis in the Adalimumab Effectiveness in Psoriatic Arthritis trial achieving minimal disease activity (MDA) and its individual components at 1 or more visits over 144 weeks, identify baseline predictors of MDA achievement, and evaluate the association of MDA status with independent quality of life (QoL)-related patient-reported outcomes (PROs).
Methods: Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the baseline characteristics that predicted achievement of MDA at individual time points (weeks 12 through 144) or sustained MDA (achievement of MDA at 2 consecutive time points 12 weeks apart). The association of independent QoL-related PROs with MDA achievement was evaluated at weeks 24 and 144.
Results: In univariate analyses, higher baseline patient assessment of pain, tender joint count (TJC), enthesitis and Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) score were significantly associated with lower likelihood of achieving MDA at later time points. Multivariate analyses confirmed higher baseline HAQ-DI as a significant predictor for failure to achieve MDA at later time points. Achievement of sustained MDA was associated with lower baseline TJC and HAQ-DI score. Achievement of different MDA components appeared to be treatment dependent. MDA achievers had significantly better QoL-related PROs and greater improvements in PROs from baseline to week 24 compared with non-achievers.
Conclusions: Higher HAQ-DI score was the most consistent baseline factor that decreased the likelihood of achieving MDA and sustained MDA at later time points. Achieving MDA was associated with better independent QoL-related PROs
Inhibition of interleukin-17 in patients with oligoarticular psoriatic arthritis
Introduction: This study evaluated the efficacy of the interleukin-17A inhibitor secukinumab in patients with oligoarticular psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Methods: A total of 84 patients with oligoarticular PsA, defined as 1â4 tender joints and 1â4 swollen joints, were pooled from the FUTURE 2â5 and MAXIMISE trials (NCT01752634, NCT01989468, NCT02294227, NCT02404350, and NCT02721966). Patients were grouped by treatment received at week 12 (secukinumab 300 mg, secukinumab 150 mg, or placebo) and week 52 (any secukinumab 300 mg or any secukinumab 150 mg). Efficacy was assessed by the proportion of patients achieving selected clinical outcomes. The predictors of Disease Activity index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) responses at weeks 12 and 52 were identified by logistic regression analysis.
Results: Secukinumab treatment resulted in greater achievement of DAPSA-based low disease activity (LDA), DAPSA-based remission (REM), DAPSA50, and DAPSA75 than placebo at week 12, with improvements sustained or further increased through week 52. LDA or REM was achieved at week 52 by more than 90% of patients who received either secukinumab dose, although secukinumab 300 mg resulted in the highest achievement of the stringent DAPSA75 and DAPSA REM outcomes. At week 12, younger age was associated with DAPSA LDA or REM and DAPSA50, while lower baseline swollen joint count was associated with DAPSA REM. No predictors were identified at week 52. The safety profile was consistent with the full study populations.
Conclusion: Secukinumab demonstrated efficacy vs placebo across several outcome measures in patients with oligoarticular PsA at week 12, with sustained or improved responses through week 52
Predictive gene signatures:molecular markers distinguishing colon adenomatous polyp and carcinoma
Funding: This study was supported by the Scottish Government's Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division Food, Land and People Programme GT403 (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Research/About/EBAR/StrategicResearch/future-research-strategy/Themes), Scottish Universities Life Science Alliance Translational Biology Studentship 10/09, (http://www.sulsa.ac.uk/), NHS Grampian Endowment Fund 12/07 (http://www.nhsgrampian.co.uk/nhsgrampian/gra_display_hospital.jsp?pContentID=65&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Data Availability: The authors confirm that all data underlying the findings are fully available without restriction. All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Performance of composite measures used in a trial of etanercept and methotrexate as monotherapy or in combination in psoriatic arthritis
Objectives:
To examine which composite measures are most sensitive to change when measuring psoriatic arthritis (PsA) disease activity, analyses compared the responsiveness of composite measures used in a 48-week randomized, controlled trial of MTX and etanercept in patients with PsA.
Methods:
The trial randomised 851 patients to receive weekly: MTX (20âmg/week), etanercept (50âmg/week) or MTX plus etanercept. Dichotomous composite measures examined included ACR 20/50/70 responses, minimal disease activity (MDA) and very low disease activity (VLDA). Continuous composite measures examined included Disease Activity Score (28 joints) using CRP (DAS28-CRP), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), Disease Activity for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) and Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (PASDAS).
Results:
At week 24, etanercept-treated groups were significantly more effective than MTX monotherapy to achieve ACR 20 (primary end point) and MDA (key secondary end point). When examining score changes from baseline at week 24 across the five continuous composite measures, PASDAS demonstrated relatively greater changes in the etanercept-treated groups compared with MTX monotherapy and had the largest effect size and standardized response. Joint count changes drove overall score changes at week 24 from baseline in all the continuous composite measures except for PASDAS, which was driven by the Physician and Patient Global Assessments.
Conclusion:
PASDAS was the most sensitive continuous composite measure examined with results that mirrored the protocol-defined primary and key secondary outcomes. Composite measures with multiple domains, such as PASDAS, may better quantify change in PsA disease burden.
Trail registration:
https://ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02376790
Guselkumab provides durable improvement across psoriatic arthritis disease domains: post hoc analysis of a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
Objective Evaluate long-term guselkumab effectiveness across Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA)-recognised domains/related conditions of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Methods Post hoc analyses used data from DISCOVER-2 (NCT03158285) biologic/Janus-kinase inhibitor-naĂŻve participants with active PsA (â„5 swollen/â„5 tender joints, C-reactive protein â„0.6âmg/dL), randomised (1:1:1) to guselkumab every 4 or 8 weeks (Q4W/Q8W) or placebo with crossover to guselkumab. Outcomes aligned with key GRAPPA-recognised domains of overall disease activity, peripheral arthritis, axial disease, enthesitis/dactylitis and skin psoriasis (nail psoriasis was not evaluated). PsA-related conditions (inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)/uveitis) were assessed via adverse events through W112. Least squares mean changes from baseline through W100 in continuous outcomes employed repeated measures mixed-effects models adjusting for baseline scores. Binary measure response rates were determined with non-responder imputation for missing data.
Results 442/493 (90%) of guselkumab-randomised patients completed treatment through W100. Following early reductions in disease activity with guselkumab, durable improvements were observed across key PsA domains (swollen/tender joints, psoriasis, spinal pain, enthesitis/dactylitis) through W100. Response rates of therapeutically relevant targets generally increased through W100 with guselkumab Q4W/Q8W: Disease Activity Index for PsA low disease activity (LDA) 62%/59%, enthesitis resolution 61%/70%, dactylitis resolution 72%/83%, 100% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 59%/53%, Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score LDA 51%/49% and minimal disease activity 38%/40%. Through W112, no cases of IBD developed among guselkumab-randomised patients and one case of uveitis was reported.
Conclusion In biologic-naĂŻve patients with active PsA, guselkumab provided early and durable improvements in key GRAPPA-recognised domains through 2 years, with substantial proportions achieving important treatment targets
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Structure evolution and orientation mechanism of long-chain-branched poly (lactic acid) in the process of solid die drawing
YesHighly oriented long-chain-branched poly (lactic acid) (LCB-PLA) was prepared and the structure evolution was studied in the process of solid die drawing by compared with poly (lactic acid) (PLA). During drawing, samples underwent not only die drawing process but also free drawing process. Drawing speed presented a prominent effect on the free drawing process, while die thickness showed a more obvious influence on the die drawing process. For PLA, free drawing process mainly contributed to its final orientation degree and crystallinity, and thus the mechanical properties of PLA were greatly influenced by drawing speed. However, for LCB-PLA, die drawing process made a greater contribution to the final orientation degree and crystallinity, and its mechanical properties were mainly affected by die thickness. Under the same drawing condition, the tensile strength and modulus of LCB-PLA were always higher than those of PLA, and reached up to 228 MPa and 7.2 GPa, respectively, which basically met the requirement for born fixation materials. Samples which only underwent die drawing showed obvious âsandwichâ structure, and the thickness of the oriented skin layer for LCB-PLA was thicker than that for PLA, suggesting that shear-induced orientation can be easily retained due to the enhanced entanglement between long branched chains. After drawing, LCB-PLA samples showed smaller lamellae size (Llateral) but larger long period (Lac) compared with PLA, suggesting that the low chain mobility restricted the motion of chain slipping of LCB-PLA and thus resulted in the fragmentation of neighboring crystal lamella by chain stretched-out
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