Interaction between extracellular matrix molecules and microbial pathogens: evidence for the missing link in autoimmunity with rheumatoid arthritis as a disease model.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation followed by tissue rebuilding or fibrosis. A failure by the body to regulate inflammation effectively is one of the hallmarks of RA. The interaction between the external environment and the human host plays an important role in the development of autoimmunity. In RA, the observation of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) to autoantigens is well recognized. Citrullination is a post-translational modification mediated by peptidyl arginine deiminases, which exist in both mammalian and bacterial forms. Previous studies have shown how proteins expressed in the human extracellular matrix (ECM) acquire properties of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) in RA and include collagens, tenascin-C, and fibronectin (FN). ECM DAMPs can further potentiate tissue damage in RA. Recent work has shown that citrullination in RA occurs at mucosal sites, including the oral cavity and lung. Mucosal sites have been linked with bacterial infection, e.g., periodontal disease, where exogenous pathogens are implicated in the development of autoimmunity via an infectious trigger. Proteases produced at mucosal sites, both by bacteria and the human host, can induce the release of ECM DAMPs, thereby revealing neoepitopes which can be citrullinated and lead to an autoantibody response with further production of ACPA. In this perspectives article, the evidence for the interplay between the ECM and bacteria at human mucosal surfaces, which can become a focus for citrullination and the development of autoimmunity, is explored. Specific examples, with reference to collagen, fibrinogen, and FN, are discussed

Ethnography and data re-use: issues of context and hypertext

This paper seeks to open up debate around context and the re-analysis of stored qualitative data. How to ensure that subsequent users of deposited datasets can appreciate and be guided by the context of the original study? The paper introduces the idea of hypertext as one way of facilitating this. We discuss how „context‟ might be thought through in particular relation to ethnography, where it is frequently difficult to distinguish between data and context, and highlight some of the inherent problems in the notion of archiving ethnographic context. In a discussion focusing in on multimedia, we draw attention to the different kinds of contextual information that are necessary to interpret data in different media forms. The paper‟s starting position is that originators of data and re-users have in front of then a qualitatively different kind of knowledge-base, due to the fact that data and data-records are not the same thing. This doesn‟t rule out re-use but does imply that quite full and careful kinds of documentation are necessary to try and make it sufficiently rigorous, a demand which also, however, has to be balanced against the dangers of information overload. These challenges lead us to question whether the traditional archiving model is the most suitable way of communicating context to re-users; we present some of our insights from work on hypertext to explore the potential of the hyperlink as a key contextualising tool

The Student Movement Volume 107 Issue 23: So Long, Farewell: Students Step Into the Future

HUMANS Advice to Younger Selves, Interviewed by: Anna Pak Finals Stress Management, Gloria Oh Farewell to Pastor Dwight Nelson, Student Movement Staff What does AANHPI Heritage Month Mean?, Grace No ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Currently: Reflecting on the Original Script, Solana Campbell In Memory of K.V. Rathnam, Ysabelle Fernando The Deal Premiers at Sonscreen Film Festival, Solana Campbell Through Their Eyes: AANHPI Expression, Amelia Stefanescu NEWS A Night at AU: SASA Cultural Night, Solana Campbell Interview with Professor Daniel Weber: Envision Magazine, Interviewed By: Brendan Oh Interview with Gloria Oh: Transforming an Idea into Reality, Interviewed By: Brendan Oh IDEAS All at Once: How AANHPI Media Representation Took Over 2023, Bella Hamann Raise A Glass to Freedom?, Terika Williams The Gem Off the Back of a Lorry, Gabi Francisco PULSE Goodbye and Welcome: Letters to the Incoming and Outgoing Presidents, The Andrews University Student Association Senate Honduras Mission, Interviewed By: Abraham Bravo Last Words for the School Year, Elizabeth Dovich In Summer: Professor Olaf Presents You the Ultimate Way to Spend Summer, Gloria Oh LAST WORD Take it from Me Part II, The Student Movement Staffhttps://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/sm-107/1022/thumbnail.jp

The Student Movement Volume 107 Issue 20: Andrews Students Spring Back from Break: Six More Weeks to Go

HUMANS Meeting Dr. McCree, Interviewed by: Grace No Interview with Dr. Luxton: Saying Goodbye, Interviewed by: Grace No Spring Break Renovations & Relaxation, Caryn Cruz ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Currently: The Last of Us, Solana Campbell Spring Break Spotlight, Amelia Stefanescu What Happened to Wang in the Costco Bathroom?, Nora Martin NEWS Experiences Living in Lamson Hall, Abigail Kim Time is Ticking for TikTok, Brendan Oh WEAAU x CFE Service Sabbath, Terika Williams IDEAS Inequality Drags on in Tennessee, Alexander J. Hess On Value: True Crime and the Search for Meaning, Nora Martin When Winds Change: The Legacy of President Luxton, Bella Hamann PULSE A Trip to the Museo , Chris Ngugi AUSA Senates Holds Bon Appétit Forum, Neesa Richards Speaking Up With Women Press Release, Nicholas C. Gunn LAST WORD A Week of Rest and Relaxation ... Almost, Grace Nohttps://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/sm-107/1019/thumbnail.jp

Structural basis for cell surface patterning through NetrinG-NGL interactions

Brain wiring depends on cells making highly localized and selective connections through surface protein-protein interactions, including those between NetrinGs and NetrinG ligands (NGLs). The NetrinGs are members of the structurally uncharacterized netrin family. We present a comprehensive crystallographic analysis comprising NetrinG1-NGL1 and NetrinG2-NGL2 complexes, unliganded NetrinG2 and NGL3. Cognate NetrinG-NGL interactions depend on three specificity-conferring NetrinG loops, clasped tightly by matching NGL surfaces. We engineered these NGL surfaces to implant custom-made affinities for NetrinG1 and NetrinG2. In a cellular patterning assay, we demonstrate that NetrinG-binding selectivity can direct the sorting of a mixed population of NGLs into discrete cell surface subdomains. These results provide a molecular model for selectivity-based patterning in a neuronal recognition system, dysregulation of which is associated with severe neuropsychological disorders

The distribution of pond snail communities across a landscape: separating out the influence of spatial position from local habitat quality for ponds in south-east Northumberland, UK

Ponds support a rich biodiversity because the heterogeneity of individual ponds creates, at the landscape scale, a diversity of habitats for wildlife. The distribution of pond animals and plants will be influenced by both the local conditions within a pond and the spatial distribution of ponds across the landscape. Separating out the local from the spatial is difficult because the two are often linked. Pond snails are likely to be affected by both local conditions, e.g. water hardness, and spatial patterns, e.g. distance between ponds, but studies of snail communities struggle distinguishing between the two. In this study, communities of snails were recorded from 52 ponds in a biogeographically coherent landscape in north-east England. The distribution of snail communities was compared to local environments characterised by the macrophyte communities within each pond and to the spatial pattern of ponds throughout the landscape. Mantel tests were used to partial out the local versus the landscape respective influences. Snail communities became more similar in ponds that were closer together and in ponds with similar macrophyte communities as both the local and the landscape scale were important for this group of animals. Data were collected from several types of ponds, including those created on nature reserves specifically for wildlife, old field ponds (at least 150 years old) primarily created for watering livestock and subsidence ponds outside protected areas or amongst coastal dunes. No one pond type supported all the species. Larger, deeper ponds on nature reserves had the highest numbers of species within individual ponds but shallow, temporary sites on farm land supported a distinct temporary water fauna. The conservation of pond snails in this region requires a diversity of pond types rather than one idealised type and ponds scattered throughout the area at a variety of sites, not just concentrated on nature reserves

Practical management of anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation has become more complex due to the introduction of new anticoagulant agents, the number and kinds of patients requiring therapy, and the interactions of those patients in the matrix of care. The management of anticoagulation has become a team sport involving multiple specialties in multiple sites of care. The American College of Cardiology, through the College\u27s Anticoagulation Initiative, convened a roundtable of experts from multiple specialties to discuss topics important to the management of patients requiring anticoagulation and to make expert recommendations on issues such as the initiation and interruption of anticoagulation, quality of anticoagulation care, management of major and minor bleeding, and treatment of special populations. The attendees continued to work toward consensus on these topics, and present the key findings of this roundtable in a state-of- the-art review focusing on the practical aspects of anticoagulation care for the patient with atrial fibrillation

The Student Movement Volume 107, Issue 9: Power (Outage) to the People: Students Frolic in Winter Wonderland

HUMANS Interview with the Speech Pathology Club, Interviewed by: Gloria Oh Meet The Chiefs of The Twin Cities, Nicholas C. Gunn Meet the Student Graduate Liaison of AUGSA, Natasha Richards, Interviewed by: Kavya Mohanram What Are AU Students Thankful For?, Interviewed by: Grace No ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Anthony León Wins Placido Domingo\u27s Operailia 2022, Aiko J. Ayala Rios Currently..., Solana Campbell Thanks for Making Me Laugh: My Top Ten Thanksgiving Sitcom Episodes, Bella Hamann Top Gun Maverick: A SuperSonic Sequel, Leo Martins NEWS Honors Church: Lessons and Carols, Terika Williams Prime Minister after Prime Minister, Abigail Kim The Seatless Delegate: An Unfulfilled Promise to the Cherokee Nation, Julia Randall Innovation & Entrepreneurship: The Sole Full Winner of the Shark Tank Competition, Yoel Kim IDEAS A Reflect ion on Body Image, Elizabeth Getahun The Frenzy of Fast Fashion, Abby Shim The Scoop on Introverts: What Extroverts Need to Know, Isabelle Martinez To Bee or not to Bee: The Importance, Causes, and Impact of Bee Disappearance, Alexander Navarro PULSE All About AU Engage, Lexie Dunham Thoughts on Daylight Savings, Gloria Oh Thanksgiving and Our Heritage, Zothile Sibanda LAST WORD Romanticizing the Past, Alannah Tjhatrahttps://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/sm-107/1008/thumbnail.jp

Artificial ponds in Central Europe do not fall behind the natural ponds in terms of macrophyte diversity

We studied macrophyte composition and 24 environmental variables in 69 ponds of both natural and artificial origin in Slovakia. We tested differences in α and γ diversity and β similarity between natural and artificial ponds for helophytes, hydrophytes, red list species and all species. We also assessed effects of environmental variables on species richness of studied ponds by generalised linear models (GLM). For local diversity, the significant difference was obtained only in case of helophytes. Beta similarity significantly differed for all the species groups. Total species numbers (gamma diversity) of all the groups were higher in natural ponds with the exception of hydrophytes. A randomization test of γ diversity yielded significant differences for helophytes and all species groups; richness and diversity of hydrophytes and red list species were not significantly different. Thus, we can conclude that even though natural ponds have a significantly higher regional diversity, local diversity is comparable not only for common species but also endangered red-listed macrophytes and thus artificial ponds could serve as proper secondary habitats for macrophytes. GLM showed different effect of environmental predictors on richness of studied species and pond groups and a slightly higher explained variability in natural (40%) compared to artificial (37%) ponds

A cohort study to evaluate persistence of hepatitis B immunogenicity after administration of hexavalent vaccines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In 2001, two hexavalent vaccines were licensed in Italy (Hexavac^®, Infanrix Hexa^®), and since 2002 were extensively used for primary immunization in the first year of life (at 3, 5, 11/12 months of age). In 2005, the market authorization of Hexavac^®was precautionary suspended by EMEA, because of doubts on long-term protection against hepatitis B virus. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the persistence of antibodies to anti-HBs, in children in the third year of life, and to investigate the response to a booster dose of hepatitis B vaccine.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Participant children were enrolled concomitantly with the offering of anti-polio booster dose, in the third year of life. Anti-HBs titers were determined on capillary blood samples. A booster dose of hepatitis B vaccine was administered to children with anti-HBs titers < 10 mIU/ml, with the monovalent precursor product of the previously received hexavalent vaccine. HBsAb titers were tested again one month after the booster.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sera from 113 children previously vaccinated with Hexavac^®, and from 124 vaccinated with Infanrix Hexa^®were tested for anti-HBs. Titers were ≥ 10 mIU/ml in 69% and 96% (p < 0,0001) respectively. The proportion of children with titers ≥ 100 mIU/ml did also significantly differ among groups (27% and 78%; p < 0,0001).</p> <p>Post-booster, 93% of children achieved titers ≥ 10 mIU/ml, with no significant difference by vaccine group.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Fifteen months after third dose administration, a significant difference in anti-HBs titers was noted in the two vaccine groups considered. Monovalent hepatitis B vaccine administration in 3-year old children induced a proper booster response, confirming that immunologic memory persists in children with anti-HBs titers < 10 mIU/ml. However, long-term persistence of HBV protection after hexavalent vaccines administration should be further evaluated over time.</p