Chronic Kidney Disease Circulating Calciprotein Particles and Extracellular Vesicles Promote Vascular Calcification: A Role for GRP (Gla-Rich Protein).

Objective: Inhibition of mineral crystal formation is a crucial step in ectopic calcification. Serum calciprotein particles (CPPs) have been linked to chronic kidney disease (CKD) calcification propensity, but additional knowledge is required to understand their function, assemblage, and composition. The role of other circulating nanostructures, such as extracellular vesicles (EVs) in vascular calcification is currently unknown.

Differential internalization of amphotericin B--conjugated nanoparticles in human cells and the expression of heat shock protein 70.

Although a variety of nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized with amphotericin B, an antifungal agent widely used in the clinic, have been studied in the last years their cytotoxicity profile remains elusive. Here we show that human endothelial cells take up high amounts of silica nanoparticles (SNPs) conjugated with amphotericin B (AmB) (SNP-AmB) (65.4 ± 12.

Crosstalk between Helicobacter pylori and gastric epithelial cells is impaired by docosahexaenoic acid.

H. pylori colonizes half of the world's population leading to gastritis, ulcers and gastric cancer. H.

Docosahexaenoic acid inhibits Helicobacter pylori growth in vitro and mice gastric mucosa colonization.

H. pylori drug-resistant strains and non-compliance to therapy are the major causes of H. pylori eradication failure.

Reference data for bone speed of sound in Portuguese girls and boys aged 9-13 years.

The objective of this study was to provide reference data for quantitative ultrasound (QUS, Sunlight Omnisense; BeamMed Ltd., Petach-Tikva, Israel) of the radius and tibia in Portuguese subjects. The evaluation was conducted with QUS in 430 healthy participants (213 girls and 217 boys) aged between 9 and 13yr.

Predictors of damage progression in Portuguese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a longer life expectancy. The occurrence of irreversible damage has become a major concern. The present study assessed damage progression in patients with SLE over a 2-year period and identified baseline features associated with damage accrual.

[Is the response to anti-TNFalpha treatment influenced by the presence of IgM rheumatoid factor, in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients?].

Aim: To verify if the response to TNFalpha inhibitors is influenced by the presence of IgM rheumatoid factor (RF), in patients with RA.

Material And Methods: In this study, the patients with the diagnosis of RA treated with TNFa inhibitors followed in our hospital were recruited. A protocol was applied including demographic, clinical and laboratory data, in order to calculate DAS 28.

[Cystic Rheumatoid Arthritis--case report].

Among the many radiological findings seen in Rheumatoid Arthritis RA small subchondral geodes and erosions are typical. Large geodes are far less common abnormalities and their presence may indicate diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. We present a case report of a 55-year old woman with seronegative RA that developed a large geode in the knee with extensive joint destruction.