Performance evaluation of the new Access HIV Ag/Ab combo assay on the DxI 9000 Access Immunoassay Analyzer.

Fourth-generation HIV immunoassays have been developed to reduce the window period of detection during seroconversion period, allowing for the detection of early and established infections. The aim of this work was to evaluate a newly developed assay, Access HIV Ag/Ab combo on the novel high throughput DxI 9000 Access Immunoassay Analyzer (Beckman Coulter, Inc.).

Matrix metalloproteinases in arthritis: towards precision medicine.

Proteolysis of structural molecules of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an irreversible post-translational modification in all arthropathies. Common joint disorders, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, have been associated with increased levels of matrix remodelling enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MMPs, in concert with other host proteinases and glycanases, destroy proteoglycans, collagens and other ECM molecules.

Proteoform Analysis of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9/Gelatinase B and Discovery of Its Citrullination in Rheumatoid Arthritis Synovial Fluids.

Objectives: To explore posttranslational modifications (PTMs), including proteolytic activation, multimerization, complex formation and citrullination of gelatinases, in particular of gelatinase B/MMP-9, and to detect in gelatin-Sepharose affinity-purified synovial fluids, the presence of specific MMP proteoforms in relation to arthritis.

Methods: Latent, activated, complexed and truncated gelatinase-A/MMP-2 and gelatinase B/MMP-9 proteoforms were detected with the use of zymography analysis to compare specific levels, with substrate conversion assays, to test net proteolytic activities and by Western blot analysis to decipher truncation variants. Citrullination was detected with enhanced sensitivity, by the use of a new monoclonal antibody against modified citrullines.

The Impact of a Group-Based Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Program on the Quality of Life in Patients With Fibromyalgia: Results From the QUALIFIBRO Study.

Background And Objective: Patients with fibromyalgia (FM) have a substantially reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Their management should preferably focus on multidisciplinary nonpharmacological interventions. However, the long-term impact of such multicomponent therapies is not fully established.

Efficacy of Hydroxychloroquine in Hand Osteoarthritis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objective: To determine the symptom-modifying effect of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in hand osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial, patients with symptomatic hand OA received either HCQ 400 mg once a day or placebo during 24 weeks. The primary outcome was change of pain measured on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) at 24 weeks.