Level and avidity of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies specific to lactoferrin are useful biomarkers in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: To evaluate specificity, level, and avidity of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). There are no studies of ANCA avidity in SLE.

Methods: Level (ELISA) and avidity (ELISA) of myeloperoxidase (MPO-), proteinase 3 (PR3-), lactoferrin (LF-), cathepsin G, elastase (EL-), and bactericidal/permeability increasing protein (BPI)-ANCA in 142 SLE patients were studied.

Experimental Evidence for Algebraic Double-Layer Forces.

According to conventional wisdom, electric double-layer forces normally decay exponentially with separation distance. Here, we present experimental evidence of algebraically decaying double-layer interactions. We show that algebraic interactions arise in both strongly overlapping as well as counterion-only regimes, albeit the evidence is less clear for the former regime.

Surfactant mediated particle aggregation in nonpolar solvents.

The aggregation behavior of particles in nonpolar media is studied with time-resolved light scattering. At low surfactant concentrations particles are weakly charged and suspensions are not stable. The suspensions become progressively more stable with increasing surfactant concentration as particles become more highly charged.

Work-Related Factors as Predictors of Burnout in Serbian Nurses Working in Hemodialysis.

Nurses who work in hemodialysis (HD) are considered highly susceptible to burnout due to their close relationship with incurable patients and handling sophisticated machinery. A total of 210 nurses from 12 state-owned HD centers in the Republic of Serbia anonymously completed a background information questionnaire providingfactual data on nurses' sociodemographic characteristics and working conditions using the Maslach Burnout Inventory--Health Services Survey. Almost half of the nurses (42.