Inverse Conformational Selection in Lipid-Protein Binding.

Interest in lipid interactions with proteins and other biomolecules is emerging not only in fundamental biochemistry but also in the field of nanobiotechnology where lipids are commonly used, for example, in carriers of mRNA vaccines. The outward-facing components of cellular membranes and lipid nanoparticles, the lipid headgroups, regulate membrane interactions with approaching substances, such as proteins, drugs, RNA, or viruses. Because lipid headgroup conformational ensembles have not been experimentally determined in physiologically relevant conditions, an essential question about their interactions with other biomolecules remains unanswered: Do headgroups exchange between a few rigid structures, or fluctuate freely across a practically continuous spectrum of conformations? Here, we combine solid-state NMR experiments and molecular dynamics simulations from the NMRlipids Project to resolve the conformational ensembles of headgroups of four key lipid types in various biologically relevant conditions.

Eight-year survival study of first-line tumour necrosis factor α inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis: real-world data from a university centre registry.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy, safety and survival of TNF-α inhibitors in patients with RA.

Methods: A total of 178 patients >18 years of age were treated with TNF-α inhibitors. A total of 74 patients were treated with infliximab, 75 with adalimumab and 29 with etanercept.

Dominant QCD backgrounds in Higgs boson analyses at the LHC: a study of pp --> tt + 2 jets at next-to-leading order.

We report the results of a next-to-leading order simulation of top quark pair production in association with two jets. With our inclusive cuts, we show that the corrections with respect to leading order are negative and small, reaching 11%. The error obtained by scale variation is of the same order.

Transcription regulatory polymorphism -43T>C in the 5'-flanking region of SLC19A1 gene could affect rheumatoid arthritis patient response to methotrexate therapy.

The reduced folate carrier (RFC) protein (SLC19A1-gene) has central role in the uptake and intracellular accumulation of folates. In this respect, we investigate whether SLC19A1 genetic variations could affect rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient response to antifolate treatment. One hundred six unrelated RA patients were enrolled in this study.

Persistent clinical response of infliximab treatment, over a 4-year period in ankylosing spondylitis.

Our aim was to investigate the efficacy, toxicity, and drug discontinuation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) treated with infliximab. Thirty-five patients with AS, who were enrolled between June 2001 and December 2002 were treated with infliximab. All patients fulfilled the New York revised criteria for AS and had axial disease.

Efficacy and safety of switching from infliximab to adalimumab: a comparative controlled study.

Objective: To describe the efficacy and safety of adalimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had previously discontinued infliximab treatment.

Methods: 24 patients with RA who discontinued treatment with infliximab (switchers) were treated with adalimumab (40 mg every 2 weeks, subcutaneously) for 12 months. The results were compared with those for 25 patients with RA receiving adalimumab who had not previously used an anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha inhibitor (controls).

Infliximab treatment in ankylosing spondylitis: an observational study.

Objective: To investigate efficacy, toxicity, and drug discontinuation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) treated with infliximab.

Methods: 35 patients with AS with mean (SD) age 42.5 (12.