Efficacy and Safety of CT-P13 as First- and Second-Line Treatment in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.

CT-P13 is a biosimilar version of infliximab, a monoclonal antibody. In individuals with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), CT-P13 has been shown to be effective and to have a well-tolerated safety profile. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term drug persistence, safety, and efficacy of infliximab biosimilar CT-P13 in patients with AS undergoing first-line (1st-line) and later (≥2nd-line) treatment in clinical practice.

The impact of smoking on response to tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Background: To investigate the impact of smoking on disease activity, treatment retention, and response in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) treated with their first tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor (TNFi).

Methods: AS patients who started their first TNFi treatment for the active axial disease (BASDAI ≥ 4) from TURKBIO Registry were included. Treatment response of smoker (current and ex-smokers) and nonsmoker (never smoker) patients were primarily evaluated as achievement of BASDAI50 or improvement in BASDAI at least 20 mm at 3 months and 6 months compared to baseline.

Comparison of the human's and camel's red blood cell deformability by optical tweezers and Raman spectroscopy.

Red blood cells of vertebrates have undergone evolutionary changes over time, leading to the diversification of morphological and mechanical properties of red blood cells (RBCs). Among the vertebrates, camelids have the most different RBC characteristics. As a result of adaptation to the desert environment, camelid RBCs can expand twice as much of their total volume in the case of rapid hydration yet are almost undeformable under mechanical stress.

A real-life analysis of patients with rheumatologic diseases on biological treatments: Data from TURKBIO Registry.

Objective: TURKBIO registry, established in 2011, is the first nationwide biological database in Turkey. This study aimed to provide an overview of TURKBIO data collected by June 2018.

Methods: The registry included adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-AxSpA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Intra-articular Administration of Triamcinolone Acetonide in a Murine Cartilage Defect Model Reduces Inflammation but Inhibits Endogenous Cartilage Repair.

Background: Cartilage defects result in joint inflammation. The presence of proinflammatory factors has been described to negatively affect cartilage formation.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect and timing of administration of triamcinolone acetonide (TAA), an anti-inflammatory drug, on cartilage repair using a mouse model.

Modulation of Inflamed Synovium Improves Migration of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Vitro Through Anti-Inflammatory Macrophages.

Objective: Inflammation is known to negatively affect cartilage repair. However, it is unclear how inflammation influences the migration of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from the underlying bone marrow into the defect. We therefore aimed to investigate how synovial inflammation influences MSC migration, and whether modulation of inflammation with triamcinolone acetonide (TAA) may influence migration.

Drug delivery in intervertebral disc degeneration and osteoarthritis: Selecting the optimal platform for the delivery of disease-modifying agents.

Osteoarthritis (OA) and intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) as major cause of chronic low back pain represent the most common degenerative joint pathologies and are leading causes of pain and disability in adults. Articular cartilage (AC) and intervertebral discs are cartilaginous tissues with a similar biochemical composition and pathophysiological aspects of degeneration. Although treatments directed at reversing these conditions are yet to be developed, many promising disease-modifying drug candidates are currently under investigation.

Best practices for single-laboratory validation of chemical methods for trace elements in foods. Part I--background and general considerations.

The metals subgroup of AOAC INTERNATIONAL's Community on Chemical Contaminants and Residues in Food has been engaged for the past several years in discussions concerning the requirements for the single-laboratory validation (SLV) of methods for the determination of trace elements in foods. This paper reviews the general guidance currently available related to validation of chemical analytical methods and current typical validation practices found in publications on the analysis of elements in food and other matrixes, such as environmental and clinical samples. Based on the available guidance on SLV requirements and a review of current practices in elemental analysis, a general approach based on best practices is proposed for SLV of a method for elements in food to demonstrate the method as "fit-for-purpose.

Morphology and morphometry of Bresslauides pratensis n. sp., a new soil ciliate (Ciliophora, Colpodea) from Turkey.

A new colpodid ciliate, Bresslauides pratensis n. sp., was discovered in soil from a meadow field in Turkey.

A retrospective evaluation of analgesic exposures from Izmir, Turkey.

The objective of this study is to analyze exposures concerning analgesics that were reported to Dokuz Eylul University Drug and Poison Information Center (DPIC) and admitted to the Department of Emergency Medicine in Dokuz Eylul University Hospital (EMDEU) between 1993 and 2004. Demographics of the patients, characteristics of analgesic exposures, performed treatment attempts and outcome of the poisoned patients were recorded on standard data forms and were then entered into a computerized database program. Statistical analysis was performed by using the chi-square test.

Analysis of food for toxic elements.

The levels of the toxic elements Al, As, Cd, Hg, Pb and Sn are routinely monitored in food to protect the consumer. Increasingly, the chemical forms of As and Hg are also monitored. Analyses are performed to enforce regulatory standards and to accumulate background levels for assessing long-term exposure.

Preparation and characterization of a suite of ephedra-containing standard reference materials.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, and the National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, are collaborating to produce a series of Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) for dietary supplements.

Analysis of dietary supplements for arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

The arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead contents of 95 dietary supplement products were determined using microwave digestion and high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Precision and accuracy were demonstrated by element recovery from 17 dietary supplements and replicates of 8 reference materials. The concentration ranges were as follows: arsenic, <5-3770 microg/kg; cadmium, <10-368 microg/kg; mercury, <80-16800 microg/kg; and lead, <20-48600 microg/kg.

Pesticide poisonings reported to the drug and poison information center in Izmir, Turkey.

This study analyzed poisonings caused by pesticides that were reported to Drug and Poison Information Center (DPIC), in Izmir from 1993 to 2001. Patient demographics, type of the pesticide, distribution according to month and year, route and reason for exposure, clinical effects and outcome were analyzed from 25,572 poisoning calls. Pesticide intoxications accounted for 8.

Element and radionuclide concentrations in food: FDA Total Diet Study 1991-1996.

Food purchased throughout the United States during 1991-1997 under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Total Diet Study (TDS) program were analyzed for elements and radionuclides.

Determination of sodium in biological materials by instrumental neutron activation analysis.

A formalized method for determining sodium in biological materials by instrumental neutron activation analysis is presented. The method includes common procedures from the numerous options available to this historically nonformalized analytical technique. The number of procedural options is restricted to minimize the method's complexity, yet the method is still applicable to a variety of neutron activation facilities.

US Food and Drug Administration survey of cadmium, lead and other elements in clams and oysters.

In Fiscal Years 1985/1986, the US Food and Drug Administration conducted a survey of cadmium, lead and other elements in fresh clams and oysters collected from US coastal areas in use for shellfish production. Shellfish were analysed for cadmium and lead by using a dry ash-anodic stripping voltammetric method. Other elements (aluminium, arsenic, beryllium, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, strontium, vanadium and zinc) were determined by using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, direct current plasma-atomic emission spectrometry or hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry.

History of the Food and Drug Administration's Total Diet Study (Part II), 1987-1993.

The Total Diet Studies conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provide yearly information on levels of pesticide residues, contaminants, and nutrients in the food supply and diets of specific age-sex groups.

Sensitivity of the quick color test for indicating lead release from ceramicware.

A quick color test (QCT) for indicating the presence of leachable Pb on ceramicware was evaluated as a screening tool. Fourteen sets of cups and mugs (197 pieces) of undecorated glazed ceramicware were tested. The QCT indicated the presence of leachable Pb on 95% of the cups and mugs at or above approximately 2 micrograms/mL.

Influence of automatic dishwashings and scrubbings on release of lead from glazed ceramicware.

Use of lead glazes on ceramicware and the release of lead from finished glazes are reviewed. Single units of ceramicware with initial lead leach levels from less than 0.1 to 470 micrograms/mL were subjected to multiple automatic dishwashings with intermediate scrubbing of the ware by plastic fiber pads.

Survey of lead and cadmium in adult canned foods eaten by young children.

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration survey of lead and cadmium in 10 adult canned foods commonly eaten by children less than 5 years old was conducted between October 1981 and September 1985.

Determination of copper, iron, and nickel in oils and fats by direct graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry: summary of collaborative study.

A collaborative study of a method for the determination of copper, iron, and nickel in edible oils and fats by direct graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was recently conducted by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The quantitation limits of the method are 5 micrograms/kg for copper and 10 micrograms/kg for iron and nickel. The method has been adopted official first action as an IUPAC-AOAC method.

Thimble glass frit nebulizer for atomic spectrometry.

A thimble-shaped glass frit nebulizer has been developed for atomic spectrometry. The thimble glass frit was pressurized internally by gases such as helium (He) or argon (Ar) while the test solution was applied externally to the frit. The pressurized gas exited through the pores of the glass frit and shattered the thin liquid film flowing on the surface of the thimble-shaped device to form small droplets.