HLA-DR genotypes in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome in Taiwan.

Different human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes have been known to be associated with the risk of development of Sjögren's syndrome in different populations, but this association has never been reported in Taiwan. We enrolled 1044 subjects (673 patients, 371 controls) and tested their HLA-DR genotypes. We found an increased risk of Sjögren's syndrome in patients carrying HLA-DR8.

HLA-DR genotypes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in Taiwan.

Background: Different human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR genotypes have been known to be associated with the risk of development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in different populations, although Lu et al. have reported previously that no correlation exists between the HLA-DR genotype and disease manifestation in SLE patients in Taiwan. We investigated the effects different HLA-DR genotypes had on SLE incidence in Taiwanese patients as to whether risk alleles were associated with different clinical manifestations, and the effects risk alleles had on the age of disease onset.

The Role of Macrophages in Connective Tissue Disease-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease: Focusing on Molecular Mechanisms and Potential Treatment Strategies.

Connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) is a severe manifestation of CTD that leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Clinically, ILD can occur in diverse CTDs. Pathologically, CTD-ILD is characterized by various histologic patterns, such as nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, organizing pneumonia, and usual interstitial pneumonia.

Structural and Dynamical Coupling in Solvent-Free Polymer Brushes Elucidated by Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

We investigate the chain configuration and segmental dynamics in interacting solvent-free polymer brushes using molecular dynamics simulations. The brush systems are designed to mimic the interstitial space between a pair of neighboring polymer-grafted nanoparticles in solvent-free nanoparticle-organic hybrid materials. Each brush consists of uniformly grafted chains formed by a given number of monomer beads.

Next-Generation Sequencing Profiles of the Methylome and Transcriptome in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Using next-generation sequencing to decipher methylome and transcriptome and underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for improving future therapies, we performed methyl-seq and RNA-seq on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from RA subjects and normal donors. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering revealed distinct methylation signatures in RA with methylation aberrations noted across chromosomes. Methylation alterations varied with CpG features and genic characteristics.

Effects of virtual reality-augmented balance training on sensory organization and attentional demand for postural control in people with Parkinson disease: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: There is a lack of studies related to virtual reality (VR)-augmented balance training on postural control in people with Parkinson disease (PD).

Objective: The purposes of this study were: (1) to examine the effects of VR-augmented balance training on the sensory integration of postural control under varying attentional demands and (2) to compare the results with those of a conventional balance training (CB) group and an untrained control group.

Design: A longitudinal, randomized controlled trial was used.