Regulation of RNA Polymerase II Transcription Initiation and Elongation by Transcription Factor TFII-I.

Transcription by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is regulated by different processes, including alterations in chromatin structure, interactions between distal regulatory elements and promoters, formation of transcription domains enriched for Pol II and co-regulators, and mechanisms involved in the initiation, elongation, and termination steps of transcription. Transcription factor TFII-I, originally identified as an initiator (INR)-binding protein, contains multiple protein-protein interaction domains and plays diverse roles in the regulation of transcription. Genome-wide analysis revealed that TFII-I associates with expressed as well as repressed genes.

Super-enhancer mediated regulation of adult β-globin gene expression: the role of eRNA and Integrator.

Super-enhancers (SEs) mediate high transcription levels of target genes. Previous studies have shown that SEs recruit transcription complexes and generate enhancer RNAs (eRNAs). We characterized transcription at the human and murine β-globin locus control region (LCR) SE.

American College of Rheumatology/Spondylitis Association of America/Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network 2015 Recommendations for the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis and Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Objective: To provide evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (SpA).

Methods: A core group led the development of the recommendations, starting with the treatment questions. A literature review group conducted systematic literature reviews of studies that addressed 57 specific treatment questions, based on searches conducted in OVID Medline (1946-2014), PubMed (1966-2014), and the Cochrane Library.

American College of Rheumatology/Spondylitis Association of America/Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network 2015 Recommendations for the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis and Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Objective: To provide evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (SpA).

Methods: A core group led the development of the recommendations, starting with the treatment questions. A literature review group conducted systematic literature reviews of studies that addressed 57 specific treatment questions, based on searches conducted in OVID Medline (1946-2014), PubMed (1966-2014), and the Cochrane Library.

Are physiological changes experienced by healthy subjects during acu-TENS associated with acupuncture point sensations?

Background: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation over acupuncture points (acu-TENS) has been reported to improve clinical outcomes. The objectives of the present study were to investigate whether acupuncture point sensations were experienced during acu-TENS, and whether such sensations were associated with any concomitant changes in autonomic nervous system activity.

Methods: This study adopted a single-blinded, randomised, controlled trial methodology.

Physiological changes associated with de qi during electroacupuncture to LI4 and LI11: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Studies on the relationship between de qi intensity and activity changes in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are scarce. This study investigates the physiological responses associated with de qi. The relationship between de qi intensity and such responses was determined.

Development and validation of the Chinese version of the Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale: an exploratory and methodological study.

Background: The Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale (MASS) is a tool to measure needle sensations. The aims of the present study were to develop a Chinese version and to assess its psychometric properties.

Methods: This study was a methodological and exploratory study.

Electrical stimulation for treating chronic poststroke shoulder pain using a fully implanted microstimulator with internal battery.

This case report describes the first stroke survivor with chronic poststroke shoulder pain treated with electrical stimulation delivered via a fully implanted microstimulator containing a rechargeable internal battery. In light of existing efficacy data for similar types of treatment, the investigational system described in this report was developed to address the limitations of previously evaluated electrical stimulation devices. A 58-yr-old male stroke survivor with chronic hemiparesis and chronic shoulder pain received up to 6 hrs of stimulation daily over 12 wks.

Biomarkers in spondyloarthropathies.

The study of biomarkers in spondyloarthropathy (SpA) has emerged to be a very important field of research. This is particularly because the two commonly used biomarkers, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), are of very low sensitivity and specificity. The second reason is, with advances in the treatment of SpA by the very expensive tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) blockers, for cost-effectiveness, clinicians need to be much more accurate in predicting disease progression, evaluating disease activity and monitoring therapeutic efficacy.

Anti-inflammatory effects of sphingosine kinase modulation in inflammatory arthritis.

Sphingosine kinase (SphK) is a key enzyme in the sphingolipid metabolic pathway responsible for phosphorylating sphingosine into sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). SphK/S1P play a critical role in angiogenesis, inflammation, and various pathologic conditions. Recently, S1P(1) receptor was found to be expressed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium, and S1P signaling via S1P(1) enhances synoviocyte proliferation, COX-2 expression, and prostaglandin E(2) production.

Identification of interleukin-7 as a candidate disease mediator in spondylarthritis.

Objective: Understanding of the molecular pathophysiology of spondylarthritis (SpA) remains largely elusive. This is related both to the complexity of the disease (axial versus peripheral disease, inflammation versus tissue remodeling) and to the difficulty in obtaining samples from primary disease sites. This study was undertaken to explore a gene expression approach for identifying novel candidate mediators of SpA.

Identification of acute phase reactants and cytokines useful for monitoring infliximab therapy in ankylosing spondylitis.

Although most ankylosing spondylitis patients show an apparent clinical response to infliximab therapy, there is considerable individual variation. Because current clinical assessment relies heavily on subjective patient self-evaluation, biomarkers of high sensitivity and specificity are much needed. Here, we assessed potential biomarkers in 47 ankylosing spondylitis patients who received three standard pulses of infliximab.

Intramuscular electrical stimulation for shoulder pain in hemiplegia: does time from stroke onset predict treatment success?

Background: A randomized clinical has shown the effectiveness of intramuscular electrical stimulation for the treatment of poststroke shoulder pain.

Objective: Identify predictors of treatment success and assess the impact of the strongest predictor on outcomes.

Method: This is a secondary analysis of a multisite randomized clinical trial of intramuscular electrical stimulation for poststroke shoulder pain.

Seronegative spondyloarthropathy--studies from the Asia Pacific region.

Recent therapeutic advances, in particular the use of anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents, have revived interest in the seronegative spondyloarthropathies (SpA), a group of arthritides characterised by axial skeletal involvement and the absence of rheumatoid factor. The purpose of this article is to review the studies that have been done in the Asia Pacific region, as a broad understanding of the scope and severity of this group of diseases would enable rheumatologists and physicians in this part of the world to better manage their patients. The majority of genetic studies have focused on the associations of HLA-B27 with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and SpA, while a few studies examined the associations of the CARD, IL-1, LMP2, TAP and TGF with AS.

Epidemiology of spondyloarthritis in the People's Republic of China: review of the literature and commentary.

Objectives: The prevalence of spondyloarthritis (SpA) and its prototype ankylosing spondylitis (AS) varies considerably in different parts of the world. With 20% of the world's population in China, there is potential for a significant disease burden. Eight of the 10 articles providing primary data on the prevalence of SpA in China are in the Chinese language; our objective is to review all 10 articles for English readers.

Poststroke shoulder pain: its relationship to motor impairment, activity limitation, and quality of life.

Objective: To assess the relationship between poststroke shoulder pain, upper-limb motor impairment, activity limitation, and pain-related quality of life (QOL).

Design: Cross-sectional, secondary analysis of baseline data from a multisite clinical trial.

Setting: Outpatient rehabilitation clinics of 7 academic medical centers.

Matrix metalloproteinase expression in the spondyloarthropathies.

Purpose Of Review: Expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their tissue inhibitors has been an active area of investigation in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Only recently have investigators started to study these factors in spondyloarthropathy. The purpose of this review is to summarize these recent findings.

Triceps denervation as a predictor of elbow flexion contractures in C5 and C6 tetraplegia.

Objective: To determine whether the existence of elbow flexion contractures in persons with C5 or C6 tetraplegia is related to a lack of residual voluntary triceps function and triceps denervation (ie, lower motoneuron damage).

Design: A retrospective study of impairment data from 74 arms to identify the incidence of elbow flexion contractures and the contributing factors toward this deformity.

Setting: Five spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation centers in the United States, 1 in England, and 1 in Australia.

Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase 3 and macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 correlate with disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: To assess the usefulness of measuring serum matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: Serum levels of MMP-3 and M-CSF were measured in AS patients who did and did not receive infliximab treatment. These were compared with those of 28 healthy subjects.

Involvement of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in peripheral synovitis and down-regulation by tumor necrosis factor alpha blockade in spondylarthropathy.

Objective: To investigate the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in spondylarthropathy (SpA) synovitis.

Methods: Paired samples of synovial biopsy tissue as well as serum and synovial fluid (SF) from 41 patients with SpA and 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and serum samples from 20 healthy controls were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the presence of MMPs 1, 2, 3, and 9 and TIMPs 1 and 2. In addition, sera from 16 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and peripheral synovitis and 17 patients with AS and exclusively axial involvement were analyzed.

Genetic studies in familial ankylosing spondylitis susceptibility.

Objective: To define the genetic basis of susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis (AS), especially non-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes.

Methods: The study group comprised 244 affected sibling pairs from 180 pedigrees of primarily European ancestry. Sibling pairs were concordant for AS by the modified New York criteria and had available sacroiliac radiographs.

Intramuscular neuromuscular electric stimulation for poststroke shoulder pain: a multicenter randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of intramuscular neuromuscular electric stimulation (NMES) in reducing poststroke shoulder pain.

Design: Multicenter, single-blinded, randomized clinical trial.

Setting: Ambulatory centers of 7 academic rehabilitation centers in the United States.