Accelerometer-measured physical activity and its impact on sleep quality in patients suffering from restless legs syndrome.

Background: The primary symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS) are sleep onset insomnia and difficulty to maintain sleep. Previous studies have shown that regular physical activity can reduce the risk of developing RLS. However, the relationship between physical activity and sleep quality parameters in individuals suffering from RLS has not yet been investigated by applying accelerometry.

Antibody purification by affinity chromatography based on small molecule affinity ligands identified by SPR-based screening of chemical microarrays.

Libraries of small molecules were searched for Fc-fragment selective binders to a recombinant human antibody ("MDJ8″, IgG(1)-subtype, κ-light chain) via SPR-based screening of chemical microarrays. Identified hit structures were immobilised on NHS-activated Sepharose for the determination of MDJ8 binding and selectivity versus typical proteineous impurities represented by the spend cell culture supernatant. Columns were packed and the most promising ligands further characterized in terms of binding constants, binding kinetics, as well as dynamic and equilibrium binding capacities.

Dialkynylpyrenes: strongly fluorescent, environment-sensitive DNA building blocks.

Two isomeric dialkynylpyrene phosphoramidites and their incorporation into oligonucleotides are described. The pyrene units closely resemble the well-known perylene bisimide dye PDI with regard to the ability to self-organize within a DNA duplex. In addition, dialkynylpyrenes exhibit significant monomer and remarkably strong excimer fluorescence.

Self-organization of polyaromatic compounds within DNA.

The structural organization of oligopyrene sections embedded within a DNA framework is described. Absorbance, fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy provide insight into the molecular interactions of the pyrene units.