Association Between Baseline Anti-cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies and 6-Month Clinical Response Following Abatacept or TNF Inhibitor Treatment: A Real-World Analysis of Biologic-Experienced Patients with RA.

Introduction: Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies are associated with poor prognosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previous data from randomized controlled trials and clinical practice have shown anti-CCP-positive (+) patients had a better response to treatment with abatacept or tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) treatment than those who were anti-CCP negative. This study assessed the association between baseline anti-CCP2 [a surrogate for anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)] concentration and 6-month treatment responses to abatacept or TNFi in patients with RA.

Optimal Design of Cable-Driven Manipulators Using Particle Swarm Optimization.

The design of cable-driven manipulators is complicated by the unidirectional nature of the cables, which results in extra actuators and limited workspaces. Furthermore, the particular arrangement of the cables and the geometry of the robot pose have a significant effect on the cable tension required to effect a desired joint torque. For a sufficiently complex robot, the identification of a satisfactory cable architecture can be difficult and can result in multiply redundant actuators and performance limitations based on workspace size and cable tensions.

Macromolecular Imaging Agents Containing Lanthanides: Can Conceptual Promise Lead to Clinical Potential?

Macromolecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents are increasingly being used to improve the resolution of this noninvasive diagnostic technique. All clinically-approved T contrast agents are small molecule chelates of gadolinium [Gd(III)] that affect bound water proton relaxivity. Both the small size and monomeric nature of these agents ultimately limits the image resolution enhancement that can be achieved for both contrast enhancement and pharmacokinetic/biodistribution reasons.

Phosphonium-containing diblock copolymers for enhanced colloidal stability and efficient nucleic acid delivery.

RAFT polymerization successfully controlled the synthesis of phosphonium-based AB diblock copolymers for nonviral gene delivery. A stabilizing block of either oligo(ethylene glycol(9)) methyl ether methacrylate or 2-(methacryloxy)ethyl phosphorylcholine provided colloidal stability, and the phosphonium-containing cationic block of 4-vinylbenzyltributylphosphonium chloride induced electrostatic nucleic acid complexation. RAFT polymerization generated well-defined stabilizing blocks (M(n) = 25000 g/mol) and subsequent chain extension synthesized diblock copolymers with DPs of 25, 50, and 75 for the phosphonium-containing block.

Cationic glycopolymers for the delivery of pDNA to human dermal fibroblasts and rat mesenchymal stem cells.

Progenitor and pluripotent cell types offer promise as regenerative therapies but transfecting these sensitive cells has proven difficult. Herein, a series of linear trehalose-oligoethyleneamine "click" copolymers were synthesized and examined for their ability to deliver plasmid DNA (pDNA) to two progenitor cell types, human dermal fibroblasts (HDFn) and rat mesenchymal stem cells (RMSC). Seven polymer vehicle analogs were synthesized in which three parameters were systematically varied: the number of secondary amines (4-6) within the polymer repeat unit (Tr4(33), Tr5(30), and Tr6(32)), the end group functionalities [PEG (Tr4(128)PEG-a, Tr4(118)PEG-b), triphenyl (Tr4(107)-c), or azido (Tr4(99)-d)], and the molecular weight (degree of polymerization of about 30 or about 100) and the biological efficacy of these vehicles was compared to three controls: Lipofectamine 2000, JetPEI, and Glycofect.

Polymer beacons for luminescence and magnetic resonance imaging of DNA delivery.

The delivery of nucleic acids with polycations offers tremendous potential for developing highly specific treatments for various therapeutic targets. Although materials have been developed and studied for polynucleotide transfer, the biological mechanisms and fate of the synthetic vehicle has remained elusive due to the limitations with current labeling technologies. Here, we have developed polymer beacons that allow the delivery of nucleic acids to be visualized at different biological scales.

A beta-cyclodextrin "click cluster" decorated with seven paramagnetic chelates containing two water exchange sites.

The development of novel macromolecular contrast agents that offer enhanced relaxivity profiles at high magnetic fields have the potential to greatly improve the diagnosis, understanding, and treatment of disease. To this end, we have designed a monodiperse paramagnetic beta-cyclodextrin click cluster decorated with seven paramagnetic arms. A novel alkyne-functionalized diethylenetriaminetetraacetic acid (DTTA) chelate (6) has been created and coupled to a per-azido-beta-cyclodextrin core (7) to yield the precursor macromolecule (8).

Studies of selenium-containing volatiles in roasted coffee.

Coffee has been an important and heavily used beverage in many cultures over a long period of time. Although sulfur species have been found to be abundant constituents, no work to date has explored the presence of selenium analogues. Investigation of volatile selenium species from green coffee beans, roasted beans, and brewed coffee drink was performed using solid phase microextraction (SPME) sample preconcentration in conjunction with GC/ICP-MS.