Patients' perspectives on adherence to cardiovascular screening consultation and lifestyle changes.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) poses a significant health burden, with patients facing a twofold higher risk of cardiovascular diseases compared to the general population. As a results, the international recommendations set forth by the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology, advocate for a structured cardiovascular (CV) risk management and adherence to a healthy lifestyle for patients with RA. Unhealthy lifestyle factors not only impact overall health but also worsen inflammation and hinder treatment response in patients with RA Despite these recommendations, there remains a knowledge gap regarding patients' attitudes towards screening participation and lifestyle changes.

Circulating microRNAs related to lipid metabolism and solid tissue maintenance and morphology associate with mortality in elderly twins.

The lifespan of humans varies greatly between individuals. Here, we aimed to explore what biological roles miRNAs may have on old age mortality-variation. Circulating miRNAs were measured in plasma from 43 monozygotic twin pairs (73-95 years of age) and mortality analyses were applied using Cox regression survival analyses and linear regression analyses of lifespan.

Synthesis and structural characterization of piperazino-modified DNA that favours hybridization towards DNA over RNA.

We report the synthesis of two C4'-modified DNA analogues and characterize their structural impact on dsDNA duplexes. The 4'-C-piperazinomethyl modification stabilizes dsDNA by up to 5°C per incorporation. Extension of the modification with a butanoyl-linked pyrene increases the dsDNA stabilization to a maximum of 9°C per incorporation.

A cyclic dinucleotide with a four-carbon 5'-C-to-5'-C connection; synthesis by RCM, NMR-examination and incorporation into secondary nucleic acid structures.

A 5'-C-allylthymidine derivative was prepared from thymidine by the application of a stereoselective allylation procedure and its 5'(S)-configuration was confirmed. From this nucleoside derivative, appropriately protected building blocks were prepared and coupled using standard phosphoramidite chemistry to afford a dinucleotide with two 5'-C-allylgroups. This molecule was used as a substrate for a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction and after deprotection, a 1 : 1 mixture of E- and Z-isomers of a cyclic dinucleotide with an unsaturated 5'-C-to-5'-C connection was obtained.

Triplex formation with alpha-L-LNA (alpha-L-ribo-configured locked nucleic acid).

Using UV melting and CD spectroscopy, we show that alpha-l-LNA-modified oligonucleotides possess the ability to form triplexes at pH 6.8 with significantly increased thermostability relative to DNA triplexes.

The structure of a mixed LNA/DNA:RNA duplex is driven by conformational coupling between LNA and deoxyribose residues as determined from 13C relaxation measurements.

A study of the internal dynamics of an LNA/DNA:RNA duplex has been performed to further characterize the conformational changes associated with the incorporation of locked nucleic acid (LNA) nucleotides in a DNA:RNA duplex. In general, it was demonstrated that the LNA/DNA:RNA duplex has a very high degree of order compared to dsDNA and dsRNA duplexes. The order parameters of the aromatic carbon atoms in the LNA/DNA strand are uniformly high, whereas a sharp drop in the degree of order was seen in the RNA strand in the beginning of the AUAU stretch in the middle of the strand.

Stabilisation of a nucleic acid three-way junction by an oligonucleotide containing a single 2'-C to 3'-O-phosphate butylene linkage prepared by a tandem RCM-hydrogenation method.

A cyclic dinucleotide with a butylene linker between the upper 2'-C position and the 3'-O-phosphate linkage was synthesised from simple nucleoside building blocks via a tandem ring-closing metathesis and hydrogenation procedure. The major of two phosphorus epimers was incorporated into an oligodeoxynucleotide, as well as into an LNA-DNA mixmer oligonucleotide. These were evaluated as parts in three different secondary structures, a duplex, a bulged duplex and a three-way junction, with both DNA and RNA complements.

NMR studies of fully modified locked nucleic acid (LNA) hybrids: solution structure of an LNA:RNA hybrid and characterization of an LNA:DNA hybrid.

LNA is a bicyclic nucleic acid analogue that contains one or more 2'-O,4'-C methylene linkage(s), which effectively locks the furanose ring in a C3'-endo conformation. We report here the NMR solution structure of a nonamer LNA:RNA hybrid and a structural characterization of a nonamer LNA:DNA hybrid, where the LNA strands are composed entirely of LNA nucleotides. This is the first structural characterization of fully modified LNA oligonucleotides.