Enhanced Fcgamma receptor I, alphaMbeta2 integrin receptor expression by monocytes and neutrophils in rheumatoid arthritis: interaction with platelets.

Objective: To investigate platelet and leukocyte activation and interaction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the effect of methotrexate (MTX) or anti-tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) treatment on these variables.

Methods: Four-color flow cytometry analysis was performed for quantitative measurement of platelet (P-selectin, PAC-1) and leukocyte (CD11b, CD64) activation markers and estimation of percentage of leukocyte-platelet complexes in whole blood in 20 patients with RA before and after 6 weeks of therapy and in 20 controls. In addition, measures of soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), beta-thromboglobulin, fibrinogen, prothrombin fragment 1+2, D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and TNF-a and tender and swollen joint counts were carried out.

Design of optimal configuration for generating A0 Lamb mode in a composite plate using piezoceramic transducers.

This work concerned a technique for a health monitoring system based on the generation and sensing of Lamb waves in composite structures by thin surface-bonded piezoceramic transducers. The objective was to develop transducers that are adapted for the damage detection in orthotropic composites. The key problem with the investigated Lamb waves was to select a mode to be sensitive to the damage.