Publications by authors named "M E Merriman"
Article Synopsis
- - Gout is a chronic condition caused by the immune system's reaction to monosodium urate crystals due to high uric acid levels, and recent research sheds light on its inflammatory mechanisms.
- - A large genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 2.6 million people identified 377 genetic locations linked to gout, with a focus on 149 new loci related to urate and gout inflammation.
- - The study also pinpointed candidate genes influencing the inflammatory response in gout, including those affecting NLRP3 inflammasome activity, and suggests a potential causal role of specific genetic factors in developing the disease.
Aim: The aim of this study was to update and project the growth of ophthalmologists in New Zealand. This will help decision makers better understand the current ophthalmologist workforce and make appropriate resource allocations.
Method: Supply and demographics of ophthalmologists in New Zealand were obtained from the Medical Council of New Zealand, Health Workforce New Zealand and Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora.
Osteoarthritis affects millions of people worldwide but current treatments using analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs only alleviate symptoms of this disease. Here, we present an injectable, biodegradable piezoelectric hydrogel, made of short electrospun poly-L-lactic acid nanofibers embedded inside a collagen matrix, which can be injected into the joints and self-produce localized electrical cues under ultrasound activation to drive cartilage healing. In vitro, data shows that the piezoelectric hydrogel with ultrasound can enhance cell migration and induce stem cells to secrete TGF-β1, which promotes chondrogenesis.
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