Electrochemical DNA Biosensor That Detects Early Celiac Disease Autoantibodies.

Although it is estimated that more than one million Americans have celiac disease (CD), it remains challenging to diagnose. CD, an autoimmune and inflammatory response following the ingestion of gluten-containing foods, has symptoms overlapping with other diseases and requires invasive diagnostics. The gold standard for CD diagnosis involves serologic blood tests followed by invasive confirmatory biopsies.

Gold Nanoparticle-Functionalized Reverse Thermal Gel for Tissue Engineering Applications.

Utilizing polymers in cardiac tissue engineering holds promise for restoring function to the heart following myocardial infarction, which is associated with grave morbidity and mortality. To properly mimic native cardiac tissue, materials must not only support cardiac cell growth but also have inherent conductive properties. Here, we present an injectable reverse thermal gel (RTG)-based cardiac cell scaffold system that is both biocompatible and conductive.

Comparative effects of L-DOPA and velvet bean seed extract on soybean lignification.

Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens) is an efficient cover forage that controls weeds, pathogens and nematodes, and the non-protein amino acid L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) is its main allelochemical. The effects of 3 g L of an aqueous extract of velvet bean seeds, along with 0.5 mM L-DOPA for comparison, were evaluated in roots, stems and leaves of soybean (Glycine max).

Actions of p-synephrine on hepatic enzyme activities linked to carbohydrate metabolism and ATP levels in vivo and in the perfused rat liver.

p-Synephrine is one of the main active components of the fruit of Citrus aurantium (bitter orange). Extracts of the bitter orange and other preparations containing p-synephrine have been used worldwide to promote weight loss and for sports performance. The purpose of the study was to measure the action of p-synephrine on hepatic enzyme activities linked to carbohydrate and energy metabolism and the levels of adenine mononucleotides.

Draft Genome Sequence of the Polyextremophilic Halorubrum sp. Strain AJ67, Isolated from Hyperarsenic Lakes in the Argentinian Puna.

Halorubrum sp. strain AJ67, an extreme halophilic UV-resistant archaeon, was isolated from Laguna Antofalla in the Argentinian Puna. The draft genome sequence suggests the presence of potent enzyme candidates that are essential for survival under multiple environmental extreme conditions, such as high UV radiation, elevated salinity, and the presence of critical arsenic concentrations.

Isolation of UV-B resistant bacteria from two high altitude Andean lakes (4,400 m) with saline and non saline conditions.

Laguna (L.) Negra and L. Verde are high altitude Andean lakes located at the 4,400 m altitude in the Andean desert (Puna) in the Argentine northwest.

Circulating 20S proteasome levels in patients with mixed connective tissue disease and systemic lupus erythematosus.

The associations of circulating 20S proteasomes (c20S) with clinical and serologic disease indices in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) are unknown. We present the initial report that c20S levels are elevated in MCTD and correlate with clinically relevant changes in disease activity in SLE and MCTD.

Immune pathogenesis of Mixed Connective Tissue Disease: a short analytical review.

Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) was first described 35 years ago by Gordon C. Sharp and his colleagues. In the ensuing decades, a clearer understanding of the clinical and serologic features of MCTD has emerged.

Clinical and immunologic manifestations of mixed connective tissue disease in a Miami population compared to a Midwestern US Caucasian population.

Objective: A cross-sectional study of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) was performed to determine if there were identifiable differences in the clinical expression of MCTD associated with race or ethnicity.

Methods: Miami, Florida, and Midwestern US (Missouri) Caucasian MCTD cohorts were studied. Clinical and laboratory features of the 2 MCTD cohorts were compared.

The incidence and prevalence of neuropsychiatric syndromes in pediatric onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To determine the incidence and prevalence of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) and glomerulonephritis in ethnically diverse pediatric onset SLE inpatient and outpatient populations.

Methods: Seventy-five pediatric onset patients with SLE including Native American, Asian, Black, Spanish-American, and Caucasian subjects were evaluated prospectively and cross sectionally. During the 6 year study, 55 patients became inpatients.

Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus presenting as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

A 61-year-old woman with a history of photosensitive dermatitis and recurrent mouth ulcers presented with progressive weakness typical of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and subsequently underwent extensive neurologic and rheumatologic testing. We investigated whether ALS-like motor neuron disease associated with a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) is really ALS or rather neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). On neurologic evaluation, she had prominent bulbar involvement with dysarthria and dysphagia associated with profound lingual fasciculations and a denervating pattern on electromyogram.