Publications by authors named "Pasternack R"

Diurnal preference to eveningness might predispose to depression. There is preliminary evidence of infrared-A (IR-A) induced whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) in the treatment of depression. In this exploratory study with 19 adults, we investigated the effects of a 20-min exposure of water-filtered IR-A (wIRA) to the skin of back and buttock area, without inducing WBH, on mood and assessed the outcome by diurnal preference (#R19047, approval on 7 May 2019).

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SLC4A11 is the most abundant membrane transport protein in corneal endothelial cells. Its functional presence is necessary to support the endothelial fluid pump that draws fluid from the corneal stroma, preventing corneal edema. Several molecular actions have been proposed for SLC4A11 including HO transport and cell adhesion.

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Article Synopsis
  • Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is crucial in the development of celiac disease by modifying gluten peptides, leading to a heightened immune response against gluten.
  • The study evaluates the effectiveness of the TG2 inhibitor ZED1227 in preventing gluten-induced damage in celiac patients on a gluten-free diet, revealing that it significantly safeguards intestinal health at the molecular level.
  • Findings indicate that ZED1227 treatment helps maintain healthy gene expression related to the gut's structure and function, and suggest a potential benefit in personalized treatment strategies based on specific genetic markers in celiac patients.
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We investigated the effects of daily ultraviolet A1 (UV-A1, 340-400 nm) exposures on mood states (#R19055, approval on 21 October 2020). Based on our earlier findings of the influence of diurnal preference on mood, we investigated further whether diurnal preference plays a role in the influence of UV-A1 on mood states. Forty-one healthy participants aged 19-55 years were randomized to receive either UV-A1 (n = 21) or control (n = 20) exposures (violet light, 390-440 nm).

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Introduction: The purpose of this study is to explore treatment preferences and identify patient characteristics in young bio-naive adults with moderate to severe psoriasis in the Nordic countries (Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Denmark).

Methods: Patients were 18-45 years old and bio-naive but referred for biologic treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis. Patients were included at eight Nordic dermatology clinics.

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Article Synopsis
  • The enzyme transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is crucial in the development of celiac disease, primarily found outside cells in the small intestine and sometimes within the intestinal lining.
  • ZED1227, a potential treatment for celiac disease, is an inhibitor designed to prevent TG2 from modifying gliadin peptides, which trigger the disease.
  • Research showed that after administering ZED1227, it accumulates in the villous enterocytes of the intestine, effectively inhibiting TG2 activity before gliadin peptides can enter deeper tissue layers.
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Introduction: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with various comorbidities and diminished quality of life (QoL). Among dermatological conditions, HS is reported to most severely diminish QoL. This study aimed to analyse the health-related QoL (HRQoL) of patients with HS in more detail by using generic to disease-specific HRQoL questionnaires.

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ZED1227 is a small molecule tissue transglutaminase (TG2) inhibitor. The compound selectively binds to the active state of TG2, forming a stable covalent bond with the cysteine in its catalytic center. The molecule was designed for the treatment of celiac disease.

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Guselkumab treatment outcomes and persistence were assessed in a real-world cohort of Finnish patients with difficult-to-treat plaque psoriasis over a median follow-up of 1 year. Data on 181 patients who initiated guselkumab at the 15 study centres were collected retrospectively from the patient charts. Prior exposure to biologic therapies was common, with 56% and 35% having used at least 1 and 2 biologics, respectively.

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Hereditary factor XIII (FXIII) deficiency is a rare autosomal bleeding disorder which can cause life-threatening bleeding. Acquired deficiency can be immune-mediated or due to increased consumption or reduced synthesis. The most commonly used screening test is insensitive, and widely used quantitative assays have analytical limitations.

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Function, activity, and interactions of proteins crucially depend on their three-dimensional structure and are often regulated by effector binding and environmental changes. Tissue transglutaminase (Transglutaminase 2, TG2) is a multifunctional protein, allosterically regulated by nucleotides and Ca ions, which trigger opposing conformational changes. Here we introduce switchSENSE as a versatile tool for TG2 characterization and provide novel insights into protein conformation as well as analyte binding kinetics.

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Under acidic conditions and at high ionic strength, the zinc cation is removed from its metal complex with 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS) thus leading to the diacid free porphyrin, that subsequently self-organize into J-aggregates. The kinetics of the demetallation step and the successive supramolecular assembly formation have been investigated as a function of pH and ionic strength (controlled by adding ZnSO). The demetallation kinetics obey to a rate law that is first order in [ZnTPPS] and second order in [H], according to literature, with = 5.

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Plasma transglutaminase FXIII provides mechanical and biochemical stability to blood clots. Congenital or acquired deficiency may be associated with bleeding diathesis and requires therefore careful monitoring. The precise automated measurement of a large number of plasma samples can provide new insights regarding the clinical relevance of certain FXIII levels.

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Blood coagulation factor XIII (FXIII, F13) is considered to be a promising target for anticoagulants with reduced bleeding risk because of its unique position in the coagulation cascade downstream of thrombin. However, until now, no potent drug addressing FXIII has been available, indeed no compound has even entered clinical trials yet. In 2013, we published the co-crystal structure of FXIII in the active state (FXIIIa°), thereby providing a detailed map of the active site for the rational design of potent FXIIIa blockers.

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Background: Factor XIII (FXIII) is the final enzyme of the coagulation cascade. While the other enzymatic coagulation factors are proteases, FXIII belongs to the transglutaminase family. FXIIIa covalently crosslinks the fibrin clot and represents a promising target for drug development to facilitate fibrinolysis.

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J-aggregates of anionic -tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin form at intermediate pH (2.3-3.1) in the presence of NiSO or ZnSO (ionic strength, I.

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Background/purpose: Narrowband UVB phototherapy is a common treatment modality in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, but evidence of its actual effect in clinical setting is sparse. Our aim was to assess the effectiveness and costs of narrowband UVB phototherapy in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis in clinical setting.

Methods: We observed 207 psoriasis patients and 144 atopic dermatitis patients in eight centers.

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The effect of standard bakery concentrations of microbial transglutaminase (MTG) in wheat bread preparation on the immunoreactivity of sera of celiac disease (CD) patients was investigated. Immunoblotting using monoclonal antibodies specific to unmodified and/or deamidated gliadin showed no differences between control bread and MTG bread. Deamidation of gliadin could not be detected at standard MTG concentrations.

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Dilute aqueous solutions of anionic -4-sulfonatophenyl-porphyrin (TPPS) extract zinc(ii) ions from glass or quartz surfaces at room temperature and efficiently form the corresponding metal complex (ZnTPPS). The partial or complete formation of ZnTPPS has been probed by UV/Vis spectroscopy and both static and time-resolved fluorescence. The source of zinc(ii) ions has been clearly identified through inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.

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