Azathioprine therapy for steroid-resistant Henoch-Schönlein purpura: a report of 6 cases.

Background: A small percentage of children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) develop a chronic form of the disease that often requires prolonged corticosteroid therapy. Disease modifying anti-rheumatic agents (DMARDs) or biologics have been successfully used to treat those refractory cases. Azathioprine is a DMARD that has been reported to be effective in HSP nephritis and in adult cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis, a condition with cutaneous histology similar to HSP.

Influence of biologically inspired nanometer surface roughness on antigen-antibody interactions for immunoassay-biosensor applications.

Current research efforts to improve immunoassay-biosensor functionality have centered on detection through the optimal design of microfluidic chambers, electrical circuitry, optical sensing elements, and so on. To date, little attention has been paid to the immunoassay-biosensor membrane surface on which interactions between antibodies and antigens must occur. For this reason, the objective of the present study was to manipulate the nanometer surface roughness of a model immunoassay-biosensor membrane to determine its role on sensitivity and specificity.