Serological insights from SARS-CoV-2 heterologous prime and boost responses in Thailand.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, heterologous vaccination strategies were employed to alleviate the strain on vaccine supplies. The Thailand Ministry of Health adopted these strategies using vector, inactivated, and mRNA vaccines. However, this approach has introduced challenges for SARS-CoV-2 sero-epidemiology studies.

DNA Hypomethylation in the TNF-Alpha Gene Predicts Rheumatoid Arthritis Classification in Patients with Early Inflammatory Symptoms.

Unlabelled: Biomarkers for the classification of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and particularly for anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA)-negative patients, remain an important hurdle for the early initiation of treatment. Taking advantage of DNA-methylation patterns specific to early RA, quantitative methylation-specific qPCR (qMSP) offers a robust technology for the development of biomarkers. We developed assays and established their value as RA classification biomarkers.

Differential CpG DNA methylation in peripheral naïve CD4 T-cells in early rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Background: The genetic risk associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) includes genes regulating DNA methylation, one of the hallmarks of epigenetic re-programing, as well as many T-cell genes, with a strong MHC association, pointing to immunogenetic mechanisms as disease triggers leading to chronicity. The aim of our study was to explore DNA methylation in early, drug-naïve RA patients, towards a better understanding of early events in pathogenesis.

Result: Monocytes, naïve and memory CD4 T-cells were sorted from 6 healthy controls and 10 RA patients.

Serum IL-7 as diagnostic biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis, validation with EULAR 2010 classification criteria.

Objectives: Despite the well-established value of currently used classification criteria for the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) there is a constant demand for novel biomarkers notably in autoantibody-negative patients. Interleukin 7 (IL-7) has been reported as a candidate diagnostic biomarker based on ACR-1987 criteria. However, clinical practice has moved to using the EULAR 2010 classification criteria.

Autophagy inhibition by caffeine increases toxicity of methamphetamine in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line.

Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive CNS stimulant that its long-term use is associated with the loss of neurons in substantia nigra and development of Parkinson's disease later in life. Common form of METH is Ya-Ba tablet, in which, large portion of caffeine is added to the mass to enhance the stimulatory effect. Previous study demonstrated that caffeine potentiates the toxic effect of METH in association with the production of reactive oxygen species and the induction of apoptosis.