Assessing the Response of Biomarkers to Anti-Inflammatory Medications in PIMS-TS by Longitudinal Multilevel Modeling: Real-World Data from a UK Tertiary Center.

Pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporarily associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (PIMS-TS) is an acute complication of previous SARS-CoV-2 exposure. The relationship between inflammatory markers and anti-inflammatory medication in PIMS-TS is unknown. We retrospectively investigated the relationship between demographics, biomarkers, treatment, and length of stay (LOS) in this novel disease.

Multi-centre national audit of juvenile localised scleroderma: describing current UK practice in disease assessment and management.

Objective: To describe current United Kingdom practice in assessment and management of patients with juvenile localised scleroderma (JLS) compared to Paediatric Rheumatology European Society (PRES) scleroderma working party recommendations.

Methods: Patients were included if they were diagnosed with JLS and were under the care of paediatric rheumatology between 04/2015-04/2016. Retrospective data was collected in eleven UK centres using a standardised proforma and collated centrally.

An Evaluation of Matrix-Containing and Humanised Matrix-Free 3-Dimensional Cell Culture Systems for Studying Breast Cancer.

Background: 3D cell cultures are emerging as more physiologically meaningful alternatives to monolayer cultures for many biological applications. They are attractive because they more closely mimic in vivo morphology, especially when co-cultured with stromal fibroblasts.

Methodology/principal Findings: We compared the efficacy of 3 different 3D cell culture systems; collagen I, low attachment culture vessels and a modification of Fibrolife®, a specialised humanised cell culture medium devoid of animal-derived components, using breast cancer cell lines representative of the different molecular subtypes of breast cancer, cultured alone or with human mammary fibroblasts with a view to developing matrix-free humanised systems.

Epithelium-dependent modulation of responsiveness of airways from caveolin-1 knockout mice is mediated through cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase.

Background And Purpose: Acute silencing of caveolin-1 (Cav-1) modulates receptor-mediated contraction of airway smooth muscle. Moreover, COX-2- and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO)-derived prostaglandin and leukotriene biosynthesis can influence smooth muscle reactivity. COX-2 half-life can be prolonged through association with Cav-1.

Aquaporin 1 is an independent prognostic factor in pleural malignant mesothelioma.

Background: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive cancer of serosal membranes, mostly pleura. It is related to asbestos exposure and its incidence in most industrialized countries is projected to remain stable or to increase until 2020. Prognosis remains poor.

Interleukin-7 deficiency in rheumatoid arthritis: consequences for therapy-induced lymphopenia.

We previously demonstrated prolonged, profound CD4+ T-lymphopenia in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients following lymphocyte-depleting therapy. Poor reconstitution could result either from reduced de novo T-cell production through the thymus or from poor peripheral expansion of residual T-cells. Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is known to stimulate the thymus to produce new T-cells and to allow circulating mature T-cells to expand, thereby playing a critical role in T-cell homeostasis.