Molecular structure of soluble vimentin tetramers.

Intermediate filaments (IFs) are essential constituents of the metazoan cytoskeleton. A vast family of cytoplasmic IF proteins are capable of self-assembly from soluble tetrameric species into typical 10-12 nm wide filaments. The primary structure of these proteins includes the signature central 'rod' domain of ~ 300 residues which forms a dimeric α-helical coiled coil composed of three segments (coil1A, coil1B and coil2) interconnected by non-helical, flexible linkers (L1 and L12).

Stability profile of vimentin rod domain.

Intermediate filaments (IFs) form an essential part of the metazoan cytoskeleton. Despite a long history of research, a proper understanding of their molecular architecture and assembly process is still lacking. IFs self-assemble from elongated dimers, which are defined by their central "rod" domain.

Molecular Interactions Driving Intermediate Filament Assembly.

Given the role of intermediate filaments (IFs) in normal cell physiology and scores of IF-linked diseases, the importance of understanding their molecular structure is beyond doubt. Research into the IF structure was initiated more than 30 years ago, and some important advances have been made. Using crystallography and other methods, the central coiled-coil domain of the elementary dimer and also the structural basis of the soluble tetramer formation have been studied to atomic precision.

Impact of a shift in treatment funding on a multidisciplinary sleep clinic: a cohort study.

Multidisciplinary Sleep Clinics for sleep apnea have long existed, bringing together neurologists, sleep specialists, dentists, orthodontists and surgeons. In Belgium, a shift in funding for obstructive sleep apnea treatment was implemented from January 1st, 2017. Funding was allowed for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and the rules shifted for treatments delivery and monitoring by authorised medical opinion.

Addressing the Molecular Mechanism of Longitudinal Lamin Assembly Using Chimeric Fusions.

The molecular architecture and assembly mechanism of intermediate filaments have been enigmatic for decades. Among those, lamin filaments are of particular interest due to their universal role in cell nucleus and numerous disease-related mutations. Filament assembly is driven by specific interactions of the elementary dimers, which consist of the central coiled-coil rod domain flanked by non-helical head and tail domains.

Development of a novel sheathless CE-ESI-MS interface via a CO laser ablated opening.

A new and easy to construct sheathless capillary electrophoresis electro spray ionization mass spectrometry (CE-ESI-MS) interface was developed that offers several advantages compared to traditional liquid junction interfaces. The fabrication of the device only requires a CO laser engraver that most groups working with microfluids have access to. It only takes a few seconds to create a CO laser ablated opening in the bare-fused silica capillaries and the opening can be placed as close as a few mm from the spray tip.

Accelerated Aggregation Studies of Monoclonal Antibodies: Considerations for Storage Stability.

Aggregation of mAbs is a crucial concern with respect to their safety and efficacy. Among the various properties of protein aggregates, it is emerging that their size can potentially impact their immunogenicity. Therefore, stability studies of antibody formulations should not only evaluate the rate of monomer loss but also determine the size distribution of the protein aggregates, which in turn depends on the aggregation mechanism.

The socio-economic burden of asthma is substantial in Europe.

Background: Few data are available on the asthma burden in the general population. We evaluated the level and the factors associated with the asthma burden in Europe.

Methods: In 1999-2002, 1152 adult asthmatics were identified in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS)-II and the socio-economic burden (reduced activity days and hospital services utilization in the past 12 months) was assessed.

Asthma control in Europe: a real-world evaluation based on an international population-based study.

Background: Epidemiologic evidence related to asthma control in patients from the general population is scanty.

Objectives: We sought to assess asthma control in several European centers according to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines and to investigate its determinants.

Methods: In the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II (1999-2002), 1241 adults with asthma were identified and classified into inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) users and non-ICS users in the last year.

Factors affecting adherence to asthma treatment in an international cohort of young and middle-aged adults.

Background: A major reason of the poor control of asthma is that patients fail to adhere to their treatment. The aim of the study was to identify factors affecting changes in asthma treatment adherence in an international cohort.

Methods: A follow-up study was carried out by means of a structured clinical interview in 971 subjects with asthma from 12 countries who participated in both the European Community Respiratory Health Survey: ECRHS-I (1990-94) and ECRHS-II (1998-2002).

Incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a cohort of young adults according to the presence of chronic cough and phlegm.

Rationale: The few prospective studies aimed at assessing the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in relation to the presence of chronic cough/phlegm have produced contrasting results.

Objectives: To assess the incidence of COPD in a cohort of young adults and to test whether chronic cough/phlegm and dyspnea are independent predictors of COPD.

Methods: An international cohort of 5,002 subjects without asthma (ages 20-44 yr) with normal lung function (FEV(1)/FVC ratio >/= 70%) from 12 countries was followed from 1991-2002 in the frame of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II.

Increasing COPD awareness.

Early diagnosis and smoking cessation are the only available methods to stop the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of early detection of airflow limitation (AL) in a population with high risk for COPD, using spirometric screening. Smokers aged 40 yrs with a smoking history of 10 pack-yrs were invited to visit a local outpatient chest clinic for simple spirometry (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC)).

Changes in active and passive smoking in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

The aim of the present investigation was to study changes and determinants for changes in active and passive smoking. The present study included 9,053 adults from 14 countries that participated in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey II. The mean follow-up period was 8.

Changes in respiratory and allergic symptoms in schoolchildren from 1996 to 2002, results from the ISAAC surveys in Antwerp (Belgium).

Two cross sectional surveys (1995/1996 and 2001/2002) were carried out according to the ISAAC protocol among 6-7 and 13-14 year old schoolchildren in Antwerp, Belgium. A total of 8244 children participated in 1996 and 8159 children in 2002. No significant differences in current prevalence of asthma and asthma medication was found in 6-7 year olds and 13-14 year old girls.

Changes in the use of anti-asthmatic medication in an international cohort.

The aim of this study was to describe changes in pharmacotherapy for asthma since the early 1990s in an international cohort of young and middle-aged adults. A total of 28 centres from 14 countries participated in a longitudinal study. The study included 8,829 subjects with a mean follow-up time of 8.

Change in prevalence of IgE sensitization and mean total IgE with age and cohort.

Background: Cross-sectional studies show that the prevalence of IgE sensitization is lower in older age groups than younger age groups. This could reflect either a decrease in sensitization with aging or a higher prevalence of sensitization in more recent birth cohorts.

Objective: To assess change in IgE sensitization and mean total IgE in young adults as they age.

Occupational exposure among bakery workers: impact on the occurrence of work-related symptoms as compared with allergic characteristics.

Objective: The aim of the study is to examine the relationship between exposure to occupational allergens, sensitization, and atopy and several outcome variables and the independent associations of these interrelated risk factors to work-related symptoms in particular.

Methods: Data were collected by questionnaire, skin prick tests, lung function tests, and exposure measurements among 246 workers from 74 bakeries and analyzed using logistic and linear regression analyses.

Results: Exposure levels were associated with respiratory symptoms, sensitization to baker's allergens, and lung function.

Smoking cessation, lung function, and weight gain: a follow-up study.

Background: Only one population-based study in one country has reported effects of smoking cessation and weight change on lung function, and none has reported the net effect. We estimated the net benefit of smoking cessation, and the independent effects of smoking and weight change on change in ventilatory lung function in the international European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

Methods: 6654 participants in 27 centres had lung function measured in 1991-93, when aged 20-44 years, and in 1998-2002.

Exercise-induced respiratory symptoms are poor predictors of bronchoconstriction.

Exercise-induced asthma (EIA) is a possible cause of poor physical performance in children. No data are available on the value of respiratory symptoms to discriminate children with bad physical fitness from children with EIA. We evaluated respiratory symptoms in school-age children during and after exercise in relation to EIA.

Gender differences in the management and experience of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Whether women receive the same medical care for COPD as men and if they are at risk of different outcomes as a result, is not known. The Confronting COPD International Survey was performed in the USA, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain and the UK in 2000 with 3265 COPD participants. Forty-one per cent were women; mean age in women and men was 61.

Increase in diagnosed asthma but not in symptoms in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

Background: Information on the epidemiology of asthma in relation to age is limited and hampered by reporting error. To determine the change in the prevalence of asthma with age in young adults we analysed longitudinal data from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey.

Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 11 168 randomly selected subjects in 14 countries in 1991-3 when they were aged 20-44 years and 5-11 years later from 1998 to 2003.

Worldwide severity and control of asthma in children and adults: the global asthma insights and reality surveys.

Background: In 1995, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines recommended goals for the management of asthma, which were updated in 2002. However, there are no recent international surveys on the real management of asthma.

Objective: The Asthma Insights and Reality surveys are the first large-scale surveys aimed at determining international variations in the severity, control, and management of asthma in children and adults.

An international survey of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in young adults according to GOLD stages.

Background: The recently published GOLD guidelines provide a new system for staging chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from mild (stage I) to very severe (stage IV) and introduce a stage 0 (chronic cough and phlegm without airflow obstruction) that includes subjects "at risk" of developing the disease.

Methods: In order to assess the prevalence of GOLD stages of COPD in high income countries and to evaluate their association with the known risk factors for airflow obstruction, data from the European Community Respiratory Health Survey on more than 18,000 young adults (20-44 years) were analysed.

Results: The overall prevalence was 11.