Analysis of Complement Gene Expression, Clinical Associations, and Biodistribution of Complement Proteins in the Synovium of Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Reveals Unique Pathophysiologic Features

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by synovial hyperplasia and inflammation. The finding of autoantibodies in seropositive RA suggests that complement system activation might play a pathophysiologic role due to the local presence of immune complexes in the joints. Our first objective was to explore the Pathobiology of Early Arthritis Cohort (PEAC) mRNA sequencing data for correlations between clinical disease severity as measured by DAS28-ESR (disease activity score in 28 joints for erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and complement system gene expression, both in the synovium and in blood. Our second objective was to determine the biodistribution using multiplex immunohistochemical staining of specific complement activation proteins and inhibitors from subjects in the Accelerating Medicines Partnership (AMP) RA/SLE study. In the PEAC study, there were significant positive correlations between specific complement gene mRNA expression levels in the synovium and DAS28-ESR for the following complement genes: C2, FCN1, FCN3, CFB, CFP, C3AR1, C5AR1, and CR1 Additionally, there were significant negative correlations between DAS28-ESR and Colec12, C5, C6, MASP-1, CFH, and MCP In the synovium there were also significant positive correlations between DAS28-ESR and FcγR1A, FcγR1B, FcγR2A, and FcγR3A Notably, CFHR4 synovial expression was positively correlated following treatment with the DAS28-ESR at 6 mo, suggesting a role in worse therapeutic responses. The inverse correlation of C5 RNA expression in the synovium may underlie the failure of significant benefit from C5/C5aR inhibitors in clinical trials performed in patients with RA. Multiplex immunohistochemical analyses of early RA synovium reveal significant evidence of regional alterations of activation and inhibitory factors that likely promote local complement activation.

Implanted renal replacement for end-stage renal disease

The nearly 400000 American patients on dialysis suffer high cardiovascular and infectious mortality, but there is now evidence that this morbid phenotype can be rescued by intensive dialytic therapy. Self-care dialysis at home is limited by patient fears about skill and safety. An implanted artificial kidney would provide the benefits of intensive therapy while avoiding the focal points of patient concern. Hollow fiber polymer membranes and dialytic waste removal are lifesaving innovations but are difficult to adapt to implantable therapies. Biomimetic membranes and living cells can replicate the native kidney's strategy for waste removal. Three key technology developments are necessary for implementation of an implantable artificial kidney: high efficiency ultrafiltration membranes, control of blood-materials interactions such as thrombosis and fouling, and stable differentiated function of renal proximal tubule cells in an engineered construct. There has been significant progress in demonstrating proof-of-concept experiments in each key technology area.

Influence of leaf trichomes on predatory mite (Typhlodromus pyri) abundance in grape varieties

Non-glandular leaf trichomes positively influence the abundance of many phytoseiid mites. We characterized the influence of grape leaf trichomes (domatia, hairs, and bristles) on Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten abundance over two years in a common garden planting of many grape varieties and 2 years of sampling in a commercial vineyard. In general, a lack of trichomes was associated with much lower predator numbers and in the case of Dechaunac, a cultivar with almost no trichomes, very few T. pyri were found. Phytoseiid abundance was best predicted by a model where domatia and hair had an additive effect (r (2) = 0.815). Over two years of sampling at a commercial vineyard there were T. pyri present on all of the 5 cultivars except Dechaunac. At the same time, European red mite prey were present on Dechaunac alone. These results suggest that on grape cultivars lacking leaf trichomes, T. pyri likely will not attain sufficient densities to provide biological control of European red mite, despite presence of the mite food source. The relationship between leaf trichomes and phytoseiid abundance that is observed at the scale of single vines in a garden planting appears to also be manifest at the scale of a commercial vineyard. Because persistence of predatory mites in or nearby the habitats of prey mites is important for effective mite biological control, leaf trichomes, through their influence on phytoseiid persistence, may be critical for successful mite biological control in some systems.

Soft tissue surgery in the oral and maxillofacial region

The practice of dentistry is most often perceived as the treatment of the hard tissues of the oral region, specifically the teeth and jaws. However, there are many disorders and conditions involving surgical treatment of the soft tissues that extend to the adjacent and associated structures of the oral and maxillofacial surgery region.

Adult onset of inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus in a mother and her daughter

Inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus (ILVEN) is a rather uncommon dermatosis that typically has an early age of onset, is unilateral, localized, pruritic and relatively refractory to treatment. Atypical presentations of ILVEN have also been described and include late onset in life, widespread involvement and response to treatment. We report the adult onset of an extremely pruritic systemized eruption in both mother and her daughter that clinically and histologically was most compatible with ILVEN. The eruptions were also partially responsive to therapy.

Pretreatment with steroids before intravenous injection of diatrizoate or iohexol. Effects on urine and serum profiles

The effects on urine and serum profiles of intravenous injection of diatrizoate, iohexol, or saline were studied in male rats pretreated with steroids or saline. Using urinary albumin, glucose, sodium, and the enzymes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) as markers of glomerular and tubular function, it was found that diatrizoate caused temporary glomerular and tubular dysfunction; the effect was independent of the kind of pretreatment. Iohexol did not cause increased glomerular permeability in steroid- and saline-pretreated rats. When used following saline, iohexol induced increased excretion of three tubular components, whereas iohexol plus steroids caused increased excretion of all five tubular components. The dysfunctional effect of iohexol plus steroids was less than that of diatrizoate plus steroids. The serum components revealed no abnormalities induced by either contrast media or methylprednisolone. Pretreatment with steroids has no effect on the glomerular or tubular dysfunctional effect of diatrizoate, whereas it worsens the temporary tubular dysfunctional effect of iohexol in rats.

A case of adenocarcinoma of the colon in a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasis

A 70-year-old man with a history of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasis was found to have occult blood in his stool after a routine physical examination. Endoscopic evaluation revealed a small, sessile tumor that was consistent with well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon on histologic examination.

Identification of the plasmid-encoded immunity protein for colicin E1 in the inner membrane of Escherichia coli

A set of plasmids containing portions of the Col E1 plasmid were transformed into recA- cells. These cells, after UV irradiation, only incorporate labelled amino acids into plasmid-encoded proteins. UV-irradiated cells label a 14.5 kDa band if they are phenotypically immune to colicin E1, and do not contain this band if they are sensitive to colicin E1. We conclude that the 14.5 kDa protein is the colicin E1 immunity protein. When the inner and outer membranes of these cells are fractionated, the labelled band appears in the inner membrane. The immunity protein must be an intrinsic inner membrane protein, confirming the predictions made by hydrophobicity calculations from primary sequence data.

Bilateral corneal dermis-like choristomas; an X chromosome-linked disorder

A male child was born with bilateral corneal opacification. His maternal uncle and a male first cousin of the patient's mother also had been born with identical bilateral corneal opacification that was pathologically proven to result from corneal dermoids. Histopathological examination of tissue removed from the present patient at the time of lamellar keratoplasty revealed thickened, keratinized epithelium, absent Bowman's membrane, and dense, irregular bands of highly vascularized collagenous connective tissue. No adnexal appendages were identified. The remainder of the ocular and general physical examination results was normal. In view of these clinical and histopathological similarities, the diagnosis of corneal dermis-like choristomas was made. To our knowledge, this report is the first to describe a family with X chromosome-linked recessive transmission of this condition.

Corneal storage at room temperature

Short-term eye banking is based mainly on moist chamber and McCarey-Kaufman medium (M-K medium) preservation. Both involve a controlled 4 C temperature for storage. Warming the cornea to room temperature, however, drastically affects the endothelial viability. On enzymatic staining and histological study, the M-K medium-stored rabbit corneas had more normal endothelium than did "moist chamber" eyes when storage was prolonged for seven days at room temperature. In human corneas that were kept at 4 C for 24 hours and then exposed to a temperature of 25 C, destruction of organelles had occurred by six hours and was increased by 12 hours. Corneas that were kept in M-K medium had relatively intact endothelium after four days, but cell disruption and vacuolation was present by the seventh day. The M-K medium, therefore, affords protection to tissue warmed to room temperature, where metabolic activity is resumed.

Subsurface cisterns in the vertebrate retina

Structures identified as subsurface cisterns (SSC's) were found in retinal neurons and their processes in the Western grey squirrel, the California and 13-line ground squirrels, the South African clawed toad, and the domestic cat. The SSC's are located in amacrine, bipolar, and ganglion cells; they are connected with the rough endoplasmic reticulum and are associated with specific membrane specializations. SSC's were not seen in the Müller cells, an observation which agrees with earlier reports that these organelles do not exist in glial cells.