BACKGROUND Treatments for mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) have increased longevity, but coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiovascular complications cause mortality in a high percentage of patients. Non-invasive measures of sub-clinical atherosclerosis, such as carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and arterial stiffness, may be useful for prediction of CAD outcomes in MPS patients. OBJECTIVES...

Computational prediction of membrane protein (MP) structures is very challenging partially due to lack of sufficient solved structures for homology modeling or parameter estimation of computational methods. Recently direct evolutionary coupling analysis (DCA) sheds some light on protein contact prediction and accordingly, contact-assisted folding, but DCA is effective only on some very large-si...

BACKGROUND This study tested the hypothesis that circulating microparticles (MPs) are useful biomarkers for predicting one-year mortality in patients with end-stage non-small cell lung cancer (ES-NSCLC). METHODS AND RESULTS One hundred seven patients were prospectively enrolled into the study between April 2011 and February 2012, and each patient received regular follow-up after enrollment. L...

Stimulation of a variety of cell types leads to the release of submicron vesicles that bud off from the plasma membrane. These so-called microparticles (MPs) or microvesicles are defined by their small size (0.1 to 1 m) and the presence of surface antigens from the parental cells.1,2 MPs contribute to a variety of physiological and pathological processes. For instance, they appear to play a rol...

Microplastics (MPs) are a significant environmental health issue and increasingly greater source of concern. MPs have been detected in oceans, rivers, sediments, sewages, soil and even table salts. MPs exposure on marine organisms and humans has been documented, but information about the toxicity of MPs in mammal is limited. Here we used fluorescent and pristine polystyrene microplastics (PS-MP...

BACKGROUND Microparticles (MPs) are small vesicles released from cells of different origin, bearing surface antigens from parental cells. Elevated numbers of blood MPs have been reported in (cardio)vascular disorders and cancer. Most of these MPs are derived from platelets. OBJECTIVES To investigate whether atomic force microscopy (AFM) can be used to detect platelet-derived MPs and to define...

Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has been approved for 6 lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) worldwide including Japan. These diseases include Gaucher disease (GD), Fabry disease, mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) types I, II, and VI, and Pompe disease (PD). The efficacy and safety of ERT for LSDs has been confirmed by extensive clinical trials. However, there are still obstacles to successful ERT, suc...

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the modified plaque score (MPS) for assessing the oral hygiene status of periodontitis patients. Methods A total of 116 patients were included in this study. After evaluation of the Löe and Silness gingival index (GI), Silness and Löe plaque index (PlI), O'Leary plaque control record (PCR), and MPS, patients were randomly assig...

Changes in microparticles (MP) from red blood cell (RBC) concentrates in the context of irradiation have not been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate how irradiation affects the number of MPs within transfusion components. Twenty RBC concentrates, within 14 days after donation, were exposed to gamma rays (dose rate: 25 cGy) from a cesium-137 irradiator. Flow cytometry was used t...

OBJECTIVE To examine mortality in members of the two UK Houses of Parliament compared with the general population, 1945-2011. DESIGN Retrospective cohort analysis of death rates and predictors of mortality in Members of Parliament (MPs) and members of the House of Lords (Lords). SETTING UK. PARTICIPANTS 4950 MPs and Lords first joining the UK parliament in 1945-2011. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUR...