Few reports from Africa suggest that resistance pattern, virulence factors and genotypes differ between Staphylococcus aureus from nasal carriage and clinical infection. We therefore compared antimicrobial resistance, selected virulence factors and genotypes of S. aureus from nasal carriage and clinical infection in Southwest Nigeria. Non-duplicate S. aureus isolates were obtained from infectio...

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether expression of the four members of the neurotrophin (NT) family and their four corresponding receptors is related to synovial inflammation in patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA). MATERIAL AND METHODS Synovial fluid (SF) and serum NTs and their receptors were measured by ELISA. Immunohistochemistry was used for synovial tissue biopsy specimens from patients wi...

"Proteinticle" is a nano-scale protein particle that is self-assembled inside cells with constant 3D structure and surface topology. The binding of IgG to the B domain of Staphylococcal protein A (SPA(B)) molecules that are genetically inserted on the surface of proteinticle enables the variable domains of bound IgG to be well oriented to effectively capture antigens, accordingly forming a high...

Recombinant Ganoderma lucidum immunomodu-latory protein (rLZ-8) expressed using the Pichia yeast eukaryotic expression system is a potential new drug for cancer therapy; however, it has a short half-life in the body. In order to optimize the potency and stability of rLZ-8, we modified the recombinant protein chemically using methoxy-PEG-succinimid...

Bacterial pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus undergo major physiological changes when they infect their hosts, requiring the coordinated regulation of gene expression in response to the stresses encountered. Several environmental factors modify the expression of S. aureus virulence genes. This report shows that the expression of spa (virulence gene encoding the cell-wall-associated protein...

OBJECTIVE Endothelium-derived vasoactive agents NO, endothelin-1 (ET-1), and prostacyclin (PGI2) not only regulate vascular tone but also influence atherogenic processes, including smooth muscle migration and proliferation, as well as monocyte and platelet adhesion. Complex hemodynamics characterized by the temporal phase angle between mechanical factors circumferential strain and wall shear st...

BACKGROUND Crohn's disease is associated with an increased number of macrophages in ileal and colonic mucosa. Data on macrophages in gut mucosa of patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA) are scarce. OBJECTIVE To investigate macrophages and other antigen presenting cells in gut mucosa from patients with SpA and Crohn's disease, given the relationship between both entities. METHODS Biopsy speci...

OBJECTIVE To conduct a preliminary investigation of the effects on floatation spa therapy on quality of life in patients with osteoarthritis to see if controlled trials are warranted. DESIGN Uncontrolled clinical trial. SETTING Private floatation spa therapy centre. PATIENTS Fourteen patients with chronic osteoarthritis of the weight-bearing joints, of whom four dropped out. INTERVENTIO...

Sclerosing Polycystic Adenosis (SPA) is a rare disease of the salivary glands, first described by Smith et al. in 1996, with histomorphological aspects similar to those from breast fibrocystic disorders1. Its pathogenesis is still unclear; however, it is considered a pseudo-neoplastic or reactive process. Recently, Skálová et al. showed clonality in six SPA cases. SPA affects mainly the parotid...

Targeted positioning of water channel aquaporin-2 (AQP2) strictly regulates body water homeostasis. Trafficking of AQP2 to the apical membrane is critical to the reabsorption of water in renal collecting ducts. Controlled apical positioning of AQP2 suggests the existence of proteins that interact with AQP2. A biochemical search for AQP2-interacting proteins led to the identification of PDZ-doma...