Objective: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is an established therapy for systemic sclerosis (SSc), but its pharmacokinetics in this disease remains unexplored. We have investigated drug exposure in MMF-Treated patients with SSc in relation to clinical features of the disease and common concomitant drugs. Methods: This study was predefined to include 35 MMF-Treated SSc patients who were using MMF at a

P4 ATPase lipid flippases are ATP-driven transporters that translocate specific lipids from the exoplasmic to the cytosolic leaflet of biological membranes, thus establishing a lipid gradient between the two leaflets that is essential for many cellular processes. While substrate specificity, subcellular and tissue-specific expression, and physiological functions have been assigned to a number of t

Streptococcus suis is part of the pig commensal microbiome but strains can also be pathogenic, causing pneumonia and meningitis in pigs as well as zoonotic meningitis. According to genomic analysis, S. suis is divided into asymptomatic carriage, respiratory and systemic strains with distinct genomic signatures. Because the strategies to target pathogenic S. suis are limited, new therapeutic approa

A projectile Coulomb-excitation experiment was performed at the radioactive-ion beam facility HIE-ISOLDE at CERN to obtain E2 and M1 transition matrix elements of Nd140 using the multistep Coulomb-excitation code gosia. The absolute M1 strengths, B(M1;22+→21+)=0.033(8)μN2,B(M1;23+→21+)=0.26-0.10+0.11μN2, and B(M1;24+→21+)

Ptychographic X-ray imaging at the highest spatial resolution requires an optimal experimental environment, providing a high coherent flux, excellent mechanical stability and a low background in the measured data. This requires, for example, a stable performance of all optical components along the entire beam path, high temperature stability, a robust sample and optics tracking system, and a scatt

Background Prior research suggested a differential association of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) metabolites with type 2 diabetes (T2D), with total 25(OH)D and 25(OH)D3 inversely associated with T2D, but the epimeric form (C3-epi-25(OH)D3) positively associated with T2D. Whether or not these observational associations are causal remains uncertain. We aimed to examine the potential causality of thes

Grouping is a widespread form of predator defence, with individuals in groups often performing evasive collective movements in response to attack by predators. Individuals in these groups use behavioural rules to coordinate their movements, with visual cues about neighbours' positions and orientations often informing movement decisions. Although the exact visual cues individuals use to coordinate

PURPOSE: To evaluate the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect of laser trabeculoplasty (LTP) in eyes which IOP had been substantially reduced by intensive topical treatment for one week.METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed open-angle glaucoma were randomized to treatment with three IOP-lowering substances. One week later, 360° argon or selective LTP was performed. IOP was measured before L

We have performed an exclusive measurement of the K-+He3→Λpn reaction at an incident kaon momentum of 1GeV/c. In the Λp invariant mass spectrum, a clear peak was observed below the mass threshold of K̄+N+N, as a signal of the kaonic nuclear bound state, K̄NN. The binding energy, decay width, and S-wave Gaussian reaction form factor of this state were observed to be BK=42±3(stat.)-4+3(syst.)MeV, ΓK

Electron bunch compressors formed of achromat arcs have a natural advantage over the more commonly used chicane compressors in that linearization of the longitudinal phase space is of the correct sign to compensate for the curvature imprinted by rf acceleration. Here we extend the utility of arc compressors to enable variation of the longitudinal compaction within a fixed footprint. We also show t

Crystals, nanoparticles, and fibrils catalyze the generation of new aggregates on their surface from the same type of monomeric building blocks as the parent assemblies. This secondary nucleation process can be many orders of magnitude faster than primary nucleation. In the case of amyloid fibrils associated with Alzheimer's disease, this process leads to the multiplication and propagation of aggr

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its seventeen Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. It is a bold agenda for global social, environmental and economic development, with human health as a central theme. Even though substantial improvements in health have been achieved during the last decades, every year over 5 million children die,

Context. Several new multi-object spectrographs are currently planned or under construction that are capable of observing thousands of Galactic and extragalactic objects simultaneously. Aims. In this paper we present a probabilistic fibre-to-target assignment algorithm that takes spectrograph targeting constraints into account and is capable of dealing with multiple concurrent surveys. We present

Background: Imbalances in the gut microbial community (dysbiosis) of vertebrates have been associated with several gastrointestinal and autoimmune diseases. However, it is unclear which taxa are associated with gut dysbiosis, and if particular gut regions or specific time periods during ontogeny are more susceptible. We also know very little of this process in non-model organisms, despite an incre

Recent studies have shown that magnetic fields in the solar corona are strong enough to significantly mix the two 3p43d 4D5/2,7/2 levels in Cl-like Fe X. This mixing gives rise to a magnetically induced transition (MIT) component in the bright Fe X 257.3 Å line, commonly observed by current instrumentation, that can be used for coronal magnetic field diagnostics. This line, commonly observed by th

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of disabilities and mortality worldwide, with higher prevalence in offender populations than in the general population. Previous research has strongly advocated increased awareness of TBI in offender populations. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence and characteristics of TBI, and to investigate associations and interactions

Background: Postnatal insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) replacement with recombinant human (rh)IGF-1 and IGF binding protein-3 (rhIGF-1/rhIGFBP-3) is being studied as a potential treatment to reduce comorbidities of prematurity. We have recently reported on a phase II, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial comparing postnatal rhIGF-1/rhIGFBP-3 replacement with standard of care (SOC) in extr

The Eurasian (née European) Modern Pollen Database (EMPD) was established in 2013 to provide a public database of high-quality modern pollen surface samples to help support studies of past climate, land cover, and land use using fossil pollen. The EMPD is part of, and complementary to, the European Pollen Database (EPD) which contains data on fossil pollen found in Late Quaternary sedimentary arch

Antimicrobial peptides are important players of the innate host defence against invading microorganisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of airway antimicrobial peptides against the common cystic fibrosis (CF) pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and to compare it to the emerging multi-drug resistant CF pathogens Achromobacter xylosoxidans and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Clinical