Native functional brain circuits show different numbers of synapses (synaptic densities) in the cerebral cortex. Until now, different synaptic densities could not be studied in vitro using current cell culture methods for primary neurons. Herein, we present a novel microfluidic based cell culture method that combines 3D micropatterning of hydrogel layers with linear chemical gradient formation....

OBJECTIVES ANTXR2 variants have been associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in two previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) (p∼9×10(-8)). However, a genome-wide significant association (p<5×10(-8)) was not observed. We conducted a more comprehensive analysis of ANTXR2 in an independent UK sample to confirm and refine this association. METHODS A replication study was carried out wi...

We have previously produced lines of rats transgenic for HLA-B27 and human beta 2-microglobulin (h beta 2m) that develop a progressive inflammatory disease sharing many clinical and histologic features with the B27-associated human spondyloarthropathies, including gut and male genital inflammation, arthritis, and psoriasiform skin lesions. Other transgenic lines that express lower levels of B27...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the nature of osteopenia/osteoporosis in spondyloarthropathy, an inflammatory disorder, using the HLA-B27 transgenic rat model. METHODS HLA-B27 transgenic rats were housed individually and sacrificed at the peak of their disease (8-month-old). The spine and femurs were removed and stored in saline at -20 degrees C until analysis. The bone structure and strength were d...

1.1 What is it? Juvenile SpA-ERA constitutes a group of chronic inflammatory diseases of the joints (arthritis), as well as tendon and ligament attachments to certain bones (enthesitis) and affects predominantly the lower limbs and in some cases the pelvic and spinal joints (sacroiliitis buttock pain and spondylitis back pain). Juvenile SpA-ERA is significantly more common in people that have a...

1.1 What is it? Juvenile SpA-ERA constitutes a group of chronic inflammatory diseases of the joints (arthritis), as well as tendon and ligament attachments to certain bones (enthesitis) and affects predominantly the lower limbs and in some cases the pelvic and spinal joints (sacroiliitis buttock pain and spondylitis back pain). Juvenile SpA-ERA is significantly more common in people that have a...

The cytokine secretion of the Salmonella-permissive, HLA-B27-positive U937 cells was examined, as it was previously shown that these cells kill Salmonella less efficiently than controls. Salmonella-permissive U937 cells showed upregulated production of interleukin 10 and to a lesser extent tumor necrosis factor alpha. HLA-B27-associated modulation of cytokine responses may have importance in th...

UNLABELLED Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a heterogeneous condition and therapeutic strategies vary in different JIA types. The routinely accepted practice to start with Sulphasalazine (SS) as the first line treatment in patients with HLA B27 positive JIA proves to be ineffective in a large proportion of children. OBJECTIVE to investigate HLA B27 positive JIA patients clinical charact...