Activity of LET-23, the C. elegans homolog of the epidermal growth factor receptor, is required in multiple tissues. RAS activation is necessary and sufficient for certain LET-23 functions. We show that an inositol trisphosphate receptor can act as a RAS-independent, tissue-specific positive effector of LET-23. Moreover, an inositol trisphosphate kinase negatively regulates this transduction pa...

Recent studies show that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is involved in immune responses. AhR is activated following interaction with its ligands, such as 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) and 2-(1'H-indole-3'-carbonyl)-thiazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (ITE). In this study, we investigated the role of AhR activation by its endogenous ligands in the pathogenesis of ocular Behcet's...

BACKGROUND The human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 gene is considered to be a major gene associated with predisposition to ankylosing spondylitis (AS); however, studies have demonstrated that non-HLA-B27 genes also contribute substantially to the susceptibility to AS. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs1004819 and rs10889677, of the interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R) gene have been shown...

Interleukin 23 receptor (IL23R) gene has been reported as a genetic factor strongly associated with inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis. We investigated the association between IL23R gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and susceptibility to sarcoidosis, including the clinical manifestation of uveitis. Ninety-one sarcoidosis subjects (58 with and 33 without ...

The SNP (rs11209026, Arg381Gln, R381Q) in the IL-23 receptor (IL23R) confers protection against multiple inflammatory diseases, representing one of the most significant human genetic polymorphisms in inflammatory diseases. We, therefore, investigated the association between IL-23 R R381Q gene polymorphism and asthma. This case-control study was performed on 209 patients, and 200 healthy control...

Three papers in the Journal this month examine the impact on service use of particular service developments and patient/illness characteristics. Williams et al (pp. 480–485) compared patterns of service use, including hospital admission rates, before and after the introduction of a triage admission system in one large innercity mental health organisation. Overall, little difference was found be...

Several papers in the BJPsych this month address issues arising from the overlap or comorbidity between mental and physical ill health. In a UK sample of individuals with affective disorders, Forty et al (pp. 465–472) found significantly increased rates of several medical illnesses among those with bipolar and unipolar disorder compared with controls. Among those with affective disorder, migrai...