1.

Comparison of tocilizumab monotherapy versus methotrexate monotherapy in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis : the AMBITION study.

In the global clinical study the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab were compared to methotrexate. In a 24 week period with 673 patients, taking tocilizumab 8mg/kg of body weight every 4 weeks or methotrexte in increasing doses from starting 7.5 mg weekly to 20 mg weekly. Tocilizumab was more efficacious than methotrexate. The side effects were comparable with the exception of neutropenia and higher concentrations of total cholesterol in patients using tocilizumab and higher values of transaminases in patients on methotrexate.

COBISS.SI-ID: 27277017

2.

Expression and activity profiling of cysteine cathepsins and matrix metalloproteinases in synovial fluids from rheumatoid arthritic patients

Cysteine cathepsins B and S and matrix metalloproteases-1, -3 and -13 are detected in patient synovial fluid samples with significantly higher levels detected in rheumatoid arthritis patients. These results suggest that cysteine cathepsins have a major role in inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. Interleukin-6 was also detected at significant levels in most samples, suggesting that proinflammatory cytokines might be involved in the stimulation of expression of these proteases during inflammation.

COBISS.SI-ID: 23546151

3.

Interaction between equally charged membrane surfaces mediated by positively and negatively charged macro-ions.

In biological systems, charged membrane surfaces are surrounded by charged molecules. The attractive interactions between negatively charged membrane surfaces in the presence of negatively and positively charged spherical macro-ions are explained using functional density theory and Monte Carlo simulations. It is also shown that the distinctive spatial distribution of the charge within the macro-ions (proteins) is essential in this process.

COBISS.SI-ID: 7871060

4.

Alteration of antibody specificity during isolation and storage

The chemical characteristics of isolation buffers and storage conditions could greatly effect the conformation of natural antibodies. This is especially true important when oxidation studies are further performed on antibodies.

COBISS.SI-ID: 26457305

5.

Serum Amyloid A (SAA) and its potential physiological/pathological functions - an overview of patents.

SAA is one of the highest positively responsive acute phase proteins in humans, as well as animals, and its levels have been used to monitor diseases, treatment strategies and predict outcomes. The major aims of this overview were to determine the potential for SAA as a diagnostic tool and to critically analyze patents proposing SAA measurement methodologies, in order to determine the most optimal.

COBISS.SI-ID: 27047129