[Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) : A retrospective study of changes in pain, psychometric variables, and analgesic consumption during inpatient interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMPT)]. / Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) bei Patienten mit Fibromyalgiesyndrom (FMS) : Retrospektive Untersuchung zu Veränderungen von Schmerz, psychometrischen Variablen und Analgetikaverbrauch im Verlauf einer interdisziplinären multimodalen stationären Schmerztherapie (IMST).

BACKGROUND: Since March 1, 2017, medical cannabis (MC) can be prescribed nationwide in Germany. To date, there have been a number of qualitatively different studies on the effectiveness of MC in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of THC in the course of interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy (IMPT) on pain and several psychometric variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the study, in the period 2017-2018, all patients in the pain ward of a clinic who were suffering from FMS and were treated in a multimodal interdisciplinary setting were selected based on inclusion criteria. The patients were examined separately according to groups with and without THC about pain intensity, various psychometric parameters and analgesic consumption during the stay. RESULTS: Of the 120 FMS patients included in the study, 62 patients (51.7%) were treated with THC. In the parameters of pain intensity, depression, and quality of life, there was a significant improvement in the entire group during the stay (p < 0.001), which was significantly greater through the use of THC. In five of the seven analgesic groups examined, the dose was reduced or the drug discontinued significantly more often in the patients treated with THC. CONCLUSION: The results provide indications that THC can be considered as a medical alternative in addition to the substances previously recommended in various guidelines.

The Collaborative Cross-Mouse Population for Studying Genetic Determinants Underlying Alveolar Bone Loss Due to Polymicrobial Synergy and Dysbiosis.

Dysbiosis of oral microbiota is associated with the initiation and progression of periodontitis. The cause-and-effect relationship between genetics, periodontitis, and oral microbiome dysbiosis is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate the power of the collaborative cross (CC) mice model to assess the effect of the genetic background on microbiome diversity shifts during periodontal infection and host suitability status. We examined the bacterial composition in plaque samples from seven different CC lines using 16s rRNA sequencing before and during periodontal infection. The susceptibility/resistance of the CC lines to alveolar bone loss was determined using the micro-CT technique. A total of 53 samples (7 lines) were collected before and after oral infection using oral swaps followed by DNA extraction and 16 s rRNA sequencing analysis. CC lines showed a significant variation in response to the co-infection (p < 0.05). Microbiome compositions were significantly different before and after infection and between resistant and susceptible lines to periodontitis (p < 0.05). Gram-positive taxa were significantly higher at the resistant lines compared to susceptible lines (p < 0.05). Gram-positive bacteria were reduced after infection, and gram-negative bacteria, specifically anaerobic groups, increased after infection. Our results demonstrate the utility of the CC mice in exploring the interrelationship between genetic background, microbiome composition, and periodontitis.

Methotrexate significantly reduces the humoral vaccination response against SARS-CoV-2 in older but not younger patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

To assess the humoral response to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate (MTX). In total, 142 fully vaccinated individuals were included at 6 ± 1 weeks after their second vaccination [BioNTech/Pfizer (70.4%), AstraZeneca (20.4%), and Moderna (9.2%)]. The primary goal was to assess the humoral immune response as measured by titres of neutralising antibodies against the S1 antigen of SARS-CoV-2. In a cross-sectional, single-centre study, titres were compared between patient subgroups with (n = 80) and without (n = 62) methotrexate exposure. MTX patients showed a significantly reduced humoral response to vaccination in the oldest patient subgroup (> 70 years: P = 0.038), whereas titres of neutralising antibodies were not significantly different between MTX and non-MTX patients in patients less than 70 years of age (< 56 years: P = 0.234; 56-70 years: P = 0.446). In patients > 70 years, non-MTX patients showed a maximum immune response in 76.5% of cases, whereas this percentage was reduced to 53.7% in study participants on MTX medication (effect size d = 0.21). Older age in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in combination with methotrexate results in a significantly reduced humoral response after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Our data underline the importance of age regarding the humoral response and may support the temporary cessation of methotrexate, particularly in elderly patients in the context of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.

Only partial improvement in health-related quality of life after treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection with direct acting antivirals in a real-world setting-results from the German Hepatitis C-Registry (DHC-R).

Improvement of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is frequently reported as a benefit when treating hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) with direct acting antivirals (DAA). As most of the available data were obtained from clinical trials, limited generalizability to the real-world population might exist. This study aimed to investigate the impact of DAA therapy on changes in HRQoL in a real-world setting. HRQoL of 1180 participants of the German Hepatitis C-Registry was assessed by Short-Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaires. Scores at post-treatment weeks 12-24 (FU12/24) were compared to baseline (BL). Changes of ≥2.5 in mental and physical component summary scores (MCS and PCS) were defined as a minimal clinical important difference (MCID). Potential predictors of HRQoL changes were analysed. Overall, a statistically significant increase in HRQoL after DAA therapy was observed, that was robust among various subgroups. However, roughly half of all patients failed to achieve a clinically important improvement in MCS and PCS. Low MCS (p < .001, OR = 0.925) and PCS (p < .001, OR = 0.899) BL levels were identified as predictors for achieving a clinically important improvement. In contrast, presence of fatigue (p = .023, OR = 1.518), increased GPT levels (p = .005, OR = 0.626) and RBV containing therapy regimens (p = .001, OR = 1.692) were associated with a clinically important decline in HRQoL after DAA therapy. In conclusion, DAA treatment is associated with an overall increase of HRQoL in HCV-infected patients. Nevertheless, roughly half of the patients fail to achieve a clinically important improvement. Especially patients with a low HRQoL seem to benefit most from the modern therapeutic options.

Methotrexate does not increase the risk of liver fibrosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: assessment by ultrasound elastography (ARFI-MetRA study).

OBJECTIVES: Only limited data are available on the risk of liver fibrosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis on long-term methotrexate treatment. To assess the risk of liver fibrosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate, non-invasive, ultrasound-based elastography [acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging] was applied. METHODS: In total, 119 patients were assessed using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging between July 2018 and April 2019. In a cross-sectional, single-centre study design, ARFI scores were compared between patient subgroups with (n = 65) and without (n = 54) methotrexate exposure. The main outcome variable was the mean fibrosis score as measured by the ARFI method. The mean shear wave velocity was calculated from 10 valid ARFI measurements for each patient. Inferential statistical analyses (between group) were performed using ANOVA for independent samples in the case of continuous outcome variables. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients with and fifty-four patients without MTX exposure were assessed using the ARFI elastography method. Participating patients on MTX medication (1.113 m/s) showed ARFI scores that were comparable to those of participants without MTX exposure (1.062 m/s); P = 0.228. The mean cumulative dose in the group of MTX-exposed patients was 3602 mg. CONCLUSION: The mean value of the repeated determination of liver density using ARFI imaging did not differ significantly between the MTX-exposed and MTX-naive patients with RA. No increased rate of liver fibrosis was found among RA patients treated with MTX.

Secreted frizzled-related protein 5 serum levels in human periodontitis-A nested case-control study.

AIM: Recombinant secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (sFRP5) improved periodontal status in mice. Thus, this study aimed to investigate this finding in human periodontitis using an epidemiological approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: sFRP5 and wnt5a concentrations were determined in human serum from the Food Chain Plus cohort using ELISAs. A total of 128 patients with periodontitis and tooth loss and 245 patients with periodontitis without tooth loss were compared to 373 sex-, smoker-, age- and BMI-matched individuals in a nested case-control design. RESULTS: Systemic sFRP5 serum levels were significantly lower in patients with periodontitis and tooth loss (2.5 [0.0-10.4] ng/ml, median [IQR]) compared to patients with periodontitis without tooth loss (6.0 [2.5-15.8] ng/ml, median [IQR], p = 0.04] and matched controls (7.0 [2.5-18.3] ng/ml, median [IQR], p = 0.02). No significant differences in sFRP5 serum levels were found among patients with periodontitis without tooth loss (6.0 [2.5-15.8] ng/ml, median [IQR]) and controls (3.1 [0.0-10.6] ng/ml, median [IQR], p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: sFRP5 might serve as a novel biomarker for periodontitis severity. Modulating the inflammatory background of severe forms of periodontitis, in the time of precision medicine, needs to be revealed in further studies.

Calcium-Induced Molecular Rearrangement of Peptide Folds Enables Biomineralization of Vaterite Calcium Carbonate.

Proteins can control mineralization of CaCO3 by selectively triggering the growth of calcite, aragonite or vaterite phases. The templating of CaCO3 by proteins must occur predominantly at the protein/CaCO3 interface, yet molecular-level insights into the interface during active mineralization have been lacking. Here, we investigate the role of peptide folding and structural flexibility on the mineralization of CaCO3. We study two amphiphilic peptides based on glutamic acid and leucine with ß-sheet and α-helical structures. Though both sequences lead to vaterite structures, the ß-sheets yield free-standing vaterite nanosheet with superior stability and purity. Surface-spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations reveal that reciprocal structuring of calcium ions and peptides lead to the effective synthesis of vaterite by mimicry of the (001) crystal plane.

Improvement of neurocognitive function in responders to an antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

UNLABELLED: Earlier studies have suggested neurocognitive impairment in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection even before liver cirrhosis has developed. Since these deficits might be reversible after successful antiviral therapy, we analyzed the long-term course of neurocognitive parameters in HCV patients with and without successful virus elimination by an interferon-based antiviral treatment. In a multicenter study including 168 HCV patients receiving antiviral therapy (peginterferon alpha-2b and ribavirin) we performed a long-term follow-up of neurocognitive performance before and after treatment. Neurocognitive function was psychometrically assessed using the computer-aided TAP (Test Battery of Attentional Performance). When tested at least 12 months after termination of antiviral treatment, patients with sustained virologic response (SVR) had improved significantly as compared to their pretreatment performance in three of five TAP subtasks (vigilance, P < 0.001; shared attention: optical task, P < 0.001; working memory, P < 0.001). Patients who failed to eradicate the virus, however, showed no significant long-term changes in neurocognitive performance in all five subtasks assessed (0.194 < P < 0.804). In the posttreatment evaluation, neurocognitive function was significantly better in responders to the antiviral therapy as compared to nonresponders. CONCLUSION: Successful eradication of HCV leads to a significant improvement of relevant aspects of attentional and neurocognitive performance, indicating that the neurocognitive impairment caused by chronic HCV infection is potentially reversible. This therefore suggests an added therapeutic benefit of antiviral treatment in HCV infection. Improvement of neurocognitive function may be an additional treatment indication in patients with HCV. (HEPATOLOGY 2013;58:497-504).

Longitudinal assessment of liver stiffness using ARFI technique does not support increased risk of fibrosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients on methotrexate.

AIMS: To assess the liver stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with methotrexate monotherapy using non-invasive, ultrasound-based elastography (acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging) in a longitudinal approach. METHODS: In total, 23 MTX-naive patients were longitudinally assessed using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging. Baseline assessments were carried out between July 2018 and April 2019, and the follow-up evaluations took place after an average of 2.6 years. The main outcome variable was the mean shear wave velocity as measured by the ARFI method. It was calculated from 10 valid ARFI measurements for each patient. Inferential statistical analyses (within-group comparisons) were performed using t-tests for dependent samples or suitable nonparametric procedures. RESULTS: The main finding was that observed ARFI shear wave velocities did not increase during the observation period. In fact, this parameter decreased over time from 1.07 m/s (SD = 0.23) at baseline without MTX exposure to 0.97 m/s (SD = 0.16) at follow-up after a mean of 2.6 years (P = 0.013). Moreover, the magnitude of the change in shear wave velocity could not be predicted by indicators of inflammation or disease activity, BMI, age, sex or NSAR intake (corresponding regression analysis: corrected R2 = 0.344; P = 0.296). CONCLUSIONS: No increased risk of liver fibrosis was found in RA patients treated with MTX monotherapy during observation period.

TNF inhibitors significantly attenuate the humoral immune response to COVID-19 vaccination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Several studies on the immunogenicity of vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases have evaluated the influence of DMARDs. The aim of the work presented here was to compare the humoral vaccine response after two vaccinations between patients with RA undergoing TNF inhibitor therapy and healthy controls. Methods: We assessed the humoral immune response, as measured by titres of neutralizing antibodies against the S1 antigen of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), in patients with RA and anti-TNF treatment vs. controls without immunomodulatory medication. One hundred and seven fully vaccinated individuals were included at 6 ± 1 weeks after the second vaccination [BioNTech/Pfizer (72.9%), AstraZeneca (17.8%) and Moderna (9.3%)]. Immune responses in terms of antibody titres were compared between both subgroups with (n = 45) and without (n = 62) exposure to anti-TNF medication. The comparison was performed as a cross-sectional, single-centre study approach using non-parametric tests for central tendency. Results: Anti-TNF medication produced a significantly impaired humoral immune response to vaccination against COVID-19. The maximum immune response was detected in 77.4% of control patients, whereas this decreased to 62.2% in participants treated with TNF inhibitors (P = 0.045; effect size, d = 0.194). Patients on combination treatment (anti-TNF medication and MTX, 17 of 45 subjects in the treatment group) did not differ significantly regarding humoral immune response compared with patients on monotherapy with TNF inhibitors only (P = 0.214). Conclusion: TNF inhibitors significantly reduce the humoral response following dual vaccination against COVID-19 in patients with RA.

Vaccination survey in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the vaccination status in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients during routine clinical practice, data from a German non-interventional cross-sectional study. In this prospective study, patients with rheumatoid arthritis were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire focusing on vaccination. Available vaccination documents were evaluated, and titers for common vaccination antigens (hepatitis B, rubella, mumps, measles, diphtheria, tetanus) were analyzed with special regard to the underlying treatment and age of patients. A total of 301 RA patients treated with conventional DMARDs alone (cohort I, n = 125), TNF-blocking agents (cohort II, n = 117), or B-cell depletion with rituximab (cohort III, n = 59) have been studied. Significantly more patients in the biologic cohorts II and III were aware of an increased risk of infections (I: 67.7%, II: 83.8%*, III: 89.9%*, P < 0.05). Pneumococcal vaccination rate was significantly higher (I: 20.2%, II 36.8%* and III: 39.0%*, P < 0.05) compared with cohort I. Differences were less evident for influenza. Significantly more patients ≥60 years of age have been vaccinated against Streptococcus pneumoniae and influenza. An obvious discrepancy existed between vaccination awareness and actual vaccination rates for all cohorts. No significant differences in vaccination titers could be seen between the three cohorts. Awareness of infectious complications was more present in patients treated with biologicals, and also, the rate of patients vaccinated against Streptococcus pneumoniae increased significantly depending on the underlying treatment. Nevertheless, there was a discrepancy between vaccination awareness and actual vaccination rates for all cohorts.

Genome-wide association study identifies a new locus for coronary artery disease on chromosome 10p11.23.

AIMS: Recent genome-wide association (GWA) studies identified 10 chromosomal loci for coronary artery disease (CAD) or myocardial infarction (MI). However, these loci explain only a small proportion of the genetic variability of these pertinent diseases. We sought to identify additional CAD/MI loci by applying a three-stage approach. METHODS AND RESULTS: We genotyped n = 1157 MI cases and n = 1748 controls from a population-based study population [German MI Family Study (GerMIFS) III (KORA)] with genome-wide SNP arrays. At this first stage, n = 462 SNPs showed association with MI at P<1 × 10(-3) in two-sided logistic regression. In a second stage, 415 of these SNPs were evaluated in silico in two independent GWA samples, the GerMIFS I (875 cases/1644 controls) and GerMIFS II (1222 cases/1298 controls). Nine SNPs, representing three regions, displayed consistent replication in this in silico analysis (P<0.05 for each GWA sample): five SNPs at 9p21.3, a well-known CAD/MI locus, two SNPs at 10p11.21, and two SNPs at 2p24.3. Wet-lab replication, i.e. the third stage, of SNP rs3739998 (representing the novel locus at 10p11.21, p.S1002T in the KIAA1462 gene) in additional 5790 cases and 5302 controls confirmed the association (P=9.54 × 10(-4)), but not for the 2p24.3 locus. The combined P-value across all stages for SNP rs3739998 is P=1.27 × 10(-11) [odds ratio (OR) = 1.15 (1.11-1.20)]. CONCLUSION: Analysis of a GWA study followed by in silico and wet-lab replication steps identified the KIAA1462 gene, encoding a yet uncharacterized protein, on chromosome 10p11.23 with genome-wide significant association for CAD/MI. Further studies are needed to characterize the functional role of this locus in the aetiology of these diseases.

Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors significantly reduce the humoral vaccination response against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: Recently, a number of studies have explored the possible attenuation of the immune response by disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Our study objective was to investigate the presumed attenuated humoral response to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with RA treated with Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors with or without methotrexate (MTX). The immune responses were compared with controls without RA. METHOD: The humoral vaccination response was evaluated by determining titres of neutralising antibodies against the S1 antigen of SARS-CoV-2. One hundred and thirteen fully vaccinated individuals were included at 6 ± 1 weeks after second vaccination (BioNTech/Pfizer (69.9%), AstraZeneca (21.2%), and Moderna (8.9%)). In a cross-sectional and single-centre study design, we compared titres of neutralising antibodies between patients with (n = 51) and without (n = 62) medication with JAK inhibitors. RESULTS: Treatment with JAK inhibitors led to a significantly reduced humoral response to vaccination (P = 0.004). A maximum immune response was seen in 77.4% of control patients, whereas this percentage was reduced to 54.9% in study participants on medication with JAK inhibitors (effect size d = 0.270). Further subanalyses revealed that patients on combination treatment (JAK inhibitors and MTX, 9 of 51 subjects) demonstrated an even significantly impaired immune response as compared to patients on monotherapy with JAK inhibitors (P = 0.028; d = 0.267). CONCLUSIONS: JAK inhibitors significantly reduce the humoral response following dual vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. The combination with MTX causes an additional, significant reduction in neutralising IgG titres. Our data suggest cessation of JAK inhibitors in patients with RA in the context of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Key Points • It was shown that DMARD therapy with JAK inhibitors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis leads to an attenuation of the humoral vaccination response against SARS-CoV-2. • The effect under medication with JAK inhibitors was significant compared to the control group and overall moderate. • The combination of JAK inhibitors with MTX led to an additive and significant attenuation of the humoral response.

Platelet serotonin (5-HT) levels in interferon-treated patients with hepatitis C and its possible association with interferon-induced depression.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Interferon-associated depression is a frequent side effect of antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C. The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between platelet serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) concentrations and IFN-induced depression. METHODS: The study represents a secondary analysis of a previously published trial on the efficacy of SSRI medication in HCV patients on IFN therapy. Ninety-three patients were longitudinally assessed for depression and platelet serotonin. Evaluation time points were: prior to IFN therapy, at weeks 4, 12, and 24 of IFN treatment, and 4 weeks after antiviral treatment. Depression was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Platelet serotonin concentrations were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Platelet serotonin concentrations were significantly decreased during interferon therapy (p=0.001) in 74 of the 93 patients (79.6%). Clinically relevant depression occurred in 33.3% of patients - however, IFN-induced depression was not significantly linked to either baseline 5-HT concentrations or kinetics. In the subgroup of patients with IFN-induced depression who received the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram (20 mg daily, n=17), serotonin levels declined further during anti-depressant medication, becoming statistically significant within the first 2 weeks (p<0.001) of SSRI treatment. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate a significant impact of IFN and SSRI intake on platelet serotonin levels, suggesting a biochemical analogy between 5-HT metabolism in blood platelets and the CNS. Platelet 5-HT levels might serve as a surrogate marker for patient adherence to antiviral and anti-depressant medication. For the prediction of IFN-induced depression, however, platelet 5-HT measurements are not suitable.

Translation of mouse model to human gives insights into periodontitis etiology.

To suggest candidate genes involved in periodontitis, we combined gene expression data of periodontal biopsies from Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse lines, with previous reported quantitative trait loci (QTL) in mouse and with human genome-wide association studies (GWAS) associated with periodontitis. Periodontal samples from two susceptible, two resistant and two lines that showed bone formation after periodontal infection were collected during infection and naïve status. Differential expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed in a case-control and case-only design. After infection, eleven protein-coding genes were significantly stronger expressed in resistant CC lines compared to susceptible ones. Of these, the most upregulated genes were MMP20 (P = 0.001), RSPO4 (P = 0.032), CALB1 (P = 1.06×10-4), and AMTN (P = 0.05). In addition, human orthologous of candidate genes were tested for their association in a case-controls samples of aggressive (AgP) and chronic (CP) periodontitis (5,095 cases, 9,908 controls). In this analysis, variants at two loci, TTLL11/PTGS1 (rs9695213, P = 5.77×10-5) and RNASE2 (rs2771342, P = 2.84×10-5) suggested association with both AgP and CP. In the association analysis with AgP only, the most significant associations were located at the HLA loci HLA-DQH1 (rs9271850, P = 2.52×10-14) and HLA-DPA1 (rs17214512, P = 5.14×10-5). This study demonstrates the utility of the CC RIL populations as a suitable model to investigate the mechanism of periodontal disease.

Peptide-Controlled Assembly of Macroscopic Calcium Oxalate Nanosheets.

The fabrication of two-dimensional (2D) biomineral nanosheets is of high interest owing to their promise for applications in electronics, filtration, catalysis, and chemical sensing. Using a facile approach inspired by biomineralization in nature, we fabricate laterally macroscopic calcium oxalate nanosheets using ß-folded peptides. The template peptides are composed of repetitive glutamic acid and leucine amino acids, self-organized at the air-water interface. Surface-specific sum frequency generation spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the formation of oxalate nanosheets relies on the peptide-Ca2+ ion interaction at the interface, which not only restructures the peptides but also templates Ca2+ ions into a calcium oxalate dihydrate lattice. Combined, this enables the formation of a critical structural intermediate in the assembly pathway toward the oxalate sheet formation. These insights into peptide-ion interfacial interaction are important for designing novel inorganic 2D materials.

Atomic force microscopy study of thick lamellar stacks of phospholipid bilayers.

We report an atomic force microscopy (AFM) study on thick multilamellar stacks of approximately 10 microm thickness (about 1500 stacked membranes) of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phoshatidylcholine deposited on silicon wafers. These thick stacks could be stabilized for measurements under excess water or solution. From the force curves we determine the compressional modulus B and the rupture force F(r) of the bilayers in the gel (ripple), in the fluid phase, and in the range of critical swelling close to the main transition. We observe pronounced ripples on the top layer in the P beta' (ripple) phase and find an increasing ripple period Lambda(r) when approaching the temperature of the main phase transition into the fluid L alpha phase at about 24 degrees C . Metastable ripples with 2 Lambda(r) are observed. Lambda(r) also increases with increasing osmotic pressure, i.e., for different concentrations of polyethylene glycol.

Roles of the Chr.9p21.3 ANRIL Locus in Regulating Inflammation and Implications for Anti-Inflammatory Drug Target Identification.

Periodontitis (PD) is a common gingival infectious disease caused by an over-aggressive inflammatory reaction to dysbiosis of the oral microbiome. The disease induces a profound systemic inflammatory host response, that triggers endothelial dysfunction and pro-thrombosis and thus may aggravate atherosclerotic vascular disease and its clinical complications. Recently, a risk haplotype at the ANRIL/CDKN2B-AS1 locus on chromosome 9p21.3, that is not only associated with coronary artery disease / myocardial infarction (CAD/MI) but also with PD, could be identified by genome-wide association studies. The locus encodes ANRIL - a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) which, like other lncRNAs, regulates genome methylation via interacting with specific DNA sequences and proteins, such as DNA methyltranferases and polycomb proteins, thereby affecting expression of multiple genes by cis and trans mechanisms. Here, we describe ANRIL regulated genes and metabolic pathways and discuss implications of the findings for target identification of drugs with potentially anti-inflammatory activity in general.