Liver involvement in patients with polymyositis (PM)/DM has not been well described and is considered to be GNS-1480 purchase uncommon. Full clarification of the etiology of liver impairment with a histological examination in collagen diseases including PM/DM is useful to determine the proper dose of corticosteroids for the treatment of collagen diseases and their liver complications.”
“Biodegradable nanoscale-reinforced starch-based products were prepared from an in situ chemically modified thermoplastic starch and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) through reactive processing. Natural montmorillonite (hydrophilic Cloisite Na) and organophilic

Cloisite 30B were studied. In situ chemically modified thermoplastic starch (MTPS) was first prepared starting from (nano) clay (previously swollen in glycerol as plasticizer), and maleic anhydride (MA) as an esterification agent. Then, these nanoscale-reinforced MTPS was reactively melt-blended with PBAT through transesterification reactions promoted by MA-derived acidic moieties grafted KU-57788 order onto the starch backbone. The tensile and barrier

properties of resulting (nano) composites were studied. High-performance formulations with superior tensile strength (>35 MPa as compared with 16 MPa for the PBAT-g-MTPS copolymer) and break elongation (>800%) were obtained, particularly with Cloisite30B. Better water vapor and oxygen barrier properties

of nanoscale-reinforced MTPS-g-PBAT were achieved rather than the PRECURSORS. Wide angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electronic microscopy Selleckchem BI6727 analyses show that partial exfoliation of the clay platelets was observed within the PBAT-g-MTPS graft copolymer-Cloisite 30B nanocomposite. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 122: 639-647, 2011″
“Spontaneous pneumomediastinum has been described in patients with dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (Korkmaz et al., Rheumatology 40:476-478, 2001; Maruoka et al., Mod Rheumatol 16:55-57, 2006; Kono et al., Ann Rheum Dis 59:372-376, 2000; Neves et al., Clin Rheumatol 26:105-107, 2007). Literature reviews suggest that this complication has a mortality of between 27% and 41% ( Kono et al., Ann Rheum Dis 59:372-376, 2000; Neves et al., Clin Rheumatol 26:105-107, 2007; Goff et al., Arthritis Rheum 61:108-118, 2009). This is the first report of rituximab being used successfully as part of the treatment for DM complicated by pneumomediastinum.”
“Three dimensional (3D) magnetic flux concentrators (FC) based on 7000-angstrom-thick Co86Zr5Nb9 films were optimized for increased sensitivity in hybrid flux guide-magnetoresistive sensor structures.