Summary: MR-DWI and endoscopy data were prospectively collected t

Summary: MR-DWI and endoscopy data were prospectively collected throughout IFX treatment. Altogether, 86 lesions from 13 patients given IFX as induction (weeks 0, 2 and 6) and maintenance (5 mg/kg every 8 weeks beginning at week 14) therapy were analyzed with MR-DWI for 0.5-1.5 years from the starting point. Mucosal findings were confirmed by endoscopy at 1 and 3 years (gold standard). Of the 86 lesions, 65 were graded ’0′ and 21 were graded ’1′ based on their hyperintensity (HI; or lack thereof) on MR-DWI. Two Fludarabine cell line years after the first evaluation, 7 of 15 false-negative lesions had turned positive

based on colonoscopy findings, and 60 of 62 true-negative lesions had not. Thus, 0.03% of those predicted to remain in remission had relapsed (negative predictive value 0.9677, p < 0.0001). MR-DWI-HI at 1 year coincided with the presence of endoscopic inflammation, with sensitivity of 66.67%, specificity of 80.52%, and an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.7359 (0.5479-0.9240, p = 0.0211). The AUC value

of MR-DWI-HI at 3 years was 0.8402 (0.7460-0.9343, p = 0.001) with sensitivity of 94.12% and specificity of 73.91%. Key Message: A definition of the response on the basis of MR-DWI-HI might be helpful for optimizing treatment for patients with CD under treatment with IFX. (C) 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“The posterolateral corner (PLC) is more likely to be injured in combination with the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) or the anterior cruciate ligament than in SHP099 Others inhibitor isolation. This leads to instability of the knee and loss of function. We hypothesised that combined PCL and PLC reconstruction would restore sufficient stability to allow improvement

in patient symptoms and function.\n\n19 patients who underwent arthroscopic-assisted single-bundle PCL and PLC reconstruction by a single surgeon were analysed retrospectively. The PLC reconstruction was a modified Larson reconstruction of the lateral collateral ligament and the popliteofibular ligament.\n\nThe IKDC and Tegner scores were used to assess outcome. Dial test and varus laxity were used to assess improvements in clinical laxity. Posterior laxity was tested using the KT-1000.\n\nThe mean follow-up was 38 months (+/-(2x standard deviations), Selleck Torin 1 +/- 12.3). There were no postoperative complications. All patients had less than 5 mm posterior step-off. 17 of 19 patients had negative dial and varus stress tests. Measured range of motion was reduced by a mean of 10A degrees, but patients did not report any daily activities restrictions. Tegner scores improved from a median pre-operative value of 2 (range 1-4) to 6 (4-9) at final follow-up. The mean postoperative IKDC score was 86 (+/- 11).\n\nSubjectively, the knee stability achieved allowed daily activities.

The intervention programme consisted of evaluating an individual’

The intervention programme consisted of evaluating an individual’s stage of change after being provided dietary information regarding kind of food and portions, discussion with a role model, and keeping a food diary record. By the end of the intervention programme, most participants in the experimental group were in the action stage (n=36), whereas those in the control group were in the preparation stage (n=32). Body mass index, blood pressure, food consumption behaviour and the 2h postprandial buy MI-503 blood glucose (PPG) in the experimental group had improved (P smaller than 0.05). When performing regression analysis, intervention participation and the 2h PPG at the baseline accounted

for approximately 54% of total variance in predicting the 2h PPG. This study yielded evidence for the benefits of using the Stages of Change Model as a framework in a dietary modification programme among people at risk of type 2 diabetes.”
“We previously previously reported that G protein alpha subunit 1 (GPA1) is essential for sexual reproduction in the homothallic ascomycete fungus Gibberella zeae. In this study we performed microarray analyses on a GPA1 deletion mutant of G. zeae (Delta gpa1) to identify genes involved in the sexual reproduction of this fungus. In the Delta gpa1 strain, 645 genes were BAY 57-1293 in vitro down-regulated

and 550 genes were up-regulated during sexual reproduction Selleck AZD6094 when compared to the wild-type strain. One hundred of the down-regulated genes were selected for further investigation based on orthologous group clusters and differences in transcript levels. Quantitative real time-PCR was used to determine transcriptional profiles of these genes at various sexual and vegetative stages. We observed that transcript levels of 78 of these genes were dramatically increased in the wild-type strain during sexual reproduction compared

to levels observed during vegetative growth, and were down-regulated in Delta gpa1 compared to the wild-type strain. We deleted 57 of these genes and found that four of the deletion mutants lost self-fertility and five produced fewer perithecia compared to the wild-type strain. Two mutants produced wild-type numbers of perithecia, but maturation of perithecia and ascospores was delayed. In all we identified 11 genes that are involved in sexual reproduction of G. zeae and present evidence that some of these genes function at distinct stages during sexual reproduction in the fungus. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“The incidence of early death in a large population of unselected patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) remains unknown because of the paucity of outcome data available for patients treated outside of clinical trials. We undertook an epidemiologic study to estimate the true rate of early death with data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program.

Conclusion:

These results demonstrate that miR-221 an

\n\nConclusion:

These results demonstrate that miR-221 and miR-222 regulate radiosensitivity, and cell growth and invasion signaling pathway of SGC7901 cells, possibly via direct modulation of PTEN expression. Our study suggests that inhibition of miR-221 and miR-222 might form a novel therapeutic strategy for human gastric cancer.”
“We report a novel, scalable and inexpensive approach to fully disperse carbon nanotubes in silicone rubber by the addition of graphene. In comparison to graphene, the dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in silicone rubber matrix is extremely difficult although both of them possess similar physical structure. The different dispersion behavior of graphene and MWNTs could be contributed to the difference in their interaction with polymer matrix and their geometry. Based on SEM, TEM and XRD analysis, we find that the dispersion of MWNTs in silicone rubber is dramatically improved by the addition of graphene. Graphene acts as a compatilizer since it shows strong interaction with both polymer matrix and MWNTs. This method provides a simple route to enhance the dispersion of carbon nanotubes and improve the electrical property of the polymer composites. The synergic effect of the hybrid materials may not to be limited to the applications in polymer composites. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“We

present a case of a sclerosed hemangioma buy BVD-523 (SH) of the liver BMS345541 that showed a high apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value. The patient

was undergoing preoperative evaluation for a metastatic breast cancer lesion when a liver mass with a diameter of 3 cm was found. It was described as a heterogeneously hyperechoic mass on ultrasonography and as a well-defined, lobulated mass with early peripheral enhancement and internal heterogeneous enhancement in the delayed phase on computed tomography. The fat-suppressed T2-weighted images demonstrated a heterogeneously hyperintense mass, which showed an ADC value of 2.01 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s. Liver metastasis and cholangiocellular carcinoma could not be excluded based on the imaging findings. After surgery, a definite diagnosis of SH was obtained. Microscopically, many hyalinized portions with poor cellular and fibrous components were observed in the tumor, and this hyalinization accompanied with liquiform degeneration, which may have been one of the causes of the high ADC value. We discuss the diagnostic value of diffusion-weighted imaging for SH of the liver.”
“Stem cells, either neural [NSCs] or mesenchymal [MSCs], possess tremendous untapped potential for cell therapy. Unlike the NSCs, MSCs are multi-potent and they have high self-renewal capability and broad tissue distribution. Since they do not produce significant immune rejection on post-transplantation; they are better suited for cell-based therapies. However, several critical issues need to be addressed to maximize stem cell-derived therapeutic effects.

8%, 74 1%, 82 1%, respectively, and the exon 19 mutation rate of

8%, 74.1%, 82.1%, respectively, and the exon 19 mutation rate of 20.9%, 40.7%, 57.1%, respectively. Patients with EGFR mutations displayed a significantly higher

incidence of abnormal serum CEA levels ( bigger than 5 ng/mL) than patients without EGFR mutations (64.2% vs 38.7%). Conclusion: Elevated serum CEA RG7112 levels predict the presence of EGFR gene mutations in Chinese nonsmokers with pulmonary adenocarcinoma.”
“Aims and background. To evaluate the long-term outcome of patients with vestibular schwarmoma (VS) and neuroftbromatosis type 2 (NF2) treated with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) or stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Patients and methods. Sixteen VS in 14 patients with NF2 were treated with FSRT (n = 14) and SRS (n = 2). Patients with tumor progression and/or progression of clinical symptoms were selected for treatment. For patients treated with FSRT a median total dose of 57.6 Gy was prescribed with a selleck median fractionation of 5 x 1.8 Gy per week. For patients who underwent SRS a median single dose of 17 Gy was prescribed to the 80% isodose. Results. FSRT and SRS were well tolerated. Local control rate was 94% for a median follow-up time of 131 months; 2- and 5-year progression-free survival were 100%. The

probability of maintaining the pretreatment hearing level was 44%. Useful hearing preservation was 33%. Cranial nerve toxicity was moderate. Trigeminal nerve function Torin 2 in vivo worsened in 2 patients (12%)

and facial nerve function in 3 patients (19%). One patient developed a new tinnitus. Conclusion. FSRT and SRS are both safe and effective noninvasive and minimally invasive treatment options for patients with VS in the setting of NF2. The long-term local control rates are excellent. Functional hearing preservation is worse in patients with VS and NF2 than in patients with sporadic VS.”
“Introduction: In experimental pain research the effect of opioids is normally assessed by verbal subjective response to analgesia. However, as many confounders in pain assessment exist, objective bed-side assessment of the effect is highly warranted. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effect of morphine on three objective pharmacodynamic markers (pupil diameter, prolactin concentration and resting electroencephalography (EEG)) and compare the changes from placebo with subjective analgesia on experimental muscle pain for convergent validation. Methods: Fifteen healthy male participants received placebo or 30 mg rectal morphine at two separate sessions. At baseline and several time points after drug administration, the central effects of morphine were assessed by experimental muscle pain, pupil diameter, prolactin concentration and resting EEG. Results: Morphine increased tolerance to muscle pain, together with significant reductions in pupil diameter and increase in prolactin concentration (all P smaller than 0.001).

Further, there were more married male than female cat and dog own

Further, there were more married male than female cat and dog owners. This probably depends on traditional cultural thinking; the man is the owner LY2606368 inhibitor of the pet even if the woman lives with and cares about it. It is important

to point out that different groups in the population might select different pets. Consequently, the findings showing a correlation between pet ownership and health may be owing to unrelated confounding factors.”
“For application of biological air filters in manned spacecraft, research on bacterial growth is carried out under microgravity conditions. For the BIOFILTER experiment, 14 flown in 2005 on FOTON M2, eight turbidity sensors to measure the growth rate of the bacterium Xanthobacter autotrophicus GJ10 were used. Also thermal management provisions were implemented to control the internal temperature. The design and performance of the BIOFILTER equipment as well as results of the biological ground reference experiments performed in 2006 are discussed. High-performance thermal (vacuum) insulation (lambda = 0.7 mW/mK) and phase change material were implemented, keeping the BIOFILTER internal temperature below 16 degrees C

during the 4-day integration period between transport and launch. After launch, in microgravity, the growth of X antotrophicus GJ10 was successfully triggered by a temperature increase by using an internal heater to 26 C. Although the operation of the sensor electronics was not fully satisfying, the GW4869 mw bacterial growth was measured with the sensors, revealing growth rates between 0.046 and 0.077 h(-1) in microgravity, that is, approximately 1.5-2.5 times slower than Selleckchem Caspase inhibitor routinely measured on Earth under

optimal laboratory conditions. For the ground-reference experiments the equipment box, containing the eight sensors, was placed on a random positioning machine performing random rotations at 0.5 degrees/min (settling compensation) and 90 degrees/min (microgravity simulation) while the environment was controlled, accurately repeating the BIOFILTER internal temperature profile. Despite the rotation speed differences, growth rates of 0.115 h(-1) were confirmed by both the ground reference experiments. Biological interpretation of the measurements is, however, compromised owing to poor mixing and other unknown physical and biological phenomena that need to be addressed for further space experiments using these kinds of systems.”
“In this study, antibodies against avian Hepatitis E Virus (avian HEV) were detected in 6.43% of examined serum samples (n=311) from budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), lovebirds (Agapornis sp.), cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) and Alexandrine parakeets (Psittacula eupatria) by indirect ELISA. Seroprevalence of avian HEV infection in different parrot species varied from 0 to 7.92%. Statistical analysis of the origins of parrots demonstrated that parrots from Weifang city had a higher avian HEV seropositivity (7.84%) compared with parrots from Beijing city (5.06%).

8-hydroxydeoxyguansoine (8-OHdG) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhi

8-hydroxydeoxyguansoine (8-OHdG) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor genes (CDKN1A and CDKN2A) were assayed as markers of DNA damage using immunohistochemistry, ELISA and quantitative real time PCR. Results Staining of treated limbal tissue demonstrated

the presence of 8-OHdG within p63 positive basal limbal cells. Levels of 8-OHdG and CDKN1A mRNA were found to be significantly increased in cultured corneal epithelial cells and limbal epithelial cells but no increase was demonstrated with the use of a polymethyl methylacrylate protective cover. Conclusions This study provides evidence that oxidative nuclear DNA damage can occur through cross-linking LY2157299 nmr in layers of corneal epithelial cells at the limbus and that this can be easily prevented by covering the limbus.”
“Podocyte injury and loss directly cause proteinuria and the progression to glomerulosclerosis.

Elucidation of the mechanisms of podocyte survival and recovery from injury is critical for designing strategies to prevent the progression of glomerular diseases. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its receptor tyrosine kinase, Ret, are upregulated in both nonimmune and immune-mediated in vitro and in vivo models of glomerular diseases. We investigated whether Ret, a known receptor tyrosine kinase critical for kidney morphogenesis and neuronal growth and development, is necessary for Selonsertib in vivo glomerular and podocyte

development and survival in vivo. Since deletions of both GDNF and Ret result in embryonic lethality due to kidney agenesis, we examined the role of Ret in vivo by generating mice with a conditional deletion of Ret in podocytes (Retflox/flox; Nphs2-Cre). In contrast to the lack of any developmental and maintenance deficits, Retflox/flox; Nphs2-Cre mice showed a significantly enhanced susceptibility to adriamycin nephropathy, a rodent model of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Thus, these findings demonstrated that the Ret signaling pathway is important for podocyte survival and recovery from glomerular injury in vivo.”
“S-phase see more kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2) functions as the receptor component of the Skp-Cullin-F-box complex and is implicated in the degradation of several cell cycle regulators, such as p21(Cip1), p27(Kip1), p57(Kip2), and cyclin E. Numerous studies in human and experimental tumors have demonstrated Low p27(Kip1) levels and elevated Skp2 expression. However, a direct association between the inverse correlation of Skp2 and p27(Kip1) with tumorigenesis has not been demonstrated. Herein, we provide evidence that skin tumorigenesis is inhibited in Skp2(-/-) mice. An analysis of mouse keratinocytes indicates that increased p27(Kip1) levels in Skp2(-/-) epidermis cause reduced cell proliferation that is alleviated in the epidermis from Skp2(-/-)/p27(-/-) compound mice.

The mechanism of cell adhesion to keratin biomaterials, however,

The mechanism of cell adhesion to keratin biomaterials, however, is poorly understood. Therefore, the goal of this work was to investigate the mechanisms by which human hair keratin-based biomaterials facilitate cellular adhesion. 17-AAG Hepatocytes were used as a model cell type due to the abundance of published data on cell adhesion mechanisms and their relatively copious attachment to keratin substrates. The roles of beta(1)- and beta(2)-integrins and the hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) in hepatocyte adhesion to keratin substrates

were studied using attachment assays with and without function blocking antibodies. Blocking of the hepatic integrin subunits did not decrease hepatocyte attachment to keratin. Furthermore, adhesion to keratin did not result in the formation of focal

complexes or focal adhesions, nor did it produce an upregulation of phosphorylated-focal adhesion kinase. However, inhibition of hepatic ASGPR decreased the ability of hepatocytes to attach to keratin substrates, which is indicative of the role of this glycoprotein receptor in hepatocyte binding to keratin biomaterials. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“In flies, the zinc-finger protein Teashirt promotes trunk segmental identities, in part, by repressing the expression and function of anterior hox paralog group (PG) 1-4 genes that specify head fates. Anterior-posterior patterning of the vertebrate hindbrain also requires Hox PG 1-4 function, but the role of vertebrate Compound C teashirt-related genes in this process has not been investigated. In this work, we use overexpression and structure-function

analyses to show that zebrafish Selleck GW4869 tshz3b antagonizes Hox-dependent hindbrain segmentation. Ectopic Tshz3b perturbs the specification of rhombomere identities and leads to the caudal expansion of r1, the only rhombomere whose identity is specified independently of Hox function. This overexpression phenotype does not require the homeodomain and C-terminal zinc fingers that are unique to vertebrate Teashirt-related proteins, but does require that Tshz3b function as a repressor. Together, these results argue that the negative regulation of Hox PG 1-4 function is a conserved characteristic of Teashirt-related proteins. genesis 49: 725-742, 2011. (C) 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.”
“The administration of kainic acid (KA) causes seizures and produces neurodegeneration in hippocampal CA3 pyramidal cells. The present study investigated a possible role of acupuncture in reducing hippocampal cell death and inflammatory events, using a mouse model of kainic acid-induced epilepsy. Male C57BL/6 mice received acupuncture treatments at acupoint HT8 or in the tail area bilaterally once a day for 2 days and again immediately after an intraperitoneal injection of KA (30 mg/kg). HT8 is located on the palmar surface of the forelimbs, between the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones.

This online questionnaire investigated the patients’ perceptions

This online questionnaire investigated the patients’ perceptions of anaemia: check details symptoms, prevalence, treatment and impact

on quality of life. Methods Patients participated in this survey in 2012. Respondents were mainly from Europe, but also from North America and Asia Pacific. Results A total of 631 patients completed the questionnaire; most had Crohn’s disease, and 41.2% were in remission, 29.8% had mildly active flares, 16.8% had moderately active flares, and 5.4% had severely active flares. When asked about anaemia, 67% believed that anaemia occurred frequently in IBD and was associated with blood loss (45%), iron deficiency (31%), or inflammation (18%). Symptoms commonly reported by patients with anaemia were fatigue and weakness. Fatigue associated with anaemia occurred daily in 53% of patients and negatively impacted the quality of life. A number of patients had not discussed anaemia with a healthcare professional, and 33% of patients with anaemia had not received treatment. Of those treated, 42% took oral prescription iron, 27% intravenous iron, 19% nonprescription iron supplements and 10% prescription liquid or syrup iron. The majority of patients taking liquid or syrup iron (77%), oral iron (74%) and iron supplements (68%) were dissatisfied with their treatment, primarily because of poor tolerability. In contrast, 72% were satisfied

with intravenous iron treatment. Conclusion IBD patients are mostly aware of the main signs and symptoms of anaemia. Etomoxir nmr Oral iron is most commonly prescribed, but may cause dissatisfaction because of tolerability issues. Most patients prescribed intravenous iron are satisfied with treatment. GSK923295 cell line (C) 2014 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.”
“Protein damage, caused by radicals, is

involved in many diseases and in the aging process. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how protein damage can be limited, repaired or removed. To degrade damaged proteins, several intracellular proteolytic systems exist. One of the most important contributors in intracellular protein degradation of oxidized, aggregated and misfolded proteins is the proteasomal system. The proteasome is not a simple, unregulated structure. It is a more complex proteolytic composition that undergoes diverse regulation in situations of oxidative stress, aging and pathology. In addition to that, numerous studies revealed that the proteasome activity is altered during life time, contributing to the aging process. In addition, in the nervous system, the proteasome plays an important role in maintaining neuronal protein homeostasis. However, alterations in the activity may have an impact on the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss what is presently known about protein damage, the role of the proteasome in the degradation of damaged proteins and how the proteasome is regulated.

Our analyses show that the population

Our analyses show that the population Navitoclax consisting of three phenotypes also constituted several stable polymorphic

evolutionarily stable states. To our knowledge, our study is the first to demonstrate the emergence of polymorphic evolutionarily stable strategies within a robot evolution framework.”
“Background: Limited studies have examined the intestinal microbiota composition in relation to changes in disease course of IBD over time. We aimed to study prospectively the fecal microbiota in IBD patients developing an exacerbation during follow-up. Design: Fecal samples from 10 Crohn’s disease (CD) and 9 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients during remission and subsequent exacerbation were included. Active disease was determined by colonoscopy and/or fecal calprotectine

levels. Exclusion criteria were pregnancy, antibiotic use, enema use and/or medication changes between consecutive samples. The microbial composition was assessed by 16S rDNA pyrosequencing. Results: After quality control, 6,194-11,030 sequences per sample were available for analysis. Patient-specific shifts in bacterial composition and diversity were observed during exacerbation compared to remission, but overarching shifts within UC or CD were not observed. Changes in the bacterial community composition selleck products between remission and exacerbation as assessed by Bray-Curtis dissimilarity, were significantly larger in CD versus UC patients (0.59 vs. 0.42, respectively; p = 0.025). Thiopurine use was found to be a significant cause of clustering as shown by Principal Coordinate Analysis and was associated with decreases in bacterial richness (Choa1 501.2 vs. 847.6 in non-users; p smaller than 0.001) and diversity (Shannon index: 5.13 vs. 6.78, respectively; p smaller than 0.01). Conclusion: Shifts in microbial composition in IBD patients with

changing disease activity over time seem to be patient-specific, and are more pronounced in CD than in UC patients. Furthermore, thiopurine use was found to be associated with the microbial composition and diversity, and should be considered when studying the intestinal microbiota in relation to disease course.”
“Research projects in structural biology increasingly rely on combinations of heterogeneous www.selleckchem.com/products/ly3023414.html sources of information, e. g. evolutionary information from multiple sequence alignments, experimental evidence in the form of density maps and proximity constraints from proteomics experiments. The OpenStructure software framework, which allows the seamless integration of information of different origin, has previously been introduced. The software consists of C++ libraries which are fully accessible from the Python programming language. Additionally, the framework provides a sophisticated graphics module that interactively displays molecular structures and density maps in three dimensions.

This study demonstrated that regucalcin localizes in the nucleus

This study demonstrated that regucalcin localizes in the nucleus of cloned normal rat kidney proximal tubular epithelial NRK52E cells, and that its nuclear localization is enhanced

through an intracellular signaling process which involves protein kinase C.”
“A functional electrical stimulation controller is presented that uses a combination of feedforward and feedback for arm control in high-level injury. The feedforward controller generates the muscle activations nominally required for desired movements, and the feedback controller corrects for errors caused by muscle fatigue and external disturbances. The feedforward controller is an artificial neural network (ANN) BMS-754807 which approximates the inverse dynamics of the arm. The feedback loop includes a PID controller in series with a second ANN representing the nonlinear properties and biomechanical interactions of muscles and joints. The controller was designed and tested using a two-joint musculoskeletal model of the arm that includes four mono-articular and two bi-articular muscles. Its performance during goal-oriented movements of varying amplitudes and durations showed a tracking error of less than 4A degrees in ideal conditions, and less than 10A degrees even in the case of considerable fatigue and external disturbances.”
“Objective. To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of Doppler

ultrasound (DUS) in diagnosing arthritis in the Thiazovivin cell line wrist and hands, and, if possible, to define a cutoff level for our ultrasound measures for inflammation, resistive index (RI), and color fraction.\n\nMethods. Using EGFR targets DUS, 88 patients with active RA were selected for study and 27 healthy controls. A total of 419 joints were examined. The synovial vascularization was determined by color Doppler and spectral Doppler estimating the color fraction (the percentage of color pixels inside the synovium was the region of interest) and RI in wrist, metacarpophalangeal (MCP), and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves were made for both US measures. Cutoff levels were selected from the ROC

curves as the values with the optimum sensitivity and specificity.\n\nResults. Analyses were carried out for small joints (MCP and PIP), wrists, and for all joints (pooled). Pooled joint analysis showed the area under the curve for both RI and color fraction was 0.84. The cutoff level for the color fraction was 0.01 and for RI 0.83. With these cutoff levels, the sensitivity and specificity for the color fraction were 0.92 and 0.73, respectively. For RI a sensitivity of 0.72 and specificity of 0.70 were found. Analysis of small joints and wrist gave very similar results.\n\nConclusion. DUS may detect vascularization of the inflamed synovium with a high sensitivity and a moderate specificity with selected cutoff levels.