High levels of stress are widespread throughout academics in institution of further and higher ed... more High levels of stress are widespread throughout academics in institution of further and higher education. 3 out of 20 academics from an institute of Higher Education took part in the study presented. The NeXus-4 physiological monitoring system wirelessly captured various physiological data associated with stress via a portable system that supported input channels for: blood pressure, heart rate, core temperature and peripheral perfusion. 10-min baseline measurements were recorded, followed by 20 minute experimental recordings during the various academic activities. The two psychological questionnaires were issued and completed prior to recording the physiological data. Results of the current study indicated that there was significant increase in heart rate and blood flow during marking and lecturing vs. baseline, and lecturing showed higher values compared to marking. Counter-intuitively, there was a strong and significant positive correlation between job stress and job satisfaction...
Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K10 has been implicated in the etiology and pathogenesis of rh... more Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K10 has been implicated in the etiology and pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A secondary immune response to this virus might suggest an antigen-driven response in patients. The Gag region of HERV-K10 could provide a key epitope important for immunological reactivity. We investigated the presence of IgG antibodies to this region and assessed its significance in RA. We determined an antigenic peptide on the matrix segment of HERV-K10 and developed an ELISA system to detect IgG antibodies in patients with RA and controls. The presence of antibodies to the matrix peptide (denoted as MAG1: RIGKELKQAGRKGNI) was correlated with patient details. On screening patients' serum, we found a significantly higher mean IgG antibody response to MAG1 in 30 patients with RA as compared to 23 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (p = 0.003), 29 patients with osteoarthritis (p = 0.001), and 43 healthy individuals (p = 0.002). Reactivity was not observ...
Polymerase chain reaction using specific primers, failed to detect HTLV-I amplicons in patients w... more Polymerase chain reaction using specific primers, failed to detect HTLV-I amplicons in patients with rheumatic diseases previously shown to possess antibodies to retroviral products. However, by employing broad spectrum oligonucleotide primers, 135 bp amplicons were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and synovial fluid cells. Subsequent cloning and DNA sequencing revealed homology to a number of exogenous and human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). Furthermore, in combining the presence of type B and C related endogenous retroviruses, a significant association (p=0.014) was apparent for chronic autoimmune rheumatic diseases as compared to controls. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction of RNA derived from patients, healthy controls and cell lines (U937, BJAB, human endothelial lung fibroblasts) demonstrated ubiquitous expression of HERV-K10 and RTVL-H2. Furthermore messenger RNA expression of HERV-K10 was enhanced in fibroblasts infected with human cytomegalovirus. It is plausible that subsequent production of HERV peptides could explain the presence of anti-retroviral antibodies in cohorts of patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
High levels of stress are widespread throughout academics in institution of further and higher ed... more High levels of stress are widespread throughout academics in institution of further and higher education. 3 out of 20 academics from an institute of Higher Education took part in the study presented. The NeXus-4 physiological monitoring system wirelessly captured various physiological data associated with stress via a portable system that supported input channels for: blood pressure, heart rate, core temperature and peripheral perfusion. 10-min baseline measurements were recorded, followed by 20 minute experimental recordings during the various academic activities. The two psychological questionnaires were issued and completed prior to recording the physiological data. Results of the current study indicated that there was significant increase in heart rate and blood flow during marking and lecturing vs. baseline, and lecturing showed higher values compared to marking. Counter-intuitively, there was a strong and significant positive correlation between job stress and job satisfaction...
Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K10 has been implicated in the etiology and pathogenesis of rh... more Human endogenous retrovirus (HERV)-K10 has been implicated in the etiology and pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A secondary immune response to this virus might suggest an antigen-driven response in patients. The Gag region of HERV-K10 could provide a key epitope important for immunological reactivity. We investigated the presence of IgG antibodies to this region and assessed its significance in RA. We determined an antigenic peptide on the matrix segment of HERV-K10 and developed an ELISA system to detect IgG antibodies in patients with RA and controls. The presence of antibodies to the matrix peptide (denoted as MAG1: RIGKELKQAGRKGNI) was correlated with patient details. On screening patients' serum, we found a significantly higher mean IgG antibody response to MAG1 in 30 patients with RA as compared to 23 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (p = 0.003), 29 patients with osteoarthritis (p = 0.001), and 43 healthy individuals (p = 0.002). Reactivity was not observ...
Polymerase chain reaction using specific primers, failed to detect HTLV-I amplicons in patients w... more Polymerase chain reaction using specific primers, failed to detect HTLV-I amplicons in patients with rheumatic diseases previously shown to possess antibodies to retroviral products. However, by employing broad spectrum oligonucleotide primers, 135 bp amplicons were generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and synovial fluid cells. Subsequent cloning and DNA sequencing revealed homology to a number of exogenous and human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). Furthermore, in combining the presence of type B and C related endogenous retroviruses, a significant association (p=0.014) was apparent for chronic autoimmune rheumatic diseases as compared to controls. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction of RNA derived from patients, healthy controls and cell lines (U937, BJAB, human endothelial lung fibroblasts) demonstrated ubiquitous expression of HERV-K10 and RTVL-H2. Furthermore messenger RNA expression of HERV-K10 was enhanced in fibroblasts infected with human cytomegalovirus. It is plausible that subsequent production of HERV peptides could explain the presence of anti-retroviral antibodies in cohorts of patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
Uploads
Papers