Publications

Abstract Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic disease that is characterized by the excessive deposition of scar tissue in the lungs. As currently available treatments are unable to restore lung function in patients, there is an urgent medical need for more effective drugs. Developing such drugs, however, is challenging because IPF has a complex […]

Abstract Preterm infants are born with immature organs, leading to morbidities such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a gut inflammatory disease associated with adverse feeding responses but also hemodynamic and respiratory instability. Skin-to-skin contact including “kangaroo care” may improve infant survival and health improved vital functions (e.g., pulmonary, cardiovascular) and endocrine influences by adrenal glucocorticoids. Clinical […]

Abstract Menopause is associated with detrimental changes in turnover of bone and cartilage and a variety of symptoms with negative impact on the quality of life. Naturally occurring isoflavones from , Kudzu root, may possess chondroprotective and symptom-relieving properties, but efficacy and safety of dosing and dose frequencies required for pharmacological action is unclear. This […]

Abstract BACKGROUND In Crohn’s disease (CD), 10% to 40% of patients do not respond to anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) treatment. Currently, there are no biomarkers with adequate sensitivity to separate responders from nonresponders at an early stage. AIM The aim of this study was to investigated whether early changes in the VICM (citrullinated and matrix […]

Abstract AIM Type VI collagen, is emerging as a signaling collagen originating from different types of fibroblasts. A specific fragment of Type VI collagen, the pro-peptide, is also known as the hormone endotrophin. We hypothesized that this fibroblast hormone would be of particular relevance in cancer types with a high amount of fibrosis activity, namely […]

Abstract PURPOSE Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) Expert Consensus Guidelines recommend topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as first-line medications for osteoarthritis (OA) knee pain, but several voluminous daily applications are required to achieve efficacy. There is a need to develop new and improved topical analgesics with a faster onset, longer duration of action, and the requirement […]

Abstract OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to investigate how social housing with high locomotion activity affects experimental osteoarthritis (OA) in rats. DESIGN Rats were housed either conventionally in type IV cages in pairs or in rat colony cages (RCC) on 4 levels interconnected by jump holes or staircase in groups of 48. OA […]

Abstract OBJECTIVES Clinical trials of new disease-modifying treatments for osteoarthritis should demonstrate a positive effect on a functional outcome or reduction in joint failure in order to be considered successful. Total joint replacement (TJR) surgery may be considered as joint failure, but great variation in the incidence of TJR complicates its use as a study […]

Abstract Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, all have one clear common denominator; an altered turnover of bone. However, this may be more complex than a simple change in bone matrix and mineral turnover. While these diseases share a common tissue axis, their manifestations in the area of pathology are highly diverse, ranging […]

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS A vulnerable plaque is an atherosclerotic plaque that is rupture-prone with a higher risk to cause cardiovascular symptoms such as myocardial infarction or stroke. Mimecan or osteoglycin is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan, important for collagen fibrillogenesis, that has been implicated in atherosclerotic disease, yet the role of mimecan in human atherosclerotic […]