Publications

Abstract Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a heritable disorder caused by abnormalities in synthesis or processing of type I collagen, is characterized by skeletal fragility. Type I collagen interacts with multiple components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) including other collagens types. Thus, alterations in structure or quantity may broadly affect ECM homeostasis. In fact, while OI is […]

Abstract INTRODUCTION Variants in collagen-related genes COL1A1, COL3A1, COL5A1 and COL5A2 are associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a heterogeneous group of connective tissue disorders strongly associated with increased bleeding. Of patients with incompletely explained bleeding diathesis, a relatively high proportion were shown to harbour at least one heterozygous variant of unknown significance (VUS) in one […]

Abstract Connective tissue (ConT) remodeling is an essential process in tissue regeneration, where a balanced replacement of old tissue by new tissue occurs. This balance is disturbed in chronic diseases, often autoimmune diseases, usually resulting in the buld up of fibrosis and a gradual loss of organ function. During progression of liver, lung, skin, heart, […]

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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 […]